Train to eat!

I am one of the lucky ones as far as weight is concerned although some better floatation aids would help my buoyancy in the pool! So tonight after a fast 10 k run and then off to watch the end of my son's first training session after his injury, I went to the CHIP SHOP. A fish supper followed by Equi's ice cream and a couple of Becks. The great thing about triathlon training is that you can eat what you want, to an extent.
The majority of my time I eat healthily but today I needed some rubbish and I had a feast. If you like eating but are worried about your weight, pull on your running shoes, get on your bike or get in the pool.

Bike focus

As promised the focus is on the bike until 4 Sept but I'll still be having the odd swim and a few more runs. Yesterday the physio pointed out that my swimming had resulted in being stronger on the front of my body than the back and therefore my shoulders were being pulled forward causing discomfort. So now I have a serious of exercises to sort it out and I will be back swimming next week. It just shows how you need to balance the training to avoid injury and if you have a niggle, get it sorted by a pro immediately.
Last night I went out for a fast 23 miles on the bike with hill climbing. Speed was good and after 10 miles my legs felt fantastic. It was such a lovely night, 20 degrees and sunny so I could also enjoy the scenery when the sweat wasn't dripping in my eyes. On Saturday I will go out for at least a 50 mile cycle as the following weekend I am going out with a new bunch of cyclists who are taking part in the Bealach Mor and I don't want to be left behind on the hills!
Tonight will be my first "group" run with the ATHelite Tri Club since February when I pulled a hamstring muscle. Looking forward to it following my running in Portugal. With my 16 mile run around 6 parks on the south side of Glasgow at the end of October I need to keep my running up and this event will keep me motivated to run - I find it essential to have a goal to keep me focused on my training.

Final run

It's been a great break with the family in the sun and we will all come back relaxed with a tan. I've surprised myself by running 10 km every other day and had my last run early this morning. Running along the beach was really hard as the tide was going out and the sand was soft and wet but it beats running in the wind and rain back home. Straight into the pool when I got back and now for some breakfast - it wold be nice is someone else was up!
So I've coped with the heat but was grateful for the wind. Lanzarote should be no different. I've enjoyed the running so much I've entered a 16 mile race around 6 parks on the south side of Glasgow at the end of October. This will keep me motivated to run while my main focus will be cycling. Home soon enough, can't wait for a decent cup of tea!

Change of scenery

Yesterday my son Jamie arrived, 2 days late having been Ill and so the whole family could enjoy the rest of the holiday. I am sure claiming on the holiday insurance for the flight will result in 6 months of wasted effort but that's something to look forward to when I return.
In the meantime I am enjoying the change of scenery when running. Leaving the resort onto the beach and running beside the waves as they come in is great although running on sand isn't easy unless is packed hard. Then up through the village of Sagres. We deliberately decided to come to the far end of Portugal as it isn't overly commercialised, yet. Give it 10 years. So running through the village you pass the old men in their caps having coffee at the side of the road - do they do anything else I wonder? Then out to the end of the cliffs where the fortress is. The other day we went out by car but had to step back from near the cliff top for the fear of being blown over. It was only through me going for a run that we discovered the hear of the village and have been back on a regular basis to eat there. Getting off the regular track and having a change of scenery is to be recommended. I also managed my fastest 6 miles yet knocking 2 minutes off but I didn't need my watch to tell me that - I didn't cool down until I had 2 showers.

Heat wave

If we're lucky in the UK we get a couple of good days but this usually happens when I am in London travelling on the tube. So having constant heat of say 25 degrees takes a bit of getting used to. Fortunately we played golf early on and being in buggies offers some shelter.
Running my 6 miles at 2pm offers none! No shade,no hiding place and when you get any shelter from the wind the temperature rockets.
I have really enjoyed the runs and am keeping up a good average speed so maintaining a reasonable fitness level. With the Bealach Mor 5 weeks after I get back I needed to keep the fitness going, even if it's not on a bike. Soon it will be past the "yard arm" and a nice cool beer awaits. Happy holidays.

How the mighty fall

The blogs not all about triathlon training as life happens all around it. Today has been a lazy day and after a superb lunch I sat down to watch the drama on the telly where a new comedian took centre stage with a foam pie aimed at Mr Murdoch. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, such as where was the security in the House of Commons, but we must question some of the numpties running big business. As someone who runs a small business I can't believe the issues that either weren't addressed or at worst ignored. It's like a cancer that spreads through society and my hope is that something good comes out of it - probably the comedian will become a star!
Early start tomorrow with golf followed by a run in the heat. Some more excellent food and I think I'll try to ignore the news as it's to repetitive and annoying. But perhaps in future we won't trust the men/ women in suits or at the top of large corporations who move in certain political circles.

Thinking time

I have never been a huge fan of running although I like the simplicity of pulling on your shoes and just going. Cycling involves a lot more "faffing" around getting all your gear ready takes time and it's easier to day dream while running - less likely to have an accident!
So this morning I did my 6 miles in the heat and my mind wandered back to how this journey started which will come in handy when I write the book.
I was at a charity boxing match and drunk. I was challenged to get into the ring the following year and alcohol and ego are a bad mixture. So 12 months later I was in the ring which started this journey to Ironman and beyond. The boxing was tough but I loved the feeling of fitness and have never looked back.
Some how this journey was meant and I'm loving it.