Treacle

Today was meant to be a rest day but having missed my swimming yesterday I needed to get in the pool tonight and there was a coached swim session.  The warm up went well and I was enjoying gliding up and down the pool but when the hard work started it felt like I was dragging myself through treacle.  It's three years since I started swimming properly and going from 40 metres to 3,800 metres in open water is progress.  But the swimming is ugly and not efficient and this is what I am working on.
I am persevering as unless I can swim 3,800 metres in the sea at Lanzarote in 206 days time and come out fresh enough to cycle 112 miles in hilly, hot and windy conditions followed by a marathon then I'm stuffed.
The 206 days will fly in so every training session is vital - even if I am not particularly enjoying dragging myself through the treacle.  Sometime life is like that but we know these days will pass so always look past them and stay on target, assuming you have one!

It never rains but it pours!

In the world of "positive" sometimes you can have a crap day - like yesterday.  I felt tired all day but force myself out on the run.  However I didn't stick to my normal mantra of no food within 2 hours of running and suffered.  Looking at the results from my computer, my heart rate went racing at the beginning and although the objective was to run the second half quicker I was lucky to be running at all.  Still I managed to finish the run and although I hadn't achieved my objective at least I felt better at the end.
That was until I met my son who had strained a muscle at athletics and had to cut his session short.  This is potentially a real set back as on Friday he has been invited to train with the Scotland U15 Development Squad at football.  So some TLC for him and fingers crossed as these chances do not happen often.
And finally, the boiler went meaning substantial cost as we have to redesign the room it is sited in plus the cost of replacing it while having no heating for at least 2 weeks!  Aaaggghhhh.
However watching the news this morning put everything into perspective with floods, earth quakes and murders.  For those involved there lives could be changed forever so let's count ourselves very lucky.

Dawn chorus

This morning I dropped my son off at the leisure centre for his first early shift - he's a life guard.  Early mornings are not something he normally sees except when coming back from a party but this is a new habit he will have to get used to.  As for me I would normally go swimming but couldn't today so headed off to the early shift at the office.
When I stepped out of the car I was amazed at the beautiful dawn chorus that greeted me from the birds.  I could have pulled up a chair and sat and listened.  However a light "smir" of rain had started which discouraged me hanging around but this brought out the fragrance of the flowers which again I hadn't really noticed before - usually because I'm in the pool at this time!
It made me think.  A weeks relaxation on holiday and my senses are more tuned in.  I'm going to work hard at making an effort to take these noises and fragrances in going forward as it made me feel very grateful to be healthy and alive!  Have a sniff and listen next time your "up with the lark".

Sunday - a day of rest. Yeh right!

Today started with a long lie, a full breakfast and then watched my son play football - good victory and he scored!  Then I had to drag myself out for a 1.5 hour run with the weather starting to turn windy and wet.  But when you have a written programme and you know you will be meeting your coach in the next couple of days to examine the results, you can't skip it.  Knowing that each mile is recorded and will be compared means there are no "junk miles" - every one counts.  Also my coach likes a negative split meaning the 2nd half of the run should be quicker than the first half.  This keeps you completely focused with every step and giving it everything at the end.
So I managed to knock almost 2 minutes of last weeks time and I achieved the negative split - yeeeees!
Shower, recover and replenish with food and fluids.  After dinner I finished the weekend off with a gym workout to build my strength.  Now for a cup of tea and X factor - it doesn't require any thought or effort!

Why do it?

This is a question I get asked on a regular basis.  Especially when people see my training schedule.  Today I went out with the group for a few hours on the bike.  It was very windy but that was a good test for my new wheels.  The strong headwind made the hills tougher however after the hilly mountain bike workout yesterday I felt strong - not as strong as some of the "real" cyclists but I have come a long way in the last 2 years and can feel the difference.
Home for some lunch and then out for an hours run.  The wind had really picked up but I just got on with it.  My coach has me running a negative split i.e. faster 2nd half so that you finish strong.  I haven't been doing much running recently but I managed this at a good pace.
So why do it?  I feel fantastic and am in good shape.  This improves my quality of life which benefits my family and helps me be more effective at work. Finally it allows me to raise money for the charities I support which also makes the whole journey worthwhile.  So I hope that answers the question but every time I'm asked it it reinforces my belief in what I'm doing.

Change of scene

It's great when you get a change of scenery and yesterday and today we headed off for an over night followed by some mountain biking.  I'm new to MB but the uphills are a great workout for your legs, especially if chasing your son to the top, and the down hills are a pure adrenaline rush.  We attempted a red run and I can see how it improves your bike handling skills as you head over drops, rocks and worst of all slippy tree roots.
But I started the day with 2,000 m in the pool just to keep with my programme.  My gym session will get moved to tomorrow which means it will be a busy day.  1 hr bike, 1 hr run and the gym session I missed today.  My next event is a 16 mile run a week on Sunday so the focus turns to my running next week.

Beautiful day

At last today was what I would regard as a typical (except this year) autumn days.  It was dry, sunny and cold - 6 degrees.  So the plan was for a brick session; 1 hour on the bike followed by a 30 minute run.  Winter clothing was the order of the day but I was working hard so didn't feel the cold.  Now time for a power nap to help with my recovery.  Tomorrow is another rest day and I'm looking forward to it as I know I have some hard work ahead.