Ironman videos

I've never done a triathlon as I'm a very very weak swimmer but it is something I want to do. I plan to take some swimming lessons next year and then made try a short tri. Ultimately, I'd love to do an Iron-man.



This is an incredible video. It makes tears stream down my face when I watch it.

Weekend Report

Friday night was my poker night with friends. Its never about the poker, just the great company. I didn't drink as I was driving and giving lifts to 3 people and I avoided eating the pizza. However, I did forget about my current diet restriction and tucked into the garlic bread. Whoops!!! I got home at 2am which wasn't best but I had a great time.

Next morning, I woke at 8am very tired. At 9am our new flat pack shelves arrived and Cath wanted me to make them before I went out on the bike and as usual with this type of thing, it takes much longer than you think. Anyway, I got out at 11:30 at headed off to Surrey.

I initially thought I didn't have enough clothes on as I was cold but once I got going, I warmed up a little and then the sun came out a bit more and I was fine. I did my usual route to Box Hill and then came back taking in several other hills, doing little loops to make the most of the ride. My legs were fine on the flat and ok when climbing out of the saddle but I did feel a little discomfort when climbing seated. I was careful and didn't push too hard so got through it ok.

In total, I did 87.2 miles in 5 hours 30 minutes. I really wanted to do over 100 miles but it was felling very hard towards the end and I was glad when it was over but given how I was 10 days ago, I'm delighted.

On Sunday, we had a family party for my wife's aunt who is 75 and visiting from Los Angeles. It was at my sister-in-laws who lives near Bromley so I set off early on the bike and got in some miles before arriving at the party at 12:40. My wife and daughters were already there. I got some funny looks as I walked through the garden dressed in Lycra so I quickly retrieved my clothes my wife had brought, had a shower and got changed.

After the party I rode home to finish off doing over 50 miles which was great. This weekend has been really good and got me right back on track. My mate Ed wasn't had such good luck with terrible food poisoning. I hope he's back on the bike soon.

Another step to recovery

I woke on Wednesday to another beautiful day. My first thought was to get out on the bike. Just a small ride, nothing to extravagant. But I came to my senses. My knee was a little sore from Tuesday's 30 miler and I didn't want to rush its recovery. So I decided to take the day off and continue my jobs around the house (I'm redecorating the front room). It felt lazy but sensible.


On Thursday my knee felt better (its the first thing I think about when I wake) so I went out for another ride. Rather predictably, I went to Richmond Park. I took the long route via Kingston and then went round clockwise. I was feeling good, it was sunny again and it wasn't busy so I was really enjoying myself.

I'm not sure but I might be feeling a little benefit from the hard few days in Devon followed by rest. I felt a little quicker than usual and was doing over 18 mph average during the second hour.

By the third lap I was feeling various niggles and knew it was time to go home. Very pleased with my progress. I will probably rest again tomorrow and then go out on Saturday for maybe a 50 or 60 mile ride.

Distance: 40.26 miles
Time: 2:21:38
Average: 17.1 mph
Max Speed: 36.8 mph
Ascent: 2330 feet

Bread

With some people its beer or wine, others chocolate or sweets, some like burgers and pies but for me, its bread. I like food in general but I can put most of my unwanted cuddly bits down to bread.

Hot buttered toast made with thick white bread, croissants, chunky brown bread with soup, ham sandwiches, fruit loaf, pita bread, cinnamon bread, cheese toasties and malted brown bread still warm from the over - to name but a few.

I'm pretty sure that if I'd never eaten bread, I'd be the svelte person I've always wanted to be. So after the disastrous two weeks following the Devon trip of eating and eating and being injured, I had to regain control and at least keep the weight off before the Fred Whitton.



The easiest and hardest solution is no bread. Easiest in that it will produce results, hardest in that I just can't do without bread. Its now been 4 days with not a slice in sight. I've not even nibbled the crusts off my daughters school packed-lunch.

18 days to go and I can taste the 9 slices of toast I'm eating on the Monday morning in the B&B after the Fred. Yum.

(I can't tell you how hard it is just looking at these pictures)

More chairty thanks

Its time for more fund raising thanks.

I've had 6 more donations recently. My Mum & Peter, Grant, David, my brother Phil, Malcolm, Helen & Isaac and Ben & Sarah have been fantastic and pushed me over the £400 mark.

Less than £100 to go to reach my target and still 88 days to go.

A huge thanks to everyone.

Feeling lucky

I got back on the bike today. Its the longest I been off the bike in over 10 months. So after 15 days, I took the bike out for a spin. It is a stunning day in London. A perfect blue sky and warm without being hot. I took my Shuffle, put on some tunes and was away to Richmond Park. I didn't have a plan other than to check out my injury so I stayed in a low gear and high cadence and just span along.

I got to Richmond Park and my legs were good. The left had no problems and the right was ok although I could feel the tightness in my quad and a slight feeling in my knee but very very low level.

I first did an anticlockwise loop to avoid the steepest section up Broomfield Hill and minimise the stress on my quads. It all went very well and I had to keep reminding myself to take it easy and not go flying off. When I got back to Roehampton Gate, I turned around and did a clockwise loop. Again, nothing too serious. Just some niggles if I chose a high gear or pushed up a hill.

I was really enjoying the second lap. The sun was out, my music was good (it always is) and I was back on the bike. I counted my lucky stars that my injury was not half as bad as it could have been. By the end, I did feel my legs were getting a little tight. I could have carried on but this was perfect for a first day back.

When I got home, I quickly changed into my gym gear, switched bikes and went down to the gym for 40 minutes of stretching and a bit of core. The worse thing I could do now would be to think its all fixed and revert back to my old bad habits. Its stretch every day from now on. Promise.

I've just been back out on the bike. 30 miles. I could feel the injury but only a little. I didn't push on it at all, just span around RP twice. Then came home, into gym gear and off to the gym for 40 minutes of stretching and core. Feeling more positive today.

Injury Update

After 4 full days off, I ventured back into the gym today. My legs have felt gradually better each day with my left leg feeling really good on Friday morning. My right leg felt ok but I was aware that is was not completely healed.

This was confirmed as I cycled the 2 miles to the gym. I was fine on the flat but as soon as the road rose at all, I would feel a tightness in my right quad. Nothing too serious but enough to know I couldn't go out and ride up Box Hill without risking future injury.

At the gym, I did another 25 minutes of cycling and then did 50 minutes of core work and stretching. I did loads on my aductor, quads and ITB and I could really feel it. The good news is that my legs are definitely less tight than there were before Tuesday's sports massage. That was money well spent and Rene at Balance Physio is fantastic.

I'll either do the same again tomorrow or try a little ride out on my road bike. I'll see tomorrow morning if I get any reaction to today's cycling.