You can do it!

I was in a deep sleep when the alarm went off this morning and getting out of bed took an extra effort.  Its a holiday so getting up when everyone else is sound asleep isn't easy.  This mornings pool session was tough (there not going to get easier!) and your mind wanders when swimming distance.  Like everyone I have an inner voice that likes to place doubt in my mind and especially when it gets tough in the pool.
On those occasions I have to remind myself why I am doing this and raising money for Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres always motivates me.  In addition I have told hundreds of people and by publishing the blog it keeps me focused.  So thank you for your continued support as it means more than you may appreciate.  And finally if you are considering a "new year's resolution" then get it down on paper, plan it and execute the plan - you can do it!

Back to work

Today many return to their jobs after the Xmas break but I am lucky in that our business is closed till 4th January.  That was a promise I made to my family when I set up in business 15 years ago and to be fair, clients aren't wanting to talk to us around that time anyway.
However there is a lot of training to be done and today I did a core session, a weights session and 55 mins on the turbo trainer.  Having been out at a dinner party the night before wasn't the best preparation however I now feel fantastic.  Every session is important because if you miss one out it can lead to another and then you are on the slippery slope.  Every session is one step closer to the goal of Lanza Ironman and it a progressive build up that is so important now that I am into the "build" phase.
So as I am in my "sweat studio" there is a gale force wind and rain battering against the windows which adds to the enjoyment of the training.  Just as I have typed this there has been a huge crack of thunder and lightening and the electricity in the house went out for a minute.  I hope that doesn't continue or we'll all be huddled round the coal fire with candles!

Money money money

Today Santa visited the sales and spent a small fortune! It would have been a bigger fortune but 20% off is always tempting. The equipment side of triathlon is very important and today I splashed out on new shoes with graphite soles and extra venting. The theory is that in Lanza I will need the ventilation because of the heat - 6-7 hours in the bike before a 4 hour run, need to look after the feet!
The graphite soles mean the shoe is stiffer and more power will be delivered as there will be less flex in the shoe. This also required new pedals to maximise the investment in the shoes. I am hoping the spend will show in my bike time but in addition to lots of training you need the proper equipment.

144 days and counting

Ok so Xmas is over.  I've had too much food, too much wine and a huge amount of fun.  So today the buid up starts although I am still being careful with my knee and not running.  I will revisit the physio next week to get his opinion on my knee but I will increase the time on the turbo trainer as I feel the swelling has reduced.
Being on holiday means I will get loads of rest over the next week which is also an important part of a recovery programme.  At the same time I am reading up on Ironman training as there is always room to learn more which will help me in Lanzarote.

Busy busy

Today is one of my favourite days of the year - Christmas Eve. We're having 10 for dinner tomorrow so it was all hands on deck - by "all" i mean me and the boss as my daughter was at horse riding and my sons didn't get out their pit till well into the afternoon. So mission tidy the house and prep the food went into full action with Xmas songs to keeps us motivated.
I did manage a turbo session lasting 30 mins and the knee held up well. So now as we prepare dinner I am icing the knee (3 x a day) while sinking an ice cool beer as tomorrow is a day off. I also received my training schedule for the next 4 weeks and I've moved from base level training to build level. I'm sure you can work out the difference but I'll report back on that in the coming weeks.
I hope Santa is good to you all! Ho ho ho.

Small steps

Today when the office doors closed for 2011 and I'd finished the Xmas shopping I went home to test the knee injury out on the turbo (bike).  After 15 mins I decided not to push it and to start the recuperation with small steps.  I did follow with a goods weight session so didn't feel too guilty.  So happy holidays to everyone and I'll keep you up to date with my training regime over the festive period and any observations on life along the way.

Finish line in sight

When reading up on Ironman I cam across a very interesting fact.  It is that people running endurance events can collapse in sight of the finish line.  The reason is that the runner's brain has blocked out the pain during the race but when they see the finish line the brain stops blocking the pain out and the runner collapses.  So for Ironman when I saw the finish line I had pre-programmed my brain not to accept it as the end and that it was beyond the finish line.
In the run up to Xmas it feels like an endurance event and I can feel the finish line in sight but don't want to acknowledge it in case I "collapse".  Like most people I've been "running on empty" and I'm looking forward to a break, time with the family, a change of routing.  But that doesn't mean sitting on my bum for the holidays, but it will be a welcome break.  So tomorrow as the finish line approaches I will be looking beyond it and will probably see my family sitting round the table with a big fat turkey and all the trimmings!