Tonight the forecast from the Met office was for 1 degree and snow - on returning from London it was a beautiful night and ideal for an open water swim so I was pleased they had got it completely wrong! However this was only my second open water swim in the year and once in the water I had to control my feeling of panic. The cold water increases your heart rate, your breathing is strained and the wetsuit constricts your chest. Your mind plays games and as I was swimming and feeling uncomfortable, lunch was threatening to reappear, I started to doubt my ability to take part in next weeks event. I was worried about being left behind with the 12 swimmers in the water and in a weeks time I will be involved in a mass start with 1,500 swimmers - slightly more dangerous.
However I kept talking to myself and trying to relax. The good thing about open water swimming is that is that your wearing a wetsuit and if you relax you can glide which takes less energy. So half way through the swim I started to relax and managed to punch one of my coaches in the face, by mistake - honest. Punching, kicking and climbing over other swimmers is common in an open water swim especially if you have a mass start.
Next Wednesday is my last chance before the event to relax and enjoy an open water swim because if you are panicking that saps your energy which isn't clever as you still have a hilly 90km to ride and 21 km to run. Part of Mission Ironman is about overcoming obstacles. It depends on your mindset how you handle obstacles because to some hurdles are an obstacle and to others they are a form of exercise. So bring on the exercise!
Friday, 10 June 2011
London calling
Slipped the running gear into my overnight bag and a 6am went for a 10k run round Green Park and St James Park. The activity in the parks at this time is incredible. People playing rounders, doing sit ups, cycling, ti chi & boxing - it's a hive of activity. Running past Buckingham Palace and many other land marks keeps the run interesting.
Last night I went to Shepperd's Market which is tucked in behind Park Lane and it's places like that which make London special. It's like a tiny village with restaurants, pubs and shops and it just shows you what you can find when you venture off the main roads. So business and training went hand in hand on this trip.
When I get back tonight I am scheduled for an open water swim subject to the weather followed by steak and pasta I hope! In the meantime I need some calories so I'm off for breakfast!
Last night I went to Shepperd's Market which is tucked in behind Park Lane and it's places like that which make London special. It's like a tiny village with restaurants, pubs and shops and it just shows you what you can find when you venture off the main roads. So business and training went hand in hand on this trip.
When I get back tonight I am scheduled for an open water swim subject to the weather followed by steak and pasta I hope! In the meantime I need some calories so I'm off for breakfast!
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Day off?
My day off started with a 4.30am alarm and a rush to the airport to fly to London. I did get a good sleep on the plane but suspect, from the look on face of the guy next to me when I woke up, that I may have been snoring! Checked for dribbles on the shirt but was all clear! Long day today but I have booked my hotel opposite a park so I can go for a run at 6am tomorrow - long lie!
I am constantly asked how I squeeze in training with business and family life and the answer is simple. Good planning, a supportive wife, understanding kids and a team at the office that are capable of running things without me being present 24/7. Being fit and motivated gives back to my supporters as I am healthy and in good spirits. Remembering what I was like when I had the flu I think we'd all agree I should stay fit!
I am constantly asked how I squeeze in training with business and family life and the answer is simple. Good planning, a supportive wife, understanding kids and a team at the office that are capable of running things without me being present 24/7. Being fit and motivated gives back to my supporters as I am healthy and in good spirits. Remembering what I was like when I had the flu I think we'd all agree I should stay fit!
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Preparing the legs
With 11 days to go I need to concentrate on getting my running legs sorted. I know the swim should be ok but being open water will depend on the conditions and how much kicking and punching goes on, the bike will be very tough based on the hills so I'll need to have my running legs ready. Therefore I will put in some extra runs as I approach the event but my last long run will be Saturday when I'll do 10 miles at half marathon pace - no need to do 13 as I am comfortable with the distance.
So at 6.30 am I venture out into the rain and ran 11km at half marathon pace - I really enjoyed it and my heart rate indicated that it was easy so the training has paid off.
So at 6.30 am I venture out into the rain and ran 11km at half marathon pace - I really enjoyed it and my heart rate indicated that it was easy so the training has paid off.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Building on success
I feel like I've made a break though in my swimming and don't want to ease off as it is very easy to lose the fitness. With 12 days to go to my event I want to keep my fitness level up without risking injury so doing an extra swim session today ticks that box. It was just me and one other ATHelite so we worked out a routine and motivated each other to get through it - it's so much easier when someone else is going through it with you but on the day it's down to you and you alone.
This week I will also go open water swimming which is essential and take my bike in to have it checked before the race. My gears were playing up the other day and that could end a race if you got stuck in the big ring with such a hilly course. The 7 P's are always in my mind "P**s poor preparation precipitates p**s poor performance". Excuse the expletives but it rather emphasises the point. No excuses.
This week I will also go open water swimming which is essential and take my bike in to have it checked before the race. My gears were playing up the other day and that could end a race if you got stuck in the big ring with such a hilly course. The 7 P's are always in my mind "P**s poor preparation precipitates p**s poor performance". Excuse the expletives but it rather emphasises the point. No excuses.
Monday, 6 June 2011
One life - live it!
I was reminded of this today as I was talking to a client who was in the RAF during the war and was paid 15 p (3 bob in old money) a week! All around his house were pictures filled with memories of a full and interesting life and I was particularly struck by a picture of him as a youngster. Now at 85 he looks a bit different but still has a "young mind / outlook". We had a fascinating chat and it just reminded me that we should enjoy the here and now and get the most out of our lives as one day someone will be looking at our photo's and making similar observations. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't have an eye on the future but remember and smell the roses on the way.
Chlorine was the smell of the day in the pool and it was a 300m warm up, 20 x 100 m on a set time and a 200m kick drill warm down. I followed a more steady swimmer and we got the pace right which meant coming out the water without feeling like an 85 year old! I learned a lot today and not just in the pool!
Chlorine was the smell of the day in the pool and it was a 300m warm up, 20 x 100 m on a set time and a 200m kick drill warm down. I followed a more steady swimmer and we got the pace right which meant coming out the water without feeling like an 85 year old! I learned a lot today and not just in the pool!
Sunday, 5 June 2011
Neil Sutherland - triathlete!
Yes he made it. Neil, who battled cancer for the second time last year, completed his first ever triathlon in Stirling today. Now this would normally be a momentous occasion for anyone but let me put his achievement into context. Neil wouldn't describe himself as fit; bowls was his chosen sport. His cancer is in remission but in the last 3 weeks he has hardly been able to train due to an infection. The hospital have been doing tests and took him in on Friday to give his system a boost as a precaution and will have him in tomorrow to make sure he's ok. So we're not talking about someone in peak fitness.
He started with a great swim, went off a bit fast but settled down. It's quite nerve wracking as faster swimmers pass you in the lane but he kept his focus. The bike was tough as it was windy and he had a couple of big hills but he did it in his target time but he was "running on empty". The run was also done in a respectable time for him and all the marshalls made sure he was ok. Crossing the line 17 minutes under his stated target was emotional for everyone especially his long suffering wife Maz who lived and breathed every moment of his training and was a nervous wreck on the day.
I left him in the capable hands of a physio getting a massage and I'm sure he is already planning his next adventure! I can't praise him enough for his determination to make it to the start line and then to grind his way through the event - the hill on the run almost finished him. Well done Neil you should be proud to call yourself a triathlete and the money you raised for the Beatson is amazing. Enjoy your rest and recovery.
He started with a great swim, went off a bit fast but settled down. It's quite nerve wracking as faster swimmers pass you in the lane but he kept his focus. The bike was tough as it was windy and he had a couple of big hills but he did it in his target time but he was "running on empty". The run was also done in a respectable time for him and all the marshalls made sure he was ok. Crossing the line 17 minutes under his stated target was emotional for everyone especially his long suffering wife Maz who lived and breathed every moment of his training and was a nervous wreck on the day.
I left him in the capable hands of a physio getting a massage and I'm sure he is already planning his next adventure! I can't praise him enough for his determination to make it to the start line and then to grind his way through the event - the hill on the run almost finished him. Well done Neil you should be proud to call yourself a triathlete and the money you raised for the Beatson is amazing. Enjoy your rest and recovery.
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