Game plan

Tomorrow I am taking part in my 1st duathlon at the same time thousands of people will be completing the London Marathon.  While I will be finished a lot quicker than them there are two things we will have in common.  The first is we will have a game plan.  Mine is simple; in the first 5km run I will run at 4.45 min per km which is slower than my race pace for 5km - treat it like a warm up.  On the 20 km bike I am going to maintain 26.5 km per hour, a good speed as it is over a relatively short distance and I have another 5km to run when I get off.  Then I step into the unknown.  I am aiming to run the last 5km at 4.30 min per km.  That is my game plan and having established the plan it will be easier to focus during the event and after I can conduct a more meaningful review.
The second thing we will have in common is at the end we will be knackered.  If I am not on all fours trying to keep my breakfast down and gasping for air then I haven't pushed myself to the limit.  Where ever the finish line is. 1km, 10km or 100 km, you need a plan that sets the pace to give you focus.
All that is left is to execute the plan.  I'll let you know how it goes but for now I am resting (part of my plan) watching Andy Murray battle with Nadal - come on Andy and good luck to all those taking part in the London Marathon!

Obssession?

Yesterday someone asked if my training had become an obsession.  I pondered for a minute and replied "no, it was now a way of life".  It was only afterwards I thought more about my reply and realised it really was a way of life and this was a better frame of mind to be in rather than I must train for this event - it's now more enjoyable.  This view was underlined this morning as I stood in a queue for the swimming at 6.50am.  In front of me were at least 12 people and 10 of them must have been over 60.  Their "way of life" is walking up and down the pool or going to the gym 1st thing in the morning - they've got it right.
And I know time is the issue for those that work but try analysing your time for a week and see how much of it we waste.  I am sure there is a couple of hours in a week where you could squeeze in a walk, run, swim or cycle.  Make fitness a way of life and you'll enjoy it all the more (life that is!).

6 weeks to go

More yoga this morning as I recovered from yesterdays swim - I was tired but the early morning yoga session energised me.  Tonight I was out training with Neil, seeing how he was progressing as his novice triathlon is only 6 weeks away.  We went out for a run (power walk / jog) and he knocked another 2 minutes off his time - unbelievable.  Can't say he enjoyed the session and he's probably still sweating but his determination to succeed is driving him on.
He's raising money  for http://www.friendsofthebeatson.org/ which he benefitted greatly from when going through his cancer treatment and if you want to support him then please go to his just giving site  http://www.justgiving.com/neil-sutherland .  The next 6 weeks will be very tough for him and he will need all the support he can get.  So post a comment when you get a chance.  Thanks.

Happy bunny!

No the title isn't linked to Easter, it's linked to the fact that today I crossed a mental barrier in relation to my swimming which I have been battling with since coming back from the flu.  The session was a 4km swim for those training for Ironman and as I am not doing it this year I wasn't.  But I was challenged to swim continuously for 1hr instead.  Having set this challenge I prepared my mind for what would be involved including the pace I should go at.
After 500 m I'd normally be happy to take a wee rest but it was easy.  In the end I did 3 km in 1hr 12 min and could have continued as I wasn't tired at all.  Had you suggested that to me two weeks ago I'd have laughed as I was struggling to do half that distance with rests.  The secret was preparing mentally and getting the pace right for the goal.  I am now a happy bunny but I am determined to keep up with swimming so that I do not need to go through this pain again.  Happy Easter!

Taking health for granted

I am so lucky.  With the exception of 5 weeks when I had a bout of flu this year I am in great health.  But when I had the flu it made me realise just how healthy I was and how we take it for granted.  Getting up a flight of stairs left me breathless but now I am almost back to where I was before the flu - it has not been easy.
This time last year Neil (Mr Baldy to you regular followers) was battling with cancer and now is swimming, cycling, running  - getting ready for his first triathlon in June.  A year ago when I first suggested it to him, as a way of giving him something positive to plan for, he wasn't exactly receptive to the idea - understandibly so.  But it shows you what is possible when you have your health.  Healthy doesn't mean fit.  Real fitness comes with effort, sweat and determination and Neil has that in bucket loads.  Everytime a friend says "there is no way your going to do that" it just makes him more determined.
So if you've go your health, why not get out in this good weather and improve your fitness.  Better still choose a worthwhile charity and get involved - that way everyone wins.  Have fun!

Giving up!

Having stayed up to watch the Masters last night, getting up at 5.40 for the swimming wasn't easy.  The swim session was tough and I considered giving up at least 3 times as I hauled myself round the pool.  However as with anything, if you can just get past a certain point the pain or tiredness seems to reduce and that is exactly what happened.  So I managed the full session which totalled 2,500m and felt I had crossed a barrier in my road back to fitness in swimming.  On Wednesday they are planning a 1 hour continuous swim so that will be another physical and mental challenge.

Time trial

I took part in my first time trial today - a 25 mile timed event where you are seeing how fast you can complete it.  It doesn't matter what the other cyclists are doing as it's all about your peronal time.  Mine was 1hr 27 min with an average speed of 28.2 kph - that's a 10% increase on my best ever speed so the Lanza training has paid off.  I'll repeat this TT during the summer to have something to compare against.
Talking of summer how beautiful is the weather.  I might have to clean the BBQ from last year!