Post Ironman blues

For the last couple of weeks I been going out for some runs.  No schedule has been set yet I'm gently reintroducing my body to exercise although I'm looking forward to get back into a routine, but not yet.  I tweaked a muscle in my shoulder a few weeks back which means swimming and yoga are out just now and I'm not fit enough to go cycling with the group.  I'm setting my turbo trainer up so I can increase my fitness without the pressure of keeping up with my pals.  The good thing about the winter months is this is where the hard work is done.
Yesterday I went out for a run with my coach Genevieve and we were out for just over an hour.  But it was "a game of two halves" as they say in football.  In the first half I ran at the same pace that I had for 10km the following week - but I forgot to take into account this was hilly whereas the previous week had been flat.  The second half wasn't much fun and my heart rate monitor was saying I was at 195 bpm which isn't possible as I could still talk!  But we walked a few parts to let me recover and it showed me just how much work I need to do to get back to a reasonable level of fitness.  But as Genevieve said it was a poor good run and it would take a couple of them before I became more comfortable - certainly it put me one step closer to my goal than sitting on the couch would have done!  Everyone says I am "looking better" with my weight back to 156 lbs although I'm not so happy carrying that around with me!
To summarise I am returning to exercise slowly.  I don't feel motivated despite aiming for a half-ironman (I retired from full ironman) in May next year followed by the Grand Canyon in September.  Most people go through post Ironman blues and I've been here before so I'm not concerned about my lack of desire to be back to training 5/6 days per week.  That will happen within the next 4 weeks and that is a promise!

Green light - 382 days to go

 

Here we go again!  The button has been pushed and my registration for Grand 2 Grand Ultra has been accepted.  All I need to do is send the deposit and in 382 days I will be starting the adventure of a lifetime with one of my great MdS buddies, Steve Drake.  If you wonder why I'm putting myself through this then check the video out http://www.g2gultra.com/home . 
In my opinion, life starts outside your comfort zone (the exceptions being your family & friends) .  We spend too much of our life in a "safe" environment leaning over a laptop or pushing a pen.  My adventures to date have pushed me hard and while the last Ironman was extremely painful this was due to the effects of an infection.  6 weeks out as was so fit and looking to kill it on the day but sh1t happens.  I was still very happy to have raised £6,200 for Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres and achieved a significant PB of 11 hours 50 minutes but know my time could have been so much better - I've got more in me.
Living in the Grand Canyon will be such a privilege and if it's anything like MdS it will be life changing.  Leaving aside the snakes, spiders and scorpions, running at altitude will be a real test but sleeping in the canyon will be amazing.
But before I get carried away thinking about the race, there is a lot of hard work to be done before I stand with Steve on the start line in 382 days time.  First of all I have to contend with a permanently injured foot.  I am receiving treatment to ease the pain but funnily enough the time it doesn't hurt so much is when I'm running!  Walking in business shoes is challenging and I may start to wear my training shoes with orthotics going forward.  My light unscheduled training continues but within the next 4 weeks my training plan will be sorted.  I hope you follow me on this latest adventure.  Good luck to the runners in the 2016 event which starts in 19 days time.

Green light - 382 days to go

 

Here we go again!  The button has been pushed and my registration for Grand 2 Grand Ultra has been accepted.  All I need to do is send the deposit and in 382 days I will be starting the adventure of a lifetime with one of my great MdS buddies, Steve Drake.  If you wonder why I'm putting myself through this then check the video out http://www.g2gultra.com/home . 
In my opinion, life starts outside your comfort zone (the exceptions being your family & friends) .  We spend too much of our life in a "safe" environment leaning over a laptop or pushing a pen.  My adventures to date have pushed me hard and while the last Ironman was extremely painful this was due to the effects of an infection.  6 weeks out as was so fit and looking to kill it on the day but sh1t happens.  I was still very happy to have raised £6,200 for Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres and achieved a significant PB of 11 hours 50 minutes but know my time could have been so much better - I've got more in me.
Living in the Grand Canyon will be such a privilege and if it's anything like MdS it will be life changing.  Leaving aside the snakes, spiders and scorpions, running at altitude will be a real test but sleeping in the canyon will be amazing.
But before I get carried away thinking about the race, there is a lot of hard work to be done before I stand with Steve on the start line in 382 days time.  First of all I have to contend with a permanently injured foot.  I am receiving treatment to ease the pain but funnily enough the time it doesn't hurt so much is when I'm running!  Walking in business shoes is challenging and I may start to wear my training shoes with orthotics going forward.  My light unscheduled training continues but within the next 4 weeks my training plan will be sorted.  I hope you follow me on this latest adventure.  Good luck to the runners in the 2016 event which starts in 19 days time.