Swan Dive

After last week's Open Water sesh with Pink, it seemed a good idea to go again. I'd reckoned without the complete cloud cover, and they were getting darker by the minute! Anyway - having checked that Pink was still up for it, I set off, kit ll loaded onto the scooter/

Fifteen minutes into the journey - I realised that I'd forgotten my swim hat! Now - I'm not worried about my hair getting wet (shurrit you lot!), but it is an important safety precaution, and given we're getting the swim in the lake almost as a favour, I don't want to give anyone cause to kick us out. So - back home to get it, text Pink, and then head off again.

By the time I arrived, it had got darker, and started to rain! We both agreed that it was going to be wet enough anyway (although next time remember to stash your shoes somewhere dry!). We faffed at the side of the lake for a while, and then got in.

We'd both got a lot out of the previous week's swim, but decided to go for the end of the nearby jetty, probably about 40 metres away. All seemed fine as I set off, although I was aware that I was rushing a bit, but not as much. All seemed to be going pretty well, but suddenly I sighted and realised that a group of swans who normally keep their distance had decided to come and see what was going on. That might not seem too bad, but they have been known to attack (me when I was seven by the side of Carshalton ponds) and I was a bit wary, especially as the biggest one was heading straight for me. I was nervous that the next time I came up to sight, I'd be confronted by...


Gulp!

Anyway - I went through the next few strokes, admittedly nervous, but fortunately the swans veered round me, and I reached the jetty. On seeing me standing there, they decided to come over, en masse. I leapt out of the water in a hurry, to the amusement to a crowd of people watching from th ecafe. Pink, meanwhile, had headed back to our starting point!


Anyway - eventually the swans bu99ered off, and we decided to swim to the jetty coming off the "island". This proved a tad difficult to sight, as the light was fading, so we aimed for the end of the trees and then corrected. It was an okay swim, done in just under three minutes, but I did feel like I was rushing the stroke at times. Pink and I stopped for a chat; I'd come to the conclusion that I was actually throwing in a breathe on five - i.e. breathe left, stroke right, sight right as I stroke left, but then there's a dilemma - do I breathe right (immediately after sighting) or hold on another two and get short of breath? I resolved to try the three on the way back, which was again pretty much in a straight line, and any minor corrections were quickly made. I still hadn't quite nailed the breathing. The breathing right immediately after sighting was a bit too much head turning.

Another chat with Pink, and I had anothe idea (basically nicked straight from her). Breathe left twice in a row :o). So:

breathe left, stroke right, sight with right as stroke left, stroke right, breathe left, and then back to the normal rhythym of three strokes per breath alternating sides - 4, 3, 3, 4, 3, 3 etc.

It seemed to work - the next trip across to the jetty and back was the smoothest yet, and I really didn't feel like I was rushing the stroke, and seemed to be nicely on a line both ways. Oddly though I didn't get any faster! It was by far the most comfortable way though. I may work on developing it so I can sight with my left and come up with something that is a bit more even, as currently I'll be breathing twice as much to the left as to the right.

I did have one nervous moment on the last trip to the island - I thought I saw a flash of white coming up on me as I breathed right! Gulp - was it the swan again?? Turns out (I think) that it was Pink's foot! I'd caught up with her, or we'd gone at a slight angle to each other or something. I actually didn't realise it was her, as I'd given her a fair old head start. Was this another swimmer, who was good and would resent numpties like me in the lake? Turned out that it was Pink - but it did rather throw me! Wow - what's it going to be like in a real triathlon with hundreds of thrashing limbs?

I still have a fair way to go with OW swimming, but I really feel that these past two sessiosn have made an enormous difference. I'm now no longer nervous by it, and seem to be able to stay chilled out, especially since I'm not rushing the breathing. I'm also keeping far better to a good line, which also stops me panicking, as I'm not thinking "OMG what direction will I be pointing next time I come up?". I've definitely put that demon to rest. There's still work to be done on stamina of course - I've rather neglected that the past few weeks, and I need to get some longer swims in lakes in (that may have to wait until next season - lakes are closing and Southwater only lets us in after five and it's getting dark!). The main fear now is the thought of other swimmers in there with me!

Date (Slice) with Greenie

Distance: 38 miles

Time: 2:49

Just a quick blog entry - could write volumes but I don't have the time!

Did a very nice ride with Greenie yesterday - over Epsom Downs, then round the back of Box Hill and up the Zig Zag in a record tiem of 9:29.8 :oD. Then we stopped for coffee and in my case a date slice (will try the rock cakes next time) and then off home via Chipstead. We skipped the chance to climb How Lane - will save that for another day - maybe Friday! Really must get back into my bike shoes though.

The ride seems to have loosened my legs if anything, which is handy - have done Body Pump and Yoga today, and swum 400m.

Have now split up with Mouse - all very amicable, but watch out world - Bear is on the pull!!

The Week's Training

For those of you who might not realise, my training weeks run from Sunday to Saturday. This means that I get a big session out of the way on the first day, rather than having it hang over me all week, ad if anything does go wrong, I have the rest of the week to make it up.

This was a much better week. Okay - it's mainly biking and strength/core work, with not a lot of swimming in there, or running! This is something that needs addressing - and will be addressed, but there is some method in my madness.

w/c 17/9/06	Other	Other time	Swim (m)	Swim time	Bike (mi)	Bike time	Run (mi)	Run time	Total time
Sunday									00:00
Monday	weights	00:40	0.25	00:10					00:50
Tuesday									00:00
Wednesday	body pump	00:45			38.25	02:34			03:19
Thursdy	pilates	00:50		00:35					01:25
Friday	yoga	01:00							01:00
Saturday	UB weights and abs	01:10	0.25	00:09	50.35	03:34			04:53
Totals		4:25	0.50	0:54	88.60	6:08	0.00	00:00:00	11:27

For instance - swimming! Okay - I haven't worked on stamina for a while, and will get back to that, but my main concern was over a technique issue - namely sighting in open water. Without that, all the endurance in the world won't help. So - I'm spending a while getting that right and will then get back to endurance swimming in the pool over the winter.

Running - well, that needs to be good, but then again, Lindi did her first IM in 12:30 or so, off a longest run of 16 miles.

The key factor for me (as logn as I can beat the swim cut off) is to come off the bike feeling okay - which means toughening up my legs to cope with 112 miles of biking. And yet biking had been the discipline I'd paid the least attention to, partly becuase it bored me. Now - with the brill SW London training group, I'm getting out there and thoroughly enjoying my cycling. Sure - there's a long way to go, but I'm stuck into the biking. The running does need to be brought back into focus though, so that'll happen through October, as will the swimming - I can't see much more than a couple more OW swims getting done!

Head for the Hills!

Okay - first things first! I've decided to make Sunday my weigh in day, as it's the first day of my training week. And this week...it's good news! Somehow, in spite of all my grumbling of a few days ago, the weights plummeted to way below what it was. I did have a dodgy tum a couple of days ago, which I think was responsible for part of it, and then another three pounds seems to have come off since yesterday!! I did wonder whether it was dehydration or not, but from past experience any effects of that have gone by the next morning, so who knows? That now puts me at thirteen stone twelve :oD. Heck - even if a couple of pounds goes back on, say from glycogen replenishment (long, heavily branched chains of alpha-glucos, don't ya know?), I'll still be at fourteen stone dead :oD

Anyway - onto the bike ride! We'd arranged to meet at 2:30, I got there a bit late, and there were two missing. Limey (I think) turned up just after me, and we waited ten more minutes for triathlonlad, who didn't show.

I managed to balls up teh Garmin again, forgetting to start it again after Box Hill and the cake stop! Anyway - I could describe the whole journey, but a lot of it was like other routes (it was a Box Hill loop plus the loop I did mid week), so I won't bother.

The trip to the Rainbow Centre and back added eight miles, and the route was 42, so that made - 50 :oD. 3:34, some hanging about making sure the group was okay, and very hilly - but even so I need to work on speed and get that down to three hours, and be able to keep going at that pace. My target for Ironman is seven hours, but I'd ideally like to beat that (as long as it doesn't leave my legs fecked for the marathon).

Legs were a bit tired when I woke up - just a bit heavy, but I've been out for a six mile run through Nonsuch. I did feela smidge glycogen depleted in places (in spite of pasta etc before and after the bike ride), but managed it in 50:30, and I wasn't even trying super hard. Must get more runs in thsi weeka s that was my first for 2 weeks.

Unexpected Rest Day

Well - I'd been plannign a ten mile run all week, but it didn't happen Monday (ankles tired from Bristol - don't quite get it but no point denying it, and then what with one thing and another I got to Thursday without having swum. yesterday was busy anyway, and today - well - I'm busy, but could run, only my legs are still feeling it from Wednesday, and given that I have another ride tomorrow, it probably isn't a good idea to put them under more stress.

A shame, as apart from biking this hasn't been a good week, and Sunday will probably be a short run before heading to Windsor.

Better, though, to start next week feeling okay - ultimately biking is the key discipline to focus on regardless for a triathlete, and particularly for someone who's weak at biking! I can't really leave the running so completely, but I'd be a lot more bothered if I ran today and screwed up the bike ride tomorrow! I'm just going to take it easy and sort out odds and ends, like getting my new printer - a luvverly new Hewlett Packard!

It's a good idea to timetable stuff, so I don't faff about doing nothing because of the lack of structure, but being able to adapt to what "Life" throws at me (i.e. how my body responds, misjudgements of how long things will take (study, recovery etc) will inevitably play a part. It's judging when to adjust and when to stick to stuff that will determine how well I do. There's over nine months left yet :o)

I've finished my first piece of AS bio homework - think I should score well on it - and am going to print it out once I have the printer all set up. Still more to do, but I need to impress the tutor in the first few weeks as I'll be asking for him to predict me an A grade. So - study has to be important - ultimately the Ironman is great, but is a bonus - whereas the uni place is key to my next few years and subsequently my career :o)

In the Drink with Pink

I'd been bugged for the last three weeks by my distinctly naff open water performance at South Water Sprint Relays. I'd also been bothered by the fact that I'd yet to swim in a wet suit. Okay - I'd tried sighting in the pool, but somehow that's just not the same - I had the technique (I think) but had yet to try it out without a line to check on the bottom while my head was under. So - with a little help from Pink off the RW forums, we had sorted a time to go back to Southwater.

The journey down was uneventful, save for being worried that with lots of clouds around, it was getting distinctly dark by not long after half past five! The clouds cleared though, and although the sun was low when we got there (the goggles helped with this btw), we had time for an hour or so's swimming.

At this point, I pulled out my secret weapon - a towel! Not just any old towel, but the dino constructed towel tent! This consists of two large towels, stitched together in key places, that basically allows you to dry yourself, but also to get changed "inside" (you wear it) without i) being exposed to the elements (wind etc) and ii) exposing yourself to the general public. It was something we'd seen at a kayaking weekend a couple of years ago and thought was a simple but effective trick, and it worked a treat :o). Then - a few shenanigans working out how to store keys safely (Pink has a tri kit pocket and used a safety pin), and we headed to the lake, both a tad nervous I think.

The water wasn't at all bad, and there wasn't much of a cold rush as it seepaed into the wettie. We decided to swim to the end of a nearby jetty (about 50 metres away) to get the hang of sighting in a lake. I have to say that this worked a treat! Okay - I veered off by small amounts, but they were easily corrected. Pink has sighting less often than me - I was sighting every four strokes and breathing unilaterally, which is maybe something I need to work on. One step at a time though. Must admit that although I think my legs were floating up more with the wettie, I didn't notice it at the time much.

Anyway - we swam back, sighting on Pink's rather conveniently pink kit bag! Again - success!! It was time for a bigger challenge. I think we were both worried about the light, so we decided to go for a midway option, and sight on a small jetty on the bit that stuck out into the middle of the lake - probably about 120m away. This started out fine, but was a bit confusing, as in the fading light it didn't stand out as well, and there was another little jetty further down that I confused it with once or twice. Even so - the first half was okay, but then I felt my stroke deteriorate, and with it, I had to do bigger corrections after sighting.

I think this is part of the issue - as soon as my line starts to drift off, while I can correct it, I start to thinkmore about my stroke and consequently don't relax! I also think it may be a bit due to getting tired, or maybe it's breathing on four rather than three. I'm not sure - anyway - it wdidn't feel as good as before, and while I did get there, I felt less in control than on the shorter swim. The swim back was similar - all went well at first, and I think I kept going better, but towards the end I found I was veering a fair bit left between sightings, which when you're sighting every four strokes is rather worrying! This time we sighted off the light at the end of the canteen building - which was probably a sign that we should be thinking of leaving the water! We did one more "rep" to the end of the neaby jetty, which went excellently again, and it was time to get out.

The towel tent worked a treat again, and I headed home. I must have shaved about ten minutes off the journey (it was about 45 mins this time), although I did think I was going to run out of petrol, which was worrying as I didn't know a garage for miles. I reckon Imust have made it on vapours - but I did slow dramatically on a steep uphill - so not sure if the last dregs of the tank tipped away from the inlet or something! Anyway - I refuelled, and headed home feeling like we'd had a very helpful session. The wettie is no problem (really keen to sort one out for myself now), and I think with practice, I can get the sighting better (Pink swims 4, 3, 3 t get the sighting in but still to keep bilateral. Plus I think generally working on a consistent stroke will help.

This has been a slightly low week - mainly bikign with a bit of swimming an dno running so far! I guess the bike is the one I feel I have most to do on. I'm hoping for a run today but don't want to overdo it before our big bike ride tomorrow!

Hills Are Our Friends!

Discipline: Bike
Distance: 32.25 miles
Time: 2:34

Whoever said that must have had friends that made them sweat profusely, pany breathlessly, and generally push them through the pain barrier. Yesterday, I went out at around 3pm and met two new "friends", plus an old friend with whom I'd become well acquainted. It was intended to be about a 25 mile ride, then I decided "what the heck, let's go out to 50km and do 31 miles, and then I got lost! Here's the route. I somehow mucked up starting the Garmin, and stopped it when I should have been starting it, and who knows what!

I say three "friends", but actually there were a few more "friends of a friend" in there! To start with, the climb up from NESCOT up College Lane towards Epsom Downs. This was straight into a headwind, and for some reason took a lot more out of me than it did last week with Greenie. Maybe it was the body pump class in the morning?

Then it's out towards Tadworth, which in itself has a few climbs, and then on the full route it would be head to Box Hill, but instead of heading down Chequers Lane, I turned left towards the A217, and then across the roundabout and headed out towards Chipstead. This stage took a lot longer than I imagined, and although there were more hills, I was pleased to find that the road was generally decent. Then up the by now familiar How Lane (it seems to be getting shorter?), and then down towards Markedge Lane. It's been re-opened since my last ride. This was all pretty trouble free - but I was now into fairly new territory - although I had riden it in L2B. Across the dual carriageway (on it for 100 yards) and then left up Rocky Lane, a fairly minor climb by comparison to some of the others!

I then took a left, followed by a quick right, and then another left. This is where I departed from the L2B route - at this point you go right through Nutfield, but I was heading out towards Bletchingly and Hilltop Lane, which Smiffy had talked of in legend (okay, on the forums, he's not that old). Anyway - after a few more turns, I reached it. It was certainly steep, and I found myself coming out of the saddle. It seemed rather short though, and before long the road flattened out. "Doddle!", I thought, but then kept going, and there was another rise!

That bit wasn't too bad, although it did leave me breathless, but even then it wasn't over - after a short flat section, the road carried on climbing, including one turn that really should be outlawed! A view through the trees to the left showed how far I'd climbed pretty quickly.

A nice descent followed, although at times I had to hit the brakes to avoid going onto the opposite side of the road, which with cars coming in the other direction would be dangerous! There was gravel in the road, and the occasional branch sticking out, so it was, all in all, a bit nervewracking! Anyway - after not much bother I reached the A23, and turned right, looking for Church Lane. This turned out to be a no entry, so I kept going and looked for Star Lane. This was a short, steep climb, and once again I was out of the saddle, my legs somewhat wobbly by this time. It was relatively short though, and I crested it without too much fuss. Then a sharp descent down a one way road (Castle Lane), and then back on the road towards the A217 that I had come along some fifteen or so miles earlier.

I should probably have headed home at this point, but decided to carry on through Headly and back the way I'd ridden with Greenie last week up the back of Epsom Race Course. I actually think I did it right, but was slightly unsure of the roads, so I may have slowed a bit.

At this pont I realised that I was going to struggle to get to my A2 biology class on time, so I sought a quick way home, cutting through to the A217 again. I fluffed it terribly, and would have been quicker going the way I knew. I even tried to take a right hand turn at speed at the last minute, hit the brakes, skidded, and realised that road bikes don't lean as well as scooters with fat tyres! I came off the brakes, went up a kerb (ouch - might hasten the need for new wheels - must take care not to do it again!), and then headed down Nork Way. If only I'd taken the simple route home back past NESCOT!

Anyway, it's all miles in the bank, over a third Ironman cycle distance, and this morning I have lost precisely nothing in weight! Same as yesterday, in spite of exercising for three hours in total and probably not eating enough as I did rather throw a bagel down when I got back from the ride before dashing out to college!!

Bear Gets Philipholosical...

Y'know what?

I nearly gave up yesterday. I'd rung the woman who arranged the physio places three times and left messages, and she hadn't got back to me. I decided to try once more, and she answered, and was hugely apologetic, but even so - couldn't offer me more than a couple of days experience, when for some reason the figure I have in my head is two weeks minimum.

Dejected, I thanked her, we agreed she'd get in touch when she'd sported the two days, and went back to my books, thinking "well, that's the end of that". Two measly days!

Then something clicked, and I thought "feck it". Ther's other areas, there's other hospitals, and there's other ways of doing this. I was going to be blagging a bit, scrounging almost - picking up scraps wherever I could, and could expect to get the door metaphorically slammed in my face a few times. Yes, I had left it all a bit late, but I got myself busy, barely off the phone all morning, and pestered the physio departments of assorted hospitals. Okay, not everyone had good news, but there were some who seemed to pretty much expected to be rung up by students looking for experience, and others promised to call back. One asked me to write a letter, as while they were full, they had some vacancies in January. While not ideal, if I could get some earlier, i could start my UCAS application (how you get into uni) with something to base it on, and say I had more lined up for later.

I headed off for lunch, and then into wuk to see my ex-colleague Gordon, having two days sorted out - I got some in early October, which resolved the one that I could base my UCAS form on. Then - the phone rang, people ringing up with dates, leaving messages when I coukldn't answer because I was on the bike, and so on. I even got an offer for some teaching work - which has yet to be finalised and I may or may not take - on my terms as the study really has to take priority.

This morning - I have four days definitely lined up at three hospitals, with another five days at three other hospitals in the pipeline, and I'm about to ring a couple of local sports physios to ask them. A few things still have to fall into place, but even so I already have nine days booked or in the pipeline (and should pan out), and the sports stuff is a bonus on top of that.

So - what I once thought was a problem has now pretty much all been resolved. It's kinda odd - you put yourself out there, you ring up, maybe feeling a bit cheeky, but somehow the universe seems to be throwing stuff my way. I think I read something like that in a self-help book a few years back - "The Universe is Benevolent". "Bollox", was my initial reaction - the universe just is - it isn't sitting looking who needs a bit of a hand.

I still think it's bollox, or at least the concept of some "universe" looking kindly on me is, but I do think that not giving up; getting your head down and carrying on trying when the first few tries don't work, is important. Maybe by putting myself out there, I'll come across a lot more people willing to help, and get good stuff that way. Sure - there's always a few twunts around who delight in making things tricky, but there's enough people who like to help

Another example - wtheteaching work - I didn't even ask for that - but I'm known for being damn good at my job, so when this other school rung my old workplace, they thought of me. Connections like that seem to be happening a lot! Oh - and one of the PTs down the gym who I'd seen at Southwater tri came up and started talking the ohter day - and I'm now booked in to do a bleep test on Saturday. She also told me about a mastes' swim session at David Lloyd on Monday that I was unaware of (shame it clashes with AS Bio but that's not the point - there'll be holidays, and in any other circumstance it would be very useful info). I think I may well ask her to come on the pirate bike ride on Saturday if she's not working.

Another phrase I've heard is "put good stuff out there and it'll come back to you". I'd always been a bit cynical about that to be honest. Maybe now it makes sense - if you talk to people, pass on info, then they'll do the same back. I guess maybe it's partly to do with trusting the world (other people) not to bite your head off. Most of the time it'll work, or not do any harm, and gives a good feeling anyway. Don't hide away because occasionally you get a bad reaction!

Okay - pontification over - I haven't figured it out really, just somewhat amazed at how I now view the place as a lot more benevolent than I did!

Discuss - 1000 words, in my pigeonhole by next Tuesday ;o)

Are You Experienced?...

Not yet, no...

but - after spending half the morning on the phone, I finally got through to the fizzio woman, who's going to get back to me re a placemen. One wisn't looking likely until November, the other is at Sutton hozzy and will hopefully be int he next few weeks.

I've also spoken or left messages for several other peeps at assorted local hospitals, and they're all going to get back to me. Some were more hopeful than others. Fingers corssed, between them they'll have enough for me not to look too crap!

I do have one definite placement, thanks to Fiona at SHirley Oaks hospital, for the 2nd and 3rd October, and another one at the Mayday thanks to a very helpful lady called Shelley. That's still a tad vague as no definite dates, but she obviously wanted to help and just had to speak to colleagues about details.

St Anthony's may have something for me, but not until January - still, it's all stuff that looks good, even if I can't quite talk about it as yet. I've left a message for St George's too.

I'm going to speak to a couple of local sports physios too - may as well try my luck, as it's all about pushing your luck. The wost they can do is say no! Sports physio isn't the best experience, as there's so much more to the job, but it's the direction I'm keen to head in at the moment, so I'd like to for my own sake, and I'm sure that alongside the other experience that it'll be good.

No training done - other than 40 mins weights in the gym - the physio stuff had to take priority, wish I'd done it sooner! Will get back to training more soon. Weight is a smidge down but still not below 90kgs - but that can wwait a week or so while I sort out the essentials. It'll go once I'm back to full on training!

Weekly Summary

Right - well this week was the week my new course got under way - and it's all great stuff :o) I'm really enjoying learning new stuff again, having my brain have to do some work, etc, and what's better is that the group seem friendly and very much up for it. There are quite a few people doing the AS and A2 in parallel.

Must confess to having gone a bit barmy to learn four or five weeks' work on Tuesday and Wednesday, so that I could be ready for the A2 on Wednesday. As it turns out it wasn't all needed, but never mind, it's work I won't need to do later.

Main problem this week was that I'm missing two body pump classes and a Pilates class (Monday and Wednesday evening), so that kills off some training, as did studying and the feeling of tiredness I had. I had planned a run with Mouse while I was down in Bristol on Friday, and then a swim on Sunday, but we had a lot to do and were awake quite late Friday night and a bit pooped. Never mind. Here's the week's training, for what it is, last week.

w/c 10/9/06	Other	Other time	Swim (m)	Swim time	Bike (mi)	Bike time	Run (mi)	Run time	Total time
Sunday									00:00
Monday									00:00
Tuesday									00:00
Wednesday									00:00
Thursdy					26	01:43			01:43
Friday									00:00
Saturday									00:00
Totals		0:00	0.00	0:00	26.00	1:43	0.00	0:00	1:43

So - just one bike ride - it was going to be forty miles but the double tyre blow out spoilt that! I do have a plan for training this week to ensure I get in a long bike ride and a long run, plus several shorter sessions. Not quite sure I'll hit the twelve hour mark again, but hopefully things are starting to settle down and it will fall into place.

Main "obstacle" at the moment is getting this physio placement sorted - they haven't returned my calls. I'll try again today, and hopefully get it arranged - it's vitally important to the uni placement. It will mean effectively "working" full time, so training may take a bit of a back seat.

All this study, training, and socialising - how on earth do people with full time jobs manage??

Weight has gone up to 91kgs - not quite sure why, admittedly I did have a bit of a blow out at the weekend (and it was great :oD ) but even so! Anyway - one way or another what had been a consistently dropping figure a month or so ago is now wavering all over the place and not making much progress. More training this week will hopefully help - I'm not panicked about it, but it would be good to hit my target as I feel that's a good weight for competing, and once I get started on something then I'm keen to finish it off!

Double Blow Out

Arranged to meet with Greenie off the RW forums for a midweek 40 - not sure she was going that far, but I planned to add on extra. On the way I nearly got hit by a twunt in a car turning right across me going into the road up to the gym (try using your eyes FFS!) but after that scare, met up safely!

We headed up past NESCOT and then up towards Epsom Downs. Sadly I didn't have my Garmin on as it needed charging, but I may plot a route later. We followed the route I did a couple of weeks ago through Tadworth, and then up the back way to the top of Box Hill. I had planned to have some cake, go down the Zig Zag, and then vlimb it before heading off home. Anyway - just as we got to the cafe, my back tyre blew, so we sat down to drink coffee and a rather scrummy slice of carrot cake, and then set about fixing the tyre. All went well, and before long I was ready to try the CO2 pump. It did take a bit of fumbling to figure out how to get it to work, but once I sussed that the tyre inflated very quickly.

"Blimey, it's gone rock hard", said Greenie, in her best northern accent. And sure enough, it had! The cannisters contain just enough air to inflate the tyre to 100psi, so job done! After a quick natter to some other cyclists, we headed off down the Zig Zag. 50 yards later, there was an ominous hiss, and the back tyre had gone again. Had I pinched the inner tube? I'd check the rim and the tyre for any dangerous bits without finding anything, so this was annoying! Was it just coincidence? More immediately, how was I going to get home?

Fortunately I remembered that Dauphin cycles was about a mile back up the road, and Stuart (Lindi's boyfriend Bike Ponce) worked there. I rang Lindi to check they were open (it was Wednesday and it is the country) and having confirmed that, headed up there with Greenie, who was kind enough to hang around. We got there, I explained things to Stuart, who quickly found various other problems with my bike! I may need new wheels! The front one has a bit of a hub misalignment that willl only get worse with time. Oops - more money, but lets face it, wheels are kinda crucial!

Anyway, he said it wasn't urgent, and moved onto the rear wheel. It's great watching him work, he made taking the wheel off much easier. First trick - put the chain onto the smallest back cog first! He had a bit of trouble getting the tyre off (as I did - so I can't be that bad), and quickly found a thorn that had stuck through the tyre wall and into the inner tube. I really doubt that I'd have missed that, so I guess I was just very unlucky. Anyway - the tyre had a slash in it too, and what with a couple of other severe problems with it, it was time for a new tyre. Stuart commented that I hadn't pinched the inner tube (phew!) and fitted the new one and tyre. All great so far. He pumped it up, and took a look at my back brakes, where the blocks were worn.

BANG! WTF?? The tyre on my back wheel that was sitting by the bike had just blown for no obvious reason! Stuart concluded that it must be dodgy rim tape, and replaced that and fitted another inner tube. I'm hoping that that explains the several blow outs I've had where there's been a hole in the inner tube but no obvious thorn, stone or piece of glass.

Anyway - that had taken up a lot of time, so I decided to forget the 40 miler, and we did 26 in the end. Greenie got into an argument with some twat in a car who pulled out in front of her, and had a go at him through the window. The passenger gave her the finger. Why can't people just admit they screwed up and apologise - grrr!

Thanks to Greenie for the company - I really did enjoy that ride, the cake and of course hanging around for ages when we weren't riding. Stuart was great as well - it's good to see someone like that who clearly loves the work and is happy to explain about it and answer my feckwit questions.

Not a great training week this week, and off to Brizzle again so may not get mch more training done. Hopefully a ten mile run today. Weight is a smidge up, gone above 90kgs again - not a big deal in many ways but just frustrating after it was heading down so well!

Study is going great - managed to get through shedloads of stuff, the start of the A2 was good too, and it's all fascinating. Just off out to get some textbooks. I've rung about a physio pleacement and I'm waiting for a return call - although if it doesn't come soon I'm ringing back. I'd love to have it kicked off before I head down to Mouse Mansions :o)

Last Week's Training

And it's a biggie :oD

Sure there was more swimming in there too!

Other Other time Swim Swim time Bike Bike time Run Run time Total time Sunday 400 00:13 11.5 00:37 2.5 00:19 01:09 Monday Pilates and body pump 01:45 6 53 01:45 Tuesday 00:00 Wednesday Body Pump 01:00 31 01:50 02:50 Thursdy Pilates 00:45 10 01:40 02:25 Friday 40 02:50 02:50 Saturday Weights 00:45 3 00:30 01:15 Totals 4:15 400.00 0:13 82.50 5:17 21.50 2:29 12:14

Brilliant in Bristol :oD

The weekend saw a trip down to Bristol to meet up with Tor, Hannah and Mouse from the forums. A few others had planned to come but didn't make it. Anyway - I'd kept in contact with Mouse, we met up, and headed back to Mouse Mansions, a large, decidedly gorgeous house not far from the centre.

Anyway, we had a cuppa, and then headed out for a short run. I found out when we got there that I'd been on the grassy bit on my only previous visit to Brizzle, and we set off on a 5k run. The overhead pic is shown below, and you can see the Avon Gorge to the side :oD

A nice little run, done at about 140bpm pace (for me), and then home to get changed to meet up with Rich and Trin.

A very enjoyable evening followed, we drank, we danced loads to cheesy 80s stuff, and generally had a fab time before heading home and to bed. A fab evening :oD

Friday Update

Ran ten miles last night with Katyshakes at base training pace (for me). I wasn't too obsessive about the heart rate, but it did stay down around 140 or below the vast majority of the time. Here's the stats:

Anyway - nice run, it's great to have someone to chat to, and I did an extra bit on the end which brought me up to ten miles. Must get back down the club sometime too - I like running in company.

Today's plan is to do a ride with HappyChap up Boxhill again - probably won't do the double climb, might investigate a few roads on the way back, although then again I'll probably go back through Ashtead to keep HC company. Might try and pick a back route out though rather than go straight home. Then again, my legs are a bit tired - in a pleasant sort of way.

And now the really good news - I now have a BMI of under 25, so officially not overweight. I haven't throught I was to be honest, not for ages, but it's another target met. Next one is to go sub-14 stone, which will hopefully happen tomorrow as I'm only half a pound over. If not then, it may have to wait, as I'm going away for the weekend and may well booze a tad!

Box Hill, Box Hill, So Good We Climbed It Twice

A good day! Weight still below 90kgs (although not dropping any further), which makes 2kgs lost in last month, so about a pound a week. Bit feeble but heading in the right direction.

Headed out towards Box Hill with the intention of climbing it once, just to see if I could. I'd arranged last minute to meet up with Stuart (Hollywood), and we climbed it together. It's actually not too bad - the first half is steep but manageable, and then it flattens a little - still uphill but not as bad - just long! Took about ten minutes. I should have been satisfied with that, but Stuart suggested doing it again, and I rather stupidly fell for it! Glad I did though - it was fine.

I'm starting to get more comfortable with hills now - long hills even, and I'm sure my leg power will increase further. A lot of it is just learning to use the gears right.

The most pleasing thing was that I flipped my bike computer to distance as I neared home - and without realisign it I'd done another 50km ride. Felt pretty good at the end of it as well.

Stats and maps later - I need a snooze!

The Day After...

...and I'm still buzzing! What a fabulous day out that was! The post race banter is still going on via Runner's World, the results are out and so are some of the pictures. Plans are afoot for a massive pirate contingent next year, and a SW London bike training group - fab or what?

Anyway - weight's down today - 89.7kgs, a low for the last few years. Just hope it stays off now. Weight loss does seem to have slowed, and while the seven day average thing I did is dropping, it's all distinctly slow - one pound a week if not slower.

The legs are a little tired today, but I did a recovery run of six miles - not with a HRM, just running how I felt, although I suspect at least on the outward journey I was below or very close to 140. I didn't worry about it going up on the return leg though. Six miles in just under 53 minutes. Done in my shiny new 2100s (okay - only worn for the gym). Still got the sore inside of the right ankle - which has only come on since I started running more seriously again the last few months.

Then in the evening it was off to the gym for Pilates and Body Pump. Great stuff, and it'll leave me with a nice ache all over. Then a short swim, where I practised sighting. Not the same I know, but I want to get it so that the raising of the head - "crocodile eyes" - is a very well drilled part of my stroke. There's plans for an Open Water swim down at Southwater with Pink and Greenie afoot too, so watch this space :o). I also want to start using the swim timer. Perhaps if I find out what time a "relaxed" stroke takes, I can use it in a tri to reassure myself that my stroke is okay when it feels slow. I dunno - just considering options. Probably just doing lots of OW swimming is the best way to stop it fazing me and my technique disappearing faster than a box of gels on a long bike ride.

Southwater Tri-Relay

Right peeps - haven't posted my recent training, but there was a big bike ride Friday - more details to follow. Anyway, for now, here's details of today's activities!

A few weeks ago I slightly reluctantly decided to try and get a team together for the Southwater tri-relay, with each of the team of three doing all three disciplines. After much to-ing and fro-ing (none from the final team) we had a three, and were all set to send in our entry, but I got an email from Hollywood saying that the event was full. Pleading with the organiser was to no avail, so yesterday I was sat, minding my own business, when Hollywood suddenly made contact to inform me that a spot was available for a team, and could I get a team (any team!) back together? I decided to give it a go, and spent about £25 on my mobile phone frantically texting and ringing. Most of the people I’d rung had the good sense to have their mobiles switched off, but after an hour or so, we had a three, or rather two definites, one probable, and Lindi offering to cover if she was needed, but “I’m going out and may have a hangover!”. Anyway – that was the hard part, I emailed the organiser the details and Tri-Curious was going to the ball!

So – Nicky (HappyChap) picked me up at 6:15 (many thanks) and we headed down the A24. We arrived, racked the bikes, met up with Fliss (Flipper) and Stumpy, and an assortment of other pirates. There were long discussions of what kit to wear, when to lay kit out as rain was threatening, and so on. The announcer started a panic by saying the race briefing was in one minute, but transition was closing in ten, so all of us who had delayed laying our kit out rushed to the transition area, only to be told it would open as soon as all the first leg bikers had gone through! Anyway – after a lot of trying to work out the logistics on my part, and everyone else calmly knowing what to do, we were ready for Flipper to head out on the first leg. I won’t go into any detail of the first two legs as Fliss and Nicky may write their own reports, but suffice to say they both looked good in the water and on the bits of the run that I saw. We were near the back of the pack but I really wasn’t too worried about winning – just wanted the experience.

Time went by, and Nicky came round at the end of her first lap, so I dashed off for a last minute wee (not easy in a tri-suit, and remember to take the number out of the way first!). I handed my coat and shoes to Shiraz (thanks) and headed to the point where Nicky would hand on to me. She soon rounded the bend, I thought “I need the loo”, but there was no time; I was off, goggles in hand. I ran down onto the jetty, sat on the edge, and stuck my goggles on to rapturous applause and cheers from the pirates. Then I encountered the first problem – I’d pulled my swim hat down so close to my eyes that there was no space for the edge of my swim goggles to “seal” onto, so I wasted about a minute trying to roll that bit up without taking the hat right off. I slipped off the jetty, had a momentary cold rush, and set off, feeling good. I was having trouble with my usual breathing, and the lack of visual feedback (this was a last minute thing so I hadn’t had a chance to try sighting) really screwed me up, even underwater. I stopped every few strokes, but seemed to be keeping a pretty straight line. This went reasonably okay up until the buoys at half way, but after that really went to pot and I think my path on the return leg probably approximated that of a drunken dolphin (no offence Flipper!).

Anyway – after zig-zagging across the width of the lake, and with much help from the kayakers, I was approaching the jetty. Hands reached out to help me out, and I realised why they were there, as I quickly felt giddy. I got out of the water okay, but was really disoriented as I walked up towards the transition area. Nicky walked up to transition with me, and looked after me. I sat down and changed very slowly – my time for T1 must be abysmal. I’d been tempted to try peeing in the water, but missed my chance. I decided I might try peeing on the bike. Nicky told me that there was an uphill just outside transition, so to get the bike in not too high a gear, which was useful. When hunting my bike shoes last night, I realised that a cleat was bust – no idea when this happened, but I decided not to risk it, as I knew I could cycle okay in trainers, and I wasn’t planning on wellying it in the wet conditions. Anyway – this proved a great strategy for running out of transition, but the cleats were wet from the rain, and my feet slipped at first. After a bit that resolved itself, and I climbed towards the main road and then down to the A24 roundabout, where we turned back on ourselves.

The miles passed easily, although there were a few climbs in there that made my work hard. My quads were hurting from the previous ride (31 miles - no taper as I didn't know I was doing this tri until the last minute), but oddly that went off after a bit. I wish I’d reset my bike computer to zero at the start, as I had not much idea of how far I’d gone. About ten minutes in I passed a cyclist. Nicky had said that were two people not far ahead, but I think the second one must have been further ahead, as I was very happy with my bike section. My target time was 40 minutes, so I based how far I’d gone on that – half way at 20 minutes, even if I wasn’t! Shortly after that I had a removal van coming the other way overtake some parked cars, and leave me about the bike width plus 15cms to get through. Nice! There was a build up roadside, so I had nowhere to go, but fortunately got away with it. It was around here that I passed the only person I passed all day- but everyone was pretty spread out by that stage. I kept up 16mph plus for the vast majority of the ride, except the steep uphills (dropped to about 12) and downhills (pushing 30). I did have one hand on the brakes though as there were some twists, and having to go over to the other side of the road at high speed in greasy conditions wasn’t a good plan!

Anyway – before too long I hit the A24, and a sign suggested I had about two miles to go. I checked my watch, and was hoping to beat 35 minutes (wow!) but those two miles are a slow, steady climb, and I couldn’t keep up the pace. I did really push it on the half mile from the A24 back to Southwater, which in the end wasn’t clever as I started the run with oxygen debt, and there’s quickly a nasty climb! Anyway – before that I had to go through transition, which was very quick as there were no shoes to change – just rack the bike and take off my helmet. I snaffled a last drink of water and headed out. My legs were a bit heavy but not as bad as I remember from Concorde two years ago, and I got another load of pirate cheers as I came out of transition. You guys really made the day just soooo much more enjoyable, so huge thanks to everyone.

Shortly after this there’s a nasty climb on chalky paths, rough underfoot and none too pleasant. The oxygen debt kicked in, and I walked for ten yards in a couple of places. I realised at this point that I hadn’t swivelled my number round from the bike, so did that, and kept running. The legs were feeling better, and I settled into a decent rhythm. My goal for the run was 20 minutes, but I had no idea of how far I’d gone on the first lap. The route had another climb, and then went out onto the road. You don’t stay on that for long, and turn back into the park, down a steep hill, and past a second lake. I overtook someone a lap ahead at that point. One more short climb, and then I could see the buoys at the turn of the swim, so I knew there wasn’t far to go. The lake seemed a lot shorter running it, and I picked up my bit of orange rope to signify that I’d done a lap. I completed the lap dead on ten minutes, and since my legs were feeling strong I thought that twenty minutes was on as a target. Knowing the route also helped. The pirate cheer again perked me up, and I yelled out a request for a coffee at the finish!

The climbs were still nasty, and again I walked briefly, and still wondered whether to take a pee! I decided to wait until the finish, as it was only eight minutes away. Once out onto the road, the run went really well, and I was running strongly. Back into the park, and this continued, and I felt sure I was ahead of my previous lap. It was great running into the finishing straight. I realised I was going to be close to nine minutes, but just missed it, but I really didn’t care! I crossed the line with a loud pirate “ARRRRRRRRRGH!” to yet more massive cheers from the wonderful pirate support, and also the crowd in general, who really seemed to like the pirates, their daft kit, their daft names, and general sense of fun and enjoyment. A fabulous day, I want to do another one. Just got to get the open water sighting figured!

Thanks to

• Fliss and Nicky for being a fabulous team, and for stepping in at the last minute, and providing hugs, cheers, lifts and loads of other good stuff
• Hollywood – for sorting it all out, and nagging the organisers for the place
• Anyone who got me coffee/cake etc – Shiraz, Stumpy etc
• Amphibians 2 for organising it – I’ll be back next year, hopefully with more pirates
• Pink for coming and cheering, and everyone else who made cheering on the pirates as much a part of the day as doing the event

Congrats to

• Everyone, but in particular the tri-virgins – Green Eyes and Stumpy (and probably some others who I didn’t realise)

New Things Tried on Race Day

• Competitive open water swimming
• Wearing my pirate tri suit
• Some new energy bars
• Cycling in my Kayanos
• Carrying a piece of orange string to indicate the lap – never even done coloured bands before

New Things Not Tried on Race Day

• Peeing in the swim, on the bike, or during the run.

Saturday Catch Up

Okay, okay - this wasn't here before - I slipped it in late!

So:

Wednesday
Can't remember exactly - think I swum half a mile maybe, and did Body Pump in the evening.

Thursday
Had planned to do a run with Katyshakes, but she couldn't make it, so I did a six on my own. Not a fantastic run - heart rate a bit up on the previous run but no faster, finished it just nside the hour but rather puzzled!

Friday
Big bike ride day!I'd decided to head out on the L2B route, up How Lane (nasty hill type thing) and then carry on towards Nutfield. Problem was they'd decided to close several roads, and I ended up at the top of How Lane not knowing how to get to where I wanted to go, so I headed back to the A217 and then on down towards Epsom. The long hill where I topped 40mph last time had loads of traffic on it, so half way down I turned left and headed for Epsom Downs. I needed to get another ten miles or so, so I thought I'd reverse the route of the Epsom Ten that I'd done in about 1998! It started off well, but I got lost around Tadworth, or thought I did, and although I think I was actually on the right road, I didn't realise it, so made a detour back to the A217. Or something! It was a very circuitous route, but it all counts as miles in the bank, there were some testing hills, and I came in at 50km, so 31 miles.

Feckin' Students ;o)

The big day was upon me - today was the day to actually go and enrol for my classes. The Human Bio option was a definite, and I had to discuss the possibility of a chemistry AS as well. I headed off to Croydon College, got there about eleven, and hoped to be out of there by twelve. I actually think they were pretty efficient, just had a huge number of people to deal with, but it ended up taking two and a half hours or so.

All went well - they thought I'd be able to handle the A level in one year no problems, suggested a book specifically for peeps doing biology who didn't have chemistry, and all in all were very helpful. I met several adults while I was there, and the majority of them were teachers looking for a career change! Maybe there's some sort of pattern emerging!

Then downstairs to pay, which was the longest wait, but they had stacks of peeps and a take a ticket system, and it wasn't too bad. Then off to get my NUS card - so a trip across the orad to Somerfields to get some passport piccies!

And now - I'm officially a student, with an NUS card, pass to get into the college, but no grant. What happened to them anyway??

The bits of my past that I wasn't keen on have been got rid of - today saw the start of the journey to replace them with more worthy things. I'm excited :oD