Thursday 27 December 2007

Ho Ho Ho. Merry Christmas :)

Well it's all done and dusted for another year. Father Christmas came and went, dropping me off a load of goodies on his way with my Garmin 305 being the number 1 (look out for lots of my training routes appearing here ). The family as always have been legendary and looked after us superbly, especially when I went running and brought the dog back looking like a mud ball on legs. Thanks folks.

So it's been over a week and a half since the last post, so what's been going on? Well mostly Shell has been full of the lugie and being the sadist that I am I've been taking the mickey lots :) . I'm just waiting until I return to work when I'm bound to come down with it and allow Shell to extract her revenge!!!

Training wise there has been lots of running and very little else. To quickly update the totals since the last blog Tuesday 18th - 45min run, Wednesday 19th - 30min run, Thursday 20th - 1h15m run, Friday 21st - nothing :(, Saturday 22nd - 2hr gym session, Sunday 23rd -------

Torrington Christmas Caper!!!! (Rosie's first race)

I woke up nice and early and sorted out the masses of gear required for the days racing. Todays race was going to be the debut for the pup and her bag of gear (prepared lovingly by a very ill Shelly) was bigger and heavier than mine. Out to the car to get rid of the biggest frost of the year, then we were off to Torrington for 10miles of hills and mud. Arrived miles earlier than I would normally have done which must have been more my worries about the dog than anything else. She'd never clocked double figures before and running on the lead has been kept to a minimum so it was going to be an interesting day. Before the race it was mad...... so many people for the dog to jump up and introduce herself to, the mad hound. I tried to explain to her she'd need all her energy later, but my 'Dog' is as bad as her English.

Finally we headed out to the start and I made sure we were right at the back to keep the pup from harms way. The first 2 miles were very VERY steady and for the first mile I 'ran' alongside Simon (my Tri clubs only other representative) at the very back of the field (he was accompanying the wife and her bunch of Spice Girls). Slowly but surely the field started spreading out a little and we'd put a bit of effort in whenever there was a gap big enough for the dog to safely negotiate her way through. The old flooded farm lane was slower than normal as I waded and the pup swam her way along. A couple of eager beavers unceremoniously barged their way past which seemed a bit odd considering how far back we were, but once on terra firma we soon shot past them again, that felt quite good. Apart from this section and a small doggy poo stop we were never passed and just steadily made our way up the field from start to finish. It was quite funny when we got to that point where the people we were passing were competitive. They'd pick up the pace and run alongside us when they realised it was some bloke running his dog, then they'd blow a gasket and drop off the back rather sharpish . Even up the last climbs we were still passing people and when the finish came we'd worked our way up to 34th place in 1:17:48 which wasn't to bad at all considering. Simon finally stopped staring at the Spice Girls backsides to work his way up to 136th in 1:37:07. After the race Rosie spotted some old friends and charged off at full pelt as if she'd been cooped up all day - that dog's got far too much energy.



Christmas Eve was spent sorting things out and driving the 3hrs up to my parents help so there was no training going on. On Christmas Day however, once the family had gathered and unwrapped all of their goodies I managed to sneak off for a muddy 9.5mile run with Rosie. Then it was down to my ikkle Sis's for Christmas dinner and an afternoon playing with my nephews new Nintendo Wii (my shoulders are still aching).

Yesterday I took my new Garmin 305 out for its maiden voyage around what's probably my very first run course, my Aunts 10k and aptly named 'Suicide loop'.

Today I ventured out with the pup for a repeat of our Christmas Day jaunt. It was slightly less muddy than last time out but just as much fun, even if my legs were feeling a little tired. It's quite heartening to look at the new Garmin when you're feeling tired and see that you're still travelling at a decent speed though and that helped at times.

Now we're back home in Devon. The family break was cut short by a couple of days due to Shell being in lurgieville but as always we were well fed and watered by the folks. Thanks folks :))



Tomorrow the build for Florida starts (maybe!!!)

Monday 17 December 2007

Damn it's cold

Two days off, one pitiful training attempt and a large dollop of alcohol made last week a bit slack. After missing Wednesdays session Thursday was supposed to be a biggie, it wasn't though. When I was supposed to be going out for the first section of my run it was -4 degrees C and I was going nowhere. Finally I dragged myself out to have a gentle run upto the clubhouse where the Striders were having their Christmas fun relay night. Four in a team drawn at random completing a lap each of the 1.5mile course, then all four completing the final loop together. I went off 2nd with the plan being that I'd then run the following laps alongside my team mates. 8m40s after heading out on my run leg I was back in the clubhouse nursing hands that felt as though they were made of ice cubes and coughing my lungs up like an 80 year old chain smoker. No suprise then that I sat out laps 3 & 4 and joined my team mates for the final group lap sporting not one but two jackets. Relay over (we crossed the line alongside another team in joint 2nd place) it was time for a good feed where the running club folks once again did themselves proud.
Friday was hardly a big training day in the life of a triathlete who's (supposedly) aiming for bigger things in 2008. To lazy to run, still no cycling going on, just a Squad swim session which is the sort of thing I'd like to class as 'active rest'.
Saturday was my birthday (damn I'm getting on a bit now!!) and it started in determined fashion when I headed off to the gym for a solid 2hrs. It didn't get much further though as the rest of the day was spent slobbing around and eating chocolates until the evening when the eating turned to drinking and my favourite poison turned me into a bit of a wreck.
Sunday morning I was supposed to be swimming, but I was still in a drink fuelled sleep when the session started, so that was out of the window. After the failed swim was supposed to be a bike ride but in truth I was still drunk and knew it would be one of my dafter decisions so I knocked that on the head to. Then I lazed about, walked the dog and lazed about some more............. another day with no training then!!!!!
Another 2hr gym session this morning (people will think I'm beginning to like it) followed by a nice steady run home (3.8miles) which I somehow managed to complete at sub 6:30 min/mile pace. That's it for now, but there's supposed to be more training lined up for later today.................. we'll see!!!!

Wednesday 12 December 2007

Training/Racing/Testing

Firstly the training!!
Saturday morning came around and I was off to my new found 'friend' the gym for another 2hr session. 10mins warming up on the bike, 10mins warming up on the rower, then onto the miriad of weight machines. 20reps on each machine (x3) worked me out a touch before I had to do these daft core excercises. I can cope with shifting weights around, but all these sit ups/crunches etc etc drive me mad grrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Finally I managed a quick 10mins on the treadmill to warm down. It feels odd to spend 2hrs in a gym but not actually come out of there in pieces, but I guess that's not the idea.
Saturday evening I headed out to the shed for a 40min turbo session. Nothing too heavy, but plenty of fast cadence stuff.

Now for the Racing!!
Sunday morning came round and I was off to the Leisure Centre with a car full of race stuff. As it's a race that Shell organises I'd plenty to keep me busy. The forecast had promised 60mph winds, these never appeared, but as we discovered when we headed out to mark out the run course it was still very windy and bloody cold! Once the course was all marked out there was just time to get my race kit sorted before I headed up to the pool to fulfill my duties as 'bums in water man'. As the event is held in a swimming pool we do a rolling start, 1 person every minute as in a cycling Time Trial. My job was to get folks in the water on time and get them started. Once that job was completed it just left 4 members of our club to go at the end, with me being the last one in the water.
5,4,3,2,1,GO!!! I was off and 24lengths/600m later I got out of the water with around 8:15 on the watch. Trainers on, number belt on (I'd wimped out on the fancy dress), where the hell are my glasses???? I ran back to my lane, they weren't there! I ran back to where I'd changed, they weren't there!! Balls to it, I can run without, so I did. 25:11 after I'd started the race it was all over, damn that 2hr gym session hurt now. Just time for a quick shower and change before I had to give the race presentation. Amazingly I'd won, sort of.......... I'd got hammered by a 14year old who swam 600m in under 7mins but because of his age he could only win the youth prize of a tin of chocs. I'd also been beaten (by 9secs) by two clubmates of mine who'd raced as a relay but they didn't count either - I can't help wondering though if they were responsible for my disappearing glasses, in their bid to beat me (hmmmm!!!!). So I was actually 3rd, but I'll claim the win anyway :)

Time for the Testing!!
Monday saw the follow up to my VO2 testing the other week. Mid afternoon saw me in a heat chamber at Exeter University. The test revolved around the taste of various drinks. I was weighed at the start, in the middle and at the end of the test. My HR was recorded and my core temperature was kept measured by a dodgily placed thermometer. All that was required once I was all wired up was for me to pedal for 45mins on a static bike with a constant 211 watts (a figure determined by my previous test) in a tiny cupboard sized room that was kept at 35degC (95F). After 45mins cycling there was a 10min rest, drinks taste and re-weight before hitting the bike again for another 45mins. I'm not sure my tatse buds did the job on the test, but I lost 2.1kg during the test and (apparently) I was the only person not to need the bikes power turning down during the test which at least shows that there's still some base fitness there. Once the test was over it was drink, drink, drink for the next few hours.

Since the test I've been wrecked. Last night I ran for just over 1hr but there was nothing in the legs and I've put tonights planned turbo session on the shelf in favour of a rest day.

Pictures from Sunday
Some video from Sunday (funny at 4mins)

Friday 7 December 2007

Krazy Kristmas Kaper Taper

It's almost time for the biggest race of the year (hmmmm). My Tri Clubs 600m/5k Aquathlon. Quite possibly the fastest bunch of athletes that the country ever sees at a race that means nothing.

How do I know it's fast??

Simple!

At almost any Aquathlon in the UK I'll finish in the prizes. Here I'll be lucky to crack the top 10.
Whoooooaaaaa!!! Hold on a minute, I'm not claiming to be an, Elite boy but Aquathlons are really just a bit of off season fun and I'm quite a handy swimmer/runner. Sure there's always the chance that somebody quick will turn up and put me in my place, but as a rule there will only be the occasional quick boy, here though there are always some very promising young athletes around who relish the chance to put some of us oldies in our place. So far around 20% of the field have an estimated swim time of 8mins or less for 600m, that's quick!!! No doubt for a lot of competitors though transition will be slowed as they put on their less than aero run gear (as shown by the pics from last years race that I've inserted :) ).

So, enough about the years big race..... What's been happening this week?

On Monday I hit the gym for a solid 2hrs of weights and things. I've no idea what's going on there, I just do as I'm told (a bit like at home). But it was 2 packed hours and I hurt a lot less than after last weeks session.

Tuesday was a well deserved rest day

On Wednesday I hit the turbo for an hour of hard Coach Troy spinning which left me with sore cheeks (not the ones on my face either), then I grabbed the pup and headed out for a 30min run along the Tarka Trail with tired legs.


Thursday was a nice looong run. Nice and steady on the HRM, I only averaged 133BPM and probably covered around 14miles in my 1h42m of running. The distance wasn't the objective though, just the time.


Tonight I've been for a squad swim. I've been a bit off lately and tonight was no difference. I've no idea why but I seem to be working a lot harder than normal to hit relatively easy targets. Maybe it's just down to the winter???? Maybe I'm just getting old???


RIGHT, it's 1am and I need my beauty sleep ;)




Night all.
COME ON RICKY HATTON!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday 3 December 2007

Parties and Testing

Well it looks like things may 'finally' be picking up, or it could just be another false start. Here's a few stats to make it look good. I've trained at something for 8 days solid, it's been the first time I've trained Monday to Sunday without a day off for 18months. The volume isn't huge (9hrs) but I've still put in my biggest week since August. I've already done more cycling in December than I did in November, that's not really saying much though.
On Saturday morning I headed down to Exeter University to take part in one of their studies, the first part of this was a VO2 max test on the bike. I wasn't confident that this would go well because my cycling has been so slack of late and I've this annoying cough that's been around for 8 years which I thought may screw up the session (yes I've seen the Doctor about the cough but he's not interested). I haven't had the full results through yet, but I pushed a rather pitiful 300 watts and managed a VO2 max of 61. No idea what all that means but one of my clubmates pushed 460+ watts so I know that I'm well down there. I'm off for part 2 of the tests on the 10th and I'll take the camera for some pretty pics :) .
On Saturday afternoon/evening I took Rosie for a 7mile run along the beach, great fun with soft sand and howling winds. I pushed the pace at the end hoping to dip under 50mins but it wasn't to be. Saturday night was out clubs End of Season/Christmas/Presentation night. Not being the biggest drinker in the world I was on driving duties, that doesn't stop me being a menace though, and it's good fun watching things unfold as others got totally hammered and make fools of themselves :) . No prizes for me though, I must be rubbish ;( .
Sunday morning was spent in a post party (sober) haze before a couple of my clubmates popped round with their bikes and trainers, then we headed up to my part completed dungeon for a bit of a turbo beasting session which was followed by a 6mile run on the beach with the dog who was loving her new daily sand and sea fix.
Today I'm wrecked, but determined to keep the flow going. There's always a strong chance that Tuesday will become a wasted/rest day so I need to keep motivated on a Monday, I daren't speak my plans though because I may yet wimp out. That'll do for now I guess. TTFN :)

Saturday 1 December 2007

Race Report and other bits

Right, lets get down to it......

Last Saturday was Burntwood Aquathlon, a small event consisting of a 400m pool swim and a 5k run made up of 5x1k laps around a schools playing fields. I got over to the race an hour before the start, registered and set about chatting with some old pals. I was pre-warned that there were some smokey fast swimmers there and I was going to have to be on form if I was going to do any good - oh dear!!!
The race was straight forward enough, we all set off at minute intervals so you had no way of knowing how the competition was getting on. As I waited for my start I saw 2 lads exit the water in under 5mins, that's moving some! Soon I was away and as I counted down the 16 lengths I started thinking towards the run, I'm well off my best shape and running a hard 5k was going to be very tough going. Out of the water in 5:27 I popped my trainers and number belt on and headed out for a small run :). I never felt that I was running fast but I was passing people so I must have been going alright. Other than dropping my band at the end of the first lap (and having to go back for it) the run was also uneventful, just the way I like it. 5 laps later and it was all over, a quick shower and it was just a case of waiting for the results.
Finally the presentation started and I'd been beaten by some little scrote that's half my age (grrrrr!!!), ah well I'd clocked 17:36 for the run so the time wasn't too bad, it would have won me last years race. What's next?????

The rest of the week has mostly been spent running but has also included (on Monday) my first proper gym session for years. Damn those crunches and all that core stuff made my stomach ache for days, I suppose it's good for me though.

This weeks totals

Monday - 50min run with the pup, 1h20m gym session
Tuesday - 50min run
Wednesday - 60min beach run with the pup and a training pal
Thursday - 60min run with another training pal
Friday - 60min squad swim session.

Tomorrow I've got a VO2 test, that should prove interesting. No idea what I'll do once I've got my hands on all the figures but I'm sure I can find someone somewhere who can understand all this rubbish. I've a nasty feeling that it's going to hurt though...... With that in mind I'd better go get some recovery sleep.

Ciao for now ;)

Replys to comments.

Shell - Hello Sis ;)

Tim - We're only a small bunch of 20 or so. Have a browse around on here www.northdevontri.co.uk :).