The long & the short of it

Last night I ran in the Land O'Burns 10k race.  I was aiming for a PB of 45 mins as it was a fast course but that's before I turned up to a very wet and wind swept Ayr - Scottish summer at its best!  I knew what I had to run each km in to beat my time and was looking to get under 45 so was shocked when my watch read 45.56.99 sec as I crossed the line.  Confused, wet and miserable I left but once I got home and dried off I checked the data and according to my watch I had run 10.91km!  That means I smashed my PB.
I checked with another couple of runners and one confirmed that according to his watch the course was 10.6 miles but that as there was an area of trees the reading might be slightly out.
The official times are not out yet but out of interest I may write to the organisers and ask what the actual distance was.
No matter what the result I gave it everything and considering I had to take the weekend off with a head cold I am pleased with the result, what ever it was!  Now down to the final preparations for UK 70.3 IM on 19 June.

Marathon des Sables 2013

It's been a couple of really important days as far as my "journey" is concerned.  For those of you familiar with my blog you will have seen my stated goals from the beginning of the year.  Yesterday I secured a place in the worlds toughest Ironman, Lanzarote and today entries opened at 10.30 for Marathon des Sables - "the toughest footrace on EARTH"!  The UK entries are taken up within 30 minutes and I managed to secure on! OMG!!
One of my favourite quotations is from TS Eliot who said "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go".  I put that to the test with Ironman last year and it triggered something in my head that said "why not?"  MDS will be an unbelievable task but one I am looking forward to preparing for.
But let's get the focus back to the present day; tonight I am aiming for a PB in a 10k race, then I will switch my thinking to the UK 70.3 IM on June 19th.  The key is know what you want to achieve and why you want to achieve it.  I hope you will follow and support my journey.

Big Day Today!

In a years time I am looking forward to reflecting on this post.  In my opinion setting goals is important if you want to get the best out of yourself and out of life.  How do you know if you have achieved anything if you can't measure it and to be really worthwhile it needs to be challenging.  So today the entries opened for the toughest Ironman competition in the world and I entered as I said I would.
Already I am being told I am mad.  Lanzarote has heat, hills (9,400 feet of climbing) and wind which destroys you on the bike.  Out of the three disciplines my cycling is my weakest and this was one of the main drivers for entering it.  Now I have 1 year to improve.
In the western world we tend to work on our strengths but from my karate training I was always taught the eastern method of working on your weaknesses to make you stronger.  As I sit down to my dinner the challenge seems extremely difficult but then again so did my first Ironman.  Lanza is in a different league so bring it on.
Tomorrow will bring more big news but you'll have to wait till then.  In the meantime, sent me your comments to support the cause.  Mission Ironman has started in earnest!

"Where do I start?"

I set off this morning for the pool feeling 90% better so I thought I would have an easy swim.  Three of the swimmers are doing a half-ironman at the weekend so it wasn't going to be a full on session.  We received some coaching as we did drills which is always good as it allows you to think on how to improve your efficiency.  One of the drills was to push off from the wall like a torpedo with your hands at your sides.  When you needed to take a breath you stretched out and started swimming.  It was pointed out that at this stage my legs sink which is far from efficient.  When I enquired what should I do about it the response was "where do I start?"  Harsh but true and it just reminds me, as if I needed it, that there is a huge amount of work to do to improve my technique.  In short my lack of flexibility causes me all sorts of technical problems but with a bit of luck and help from my wife, the yoga will improve me.
Litre of chocolate milk and a banana and I feel brand new.  Looks like I'll make my 10k race after all on Wednesday. 
Finally Ali's team won the cup final on Sunday - despite being out with his injury he was presented with a medal which I thought was a nice touch.  On Wednesday night they have their final league match and if they win it they will have won the league two years running.  His fitness training starts tomorrow with me and I can't wait to get him in the pool!

Frustration

The cold is running its course but it's so frustrating wanting to and needing to train and not being able to.  If I did it would set me back and I have to keep my UK 70.3 IM as my focus on 19th June and make sure I turn up in the best shape possible.  Mentally I know I can do the distance and my base fitness is better than last year.  Time will tell. 
Off to watch my son's team in the cup final although obviously he is side lined due to his operation.  Then away to the bike shop to get some bits for the bike including a new set of typres after the shock discovery on Friday of a two inch bare patch which could have caused a nasty accident.  As I am hopeless with my hands, repairing the bike will challenge my patience, and probably that of my family to.  I recon they will give me a wide berth while I give it my best shot!
If I wake up feeling ok tomorrow I will try and go for a slow easy swim just to work on my rhythm in the pool.

Lucky escape

Today's plan went pear shaped when I woke up with a sore throat - this is usually the first sign of a cold for me so I decided getting in the pool wasn't a good idea.  But I went for a "bike fit" from Colin at ATHelite (the best swim, bike, run shop in the UK).  As he was taking measurements he notice a two inch bare strip on my back tyre - just ready to pop!  I put it down to the hard riding on Etape and how luck I was that it didn't blow then but remembered I was out last night riding fast on the hills.
So tonight should be fun as I change my tyre - those of you that know me know I am "handless" but it's good practice 'cause it could happen in a race (it almost did!).
Subject to a successful repair and feeling better the weekend will consist of biking and running.  I really can't afford this cold to develop as it will set back all my training in the run up to UK 70.3 IM.
Neil is also slightly poorly and his 1st tri is only 2 weeks away so fingers crossed.

B roads and wide loads

Out for a brick session and the first time on the bike since the weekend race.  My legs felt tired but it was only a short fast session.  "B" roads have less traffic but unfortunately with silage being cut you have to avoid tractors with big trailers.  In short while doing 20 mph I had to squeeze past a load with less that a foot to spare - focus's your attention!
Jumped off the bike and into my running shoes (brick session) for a quick run getting the legs used to the change.  It wasn't too bad but my house is at the bottom of a hill.  Great for improving strength and improving endurance.  Plenty more of these sessions in the week ahead.
Double swim tomorrow, pool session at 7am and open water session at 6pm so should be a tough day!