Long shadows and short days

Merry Christmas to everyone who reads my weekly rambles as I head towards another milestone in my journey to Ironman Frankfurt (188 days) and beyond (Grand2Grand in 2017).  Christmas has come and gone and I had a wonderful time with my family.  Over the holiday period I will continue training but I won't be working so I'll get more time to refuel and rest.
In the last week I've been training hard and the results are starting to show.  Most pleasing is the increase in my strength is showing on the tougher sessions allowing me to perform better.  There have been some bum and brain numbing sessions on the turbo however as I can see results, I can put up with this discomfort and it's only temporary anyway.
People often as me what "mad" challenge I am up to but those are people who don't train for ironman.  If they did they would consider what I and many people like me do is relatively normal.  No one I train with thinks this is an impossible task.  They all have a desire to complete it as best they can and the 6 days a week training is what gets them to the start line, hopefully.
The highlight of my week, from a training perspective, was running today in the sunshine in Chatelherault Country Park with friends.  The sun was streaking through the forrest and created these amazingly long shadows.  I'll carry that image in my head forever.  We've past the shortest day so over the coming months we will have more daylight which I can't wait for.  5.30am training is hard enough in the dark and cold so a little bit of light would bring a smile to my face.  In the meatime I am going to take advantage of the days when we have long shadows and be greatful for everything I have in my life.  Speak to you again in 2016.  Here's to a happy, healthy and prosperous new year - and a few PBs (personal bests) as well!

May the force be with you!

It's been a big week in the cinema with many adults reliving their youth and some are even introducing their kids to Start Wars!  It's breaking box office records and Santa will be well stocked up with lightsabers. Stragely it has inspired me in my training this week as I have thought about "the force" within that drives me on.

Every training session is carefully mapped out with targets such as heart rate, cadence whether it be my legs when cycling or my arms when swimming.  But it's the force that keeps you going when it gets tough.  Unusually on Saturday when running in Chatelherault, the force left me at the end!  I'd ran well and at a good pace when we decided to add a little loop on at the end.  My breathing became heavy on a couple of hills and with less than half a km to go, I stopped running a walked the rest of the way.  This just doesn't happen to me but it was a conscious decision.  I'd worked out that the return for the additional pain wasn't worth it - the force wasn't with me.

Today has involved a long swim and a long turbo session and I'm feeling good.  The sessions are getting harder and longer and I'm looking forward to training while off during the holidays.  I was given the option to train on Christmas day but decided to make it my rest day - really don't think getting into lycra when the relatives are heading over for lunch would be well received by Mrs Claus!  What ever your doing on Christmas day, give your loved ones an extra big hug and enjoy this special time with your family and friends.

200 days to go!

What a week.  So busy that my blog is two days late!  I was in London for two days so the training schedule had to be amended.  On Tuesday I travelled to London and had the amazing privilege of working out in the All England Lawn Tennis Club (Wimbledon) gym before having dinner there.  In the morning I ran in Wimbledon Common but didn't get to meet a womble.
At this time of year the parties are in full swing and I had one on Friday and Saturday night.  But I stuck with my schedule with Sunday involving a 2.8k swim followed by a 15k run.  That's the longest I have ran since the half marathon in February after which my foot injury flaired up.
We're approaching the year end of our business and it's frantic.  This is a challenge we all face and it's   been a really tough time.  But it does mean when I'm training I can escape from the day to day pressures.  My focus is on every stroke in the pool, every revolution of the pedals and every step on the road.  Every sessions is one step closer to my goal.  When training I carry the picture of the finish line in IM Frankfurt in my head - 200 days to go, and counting!

Work, weather and water!

It's been a tough week for a whole host of reasons but trying to combine work and training has proven difficult, especially when you take into account the weather.  The plan went "pear shaped" when I travelled down south to run a two day workshop for CEOs.  The flight was delayed which meant the run I was going to before I started was deferred to the following day.  My day finshed at 1am but I managed my run slipping and sliding in the mud before starting work.  However as a result of running my conditioning session was missed.  The flight home was horrendous and the pilot earned his pay as he brought the plane down safely.  But after 2 days presenting on my feet and getting back at 11pm I was worthless on the Saturday.  I could have done a turbo session as the wind was howling at 60mph and the rain pouring down, but I spent most of the day sleeping so I decided to listen to my body.  I'm not making excuses, sometimes you have to know when to take a day off.
So this morning I had planned a run and swim with my pals.  The weather had brought trees down and at the lowest point we were wading through water up to our knees.  But it was good to be back.  We then headed off to the pool.  I have been working on a new technique which will make me more effecient and faster.  However initially it's making me slower and I am having to think hard about every stroke.  Any speed I had is gone but I'll get there.
I then went and watched my son run in a competition in the 200 & 400m.  Gave his all and the only thing he left on the track was a pile of puke!  So a mixed week and next week is no easier from a scheduling point of view.  But we've redisigned the programme to cope.  Thereafter it will become easier except for the social season fast approaching!  But that's for my reports in the future,