Heat training

Europe is currently going through a heat wave and I need to prepare for temperatures of over 30 degrees while I am swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 miles and running 26.2 miles.  I will be on the go for up to 15 hours and the temperature in the UK at the moment does not help with my preparation.  Today I decided not to go out into the rain and wind and started my turbo session at 6am.  I continued for 75 minutes and practiced my hydration as when you are outside in the wind and rain you are not so tempted to drink - indoors when the sweat is poring off you drinking is much easier.  Tomorrow I go to my "training camp" abroad and will concentrate on my running and swimming but I will keep you informed as to how I am getting on.  Hope you get some better weather while I am away!

Turbo driven

Had a long lie, 6.30 am, as I was tired from my double session yesterday.  The weather and work meant I got on the saddle at 6.30pm for an hour on the turbo.  Turbo bike sessions do not replace real cycling on the road but I should now have enough miles in my legs for Ironman and the turbo being indoors means I get to work out in the heat.  One more bike session tomorrow and whether it is turbo or road will depend on the weather.  Then on Saturday I am away for 1 weeks swimming and running training abroad to acclimatise for Copenhagen.

Real men in Speedos!

The constant training is tiring and you have to listen to your body so without any guilt I had a "power nap" in the office for 20 mins in preparation for my swim tonight in Loch Lomond as my 12 km run this morning was telling.  I had arranged with a pal of mine to meet me there for a swim and he turned up with his swimming partner - they are part of a team that's swimming the channel.  He had said the water might be cold due to the rain however I wasn't expecting to see them wandering into the loch in Speedos!!!!!  You are not allowed to swim the Channel in a wetsuit.  I felt a complete wimp in my wetsuit and this wasn't helped by the fact they are good swimmers.  However they kindly nursed me round the choppy 900 m course and while I dried off they went back for more! Real men in speedos - I'll stick to my wetsuit.

Mount Kilimanjaro

Billy Connolly once said there was nothing wrong with our weather it was just we were wearing the wrong clothes!  Well this morning as the wind swept the rain horizontally towards me I was glad I had remembered that comment before going out for my 12km run - dressed more for winter running.  I also bumped into some friends at 6am who had rucksacks on their backs and were off training for their charity trip to Mount Kilimanjaro - well done boys and keep up the hard work.   You see it's not just me on a mission, loads of people are doing it in their own way.
Tonight, weather permitting, I will be "rubbered up" in my wetsuit dipping my toes in Loch Lomond as I need the open water practice.  However if there are white horses on the loch tonight I think I'll reconsider and let Billy Connolly know we may have the right clothes but you can still drown!

No rubber ring required!

As we draw closer (32 days) to Copenhagen Ironman my coach Steve focus's alters my training regime to reduce the endurance element as the hard work is "almost over" and increase the intensity of the sessions i.e. get the pain over quicker.  Todays swim involved 5 x 100m warm up, a 35 min continual swim (about 1,500m  if I counted right but can't be sure) and 8 x 50m warm down.  I was asked to leave out the pull buoy which keeps my bum higher in the water like a wetsuit would, and obviously this makes the swim harder.  So I did and yes it was harder but I tried to maintain my stroke throughout - apologies to the Athelite Triathlon Club swimmers who had to keep overtaking me!   The rest of the week will involve two bike rides, one run and an open water swim before my training camp in the heat the following week.

Rest day - on the golf course

I managed to combine business, rest and golf all on the one day.  My first 18 holes of golf this year and it was great fun.  However I forgot all my ironman training and didn't take water or nutrition on the course so I was slightly dehydrated and hungry when I came off - still won the money!  When the ironman event is over I will cram in three medal rounds to retain my handicap before the season ends but today was fantastic seeing the course in brilliant condition and enjoying the company of my friends.  A slight change from the loneliness of my current training regime but that's the only way I can be prepared for ironman!

Big Bike Ride

Today almost didn't happen as I didn't get to bed till 2.45am as my son missed his bus from T in the Park and I had to pick him up!  The my daughters alarm went off at 5am, she was away on a sleepover, so I had to get up for that.  So when I dragged myself out of bed at 11am I wasn't feeling refreshed or motivated to get on my bike but my coach had underlined how important this session was.  It was a milestone in my cycling - 6 hrs and 140km in very testing conditions, wind gusting up to 35 miles per hour almost made me turn back as I was nearly blown off the road on a few occasions.  It was dangerous but conditions improved and this would be my longest and last big ride before the event - character building!  I will continue cycling in the run up to the event but the mileage will be less.
Ironman is an an interesting concept in that the first time I will swim 2.4 miles will be on the day, same with the 112 miles on the bike and same with the marathon.  In addition I will never have put them together at that distance before - a real challenge.  That's why each training session is so important.
So tomorrow is a rest day and having had my steak, pasta, veg and milk I am dressed in my compression clothing to help my recovery while I watch the footie!