Peak performance & timing

The Olympics are approaching and the athlete's have been building up their performance to qualify and then be ready to peak at the critical moment in the event.  The same has happened in the Euro's football tournament with Italy scraping their way through to the final but getting better as they progressed. 
Tomorrow I have friends competing in Ironman Austria and the Outlaw tomorrow and remember their fitness level and training regime was quiet different from mine 3 months ago.  Now my "A" race is over I mustn't compare my fitness to theirs as they are in peak condition, as they should be.
But while I am on holiday I'll be picking up my training in preparation for a tough half ironman event, 1 month after I return. I am aiming to peak just in time for the event.  Failing to plan is planning to fail.  I'll bring you up to date with my progress in a couple of weeks.

Mindset

Something strange happened this morning which I will share with you.  As you know I have been feeling "out of sorts" recently and my sleep was broken at 4.30am with a false alarm call from the security company that monitors our alarm at the office so that didn't help.  I got up and prepared to go swimming.  As I drove off I changed my mind and headed to the office instead as I thought I could use the extra time clearing up before my holiday.  Changing my mind on the way to a training session!  This is a first.
On reflection I think I am suffering the "post ironman blues" which I thought I'd avoid by having other events lined up.  I currently do not have a training plan nor do I have a control mechanism (my coach) to make sure I am doing it - remember it was 12-14 hours a week before Ironman.  So I made myself a wee promise this morning which is when I get back from my holiday my training plan will be ready as will my mindset as I will have 1 month to get ready for a tough half Ironman competition.  In the meantime I am going to enjoy the extended rest and not feel guilty about it.  Now, back to work!

Running on empty

We all lead busy lives and when combining the family life with running a business and also training, sometimes it can get a bit much.  Fortunately my training schedule is a fraction of what it was 7 weeks ago but I am now starting regular training again.  However I finish for 2 weeks annual leave on Friday and I'm "running on empty" / knackered / shattered and fighting off a sore throat / man flu.  It always happens.  Your defenses drop as the holiday approaches and bang, you feel crap.
But I am promising to relax on holiday although I will be running in the sand to practice for Marathon des Sables, sea swimming, possibly sailing and definately scuba diving.  That's when I'm not challenging the kids at crazy golf, reading, eating wonderful meals with the family or enjoying a cocktail with my wife.  You know what?  Just making that statement has made me feel slightly better already!  Here's hoping that will get me through a hectic last two days before I can relax.  Hope you enjoy your holiday when it comes.

Londons calling

What an exciting time to be in London.  Yesterdays Wimbledon trip was fantastic with good tennis, fine food & wine plus great company.  The whole city is buzzing with the tennis and preparing for the Olympics.  I ran in Hyde Park this morning and as always enjoyed watching the commuters either running, skating or cycling to work.  The cyclists come in different shapes and sizes; the racers, the mountain bikers and the "Barclays cyclists".  The later ones have hired the bike for their trip and are cycling to work in the business suits which considering the humidity is a bit smelly! They can leave the bike at a Barclays point in London which is a great way to get people around town. Now time for a shower and then off to earn a crust in the big smoke!

Back in the saddle

It's been 5 weeks since Lanza Ironman and due to saddle sores, mechanical problems and bad weather I haven't been back on my bike.  So despite being a bit tender from a great night out with friends I took advantage of a short break in the weather this morning.  The sun made a rare appearance and I headed out for an hours ride to test out the bike, and myself.
All went well and it was great to be back in the saddle.  My legs felt good and although I didn't feel "at one with the bike", that will come within a few rides, I enjoyed flying through the countryside taking in the fragrances from the flowers.  No I haven't gone soft in the head before you suggest it, it's just when you're training and always working against the stop watch some times you don't take in the scenery and the fragrances.  So I'm going to try and enjoy my surroundings while working hard. Tomorrow I'm off to Wimbledon, mixing business with pleasure but I'll pack my running shoes so I can run in a park and keep my return to fitness going.

Getting there

Coming back to training is an interesting process. The rest has been great and getting a family and social life back even better but I feel sluggish. A couple of pounds have gone on although while shopping yesterday I was still getting into a 30 waist! Today I watched as the rain was pouring down and the wind howling and decided I'd leave the bike for another day and go out for a run in between the showers. So I ran 10k slightly slower than my normal time but faster than my last run which is to be expected. However the feeling when I finished was terrific. It's what makes running so good. Today I have friends competing in the West Highland Way race, a 95 mile race which most of them will complete in under 24 hours. Now that serious ultra running and it shows what is possible when you put your mind to it. So onwards and upwards for me. I recon I should be back to full fitness in a month but will gradually increase the intensity while trying to avoid any set backs.

Busy night at Loch Lomond

You can tell it's summer in Scotland when so many people are "rubbered up" and standing on the shore of Loch Lomond ready to take the plunge. There must have been 30 swimmers in their wetsuits and even a couple of "hard core" swimmers only in speedos! The first 5 minutes was cold but you soon warm up as you swim towards the beech on the opposite side which means you track the shoreline before you turn up the loch and into the deeper, colder and darker water. There were 9 ATHelite members in my group and we do a regular headcount to make sure no one goes missing! Our brightly coloured swim caps are to help boats coming into the harbour spot us and last night a big boat did just that honking it's horn as it approached. Bit scary but they are used to us. Afterwards I was interviewed by an ITV producer who is planning a programme around the loch and people who are using it. There idea is for the presenter to go swimming on the loch with me or another swimmer Sounds like great fun and I'd love to get the opportunity of spreading the word of mission ironman to a national audience which would increase my fund raising for Maggie's. I'll let you know the outcome but they may go for someone more local to the loch.