There seems to be something about March....last year we lost Corky....which knocked me for 6....this year i've hurt my back....i've missed a week of training so far and will probably miss another week. this week is supposed to be the start of build training too...so a real step back now.
February was a very consistent month training wise....much better than last years feb....for comparison
Feb 2010 Running 54 miles (did a HM in feb though)
Feb 2011 Running 47 miles
Feb 2010 Cycling 37 miles
Feb 2011 Cycling 182 miles
much of the cycling was on the turbo...which has proved useful as can be seen via the figures....but then the bubble burst.
i'll update once i know more about the injury...i have a lot to put right but it is all do-able.
heres hoping!!!
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Started with a splutter not a bang
a month in already!!!! it seems so close now...lol
January finally finishes and Training has been pretty good if i do say so myself...it started out slowly as in halfway through the first week and into the second week i was full of a cold..a nasty one too (man flu if not swine flu or worse :-) )which totally hampered training. at least the snow wasn't around this year.
Once i got over the cold training got kick started and its been going great. running...although still not fast is really coming on good and i'm feeling better every run i do...i'm even running up hills these days....in a strange way i enjoy the running the most..even though its what i'm worst at...i suppose its cause you don't have to think...just put in your ear buds turn up the music and see how you feel. all shortish runs up to 10k at the mo...under 70 mins and all at z2 HR.
Cycling at the moment is restricted to the Turbo trainer....i'm still not a fan of the turbo but after last year i know i need to embrace it...and build the legs up (which it is great for) before i start taking on the hills again come march....this time i'm going to ride, ride and ride more and really hope to knock maybe an hour off my ride time on the day....this will give me more time to try and relax into the run...anyway...more of race plans closer to the time.
I've also started swimming, the physio did a great job on getting my shoulder moving again and so far no adverse affects...no real distances done yet...but i'm taking it slow so as to avoid a setback.
In other news i've changed my schedule and have pulled out of the edinburgh marathon, it felt a bit close and people suggested i'd struggle to get back into long runs after it so i've decided to have a crack at Bala half ironman in june....it will be a really strong test as its very hilly...also a great event and one i'm looking forward to.
Also a big shout to MrsB here who has taken the plunge into the dark world of long distance triathlon and will be attempting to do the 'cowman' 70.3 in July...a real challenge and one that takes courage just to turn up at the start line for...Good luck Cat.x.
I'm feeling incredibly positive about it all at the moment...start of Jan i did have moments where i felt i didn't want to have another go cause i couldn't face all the training but now i'm into it and starting to see the improvements i feel differently...i've certainly eclipsed the training i did in January last year with the training i have done this year
Jan 2010 66 miles cycling 49 miles running
Jan 2011 112 mile cycling 60 miles running
I'm hoping i can keep it up and the more i do the more i cant wait to get to the finish line....every single run or ride i do i think of the moment in last years race when i knew i couldn't make it....
that's great motivation.
January finally finishes and Training has been pretty good if i do say so myself...it started out slowly as in halfway through the first week and into the second week i was full of a cold..a nasty one too (man flu if not swine flu or worse :-) )which totally hampered training. at least the snow wasn't around this year.
Once i got over the cold training got kick started and its been going great. running...although still not fast is really coming on good and i'm feeling better every run i do...i'm even running up hills these days....in a strange way i enjoy the running the most..even though its what i'm worst at...i suppose its cause you don't have to think...just put in your ear buds turn up the music and see how you feel. all shortish runs up to 10k at the mo...under 70 mins and all at z2 HR.
Cycling at the moment is restricted to the Turbo trainer....i'm still not a fan of the turbo but after last year i know i need to embrace it...and build the legs up (which it is great for) before i start taking on the hills again come march....this time i'm going to ride, ride and ride more and really hope to knock maybe an hour off my ride time on the day....this will give me more time to try and relax into the run...anyway...more of race plans closer to the time.
I've also started swimming, the physio did a great job on getting my shoulder moving again and so far no adverse affects...no real distances done yet...but i'm taking it slow so as to avoid a setback.
In other news i've changed my schedule and have pulled out of the edinburgh marathon, it felt a bit close and people suggested i'd struggle to get back into long runs after it so i've decided to have a crack at Bala half ironman in june....it will be a really strong test as its very hilly...also a great event and one i'm looking forward to.
Also a big shout to MrsB here who has taken the plunge into the dark world of long distance triathlon and will be attempting to do the 'cowman' 70.3 in July...a real challenge and one that takes courage just to turn up at the start line for...Good luck Cat.x.
I'm feeling incredibly positive about it all at the moment...start of Jan i did have moments where i felt i didn't want to have another go cause i couldn't face all the training but now i'm into it and starting to see the improvements i feel differently...i've certainly eclipsed the training i did in January last year with the training i have done this year
Jan 2010 66 miles cycling 49 miles running
Jan 2011 112 mile cycling 60 miles running
I'm hoping i can keep it up and the more i do the more i cant wait to get to the finish line....every single run or ride i do i think of the moment in last years race when i knew i couldn't make it....
that's great motivation.
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Happy New year
and a warm welcome back to my old friends 'Pain', 'Fatigue' and an early appearance from DOMS.
wow, its incredible how quickly you lose fitness.
I must admit that december was just about a complete washout...with no running, 2 turbo sessions (to test it after i bought it from a mate) and loads of beer and food. surprisingly i didnt put on any weight....i know this cause at the beginning of december i joined weight watchers on-line...not because i want to lose a load of weight...but so i can properly manage my calorie intake..rather than thinking just cause i've been running for an hour means i can eat all the pies!
Its incredibly easy and in the 4 weeks of december i actually lost 3lbs...lol...not what i expected in december. so thats good.
anyway training has officially started now...the snow has gone...the turbo is set up in the spare room with a big tv/computer monitor and i've had the go-ahead from my physio to start swimming.
On the subject of swimming i probably wont do much until about april...when the open water season starts...this is because i have two local pools and both are rubbish....one is full of the erm....lesser privileged people (best way i can put it) and is a nightmare with loads of kids...the other is 'the pool that time forgot' built in 1923 or something and hardly ever open....not to mention its boring going up and down in a pool. so i'll just go a few times...get some help with technique and test out the old shoulder...i'm not worried about the swim though, its the easy bit.
I had a lot of doubt over Christmas about how much i wanted to do this (in fact i still have them every day) but when people ask me about it i start chatting..and i go on and on...and i realise that i have to finish this...i have to have that ironman medal and put this thing to bed.....also...a mate has signed up after i convinced him...so i cant pull out now.....He'll be fine...barring any mechanical problems he'll finish easy (though he doesnt think so) so i have to deal with the doubts and work hard on it....and you know what?...DOMS is with me right now and it feels kind of good......i'm happy to be back!!!
my plan this time is to concentrate on getting very strong on the bike...and strengthening my core...so i dont have the same problems i had last year.
At the moment 'the fear' isnt with me....mainly i guess cause i know what to expect...but i still dont know if i can finish or not....so only one way to find out.
Here we go again then..........
wow, its incredible how quickly you lose fitness.
I must admit that december was just about a complete washout...with no running, 2 turbo sessions (to test it after i bought it from a mate) and loads of beer and food. surprisingly i didnt put on any weight....i know this cause at the beginning of december i joined weight watchers on-line...not because i want to lose a load of weight...but so i can properly manage my calorie intake..rather than thinking just cause i've been running for an hour means i can eat all the pies!
Its incredibly easy and in the 4 weeks of december i actually lost 3lbs...lol...not what i expected in december. so thats good.
anyway training has officially started now...the snow has gone...the turbo is set up in the spare room with a big tv/computer monitor and i've had the go-ahead from my physio to start swimming.
On the subject of swimming i probably wont do much until about april...when the open water season starts...this is because i have two local pools and both are rubbish....one is full of the erm....lesser privileged people (best way i can put it) and is a nightmare with loads of kids...the other is 'the pool that time forgot' built in 1923 or something and hardly ever open....not to mention its boring going up and down in a pool. so i'll just go a few times...get some help with technique and test out the old shoulder...i'm not worried about the swim though, its the easy bit.
I had a lot of doubt over Christmas about how much i wanted to do this (in fact i still have them every day) but when people ask me about it i start chatting..and i go on and on...and i realise that i have to finish this...i have to have that ironman medal and put this thing to bed.....also...a mate has signed up after i convinced him...so i cant pull out now.....He'll be fine...barring any mechanical problems he'll finish easy (though he doesnt think so) so i have to deal with the doubts and work hard on it....and you know what?...DOMS is with me right now and it feels kind of good......i'm happy to be back!!!
my plan this time is to concentrate on getting very strong on the bike...and strengthening my core...so i dont have the same problems i had last year.
At the moment 'the fear' isnt with me....mainly i guess cause i know what to expect...but i still dont know if i can finish or not....so only one way to find out.
Here we go again then..........
Thursday, 9 December 2010
BRRRRRRRrrrrrrrr
How bloody cold is it???
As usual when the snow comes training stalls....my running was going so well and i was genuinely pleased with the progress i was making and was actually enjoying doing it...but the cold came and brought with it snow...which also meant ice the day after and running is pretty much out of the question........so guess what i did???
I Got the Turbo out!!!!
This time i've got it set up in my spare room, with a PC and a 32" screen for company...i'm going to do all the sufferfest video workouts and started with 'angels' (www.thesufferfest.com)which is an absolute killer!
I know that if i'm to succeed this time round i need to cycle for a lot longer and a lot further than i did last year...so i'm gonna build it up from now to make sure i'm further on than i was when i started last year.....oh the PAIN!!!
the only other thing that happened this month was the BCTTT annual 'awards' dinner. with awards like 'i'm not dead i'm just resting' given for showing incredible restraint on the swim by letting everyone else exit the water first, you can see what type of night it was.
I'd like to say is was memorable but i drank so much that i can hardly remember any of it. but i'm sure it was a cracking night and i hope i can win an award of some kind next year!! and if your interested pictures are here :
http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/kk169/andybut99/BCTTT%20Lash%20up/
thats it for now...crimbo is upon us and then we're into the 7 month journey again...and this time...i really want a happy ending!!!
As usual when the snow comes training stalls....my running was going so well and i was genuinely pleased with the progress i was making and was actually enjoying doing it...but the cold came and brought with it snow...which also meant ice the day after and running is pretty much out of the question........so guess what i did???
I Got the Turbo out!!!!
This time i've got it set up in my spare room, with a PC and a 32" screen for company...i'm going to do all the sufferfest video workouts and started with 'angels' (www.thesufferfest.com)which is an absolute killer!
I know that if i'm to succeed this time round i need to cycle for a lot longer and a lot further than i did last year...so i'm gonna build it up from now to make sure i'm further on than i was when i started last year.....oh the PAIN!!!
the only other thing that happened this month was the BCTTT annual 'awards' dinner. with awards like 'i'm not dead i'm just resting' given for showing incredible restraint on the swim by letting everyone else exit the water first, you can see what type of night it was.
I'd like to say is was memorable but i drank so much that i can hardly remember any of it. but i'm sure it was a cracking night and i hope i can win an award of some kind next year!! and if your interested pictures are here :
http://s280.photobucket.com/albums/kk169/andybut99/BCTTT%20Lash%20up/
thats it for now...crimbo is upon us and then we're into the 7 month journey again...and this time...i really want a happy ending!!!
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Winter is here
I hate the winter. i hate the cold...i hate the dark nights and the dark mornings..i hate the rain...am dreading the snow...and am already 'wishing my time away' waiting for spring.
I suppose you have to look on the plus side though and say running, when its cool...is great!! and running at night (not much of a morning person) when the traffic is quieter and the air is cooler has its advantages...so i'm trying to embrace it and running as much as i can.
The only measured 10k runs i've ever done were at triathlons...at liverpool OD in June i did 1.10...at Tatton park in September i did 1.20 (in the mud i must say) so when i decided to measure my 10k time properly i was surprised in a good and bad way that my first attempt was 1.08...so maybe for my ability those times in the tri's were not so bad....but also...i know i can do better than that with some focus....so thats where i'm at right now....i've already improved the time (though a different route which may have been flatter) to 1.06. so i'm going in the right direction.
Endomondo.com is helping and i'm enjoying the challenges people are laying down, even though i'm not winning any of em.
I've also purchased a Turbo trainer...but that wont get used until January when IM training starts.
Cat and i have already signed up for the edinburgh and berlin marathons....probably 3 more 'races' (blackpool half mara, Liverpool OD and Cowman half IM) to sign up for next year which i'll do a bit closer to the time.
Not really a lot else to say right now...roll on springtime!!!
I suppose you have to look on the plus side though and say running, when its cool...is great!! and running at night (not much of a morning person) when the traffic is quieter and the air is cooler has its advantages...so i'm trying to embrace it and running as much as i can.
The only measured 10k runs i've ever done were at triathlons...at liverpool OD in June i did 1.10...at Tatton park in September i did 1.20 (in the mud i must say) so when i decided to measure my 10k time properly i was surprised in a good and bad way that my first attempt was 1.08...so maybe for my ability those times in the tri's were not so bad....but also...i know i can do better than that with some focus....so thats where i'm at right now....i've already improved the time (though a different route which may have been flatter) to 1.06. so i'm going in the right direction.
Endomondo.com is helping and i'm enjoying the challenges people are laying down, even though i'm not winning any of em.
I've also purchased a Turbo trainer...but that wont get used until January when IM training starts.
Cat and i have already signed up for the edinburgh and berlin marathons....probably 3 more 'races' (blackpool half mara, Liverpool OD and Cowman half IM) to sign up for next year which i'll do a bit closer to the time.
Not really a lot else to say right now...roll on springtime!!!
Friday, 8 October 2010
OK, go on then, I'll have another crack!!!!
I signed up today for IMUK 2011. after weeks and weeks of going one way then the other something finally clicked and i decided i needed to beat this thing.
After the 'glory' of Berlin i felt a little deflated...so it led me to reflect on my first full season in triathlon and i realised i'd done pretty well.
1 half marathon, 2 OD triathlons, and one of the worlds major marathons is not a bad season really...not to mention the 126 miles of Ironman i did complete...but its still tinged with the disappointment at not having the m-dot medal!!!
So i got to thinking about training again, and possible goals for next year...and i made this list without even thinking about it.
April, Conniston Half marathon
May, Edinburgh Marathon
June, Liverpool OD
July, Cowman Half Ironman
July, Ironman UK
September, Berlin Marathon
without realising i'd put IMUK, i hadn't thought about it...but subconsciously i had already decided i was going to do it....and writing the list got me a bit up for it. so i had a chat with myself, went to the website, went through the registration...then stopped....at the pay now page...and tried to talk myself out of it.....could i commit that kind of time again, would my shoulder hold up...would i rather just get old and fat, would i rather just ride my new Fireblade???
Fact is, nothing could make me close the page...i didn't need to think about it any more....i WANT to be an Ironman....and i know i can do it...so without thinking any more, i entered my card...and pressed enter now!!! no turning back now (not strictly true, i can pull out up to April.lol)
I'm going to concentrate on my running for a few weeks as i have previously said, then start my training properly in January...this time i wont miss the long runs and rides....and coupled with the schedule above, plus knowing what i'm in for this time...i'm a lot more confident i can get to the end in time.....
this time, I'm going to make it happen!!!!
After the 'glory' of Berlin i felt a little deflated...so it led me to reflect on my first full season in triathlon and i realised i'd done pretty well.
1 half marathon, 2 OD triathlons, and one of the worlds major marathons is not a bad season really...not to mention the 126 miles of Ironman i did complete...but its still tinged with the disappointment at not having the m-dot medal!!!
So i got to thinking about training again, and possible goals for next year...and i made this list without even thinking about it.
April, Conniston Half marathon
May, Edinburgh Marathon
June, Liverpool OD
July, Cowman Half Ironman
July, Ironman UK
September, Berlin Marathon
without realising i'd put IMUK, i hadn't thought about it...but subconsciously i had already decided i was going to do it....and writing the list got me a bit up for it. so i had a chat with myself, went to the website, went through the registration...then stopped....at the pay now page...and tried to talk myself out of it.....could i commit that kind of time again, would my shoulder hold up...would i rather just get old and fat, would i rather just ride my new Fireblade???
Fact is, nothing could make me close the page...i didn't need to think about it any more....i WANT to be an Ironman....and i know i can do it...so without thinking any more, i entered my card...and pressed enter now!!! no turning back now (not strictly true, i can pull out up to April.lol)
I'm going to concentrate on my running for a few weeks as i have previously said, then start my training properly in January...this time i wont miss the long runs and rides....and coupled with the schedule above, plus knowing what i'm in for this time...i'm a lot more confident i can get to the end in time.....
this time, I'm going to make it happen!!!!
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
End of season blow out
This is a long one...but two races to report...so dont fall asleep!!
September...what a great month!!! I got a new motorbike....a CBR1000 HRC fireblade and that thing knocks my socks off....oh...also...the season finally ended and i managed to put a few ghosts to bed.
As i said in my last update i decided to do the Tatton Park OD and had entered the Berlin Marathon.....both were great...and both were tough...and crossing the finish in them reminded me why i do these stupid things.
Lets start with Tatton Park.
Buoyed on by Mrs B entering the sprint i decided i'd get one more Tri in before the end of the season and Tatton park is not far from where i live and is a big, and great event...i did NO swimming in the run up to it in a bid to let my shoulder heal...i have a rotator cuff injury and its honestly the most painful injury i've ever had.
Unfortunately due to illness mrsB was unable to compete on the Saturday. It was a very wet weekend and at 7am on Sunday morning i was wishing i'd got ill too.
After hanging around for an hour or so i got into my kit and went into the holding pen where they had us warming up...at this point they has us doing some 'stand up front crawl' and every time i raised my left arm it was painful and i knew this was a mistake. oh well HTFU right??
so i got in the water (cold) walked to just about the start and got near the front...determined to see if i could keep up...i was ready...10...9....8...7 blah blah...and we're off......oh...something is wrong...what is it...never mind keep swimming...right...pull...left..ouch...what is it...its not my arm...something is wrong....oh crap...goggles are on my head not my eyes...DOH...try to get them on...water...oh...empty...adjust....water...empty...adjust....thats it...look around...DEAD LAST!!!!
oh crap..oh well keep swimming....man it was hurting...i could not recover my left arm properly and could not pull with it at all....this was taking ages, i took a quick look at my watch and it said 12 minutes..i looked again 20 minutes later and it said 14 minutes...not even half way.
At this point i very nearly called in the boats to drag me out...but i cracked on, swam one handed for what felt like 3 hours and before i knew it i'd over taken a couple of BS swimmers and was out in 35 minutes. messed up T2 and got on the bike in about 8 minutes...this was me, i like the bike ride.
a very very wet...but reasonably quick bike leg of 1.21 was pretty uneventful..into T2 now for an easy jog round to finish. What i didnt bank on was mud...it was a mess and like running through treacle...now i'm not a fast runner but i honestly thought i could do about 1.05 for the 10k...but it was muddy, slippery and miserable...and it took me 1.20...lol.....i could crawl it that fast. it was grim....but crossing the line i felt totally elated....my last race (IMUK) ended in tears..and i had to remind myself the i only did my first sprint distance at this event one year earlier so i was doing ok. I felt great and was really pleased i did it, and they gave us medals this year...a tough race done.
now just one week to recover before my other big challenge of the year. BERLIN.
In the run up to Berlin my should froze up completely...we drove there with a friend (and got very drunk on the boat etc) and any driving i did was accompanied by a knife in my left shoulder and trying to indicate through the steeping wheel with my right arm. good job the car was automatic. on the saturday before the race i was having serious doubts....if the pain didnt fade...i'd think of nothing else and my race would be torture...i needn't have worried. by the end of the race something happend and my shoulder was 100% better...but still a long way from healthy. if you get what i mean.
Anyway...Race morning. If you know me you'll know what a challenge it was to go to bead early after a meal on a saturday in a big city like Berlin....but thats what we did.....nice early night.....in bed by nine....to lie awake till the alarm went off at 6am....should have got bloody pissed!!!
But up at 6...had a really great breakfast of 1/2 slice of toast (16 euro's...lol) which was all i could manage...then out into torrential rain in a running top to make our way to the start. MrsB was with on this one and we both looked at eachother on the start line wondering why the hell we thought this might be a nice idea....but hey ho, we was here and we were gonna have a crack...only rain after all HTFU.
Cat's a better runner than i am and we decided to stay together as much as we could...partly to pace her and also partly to encourage me...we managed this till between mile 11 and 12 when i felt i was holding her back and she felt she was putting me under pressure....so i put in my earphones, had a little walk and watched her jog on into the crowd.
I dont have much to report about the Marathon, other than it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. i never got down...never felt i couldnt go on....i was just running when i could and walking when i couldnt and smiling the whole way round...at 28k i remember thinking 3more and i've only got 6 miles to go....then suddenly i was there...i was elated...10k to go and i was enjoying this. The crowds were the most amazing thing...people around you everywhere...encouraging you in all different languages as they came past...a thumbs up as you passed them...amazing.
IM was very very lonely for me...most triathlons are as i'm usually at the back somewhere...but this was different....i loved it.
with 2k to go i decided to ditch my earphones and take in the crowds and what a great decision that was....the finish was in the heart of the city, with the last 1k lined with thousands and thousands of people on a long straight right under the famous Brandenburg gate and onto the finish...i was even running...people actually shout your name (on the race number) and high 5 you all the way along....my god...is there only me in the race? thats how it felt. i crossed the finish line punching the air and i have to say it one of the greatest feelings i've ever had. i admit, it might have felt the same if i'd finished Ironman....but i honestly enjoyed this more than anything i've done in the last 2 years. and if you've never done one of the 5 majors..i urge you to do one....do this one...Berlin is wonderful...and no matter what next year brings...i think we'll be back! Time. 5.26....slow...but amazing!
I rang cat on the finish line as the crowds meant i couldn't find her...she was only 15 feet away from me and was well amazed i'd finished only 25 minutes behind her...she did 5.01...she wanted under 5 but i'm sure she'll get that next time without me holding her back!!! well done babe. awesome time if you ask me!!
So we made our way very gingerly home and i could walk properly again by about Thursday.....lol....seriously i'm so proud i did this...a marathon is a great achievement and it really did put the ghost of ironman to bed, and my season to a close.
This season in a nutshell was , 1 half Marathon, 2 Olympic distance Triathons, 126 miles of Ironman, and one of the 5 major marathons in the world. IM aside...a bloody great year!!!
I have promised myself a month off, but a week and a half into that month and i feel like i want to start training...i'm climbing the walls and truly must be a changed man!!
i've decided to put together a 10 week mi-coach training plan to get my running improved, and leave the bike to get stripped down and cleaned up, it will be Christmas the end of that when i'll take a bit of time to get drunk and then (shoulder injury prevailing)hopefully, i'll be all signed up for IMUK and about to start the whole affair again.
my run up to July 31st next year will probably involve a half Mara, Edinburgh Mara, Liverpool od and cowman Half IM....if that doesn't get me ready nothing will!!!!!
Thanks for reading.
September...what a great month!!! I got a new motorbike....a CBR1000 HRC fireblade and that thing knocks my socks off....oh...also...the season finally ended and i managed to put a few ghosts to bed.
As i said in my last update i decided to do the Tatton Park OD and had entered the Berlin Marathon.....both were great...and both were tough...and crossing the finish in them reminded me why i do these stupid things.
Lets start with Tatton Park.
Buoyed on by Mrs B entering the sprint i decided i'd get one more Tri in before the end of the season and Tatton park is not far from where i live and is a big, and great event...i did NO swimming in the run up to it in a bid to let my shoulder heal...i have a rotator cuff injury and its honestly the most painful injury i've ever had.
Unfortunately due to illness mrsB was unable to compete on the Saturday. It was a very wet weekend and at 7am on Sunday morning i was wishing i'd got ill too.
After hanging around for an hour or so i got into my kit and went into the holding pen where they had us warming up...at this point they has us doing some 'stand up front crawl' and every time i raised my left arm it was painful and i knew this was a mistake. oh well HTFU right??
so i got in the water (cold) walked to just about the start and got near the front...determined to see if i could keep up...i was ready...10...9....8...7 blah blah...and we're off......oh...something is wrong...what is it...never mind keep swimming...right...pull...left..ouch...what is it...its not my arm...something is wrong....oh crap...goggles are on my head not my eyes...DOH...try to get them on...water...oh...empty...adjust....water...empty...adjust....thats it...look around...DEAD LAST!!!!
oh crap..oh well keep swimming....man it was hurting...i could not recover my left arm properly and could not pull with it at all....this was taking ages, i took a quick look at my watch and it said 12 minutes..i looked again 20 minutes later and it said 14 minutes...not even half way.
At this point i very nearly called in the boats to drag me out...but i cracked on, swam one handed for what felt like 3 hours and before i knew it i'd over taken a couple of BS swimmers and was out in 35 minutes. messed up T2 and got on the bike in about 8 minutes...this was me, i like the bike ride.
a very very wet...but reasonably quick bike leg of 1.21 was pretty uneventful..into T2 now for an easy jog round to finish. What i didnt bank on was mud...it was a mess and like running through treacle...now i'm not a fast runner but i honestly thought i could do about 1.05 for the 10k...but it was muddy, slippery and miserable...and it took me 1.20...lol.....i could crawl it that fast. it was grim....but crossing the line i felt totally elated....my last race (IMUK) ended in tears..and i had to remind myself the i only did my first sprint distance at this event one year earlier so i was doing ok. I felt great and was really pleased i did it, and they gave us medals this year...a tough race done.
now just one week to recover before my other big challenge of the year. BERLIN.
In the run up to Berlin my should froze up completely...we drove there with a friend (and got very drunk on the boat etc) and any driving i did was accompanied by a knife in my left shoulder and trying to indicate through the steeping wheel with my right arm. good job the car was automatic. on the saturday before the race i was having serious doubts....if the pain didnt fade...i'd think of nothing else and my race would be torture...i needn't have worried. by the end of the race something happend and my shoulder was 100% better...but still a long way from healthy. if you get what i mean.
Anyway...Race morning. If you know me you'll know what a challenge it was to go to bead early after a meal on a saturday in a big city like Berlin....but thats what we did.....nice early night.....in bed by nine....to lie awake till the alarm went off at 6am....should have got bloody pissed!!!
But up at 6...had a really great breakfast of 1/2 slice of toast (16 euro's...lol) which was all i could manage...then out into torrential rain in a running top to make our way to the start. MrsB was with on this one and we both looked at eachother on the start line wondering why the hell we thought this might be a nice idea....but hey ho, we was here and we were gonna have a crack...only rain after all HTFU.
Cat's a better runner than i am and we decided to stay together as much as we could...partly to pace her and also partly to encourage me...we managed this till between mile 11 and 12 when i felt i was holding her back and she felt she was putting me under pressure....so i put in my earphones, had a little walk and watched her jog on into the crowd.
I dont have much to report about the Marathon, other than it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. i never got down...never felt i couldnt go on....i was just running when i could and walking when i couldnt and smiling the whole way round...at 28k i remember thinking 3more and i've only got 6 miles to go....then suddenly i was there...i was elated...10k to go and i was enjoying this. The crowds were the most amazing thing...people around you everywhere...encouraging you in all different languages as they came past...a thumbs up as you passed them...amazing.
IM was very very lonely for me...most triathlons are as i'm usually at the back somewhere...but this was different....i loved it.
with 2k to go i decided to ditch my earphones and take in the crowds and what a great decision that was....the finish was in the heart of the city, with the last 1k lined with thousands and thousands of people on a long straight right under the famous Brandenburg gate and onto the finish...i was even running...people actually shout your name (on the race number) and high 5 you all the way along....my god...is there only me in the race? thats how it felt. i crossed the finish line punching the air and i have to say it one of the greatest feelings i've ever had. i admit, it might have felt the same if i'd finished Ironman....but i honestly enjoyed this more than anything i've done in the last 2 years. and if you've never done one of the 5 majors..i urge you to do one....do this one...Berlin is wonderful...and no matter what next year brings...i think we'll be back! Time. 5.26....slow...but amazing!
I rang cat on the finish line as the crowds meant i couldn't find her...she was only 15 feet away from me and was well amazed i'd finished only 25 minutes behind her...she did 5.01...she wanted under 5 but i'm sure she'll get that next time without me holding her back!!! well done babe. awesome time if you ask me!!
So we made our way very gingerly home and i could walk properly again by about Thursday.....lol....seriously i'm so proud i did this...a marathon is a great achievement and it really did put the ghost of ironman to bed, and my season to a close.
This season in a nutshell was , 1 half Marathon, 2 Olympic distance Triathons, 126 miles of Ironman, and one of the 5 major marathons in the world. IM aside...a bloody great year!!!
I have promised myself a month off, but a week and a half into that month and i feel like i want to start training...i'm climbing the walls and truly must be a changed man!!
i've decided to put together a 10 week mi-coach training plan to get my running improved, and leave the bike to get stripped down and cleaned up, it will be Christmas the end of that when i'll take a bit of time to get drunk and then (shoulder injury prevailing)hopefully, i'll be all signed up for IMUK and about to start the whole affair again.
my run up to July 31st next year will probably involve a half Mara, Edinburgh Mara, Liverpool od and cowman Half IM....if that doesn't get me ready nothing will!!!!!
Thanks for reading.
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