5 years ago I set up this blog to act more as a journal for me as at that time, I had no idea where the journey was heading (and still don't). It was so that I could look back on the journey to ironman which at the time seemed an almost impossible task. If you go back far enough you will see I was completely bricking an Olympic distance triathlon because it has a 1 hour cut off for the 1 mile open water swim. I was full of apprehension and people were telling me I was mad to attempt it. I completed the swim in around 35 mins (can't remember the exact time) and when I finished the race I knew I had so much more to offer hence completing my first ironman the following year.
At the moment I have no races lined up although I have the 50 mile Strathaven cycle to look forward to - more cake stops than gels! In September I am going cycling to Majorca for 4 days so in effect that is a goal i.e. get my cycling miles up so I don't keep the other cyclists waiting at the top of the climbs!
But I'm out of sync with my fellow club mates who are still in the middle of their season. Today I got back in the pool which was long overdue. My club mate is training for the 10k River Dart swim I did last year so it's almost pointless trying to follow him round the pool as I couldn't keep up. I made up my own set, worked on some drill and didn't kill myself in the pool as it's been a long time - I felt great afterwards.
Over a post training coffee we got talking about Ironman results as three of our club mates had just completed different ones last weekend. You can't compare times on different courses or even on the same course in different years - conditions and terrain vary. But we reflected on my Lanzarote ("where normal limits don't apply") Ironman time of 12hrs 35min and came to the conclusion that was the race of a lifetime, which I am exceptionally proud of. It's not the Ironman event everyone wants to do because of the wind, hills and heat. However that was 3 years ago and time moves on.
The reason I mention this is because a large number of my club mates have entered Frankfurt Ironman in July next year and again, I am out of sync. I would love to be part of that group training for the same event but can't risk entering until I know the position regarding my foot. I'm seeing the physio tomorrow and hopefully this will lead to some action that might give me a positive outcome. In the meantime I'll remain out of sync with my club mates but need to stay focused on small goals which act as stepping stones to my recovery.
Tuesday, 21 July 2015
Monday, 13 July 2015
Give up said the chimp
Having not run in a while I went out for a lap of Chatelherault with a friend who wanted a nice easy run - just my kind of running. It had been a while and it was so good to be under the trees when the rain was on. But by the end I realised how much I'd enjoyed a jog with no pain.
On Saturday there was only one group out and while a few were tapering for IM, the rest were pushing the pace. I was determined not to be dropped but it didn't take long when we hit the first significant hill and off the back I went. Enter the chimp. "what are you doing out with these guys, you're going to be dropped on every hill?" "You could cut off here and head back home" Why are you doing this you're not training for anything?" "Dropped again they must be getting fed up waiting for you, just head home!" So 3.5 hours of listening to the chimp wasn't much fun but it's something that happens to all of us, especially when we are struggling. I cope with it because I think it's part of my mental training regime and in endurance sport it makes the difference between success (still breathing at the end and not in hospital or a morgue) and failure - refer to the wording in the brackets!
The following day the chimp and I went out for an 8km trail run. Going out on my own (and chimp) was a mistake and I had to work hard again ("nobody would know if you walked" - I would and that's what counts).
But the fitness is creeping back and once Tollcross opens again I'll be back in the pool - lot's of hard work ahead in that department! As for the chimp, I've sent him on holiday because he was exhausted at failing to get me to quit! To paraphrase a well know "doper", pain is temporary....failure is forever.
On Saturday there was only one group out and while a few were tapering for IM, the rest were pushing the pace. I was determined not to be dropped but it didn't take long when we hit the first significant hill and off the back I went. Enter the chimp. "what are you doing out with these guys, you're going to be dropped on every hill?" "You could cut off here and head back home" Why are you doing this you're not training for anything?" "Dropped again they must be getting fed up waiting for you, just head home!" So 3.5 hours of listening to the chimp wasn't much fun but it's something that happens to all of us, especially when we are struggling. I cope with it because I think it's part of my mental training regime and in endurance sport it makes the difference between success (still breathing at the end and not in hospital or a morgue) and failure - refer to the wording in the brackets!
The following day the chimp and I went out for an 8km trail run. Going out on my own (and chimp) was a mistake and I had to work hard again ("nobody would know if you walked" - I would and that's what counts).
But the fitness is creeping back and once Tollcross opens again I'll be back in the pool - lot's of hard work ahead in that department! As for the chimp, I've sent him on holiday because he was exhausted at failing to get me to quit! To paraphrase a well know "doper", pain is temporary....failure is forever.
Sunday, 5 July 2015
Choose your training partners carefully!
Having enjoyed some pain free running I'm afraid it's back. Not too bad but when walking I am aware of it. I ran of Monday which was pain free and fantastic. Friday's run was a different story with my foot in some discomfort which has continued over the weekend.
On Saturday we had thunder and lightening 1st thing in the morning so I decided not to go out on the bike. I was going out in the afternoon but after a big lunch my motivation was NIL to going out on my own. I had a "funny feeling" that I shouldn't go out and the conditions weren't perfect. I found out later that one of my team mates had an accident in the wet conditions so perhaps my intuition was correct - fortunately he was ok. But I did feel guilty and lazy for not going out.
This morning I went out for a long ride, a bit longer than I had anticipated - over 100km. I went out with three team mates who are all starting to "taper" in their preparation for Ironman events in the next few weeks. This means they are as "fit as a butchers dog" and the 4.5 hour cycle was "easy" for them. I managed to hold on until near the end but it really showed the advantage of TT bikes v road bikes in head winds - they were all on beautiful TT bikes. That wasn't the deciding factor for me dropping off - they were just so fit and in fairness two of them held back so I wasn't lost off the back (forever!). But the chimp had a good go at telling me how unfit and useless I was as I constantly got dropped on the hills but you need to take the variants into account. I could have gone out for a leisurely spin but chose to go out with the ironmen and burn 3,200 calories.
As I battled up the hills it made me remember just how fit you have to be to complete an ironman event in a reasonable time. When I was training for ironman I remember completing a 5 hour bike ride and then pulling on my running shoes and going out for a 2 hour run - certainly not fit enough to contemplate it today. After all on the day they will be completing a 2.4m swim, 112 mile bike and a 26.2m run. It seems a lifetime ago even though it was only 3 years ago. But until I have set new goals and have a training plan in place I'll just tick over with my training and try and stay injury free.
On Saturday we had thunder and lightening 1st thing in the morning so I decided not to go out on the bike. I was going out in the afternoon but after a big lunch my motivation was NIL to going out on my own. I had a "funny feeling" that I shouldn't go out and the conditions weren't perfect. I found out later that one of my team mates had an accident in the wet conditions so perhaps my intuition was correct - fortunately he was ok. But I did feel guilty and lazy for not going out.
This morning I went out for a long ride, a bit longer than I had anticipated - over 100km. I went out with three team mates who are all starting to "taper" in their preparation for Ironman events in the next few weeks. This means they are as "fit as a butchers dog" and the 4.5 hour cycle was "easy" for them. I managed to hold on until near the end but it really showed the advantage of TT bikes v road bikes in head winds - they were all on beautiful TT bikes. That wasn't the deciding factor for me dropping off - they were just so fit and in fairness two of them held back so I wasn't lost off the back (forever!). But the chimp had a good go at telling me how unfit and useless I was as I constantly got dropped on the hills but you need to take the variants into account. I could have gone out for a leisurely spin but chose to go out with the ironmen and burn 3,200 calories.
As I battled up the hills it made me remember just how fit you have to be to complete an ironman event in a reasonable time. When I was training for ironman I remember completing a 5 hour bike ride and then pulling on my running shoes and going out for a 2 hour run - certainly not fit enough to contemplate it today. After all on the day they will be completing a 2.4m swim, 112 mile bike and a 26.2m run. It seems a lifetime ago even though it was only 3 years ago. But until I have set new goals and have a training plan in place I'll just tick over with my training and try and stay injury free.
Monday, 29 June 2015
Wipeout (almost!)
On Friday night we went swimming at Loch Lomond. Two of us had the loch to ourselves and my swimming felt much better than the previous week. It's a privilege to swim in such a setting. The mountains surround the loch so when you look up to draw breath you have a wonderful view. The light shines through the clear water so you can see you hand enter the water and extend. No blue line to monotonously follow and chlorine to sting your eyes.
I decided this weekend to concentrate on my cycling and give my foot a rest so I went our with the "big boys" group. Heading to the meeting point a bus decided to ignore me and pulled out as I was heading down a fast hill. It forced me onto the opposite side of the road in order to overtake it as braking would have been more dangerous. We completed 60 miles but I needed lots of encouragement as I almost "bonked" (hit the "wall" in running terms). On most hills I was dropped by the group and then spent the down hills trying to catch up. At the end I was shattered but pleased at how hard I'd pushed myself. Thanks guys for waiting on me.
The following day I went out for a ride with my pal and it was windy. As I headed up the first hill I my legs started to complain, this wasn't going to be easy especially with the wind. Normally I'd be dropping my pal on the hills but because my legs were tired I was hanging on for grim death. On a "b" road we were going flat out when a 4x4 pulled out of a farm turning towards us and taking up the whole road not realising we were heading straight into him. I was 20 yards ahead and as I braked my back wheel started sliding out. It was at this point the driver saw me and steered onto his side of the narrow road. I'd already come off the brakes and straightened up as I had picked my spot in the hedge I was going to hit but a small gap appeared and I shot past the 4x4. That was very close. Later on a boy racer in a Corsa was burning up another "b" road but at least he saw me in time to take action earlier. It did bring home to me how dangerous the roads can be but I put my luck down to the bird shit I'd wiped off my arm the day before - it's meant to be lucky and I certainly was.
That's probably the most I have trained over a weekend in 6 months and when I collapsed into bed last night I felt satisfied and knackered at the same time. I'll get some running in this week and see how my foot does. Running with my coach at 6.35am tomorrow.
I decided this weekend to concentrate on my cycling and give my foot a rest so I went our with the "big boys" group. Heading to the meeting point a bus decided to ignore me and pulled out as I was heading down a fast hill. It forced me onto the opposite side of the road in order to overtake it as braking would have been more dangerous. We completed 60 miles but I needed lots of encouragement as I almost "bonked" (hit the "wall" in running terms). On most hills I was dropped by the group and then spent the down hills trying to catch up. At the end I was shattered but pleased at how hard I'd pushed myself. Thanks guys for waiting on me.
The following day I went out for a ride with my pal and it was windy. As I headed up the first hill I my legs started to complain, this wasn't going to be easy especially with the wind. Normally I'd be dropping my pal on the hills but because my legs were tired I was hanging on for grim death. On a "b" road we were going flat out when a 4x4 pulled out of a farm turning towards us and taking up the whole road not realising we were heading straight into him. I was 20 yards ahead and as I braked my back wheel started sliding out. It was at this point the driver saw me and steered onto his side of the narrow road. I'd already come off the brakes and straightened up as I had picked my spot in the hedge I was going to hit but a small gap appeared and I shot past the 4x4. That was very close. Later on a boy racer in a Corsa was burning up another "b" road but at least he saw me in time to take action earlier. It did bring home to me how dangerous the roads can be but I put my luck down to the bird shit I'd wiped off my arm the day before - it's meant to be lucky and I certainly was.
That's probably the most I have trained over a weekend in 6 months and when I collapsed into bed last night I felt satisfied and knackered at the same time. I'll get some running in this week and see how my foot does. Running with my coach at 6.35am tomorrow.
Sunday, 21 June 2015
Work / life / training balance
My work schedule last week and for the week ahead was and is manic. It's just the way it has happened and when you run your own business sometimes you just have to "make hay while the sun shines". Obviously that's metaphorically speaking as summer is yet to start in Scotland and I'm using sun cream only to create a waterproof barrier!
The focus this week was yoga, swimming and running, but not a lot of time was available. I hadn't been in the pool for 6 weeks and on Wednesday it showed. I swam with a club mate and she did her best to encourage me that I was doing fine. I died in the pool and was lucky not to have brought my breakfast up. I forgot my nose clip so knew I'd suffer a head cold for the next 2 days - I wasn't disappointed. I knew going back was going to be tough and had skipped the club session the night before as that would have killed me - literally.
I went for an early morning run with my coach. Running on trails in the early morning listening to the "dawn chorus" is such a privilege. No complaints from my foot so I am happy.
On Friday night I went for an open water swim at Loch Lomond with a work colleague. It turned out we were the only two in the whole loch which can be a bit intimidating especially if there are boats cruising around. However the fact there were none out and that we were the only two in the water tells you something - it was bloody cold! It was my first OW swim of the year beyond my 5 minute dip the other month. I thought my wetsuit would help with my lack of swimming but I struggled to get any rhythm and it made me realise that I need much more time in the pool.
Not a lot of training this week and yesterday I spent the day at Knockhill Racing Circuit with my son. For his birthday I'd got him some track time in a single seat racing car and time in a rally car. We had a real blast and I even got "best driver of the day" for the track with a high score according to the instructors - we both drew on 2nd place in the rally. Today was Father's Day so I spent that with the family relaxing watching the rain pour down.
Tomorrow the madness starts again and training will have to take a back seat but that's ok, I'm not employed as an athlete! Finally congratulations to all the athlete's who completed the West Highland Way race - 95 miles with almost 15,000 ft of climbing. If I can get my foot better and get through the draw then hopefully I will follow in their foot steps in years to come.
The focus this week was yoga, swimming and running, but not a lot of time was available. I hadn't been in the pool for 6 weeks and on Wednesday it showed. I swam with a club mate and she did her best to encourage me that I was doing fine. I died in the pool and was lucky not to have brought my breakfast up. I forgot my nose clip so knew I'd suffer a head cold for the next 2 days - I wasn't disappointed. I knew going back was going to be tough and had skipped the club session the night before as that would have killed me - literally.
I went for an early morning run with my coach. Running on trails in the early morning listening to the "dawn chorus" is such a privilege. No complaints from my foot so I am happy.
On Friday night I went for an open water swim at Loch Lomond with a work colleague. It turned out we were the only two in the whole loch which can be a bit intimidating especially if there are boats cruising around. However the fact there were none out and that we were the only two in the water tells you something - it was bloody cold! It was my first OW swim of the year beyond my 5 minute dip the other month. I thought my wetsuit would help with my lack of swimming but I struggled to get any rhythm and it made me realise that I need much more time in the pool.
Not a lot of training this week and yesterday I spent the day at Knockhill Racing Circuit with my son. For his birthday I'd got him some track time in a single seat racing car and time in a rally car. We had a real blast and I even got "best driver of the day" for the track with a high score according to the instructors - we both drew on 2nd place in the rally. Today was Father's Day so I spent that with the family relaxing watching the rain pour down.
Tomorrow the madness starts again and training will have to take a back seat but that's ok, I'm not employed as an athlete! Finally congratulations to all the athlete's who completed the West Highland Way race - 95 miles with almost 15,000 ft of climbing. If I can get my foot better and get through the draw then hopefully I will follow in their foot steps in years to come.
Sunday, 14 June 2015
Tempting fate
After my bike ride last Sunday my foot was giving me some grief. So it came as a complete surprise the following day when I hopped out of bed and had got to the bottom of the stairs before I realised something was different - NO FOOT PAIN! Surely this couldn't be. All day I walked around waiting for the inevitable but it didn't happen. Then I had a decision to make. Should I go out a run and test it or would that be tempting fate? I concluded that if it was going to hurt I'd might as well find out. I ran 10 k and at no stage felt any of the usual twinges under my foot. Sure the top of the foot grumbled occasionally but that's never going to go away so I was delighted.
The following morning was the same and at yoga it gave me no problem. On Wednesday I played golf and towards the end it was telling me it was tired but it didn't stop me doing another 9 k trail run on Thursday at a reasonable pace with no pain.
I took a rest day on Friday and I had scheduled a 2 day yoga course over the weekend. However after 1 day which was mainly theory I decided to ditch the second day and get a run in today.
13 k of trail running felt great. My coach said my "form" looked good which pleased me and made me think that this is what I should concentrate on when running shorter distances and this should help when I build the miles up. This was my longest run in 6 months so I was delighted. Sadly my foot wasn't when I got home with the Plantar Fasciitis giving me some discomfort so I did a lot of foot rolling and took some ibuprofen which settled things down.
Perhaps that was a warning but I'll monitor the signs over the next few days and see how it goes. It felt so good to be running a reasonable distance again. I didn't make the pool this week but will do my very best to get back this week.
The following morning was the same and at yoga it gave me no problem. On Wednesday I played golf and towards the end it was telling me it was tired but it didn't stop me doing another 9 k trail run on Thursday at a reasonable pace with no pain.
I took a rest day on Friday and I had scheduled a 2 day yoga course over the weekend. However after 1 day which was mainly theory I decided to ditch the second day and get a run in today.
13 k of trail running felt great. My coach said my "form" looked good which pleased me and made me think that this is what I should concentrate on when running shorter distances and this should help when I build the miles up. This was my longest run in 6 months so I was delighted. Sadly my foot wasn't when I got home with the Plantar Fasciitis giving me some discomfort so I did a lot of foot rolling and took some ibuprofen which settled things down.
Perhaps that was a warning but I'll monitor the signs over the next few days and see how it goes. It felt so good to be running a reasonable distance again. I didn't make the pool this week but will do my very best to get back this week.
Sunday, 7 June 2015
Stepping it up
I'm delighted to report I am now stepping my training up and the foot isn't giving me too much grief.
On Tuesday I went back to yoga and we did a lot of foot work - thanks Mark! I knew my foot had received a good work out but it was ok.
I then headed off to London for 3 days which involved plenty of walking. This had a worse affect on my foot which required more than a few glasses of wine to make it feel better! It's interesting how walking and running has a different impact on the foot.
On Saturday I went a 10k trail run at Calderglen Country Park with my coach. It was great to be running a reasonable distance and afterwards I could feel my foot but more a discomfort than pain.
Today I headed out for a windy bike ride. I upped the mileage to 60 miles and felt good the whole way round. Strangely cycling does cause more discomfort afterwards but nothing I can't live with. It's getting my fitness back that matters.
I do feel guilty that I haven't swam in about a month so I will be going back to the pool this week and I know what to expect - 3 weeks of pain getting my swimming stroke and fitness back but it needs to be done.
My pals are all enjoying the weekend competitions that I can't take part in but it's great seeing their success. This is as a result of their winter training and I am so pleased for them. Hopefully I will be back competing next season but in the meantime I just need to concentrate on getting back to fitness and sorting my injury.
On Tuesday I went back to yoga and we did a lot of foot work - thanks Mark! I knew my foot had received a good work out but it was ok.
I then headed off to London for 3 days which involved plenty of walking. This had a worse affect on my foot which required more than a few glasses of wine to make it feel better! It's interesting how walking and running has a different impact on the foot.
On Saturday I went a 10k trail run at Calderglen Country Park with my coach. It was great to be running a reasonable distance and afterwards I could feel my foot but more a discomfort than pain.
Today I headed out for a windy bike ride. I upped the mileage to 60 miles and felt good the whole way round. Strangely cycling does cause more discomfort afterwards but nothing I can't live with. It's getting my fitness back that matters.
I do feel guilty that I haven't swam in about a month so I will be going back to the pool this week and I know what to expect - 3 weeks of pain getting my swimming stroke and fitness back but it needs to be done.
My pals are all enjoying the weekend competitions that I can't take part in but it's great seeing their success. This is as a result of their winter training and I am so pleased for them. Hopefully I will be back competing next season but in the meantime I just need to concentrate on getting back to fitness and sorting my injury.
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