Swimming break through!

It might just be my imagination but this mornings swim session went really well.  My stroke seemed more efficient / effective and I wasn't too tired at the end.  Granted it was a shorter swim as I am tapering this week but it did boost my confidence after last nights open water swim.  This week is all about keeping it ticking over for Sunday and I will need to discuss my strategy for the race with my coach later on in the week - probably try not to get caught in the rush in the swim, knocked down on the bike and finish the run before the organisers pack up!  To be serious there is a lot of planning to make sure in the middle of the race when you change from one discipline to another that you haven't forgotten something vital such as sun cream or bum cream or even worse, getting them mixed up!!!

Tapering - yeh right!

On Sunday night I got my new training schedule through and this week I am meant to be tapering i.e. an easy week before my half ironman on Sunday.  Day off today after the hard weekend, that's a good start - swim on Tuesday, run on Wednesday, Bike Thursday & Friday and a short swim on Saturday!   Thanks Steve, I am glad it wasn't a full on week!
However Monday is the only time I can sneak in an Open Water swim and I need the practice as it's quite different from swimming in a pool - they don't get everyone out the water if there are brown objects floating.  As I hobbled across the stones (forgot my flip flops) I could see people thinking, look at that ironman - ouch, ouch, aahh, b****r.  I managed 10 minutes before my earlier pasta tried to make an appearance so I decided time for a shower.  I had applied "glide" to my arms and legs before I went out so that I could get the wetsuit off quickly as previous attempts had looked like a wrestling match.  To the amusement of the other swimmers in the changing rooms I tried to look as though I wasn't putting in any effort to extract my arms, which I was, but when I kicked my leg to get the suit off I ended up in the air and then on my bum - ironman my a**e!  Lessons learned are don't be lured in by the temptations of my wife's pasta before going training, consider the terrain I'll be walking on before swimming and only fight with the wetsuit in private!

Juggling

The morning started off in A&E with my daughter who had fallen of her trampoline the day before - we had iced it but the pain was still there.  Turns out it was broken so felling really good about that one especially as I hadn't had time to put up the safety net.  Then onto a football tournament with my son to watch parents shouting abuse at each other.  They are passed their best and really need a rest - the kids that is!
Went out for a brick (bike & run) session not feeling motivated.  However as I had very specific goals in my last major training session before Bala next weekend, my focus improved and I got stuck in.  Great bike session for 1hr 15 minutes and then straight onto the run.  It was set up for a faster than normal run and although my legs felt tired at the beginning I had a good run.  This just goes to prove that it is about your attitude and focus.  Next weeks training will be lighter as I prepare for Bala but this weekend has demonstrated the importance of mental attitude in achieving your goals.

Can't be botherd!

Started Saturday making breakfast for the girls who had stayed over for my daughters birthday.  Then off on the bike for 4 hours but I really didn't feel like it today.  As I have said before it's all about attitude.  I didn't have my usual focus when riding and bumping into my pal Jacques, who is recovering from injury, didn't help as I could have stayed and chatted all day.  But I ground it out and completed the 87 km - it is all about attitude but I didn't feel great afterwards and forgot to write up my blog!

Limits are in the head

Early morning swim covered 2,700 m - 1 year ago I was worried about completing 750 m and 1 year before that 40 m. I had a voice in my head telling me I couldn't do it.  Today I heard two very large ladies discussing completing 50 metres and how good they felt.  They had set it as a goal, planned their training and succeeded - now they are aiming for 100 metres - that's breaking the limits in your head.  If you have the desire, and that's the secret, put together a proper plan with someone monitoring your progress then you're on your way to raising the bar and silencing the voice in you head saying you can't do it.  Go for it and have fun on the journey - I certainly am.

Measuring progress

Another 5.40am start on the bike - the best part of the day.  During my 90 minute ride you get time to think about what ever comes into your head.  My thoughts turned to measuring progress because the previous night a friend had said how fast my time was in the Etape race (81 miles in 4hrs 58 mins).  I was pleased with my time but didn't think it was fast as I was 1.5 hours behind the winner and came 2,263 out of  3,616 cyclists!  But it did make me reflect that results are relative to where you are and where you set the bar.
12 months ago I took part in a 50 mile race and came off walking like John Wayne.  I did think at the time, how was I going to manage 2.4 mile swim before the bike, add another 62 miles onto my 50 and then run a marathon?  As I am 72 days away from Ironman I do believe that all the training will pay off because the structured build up of training has raised my levels of fitness and therefore my expectations.  On 13 June I will find out how my progress is going as I compete in the Bala half Ironman.
I'll leave you with the thought that a goal without a plan is just a wish - why not get some goals written down that you would like to achieve and make a start?  These light mornings are worth getting up for.

Split shift

Today was a split shift; early bike and late run.  Left the house at 5.45am and ran into congestion - a dairy herd!  Breakfast on the bike was a gel, a protein bar and a 500ml carbohydrate drink to give me energy. 34 km later back home for Muesli and fruit.  Diet is an important part so a banana mid morning is required to keep me going but I had too many coffees as I was in back to back meetings.  Lamb shank with plenty of veg for lunch with sticky toffee pudding and ice cream to follow.
I crammed in a protein bar before my 45 min run at 6.30 and had another 500 ml drink while running.  I have to practice this as it will be essential for the race.  Home at 8.30pm and 4 small poached eggs on brown toast and a wee bit of chocolate washed down with a pint of milk - reasonably healthy I think.  Just time to write the blog, help with the kids home work and not to forget a shower or I might get some complaints from the "management"!  Bed by 10.30 as I am up again for a 5.45am start on the bike.  Feeling good!