Week 8

Training Summary

Bike       10 miles

Run        6 miles

Swim     1 mile

The last week of uni before Christmas, a housemates birthday and 8 inches of snow...not particularly conducive to high intensity training. I’ve definitely kept on track with my carbo-loading though, predominantly via ‘pint of cheapest please’. Still, I tried to fit some training in when I could.

I went for an early swim on Tuesday morning. That’s ‘university early’ (8-9am) by the way, not ‘normal life early’ (6-7am). It felt horrific. I’m going to need to get into the habit of it though as the ironman kicks off at a casual 6am....eurghh. Plenty of time for that!

Thursday’s swim session was substituted for a house Christmas meal in the fine-dining establishment that is Hooters. I was immediately caught off guard when I entered the restaurant with my mate and was asked if we’d like a ‘table for two, sir?’

I swiftly replied in my manliest (and slightly cockney come to think of it) voice.. .

“no fanks love. ..we’re here wiv our otha mates”...if anything, I think I over justified myself!

Anyway, my otherwise faultlessly cool persona was then total blown out of the water when the waitress asked us if we wanted “two jugs....

....of beer”. I was giggling like a school girl.

Back to the training. The snow came down on Thursday night and is still causing chaos pretty much everywhere by the looks of things. I can barely walk the dog without imitating a ‘John Sergeant on Ice’ but hopefully I can start tearing up the streets again soon!

Finally, I hope you all have a great Christmas (or ‘holiday’ depending on religious background)...never let it be said I don’t cater for all!

Much love

x

Week 7...long time no speak

Training Summary (Week 6)

Swim     3 miles

Bike       25 miles

Run        5 miles

Training Summary (Week 7)

Swim     4 miles

Bike       20 miles

Run        15 miles

Hi again. 

Sorry I didn’t update the blog last week. As I’ve mentioned, lots of coursework happening at the moment....developing an Excel model to predict solute transport through dual phase porous media if you’re interested? No?...me neither!

So the ice is all but gone now and I managed to get through my biggest run to date this week. 15 miles and I didn’t feel too horrific afterwards either! I’ve spent what seems to be an obscene amount of time in the pool recently and I’m pretty close to fashioning a permanent goggle mark- not a great look. I’m swimming about 2.5k in an hour at the moment, so that puts my swim time at about 1hr 35 mins, which I’d be relatively pleased with to be honest. Still, it’d be nice to get it close to the 1:20 mark.

I’ve been in the gym a fair bit over the last few weeks because of the weather and I’ve started to do a few bike-to-run drills. It doesn’t seem to be giving me any trouble which is positive (now I’ve said that I’ll probably Bambi it next time and end up sprawled over a cross-trainer!).  

I still need to up my time on the bike really but as my gym doesn’t have sky sports, cycling for more than an hour is pretty soul destroying...even if there is a double header of Loose Women and Jeremy Kyle. Hopefully I can clock up the outdoor miles over Christmas.

Think that’s all for this week.

Much Love

X

Week 5...winter is here

Training Summary

Swim:    4 miles

Bike:      37 miles

Run:       2-3 miles

How can I sum up this week?...cold.

Luckily I didn’t have much running planned; it snowed Friday and it’s still icy on the pavements in places. Aside from the usual gym sessions and squash, I was out on the bike Thursday morning for another ride up to the castle. Couldn’t feel my little fingers by the time I got back! Freezing! So like a true Ironman...I girled out at the weekend and spent some time on the bike in the warmth of the gym instead.

3 sessions in the pool since last week. I went to the ‘stamina swim’ session on Sunday. Roughly translated, a stamina swim consists of “there’s the pool, see you in an hour”. Still, it was good to clock up some miles.

Someone asked me this week whether I feel any more prepared for the ironman since I started training. To be honest, I don’t really know. I guess so. The whole idea behind the training is to constantly be exercising within yourself, so that you’re able to train more often and build a good base of stamina. That’s not to say I don’t get tired when I train, I’m just never really testing my limits.

The concept being that the bigger the ‘base’ (of stamina) the higher the ‘peak’ (when I start to really gear up the training closer to race day)...fingers crossed anyway :S  Lol lmao

Much love

Markx

Week 4...Anyone can wear a bear outfit or a toupée

Training Summary

Swim: 2 miles

Bike: 17 miles

Run: 12 miles

                                 

Hello again.

Not a great week for fund-raising...seems as if the competition from children in need was too much! I can’t compete with Wogan and Pudsey!

The speedos had their first outing this week. Thankfully, there was no ‘outing’ to speak of. In all seriousness though (in case you’re considering a Christmas purchase), you do notice the difference when you’re swimming.

Before we continue, I’ve been asked to clarify (by my Mum!) my genre of trunk. When I refer to my speedos, I’m not talking about the 1980’s holiday abroad speedo or Eastern European hipster. They’re similar to a cycling short, reffered to ‘in the biz’ as a jammer. I’m sorry if this shatters your mental image of my training regime, but I couldn’t face the potential minefield of the bikini line...enough said.

Since we last spoke I’ve been out on the bike again. Much tamer this time as I left Will at home! I’ve been in the pool twice (showing off my trunk(s)!), played squash, ruined myself in the gym and been on a 10 mile run. The new swim technique is becoming more natural, but there seems to be a long list of bad habits I’ve developed. Still, I’m getting there!

It was a cold run this week. Nice and fresh once I got going though. I was back in Plymouth this week so I ran most of the half marathon route from the hoe, up and around Saltram and back again. Clear blue skies and winter sunshine, it was well worth the effort. Sorry I forgot the camera!

I’ve got lots of uni deadlines coming up over the next two weeks, so I think the training may have to take a back seat. I was planning on laying off the long run this week anyway to recharge. I’m going to try and get a longish cycle under my belt midweek...let’s hope it stays dry!

Take Care

x

Week 3...on yer bike!

Training Summary

Swim: 2 miles

Bike: 15 miles

Run: 14 miles

Once again, thanks to everyone who’s donated this week. I feel this part of the blog could become a bit repetitive...but it really is appreciated.

So week 3...I’ve been in the pool a couple of times (it would have been three if I’d have remembered my trunks...apparently swimming with a rudder is against Olympic regulations!), been out on the bike and on my long run; another 14 miler. It was pretty hard to drag myself out of bed for the run on Wednesday, but it turned out to be a gorgeous morning. Fresh, crisp and clear blue skies. I’ve put a picture up, taken at the Bay, looking back at Cardiff from the barrage.

I’ve been making my way through the ironman bible ‘Going Long’ this week. Apparently it’s important to predominantly focus on the swim and cycle disciplines so you’re not a complete mess when it comes to the run. So along that vein of thought I went out on the bike with my mate, Will this Saturday...

...For those of you that don’t know Will, he’s into his biking (unhealthily into it). He also judges the success of a ride on the basis of how close he came to death. Anyway, the ground was pretty wet and there were plenty of puddles, bogs and muddy pits etc around. As Will skilfully and swiftly evaded these, I took more of a ‘as the crow flies’ approach, straight-lining my way through the forest and ‘Dawn Frenching’ (à la Vicar of Dibley) any puddles in my way. It has to be said, these tactics seemed to be working....until I found myself vaulting the handle bars and embracing an Oak tree. Still, all’s well that ends well!

In other news. Speedo’s have arrived, I’ll be giving them their debut this week ;)

Keep up the good work.

Markx