I got home early from the office and as I had no kid duties (taxi service) until later and it was such a nice day I decided to go out for my first run in months (except my wee short effort in Lanza). Running gives you time to think and look at spring all around you. It also made me think how sport is so good for you. It makes you feel food, encourages you to eat healthily (when I feel fit I'm like a pregnant woman craving for healthy food!) and it also can provide you with a life skill.
Take my eldest son who is just turning 17. He's sitting his highers but decided to sit his Life Guard Award so that he can get well paid part-time work in his final year at school. He's fitter as a result, has successfully passed and has a job interview for a life guard post on Wednesday. If he hadn't had the goal of earning some money or having a plan "B" if things don't work out, he'd never have bothered getting in the pool. So the moral of the story is, getting fit can have additional benefits and setting the goal in the first place will increase you chances of success. If nothing else he can save me when I am struggling in the pool!
Monday, 28 March 2011
Fire Alarm
Was just getting into the session in the pool this morning when we were ushered out of the pool due to a fire alarm. At least they didn't make us stand outside but it did cut the session short. My focus will shift over the next 2 weeks to running and cycling as I have the Ayr Duathlon (5km run, 20km bike, 5km run). The ATHelite team competed in the Stirling Duathlon on Sunday (10km run, 40km bike, 5km run) and were saying how tough it was - not for Gen who came in 3rd in the ladies! Mixing up the disciplines requires practice so it will be bike/run seesions for me for the next 3 weeks and I'll use the swimming to give my legs a break.
Saturday, 26 March 2011
Age & attitude
I am constantly talking to people about goal setting, what they want to achieve out of life and explaning why I am doing these various challenges (because they think I'm mad!). The other day I was speaking to a friend in his early 50's and he had effectively given up on any type of fitness and was having difficulty coming to terms with how he is now compared to in his youth when he regularly played sport to a good level. This is something we all face and my view is that we must get over it and set realistic goals - we don't stay 18 forever.
My advice, if you're interested, is if you want to lose weight or get fitter or reinvigurate yourself then you need to make a real commitment, create a plan and deliver it - it helps if you set the goal based round an event and link it to raising money for a good cause. But that requires the attitude of can do rather than thinking in your 50's your active days are over. When I was in Lanzarote cycling there were some exceptionally fit cyclists in their 50's and the best part was they loved getting out on their bike. Spring has spung and if your feeling you need to do something give the old bike a clean up and get out into the countryside. Have fun and remember your age is determined by your attitude.
My advice, if you're interested, is if you want to lose weight or get fitter or reinvigurate yourself then you need to make a real commitment, create a plan and deliver it - it helps if you set the goal based round an event and link it to raising money for a good cause. But that requires the attitude of can do rather than thinking in your 50's your active days are over. When I was in Lanzarote cycling there were some exceptionally fit cyclists in their 50's and the best part was they loved getting out on their bike. Spring has spung and if your feeling you need to do something give the old bike a clean up and get out into the countryside. Have fun and remember your age is determined by your attitude.
Friday, 25 March 2011
Puffed out
7am in the pool and joined by 2 ATHelite's. Fortunately as one of them was preparing for a duathlon this weekend and I was meant to be on a rest week we opted for drills which helped me improve my swimming technique which I had seemed to have lost. Then we did 100m efforts but I had to bail out after 5 as I am not fully swim fit and still recovering from Lanza.
When you're fit it is easier to shut down the negative voice telling you to stop but when you are puffing and panting it is more difficult. Perhaps that was what Neil was trying to say to me last night if he had been able to speak! Normal service will be resumed next week.
When you're fit it is easier to shut down the negative voice telling you to stop but when you are puffing and panting it is more difficult. Perhaps that was what Neil was trying to say to me last night if he had been able to speak! Normal service will be resumed next week.
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Real progress
Tonight I went out with Neil to take his power walking to a new level by introducing some jogging. When he fist started training he had done the 1.75 mile course in 40 minutes. Last time he managed 30 minutes which was a great improvement but tonight he got it down to 27 minutes! When I left him he was breathing rather heavily so I couldn't hear what he was saying but I am sure it was "thanks we'll need to do that again real soon! He can now manage 16 lengths of the pool without stopping so this is real progress. It just shows what can be done with the right determination and mind set. Well done Neil - not bad for a man who was fighting cancer last year!
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Back in the pool
I couldn't make the coached session tonight so I had an early morning session instead. A 5 week lay off is not to be recommended. I had to use a pull bhoy, board and fins to get back into a resemblance of a swimming technique and managed 1,900 m before getting out feeling light headed and sick! But it's a start and I intend to get back to the fitness level I was at before.
Beautiful day today and if I wasn't so busy I'd go out on the bike tonight.
Tomorrow I am going to start Neil on a walk / jog routine and see how he is doing on his static bike. His training is building up nicely but it's his determination to prove to people that he CAN complete a novice triathlon that impresses me.
Beautiful day today and if I wasn't so busy I'd go out on the bike tonight.
Tomorrow I am going to start Neil on a walk / jog routine and see how he is doing on his static bike. His training is building up nicely but it's his determination to prove to people that he CAN complete a novice triathlon that impresses me.
Monday, 21 March 2011
Preparation & planning
Although a rest day it hasn't stopped me preparing for my next event. The Ayr Duathlon will be the first time I have taken part in this type of event. I have only run once in the last three months due to injury and weather. The Duathlon involves a 5km run, 20 km bike and finishes with a 5km run. Different muscle groups mean I will have to do some "brick" training i.e. cycle then run to get used to the unusual effect it has on the muscles. That will be my main focus until the end of April then I will work on all three disciplines as although I have a 81 mile bike race in May I have to be prepared for the UK 70.3 Ironman in June and then the prep starts for Lanza IM in May 2012.
A main part of this will be the 90 mile bike race in September and I knew there was a lot of climbing but it turns out to be 9,600 of ascent - that is 200 feet more than Lanza IM and over a shorter distance! That will give me plenty to focus on in the summer but emphasises the importance of preparation and planning.
A main part of this will be the 90 mile bike race in September and I knew there was a lot of climbing but it turns out to be 9,600 of ascent - that is 200 feet more than Lanza IM and over a shorter distance! That will give me plenty to focus on in the summer but emphasises the importance of preparation and planning.
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