The cost of Ironman

Yesterday I did as instructed and skipped the days training for a day of rest, luckily I did! Because coach rang last night to check up on me.  Oh man!  Today was to be a 90min run, but coach slimmed it down to 70min and told me to listen to my body.  I can say in the first 15min of the run the body was saying STOP, but I soon talked it round and we managed to pull off a steady 70min run.  The breathing was a up bit up and down with the COLD and all, but I just got it into a rythmn and it seemed to sort itself.

On the COLD front Im feeling a little worse today, poor Liza, who also now has a runny nose, didn't get much sleep as I kept tosing and turning.  At one point she woke me as apparently it sounded like I was having trouble breathing.  I hope she makes it to race day as all whom know her, understand she needs her full 8hrs sleep every night!

With this extra time resting I decided to do a calculation on the cost of doing an Ironman.  The below table shows approx. only based on the last 12 months, it excludes time from work, doctor visits and other items which I probably should have included but when I summed it, I decided it was best not to add anymore.  It certainly is an expensive hobby :)

NOTE: On further assessment it seems some of these are a little lite i.e. pre-events, shoes, clothing etc... the actual cost more in the ball park of 15-18k

The "Cake is Cooked"

Words of wisdom from coach, 'the cake is cooked' in other words the training is done, the focus now is to look after myself.  And would you believe it !!! yesterday I woke up with a sore throat and this morning it has spread to sore throat and ears, runny nose and a headache !!!.  Fancy being taken down by a COLD of all things ....

Today was meant to be a 4hr BRICK (60min swim, 2hr ride and 60min run) but this has been scrapped, coach's instructions to 'sleep, sleep sleep ...'  So Im heading to the health shop for some vitamin C then off to bed.

Although the cake is cooked, lets hope it doesn't flop!

Sunday Long Ride

We had the nieces to stay last night, so this called for a serious 'Wii Games Tournament', lets just say I was not on the winning team and Liza was.  So nothing more on this, other than everyone, including me has sore arms this morning ....

Wii Games Winners, from left Liza, Amelia and Bethan

 I sneaked out of the house this morning for my ride and left Liza to aunty duties :). I was mean't to meet with CM and the NZ Cyclists, however seems I fluffed around a little too long and missed them.  But no worries as coach had indicated a solo ride and it was a long and lonely 4.5hrs.

I'm feeling pretty buggared so very happy to see this weeks schedule is much lighter, max session is a 4hr BRICK and the long run is down from 3hrs to 1.5hrs.  I really feel Like I need to rest up, tired and buggared.

Inflicting Payback :)

Back in Auckland, Saturday morning and time for the last major BRICK session, a nice and easy 5hrs, Yeah Right!  I opted for a small sleepin so hit Takapuna Beach around 7.30am, ok so perhaps it was more around 8ish.  But I did managed to swim bouys 1 thru 3 and return in just over 30min so was transitioning onto the bike around 8.37am.  Unfortunately I was mean't to be at Camp Mothers by now ready for the ride.  oops SORRY!.  We trimmed the ride down from 3hrs to 2.5hrs so I didn't miss my run escort.

The ride was good and I tried to get some payback on CM from last week by pushing her along, racing up hills etc... lot's of fun.  The bike was running like a dream after CM picked it up from its pre race service.  It's amazing what new cables can do, the gears change without any grinding and when you use the brake lever the bike actually slows, awesome :)  Thanks CM !!

Gusy and I after Run

The run was 80min, Gusy joined me but was on the shady side as recovering from the big night prior.  I saw the opportunity for further payback.  When we hit Milford hill I would normally walk from midway, but not today hehe.  We kept a good pace in the run and I know it would have hurt, Buggar! :)

After a good session I decided to pickup lunch on the way home, Gusy's fault as she had been talking about eating chicken during the run.  So I called into KFC for a chicken burger, all good unless you got your newly serviced bike on the roof, yes you guessed right they don't go thru the 'drive thru' very well.  Bang !!!! the steel warning rail at the entrance smacked into the bike, how wonderful!!.  So I jumped out of the car, took it off the roof and threw it in the back of the car and pulled round to the window.  In all the fuss it seems I drove past the speaker where you would normally place the order.  The service guy was not too pleased, oops and buggar!.  What a plonker pants ....

Don't worry the bike was ok.



 

Budding Cyclist's

I am relaxing in Christchurch with the family, check out the up and coming family athletes!

Out of the way Tayla needs to park her bike.

Check out Dylan's gloves, glasses, Giro helmet and bike.

Oh I wish I had my Puffer

Wednesday and the training plan calls for a 2.5hr run.  All very good unless your in Christchurch vsiting family and the weather suddenly changes to a cold and rainy afternoon.  Many times I have been caught and you think I should know better ! ALWAYS pack the puffer jacket (a South Island icon) when visiting Christchurch no matter on the season.  And I did look at it whilst packing for this trip. Buggar !

Unfortunately I was so COLD I cut my run down to 2 hrs only, when I returned to Mum and Dads, Mum shuffled me into a hot shower, but not enough to warm me up so I have been hugging a hot water bottle all evening.  Goodness me ....

I have had lot's comments from folks about how much I have changed in the last few months, I'm not convinced so I have tried to do a before and after photo for comparison.



December (Xmas) 2012

Reinactment from today, still didn't
get the ball in the hoop!

The best laugh for a while, thanks CM

Yesterday (Monday) was an recovery day and hence only an easy 45min run on the cards.  I felt strong and comfortable, however today back into a hard one but ONLY a 5hr BRICK session, which makes a change from the twice weekly BRICKs I have been doing.  But goodness me it was a hard one and I did not feel comfortable running at all, what the ??? I thought I had got over these types of sessions.

The best part of today was calling into a local cafe on the way home, getting a "Almond Croissant" (blame the sister in-law who popped round with one the other day) and sitting down to scoff it with a Nespresso coffee mmm :).  But the absolute joy of my day, sorry Camp Mother but it did bring a smile to my face! was hearing about how CM had picked her bike up after an expensive servicing, took it out on a bunch ride where the pedal fell off.  Every time I read her email I can barely get to the end before I burst into laughter ....

Got the blood test results today, seems my iron is 132, which is fantastic given less than 12 months ago is ranged between 4 and 10.  Way to go Doc!.  The other good news is that my B12 was low, so off for a B12 jab later today.  Lack of B12 does cause me to be a bit snappy and hard to concentrate, so yay at least I was allowed to be moody :) By the time I return to Auckland, visiting family in ChCh for the rest of this week, I should be back to my normal self, well that is what Liza is hoping anyway ... :)