Better Running

Although it's hot and dismal, I have felt better running these past couple of days. I have drawn up a 10 week marathon plan, and feel quite confident.
I was 20 seconds a mile faster today than I was yesterday, although that could well be due to some vintage Bon Jovi.

I will run 6 days a week. Even if it's just 5k. I will swim twice a week, and I will bike at least twice a week. And unlike with the marathon, due to the triathlon I will do some speed sessions, too, in all three things.

It's a lot to do, but feeling quite buoyant the moment, so sure it will all be fine.

Better Swimming

I did a mile today. I didn't really time it, but I know I was swimming faster as I got more tired, and found myself stopping for a 30 second rest after every ten lengths. And tomorrow I am going to put my head in a sink of cold water and practise breathing out, and go for a longish run.

I now need to adjust my plan, to make it a standard triathlon training plan, as well as a marathon one. It's 6 weeks until the triathlon, and 10 until the marathon.

I am also going to knit a big moth.
That's rather exciting. It will be bigger and happier looking than this one.

Rubbish Biking

So yesterday I just did a little 4 mile run, but the day before I cycled my work commute. I had forgotten how hard it is. The weather was dry, but the hills on the way home, with a nice 20mph headwind, were just dismal. I arrived drained and desperate for my dinner. On the very few flat sections, I felt I could really pick up some speed, so I think that's where the turbo has helped, but apart from that, I am rubbish at cycling, and I have a triathlon in just 6 short weeks.
Some serious training has to happen.
I can fit into my wetsuit, but it's unpleasantly tight.

Tomorrow I will get a decent length run in before work. I hope it rains. Big, massive raindrops. And a cold wind.

And I need to get down the beach on my wetsuit. I'm thinking of going to Cruden Bay. I'll take my daughter and make her sit on the sand and guard my stuff, although it's quite a shallow beach, I just need to get cold and swim with my face in freezing water more than anything.

Bummer

I have decided not to do the half iron this year. I will do it next year.

The reasons for this are mainly financial, but also, I always knew I was going to be chasing cut off times, and would most probably come last. I didn't mind this too much when I could afford it, but now, the thought of putting myself into debt to come last and most likely have a crap day, is a very unpleasant one.

So, I will spend the next year getting better, much, much better, and will hope to be in the middle somewhere, and enjoy the thing. I may even do one somewhere else in the UK, as Aberfeldy don't give out medals! I need a medal. It seems mad to go through all that and not have something to hand round my neck.

So, next up is the Knockburn triathlon, a standard distance, the swim of which is still scaring me, so the next 6 weeks will be all about getting better at swimming.
I ran 5 miles today and the heat was horrible, I think I'll have to take a drink with me for shorter distances, then did half a mile at the pool, trying to maintain a decent stroke the entire time. I felt like I was moving faster, and my arms really ached afterwards, so I think my pull must be stronger.

And I'm definitely going to do Moray Marathon in September as well. I know I can improve my marathon time.  Just having music would really help.

So I'm still doing stuff, but cheaper stuff. I'm really not very good at this sport business, it takes me ages to get better, but that's ok, as I'm very good at other things.
But I still want to be properly fit, lose weight, and improve, and to reach the highest level of fitness I can.
  

Bring Me Tea!

Because my arms are barely working.
My arms and my butt are where I'm feeling it, my legs are in overall good shape today.

I thought I'd go for a swim, loosen up the muscles. I went too early. There was a school, as well as a group of learning disabilities in, and doing lengths was doing zig-zags, and I felt kind of shattered at half a mile, and went home. However, felt better for going, and did some quality stretching/yoga in the deep end.
I am awesome at yoga when there is water to hold me up.

 I have to embalm first thing tomorrow, so will either go for a little run or do some turbo before that. I need to cycle to work on Thursday, so need to get my bike muscles moving again.

I have also begun to work on a plan for the next nine weeks. I have to make sure I steadily increase my distances, and properly fitting into my wetsuit is becoming an urgent matter.
So far I have found a big pink A4 pad and some Spongebob stickers I forgot I bought. Tomorrow, with these fine tools, I will chisel a plan that will make sure I don't line up as unprepared for the half iron as I was yesterday.

Ythan Challenge

Ow, man. Just ow.

It was warm today. I don't do warm.
I am now shattered and stuff hurts. That was proper exercise.

It was all fine to start with, normal trails, and I was going quite fast, and the first few obstacles, like going under nets, were quite good. I know to keep my head down. I then went though a really muddy bog, and lost my trainer. The water was about thigh height, so no chance of getting it back, especially with people coming up behind. A marshal gave me a spare but tiny shoe, and that is the root of the ouch. I still had about 8k to go, so that's a long time to run in a tiny, wet shoe.

The hay bales were fine once I got the hang of them, many had a dent where others had put a foot in to help get up, as they were as high as my neck. However, then there was one at the top of a very went and slidey, muddy hill, so the bale was covered in mud, and had no foot hole. I pretty much pulled it onto myself, and others had to push the thing back up again. Then two men helped me over it in the most ungainly fashion possible.

The crossing of the river was proper fun. The water was beautiful and cold, I washed some of the mud off my face, and we had to stand for quite a while waiting for people to climb out. People were moaning, but I could have stood in there all day. We had to cross it one more time later on. A lifeguard was splashing people and these girls were making silly noises, when I passed him I help my arms up and said 'Bring it on!' and he splashed me good!

Not long after that, a marshal told me all the bales were done, but they lied! There were two to climb at the finish! And they have no footholds and the hay was so short on the top, I couldn't get a grip. Then I saw Chevy coming up behind me (oh no, you're not beating me), so somehow managed to drag and roll myself over them, and being right by the finish, I had a big audience for my lack of grace and skill. 'Come on, nearly there!' they shouted.
'Shut the fuck up!' I wanted to reply, but didn't. 

Anyway, I can't find my camera, so only have a rubbish phone picture, but these are the trainers I finished in, and the rather nice medal.

I will absolutely do it again, but will be a damn site fitter and stronger overall.

Feeling Wussy

I have genuine half iron fear.
I considered not doing it today. My calendar is scaring me. My lack of open water experience. My lack of anything. However, it cost so much I have to, and better I realise now, rather than 4 weeks away, just how much work needs to be done.

Yesterday morning I went out to do 3 miles before work and ended up feeling like I was going to puke after 2. This morning I was so tired getting out of bed an hour early wasn't going to happen, and I had planned 4 miles.
I haven't been eating that great and been finding it hard to sleep, so must stop being an idiot and sort that out.

However, tomorrow was going to be a rest day ahead of the Ythan Challenge, but now I will do the 4 miles then, so it won't effect the week much, and will just have to work harder next week. I need a plan. A proper progression of miles and brick sessions.

I have to bike to work more as my car is being an idiot, and has it's MOT next week.

I have to do a lot of things.