Day 155 - Rest Day

Rest Day = LUSH

Only exciting thing was ordering my calf guards off Wiggle. Might look like a teat but if it stops my calf cramping up = Good News.

Day 154 - So Close Yet So Far

Today was very windy and the plan was for me to get up and go for an early morning cycle but with it being the third night on the row that we didn't get to bed before midnight, a lie in was a far better option. As a result I didn't set off till 3pm. With a massive amount of food in my belly, cereal at 7.30 and toast at 10am !!!! I set out. I really wanted to get over 50 miles in and hopefully in a decent time. The first hour whizzed by and i was really enjoying myself and then the hunger pangs started. Downing a power bar then some berry shot blogs I was back on track. The wind at certain places was howling down the lanes and had to put a massive effort in. It made the flat lanes seam like I was going up, up and more up.

I was debating whether to go via the Notleys and Whitham before heading home but with another hunger pang coming on I decided it was best if I head home. I turned off on the Boreham Road at Great Leighs and discovered Essex's answer to the famous Belgium pave. I'm sure they have better roads down the Gazza strip. I have a dentist appointment next week to re-fix all my fillings!! Slight exaggeration but I must check all the bolts on the bike before setting off on it next time, just to make sure nothing was shaken loose.

Steaming down Boreham to the bottom of Little Baddow and having a quick look at my watch I thought I could break 51 miles before 3 hours. I managed to get to 50.91 miles - gutted. With hindsight what I should have done was carry on along the low road before turning up to Danbury. That way I could have kept my average MPH up broken my target distance.

All in all I loved the ride today and will certainly be on the same route in future.

See the link below for all the details of the ride.

So Close Yet So Far by jona.davies at Garmin Connect - Details: "Share"

Day 153 - Saturday Night = Run

We had a mad day today it started off by going to the Civic to watch the Gruffalo with the family. Lots of fun, Freya was transfixed with the characters on the stage and Millie was to begin but restless about halfway through.

We then had a party to go to in the afternoon at a children's ball park place in Braintree. Freya loved the activities and was climbing around with the rest of them in the larger adventure section. Lilly, Freya's cousin, was fantastic at looking after her but slides, swings, ropes, holes anything the older children went on Freya copied. She only came back when she bumped her head but a few cuddles and a slurp of her apple juice and she was gone again.

Dave and Laura were there so we decided to meet up that evening. I had a fab idea of going for a run with Dave whilst the women supped on their Pinot. Had a lovely run on route I have never done before. The calf tightened up after 3.5 miles but no pain no gain, didn't get worse so kept on going. Just the wrong side of 8 miles but still a very enjoyable run in good company.

However, the worst part about Saturday was hearing that Sophie had been hit by a car, whilst out training on her bike, and had broken her collarbone. With the race only 8 weeks away and she has been given a healing time 6 weeks, things are going to be tight but I hope and I pray that she will be standing next to me, Alice and Paul at the start of the race. She has trained so hard over these months. Soph don't give up even during the really painful times, it will just make that m dot tattoo even more special to wear.

Day 152 - Swim time

I didn't do any running or cycling today just a lovely swim in the pool. I got there all motivated and managed to do a really good fast warm up. I realised that my warm ups are slow and therefore they set the pace for the session. By speeding up meant I had a fantastic work out. 5.30 on a Friday is the time to go as the pool was almost empty. The effort session was a bit of all the best-bits from the other ones all mashed together to great a mega training program. I don't know why but I really enjoy the drills and find that I can really concentrate on them. I don't know if my stroke is improving but I feel smoother through the water. Loving the lap timer that was recommended to me by a parent of a boy I teach. One of the best bits of kit I've got.

Simply put it on your finger and off you go - genius device.

Day 151 - Turbo -tastic

Thursday night and back on the turbo. For some reason the turbo flew by and I really really enjoyed it and the hour and half just flew past no problemo. All in all felt really good to be back on in the saddle and sweating away and dreaming of the Ironman finish etc.

Day 150 - Balancing the Body

Well tonight was a night not of turbo or running or swimming but a night at the gym doing body balance class. This is a mixture of Tai Chi, Pilates and Yoga. It was the second time I'd been and pushed the stretches harder. It certainly worked and could really feel my thighs and legs in the different poses. The ab workout certainly reminded me that I need to get back on my ab training for these last 59 days before the IM.

Back on the bike tomorrow then. I know the Don doesn't schedule this in but if yoga is good enough for Lance then it is good enough for me.

Day 149 - Back on the Turbo

Well I have just done an hour on the turbo and it felt really good. Turning the pedals over at an average of 185 rpm and averaging 17 mph so pretty happy with that. So tomorrow night do I try and run or turbo again? mmmmm will have to wait and see. Whilst on the bike I was debating as to what kit too wear. I like my black IM top and love my white 2XU top but with the history of my bleeding nipples!!! do I really want a finishing photo with two red streaks down my top? Or do I play safe and go black but then run the risk of over heating if its a hot day? mmm ponder ponder. A recent 220 article was stating that white lycra was the colour to have as it reflects the heat. Point taken but only certain people can pull this look off and sorry but white lycra shorts are just wrong. Next dilemma that occupied my mind was calf guards or not? mmm more ponder ponder? I sure the answers will come to me during an other boring turbo session.

Day 142 - 48 - Off again

Every time I seam to be making great leaps forward I get knocked back again. This time on day 142 I went for a run and after .5 of a mile had to walk back. What I thought was a tight calf from the long effort the Saturday before suddenly became worse. The calf was sold and the pain was really tight. I think I must have strained it some how. Gutted was not the word.

More importantly every time I went to train life got in the way and just didn't have the energy to start turboing at 10 o'clock onwards. So all in all I've had a week off. In that time I had time to reflect, read alot and put on some pounds. The verdict is I think I can kiss goodbye to getting a PB - ah well maybe next time. (all ready thinking about an other!!!!!) But it is all about completion now and not finishing like a jibbering wreck but in style. Enjoy the atmosphere and the scenery on the way around and most importantly race with a smile on my face. It's costing me a lot of money and the race is counted as being one of the best IM courses in the world so instead of going eye balls out and going for speed I'm now going as an IM tourist and really absorb the atmosphere I have read so much about and lacked greatly at IM UK and relish the moment and the race.