Feeling guilty

I intended to get uo early and go out on the bike this morning but I didn't. I listened to my body and it wanted the extra hour in bed. I justified it to myself on the basis that I am taking it easy with my stained glute as I don't want to aggravate it and another day shouldn't make a difference to my fitness. However as I sit here and watch the Olympics and listen to the training regime these athletes have put in to achieve their medals (or even just qualifying) I'm feeling guilty. In 16 days I'll be taking part in a half ironman and I should be training. I have never had a DNS (did not start) or even worse a DNF (did not finish) and I don't intend to to start that now. So from tomorrow each training session will have to count, even though I won't be running till Monday to give the injury a chance to repair. So good night from a lazy b@@@@@d!

Good news

The pain in my hip has eased slightly and I visited the physio this afternoon. After a number of tests the prognosis is a strained / torn muscle under the main glute. If I don't run for a week, keep stretching, icing and taking anti-inflamitory pills then I should be fine for 18th Aug. I can still swim and should be able to cycle so I can keep my fitness up although my running will suffer. In the training immediately prior to the event and the event itself I will not be able to push it. I don't want to aggrivate the injury turning it into a longer-term injury and while the race is important, it's only there to motivate me to keep up a high level of training. So I am relieved and tonight will relax and watch the Olympics. It is such an inspiring event which involves dedicated athletes who have sacrificed 10 years plus to get to this level. I salute them all.

Setback

Last night as I went to bed the pain started in my hip. You don't realise how much you move in bed at night until you have an injury. Any movement caused a sharp pain and when I got up in the morning it wasn't any better. So tomorrow I will see my Physio but it looks like I have torn my glute muscle. This will mean no running but I am hoping to be able to cycle and I can certainly swim if I use a pool buoy to take my legs out of the equation. This means I can keep training, hopefully, as I have a half ironman on 18th August and I don't want to miss it - but not if it means aggravating the injury which will then have a knock on effect on my Marathon des Sables training which will start on 20 Aug. I've been lucky with injuries in the last 4 years but it's important to take the rest whether I like it or not. So I'm chilled as I type this blog as I am sitting on a bag of ice to reduce the inflammation. Let's hope I have good news to report tomorrow night.

Fisty cuffs in the pool!

Inspired by Rebecca Adlington I decided that although the sun was shining I had some hard work to do in the pool rather than cycle.  After all, she makes it look so easy!  However Rebecca gets a whole lane to herself whereas us mere mortals have 6 people in the lane which from time to time can cause problems if someone strays across the middle line.
Today was one of those days and the first I knew my elbow clattered into someones hand.  I immediately checked my position in the pool and realised it wasn't me who had strayed across the line.  I then thought how sore it must have been for the other swimmer but all sympathy for them was lost when they kicked me on the next lap.  Now that is either terrible swimming technique or someone not appreciating why they have a sore hand.  Fortunately there were no recurrences of the contact and I finished my set.
It was a hard set but if I am to have a good swim on 18th August then I need to work on my technique to maximise efficiency and do interval training as well to improve my speed and fitness.  There are no short cuts although perhaps an upper cut if someone doesn't behave in the pool next time!

British Summer Time?

The best weeks weather we have had in Scotland was in March! This weekend I swapped my training round to suit the weather conditions. On Saturday I went out for a 10 mile run as there was a high chance of heavy showers and I'd rather run in the heavy rain than cycle. I wasn't disappointed as the showers were frequent and heavy! I was soaked right through with squelchy shoes. However I managed to improve on my pace which was my aim. This morning required a very early start on the bike as I had to get back in time to take my son to an athletics competition. It was dry and windy but I completed my 30 mile bike ride and then went for a run off the bike. This is called a brick session and it's important to get your legs and mind used to this transition. In 3 weeks time after a 1.9km swim, 90km bike I'll be running a half marathon so I'll need more of those sessions. Ali did well in his athletics with a sub 5 min mile which considering he's a 800m runner and hasn't been training much was a good result that he can build on. I think however that anyone training outdoors this year is hoping for a break in the weather before we start wearing our winter gear again!

The bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

I arrived in blazing sunshine on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.  I grabbed my camera to capture this beautiful scene.  By the time I had got across the car park to the shore the rain clouds were sitting just above the loch and looked ominous.  A crowd of 15 swimmers swam across to the beach and when we stopped to regroup it was pouring with rain.  Oh well, we were wet anyway!
You feel so free when you are open water swimming and the water in the loch is clear and fresh.  However the waves started to make their presence felt as the wind picked up.  On the last leg my mind started to wander as to what might be below the waves.  You start to see things and you have to tell yourself it's just your imagination.  This negative thought ruins your swimming stroke but you battle on as there is nothing else you can do.  Afterwards we all met for fish and chips plus a can of full fat coke - it kills any bugs or germs I may have taken on board from the waves in the loch.  A great way to finish a hard week at work.

Hills, hills and more hills

I'll be seeing a lot of hills between now and the Marathon des Sables however todays were in relation to my bike.  My half ironman has a few decent climbs in the 56 miles so at 6.15am I was out hill training.  Once on the "B road" that takes me up and down the hill I didn't see another car.  It was a bit of a grey day but dry.
On my way home my "favourite" Jack Russell came out to bite me so I aimed my bike straight at the little bugger and he decided that being hit at 25 mph wasn't a good idea.  I am going to have to say something to the owner as it's going to cause an accident and for runners it becomes a real stand off.  So home in time to celebrate my eldest 18th birthday - where does the time go?  He now towers above me.  What an exciting time in his life.  He has the whole "world at his feet" and it's just a case of choosing a path to follow. Happy birthday Jamie.