This month my blog will exceed 1000 page views for the month. Wow!
When I started out I hoped that I might get a few people to read it, so 1000 page views in a month is amazing. Thanks for reading and I hope you have enjoyed it and will continue to do so.
BTW: I'm pretty sure it's not Mum reading everything dozen's of times, I don't think she knows how to navigate her way around the blog that well. :-)
29 November 2010
28 November 2010
Big weekend
Just a very quick one before heading to bed for some well earned rest - lots more blog material to come.
Yesterday, I did a 7 hour training day, including all but a few ks of the bike course (175.8km) in
6 hours 18 minutes (including 3 stops to fill up my water bottles). Wow! Its a bloody long way, but I made it. I also tried to run at least 1 lap of the run course, but in 31+ degree heat, I had to walk most of it and was completely overwhelmed by the temperature.
Today was a record November high for Wanaka, so now I have trained in snow, frost, hail, rain, gale force winds and record high temperatures.
Yesterday, I did a 7 hour training day, including all but a few ks of the bike course (175.8km) in
6 hours 18 minutes (including 3 stops to fill up my water bottles). Wow! Its a bloody long way, but I made it. I also tried to run at least 1 lap of the run course, but in 31+ degree heat, I had to walk most of it and was completely overwhelmed by the temperature.
Today was a record November high for Wanaka, so now I have trained in snow, frost, hail, rain, gale force winds and record high temperatures.
24 November 2010
Post-Race Blues - AGAIN
Really flat today. I had run session at lunchtime that just felt crap. My knees and hips were stiff and I just didn't feel like going hard, even though I had intervals to do (5 x 3 min @ 3-5km pace). I was able to do three at the pace, but had to back off a little for the last two. Overall, I guess it wasn't a bad session, I just didn't feel so good doing it.
This evening I went for swim in the harbour with Geoff, James and Alice (a fellow Challengee and pretty good swimmer) and I just couldn't be arsed. I did everything that the others did, but I was a long way behind and I stopped on too many occasions to be that effective.
I guess (as Alice pointed out), that's what you get from five and half hours of racing. It also doesn't help that I have a little health problem (starts with 'h' and ends with 'roid' and very large - OUCH!) that has been causing me a lot of pain since the race. It was extremely bad overnight and this morning and I was able to do little else but lie on the sofa until about 11am. A visit to the doctor this afternoon for a remedy seems to have relieved the pain for the moment. When the doctor is doing the examination and he says "OH! Shit, that will be painful", you know that it's a goodun'.
This evening I went for swim in the harbour with Geoff, James and Alice (a fellow Challengee and pretty good swimmer) and I just couldn't be arsed. I did everything that the others did, but I was a long way behind and I stopped on too many occasions to be that effective.
I guess (as Alice pointed out), that's what you get from five and half hours of racing. It also doesn't help that I have a little health problem (starts with 'h' and ends with 'roid' and very large - OUCH!) that has been causing me a lot of pain since the race. It was extremely bad overnight and this morning and I was able to do little else but lie on the sofa until about 11am. A visit to the doctor this afternoon for a remedy seems to have relieved the pain for the moment. When the doctor is doing the examination and he says "OH! Shit, that will be painful", you know that it's a goodun'.
22 November 2010
Nirvana
It's crazy to think that just 10 months ago I was contemplating spending the year training for the Lake Wanaka Half Ironman as my ultimate goal for the next 12 months to see if I might be capable of pulling off a full iron-distance triathlon and here I am in November sitting at the computer having completed my first half ironman and itching to do Challenge Wanaka in a little over 50 days. What is even more amazing is that a little over 48 hours after the completing the South Island Half IronmanI have little more than a few areas of chaffing and a bit of tenderness in my left calf: I feel fantastic!
Unlike any other race I have done, the weekend was the complete package: travelling up with Coach Geoff discussing tactics, racing and the meaning of life; preparing our gear for the race (sometimes in our own wee world and other times sharing our thoughts); sussing out the course the day before; catching up with other triathlon mates/acquaintances at the mote; bettering my own expectations on race day; and then, pigging out at Macca's without feeling the slightest bit guilty (Geoff and I worked out we would have to have eaten at least 10 Big Macs to replace the energy we had burned during the race).
The race itself was an amazing experience, full of emotion, excitement and physical challenges. There is obviously too much to discuss here, but there were some moments in the five and half hours that will be etched in my memory forever. So, rather than give a blow by blow description, I have selected the most poignant and emotional moment. In my mind, I had imagined that I would be most moved by crossing the finish line. I was emotional as I crossed the line and could only manage 'Half way there - bring on Challenge Wanaka!' over the PA when the race director asked me how I felt (any more and the emotion would have boiled over). However, nothing at all could have prepared me for what I experienced at the start line:
Approximately 8:20am - Race Briefing, Lake Hood, South Island Half Ironman.
The race director has been giving instructions for the last 7 or 8 minutes and, to be honest, I haven't taken much of it in. I know that the swim course is completely different to what Geoff and I had thought when we came down to the lake yesterday, but the rest has not registered at all. I have spent most of the last 10 minutes in 'the zone' looking at people but not really registering who they are, hearing the briefing but not really listening and knowing that it is cold and breezy but I can't feel anything. My attention is grabbed momentarily as I spot Rachel Harris, who has provided the most amazing virtual support through myblog, and I briefly contemplate going to introduce myself, but in an instant I decide that this would only be a distraction that I cannot afford.
Suddenly a sea of black wetsuits and multi-coloured swim caps begins to slowly pour down the bank towards the lake and my fellow competitors begin to enter the water. I find myself drifting along peacefully in the tide until my feet become immersed in the warm and comforting waters of Lake Hood. I pause... Then, dive head-long into the dark, yet inviting water.
Time stands still and I am overcome by an amazing and utterly awe-inspiring sense of calm. The water ripples across my cheeks and I am surrounded by bubbles that seem to glisten like stars. Still submersed, I pull one breast stroke and glide effortlessly amongst the shiny tan weed. The moment seems like an eternity and I don't want it to stop.
This moment is the start of a new beginning and the end result of a lot of hard work. My journey is just beginning, but I have arrived. I feel immensely powerful and incredibly vulnerable all at once. I am ready for, yet apprehensive of, what lies ahead. I am fearful, but not afraid. I should be nervous, but I am at peace. This is nirvana. Whatever lies ahead, all the training, all the sacrifice, all the pain has been worth it for this moment.
I am blown away by the power of what could have been no more than 5 or 10 seconds of bliss. Come 15 January 2011, I will use this to focus my mind and give me strength.
Unlike any other race I have done, the weekend was the complete package: travelling up with Coach Geoff discussing tactics, racing and the meaning of life; preparing our gear for the race (sometimes in our own wee world and other times sharing our thoughts); sussing out the course the day before; catching up with other triathlon mates/acquaintances at the mote; bettering my own expectations on race day; and then, pigging out at Macca's without feeling the slightest bit guilty (Geoff and I worked out we would have to have eaten at least 10 Big Macs to replace the energy we had burned during the race).
The race itself was an amazing experience, full of emotion, excitement and physical challenges. There is obviously too much to discuss here, but there were some moments in the five and half hours that will be etched in my memory forever. So, rather than give a blow by blow description, I have selected the most poignant and emotional moment. In my mind, I had imagined that I would be most moved by crossing the finish line. I was emotional as I crossed the line and could only manage 'Half way there - bring on Challenge Wanaka!' over the PA when the race director asked me how I felt (any more and the emotion would have boiled over). However, nothing at all could have prepared me for what I experienced at the start line:
Approximately 8:20am - Race Briefing, Lake Hood, South Island Half Ironman.
The race director has been giving instructions for the last 7 or 8 minutes and, to be honest, I haven't taken much of it in. I know that the swim course is completely different to what Geoff and I had thought when we came down to the lake yesterday, but the rest has not registered at all. I have spent most of the last 10 minutes in 'the zone' looking at people but not really registering who they are, hearing the briefing but not really listening and knowing that it is cold and breezy but I can't feel anything. My attention is grabbed momentarily as I spot Rachel Harris, who has provided the most amazing virtual support through myblog, and I briefly contemplate going to introduce myself, but in an instant I decide that this would only be a distraction that I cannot afford.
Suddenly a sea of black wetsuits and multi-coloured swim caps begins to slowly pour down the bank towards the lake and my fellow competitors begin to enter the water. I find myself drifting along peacefully in the tide until my feet become immersed in the warm and comforting waters of Lake Hood. I pause... Then, dive head-long into the dark, yet inviting water.
Time stands still and I am overcome by an amazing and utterly awe-inspiring sense of calm. The water ripples across my cheeks and I am surrounded by bubbles that seem to glisten like stars. Still submersed, I pull one breast stroke and glide effortlessly amongst the shiny tan weed. The moment seems like an eternity and I don't want it to stop.
This moment is the start of a new beginning and the end result of a lot of hard work. My journey is just beginning, but I have arrived. I feel immensely powerful and incredibly vulnerable all at once. I am ready for, yet apprehensive of, what lies ahead. I am fearful, but not afraid. I should be nervous, but I am at peace. This is nirvana. Whatever lies ahead, all the training, all the sacrifice, all the pain has been worth it for this moment.
I am blown away by the power of what could have been no more than 5 or 10 seconds of bliss. Come 15 January 2011, I will use this to focus my mind and give me strength.
21 November 2010
Half way there
Just a quick note to say that I knocked off the South Island Half Ironman yesterday in a time that surprised even me. I was hoping for anything under 6 hours and I managed 5:34:48. I am absolutely stoked!Full race report to follow tomorrow... it was an amazing experience full of heaps of emotion so it should be an interesting post.
By the way: The body is feeling amazingly good today. I just hate to think what it might be like tomorrow when the DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) sets in. I hope that this isn't the calm before the storm.
18 November 2010
All packed and ready to go
Just finished packing for the road trip to Ashburton tomorrow. Geoff and I are leaving Dunnos at 7:30am and heading out on the highway to the might metropolis of "Ash Vegas". The plan is to be there early afternoon to suss out the course, have a bit of a splash in the lake and practice tranistions.
Geoff is competing too, but currently has a popped rib and hasn't been able to run for 8 days or so. He may have to walk some or all of the run, so there is a slim (and I mean paper thin) chance I'll be able to catch him on the run. He'll smoke me on the swim and bike, so he will have to be down to a crawl.
The forecast for race day is for rain and a southerly change, so that might make things a little interesting. The rainfall maps are only showing light rain, winds up to 10km/h so that shouldn't be too bad (fingers crossed) and the temperature is supposed to be a mild 18 degrees . I can handle the rain and I don't mind the wind on the run, but I hate the wind on the bike. Oh well, I can't control the weather so I will just have to take what comes.
My race plan is to concentrate hard on technique on all legs (including transitions). I'm going to keep it simple so that I can stay focussed. My time will be what it will be and I am sure that I have done enough work to finish strongly (for a 40 year old over-weight guy who was run over by a truck - whatever that might mean). It is very clear in my mind that this is not the end goal, just a step on the way. Sure, I will have my race face on and, sure, I will try my hardest, but I will be making sure that I pace myself for a strong finish rather than going nuts and then fading at the end.
Ash Vegas, here we come!
Geoff is competing too, but currently has a popped rib and hasn't been able to run for 8 days or so. He may have to walk some or all of the run, so there is a slim (and I mean paper thin) chance I'll be able to catch him on the run. He'll smoke me on the swim and bike, so he will have to be down to a crawl.
The forecast for race day is for rain and a southerly change, so that might make things a little interesting. The rainfall maps are only showing light rain, winds up to 10km/h so that shouldn't be too bad (fingers crossed) and the temperature is supposed to be a mild 18 degrees . I can handle the rain and I don't mind the wind on the run, but I hate the wind on the bike. Oh well, I can't control the weather so I will just have to take what comes.
My race plan is to concentrate hard on technique on all legs (including transitions). I'm going to keep it simple so that I can stay focussed. My time will be what it will be and I am sure that I have done enough work to finish strongly (for a 40 year old over-weight guy who was run over by a truck - whatever that might mean). It is very clear in my mind that this is not the end goal, just a step on the way. Sure, I will have my race face on and, sure, I will try my hardest, but I will be making sure that I pace myself for a strong finish rather than going nuts and then fading at the end.
Ash Vegas, here we come!
17 November 2010
Are you out there?
Just thought I'd try a little experiment.
I am able to track how many page views I receive (between 550 and 700 per month). I also know that about 80 percent of the page views come from New Zealand and 20 percent from overseas and a large proportion come from people who link from the Challenge Wanaka home page. However, I have no idea how many people are actually reading my blog. I have 6 official "followers" and 10 people receive an email of each posting, plus I know of about 6-10 other people who read it (including my Mum - Hi Mum), but beyond that I have no idea where the other 500 plus page views come from (is it 50 people reading 10 pages or 500 people reading just one?).
I am really keen to know more about who my audience is. So, if you read this, I'd love for you to leave me a brief comment in the comments box below - even just a "Hi" would be great.
PS I am going to be getting back to the story of my accident over the coming weeks. I am now on sabbatical until April and I will have a more flexible timetable and will be in writing mode for work. Once I get into the groove with writing (academic or otherwise), the words will just flow. So I hope you are prepared for a lot more posts over the next 9 or 10 weeks.
I am able to track how many page views I receive (between 550 and 700 per month). I also know that about 80 percent of the page views come from New Zealand and 20 percent from overseas and a large proportion come from people who link from the Challenge Wanaka home page. However, I have no idea how many people are actually reading my blog. I have 6 official "followers" and 10 people receive an email of each posting, plus I know of about 6-10 other people who read it (including my Mum - Hi Mum), but beyond that I have no idea where the other 500 plus page views come from (is it 50 people reading 10 pages or 500 people reading just one?).
I am really keen to know more about who my audience is. So, if you read this, I'd love for you to leave me a brief comment in the comments box below - even just a "Hi" would be great.
PS I am going to be getting back to the story of my accident over the coming weeks. I am now on sabbatical until April and I will have a more flexible timetable and will be in writing mode for work. Once I get into the groove with writing (academic or otherwise), the words will just flow. So I hope you are prepared for a lot more posts over the next 9 or 10 weeks.
Running off the nerves
My lunchtime ride today was crap. I couldn't concentrate, my mind wandered and 18km/hour felt like hard work while 35km/hr was a breeze. The nervous energy was making my mind play games with me.
Throughout the day I have received all sorts of emails from people who've read my blog and its been great. (Keep'em coming folks, I'd love to hear from you even if I don't know you - it's a huge buzz to get feedback from people.) There has been lots of really sage advice and lots of reassurance. I also had a rub from Coach "Magic Hands*" Geoff (on a niggly hamstring) this afternoon and we chatted about the race and how to approach this evening's run session.
I had a nice short set of 3 x 3 minute efforts at threshold with 3 minute rest intervals so it was a matter of warming up, concentrating for 15 minutes or so and warming down. I decided to approach the reps by concentrating on one thing - HIPS FORWARD! I started each rep well, concentrating hard on getting my hips forward while maintaining leg speed. However, in each set I also lost concentration after a minute or so as a vision of this weekend's race would pop into my head (the last kilometre of the race, starting on the run after transition, the finish line, etc). It would take me 20 seconds or so to get back on track, but I managed to get back to thinking 'hips forward' and the pace would pick up again. When I looked at my Garmin graph of each effort when I got home, you could see where I lost concetration as I slowed significantly. In the end I manage the first two reps at 4:24/kilometre pace and the third at 4:09 pace. That has well and truly settled the nerves - for now at least.
Six months ago, if you had told me I'd be running at 4:24 pace at all I would have laughed at you, let alone 4:09 and for 3 minutes. Secretly, I now can't wait to break the 4 minute mark for a threshold run like that. I now believe that it is possible. Hell, I can do better than that, I know it will happen and soon! Bring it on!
Thanks to everyone for all of the advice today and thanks again to Coach Geoff for a training program that seems to hit all of the right notes at just the right time.
* "Magic hands" - I think Alison Shanks is the one that called him that, but it is true. He works miracles with those hands.
Throughout the day I have received all sorts of emails from people who've read my blog and its been great. (Keep'em coming folks, I'd love to hear from you even if I don't know you - it's a huge buzz to get feedback from people.) There has been lots of really sage advice and lots of reassurance. I also had a rub from Coach "Magic Hands*" Geoff (on a niggly hamstring) this afternoon and we chatted about the race and how to approach this evening's run session.
I had a nice short set of 3 x 3 minute efforts at threshold with 3 minute rest intervals so it was a matter of warming up, concentrating for 15 minutes or so and warming down. I decided to approach the reps by concentrating on one thing - HIPS FORWARD! I started each rep well, concentrating hard on getting my hips forward while maintaining leg speed. However, in each set I also lost concentration after a minute or so as a vision of this weekend's race would pop into my head (the last kilometre of the race, starting on the run after transition, the finish line, etc). It would take me 20 seconds or so to get back on track, but I managed to get back to thinking 'hips forward' and the pace would pick up again. When I looked at my Garmin graph of each effort when I got home, you could see where I lost concetration as I slowed significantly. In the end I manage the first two reps at 4:24/kilometre pace and the third at 4:09 pace. That has well and truly settled the nerves - for now at least.
Six months ago, if you had told me I'd be running at 4:24 pace at all I would have laughed at you, let alone 4:09 and for 3 minutes. Secretly, I now can't wait to break the 4 minute mark for a threshold run like that. I now believe that it is possible. Hell, I can do better than that, I know it will happen and soon! Bring it on!
Thanks to everyone for all of the advice today and thanks again to Coach Geoff for a training program that seems to hit all of the right notes at just the right time.
* "Magic hands" - I think Alison Shanks is the one that called him that, but it is true. He works miracles with those hands.
Nerves and excitement
Only three days until my first half ironman and the nervous energy is really starting to build. Actually, it's not built as such, but gone from 0 to 100 in no time flat. I find myself concerned about the unknown - what is transition like? how long is the run out of the water to transition? what is the weather going to be like? what is the water temperature? As such, I have been searching for as much information as possible to try and calm the nerves, but I am not having much luck finding things out. It's driving me nuts!
Yesterday I was fine, but today I'm really on edge. I am not nervous about my own ability to pull this off: I have done the work and I have trained hard. Geoff has put me through my paces and I have done (almost) everything that he has asked of me. This really is just another step on the road to Challenge Wanaka, but I don't like going into a race not knowing what to expect.
I hope today's training will help me get rid of some of this nervous energy. I don't think I can last three days at this level of heightened excitement!
Yesterday I was fine, but today I'm really on edge. I am not nervous about my own ability to pull this off: I have done the work and I have trained hard. Geoff has put me through my paces and I have done (almost) everything that he has asked of me. This really is just another step on the road to Challenge Wanaka, but I don't like going into a race not knowing what to expect.
I hope today's training will help me get rid of some of this nervous energy. I don't think I can last three days at this level of heightened excitement!
14 November 2010
The Three Musketeers
Geoff, James and I met at 8:30am this morning for a swim in the harbour at Vauxhall. Well, that was the plan anyway, but by the time we were ready the waves were about half a metre high and messy as hell. So, I suggested we drive down to Macandrew Bay to see if it was flatter there.
Geoff jumped in the front seat of my car fully kitted up for the swim (two swim caps, a neoprene cap, wetsuit and wetsuit booties). James, in his wetsuit, squeezed himself into the back seat like a slightly over-stuffed stuffed toy - arms unable able to move to his side and knees barely able to bend. Off we went - the three musketeers.
At Macandrew Bay we stood in front of the car contemplating "will we, won't we", "it's still pretty high", "yeah, nah...maybe", "if we stay close to the shore, but what about out there". We must have looked pathetic standing there all dress up and nowhere to go (swimming).
In the end we headed back to Vauxhall more than a little disappointed and ready to swim this afternoon instead, until Geoff suggested that we try the other side of the harbour near Watercooled Sports. It was perfect there when we got there, but there are no buoys or poles in the water as markers for us to mark our swims. The answer: walk around the shore (along the busy Portsmouth Drive) and mark it using the Garmin GPS I have borrowed (mine is broken and off for replacement).
What a sight! All in wetsuits, two in slippers, one in running shoes walking along the water's edge glancing at the GPS and then looking around for land marks to spot from the water. Katie Menzies (the coach that helped me get started with my training), passed us on her bike and she yelled out something about how mad she thought we were getting in the water on a day like today.
Then back into the water we went with the usual hesitation and whoops of discomfort as the cold water seeps into the back of the wetsuit through the zip. The water has actually warmed up heaps as we have had a week of 25+ degree temperatures. We rattled off 2 x 400 metre warm up, 8 x 100 metre swim to run transitions and 4 x 400 metre continuous sets.
All in all a bloody awesome swim by the three musketeers!
Geoff jumped in the front seat of my car fully kitted up for the swim (two swim caps, a neoprene cap, wetsuit and wetsuit booties). James, in his wetsuit, squeezed himself into the back seat like a slightly over-stuffed stuffed toy - arms unable able to move to his side and knees barely able to bend. Off we went - the three musketeers.
At Macandrew Bay we stood in front of the car contemplating "will we, won't we", "it's still pretty high", "yeah, nah...maybe", "if we stay close to the shore, but what about out there". We must have looked pathetic standing there all dress up and nowhere to go (swimming).
In the end we headed back to Vauxhall more than a little disappointed and ready to swim this afternoon instead, until Geoff suggested that we try the other side of the harbour near Watercooled Sports. It was perfect there when we got there, but there are no buoys or poles in the water as markers for us to mark our swims. The answer: walk around the shore (along the busy Portsmouth Drive) and mark it using the Garmin GPS I have borrowed (mine is broken and off for replacement).
What a sight! All in wetsuits, two in slippers, one in running shoes walking along the water's edge glancing at the GPS and then looking around for land marks to spot from the water. Katie Menzies (the coach that helped me get started with my training), passed us on her bike and she yelled out something about how mad she thought we were getting in the water on a day like today.
Then back into the water we went with the usual hesitation and whoops of discomfort as the cold water seeps into the back of the wetsuit through the zip. The water has actually warmed up heaps as we have had a week of 25+ degree temperatures. We rattled off 2 x 400 metre warm up, 8 x 100 metre swim to run transitions and 4 x 400 metre continuous sets.
All in all a bloody awesome swim by the three musketeers!
12 November 2010
Woohooooo two!
Geoff and I have been doing some 2km swim time trials every Friday for the past fortnight. The trial consists of 400m freestyle, 100m pull buoy, 300m freestyle, 200m pull buoy, 200m free, 300m pull buoy, 100m free, 400 pull buoy. We time the splits (although last Friday's didn't work out so well because of some watch issues) and the full set.
The first week (29 October) I took a just on 43minutes to complete the full set and I took 8:40 to do the first 400m (freestyle) and 8:20 to do the last (with pull buoy). Today I smashed this time by doing 40:49, including 7:56 for the first 400m (my first ever 400 under 8 minutes) and the last at 7:36.
Interestingly most people are slower with the pull buoy as you have no kick, but I am significantly faster. This obviously says something about how much my kick is adversely impacting on my speed. The good news is that everyone (including me) swims faster in a wet suit and all my open water swims in NZ will be in a wet suit.
Based on the time that I posted today and things like I won't be doing my clumsy turns every 25m or resting six times and I will be wearing my wetsuit, I reckon I should be able to complete the swim at the South Island Half Ironman next Saturday in somewhere close to 35 or 36 minutes. I'll be absolutely stoked with that, but I'll take anything under 40 minutes.
I also did 30 x 100m freestyle earlier in the week and didn't tire at all until the 26th rep. Previously I have been tiring after about 1.8-2km, so the swim fitness is also on the improve. Overall, then, my swimming is on the improve and things are starting look good. Still heaps of room for improvement, but at least I am heading in the right direction.
The first week (29 October) I took a just on 43minutes to complete the full set and I took 8:40 to do the first 400m (freestyle) and 8:20 to do the last (with pull buoy). Today I smashed this time by doing 40:49, including 7:56 for the first 400m (my first ever 400 under 8 minutes) and the last at 7:36.
Interestingly most people are slower with the pull buoy as you have no kick, but I am significantly faster. This obviously says something about how much my kick is adversely impacting on my speed. The good news is that everyone (including me) swims faster in a wet suit and all my open water swims in NZ will be in a wet suit.
Based on the time that I posted today and things like I won't be doing my clumsy turns every 25m or resting six times and I will be wearing my wetsuit, I reckon I should be able to complete the swim at the South Island Half Ironman next Saturday in somewhere close to 35 or 36 minutes. I'll be absolutely stoked with that, but I'll take anything under 40 minutes.
I also did 30 x 100m freestyle earlier in the week and didn't tire at all until the 26th rep. Previously I have been tiring after about 1.8-2km, so the swim fitness is also on the improve. Overall, then, my swimming is on the improve and things are starting look good. Still heaps of room for improvement, but at least I am heading in the right direction.
Woohooooo!
It's official. I am now under 100kg for the first time in about 12 or 13 years. I know I was 99kg on Sunday after a 2:30 run, but this morning I was just under 100kg when I got up.
I've now lost just over 35kg (26% of my original body weight).
Next target: under 90kg by race day. That's about 1kg per week and anything below 91 kg will be the lightest that I have been since I was about 16 years old.
I've now lost just over 35kg (26% of my original body weight).
Next target: under 90kg by race day. That's about 1kg per week and anything below 91 kg will be the lightest that I have been since I was about 16 years old.
07 November 2010
Some more milestones
In the last month I have passed a few more milestones.
Since I began my programmed training I have now completed the following:
Swim: 172km (in 86 hours) - milestone 150km
Bike: 4,293km (in 156 hours) - milestone 4,000km
Run: 985km (in 90 hours) - milestone of 1,000,km will be reached this week
Total: 5,450km (in 332 hours) - milestone 5,000km
I have also managed three weekends of racing in a row, including a sub1:45 half marathon and this week I have run 56.2km which is the most I have ever run in a week.
I went below 100kg in weight today for the first time in about 12 years. I was 99kg when I finished my run today (25.5km), but this is likely to be a temporary drop below 100kg as I was pretty dehydrated by the time I finished (loosing around 2.5-3kg in fluid). I'll take it though! Regardless, I have been under the 30 BMI 'obese' threshold for all of the last 3 weeks.
In the next few weeks I will undoubtedly set some more milestones:
My first half ironman (20 November)
My first 20+ hour training week
My first 300+km week
As Coach Geoff pointed out this afternoon as we bobbed around in the Otago Harbour (I reckon the water is about 11 or 12 degrees, so it's not bad... who am I kidding it's still bloody freezing, but it makes me feel really alive), I've come along way since my first few weeks when I said to him that there was no way that I could do 12 hours of training in a week.
Since I began my programmed training I have now completed the following:
Swim: 172km (in 86 hours) - milestone 150km
Bike: 4,293km (in 156 hours) - milestone 4,000km
Run: 985km (in 90 hours) - milestone of 1,000,km will be reached this week
Total: 5,450km (in 332 hours) - milestone 5,000km
I have also managed three weekends of racing in a row, including a sub1:45 half marathon and this week I have run 56.2km which is the most I have ever run in a week.
I went below 100kg in weight today for the first time in about 12 years. I was 99kg when I finished my run today (25.5km), but this is likely to be a temporary drop below 100kg as I was pretty dehydrated by the time I finished (loosing around 2.5-3kg in fluid). I'll take it though! Regardless, I have been under the 30 BMI 'obese' threshold for all of the last 3 weeks.
In the next few weeks I will undoubtedly set some more milestones:
My first half ironman (20 November)
My first 20+ hour training week
My first 300+km week
As Coach Geoff pointed out this afternoon as we bobbed around in the Otago Harbour (I reckon the water is about 11 or 12 degrees, so it's not bad... who am I kidding it's still bloody freezing, but it makes me feel really alive), I've come along way since my first few weeks when I said to him that there was no way that I could do 12 hours of training in a week.
04 November 2010
What goes up, must come down
It was great having three races in three weekends (Hill Free 10km, River Run Trail Series Half Marathon and Cromwell Half Marathon), but by the time I had finished the third I was mentally (and physically) exhausted and for the last week or so I have found it incredibly hard to train. Regardless of how I approach a race - whether it is 'just another training session', a targeted pace or an attempt at a PB - I always invest a lot of mental and emotional energy into it and that has been incredibly draining.
As I think I have mentioned before, in the week leading up I begin to visualise the race, running through the course in my head and going over what I will be doing and how I will be feeling at various points in the race. In training I focus much more on the technique and on doing the little thinsg right. I know I am no pro, but its in my make up to do these things, especially now that I have the advice of Coach Geoff to guide me along. This all creates an enormous amount of energy that makes you feel so incredibly alive in the lead up, but the high is inevitably folllowed by a low that is hard to get out of.
Three weeks of high meant that there has been a pretty deep low to follow. It's not that this low has made me feel depressed or that I haven't wanted to train, its just that when I have trained it has been difficult to concentrate and even if the body is willing the mind is struggling to propel me forward (although, for obvious reasons, the body has been a bit tired too).
I have found that the best way to overcome the low is to train with someone else wherever possible. A run the other night with little bro' Chris and a ride with Coach Geoff the next day were much better sessions than any other. Its the swimming that I am finding the hardest to get back up for. I can maintain some good sets or reps, but never for more than 20 minutes or so. I guess it is a combination of the completely solitary nature of swimming (in the pool you are literally totally immersed in world of your own) and the fact that it takes (me) an incredible amount of concentration in an attempt to get everything just right (however futile that attempt is).
There is a 20km off-road running race this weekend that Geoff is doing and that he suggested I consider, but I have decided that I don't want to have another period of peaks and troughs. I am going to focus on getting up for the South Island Half Ironman on the 20th. Bring it on!
By the way the tendonitis is on the mend. I no longer have pain when I walk or run and, once things warm up in the morning, I have more mobility in my foot. Thanks to Geoff's magic touch - he is the most amazing massage therapist in the world. It's amazing having a coach that is so good at motivating me, so technically savvy and who knows and understands how my body works and how to repair it when it is broken.
As I think I have mentioned before, in the week leading up I begin to visualise the race, running through the course in my head and going over what I will be doing and how I will be feeling at various points in the race. In training I focus much more on the technique and on doing the little thinsg right. I know I am no pro, but its in my make up to do these things, especially now that I have the advice of Coach Geoff to guide me along. This all creates an enormous amount of energy that makes you feel so incredibly alive in the lead up, but the high is inevitably folllowed by a low that is hard to get out of.
Three weeks of high meant that there has been a pretty deep low to follow. It's not that this low has made me feel depressed or that I haven't wanted to train, its just that when I have trained it has been difficult to concentrate and even if the body is willing the mind is struggling to propel me forward (although, for obvious reasons, the body has been a bit tired too).
I have found that the best way to overcome the low is to train with someone else wherever possible. A run the other night with little bro' Chris and a ride with Coach Geoff the next day were much better sessions than any other. Its the swimming that I am finding the hardest to get back up for. I can maintain some good sets or reps, but never for more than 20 minutes or so. I guess it is a combination of the completely solitary nature of swimming (in the pool you are literally totally immersed in world of your own) and the fact that it takes (me) an incredible amount of concentration in an attempt to get everything just right (however futile that attempt is).
There is a 20km off-road running race this weekend that Geoff is doing and that he suggested I consider, but I have decided that I don't want to have another period of peaks and troughs. I am going to focus on getting up for the South Island Half Ironman on the 20th. Bring it on!
By the way the tendonitis is on the mend. I no longer have pain when I walk or run and, once things warm up in the morning, I have more mobility in my foot. Thanks to Geoff's magic touch - he is the most amazing massage therapist in the world. It's amazing having a coach that is so good at motivating me, so technically savvy and who knows and understands how my body works and how to repair it when it is broken.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)