Great news for Christmas, we've won our ongoing battle to receive back pay owed to us since 2003 ! Had to take it through to the small claims but we've got settlement now so money should be with us soon.
So, what's happening on the training front ? Sadly not a lot, steady solo rund steady group runs with Weston AC. The weight is starting to come off and my pace is starting to feel comfortable. Hopefully we'll get out over the coming holiday and commence a proper plan. My entry has been sent off for Bideford Half on 6th March so I do have something to aim at.
Ironman Wales ? Still undecided ! Enjoyed a great evening at Phil's the other night and I survived that without commiting to the race. Numbers are creeping up though so need to make my mind up soon.
Watch this space !
Tuesday, 14 December 2010
Friday, 3 December 2010
More Snow !
So, what's happened to my training ?
Saturday and Sunday working at the sports centre, no training at all !
Hilary and I went up to the NEC on Monday for the Carole Nash Motorcycle Show, great day out and some amazing bikes. Having not ridden a motorbike since early 80's, I bought a 2000 Suzuki Bandit 600 back in the summer and love it ! Hilary loves riding pillion and we've plans to do some touring next summer.
Anyway, back to the training. Went out with Weston AC on Tuesday for a steady ride - it was freezing ! I hated every minute of it and turned back early having only run about 4 miles. I thought I was going down with something but went out for a 1 hour run with Mark on Wednesday and felt great - had a thick jacket though !
Got on the scales and I'm 11st 9lb - Over a stone heavier than my normal race weight ! It's no wonder I'm getting dropped on the hills.
Work yesterday and tonight so only a walk with the dog to keep me trim. Looks like I'll have to be careful over Christmas or I'll be buying some new, larger trousers in the sale !
Saturday and Sunday working at the sports centre, no training at all !
Hilary and I went up to the NEC on Monday for the Carole Nash Motorcycle Show, great day out and some amazing bikes. Having not ridden a motorbike since early 80's, I bought a 2000 Suzuki Bandit 600 back in the summer and love it ! Hilary loves riding pillion and we've plans to do some touring next summer.
Anyway, back to the training. Went out with Weston AC on Tuesday for a steady ride - it was freezing ! I hated every minute of it and turned back early having only run about 4 miles. I thought I was going down with something but went out for a 1 hour run with Mark on Wednesday and felt great - had a thick jacket though !
Got on the scales and I'm 11st 9lb - Over a stone heavier than my normal race weight ! It's no wonder I'm getting dropped on the hills.
Work yesterday and tonight so only a walk with the dog to keep me trim. Looks like I'll have to be careful over Christmas or I'll be buying some new, larger trousers in the sale !
Friday, 26 November 2010
Snow !
Typical, arranged a run for this evening and it's snowing ! Not pitching that much, just enough to make the roads ( and pavements ) slippery - Mark and I decided to give it a miss.
It's been a great week training wise, still only light volume but the old body is starting to feel good again and the weight is starting to fall off ! Following Sunday's 20 miler I took Monday off and headed down to Weston AC on Tuesday evening for a steady loop of the club circuit. This loop is around 8 miles and involves heading up the hillside to the south of Weston, along the sea front then up the hill to the North before heading back to Hutton Moor sports centre. I could'nt stay with the leaders on the first hill but was into my stride along the promenade and felt great all the way back. It's strange but I really need one hard effort to get my heart and lungs working before I really feel comfortable and can push it to the max - must be an age thing !
Nothing on Wednesday which made me feel guilty.
Weston AC again last night. Thursdays are group nights, I went with the first group and it turned into a real rip up. A couple of people got dropped and some were unable to talk come the end. Pace was constant though which I prefer, nothing worse than going hard then stopping to wait for people. Again it's and 8 mile loop, we got back, stretched out, had a chat and I'd left before any of the other groups returned. Got home, showered then massaged my legs with Magnesium spray before putting on some compression tights which I then wore to bed - got up this morning with no aches or pains, amazing after such a hard session last night !
Anyway, about to sit on the turbo trainer for 30 minutes - more about that later !
It's been a great week training wise, still only light volume but the old body is starting to feel good again and the weight is starting to fall off ! Following Sunday's 20 miler I took Monday off and headed down to Weston AC on Tuesday evening for a steady loop of the club circuit. This loop is around 8 miles and involves heading up the hillside to the south of Weston, along the sea front then up the hill to the North before heading back to Hutton Moor sports centre. I could'nt stay with the leaders on the first hill but was into my stride along the promenade and felt great all the way back. It's strange but I really need one hard effort to get my heart and lungs working before I really feel comfortable and can push it to the max - must be an age thing !
Nothing on Wednesday which made me feel guilty.
Weston AC again last night. Thursdays are group nights, I went with the first group and it turned into a real rip up. A couple of people got dropped and some were unable to talk come the end. Pace was constant though which I prefer, nothing worse than going hard then stopping to wait for people. Again it's and 8 mile loop, we got back, stretched out, had a chat and I'd left before any of the other groups returned. Got home, showered then massaged my legs with Magnesium spray before putting on some compression tights which I then wore to bed - got up this morning with no aches or pains, amazing after such a hard session last night !
Anyway, about to sit on the turbo trainer for 30 minutes - more about that later !
Sunday, 21 November 2010
A Trip to Bristol
Drove up to Bristol this morning for a steady run with Phil Brooks. Phil has now completed more Ironman distance races than me and is still so, so enthusiastic about Triathlon - He really puts me to shame. He's a member of Bristol and District Tri ( BAD Tri ) but we try not to mention that !
We ran from Shirehampton, over the M5 bridge and along the river footpath, up into Leigh Woods, over and around Ashton Court, back through Leigh woods to rejoin the river footpath back to the start. Just under three hours and 20 miles covered.
Amazing how you can find things to talk about whilst running for three hours. Phil attempted to get to the bottom of my ongoing inability to finish a race, what makes me tick and what I need to drive me to glory instead of looking for excuses to drop out.
Thanks for a great run Phil, will definitely be up to run it again !
Anyway, my legs felt great all the way round. I returned home and massaged my legs with Magnesium spray before sticking compression tights on - we'll see what they are like tomorrow. I bought some Magnesium spray to try having read a article on the web written by Ben Greenfield www.bengreenfieldfitness.com who recommends it as a means of promoting muscle recovery.
We ran from Shirehampton, over the M5 bridge and along the river footpath, up into Leigh Woods, over and around Ashton Court, back through Leigh woods to rejoin the river footpath back to the start. Just under three hours and 20 miles covered.
Amazing how you can find things to talk about whilst running for three hours. Phil attempted to get to the bottom of my ongoing inability to finish a race, what makes me tick and what I need to drive me to glory instead of looking for excuses to drop out.
Thanks for a great run Phil, will definitely be up to run it again !
Anyway, my legs felt great all the way round. I returned home and massaged my legs with Magnesium spray before sticking compression tights on - we'll see what they are like tomorrow. I bought some Magnesium spray to try having read a article on the web written by Ben Greenfield www.bengreenfieldfitness.com who recommends it as a means of promoting muscle recovery.
Friday, 19 November 2010
It doesn't get any better !
A Beautiful morning to be out on the bike, one of those days when you just want to stay out forever !
Last night I joined Hilary for a trip to the gym at Churchill Sports Centre where I work, managed to get 20 minutes steady pace in the pool before the swim club started. I then did a short rowing session on the Concept II ( 8 x 500m with 50 sec rest between each set, averaging 1:58 for each 500 ).
This morning I awoke to brilliant sunshine so I just had to get out on the bike. Rode my Giant Bowery Fixey over one of my regular training routes, this one is flat but as it takes you over the open peat moors you can guarantee it will be windy at some point. Today I had a headwind out then a great tailwind all the way home - if only it could always be like that !
So, solo ride 30 miles averaging just under 18mph - Happy with that !
The 30 mile route :
Bleadon to Lympsham via Accomodation Road. Past the church and onto Brent Knoll. Cross the A370 and straight down to Mark Causeway. Straight over and onto the moors towards Burtle. From Burtle to Westhay. Turn left towards Wedmore but then turn left again onto Totney Drove which takes you to Mark via Tadham Moor. Left after Mark Church then turn right at the White Horse pub onto Vole Road which brings you onto the A38 at Rooks Bridge. Over the A38 towards Edingworth cross the M5 then right towards Loxton. Turn left towards Bleadon and a nasty little climb before dropping into the village and the start of the ride.
Last night I joined Hilary for a trip to the gym at Churchill Sports Centre where I work, managed to get 20 minutes steady pace in the pool before the swim club started. I then did a short rowing session on the Concept II ( 8 x 500m with 50 sec rest between each set, averaging 1:58 for each 500 ).
This morning I awoke to brilliant sunshine so I just had to get out on the bike. Rode my Giant Bowery Fixey over one of my regular training routes, this one is flat but as it takes you over the open peat moors you can guarantee it will be windy at some point. Today I had a headwind out then a great tailwind all the way home - if only it could always be like that !
So, solo ride 30 miles averaging just under 18mph - Happy with that !
The 30 mile route :
Bleadon to Lympsham via Accomodation Road. Past the church and onto Brent Knoll. Cross the A370 and straight down to Mark Causeway. Straight over and onto the moors towards Burtle. From Burtle to Westhay. Turn left towards Wedmore but then turn left again onto Totney Drove which takes you to Mark via Tadham Moor. Left after Mark Church then turn right at the White Horse pub onto Vole Road which brings you onto the A38 at Rooks Bridge. Over the A38 towards Edingworth cross the M5 then right towards Loxton. Turn left towards Bleadon and a nasty little climb before dropping into the village and the start of the ride.
Thursday, 18 November 2010
So here we are, November 2010 and it's all about to start. We're all talking about entering Ironman Wales, they've only got 600 entries at the moment so there's no rush to flex our credit cards yet. Kit Stokes has already entered, but as an age grouper instead of an elite athlete - think he's after a Hawaii slot.
I've been doing the odd ride, running with Weston AC on their club nights etc. but it's time to start laying down the foundation to my program. I've had a niggling ache from my SI joint over the past few months but the more exercise I do the better it feels - my body telling me something ?
As I mentioned in my profile I've lost the plot of late and am still undecided if I really want to go through all the effort to make the start line on September 12th next year. I love training so, so much and can train very hard but then seem to loose it mentally in the run up to the race. My wife ( Hilary ) is one in a million and is totally supportive of everything I do and I have nothing to cause me stress - mortgage paid off, daughters grown up and self supporting, easy job ( I work at a local sports centre ) - am I mentally weak ?
So, this is my first post and I hope to stick at it and make the start line at Tenby ..................
I've been doing the odd ride, running with Weston AC on their club nights etc. but it's time to start laying down the foundation to my program. I've had a niggling ache from my SI joint over the past few months but the more exercise I do the better it feels - my body telling me something ?
As I mentioned in my profile I've lost the plot of late and am still undecided if I really want to go through all the effort to make the start line on September 12th next year. I love training so, so much and can train very hard but then seem to loose it mentally in the run up to the race. My wife ( Hilary ) is one in a million and is totally supportive of everything I do and I have nothing to cause me stress - mortgage paid off, daughters grown up and self supporting, easy job ( I work at a local sports centre ) - am I mentally weak ?
So, this is my first post and I hope to stick at it and make the start line at Tenby ..................
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