Hardest challenge yet

The tension is building.  This morning we cycled the marathon course and I have to admit, I can't wait to get to that stage.  We then swam one lap of the 2 lap swim course.  Again it was fast but I am not certain they have laid out the course yet and we may not be swimming the correct course.  Not that it matters because it's about getting experience and comfortable in swimming in the sea before being joined by 1,800 others!
We followed this with breakfast before driving round the 112 mile, 7,500 ft of climbing, bike course.  I've cycled 95% of the course before but not with temperatures soaring to 39 degrees - we were even sweating in the car with the aircon on!  It was good to reacquaint myself with the course and I am looking forward to the battle (being over!).  The road surface is smooth in most places but some of the descents are quiet tricky so full concentration will be required.  It did make me realise that the strap line "normal limits don't apply" (to Lanza IM) will be so true and this will be the toughest challenge I've undertaken.  It will require everything I've got, and possibly more!  But that's what the training was all about.
I've now registered and am proudly wearing my gold wristband to allow me "access all areas"!  Tomorrow we'll be taking it easy with a short cycle and run but no more swimming till Saturday.  On Friday Gareth and I decamp from Club la Santa to new accommodation in Puerto del Carmen where the race is being held.  This will help on race day as we meet at 5am at the beach.  Also when the race finishes having a 40 minute drive wouldn't be good news so we'll dump the bikes and our gear in the apartment then get something to eat before collapsing.  They don't call it Ironman for nothing.

Club la Santa bike shop rocks!

Early morning start with a sea swim.  Gareth and I travelled to Puerto del Carmen and swam one lap of the IM swim course.  It was fantastic to get in the sea and go over the course taking account of the sun in case it blinds us in the water.  A hearty breakfast and then we checked out part of the run course.  It's now 9.30am and 35 degrees!
Back to Club la Santa and plenty of fluids and rest.  After lunch we rested some more before going out for 20 minutes on the bike.  I had a gear issue so back to get it repaired.  Craig Simpson is a genius with bikes, he formally raced for Shorter Rochford Cycles and he stripped the bike down and within an hour had it better than it's been in a long time.  Thanks Craig as I would hate to have a DNF due to a mechanical problem.  They are so friendly in the shop and I met another racer Andy Gray who will be competing in IM Nice - good luck Andy.
The excitement is building here as the "expo" was set up today and registration begins tomorrow.  We are off to cycle the Marathon course and then drive round the 112 mile bike course.  Preparation is everything and in these temperatures we need to know what's coming next.  Getting acclimatised is essential and we are lucky to have 5 days before the race.  Feeling good although I am sure the nerves will start to creep in as the "Day of Destiny" approaches!

Winters back

The wind is howling outside and the rain is battering the windows. Today a number of my club mates were taking part in numerous events. The woman's 10k, the Glasgow Novice and Sprint Triathlon, the Fort William half marathon and the Etape Caledonian. However they had to perceiver in horrendous conditions, but they did. Their training will have paid off and this is the start a busy season for them. For me it is almost the end of the season as Lanzarote Ironman is my "A" Race and I do not have any other races organised this year. I will take a month to six weeks to recover before starting my training for Marathon des Sables which is in April next year. During my recovery I'll be catching up with my wife, family, friends and dusting down my golf clubs and see if I can get my handicap back. But now off to bed as the taxi is picking me up at 3.45am. I'll keep in touch in the build up to the race. Hope your weather improves!

Time to pack

I got lucky this morning, with the weather. It was dry, sunny and windy which was ideal for my final bike ride. I choose a route with a number of climbs that would give me a good workout as this was my last ride before Lanzarote. 59 miles at 16.6 mph was a good shift so now it's time to clean the bike and pack it away for its Holidays. But first I'm off with my wife for a slap up lunch - can't wait.

Back to winter training!

Training for an endurance event early in the season is difficult because so much of the hard work is done in the dark, the cold and the rain or snow. We are half way through May now but when I got home It was chucking it down with rain and blowing a whooly as we say in Scotland. I switched my bike ride to an indoor turbo session which was hot and sweaty, ideal for Lanzarote preparation but then went out for my run off the bike into the elements. It wasn't nice but I know in 8 days time I will probably be glad of these conditions because I will be running the marathon element in the 30's! So not long to go now. Today I will be doing my last pool session and on Saturday I have a 50 mile ride and a run off the bike. The rest of weekend will be spent packing and making sure my planning for the day is sorted.

Blind faith

It was a beautiful sunny day up north yesterday and I watched in awe as a blind man with a long White stick negotiated his way along the busy main street in Perth. Tap, tap, tap with his stick gave him the feedback he needed to know where he was in the street so he could "visualise" his route. I thought how difficult this must have been to learn and how much faith you had to have in your own ability but the benefit is he has his independence - what a brave man. The Image stayed with me during the day as I though how important the feedback from the stick was and how having key milestones would let him know where he was. I have employed a similar principle in my last 7 months training to ensure i arrive at the destination (the event) in peak condition. Unfortunately however I didn't bargain on getting a cold but I have 9 days to get over it. As for the blind man, he is making sure that despite his disability he "gets out there" and makes the most of his life. Perhaps we should all take note of this and make the most of our lives because you never know what's round the corner.

Mechanical problems

Another rainy bank holiday although our office was open today so I was able to catch up with a lot of work as nobody rang us. It was also a rest day but my niggling calf muscle wasn't easing off so I phoned the Physio. John is a retired triathlete and was able to identify the problem as mechanical I.e. Not something that is going to be corrected after 1 or 2 visits. Basically I put more weight on my right leg than I do my left. This would explain why my left calf and quad muscles are smaller than my right. This will be redressed when I get back from Lanzarote because it will be a bigger problem when my training starts for Marathon des Sables! He had some great advice for the event; "when you feel the pain ignore it. When it gets worse press on and if it becomes unbearable then grit your teeth, man up and finish the task - you are an Ironman". Good advice and he can pick up the pieces afterwards.