Hill training

Better weather today although blustery wind did affect my training. I decided to take advantage of the fact my house is at the bottom of 2 big hills. So for one hour and twenty five minutes I cycled up and down one the up and down the next one. To make it slightly harder I did so in the big ring and stayed in the saddle. My glutes are suggesting tomorrow I'll know all about it so some yoga is in store for later.
You may think this would be boring but training your mind to handle boredom is part of ironman training. The blustery wind also gave me a few high speed wobbles so you need to maintain your concentration.
I think this will become a regular session for me in my preparation for the Bealach Mor.

Wet, wet, wet

Weather forecasts. Why do we bother? I left the house at 8am and the forecast was a less than 20% chance of a shower. Try 3 out of 4 hours of rain! Soaked to the skin but you just have to get on with it. Despite the weather we did some good hills and I completed the whole route in the big ring on the front - that is much tougher as I knew we were only doing 54 miles.
So it was a good session and I felt the benefit of The Arran trip last weekend.
Straight home and off to watch my son play football. Good win for him then pick up the shopping and then my daughter from horse riding. Back to make the tea and while it's in the oven, write the blog. My reward is a glass of red wine and I'll be putting my feet up tonight - I'm knackered.

5km Time Trial

Tonight was a 5km time trial with ATHelite Triathlon Club.  It's amazing how an event like this focus's you.  I hadn't really run since Portugal so I had to work hard but was reasonably happy with my time of 23:16.  So now I am concentrating on the bike for 3 September.  Simple really so no excuses now, I need to get a move on.  More to follow so keep tuned in.

Catch up

Excuse the lack of news.  On Sunday I had a rest due to appauling weather and tired legs.  On Monday morning I went out for a fast 3.62 mile run in preparation for the 5km TT race on Thursday night.  A TT race is where you are timed against the clock and go full out leaving nothing in the tank.
So tonight I will be warming the legs up with a run, but not tiring them out.  It's great having these key milestones which I know I have to prepare for.
After Thursday the attention focuses once again on the bike and this will remain until the event is over on 3rd September.  Then, in theory, I take a month off swim, bike, run which allows my body to recover before the Ironman training begins.  I said in theory because in the middle I have a 3 day running training camp.  So with the exception if that I'll be resting for a month.

Arran - Scotland in minature

Today I cycled round the Isle of Arran in a figure of 8. Arran is a beautiful island off the west coast of Scotland and is known as Scotland in minature as it has the highlands in the north and the lowlands in the south. Doing it this way is about 70 miles and it involves some serious climbs, long undulating stretches and some scary decents due to the condition of the road.
I was cycling with 3 pals who will all be doing the Bealach Mor and managed to hold my own until the last 4 miles when they left me for dead. I was pleased with my performance but it shows I need more hill work over the next month.
If you haven't visited Arran then make sure you do. It has everything and I loved the experience.
Have just finished dinner and having a couple of glasses of wine to ease the pain!

"Calm down dear"

That's a phrase that caused a few problems recently in Parliment but one I should listen to.  I visited my coach following my blog yesterday to be reminded it wasn't that long ago I had completed the UK 70.3 Ironman and my body was still recovering.  Hense the calm down dear comment!
I am tacking Arran on Saturday on the bike and looking forward to that, assuming it's not snowing - you never know.  It should be a reasonable test and when I get back I will keep my focus on the bike.  A friend of mine has completed the course on a number of occassions and says the BIG CLIMB (2,000 ft in 6 miles) takes him about 45 minutes and that the hairpin bends are steep - now that's going to be a real test!
It is vital that I don't train too hard when trying to recover as this only sets you back.  Once the Bealach Mor is over I am having a month off training before I start my Ironman training for Lanza in May 2012.

Struggling

Yesterday I still didn't feel 100% so I did nothing, other than feel guilty about doing nothing! Today I had another long lie but at 7.15 I was trying to persuade myself to get up and get on the bike. I didn't want to but knew that missing another days training was a slippery slope.
I dragged myself up and onto the turbo trainer, the first time in about 6 months. It is an implement of torture but you have to block that thought out. I did a hill rep set due to my event in September. The sweat was pouring off me and at the end I felt light headed but was glad not to have turned over in bed.
Maintaining motivation for long periods of time is difficult and this underlines why I need to get my plan formalised with my coach for Lanza in May. That way I will have the focus required to reduce these periods of laziness and negativity but at the same time I appreciate that my body needed the rest. Just have to make sure I don't overdo the rest!