Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Cycling revelation...

Went out on Saturday last for a 2 hour bike ride in the worst weather. Windy, rainy, hills etc. But I found myself in a strangely peaceful place. I was in the small wheel and my wheels were spinning. It was all so very effortless and pleasant as I maintained a 22mph speed.
I've realised it's much better to cycle like that - which I feel I could do forever - than forever be grinding round on a big gear, having my legs scream for mercy.

Training Mon 19th Feb - Sunday 25th Feb

Slack week this week due to filming commitments...

Mon 19th Feb - 45 mins swim
Tues 20th Feb - nothing (filming)
Weds 21st Feb - 45 mins swim
Thurs 22nd Feb - 45 mins run
Fri 23rd Feb - 45 mins swim (editing in London, 1 hour bike (turbo trainer)
Sat 24th Feb - 2 hour bike ride
Sun 25th Feb - nada !

So that's only 6 hours training.

Feeling guilty.

Training Mon 19th Feb - Sunday 25th Feb

Slack week this week due to filming commitments...

Mon 19th Feb - 45 mins swim
Tues 20th Feb - nothing (filming)
Weds 21st Feb - 45 mins swim
Thurs 22nd Feb - 45 mins run
Fri 23rd Feb - 45 mins swim (editing in London, 1 hour bike (turbo trainer)
Sat 24th Feb - 2 hour bike ride
Sun 25th Feb - nada !

So that's only 6 hours training.

Feeling guilty.

Back update

Visited Kathryn, my chiropractor, today. She's optimistic we can fix the back problem in a couple of weeks.

Fingers crossed.

Very crossed.

Criss crossed.

Monday, February 19, 2007

Back injury

Doesn't seem to be getting any better. Think I'll need a visit to the chiropractor.

Training Monday Feb 12th - Sunday Feb 18th

Slow getting back into the swing of things this week due to my lax week previously but picked up speed and made good progress.

Mon Feb 12th - 45 mins swim
Tues Feb 13th - 45 mins run
Weds Feb 14th - 80 mins run
Thurs Feb 15th - Day off
Fri Feb 16th - 45 mins swim (2 km), 95 mins bike, 45 mins run (bike and run BACK2BACK)
Sat Feb 17th - 3 hours 30 min bike
Sun Feb 18th - 2 hours run

Totals for week

Swim - 90 mins
Bike - 5 hours 05 mins
Run - 4 hours 05 mins

Total time training: 10 hours 40 mins

Monday, February 12, 2007

Naughty Boy - Training Mon 5th Feb - Sun 11th Feb

Mon 5th Feb - 45 mins swim (2km), 75 mins bike
Tues 6th Feb - 45 mins swim (2km), 80 mins run
Weds 7th Feb - 45 mins swim (2km), 80 mins run

And that... I 'm sorry to say, was it !! Took Thursday off. Friday was busy working, Saturday at my parents and Sunday continued to rest. Felt the rest has done me good... but maybe I'm just a very, very, naughty boy...

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Swim Splits - 6th February 2007

Not done these little fellas for a while - too much like hard work... if you remember it's repeat reps of 100m, 150m and 200m, taking a quarter of the time taken to swim as a rest in between each. Interested to see if my swimming has improved. Here's the times with the original split times from 26th October (first time I swam the reps) in brackets.


First 100m - 1'48" (1'46")
First 150m - 2'41" (3'00")
First 200m - 3'46" (4'08")

Second 100m - 1'44" (1'56")
Second 150m - 2'43" (3'01")
Second 200m - 3'41" (4'12")

Third 100m - 1'48" (1'55")
Third 150m - 2'49" (3'09")
Third 200m - 3'48" (4'16")

Fourth 100m - 1'43" (1'58")
Fourth 150m - 2'49" (3'11")
Fourth 200m - 3'36" (4'20")

plus 200m warm up and down. Total 2km.

Monday, February 05, 2007

Watford Half Marathon

Was in two minds whether to run this race due to niggly injuries but decided to do it the night before and set myself the target of running steadily and trying to improve my PB by a minute or so. That way, I figured I'd know if my fitness was improving as I've been doing very little running and the course is very hilly and not the fastest.

All went well and I came home in a PB (by 2 mins) of 94'41" (by my watch). I tried to run steady miles which came in around 7'12" (some faster, some slower, depending on the hills). But I felt calm and comfortable and came in reasonably fresh.

Positioned 352 out of 1947 - top 20%.

Enjoyed the run.

Tri Bars ON !!!!

Okay... had these babies a while but never got round to fixing them. Put them on Saturday morning and tried to get used to them. Dont' think there'll be a problem, just the (I guess) usual issues of:

1. Finding the correct position for them (I need to lengthen them)
2. Getting used to the 'hair trigger' steering issue (wheel turns very easily)
3. Losing the front grip position on the handlebars (I kind of liked that position)

Training Monday 29th Jan - Sunday 4th Feb

Decent week. Swimming feels really good at the moment. No long bike ride on Saturday due to half marathon on Sunday but split long bike up into 3 x 1.5 hour sessions. Running still off until Watford half... sore knee, sore hamstring, sore calf, sore achilles !!!! (Apart from that, fine).

Anyway

Mon Jan 29th - 45 mins swim (2km), 75 mins run off road (9 mile approx)
Tues Jan 30th - 45 mins swim (2km), 95 mins bike (no idea of distance)
Weds Jan 31st - 45 mins swim (2km)
Thurs Feb 1st - Day Off
Fri Feb 2nd - 45 mins swim (2km), 95 mins bike ride (no distance recorded)
Sat Feb 3rd - 90 mins bike (no distance)
Sun Feb 4th - 94 mins run (half marathon)

Totals

Swim - 180 mins (8km)
Bike - 280 mins
Run - 169 mins (22 miles)

Total time training 10hrs 29 mins