I managed another run yesterday, one of my more unusual ones I would have to say. I decided to return the car a day early as I wasn't going to need it today. So I figured, why waste money on a taxi to get back to Peter and Kate's place. I bet there aren't too many people who can say they have run from Tullamarine International Airport into Melbourne (well, West Brunswick at least, not quite the CBD, but close enough). In the end it was a 1:40/17km run and quite challenging as it was hillier than I had anticipated and a wrong turn meant that I did about an extra 2km more than I needed to. sadly I haven't managed a swim while in Melbourne as the weather hasn't been at all flash and the only pool anywhere near here is an outdoor pool.
The rest week is definitely helping my body. I am no longer fatigued and 17km was a stroll in the park. Had I attempted it last week, I don't think I would have made it.
Anyway, I promised more about my little argument with the semi-trailer...
21 August 2001 about 8:45am
By now the "green stick" (actually called a Penthrox Analgesic Inhaler, but "green stick" is about all I am capable of comprehending in my state) is really starting to kick in and I am as high as a kite. I wouldn't say that the pain has completely gone, but the messages going to my brain are so jumbled, I really can't tell.
The police have taken Carleen's workplace details and are focused on managing the traffic and getting in touch with Carleen. Carleen works at Monash University on the other side of the city (I hope I've managed to tell the cops that, I could have told them that she was a circus performer in Timbuktu with all these nasty/lovely chemicals swirling around in my system), so it could take her a while to get to wherever they are going to take me.
The paramedics are preparing me for the move to the ambulance, stabilising what they can and reassuring me all the while. They seem to be asking a massive amount of questions too. I know I am responding and I am aware of what is going on around me, but I couldn't be very precise about exactly what. The moment they move my lower body though, everything becomes very sharp and my focus is clear. The pain is immense and I scream for them to stop. Of course, I know that they have to move me and they comfort me and explain that I am just going to have to suck furiously on the stick and grit my teeth and bear it. So I do.
Once on the gurney they wheel me into the back of the ambulance and strap me in. We're off, and to start with I am actually starting to feel reasonably comfortable - I even manage to blurt out through the green stick: "Geez, this shit is good, but I hate to think what its doing to my brain cells." But as we gather speed, I feel every minute vibration, every undulation of the road and every corner - pain surges through my pelvis as my weight shifts and every nerve, sinew of flesh and fragment of bone seems to ache to the core. Its not an intense or sharp pain but an incredibly strong ache. The paramedics try to put a drip in my arm so that they can get an IV going, but my veins seem to have disappeared and they have no luck.
We are heading for the Austin Hospital (which, ironically, is only about 15 to 20 minutes from work on my bike) and as we get close we head to the top of a small rise near the end of Bell St and then over the crest to a reasonably steep descent. As the ambulance tilts from up hill, to level and then steeply down hill all of the loose bits in my pelvis surge up towards my stomach. The pain is too much too bear again and I let out a scream, only for the pain to get worse as the ambulance reaches the entrance to the hospital half way down the hill where it has to take a sharp (albeit slow) turn to the right.
I'm safe at the hospital now and there are more and more faces gathering around me as I burst through several doors with lights flashing past me on the ceiling. By the time the gurney comes to a stand still in the emergency room I reckon there are about 8 to 10 people (maybe more) surrounding me; several asking me questions, others assessing my injuries and more still preparing endless machines to attach to me. Its like a classic scene from ER - I half expect to see George Clooney (or that guy from Full House whom I can't take seriously) to pop his head into the room and drop some really corny one liner.
Now the real fun begins...
******
More soon.
30 April 2010
29 April 2010
When the Journey Really Began..
I am visiting Melbourne for the first time in six years and for only the second time since we left in 2003 and I am finding it both very familiar (the sights, sounds, smells and streets are as if I had never left) and very strange at the same time. In particular, I am surrounded by constant reminders of my accident that are making me uncomfortably torn between a feeling of having conquered the demons of my accident and the feeling that maybe there is still something lurking below the surface.
The reminders are everywhere: the narrow four lane roads barely wide enough for three cars (let alone four) that have semi-trailers barging their way through the traffic in both directions like a rugby league prop busting through the defensive line (cyclists have no chance); the cycle lanes and routes that I used to use to get to and from work that seemed (and probably were) a safe haven from the bustling traffic; the police station on Sydney Rd was the base for the police officers that were first on the scene after the emergency services were called; catching a glance of Amcor Packaging on the Melways (Melbourne map book), just 150 metres from where my accident occurred, and; the hospital on Moreland Street (just up the road from where I am staying for the next few days) where my urologist had his rooms.
All these things are making the memories that are usually buried just below the surface come bubbling to the top, welling up as crystal clear as the day that they happened. Only, now they are much less emotionally charged and I am more than comfortable writing the down for others to share.
From the moment that I knew that I was in the clear after my accident, I knew that one day I would tell my story. I have never really either found the right outlet or had the right starting point, but coming back to Melbourne and already well into recording my journey for the Challenge ahead has presented the perfect opportunity to at least start to put it down on paper. The real journey began 20 August 2001.
21 August 2001 Revisited
About 7:30am: This morning, life is good! I am finally starting to feel my way after starting at La Trobe University 6 months ago and, despite not getting much time on my PhD, I am feeling like I can get on top of that soon too. We are living in a town house in Richmond, just 20 minutes walk from the CBD and two minutes from the Bridge Rd shops and cafes. Its the life I’d always dreamed of. To top it all off, last week we found out that Carleen is pregnant and she is 10 weeks on. This is especially good news as we had an appointment for a fertility clinic this week after having tried for more than 18 months. We are both over the moon and looking forward to a new addition to the family.
I've been riding my new mountain bike to work for the last six weeks and I have been loosing about a kilo a week and I'm feeling great. I'm late for a meeting, but I still decide to jump on my bike rather than take the car. As I'm heading along the Yarra River bike path I am thinking about what I can do to save time and by the time I hit the one kilometer stretch of cycle lane along a main road, I have decided to whip along Grange Road to cut off about five or ten minutes of winding up another creekside bike path.
Turning the corner I see the railway line about 50 metres ahead and I think to myself that I have always felt a bit strange crossing a railway line, even in a car. As normally happens, a chill runs down my spin as my bike shudders over the lines. I spot a car parked in the left lane ahead of me and traffic is merging into the right lane to miss it. Nothing seems out of the ordinary, but I hear a truck approaching from over my right shoulder. Still nothing unusual, but as we both approach the parked car I feel the truck drift ever so slightly towards me. It seems to be taking an eternity to get passed and everything is going in slow motion, even though he's still doing at least 30km/h. I'm getting forced toward the gutter and its too high to jump. He keeps drifting left and (OH SHIT!) all of a sudden a massive feeling of panic hits me. A split second later I feel a massive pain in my elbow and the world literally spins out of control. Another split second later and I am laying in the middle of the road with the most intense burning sensation in my lower torso.
I know its bad, but not how bad. I can't get up, I feel literally glued to the road. I scream for help at the top of my voice, but all I can think is no one will hear me. I am also aware that I am laying prone with my back to a lane of rush hour traffic. Cars going the other way stop and someone jumps out of a car somewhere and comes over to me. He looks at me and I look at him, but I don't register any facial features. He reassures me and covers me with my jacket from my backpack and moments later I am being conforted by a women police officer. I say to her "I think it ran over me" and her partner says "We know it has, we can see the mark where it did." I am the preverbial possum nailed after being stuck in the headlights and flattened right across the mid-section, tyre tracks and all.
The cops start asking for a description of the truck and all I can remember is that it was a curtainsider and it was a semi-trailer. I also remember them asking if I got the licence plate - later I thought "Yeah right, while I was underneath I also got the 20 digit chassis number!"
In the distance I hear the wailing of the ambulance coming my way. It seems to take an eternity to reach me and the heat is intensifying even more and all I can do is scream for help. I have been wiggling my toes, so amongst all of this I somehow manage to think a positive thought: "at least I'm not paralysed." I don't feel like I'm going to die.., I just can't, life is too good, but this isn't good!
The ambulance arrives and they do all the standard checks. I tell them straight away that I can wiggle my toes but they move on from that really quickly and I realise that this is the least of my worries. They give me the "green stick" - a magical chemical-filled stick (lick a glow stick) that they crack and you breath through and three breaths later you are as high as a kite. The pain still didn't subside even though i was tripping, so they tape over the end so I am only sucking in the gas and the pain subsides.
******
Enough for one blog, more to follow as they prepare me for transport to the hospital, from now on my definition of pain is redefined several times over.
No training today as I was travelling to Bendigo and back for a meeting, but I managed a 10km run yesterday in the light rain - very pleasant after being couped up in a plan for 5 or 6 hours.
The reminders are everywhere: the narrow four lane roads barely wide enough for three cars (let alone four) that have semi-trailers barging their way through the traffic in both directions like a rugby league prop busting through the defensive line (cyclists have no chance); the cycle lanes and routes that I used to use to get to and from work that seemed (and probably were) a safe haven from the bustling traffic; the police station on Sydney Rd was the base for the police officers that were first on the scene after the emergency services were called; catching a glance of Amcor Packaging on the Melways (Melbourne map book), just 150 metres from where my accident occurred, and; the hospital on Moreland Street (just up the road from where I am staying for the next few days) where my urologist had his rooms.
All these things are making the memories that are usually buried just below the surface come bubbling to the top, welling up as crystal clear as the day that they happened. Only, now they are much less emotionally charged and I am more than comfortable writing the down for others to share.
From the moment that I knew that I was in the clear after my accident, I knew that one day I would tell my story. I have never really either found the right outlet or had the right starting point, but coming back to Melbourne and already well into recording my journey for the Challenge ahead has presented the perfect opportunity to at least start to put it down on paper. The real journey began 20 August 2001.
21 August 2001 Revisited
About 7:30am: This morning, life is good! I am finally starting to feel my way after starting at La Trobe University 6 months ago and, despite not getting much time on my PhD, I am feeling like I can get on top of that soon too. We are living in a town house in Richmond, just 20 minutes walk from the CBD and two minutes from the Bridge Rd shops and cafes. Its the life I’d always dreamed of. To top it all off, last week we found out that Carleen is pregnant and she is 10 weeks on. This is especially good news as we had an appointment for a fertility clinic this week after having tried for more than 18 months. We are both over the moon and looking forward to a new addition to the family.
I've been riding my new mountain bike to work for the last six weeks and I have been loosing about a kilo a week and I'm feeling great. I'm late for a meeting, but I still decide to jump on my bike rather than take the car. As I'm heading along the Yarra River bike path I am thinking about what I can do to save time and by the time I hit the one kilometer stretch of cycle lane along a main road, I have decided to whip along Grange Road to cut off about five or ten minutes of winding up another creekside bike path.
Turning the corner I see the railway line about 50 metres ahead and I think to myself that I have always felt a bit strange crossing a railway line, even in a car. As normally happens, a chill runs down my spin as my bike shudders over the lines. I spot a car parked in the left lane ahead of me and traffic is merging into the right lane to miss it. Nothing seems out of the ordinary, but I hear a truck approaching from over my right shoulder. Still nothing unusual, but as we both approach the parked car I feel the truck drift ever so slightly towards me. It seems to be taking an eternity to get passed and everything is going in slow motion, even though he's still doing at least 30km/h. I'm getting forced toward the gutter and its too high to jump. He keeps drifting left and (OH SHIT!) all of a sudden a massive feeling of panic hits me. A split second later I feel a massive pain in my elbow and the world literally spins out of control. Another split second later and I am laying in the middle of the road with the most intense burning sensation in my lower torso.
I know its bad, but not how bad. I can't get up, I feel literally glued to the road. I scream for help at the top of my voice, but all I can think is no one will hear me. I am also aware that I am laying prone with my back to a lane of rush hour traffic. Cars going the other way stop and someone jumps out of a car somewhere and comes over to me. He looks at me and I look at him, but I don't register any facial features. He reassures me and covers me with my jacket from my backpack and moments later I am being conforted by a women police officer. I say to her "I think it ran over me" and her partner says "We know it has, we can see the mark where it did." I am the preverbial possum nailed after being stuck in the headlights and flattened right across the mid-section, tyre tracks and all.
The cops start asking for a description of the truck and all I can remember is that it was a curtainsider and it was a semi-trailer. I also remember them asking if I got the licence plate - later I thought "Yeah right, while I was underneath I also got the 20 digit chassis number!"
In the distance I hear the wailing of the ambulance coming my way. It seems to take an eternity to reach me and the heat is intensifying even more and all I can do is scream for help. I have been wiggling my toes, so amongst all of this I somehow manage to think a positive thought: "at least I'm not paralysed." I don't feel like I'm going to die.., I just can't, life is too good, but this isn't good!
The ambulance arrives and they do all the standard checks. I tell them straight away that I can wiggle my toes but they move on from that really quickly and I realise that this is the least of my worries. They give me the "green stick" - a magical chemical-filled stick (lick a glow stick) that they crack and you breath through and three breaths later you are as high as a kite. The pain still didn't subside even though i was tripping, so they tape over the end so I am only sucking in the gas and the pain subsides.
******
Enough for one blog, more to follow as they prepare me for transport to the hospital, from now on my definition of pain is redefined several times over.
No training today as I was travelling to Bendigo and back for a meeting, but I managed a 10km run yesterday in the light rain - very pleasant after being couped up in a plan for 5 or 6 hours.
25 April 2010
Motivation (Part 1)
While out running lately, I have been thinking a lot about the things that are motivating me to do Challenge Wanaka and the training that goes with it. Motivation intrigues me, in fact, asking questions about human motivation is a core part of my job as an academic. You see, amongst other things, I study the wine, food and tourism consumer behaviour of people. I have read a lot about what turns people on (and off) in their daily life, their leisure time and the tourism activities. I have also written quite a bit about what aspects of wine and food consumption makes them tick and I am especially interested in those that are highly involved in these activities. But my running, and now my wider training for Challenge Wanaka, has started me thinking more deeply about what motivates me (and perhaps what drives others) to do such things.
Its intriguing me so much that from time to time I am going to post blogs that explores what is motivating me at the time or what new things I discover about myself when I reflect on this stuff. For now I am just going to say that I know that it is far more complicated than any text book can cover or any theory might explain. There are aspects of the things that I have read in psychology, consumer behaviour, leisure theory and the like that explain small fragments of what truly motivates people to do an activity that requires such a high degree of commitment and dedication.
The text books cover a multitude of the things that I have been reflecting on during my runs and they usually acknowledge the complexity of the human mind and motivation. However, I don't think that they ever quite grasp the intricacy of it all and how personal it is. They, by their nature and needing to be able to generalise, simplify things to the point that they start to loose the true essence of what makes us who we are.
I hope this doesn't sound too academic - trust me, my reflections on this have been far from academic - but the reality is, there is a part of my motivation that relates to the academic in me and that drives me to do these sorts of things. I'll start to explore this, and a number of other things about me, in the weeks to come.
Its intriguing me so much that from time to time I am going to post blogs that explores what is motivating me at the time or what new things I discover about myself when I reflect on this stuff. For now I am just going to say that I know that it is far more complicated than any text book can cover or any theory might explain. There are aspects of the things that I have read in psychology, consumer behaviour, leisure theory and the like that explain small fragments of what truly motivates people to do an activity that requires such a high degree of commitment and dedication.
The text books cover a multitude of the things that I have been reflecting on during my runs and they usually acknowledge the complexity of the human mind and motivation. However, I don't think that they ever quite grasp the intricacy of it all and how personal it is. They, by their nature and needing to be able to generalise, simplify things to the point that they start to loose the true essence of what makes us who we are.
I hope this doesn't sound too academic - trust me, my reflections on this have been far from academic - but the reality is, there is a part of my motivation that relates to the academic in me and that drives me to do these sorts of things. I'll start to explore this, and a number of other things about me, in the weeks to come.
The Week That Was (Week Five)
This week was a real test and, like everyone had already been telling me, my body finally let me know it was time to take a little bit easier for a few days. I don't think that the length of time or distances are the problem, its just I am doing too many sessions at too high an intensity. Not all sessions are too intense, but there probably half a just a little too close to race pace. This week also saw me introduce a bit more hill work on the bike and, although some of the hills were a bit tough, I enjoyed it immensely.
This week I did a total of 12.1 hours, a 4% increase over last week. Swimming increased by a total of 5 minutes over 4 sessions to 2 hours 25 minutes. Cycling distance was down by 7 km (142.8km), but the time was up by 33 minutes to 5 hours and 1 minute (mainly due to the additional hil work). Coversely, my runs were up in distance (up by 1.3km to 37.5km) and down in time (down by 9 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes), due to a couple of faster runs.
This week I did a total of 12.1 hours, a 4% increase over last week. Swimming increased by a total of 5 minutes over 4 sessions to 2 hours 25 minutes. Cycling distance was down by 7 km (142.8km), but the time was up by 33 minutes to 5 hours and 1 minute (mainly due to the additional hil work). Coversely, my runs were up in distance (up by 1.3km to 37.5km) and down in time (down by 9 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes), due to a couple of faster runs.
22 April 2010
Knackered one day, feeling great the next
Today, I feel great. I really don't understand how I can be so flat yesterday and feel so good today. I went out for a 60 minute ride around the northern part of the Taieri Plains today (flat and fast) with Jason Wadsworth and James Blundell and jumped off the bike and went for a 20 minute run with Jas.
My legs felt slow and heavy for the first 20 minutes on the bike, but once they had warmed up I started to feel really good. I was able to put on some sustained bursts and I got off the bike with my legs feeling strong. The run with Jas was a little slower than normal training pace (but not much) and once again my legs were strong.
Jas and I were chatting about about my fatigue when we were on the bike and he mentioned that the programs he had been reading for long distance bike races usually had a light training week every third or fourth week to refresh. I can't believe that I had forgotten this. My marathon training was exactly like that - build distance and time on the road for three weeks, halve your training for a week and then start buioding again from where you left off the week before. My training has been building for five weeks now, but I am having an enforced break next week (not completely, I plan to keep running and swimming), as I head to Aussie for 10 days for a conference. Actually I think that this is really good timing, as I am sure that the break will help me be faster and stronger when I come back.
I know that training is likely to be different for a race of the magnitude of Challenge Wanaka, but I am sure that I can (actually, should) schedule in a light week every so often, so I will have a chat to Coach Katie (Menzies) about it when we catch up this weekend to set my program for the next 6 weeks or so.
PS: On a really positive note, I have lost around 2kg since my "weighty problem" post a fortnight ago. Before you know it I'll be completely buff and faster than a Jack Russell on speed. Yeah, Right!
My legs felt slow and heavy for the first 20 minutes on the bike, but once they had warmed up I started to feel really good. I was able to put on some sustained bursts and I got off the bike with my legs feeling strong. The run with Jas was a little slower than normal training pace (but not much) and once again my legs were strong.
Jas and I were chatting about about my fatigue when we were on the bike and he mentioned that the programs he had been reading for long distance bike races usually had a light training week every third or fourth week to refresh. I can't believe that I had forgotten this. My marathon training was exactly like that - build distance and time on the road for three weeks, halve your training for a week and then start buioding again from where you left off the week before. My training has been building for five weeks now, but I am having an enforced break next week (not completely, I plan to keep running and swimming), as I head to Aussie for 10 days for a conference. Actually I think that this is really good timing, as I am sure that the break will help me be faster and stronger when I come back.
I know that training is likely to be different for a race of the magnitude of Challenge Wanaka, but I am sure that I can (actually, should) schedule in a light week every so often, so I will have a chat to Coach Katie (Menzies) about it when we catch up this weekend to set my program for the next 6 weeks or so.
PS: On a really positive note, I have lost around 2kg since my "weighty problem" post a fortnight ago. Before you know it I'll be completely buff and faster than a Jack Russell on speed. Yeah, Right!
21 April 2010
I'm absolutely knackered (again)
I have just finished a swim session and I am absolutely stuffed.
Before 8am this morning I set out for a 60 minute ride and, rather than do a long distance, I decided to go from home so that I had some decent hill work. I live 220 metres above seas level and the climb from the bottom of my road rises around 180 metres over just 1km. Its bloody steep and really takes it out of you. I also threw in about a 2km climb up Opoho for good measure. My legs were burning by the time I got home again and I knew that that was just the start of training for the day.
At lunchtime I did a 10k run from work, around the harbour, to Vauxhall and back. It was as gloriously sunny day and there was just a few ripples on the harbour so it was a very pleasant run. (Yestarday there was a ripping SW wind that meant that James and I could maintain 40-45km/h from Vauxhall to Portobello, so I am glad I wasn't running to Vauxhall then.) I was with Stephen and Andrea and we were setting a cracking pace - well, it was for me - and we did the first 5km in under 26 minutes (I'd usually do 27:30-28:00) and we did the whole 10km in under 53 minutes (I'd normally be around 55:00 to 57 minutes). I was exhausted but feeling good.
I hit the pool at 8pm and it really felt like I hit it hard. My legs didn't want to work at all when I was doing my kicking drills and I started getting cramp in my toes and calves. I was completely stuffed by the time I had done 20 minutes and I wasn't even doing anything at any pace. When I get exhausted at the pool my form completely goes and I am unable to concentrate and, unlike running or cycling, there is no one the push me along - no one to beat to the next corner, no one to talk to, no one to pick up the pace for all of us. So when another bought of cramp came on at 25 minutes, I decided that I'd had enough for the day and jumped out.
I am no quitter and I can run or bike through most pain or exhaustion, but I just can't swim through this yet. I know it will come, but for the meantime, I think that I am going to have to schedule my swims for when I know I am not going to be exhausted - mornings or when I have only a light run or bike early in the day.
Before 8am this morning I set out for a 60 minute ride and, rather than do a long distance, I decided to go from home so that I had some decent hill work. I live 220 metres above seas level and the climb from the bottom of my road rises around 180 metres over just 1km. Its bloody steep and really takes it out of you. I also threw in about a 2km climb up Opoho for good measure. My legs were burning by the time I got home again and I knew that that was just the start of training for the day.
At lunchtime I did a 10k run from work, around the harbour, to Vauxhall and back. It was as gloriously sunny day and there was just a few ripples on the harbour so it was a very pleasant run. (Yestarday there was a ripping SW wind that meant that James and I could maintain 40-45km/h from Vauxhall to Portobello, so I am glad I wasn't running to Vauxhall then.) I was with Stephen and Andrea and we were setting a cracking pace - well, it was for me - and we did the first 5km in under 26 minutes (I'd usually do 27:30-28:00) and we did the whole 10km in under 53 minutes (I'd normally be around 55:00 to 57 minutes). I was exhausted but feeling good.
I hit the pool at 8pm and it really felt like I hit it hard. My legs didn't want to work at all when I was doing my kicking drills and I started getting cramp in my toes and calves. I was completely stuffed by the time I had done 20 minutes and I wasn't even doing anything at any pace. When I get exhausted at the pool my form completely goes and I am unable to concentrate and, unlike running or cycling, there is no one the push me along - no one to beat to the next corner, no one to talk to, no one to pick up the pace for all of us. So when another bought of cramp came on at 25 minutes, I decided that I'd had enough for the day and jumped out.
I am no quitter and I can run or bike through most pain or exhaustion, but I just can't swim through this yet. I know it will come, but for the meantime, I think that I am going to have to schedule my swims for when I know I am not going to be exhausted - mornings or when I have only a light run or bike early in the day.
18 April 2010
Life and death
This weekend has made me think a lot about how close I came to dying when I was run over by the semi-trailer and how lucky I am to be here.
Yesterday, we attended the funeral of my wife Carleen's uncle, Les Murphy. He was a good, gentle and generous man and it was a great pleasure to have known him. He will be missed by all who knew him. Les died at the age of 78 of an aneurysm, a health problem that he had been battling for the last 14 years. Carleen was very distraught at the funeral and all of a sudden I was transported to a place that felt quite uncomfortable. Seeing Carleen so upset made me imagine how it would have been for her had I died on that road in Melbourne that August morning in 2001 or perhaps in the week after as a massive infection engulfed my system. I could not appreciate how painful that would have been for her, especially as Carleen was 10 weeks pregnant with James at the time, but the grief that she displayed for her Uncle Les gave me an insight that I had not had before.
Today there were also several reminders for me of our vulnerability as a cyclist. I was cycling with Ross Gamble, a family friend of Carleen's and a veteran of 40 years of cycling and a man whom is still very fit, and James Brundell, whom has begun cycling and running with me regularly over the last few weeks. Ross's son, Chris, was almost killed in an accident involving a large truck that was very similar to mine just a few years prior to my accident and (as I mentioned in an earlier blog) James himself was knocked from his bike and seriously injured six years ago. So I was in the presence of two people that had either directly or indirectly experienced the aftermath of a near fatal cycling accident. So my mind was already predisposed to thoughts of the fragility of life on the road as a cyclist and Ross and I discussed it on a couple of occasions as we pedalled our way to Aramoana. So when a couple of logging trucks passed each other going in opposite directions right beside us heading home from Port Chalmers, my heart was in my mouth and I was braced for the worst possible outcome. In the end, the danger wasn't real as the drivers were both aware enough to give us sufficient room, but it didn't stop a morbid fear pulsing through my veins momentarily. (The most horrifying sound in the world for me is the sound of truck rumbling up behind me on the right hand side as I am pedalling along the road.)
The flipside to all of this was some sublime moments that make you appreciate being alive and reminders that we should all live life to the full. As we crested the brow of Upper Junction Road we were greeted by the view of the glistening waters of the Otago Harbour as they shimmered in the early morning sun. Everything was perfectly still and the warmth of the sun as we emerged from the cold shadows of the valley seemed to fill me with an immense energy. It was one of those intoxicating, yet fleeting moments that almost takes your breath away. Later we arrived at Aramoana to the sight of the gentlest of waves pulsing into the beach, not a breath of wind and the fresh smell of the ocean air; another mesmorising moment. There were also times as we sped along the road between Careys Bay and Aramoana when the here and now disappeared and I felt at one with my bike - the classical experience of flow, for those academics amongst us.
Ross and I also discussed how his daughter, Di, is coping with the recent news that she has an inoperable tumor on her lungs and how the power of the mind is a truly amazing thing. Di is taking an extemely positive approach and just getting on with life, grabbing everything with both hands to maximise the positive and minimising the negative. As I pointed out to Ross, over a cuppa after our ride, if I learnt one thing from my time in hospital it was that there are two types of people in life: those who are survivors and those who are victims. The latter will always find someone else to blame, always want someone else to fix it and never be fully satisfied with their lot. Survivors take all that is thrown at them and, with grit and determination, battle their way through and more often than not come out the other side stronger and more powerful than before. Di is one such person, James is too, as was Les. I am trying to live the life of a survivor and Challenge Wanaka is one of those things that I am doing to express this - well, I'm going to give it a bloody good nudge anyway.
Yesterday, we attended the funeral of my wife Carleen's uncle, Les Murphy. He was a good, gentle and generous man and it was a great pleasure to have known him. He will be missed by all who knew him. Les died at the age of 78 of an aneurysm, a health problem that he had been battling for the last 14 years. Carleen was very distraught at the funeral and all of a sudden I was transported to a place that felt quite uncomfortable. Seeing Carleen so upset made me imagine how it would have been for her had I died on that road in Melbourne that August morning in 2001 or perhaps in the week after as a massive infection engulfed my system. I could not appreciate how painful that would have been for her, especially as Carleen was 10 weeks pregnant with James at the time, but the grief that she displayed for her Uncle Les gave me an insight that I had not had before.
Today there were also several reminders for me of our vulnerability as a cyclist. I was cycling with Ross Gamble, a family friend of Carleen's and a veteran of 40 years of cycling and a man whom is still very fit, and James Brundell, whom has begun cycling and running with me regularly over the last few weeks. Ross's son, Chris, was almost killed in an accident involving a large truck that was very similar to mine just a few years prior to my accident and (as I mentioned in an earlier blog) James himself was knocked from his bike and seriously injured six years ago. So I was in the presence of two people that had either directly or indirectly experienced the aftermath of a near fatal cycling accident. So my mind was already predisposed to thoughts of the fragility of life on the road as a cyclist and Ross and I discussed it on a couple of occasions as we pedalled our way to Aramoana. So when a couple of logging trucks passed each other going in opposite directions right beside us heading home from Port Chalmers, my heart was in my mouth and I was braced for the worst possible outcome. In the end, the danger wasn't real as the drivers were both aware enough to give us sufficient room, but it didn't stop a morbid fear pulsing through my veins momentarily. (The most horrifying sound in the world for me is the sound of truck rumbling up behind me on the right hand side as I am pedalling along the road.)
The flipside to all of this was some sublime moments that make you appreciate being alive and reminders that we should all live life to the full. As we crested the brow of Upper Junction Road we were greeted by the view of the glistening waters of the Otago Harbour as they shimmered in the early morning sun. Everything was perfectly still and the warmth of the sun as we emerged from the cold shadows of the valley seemed to fill me with an immense energy. It was one of those intoxicating, yet fleeting moments that almost takes your breath away. Later we arrived at Aramoana to the sight of the gentlest of waves pulsing into the beach, not a breath of wind and the fresh smell of the ocean air; another mesmorising moment. There were also times as we sped along the road between Careys Bay and Aramoana when the here and now disappeared and I felt at one with my bike - the classical experience of flow, for those academics amongst us.
Ross and I also discussed how his daughter, Di, is coping with the recent news that she has an inoperable tumor on her lungs and how the power of the mind is a truly amazing thing. Di is taking an extemely positive approach and just getting on with life, grabbing everything with both hands to maximise the positive and minimising the negative. As I pointed out to Ross, over a cuppa after our ride, if I learnt one thing from my time in hospital it was that there are two types of people in life: those who are survivors and those who are victims. The latter will always find someone else to blame, always want someone else to fix it and never be fully satisfied with their lot. Survivors take all that is thrown at them and, with grit and determination, battle their way through and more often than not come out the other side stronger and more powerful than before. Di is one such person, James is too, as was Les. I am trying to live the life of a survivor and Challenge Wanaka is one of those things that I am doing to express this - well, I'm going to give it a bloody good nudge anyway.
16 April 2010
The Week That Was (Week Four)
This week has been an interesting week as it is the first full week where the rest day was on the scheduled day (Saturday) as there were no interruptions with events or being out of town. That has meant 6 days straight of training for the first time and its also the first time I have done 4 swim sessions. To be honest, I have coped better with this week than I did with last week, where the rest day was on Monday after an a triathlon 13 k run and long ride over the Easter break.
I have increased the amount of training by around 15% to 11.6 hours over the previous 2 weeks. The increase was due to an almost doubling of my swimming from 80 minutes to 150 minutes and cycling of 5 hours 28 minutes (150 k) which was up by 23 minutes. My runs have remained relatively steady at 3:39 and 36.2 k, however my long run today was 5 minutes faster than last week over the same route.
Milestones for the week included:
I have increased the amount of training by around 15% to 11.6 hours over the previous 2 weeks. The increase was due to an almost doubling of my swimming from 80 minutes to 150 minutes and cycling of 5 hours 28 minutes (150 k) which was up by 23 minutes. My runs have remained relatively steady at 3:39 and 36.2 k, however my long run today was 5 minutes faster than last week over the same route.
Milestones for the week included:
- the 100k ride and 150 k riding for the week
- improving my swim stroke ever so slightly with the aid of a rubber ducky (I'll explain in a later blog)
- getting 4 swim sessions under my belt for the week
- most training in a week ever, including training for the Southland Marathon last year.
15 April 2010
An in-between state
The last couple of days have been kind of strange. All of a sudden I feel stronger - my legs feel more powerful, my shoulders and chest a little bit stronger and overall I feel like I can do a little bit more. At the same time, however, I feel fatigued - my arms ache, my quads are sore I almost fell asleep at 5:15 this afternoon. The first five minutes of any training session are usually hell, but once I get going I feel great (aside from a niggle in my right quad that won't go away).
One of my problems is that I am struggling with sleep. No matter what time I go to bed, it takes me a while to get to sleep and then I wake up several times during the night to go for a pee until, at 5am, I am awake for good and usually with really hot legs - not wide awake, but enough to be restless until I get up around 6:30 or 7:00. I am also waking up quite sore in the morning, especially in the hips and back, and I think that my plantar fasciitis is coming back. Once I get up and moving though I am fine.
I am hoping the strong-fatigued thing is just a stage and that it is a sign that something good is happening - it certainly feels like its a positive thing.
One of my problems is that I am struggling with sleep. No matter what time I go to bed, it takes me a while to get to sleep and then I wake up several times during the night to go for a pee until, at 5am, I am awake for good and usually with really hot legs - not wide awake, but enough to be restless until I get up around 6:30 or 7:00. I am also waking up quite sore in the morning, especially in the hips and back, and I think that my plantar fasciitis is coming back. Once I get up and moving though I am fine.
I am hoping the strong-fatigued thing is just a stage and that it is a sign that something good is happening - it certainly feels like its a positive thing.
13 April 2010
How embarrassing!
I had my first swim session with Aleisha Clark of JC Swim School tonight and I felt slightly embarrassed. I turned up early and Aleisha welcomed me and said that she had read my blog and 'learnt lots of things about me that she didn't know'. I had told her to read it to see how my swimming had been going as my blogs are littered with entries bemoaning my lack of ability in the water.
A little while later the other members of the class turned up - one guy and one woman - and, to my embarrassment, I think the woman is the 'little old lady' that came in behind me at the Lake Hayes Tri that I discussed in my blog about the race. I was far too embarrassed to mention it to Aleisha and I definitely didn't say anything to the woman in the class. As it turns out, while she is petite, she is not as old as I might have made out in my previous blog.
I think that I might have to be careful about what I write here!
Anyway it turns out that Aleisha doesn't think that my basic technique is that bad, but she said that my kick sucks. I kind of knew that was what she was going to say and I also knew that she was going to tell me that the only way to fix it is to do lots of kicking in the pool - and she did. She also said that to get faster I need to swim faster and that means doing sprints in my training rather than endless lengths. I have to say that this is good news, as I don't think that I could have faced doing non-stop lengths in the pool. For now it means doing multiple 25 metre sprints in the pool, but she said that I can work up to 200 metre sprints by about November/December.
My problemright now is facing the embarrassment of going to Moana pool and doing lengths with the kickboard that take me about 5 minutes and include a couple of stops on the way. Watch this space, I am sure that I will be writing more about this in the coming weeks.
A little while later the other members of the class turned up - one guy and one woman - and, to my embarrassment, I think the woman is the 'little old lady' that came in behind me at the Lake Hayes Tri that I discussed in my blog about the race. I was far too embarrassed to mention it to Aleisha and I definitely didn't say anything to the woman in the class. As it turns out, while she is petite, she is not as old as I might have made out in my previous blog.
I think that I might have to be careful about what I write here!
Anyway it turns out that Aleisha doesn't think that my basic technique is that bad, but she said that my kick sucks. I kind of knew that was what she was going to say and I also knew that she was going to tell me that the only way to fix it is to do lots of kicking in the pool - and she did. She also said that to get faster I need to swim faster and that means doing sprints in my training rather than endless lengths. I have to say that this is good news, as I don't think that I could have faced doing non-stop lengths in the pool. For now it means doing multiple 25 metre sprints in the pool, but she said that I can work up to 200 metre sprints by about November/December.
My problemright now is facing the embarrassment of going to Moana pool and doing lengths with the kickboard that take me about 5 minutes and include a couple of stops on the way. Watch this space, I am sure that I will be writing more about this in the coming weeks.
11 April 2010
100k Day
Today was my first 100k day ever. I went for a ride with Michael at 8am this morning, setting out from the Mosgiel Pool intent on doing about 80km or 3 hours on the bike. We headed though Outram to Berwick and by the time we were back past Mosgiel and Wingatui, we had decided that we would be bloody close to 100km by the time we finished so we made sure that we added a few detours and loopbacks to make it to the magical three figure ride.
I felt great the whole way - excpet for my butt, which is still struggling with the saddle (even the new one) and I have recovered well this afternoon. We managed the 100km in just on 3:40 or just over 27km per hour. It was mostly on the flat and, while there was a bit of breeze it wasn't strong. All in all I am well-pleased with today's effort.
Thanks to Michael for keeping me company and giving me someone to stay ahead of. We both decided at about 90km that he is insane to be doing these long rides with me as he hasn't done any other training. He is hoping to keep up with me on more long rides including doing a 180km ride at some stage. Me-thinks he might need to do a little more time in the saddle or he is going to be in a power of pain - god knows he was today. Good on ya mate!
I felt great the whole way - excpet for my butt, which is still struggling with the saddle (even the new one) and I have recovered well this afternoon. We managed the 100km in just on 3:40 or just over 27km per hour. It was mostly on the flat and, while there was a bit of breeze it wasn't strong. All in all I am well-pleased with today's effort.
Thanks to Michael for keeping me company and giving me someone to stay ahead of. We both decided at about 90km that he is insane to be doing these long rides with me as he hasn't done any other training. He is hoping to keep up with me on more long rides including doing a 180km ride at some stage. Me-thinks he might need to do a little more time in the saddle or he is going to be in a power of pain - god knows he was today. Good on ya mate!
10 April 2010
The week that was... (Week Three)
The end of last week's training marked 40 weeks to go until Challenge Wanaka. As you can tell by my blog on the 9th, it was a pretty tough week after a couple of weeks with back-to-back races.
I managed 10.2 hours of training including: 37.5km running (3:49); 115.7km on the bike (5:05), and; 1:20 in the pool. I was a couple of sessions short in the water with the Easter break and he fact that the lakes were too cold to swim in even though I had my wet suit with me.
I managed 10.2 hours of training including: 37.5km running (3:49); 115.7km on the bike (5:05), and; 1:20 in the pool. I was a couple of sessions short in the water with the Easter break and he fact that the lakes were too cold to swim in even though I had my wet suit with me.
09 April 2010
Thank goodness for rest days
Last week, in a post, I suggested that I was beginning to enjoy the feeling of slight fatique in my legs all the time - I know, I'm sick and I need help. Well today I am starting to think that maybe that feeling has become more than a little bit slight.
I went for a run with Stephen today and I really struggled to make a decent pace and I had to let him take off on the way home. I still managed almost one and half hours on the road, but it was bloody hard work right from the get go. My legs are just a bit knackered. Thank goodness I have a rest day tomorrow!
Some time in the pool this evening will also help loosen my up and I am going to spend a good 15-20 miuntes in the spa after that.
I went for a run with Stephen today and I really struggled to make a decent pace and I had to let him take off on the way home. I still managed almost one and half hours on the road, but it was bloody hard work right from the get go. My legs are just a bit knackered. Thank goodness I have a rest day tomorrow!
Some time in the pool this evening will also help loosen my up and I am going to spend a good 15-20 miuntes in the spa after that.
08 April 2010
Gear
This week I have had some issues with my bike. A buckled front rim from the Lake Hayes Tri, a graunching noise in the bottom bracket, noisey brakes and the replacement of a front shifter that was replaced under warantee. I have bought all my bike gear from Cycle Surgery (Dunedin) and I get my repairs done there too. The guys are really helpful and friendly and Goughy usually does me a good deal on parts and accessories. I especially like that Emma takes an interest in my training whenever she sees me in the store and the fact that she remembers my name.
I have a 2009 Scott Speedster S40 and I like it a lot. Apart from the seat,
the only things that I have changed are the wheels. Goughy traded in the factory wheels and $200 for a set of entry level Mavics and I am astounded at the difference. I am also astounded at the difference a descent set of tyres has made to the ride.
I am not a slave to the latest gear or the newest gadget but I am happy to spend good money on gear that is functional and that I really need. This week I bought a new seat for my bike as I am sick of my neather regions going numb or my little fella falling off (not literally, but it certainly feels like it sometimes) after about an hour on the bike. So far all of my cycling clothing is second hand (thanks to Michael) or old and none of it has any logos or labels. I am always on the lookout for a good deal on clothing on Torpedo7. Its an awesome site and the deals are great, but I haven't found quite what I am looking for at the moment. I've bought a pump and some lights there so far, but I buy most of my gear from the Cycle Surgery because I appreciate the advice and the fact that I can take it back straight away if it doesn't work.
I have a 2009 Scott Speedster S40 and I like it a lot. Apart from the seat,
the only things that I have changed are the wheels. Goughy traded in the factory wheels and $200 for a set of entry level Mavics and I am astounded at the difference. I am also astounded at the difference a descent set of tyres has made to the ride.I am not a slave to the latest gear or the newest gadget but I am happy to spend good money on gear that is functional and that I really need. This week I bought a new seat for my bike as I am sick of my neather regions going numb or my little fella falling off (not literally, but it certainly feels like it sometimes) after about an hour on the bike. So far all of my cycling clothing is second hand (thanks to Michael) or old and none of it has any logos or labels. I am always on the lookout for a good deal on clothing on Torpedo7. Its an awesome site and the deals are great, but I haven't found quite what I am looking for at the moment. I've bought a pump and some lights there so far, but I buy most of my gear from the Cycle Surgery because I appreciate the advice and the fact that I can take it back straight away if it doesn't work.
My wetsuit cost me $99 and is fine for keeping me warm, but it weighs a ton with all of the water that it holds. Its not really designed as a swimming wet suit, but it'll do for the moment. In spring, I'll get a new one in the spring when things warm up and I am able to hit the harbour again some open water swims.
My wish list/gear list for the rest of the year is as follows:
- A couple of pairs of cycling shorts
- Another pair of bib shorts
- Some thermal gear for winter
- A proper triathlon wetsuit
- A trisuit (when I have lost enough weight to not look like an overstuffed sausage)
- Aerobars
- A Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS watch (This really is wishlist material and it is the one exception to my 'no flashy gadgets' rule).
I am just really lucky that Carleen is fully behind this and that she is happy to have me spend a reasonably sizable amount of money in the lead up to Challenge Wanaka. Thanks, Carleen!
07 April 2010
A weighty problem!
Training is going well and I am managing to keep largely to my schedule. I have had to juggle a few sessions this week as its been hard to fit things around travelling back from Hawea and also getting my bike in for some servicing.
To be honest Easter has thrown me a little bit, not just because of the travel to and from Hawea, but because it has really highlighted one of the key barriers that I have to overcome. You see, I’m not exactly the slimmest guy around. In fact a number of people call me “Big Guy”. Easter has highlighted my biggest weakness when it comes to training - I eat too much and I love chocolate!
When I started serious training about 18 months ago I was nudging 135kg with a BMI in the morbidly obese range. I’ve dropped almost 30 kgs since then, but I’ve stalled at around 105-107kgs since December.
I have been to a sports nutritionist and paid too much money for an eating plan, stayed on it for about 6 weeks and loosing about 4 kgs. However, I soon became bored of the menu and I also find that my training makes me hungary. I know what I am supposed to eat and when and I stick to it about 75% of the time, but the other 25% of the time I eat way too much and I give in to temptation too easily.
My target weight for race day is under 85kgs so I am going to have to loose another 20 or so kgs over the next 40 weeks. With the temptation of easter eggs gone, I am hoping to be more disciplined and hoping to drop 10 or so kgs over the next 10 weeks. For the moment, I know I am changing shape and that, with a recent increase in training, I am building up muscle especially my quads, glutes and shoulders.
I know that as I drop weight I am going to get faster and stronger and that it will aid my training. For the meantime though, I just need to stop eating crap and start turning to a completely healthy diet.
To be honest Easter has thrown me a little bit, not just because of the travel to and from Hawea, but because it has really highlighted one of the key barriers that I have to overcome. You see, I’m not exactly the slimmest guy around. In fact a number of people call me “Big Guy”. Easter has highlighted my biggest weakness when it comes to training - I eat too much and I love chocolate!
When I started serious training about 18 months ago I was nudging 135kg with a BMI in the morbidly obese range. I’ve dropped almost 30 kgs since then, but I’ve stalled at around 105-107kgs since December.
I have been to a sports nutritionist and paid too much money for an eating plan, stayed on it for about 6 weeks and loosing about 4 kgs. However, I soon became bored of the menu and I also find that my training makes me hungary. I know what I am supposed to eat and when and I stick to it about 75% of the time, but the other 25% of the time I eat way too much and I give in to temptation too easily.
My target weight for race day is under 85kgs so I am going to have to loose another 20 or so kgs over the next 40 weeks. With the temptation of easter eggs gone, I am hoping to be more disciplined and hoping to drop 10 or so kgs over the next 10 weeks. For the moment, I know I am changing shape and that, with a recent increase in training, I am building up muscle especially my quads, glutes and shoulders.
I know that as I drop weight I am going to get faster and stronger and that it will aid my training. For the meantime though, I just need to stop eating crap and start turning to a completely healthy diet.
03 April 2010
The week that was (Week Two)
The week started on Saturday with my PB at the Southern Lakes Half Marathon and finished with a 1:30 finish at the Lake Hayes Tri. All-in-all a pretty good week of competition and training.
Including races, I managed 4 run sessions totalling 36km and 2 hours 17 minutes, 4 bike sessions totalling 120km and 3:38 and 3 swims totalling 1:24. That's a total of 10 hours 20 minutes of training; 2:20 more than scheduled thanks largely to the extra long bike ride on Sunday.
Including races, I managed 4 run sessions totalling 36km and 2 hours 17 minutes, 4 bike sessions totalling 120km and 3:38 and 3 swims totalling 1:24. That's a total of 10 hours 20 minutes of training; 2:20 more than scheduled thanks largely to the extra long bike ride on Sunday.
My swimming sucks!
I completed my second triathlon on Good Friday. It was the Salomon Lake Hayes Tri. I’ve done the duathlon at this event a couple of times in a team with Michael and we even won the duathlon teams’ event one year. It’s a reasonably tough course, especially the run, which follows the lake front along an undulating (sometimes quite steeply) gravel track.
This year was my first attempt at the full triathlon and my target was 1:30:00 (20 minutes for the swim, 40 minutes for the bike and 30 minutes for the run). In fact I made it in 1:29:49 and I was pretty pleased with all of my splits and overall time. I was especially pleased with my ride which I felt was very strong and I managed to go from 75th (out of 76) overall to 52nd overall so I picked up 23 places on the bike and run legs. BUT, my swim sucked – even though I did it in the time I thought it would take. I was second last out of the water and second last out of transition and the only person behind me was literally a little old lady. It’s bloody embarrassing and it is costing me heaps of places and heaps of time.
I know, I’ve already said it in another blog, but this has really brought it home to me – I must get some coaching and I must spend more time in the pool. I am pretty sure that I will be able to complete the 3.8km swim for Challenge Wanaka, but at this rate it could take me a couple of hours. At least I am realizing it early and I still have a little over 10 months to get it sorted.
This year was my first attempt at the full triathlon and my target was 1:30:00 (20 minutes for the swim, 40 minutes for the bike and 30 minutes for the run). In fact I made it in 1:29:49 and I was pretty pleased with all of my splits and overall time. I was especially pleased with my ride which I felt was very strong and I managed to go from 75th (out of 76) overall to 52nd overall so I picked up 23 places on the bike and run legs. BUT, my swim sucked – even though I did it in the time I thought it would take. I was second last out of the water and second last out of transition and the only person behind me was literally a little old lady. It’s bloody embarrassing and it is costing me heaps of places and heaps of time.
I know, I’ve already said it in another blog, but this has really brought it home to me – I must get some coaching and I must spend more time in the pool. I am pretty sure that I will be able to complete the 3.8km swim for Challenge Wanaka, but at this rate it could take me a couple of hours. At least I am realizing it early and I still have a little over 10 months to get it sorted.
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