Out of my comfort zone

I often talk about getting out of your comfort zone and this leads to improvements in performance.  However when this refers to DIY I'm not so sure.  Being a rest day I tackled building two furniture units, a TV unit and a coffee table.  My problem with DIY, apart from being handless, is the way the instructions are written.  After 4 hrs and 15 minutes (yes I timed it!) both were finished.  The TV unit has a bent piece of wood or else there would have been an inch of a screw visible no matter what I tried.  The instructions were also incorrect in reference to certain screws which didn't exist. I broke part of the coffee table just unpacking it and had to drill an extra hole which should not have been required as a piece of wood wouldn't line up.
I'm now recovering, exhausted!  Am I satisfied that I have completed the furniture builds without hiring someone to do it for me?.....not really due to the problems which are visible to anyone who cares to look.  My performance has improved as these were complicated builds so I will take something from that but in future I'll leave it to people who get pleasure from it!  I'll stick to my Ironman training.

Without desire, forget it!

When I was 12 years old I wanted the body of Bruce Lee from the film Enter the Dragon.  It has never happened but at least I know why. I wanted it but didn't want it enough - I didn't have the desire.  The Mission Ironman journey has taught me what you are capable of if you desire it enough.  In my journey I meet lots of people who "want" something but unless they are really serious about it then there is no change. So if you are wanting to achieve something extraordinary in life or business first of all work out why you want it and how much it would mean for you to achieve it.  Then plan out what you need to do, have a monitoring system to ensure you are on track and get on with it.
This week was a planned "recovery" week but don't take that as being easy.  Today the week finished with a one hour turbo session followed by a "run off the bike" (a brick session).  I now have two days off before starting another tough 3 week programme.  So the plan is constantly building with a target in mind that I desire.  That's my secret in how ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things but raising money for Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres is close to my heart and that's what drives me.

Getting out your comfort zone

It's interesting how conditioning work changes targets and what you think is possible.  4 years ago I could only swim 40 metres although it looked more like one step away from drowning.  Now swimming is one of my favourite activities although if you saw me swimming next to a good swimmer, you'd see there is still room for improvement - but I can now swim 3,800 metres.  But it's all relative which is the same for cycling, running, triathlon or even success.  It depends on where you are starting from so today's swim of 2,000 metres was fast and easy - almost can't believe I am making that statement!
So if you want to push the barriers, get out your comfort zone or make significant changes you need to set yourself some challenges that would be worth achieving.  I've learned that setting challenges makes me stronger physically and mentally and this conditioning allows me to achieve more than I ever thought possible.   Why not go for it yourself?  It will open up a whole new world.

Planning

With the training week in Lanza approach a planning meeting with my fellow Lanza Ironman Gareth was required. Checklists were drawn up to make sure we take all the necessary gear and with a 15kg luggage limit,the wardrobe will consist mainly of lycra! We need to take out our nutrition to make sure we can "feed on the bike" as we will be doing long rides. The bike is also booked in to the local bike genius Willie Bain. He will make sure my bike is in good working order and I'll have it back there before my trip in May.
Tonight I had a choice; group turbo session or a solo turbo session at home and I went for the latter to save travel time and win some "brownie points"! I'll have done the same session but on my own so you have to get the music right to motivate yourself as you aren't surrounded by sweaty athletes that you are trying to keep up with. It was tough but I feel great after it. Good nights sleep and I'll be ready for a swim in the morning.

Team effort

My journey to Ironman isn't a solo effort - it's a team effort.  My coach Gen helps prepare me every week to condition my body and mind.  Grant the sports masseuse keeps my legs in good working order otherwise they would grind to a halt with all this work.  John the physio sorts out the niggles and Gill & Ian the chiropractors look after my back - I never claimed to be an Olympic athlete!  I also depend on my wife to keep things together at home and the kids to accept my training time.  My team at the office keep work ticking over when I'm not around.  Then there's my tri pals who train with me and continue to encourage me.  Finally there's you, yes you.  By reading my blog and supporting my fund raising (www.justgiving.com/Derek-Stewart0) it makes me dig deeper when I need to because I know I am going to report back to you.
So tonight I had to dig deep to complete a hard set that amounted to 3,700 metres.  But all the work in the pool over the last 3 months is paying off as I couldn't have completed this until now.  I'm on schedule for the Ironman swim and need to get my bike and run up to speed which I will do when I am in Lanza in March.  But all of this is only possible because of team work.  Thanks team.

Recovery week

This is a recovery week which happens one in every four weeks.  So lots of rest, stretching, food but exercise every day continues - just less of it.  You can't stop or my body might "shut down" as it thinks we've crossed the line.  So I had a long lie till 6.45am which felt great.  On getting home I went out for a 10k run in the wind and rain - hard to imagine what it will be like in Lanza in May but it's certainly going to be warmer!  Although it's only 10k it's against the watch with my pace building thought the run - the wind and a full stomach from a three course lunch did slow me down but it was still a good work out with the last stretch at a good pace. 
In 2 weeks I will be working my butt off in Lanza cycling all over the island getting used to the IM course.  I'll also be doing some running in the heat and swimming in the sea which will be totally new to me.  A slight contrast to today but all essential in my preparation for an Ironman where "normal limits do not apply"!

A helping hand

I enjoyed my two days rest but when I woke up this morning I was not looking forward to my 3hr 20 min bike followed by 30 min run off the bike - it was very cold.  Before that I took my son to his football but when we got there is was called off due to a heavy frost.  One the positive side at least I wouldn't be frozen after standing at the match but on the negative side it gave me concerns for ice on the country roads.
Fortunately Colin, one of the coaches from the tri club, offered to go out with me so with the temperature around 2 degrees and a cold westerly wind we headed out.  By staying off the "B" roads we avoided the ice but it meant we had more cars to contend with and we couldn't cycle side by side - but it was still nice to have company.  My speed increased marginally from last week but I know when I'm training in Lanzarote I'll get that sorted.  It's a good way to lose 2,000 calories!  Off the bike and quick change over so I could run for 30 mins getting my legs and mind used to the different muscles being used.  I was very happy with my running time so back home, washed the bike, jumped in the bath, took on some protein  and am now recovering watching the cycling on the telly - bliss!