I'm feeling a bit like Simon Pegg in the film Run, fatboy run at the moment. We've just come back from 4 days of indulgence (gold medal standard) in Budapest and when I stepped on the scales this morning I was 155 lbs! Now I can hear some of my friends saying give me a break, that's not fat but for me it's starting to look a bit chubby. That's 11 llbs heavier than when I lined up on the start line for IM almost 2 months ago and it means I'll be carrying this extra junk when I go out for a run later today. But I did promise myself this 2 month rest and it's now coming to an end!
I've just registered for my 2017 "A" race www.g2gultra.com so fingers crossed I get in. I'm starting my light training now to get my body back into shape and will be doing everything possible to avoid injury including more regular yoga.
On holiday we did a 90 minute yoga class and the instructor apologised to my wife afterwards saying she hope she hadn't killed me! Just breathe she kept telling me - believe me I was trying! Lots of work to be done here as this will help my breathing, flexibility and strength all of which will be essential for a 6 stage 170 mile race through the Grand Canyon in a year time.
A wee trip tomorrow to my chiropractor to sort a tweak in my back and hopefully I'll be good to go. I've enjoyed the break but can see if I don't get back to regular exercise and keep eating as though I'm training, I'll soon be a "chunky monkey" which is not the desired outcome. I'll keep you posted.
Monday, 29 August 2016
Sunday, 14 August 2016
Weekend warriors
The Rio Olympics are in full flow and after the negative build up over facilities not being ready, poor crowds and doping athletes the real action is getting to the medal stages. These finely tuned career athletes have put in at least 8 years hard graft to get to this level and made an amazing sacrifice to represent GB in Rio. They have a support team of trainers, physio's, nutritionists etc giving them the best chance of bringing home the medals. Not everyone does but just representing your country at the Olympics is an amazing achievement in it's own right.
For us weekend warriors we can only dream what it must be like to be on the start line of the Olympics. But when I listen to the interviews and the athlete's saying "we've worked so hard to be here today; the early morning starts in the winter, training in the snow and rain", I think to myself we're not so different in that way. Training for an Ironman takes 9 months of hard graft 6 days a week, while holding down a fulltime job and having no support team. Getting ready for the Grand Canyon will take a years training and during that time I have a business to run and a family to support.
Yesterday I was at the ATHelite Triathlon Club BBQ and I was looking round at all the successful weekend warriors. From sprint triathlons to ironman, ultra duathlons to ultra marathons we'd done them all. It made feel very privileged to be part of this friendly, fit group of individuals who encourage and cajole each other to bigger or faster challenges. The Olympics may be the pinnacle of an athlete's career but let us salute the weekend warriors that hold down jobs, train in every spare moment to line up on a start line that won't be featured on the BBC but the result is every bit as important to them as a gold medal. Weekend warriors - we ROCK!
For us weekend warriors we can only dream what it must be like to be on the start line of the Olympics. But when I listen to the interviews and the athlete's saying "we've worked so hard to be here today; the early morning starts in the winter, training in the snow and rain", I think to myself we're not so different in that way. Training for an Ironman takes 9 months of hard graft 6 days a week, while holding down a fulltime job and having no support team. Getting ready for the Grand Canyon will take a years training and during that time I have a business to run and a family to support.
Yesterday I was at the ATHelite Triathlon Club BBQ and I was looking round at all the successful weekend warriors. From sprint triathlons to ironman, ultra duathlons to ultra marathons we'd done them all. It made feel very privileged to be part of this friendly, fit group of individuals who encourage and cajole each other to bigger or faster challenges. The Olympics may be the pinnacle of an athlete's career but let us salute the weekend warriors that hold down jobs, train in every spare moment to line up on a start line that won't be featured on the BBC but the result is every bit as important to them as a gold medal. Weekend warriors - we ROCK!
Monday, 8 August 2016
Slow road back
When you've given everything for your "A race" it's not easy to get back to training especially when you are being careful and recovering properly. It's now 5 weeks and I've started to adventure back out. On Wednesday last week I went for my 2nd run but I had to force myself out of the door - mentally I didn't want to go through the pain. The good news is my heart rate fell from the previous run and I didn't suffer the DOMS in the following two days.
I was away in London the next two days but on Saturday went out on my bike. That was a lot tougher than I thought it would be. My heart rate was racing and I was struggling with my breath on the hills. Fortunately I met a pal who dragged me home for the 2nd half of the ride but in total it was only 1.5 hours!
This tells me my body is still fatigued but that I also need to get back into a regular training programme. On Sunday morning I attended a new yoga class for an hour. It was tough but in a good way. I think my body really appreciated the workout and this is definitely going to be part of my training to get me ready for the Grand Canyon in 2017 www.g2gultra.com .
Come September I will have a training plan scoped out as this is when I work best. Having goals written down and monitored by a third party who I am accountable to gets the best out of me but for now I'll ease my way back into training. And before I forget how to swim, I'll be getting back into a loch while the water is warm enough and back this up with some pool training. It will be a slow road back but improving my strength and flexibility is a priority and will help reduce my chances of injury.
I was away in London the next two days but on Saturday went out on my bike. That was a lot tougher than I thought it would be. My heart rate was racing and I was struggling with my breath on the hills. Fortunately I met a pal who dragged me home for the 2nd half of the ride but in total it was only 1.5 hours!
This tells me my body is still fatigued but that I also need to get back into a regular training programme. On Sunday morning I attended a new yoga class for an hour. It was tough but in a good way. I think my body really appreciated the workout and this is definitely going to be part of my training to get me ready for the Grand Canyon in 2017 www.g2gultra.com .
Come September I will have a training plan scoped out as this is when I work best. Having goals written down and monitored by a third party who I am accountable to gets the best out of me but for now I'll ease my way back into training. And before I forget how to swim, I'll be getting back into a loch while the water is warm enough and back this up with some pool training. It will be a slow road back but improving my strength and flexibility is a priority and will help reduce my chances of injury.
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