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Tuesday 20 March 2012

Bored of no training

Well another week has passed with very little training. Partly due to my achilles tendonitis (I really need to find a cure for this - ANY IDEAS ANYONE?), partly due to the fact I work too many hours and not forgetting my weekend trip to Liverpool with friends.

The last week passed with only one training session and that was on Sunday when I was tired due to a late Saturday night. I boosted my enthusiasm with some Emerge ( a cheap Red Bull alternative) and set out on the bike, much to the behest of my weary body. I cycled 14km before having an amusing fall while stationary in my local's car park, talking to a friend. My seat post decided to loosen itself and as I was clipped in I toppled over. No damage done (to man or machine) apart form to my pride as it was witnessed by my friend. Average speed was 20 km/h but I topped out at 42km/h somewhere.

At this point I should make a special mention to Captain Clivey, who has taken up the baton of blogging about his quest to complete an ironman after finding this blog. I even got a personal thanks and mention.

Now onto the more pressing issue of my achilles tendonitis, it's been six irritating weeks and I still can't run, which is really starting to grate as with the hours I work running is the only real option I have during the week. I saw that Mark Proctor (GB Canoeing elite athlete and someone who I have got to know from my other hobby as a photographer) has been given a Bioflow Sport Wristband to trial and I am starting to wonder if magnotherapy could be the way forward to assist in the healing process as the stretching, ibuprofen and rest don't seem to be doing the trick?

Does anyone know of any sure fire cures for tendonitis? There are only 26 weeks and five days until my event and I am already six weeks behind on running training, although I am still training which is a good thing as my fitness is improving.

After having trialled Zipvit Sport's sample box, I have also decided to purchase some supplements (caffeine energy bars and protein bars) to assistt with my training regime. I even got a free pair of leg warmers thanks to their current offer. The energy gels are very tasty and same to do the trick, I'm still not keen on protein bars but these are necessary for recovery.

Next on my shopping list is a heart monitor so I can get the best out of my training, I'm just waiting on the delivery of a barely used one from an acquaintance.

I probably shouldn't mention this until it has been confirmed but there is a possibility of my story being used by Cancer Research as they publicise the London Triathlon. Finger's crossed as they have been in touch and like the blog.

Remember you can still sponsor me in my quest to complete the triathlon for Cancer Research using my Justgiving page.

Thanks for reading and I'm sorry it's not more training orientated.

Michael

Sunday 11 March 2012

Less than 200 days to go

Well there's less than 200 days to go until my triathlon. I'm starting to get a little nervous given the fact I'm still finding it difficult to train when I'm working away. Another week away but this week I managed to train once on Monday night but given my inability to count accurately it's only a guess as to what I managed. A fairly accurate guess but a guess all the same.

So after another hectic week in London, I finally got home on Friday and heaven forbid managed to stay away from the pub on Friday night, which is a first. But the benefits paid off. Got up on Saturday without a bad head and felt cracking so me and the wife decided to go for a swim. Given the erratic uncontrolled swimming at Adwick leisure centre, I was amazed that I managed to swim 1000m. I really need to find somewhere in Doncaster that does lane swimming on a Saturday morning as I got frustrated overtaking middle to old aged women and think I swam nearer to 1100m with all the lane changing I had to do. I managed to bust out a 400m mix of breaststroke and crawl after most of the people had left which felt good.

I also decided to do my first brick and followed my swim with a bike ride. I managed 11.84km and felt really good. The only downside was my average speed which was only 17.43km/h. I think this could have something to do with the fact I bricked the training.

I had some Cherry Active on my return to assist with muscle repair. It's very tasty and so far appears to be working as I haven't woken up with painful muscles since I started taking it. Whereas before I took it I couldn't walk in the morning.

Saturday night wasn't as much of a success as Friday (with reference to avoiding beer) night as we had plans. Numerous beers and cocktails later and there was no way I was going to make early morning swimming on Sunday. Oh well never mind.

So on Sunday I went out for another ride and managed 8k in a quicker time, I averaged 20.58km/h which I was very happy with, I was less happy with how tired my legs were feeling during the start of the ride but I think that was down to overexertion. I still feel this isn't as quick as I could manage though. I think I need to develop a more aerodynamic riding style. I may even invest in some aero bars. I think eBay could be the place for them as they may not work out.

Someone from the Cancer Research Sports team contacted me during the week regarding publicity leading up to the triathlon and they were impressed with this blog and are consequently ringing me this week to discuss publicity.

Finger's crossed.

Many thanks to Jonathan Brownlee, the Great Britain Olympic triathlete for reading my blog. Thanks to you my views went through the roof.

Please take time to sponsor me, it would be much appreciated and is for a great cause. Justgiving

Thanks for reading.

Michael

Monday 5 March 2012

Confused.com

How can counting lengths that you have swum be so hard? I honestly lose the ability to count completely when swimming. Now when I use maths daily at work. This is a bit of a conundrum.

I think I swam 750m tonight but I can't be sure. I was really enjoying it apart from the fact that some peoples idea of medium pace and my idea of medium pace differ greatly.

I could've swum longer but it's been a long day and there were some people knobbing about which made swimming tedious so I called it a day. Definitely beginning to feel fitter though which is a bonus.

Cheers,

Michael

Sunday 4 March 2012

Training (or lack thereof) update

Well another week of no training again. Hate being stuck in London. Again I went with the best of intentions but with the week I had found motivation for training difficult.


Monday - left home at 05:00 got to the hotel at 19:30.
Tuesday - left the hotel at 08:00 got back at 19:45
Wednesday - left the hotel at 06:00 got back at 20:15
Thursday - left the hotel at 06:00 got back at 19:45 (and I was meant to be going swimming)
Friday - left the hotel at 06:10 and got home at 20:15.


Is it any wonder I was to tired to train?


I have had confirmation from Virgin that I am competing in the London Triathlon, which is good. What isn't is the fact that as of today (Sunday 4th March) it is only 203 days away (29 weeks)


On Saturday I went to Triangle in Leeds for a looks and just to have a chat with the owner. After explaining I was finding it difficult to get my trainers into the toe clips that came fitted to my bike. He suggested I may have more luck with SPD type pedals. I know he was only doing this to make money but he honestly was a gent and a font of knowledge but then again if you have trained two of the best triathletes in the world in Jonathan (@jonny_brownlee)  and Alistair Brownlee (@AliBrownleetri) you should know your stuff.


So on leaving Triangle I was now the owner of some SPD pedals. The pedals are by a company called Exustar (never heard of them but they work)


The shoes are made by Northwave. The model are Evolution 2001. Who cares if they are 11 years old, they only cost £70 instead of £120 and they're comfy. They have vents so that when I have completed my swim any excess water should have drained away within a couple of km's. This is essential so that the shoes don't rub.


The stiff sole should help me immensely with power transfer to my pedals. After a few teething problems with getting the release pressure sorted on my Turbotrainer I decided to have a quick blast into town. More teething problems ensued (loose saddle and too little pressure required to free my feet) so some more maintenance required on my return. I felt really good after I'd completed this maintenance.

Then disaster occurred. I went to the pub and ended up with too little sleep (thanks to the cat and the wife not turning her alarm off). This meant I really couldn't be bothered to get out of bed at 06:30 to go swimming. The hangover didn't help with motivation either. When I finally got up, I realised I must have really annoyed someone as it was raining cats and dogs. 

But the need to train won out over my lack of wanting to get wet. So at 3 degrees and with the heavens being open I set off on my bike. I quickly realised the error in my ways when my hands felt like they were going to drop off due to the driving rain after under a mile. I persevered and went into Doncaster and back. I was feeling really good and could have carried on but the pain in my hands was getting unbearable so I had to call it a day. Average pace of 11 mph and the traffic lights really weren't helping. Max speed of 20mph. Another lesson learnt today, gloves when biking in the rain are a necessity.

Needless to say some gloves have been bought now. Hope they work and keep my hand dry otherwise I'll have to buy another pair as I really felt like I could've continued with my bike ride.

Please remember you can sponsor me using Justgiving.

Thanks for reading.

Michael