Stretching the limits

I learned a very valuable lesson today in the pool, but that was after a run in the snow and ice.  The pool session was based on breathing.  We started by swimming 200m but every 25m we changed the frequency of breathing from 3/5/7/5 strokes which took up 100m and then repeated - then you had a 15 sec break before repeating the set twice.  Normally I'd breath every 3 strokes but when I get tired it drops to every 2.  5 was a push and 7 almost impossible.
We repeated the exercise on 6 x 100m and again I struggled with 7 and sometimes with 5.  And again on 8 x 50m and except this time it was breathing only every 5 or 7 strokes - I managed it.  The final set was 6 x 25 but the breathing changed to every 7 & 9 - yes 9 strokes.  Guess what?  I managed it.  To top things off I then swan 25 m without taking a breath which for me was incredible, especially when I repeated it.  In total I swam 3,000m which isn't bad considering I had run before it.
So the moral of the story is with an incremental plan you can achieve greater results.

Technology & me

I like technology but sometime it doesn't like me.  You need a PhD to programme the Garmin watch / computer I wear for triathlon but if you get it right it's excellent for the bike and running.  However it's bulky for the swim and doesn't have the best functionality.
So today I tried out a "pool mate" which is a watch specifically designed for pool swimming.  One of the best features is that is counts your lengths which is really handy, especially if doing a long continuous swim.  This mornings session was 1,500m continuous swim in a 50 m pool.  I decided to try and keep count as I found it difficult to see the lap counter on the screen while moving.  I got to the end and the watch said I had swam 4 more lengths than I thought! Having pressed the reset button I didn't see the time so I'll have to wait till I download the data tonight (assuming I can do that!) to see what the score is.
I'll be gutted if it didn't store the data as it was an important session to time as my coach is looking for these results to see how I am progressing. B****y technology!

White out

Last night a collection of finely tuned athlete's met to compare notes, eat fine food and overload in carbs - the alcoholic type!  This was my last night out, until the next one in a couple of weeks, but I took it easy as I had a one hour run planned for this morning.  The run started out ok but I had to be careful on the icy pavements and roads.  Then the snow started and the wind whipped up - it was like getting a face lift!  I looked like Frosty the Snowman when I got back home.  But a new week of training awaits and it's important to keep the momentum going in the run up to the festive period.

Friends

Last night I celebrated my 50th birthday with a bunch of "old" friends.  It was great to catch up and reminded me that I have a wonderful group of friends and that I need to work harder at keeping in touch with them.
Someone made up a dvd of old photo's of me and it was so nice to take that trip down memory lane.  My kids found the young pictures of me amusing whereas others saw how alike we looked.  What a fun night and I have to do it all over again tonight.  Then I'll be on the "wagon" for 12 days before the staff night out - difficult time of year mixing training with ultra-socialising!

Sharp reminder

It's easy to get caught up in your own life especially when you have a training schedule to keep to.  But this morning after my pool session I found out a friend of mine who is fighting cancer is in the ICU.  I think we all take our health for granted until something happens and its these sharp reminders that should make us realise what's important in life.  So take time out to give your loved ones a hug or make up with someone you've had a stupid argument with but have been too proud to make the first move. Life is for living and it's no dress rehearsal so get out there and live it.  Not everyone has that opportunity so let's keep them in our thoughts as they battle on. 

50 not out!

It's a bit of a mile stone reaching 50 but more psychological than anything else. Having made the big 50 I did a turbo training session followed by a run. I was just about to step onto the road to avoid a puddle when a White van overtook a truck behind me and I wouldn't have seen 50 + 1 day!
So I'm relaxed about the age thing, especially when I ran the course this morning faster than ever. But I have made one conscious decision and that is not to let small things bother me any more. So what will be my attitude - there are worse things in life. But if I catch that White van man........

Low motivation - man up!

With the big birthday tomorrow this week isn't a normal one and I decided to have an extra hour in bed as it had been a hard swim session the night before. But I have to be careful that "listening to my body" which is so important doesn't become an excuse for being lazy. Once home from work I got back into the swing a walked across the yard in my cycling gear as the rain was pouring down - I could quite easily have lay down in front of the fire and had a sleep.
But the only way you can complete an Ironman is by finishing these sessions having given everything. So that's what I did followed by a weights session. Then some lasagne accompanied by bubbly - just warming up for tomorrow!