You know it's going to hurt!

As promised in my last blog, I was heading back to the pool this week afetr a long lay off.  Despite having done this before and swearing I'd never do that again here I was doing it again.  To make matters worse it was the 50m pool!  Dawn had also had a lay off however she's a good swimmer but we agreed to do 10 x 100m with recovery breaks in between.  After 3 I was knackered but the breaks helped.  Then we were joined by Mark who is getting ready for the 10km swim I did last year so Dawn started chasing him and I was left to bring up the rear.  I decided we should extend the swim session to 15 x 100m and in the end knew I had worked hard.  It was good to have pals in the same lane but my swimming felt terrible and my lungs were burst.  Next day I was hurting in places I haven't in a while but I knew that was going to happen.
3 days later I returned to the pool and this time it was only 25m.  No pals this time so I went at my own pace and worked on technique.  I felt better and started to feel  being "supported by the water" rather than fighting against it.  I've a long way to go but now I've started there is no going back.  The club swim sessions start in a weeks time and I want to turn up without a rubber ring!
Today was the annual Strathaven 50 mile bike event (it's not a race).  450 cyclists turned up and it's a very tough route.  It's helped by 2 cake stops on route and the sun shone.  With so many cyclists on narrow roads the discipline of the cyclists is very important and one rider was weaving in and out of the groups.  It wasn't long before he came to grief and went over the handle bars and landed on his back.  Fortunately it was on a grass verge but he didn't learn from his mistake because I saw him later weaving in and out again.  Two of our guys went down on gravel but lived to tell the tail.  It just underlines how dangerous it can be on the roads.
ATHelite were well represented in our distinctive orange & black and for the finish straight 4 of us had stuck together and came in 4 abreast which was a wonderful feeling.  The running is on the back burner at the moment and I will concentrate on the swimming, cycling and yoga.  I'm feeling good as I make my way back to fitness before the serious training starts - only 321 days to go.

The long game

This is a subject I've talked about before but I feel it's important enough to mention again for thise of you out there who are aiming at a goal.  This season I've watched my team mates get ready for various events that takes 6-9 months of disciplined training.  When you're training for an endurance event there are times you need to be selfish - the training needs to suit you therefore some sessions don't work for you.
I'm conscious of that at the moment when out with the pack riding.  In the last month I've got stronger and it's starting to show although I am well aware that I have a long way to go.  My short term goal is to get fit enough to stay with the pack in September for our trip to Majorca so I am not hanging off the back.  But I need to keep my focus on what needs to be done in preparation for Ironman which is 328 days away.
The other reason for focusing on the long game is my foot.  I'm really not wanting to go on about my foot but I was in London this week and was taking taxis as I couldn't walk for the pain.  I'm going to have to wear my running shoes into the office as these are the only shoes my full orthotics fit into.  Big embarrasing but at least the support means I am not limping like an arthritic 90 year old!  So no running for at least a week and continuing with my foot exercises and yoga to strengthen the arch in my foot.
I'm going to concentrate on my swimming, that's going to be a tough start which will take at least 3 weeks, and cycling.  The great thing about triathlon is that most injuries allow you to do some training.  I've just got to not let the injury get me down and keep the fitness level up.  The goal of IM FRankfurt is important to me and I will be doing everything possible to make it happen.

Club mates

I spent 3 wonderful days this week on the Isle of Barra with my wife and good friends.  What an amazing place with huge white sandy beeches and beautiful remote outlying islands which we visited. There is an annual half marathon which runs round the island but I was on holiday so I'll tackle that another day.
Yesterday I went out with team ATHelite to complete a tough 100 km in windy conditions.  As usual they start fast and group discipline goes out the window.  That meant they were waiting for me at the top of all of the hills.  Not being on the back of the wheel of another cyclist means you are taking all the wind.  After an hour of struggling to keep up I told them I was ruining their ride so they should head off and I'd go solo.  This was immediately rejected and group riding discipline adhered to.  This allowed me to keep up with the group as they protected me from the wind and I was able to complete the ride with them.  It was still hard work but I was constantly encouraged with phrases like"come on auld yin"! It makes a huge difference training with your pals although as I approach summer next year I will need to put in long solo rides as you are not allowed to draft in Ironman.
I know I'm getting fitter each time I go out with the group and what keeps me going, other than the motivational jibes, is thinking what shape I will be in come Ironman next summer.  There's a lot of work ahead as it takes time, planning and hard work to get into shape.
Today I'm resting which is an important part of preparing for an endurance event - no honestly it is and I take it very seriously so I prevent injury or fatique.