As I approach 50 I am beginning to wonder if I'm getting a "grumpy old man". Yesterday I experienced "supermarket car park" rage when someone waited for me to return to my car and then "thanked me" for the room I'd left him. As my car was in between the white lines I didn't feel there was an issue but we "had words".
Today I was red carded by the referee at my sons football match for suggesting he "should have gone to specsavers" - or words to that affect. What does upset me is when our kids safety on the field is at risk because the ref can't keep up with the game because he's had too many pies!
I then went out for a relaxing 35 mile bike ride with my mates to celebrate my up coming birthday. At least that was incident free and finished with coffee and cake. But I am going to take stock and calm down on the sidelines and let my sons feet do the talking - assuming someone hasn't taken them away from him recklessly!
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Work on the weakness
In an ironman event a lot can go wrong. You put in all the training but there are so many elements out with your control that can easily finish your race. Today I came up against one of these problems and not for the first time - a puncture. Since changing to my new wheels I have puncture 4 tyres; one on the turbo trainer and three replacing the same tyre! I was trying to save time for tomorrow when one of my friends is coming to give me a lesson on changing tyres and a few other things and managed to puncture another tyre through me being rubbish with my hands!
I despaired and went out for a run to take my mind off it but all the way round I "beat myself up". Seems to have worked as I ran a fast time but had missed a turbo session. So I finished off with a core workout and am starting to feel better. I just need to work on this weakness because I can't afford this to happen in Lanzarote or all my training may be for nothing.
Tomorrow I am going out with 15 fellow athletes for a 50 km bike ride to celebrate my 50th birthday which will be on Dec 1st. The men should be supporting moustaches and if you want to see mine go to http://mobro.co/missionironman . If your feeling generous you could throw in a couple of £ for the prostate cancer charity. Thanks.
I despaired and went out for a run to take my mind off it but all the way round I "beat myself up". Seems to have worked as I ran a fast time but had missed a turbo session. So I finished off with a core workout and am starting to feel better. I just need to work on this weakness because I can't afford this to happen in Lanzarote or all my training may be for nothing.
Tomorrow I am going out with 15 fellow athletes for a 50 km bike ride to celebrate my 50th birthday which will be on Dec 1st. The men should be supporting moustaches and if you want to see mine go to http://mobro.co/missionironman . If your feeling generous you could throw in a couple of £ for the prostate cancer charity. Thanks.
Friday, 18 November 2011
Pushing the limits
Swim, massage, run & weights plus a full days work with travel meant I didn't have a spare minute. But the sports massage eased my legs and then I went for a run - not the normal order but what a difference it made to my running. It was so easy and without trying I was flying!
Then onto the weights and I had to increase my reps to take the muscles to exhaustion. Seemed like a good idea but I struggled to open the bottle of Prosecco and that would have been a disaster!
So a busy weekend of kids activities and training but I am looking forward to a bit of relaxation as well. Probably catching 40 winks in front of the telly.
Then onto the weights and I had to increase my reps to take the muscles to exhaustion. Seemed like a good idea but I struggled to open the bottle of Prosecco and that would have been a disaster!
So a busy weekend of kids activities and training but I am looking forward to a bit of relaxation as well. Probably catching 40 winks in front of the telly.
Thursday, 17 November 2011
Seasonal change
The other day I had commented on how beautiful the weather was for running. Had I run this morning I would have said the same but I was away early on business so my training happened when I got home. A sweaty turbo session followed by a run. The weather was horrendous as I was blown up the hill and squelched my way up the pavement, picking out the puddles with my "davy lamp". Back home and a core session to finish.
I'm afraid that these are the conditions I will be training in for the next 3-4 months so I'm just going to have to "man up" and get on with it. As Billy Connolly said, Scotland doesn't have bad weather, you're just wearing the wrong clothes. So I will make sure I'm wrapped up, get my head down and convince myself that this will make me stronger!
I'm afraid that these are the conditions I will be training in for the next 3-4 months so I'm just going to have to "man up" and get on with it. As Billy Connolly said, Scotland doesn't have bad weather, you're just wearing the wrong clothes. So I will make sure I'm wrapped up, get my head down and convince myself that this will make me stronger!
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Technical difficulties
I have a problem with my rear tire in that I have ruined 3 inner tubes trying to get a tire to remain inflated. Today I was offered help from a fellow athlete and 5 seconds after the tyre was inflated it exploded. The inner tube was completely wrecked plus my trousers will probably have to go to the dry cleaners!
But I was lent a rear wheel which allowed me to take part in a group turbo session tonight. It was tough, not helped by the champagne from yesterday. I had a bit of a fuzzy head and was tired so it wasn't the best of condition to be training but I felt great afterwards. My recovery was steak, eggs, toast, milk and chocolate. So I'm going to have to stay up to digest my food but I am also trying to finish my book - The Marathon Des Sables so I'm happy. With a few nights out over the next month or so I will need to make sure I don't over do the booze as when you are fit it really sets you back.
But I was lent a rear wheel which allowed me to take part in a group turbo session tonight. It was tough, not helped by the champagne from yesterday. I had a bit of a fuzzy head and was tired so it wasn't the best of condition to be training but I felt great afterwards. My recovery was steak, eggs, toast, milk and chocolate. So I'm going to have to stay up to digest my food but I am also trying to finish my book - The Marathon Des Sables so I'm happy. With a few nights out over the next month or so I will need to make sure I don't over do the booze as when you are fit it really sets you back.
Monday, 14 November 2011
Childhood memories
With the 50m pool closed in Glasgow my new alternative 25m pool has also closed for a refurb so this morning I travelled to a 50m pool that has just reopened after a five year refurb! It brought back childhood memories as I used to go there 40 years ago with some friends and my big brother. I couldn't swim but used to enjoy jumping in with a rubber ring on and splashing around. Afterwards we'd always get a mince pie and a drink.
Today was slightly different as I had a planned set to do, timing my 200m intervals so not jumping in and splashing around. You have to suss out the other swimmers when you turn up at a new pool and time your swimming so as not to disturb them too much. It's a bit like an F1 race when re-entering from a pit stop. You don't want to pull out in front of someone going much faster as you'll annoy them and at the same time try to avoid the slower swimmers so that you aren't held up when on the stop watch. The new pool was fabulous except for a couple of "rabbit droppings" left by the swimming club which I tried not to inhale or swallow as I went up and down the lane! Hope the chlorine has done it's job and nullified any chance of infection!
Turbo and weights tonight and then a day off training tomorrow as it's our 20th wedding anniversary and we're going out to celebrate. I think if I suggested I slip in a quick training session I may not see my 21st anniversary!!
Today was slightly different as I had a planned set to do, timing my 200m intervals so not jumping in and splashing around. You have to suss out the other swimmers when you turn up at a new pool and time your swimming so as not to disturb them too much. It's a bit like an F1 race when re-entering from a pit stop. You don't want to pull out in front of someone going much faster as you'll annoy them and at the same time try to avoid the slower swimmers so that you aren't held up when on the stop watch. The new pool was fabulous except for a couple of "rabbit droppings" left by the swimming club which I tried not to inhale or swallow as I went up and down the lane! Hope the chlorine has done it's job and nullified any chance of infection!
Turbo and weights tonight and then a day off training tomorrow as it's our 20th wedding anniversary and we're going out to celebrate. I think if I suggested I slip in a quick training session I may not see my 21st anniversary!!
Sunday, 13 November 2011
Tough schedule
In some people's view Sunday is a day of rest - not in mine! My training today was a 43 minute run, a 1 hour turbo and a 40 minute core session. However I had to build that round my sons football, furniture shopping, food shopping, preparing dinner and various drop off and pick ups.
I broke it down by running before the football. Again a beautiful autumn day and when I started running I just felt so good. It won't be long before it's windy, raining or snowing and blowing a gale so I was going to enjoy my run. Then on to the sidelines to support my son - they won.
Once the shopping was over I returned and did my hour on the turbo. It is mind numbing but so is ironman. At least I am focused on my cadence, heart rate and my form (my reflection in the window tells me when if I am staying still and not wavering all over the place). You sweat buckets and it's a great way of keeping fit. Straight after that and in for my core session.
Shower, cook dinner and relax. Only two pick ups with the kids and I'll be heading to bed as I'm up early for swimming! Ah the life of a triathlete. Seriously though, I feel great.
I broke it down by running before the football. Again a beautiful autumn day and when I started running I just felt so good. It won't be long before it's windy, raining or snowing and blowing a gale so I was going to enjoy my run. Then on to the sidelines to support my son - they won.
Once the shopping was over I returned and did my hour on the turbo. It is mind numbing but so is ironman. At least I am focused on my cadence, heart rate and my form (my reflection in the window tells me when if I am staying still and not wavering all over the place). You sweat buckets and it's a great way of keeping fit. Straight after that and in for my core session.
Shower, cook dinner and relax. Only two pick ups with the kids and I'll be heading to bed as I'm up early for swimming! Ah the life of a triathlete. Seriously though, I feel great.
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