7 Ironmen

Last week was a difficult one.  Fitting in training with work and family is hard enough but as I was in London for two days it really screwed the schedule up.  I did run in London but the 6m ascent bored me and dodging shoppers, tourists and office workers plus the traffic didn't help my speed.  I worked out in a tiny gym and did my core routine in my bedroom but it didn't feel good.  When I got back home I was knackered so I skipped my early morning swim on Friday as I listened to my body.  I still managed my turbo session in the evening, not that I felt like doing it but it hadn't been a good week for training and I couldn't miss another session.
I headed out for the club ride with 6 club mates and only an hour in realised that every one of us was an ironman and had entered an ironman competition for next year.  This is going to be a fantastic training group which will help us get through the winter.  I was in full winter gear and we didn't hang around.  I had a speed wobble at 7 mph on some gravel which was very scary as there isn't much you can do on those "ball bearings".  Fortunately one of my riding partners put his shoulder into me just as I was about to knock him off and that straightened me up - could have been a sore one!
Our average speed over the 93km and 905 metres of ascending had increased from the previous week so that was encouraging - that's why we measure everything so we can recognise improvements - every little improvement counts. I did struggle with a higher heart rate at the beginning of the ride on the hills which could have been me being tired from a busy week but it did settle down later - important to keep an eye on that measurement.
Later on that day I went for a sports massage.  As always it was sore especially my feet and OMG my rotator cuff (shoulder) - I can't print what I said when he hit that point!  I was told I might feel it the next day but I didn't.  I headed out for 9 km run and the good news is I had no foot pain.
Much to the disappointment of my triathlete friends I played golf in the afternoon - they don't see it as a sport.  It was such a beautiful autumnal afternoon and my sport massage must have done me some good because I played the best round of the year and I was hitting the ball a mile!  Maybe digging into my rotator cuff had released some stiffness, I've no idea but I do know it worked.
Later I watched the rugby and was on the edge of my seat as Scotland came close, but no cigar.  A bit like the 86 year old who last week would have been the fasted man ever of his age group in the world championships but was disqualified as he finished 6 seconds after the official cut off.  It's an important reminder that crossing the finish line isn't guaranteed and the difference between winning and losing can be "paper thin".  And every training session takes me one step closer to the finish line - 257 days to go.