Success

What a stressful final.  Our team completely outclassed the other with a good passing game while all the opponents did was "hoof" the ball up the park.  We scored half way through the first half after Ali laid on the pass to the striker who finished but we must have missed another 5 chances to go 2 up.  All the time we were on edge as with the wet and windy conditions the boys could have lost to an error.  However they held out and picked up a nice trophy and medal which they deserved.  We managed not to have anyone sent off whereas 3 players from various teams were sent off against us which shows how physical the game is and why discipline is important in achieving an objective.
Now I'm off to Center Parcs to relax with some light training just to tick over on my recovery week.  Unfortunately the planned swim won't be happening due to the size of the pool and the booked activities that mean there is little swimming time available.  So I am off for a run in this beautiful forrest and as I am typing the rain has gone off and the sun is out so I'd better hurry up!  This will be followed by a 3 hour session with my wife in the spa - all part of destressing.  Relaxation is an important part of recovery which is an essential park of endurance training.  I know, it's tough but someones got to do it!

In the final!

Since Friday I have been at my son's football tournament in Preston and today they battled their way into the final.  The game looked like it was going to penalties to decide the outcome but a last minute goal finished the match off in our favour.  The whole team have worked hard and not everything has gone their way as they have lost the first goal in two out of three games - hopefully the coaches and players will spot the pattern and do something about it!  But the players BELIEVE they can win and this is a great attitude to have at such an early age.  So tomorrow is the final and I think the parents on the sidelines will be the most nervous as I certainly kick every ball!
So this was my day off and I am please to say my legs certainly feel the better for it.  After another day off tomorrow I will be ready to start my recovery week's training.  It's nice to be able to focus on my son's performance for a while rather than my own.

Toughest week ever

Currently down south at a football tournament with Ali.  However it was the end of an intense training week, the hardest ever.  I ran yesterday for an hour and today went out on the bike for 90 miles which took in the Yorkshire Dales.  That was immediately followed by a 50 minute run off the bike.  I am amazed when I consider the amount of training this week, how well my body has coped with it but shouldn't be as it has been carefully planned by my coach and it has gradually built up to that level.  It shows the benefit of conditioning and that is as much mental as physical.  Being out on the bike for 5.5 hours is a lot of time to think and you have lots of conversations with yourself.  What's important is keeping them positive as it all too easy to give up.
So now for a recovery week and it starts with two days off and I need them!  I'm also on holiday so that will give me some quality time to catch up with the family.

Mental break through

Last night after my 17.5 mile run at a decent pace, I felt I was going to be struggling at today's 4 km swim.  I considered swimming with a pull buoy to take the pressure off my legs but having slept in compression clothing I woke up feeling surprisingly fresh so I didn't  bother.
So I tackled the longest distance I had ever swan, 4km.  It's fair to say it was mind numbing but after just over 1km my coach got in behind me so there was no way I wasn't going to complete it.  Your mind wanders and you have to give it positive things to think about.  In the end I completed it in 1 hr 27 mins and was really pleased.  My coaches husband who is also a coach had been in the same lane and he mention how fast (for me) I was swimming compared to what I used to be like.  So the hard work has paid off but today was really a mental exercise in believing that my training has "raised the bar" and what I previously would have though of as impossible is perfectly achievable with the right mindset.  I'm having a day off tomorrow, then a 90 mile bike ride and then I enter a recovery week where my training reduces but I train every day.  So all that's left for me to say is have a wonderful Easter break.

Pain is temporary, failure is for ever

It's been a tough training since Saturday; 30 mile bike, 78 mile bike, 3.1k swim, 3.1k swim & 1.5 hour turbo session.  So tonight the 17.5 mile run was tough and painful.  It was my longest run to date but I kept telling myself that pain comes with ironman so this was good practise.  It felt slow but when analysing the data the pace was 8.17 per mile which equates to a 3 hr 37 min marathon - now that's fast in my book!
Back for a fabulous dinner to replace some of the 2,000 calories used and rest before bed because tomorrow I'm in the pool for a 4 km swim.  Friday was meant to be a 90 mile cycle but I'm travelling to a football tournament with my son for the weekend.  Fortunately it is a recover week next week and I feel like I've earned it - well, I will have after tomorrow's swim!

Stalker in the pool

It was snowing when I got up at 6am so I was glad to be in the pool and not out on the bike or running. Half way through my swim my coach joined me for the swim. She sat directly behind me, like a stalker, enjoying the ease of drafting whereas I was making sure she noted the best timed swim I have ever had. I am sure without her presence each length would have been marginally slower so it helped motivate me to push myself.
Right now I am at the peak of my fitness and every session counts. So with the snow I switched my 2nd training session,my bike ride,for a turbo session but due to domestics,mustn't forget the family, my 1.5 hour turbo session started at 9pm. I wasn't looking forward to it but as is always the case when you don't feel like it, it was a fantastic workout.
This also followed a day of wall to wall meetings at work, yes I do work, which required my full concentration. So off to bed with no early morning training. My schedule is for a 2.5 hour run tomorrow which will have to wait until late afternoon as the temperature will be too low early morning around freezing!

Missed the ferry!

There was no blog yesterday as I missed the ferry home from Arran and didn't get back till late in the evening.  Team ATHelite travelled over to Arran and split into two groups.  One cycled around the island (52 miles) and the other did a figure of 8 (78) miles.  I was in the later group and a few punctures and a strong headwind around the north side of the island meant we missed the intended ferry home.  It didn't help that it left 5 minutes early but the last 12 miles were done at break neck speed - at one stage 43.3 mph.  It was fantastic training for Lanzarote as the island has an "evil" climb called the "string road" and we climbed it twice.
Today was meant to be a day off but as I am going on holiday on Friday it was changed and I'm just out the pool.  It was only a total of 2,100m but my times were fast which surprised me after yesterday.  To put it in context a young lad came into the lane and was flying up and down - I chatted to him and explained he should overtake people and not slow down if there was "traffic". He thanked me and said he wasn't "used to swimming with the public"! My legs feel better for the swim but I think I will be shattered later on in the day.
So this week is going to be tough and my training will include a 2.5 hour run (probably the longest I will do before the event) and also a continuous 4km swim (more mentally challenging than anything).  I have a recovery week when on holiday but this will still involve training every day.  Then two more gruelling weeks before the training eases down (tapering).  Let's see how far I can make it through the day before I zzzzzzzzzzzzz.