The horror would be me, in my tri shorts.
Nooooo!!!
I have tried them on, and I knew the silicone leg holes were a bit snug, today I wore them swimming, and my legs looked like a string of chunky sausages. The cut in right in the middle of my thigh, into the fattest part.
And, the pocket on the back of my top inflated with water as I swim along, unless I tuck my top in, which means putting the shorts up higher, and I hate tucking things in. I'm too gangsta to tuck in!!
So, I need longer shorts. I'll have to. I can't cope with people seeing me like that.
On the upside, I did 45 mins of swimming, which qualifies as a rest day, and felt far more shattered than usual, as I know I was faster than usual. I think it was down to arm turnover, and I was overtaking people all over the shop. Slow, old people, but still. It felt good.
The next couple of weeks are going to be full of swimming.
And biking.
And running.
But more swimming that usual.
Sunday, 7 April 2013
Saturday, 6 April 2013
17, And Not 18 Miles
Which is a bummer.
I honestly thought everything was going to be OK. I felt good. I had even survived a dog incident one and half miles in, involving a mad retriever who kept jumping up at me, leaving me with some fetching, bleeding welts that were sore not only with the friction of running, but sweat made them sting.
As I ran away I came up with a great speech to give the stupid owner about controlling her dog, but all I managed at the time was 'THAT HURT!' said firmly to her face as I ran past.
I got 9 miles out, and sped up a little as there were then some downhill sections, and felt great. Last week, at 15 miles, I could not have gone a step further, but today, I still felt quite human, but at 16, then wheels suddenly came off. It amazes me how quickly that can happen and how unpredictable these things are (See David's post on marathons for further details)
I jogged on until 17 miles, then stopped my Garmin, and started to walk. After a little while I felt looser, and tried to start up again, but my knee went mental on me. It actually proper hurt, not just a niggle.
The other annoying thing was part of the railway was still snowy, some was muddy, and a section has been covered with a coarse sandy stuff that went into my shoes and was hard going to run on.
However, after a bath, I felt far better than I did this time last week.
I even did some hoovering, whereas last week I just laid on the sofa, thinking I was going to puke, so there is some improvement.
I honestly thought everything was going to be OK. I felt good. I had even survived a dog incident one and half miles in, involving a mad retriever who kept jumping up at me, leaving me with some fetching, bleeding welts that were sore not only with the friction of running, but sweat made them sting.
As I ran away I came up with a great speech to give the stupid owner about controlling her dog, but all I managed at the time was 'THAT HURT!' said firmly to her face as I ran past.
I got 9 miles out, and sped up a little as there were then some downhill sections, and felt great. Last week, at 15 miles, I could not have gone a step further, but today, I still felt quite human, but at 16, then wheels suddenly came off. It amazes me how quickly that can happen and how unpredictable these things are (See David's post on marathons for further details)
I jogged on until 17 miles, then stopped my Garmin, and started to walk. After a little while I felt looser, and tried to start up again, but my knee went mental on me. It actually proper hurt, not just a niggle.
The other annoying thing was part of the railway was still snowy, some was muddy, and a section has been covered with a coarse sandy stuff that went into my shoes and was hard going to run on.
However, after a bath, I felt far better than I did this time last week.
I even did some hoovering, whereas last week I just laid on the sofa, thinking I was going to puke, so there is some improvement.
Thursday, 4 April 2013
I Know Who I Am!
Yep, at all times, I know my name, address and DOB.
A policeman friend called Jay was saying on Facebook about how he had been dealing with someone had been picked up, after collapsing while out for a run, and it had reminded him of the importance of carrying ID. It made me think of the remote places I go, and also how easy it would be to be clipped by a passing car, so I got this from a company called Team Sport Bands. Just over £3 delivered, and could easily be attached to a bag or bike, if preferable to the wrist.
I was up at 5.30 in the am this morning, as getting the bus to work means leaving really early, so makes running, even earlier.
3 miles done before a quick shower, and getting the bus involves at least 4 miles of walking a day, so not a bad warm up for tomorrow's 18 miler.
I'm actually quite scared about that. I'm going to run 9 miles in one direction and then turn back, so I will have to cover the distance to get home again. However, the speed I manage to cover it in is anyone's guess.
My wetsuit and tri bars have arrived, I can't wait to get them on the bike this weekend. I'm slightly (very) concerned about losing control of the bike with them on, so don't know how often I'll actually be using them in the beginning. I may just look at the them a lot and use them as a convenient bottle holder.
My wetsuit came with protective white cotton gloves to wear whilst putting it on, rather like a magicians.
It would take a sodding magician to get me into the thing right now.
But I will get there. I have to, I can't afford another wetsuit.
A policeman friend called Jay was saying on Facebook about how he had been dealing with someone had been picked up, after collapsing while out for a run, and it had reminded him of the importance of carrying ID. It made me think of the remote places I go, and also how easy it would be to be clipped by a passing car, so I got this from a company called Team Sport Bands. Just over £3 delivered, and could easily be attached to a bag or bike, if preferable to the wrist.
I was up at 5.30 in the am this morning, as getting the bus to work means leaving really early, so makes running, even earlier.
3 miles done before a quick shower, and getting the bus involves at least 4 miles of walking a day, so not a bad warm up for tomorrow's 18 miler.
I'm actually quite scared about that. I'm going to run 9 miles in one direction and then turn back, so I will have to cover the distance to get home again. However, the speed I manage to cover it in is anyone's guess.
My wetsuit and tri bars have arrived, I can't wait to get them on the bike this weekend. I'm slightly (very) concerned about losing control of the bike with them on, so don't know how often I'll actually be using them in the beginning. I may just look at the them a lot and use them as a convenient bottle holder.
My wetsuit came with protective white cotton gloves to wear whilst putting it on, rather like a magicians.
It would take a sodding magician to get me into the thing right now.
But I will get there. I have to, I can't afford another wetsuit.
Green Smoothies
I have started doing this
They send me a green smoothie recipe every day, and a shopping list at the beginning of the week.
I am changing things slightly, but have been trying some of their suggestions, like using coconut water as a base (never again, not enough flavour to mask the evil taste of the parsely and spinach!)
The idea is I will have a green smoothie every day for a month. I have a lot, anyway, bit it's nice to get some new recipes.
I have also had my day off approved, and entered Knockburn Standard triathlon. It's two weeks before Aberfeldy, so will be good open water experience. Mucho excitement!!!
I have to work on my swimming. There is a 50 min cut off for the swim. If it were tomorrow, I could do it in about 45 mins, so I told them 40.
The other thing is I'm in a Facebook group that anyone can join, which is all about running motivation. The 'Gold' level is about running a minimum of 5k EVERY SINGLE DAY OF YOUR LIFE which is doable for most runners. People are supposed to do half an hour exercise a day anyway, but with biking and swimming, I can't do that, so I have signed up to the silver level, and commited to a minimum of 35k a week, which should keep me right. The bronze challenge means doing just one 5k a week minimum. Everyone's welcome!
They send me a green smoothie recipe every day, and a shopping list at the beginning of the week.
I am changing things slightly, but have been trying some of their suggestions, like using coconut water as a base (never again, not enough flavour to mask the evil taste of the parsely and spinach!)
The idea is I will have a green smoothie every day for a month. I have a lot, anyway, bit it's nice to get some new recipes.
I have also had my day off approved, and entered Knockburn Standard triathlon. It's two weeks before Aberfeldy, so will be good open water experience. Mucho excitement!!!
I have to work on my swimming. There is a 50 min cut off for the swim. If it were tomorrow, I could do it in about 45 mins, so I told them 40.
The other thing is I'm in a Facebook group that anyone can join, which is all about running motivation. The 'Gold' level is about running a minimum of 5k EVERY SINGLE DAY OF YOUR LIFE which is doable for most runners. People are supposed to do half an hour exercise a day anyway, but with biking and swimming, I can't do that, so I have signed up to the silver level, and commited to a minimum of 35k a week, which should keep me right. The bronze challenge means doing just one 5k a week minimum. Everyone's welcome!
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
6 am
I have decided to shift my body clock.
I do very little in the way of useful stuff in the evening, and I can never train after dinner, so I am going to start getting up very early.
For work I get up at 6.45, if it's a mid-week day off and the kid is at school, 7.15. On total days off when no one has to get up, maybe 8-9am. On long run day, after breakfast, I'm not home until after lunch, and it's hard to get motivated to get other stuff done then.
So I will get up at 6am this week, and this morning saw me out running 10 miles and home well before 9am, which meant I could thaw out in the bath for an hour and still be ready in time to start work at 11am.
The only problem is, my body is crap at that time. It will take me a while to get used to being up and out then. I was sore from yesterday's effort, and found it hard to get going. I knew I'd be slow, so only managed 11 min miles.
However, this will improve.
Next week I shall get up at 5:45.
This means, when I am in the swing of it, 7am would feel like a lay in.
In other news, my car is making a horrible noise. Really frightening 'Do NOT drive me!' noise.
I will have to get the bus to work tomorrow, and that is a right pain. It's booked in to be fixed on Tuesday, so swimming may be awkward, but after that, I will shift my focus onto swimming for a little while.
I do very little in the way of useful stuff in the evening, and I can never train after dinner, so I am going to start getting up very early.
For work I get up at 6.45, if it's a mid-week day off and the kid is at school, 7.15. On total days off when no one has to get up, maybe 8-9am. On long run day, after breakfast, I'm not home until after lunch, and it's hard to get motivated to get other stuff done then.
So I will get up at 6am this week, and this morning saw me out running 10 miles and home well before 9am, which meant I could thaw out in the bath for an hour and still be ready in time to start work at 11am.
The only problem is, my body is crap at that time. It will take me a while to get used to being up and out then. I was sore from yesterday's effort, and found it hard to get going. I knew I'd be slow, so only managed 11 min miles.
However, this will improve.
Next week I shall get up at 5:45.
This means, when I am in the swing of it, 7am would feel like a lay in.
In other news, my car is making a horrible noise. Really frightening 'Do NOT drive me!' noise.
I will have to get the bus to work tomorrow, and that is a right pain. It's booked in to be fixed on Tuesday, so swimming may be awkward, but after that, I will shift my focus onto swimming for a little while.
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
I Am A Snot Monster
Oh man, I was up early. 5:30. Which really sucked as the clocks only went back a couple of days ago, so still felt like 4:30.
I had a very bad night's sleep, as although I've been telling myself it's not the case, I do actually have a crappy cold.
Anyway, off to the pool.
Man, it's weeny! There were about 4 other people in there, so we had a lane each, but that was all. When I was leaving a group of older ladies arrived, so glad I got out when I did. I probably only did about half a mile, I forgot to count and was looking at the clock a lot as I didn't want to be late for work.
I had a good look about, familiarising myself with where stuff is. It's very quaint. People don't lock stuff away. if you did that in Peterhead, you'd never see it again. The hairdryer is much better than Peterhead's, and it's a very, very clean pool.
I have been watching videos about turns, and tried this set of drills. I just did the first two today.
I then went to work, which was only three hours, but exhausting. I was on my own, which makes dressing very heavy work. Dead people don't give you any help, at all.
Then I came home, ate some lunch (larger than was a good idea, but I was hungry) and went out for 14 miles on the bike (was supposed to be 15, but I messed the route up). Then I jumped off, and ran 5 miles.
Neither were fast, I was more concerned about if I could do it or not, so 13mph average for the bike, and 9:45 min miles on the run.
I am really rather exhausted now, and trying to install a new wireless router that HATES me.
On the upside, the interesting thing about Turriff Tri is that I saw Kevin after last year's. He'd competed, and I remember thinking, 'Yikes! So way above me. I don't have a bike and my running and swimming are stupidly slow.'
10k was about my limit, and then it took me 1:10.
Now a year later, I have acquired a road bike, ordered a wetsuit, decided to do an iron distance, lost a stone in weight and my 10k time is nearly 10 mins faster. And to be honest, this has all really happened since I got my bike last October, as I spent the summer dating Chevy and eating chips and not doing any training of any real consequence.
I had a very bad night's sleep, as although I've been telling myself it's not the case, I do actually have a crappy cold.
Anyway, off to the pool.
Man, it's weeny! There were about 4 other people in there, so we had a lane each, but that was all. When I was leaving a group of older ladies arrived, so glad I got out when I did. I probably only did about half a mile, I forgot to count and was looking at the clock a lot as I didn't want to be late for work.
I had a good look about, familiarising myself with where stuff is. It's very quaint. People don't lock stuff away. if you did that in Peterhead, you'd never see it again. The hairdryer is much better than Peterhead's, and it's a very, very clean pool.
I have been watching videos about turns, and tried this set of drills. I just did the first two today.
I then went to work, which was only three hours, but exhausting. I was on my own, which makes dressing very heavy work. Dead people don't give you any help, at all.
Then I came home, ate some lunch (larger than was a good idea, but I was hungry) and went out for 14 miles on the bike (was supposed to be 15, but I messed the route up). Then I jumped off, and ran 5 miles.
Neither were fast, I was more concerned about if I could do it or not, so 13mph average for the bike, and 9:45 min miles on the run.
I am really rather exhausted now, and trying to install a new wireless router that HATES me.
On the upside, the interesting thing about Turriff Tri is that I saw Kevin after last year's. He'd competed, and I remember thinking, 'Yikes! So way above me. I don't have a bike and my running and swimming are stupidly slow.'
10k was about my limit, and then it took me 1:10.
Now a year later, I have acquired a road bike, ordered a wetsuit, decided to do an iron distance, lost a stone in weight and my 10k time is nearly 10 mins faster. And to be honest, this has all really happened since I got my bike last October, as I spent the summer dating Chevy and eating chips and not doing any training of any real consequence.
Monday, 1 April 2013
100 Press Ups
Yep, 100 of them. Done in 10 x 10. The last twenty were very unpleasant. I'm not sure how I'll cope with lifting saucepans when cooking dinner.
The reason for this was what with waiting for the Autoglass man, and then having to taxi the kid about, I will not be able to get out for a run today. I had no solid plans, anyway, just hopes of enough time to get a solid session in, so I have done a ton of press ups, and quad and glute strengthening exercises. I am counting this as this week's rest day.
Tomorrow will be not just a single, not just a double, but a triple sporting day.
I will be working in Turriff for a few hours, and that's where the triathlon is, so I'm going to go to the pool there before work. At least if it's not a totally unknown place, that should help with the nerves.
Then I will go to work for a few hours, then come home, and do a run and bike brick session.
I have also just ordered a wetsuit. It's going to be a bit small, so I will have to get back to my happy weight for it to not be a huge waste of money.
I don't really like yellow, but it was cheap, and now I have everything I will need for the outdoor tris. I may want different shorts, etc, but those are optional, the ones I have would do.
And finally, I have lost 1.9 lbs. This is annoying, as I always round the decimal down, and just 0.1 of a pound more and I'd have lost 2lbs this week. I have documented it as a 1lb loss, so I am aiming for 3lbs next week.
The reason for this was what with waiting for the Autoglass man, and then having to taxi the kid about, I will not be able to get out for a run today. I had no solid plans, anyway, just hopes of enough time to get a solid session in, so I have done a ton of press ups, and quad and glute strengthening exercises. I am counting this as this week's rest day.
Tomorrow will be not just a single, not just a double, but a triple sporting day.
I will be working in Turriff for a few hours, and that's where the triathlon is, so I'm going to go to the pool there before work. At least if it's not a totally unknown place, that should help with the nerves.
Then I will go to work for a few hours, then come home, and do a run and bike brick session.
I have also just ordered a wetsuit. It's going to be a bit small, so I will have to get back to my happy weight for it to not be a huge waste of money.
I don't really like yellow, but it was cheap, and now I have everything I will need for the outdoor tris. I may want different shorts, etc, but those are optional, the ones I have would do.
And finally, I have lost 1.9 lbs. This is annoying, as I always round the decimal down, and just 0.1 of a pound more and I'd have lost 2lbs this week. I have documented it as a 1lb loss, so I am aiming for 3lbs next week.
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