Do a runner...

2 months since my last confession...

2009-11-21T14:19:00.000-08:00

...not good enough! But I've been too busy and lazy to train. 3 weeks in the states will make or break me...

Helly Hansen AR #1

2009-09-21T07:41:00.000-07:00

It doesn't seem like a year since the last one of these...Cannock Chase 09

1 steady run, 1 good bike with crash and buckled wheel en route, 1 good run, 1 punctured inflatable kayak, literally pulled upstream (in, luckily, less than neck deep water), 1 emotional run involving much pushing of team mate up hills, 1 final stead...y bike (team mate's wheel still buckled) to the finish in 9th of 140 teams despite it all. AR rocks!

Swim, run, bike...

2009-09-08T12:53:00.000-07:00

...getting back in to ze training :o) Rapid bike tonight with Witney Groupetto, and only got dropped once (or twice). Fast run yesterday lunch and swimming again regularly. I'll get there yet...

Running...

2009-09-01T10:37:00.000-07:00

...steady 6 miler this avo after getting back from wine and dinner in Reading last night, with 10kg of water in my pack to add weight pre-OMM. Some soreness in the sole of my left foot but going ok-ish other than that. Need to do some sprinting to get the springiness back in my legs after too long without running. Swim in the morning :o)

Back...

2009-08-31T05:45:00.000-07:00

...had a good trip to the alps. I did several days of very hard walking in blazing heat, with v sore legs from all the descending. I had a couple of days off chilling in Chamonix while the soreness went away, only to find pain underneath. As a result, I came home early to chill. Happily the pain's gone and the one run I've done was pain free. So back to the training in advance of the first Helly Hansen ARs (Cannock) and the Original Mountain Marathon in October.

Need to get strength back in my legs after several years of not running in the hills to improve my running...bring it...

Alps rock...

2009-08-21T01:42:00.000-07:00

...but are v big. Legs are knackered...check twitter feed for updates...xx

byeeeeee

2009-08-15T13:03:00.001-07:00

off to the alps. later all xx

OMM...

2009-07-26T07:33:00.000-07:00

...who wants to do some proper running - the Original Mountain Marathon (previously the Karrimor International MM) is running in October in Wales, entry is still open. Also, contemplating heading out to Chamonix on lve in aug - anyone want to run some high level walks around Mont Blanc?

TDF...

2009-07-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

...is awesome. I'll be gutted when it finishes. Virtually no training this week, due to a combo of hard work, lots of admin and nearly killing myself with alcohol. Working the weekend, gutted I can't watch the ventoux tomorrow, and will miss the highlights too. I also twisted my ankle jumping in (first jump in 5 wks) on thursday, on the opposite side to my bruised foot. Bike, swim and core training recommence next week, leave the running for now...

Ironman Switzerland...

2009-07-12T15:52:00.001-07:00

...I just spunked a load of money on an entry. A wise decision? Me thinks not...

All your fault Whittle!

Rat Race Bristol...Full Report

2009-07-04T03:30:00.000-07:00

Ish. Apologies for the short report previously, I was hanging out for the 2 days after the race, then been busy at work. Finished on the dz at 11 last night and came straight to the summer ball, having spent 20 minutes trying to squeeze in to my mess dress trousers. Finished at 5 after lots of beer and dancing, back at work after lunch - carnage.

But to the race! Having had fun at Newcastle Rat Race last year, Granty, Chris and I entered Bristol a while back along with some more of our gang (a drunken bet on a night out in Pompey was involved). Team Oarsome's Woodsy and new tri recruit Matt lost a team mate last minute and picked up a ringer in the form of previous winner and pro-AR bloke, Eddie. Team RAF Race were strong on paper (!) and it was to be a close match up.

It was a two-part race running from Sat afternoon to Sun evening. We picked up our A-Z maps and route cards at half 3, giving us and hour and a half to plan our routes and get sorted for the mass start from Castle Park in the city centre. Part one was predominantly running-based orienteering, with random challenges. We were handy at the front for the first half hour or so, through climbing, graffiti and kayaking challenges, but as there was a free route choice it was hard to tell what was what. It was a good sign that all the pro and military teams were going the same way as us. Unfortunately I was slow and heavy-legged right from the start, for the whole evening.

We finished just about within the time limit having raced well, finishing in 6th place on points. However, with cycling one of our strengths we were confident for the next day. Prep wasn't ideal, with dinner at Pizza Express followed by a drive back to the mess 5 hrs sleep ain't ideal.

A 7am start on Sun with a bit of Parkour was a good wake-up. We were out at the front chasing the traceur (and shouting at him to go faster), and got all green lights at the crossings, putting us several hundred metres ahead. The race director unfortunately decided this wasn't fair and stopped us til they caught up. Next was cse design genius - 300 odd people running round a closed shopping centre looking for 6 out of 9 possible control points before racing back to collect bikes and hoon round the city for 5 hours. Kayaking, abseiling down a car park, bridge jumping, climbing, getting stampeded by cows (quite scary and not part of the race) followed and despite my slowness (and thanks to Granty and Chris's nav) we stayed in 1st place for most of the day (I know because several times we had to wait for the marshalls to arrive at checkpoints - v frustrating). Unfortunately some unavoidable Ikea based confusion (crappy car parks, it was a killer) lost us at least 10 minutes, and the guys having to literally drag me round a run orienteer before rtb left us unsure of our position coming in to the finish. The heat was a killer for me throughout the wknd, but (my slowness apart) it was a good wknd and the challenges were crazy fun.

Final results are just in, we came 2nd all male team behind Team Oarsome - the finish picture says it all - the guys are still holding me up...1st place is easily attainable next time...

Rat Race Bristol...

2009-07-02T04:34:00.000-07:00

...is freakin hard in the heat. Big Hills.

That is all.

Dambuster...

2009-06-21T10:47:00.000-07:00

...I entered the race a while back planning to be awesomely fit. For the last couple of weeks I've thought I wouldn't be able to make it due to work, and training's been intermittent at best because of numerous job related knocks and bangs. When I found out on Thu that I was free, the decision to race was more to do with Yorkshire tightness than any real motivation. That said, I was quite excited to be getting to play again after such a long break. It was really nice to catch up with everyone and it really showed me how much i've missed racing this year.

I had no expectations of racing particularly well due to aforementioned lack of preparation so I was quite relaxed for the start. I set off steadily, remembering to sight every few strokes to avoid a repeat of last year's zigzagging. Aside from achy shoulders and my wetsuit rubbing on my neck, it was a fairly uneventful swim, about the same time as last year. T1 was slow and steady but I was confident of a fairly strong bike. Alas, that confidence was misplaced. I've only done 4 or 5 rides on my new bike, with a much more severe position than previously. I'm also fairly sure that more friction is being produced when I turn my cranks than there should be. As a result, I had a very uncomfortable bike, feeling very slow and tired. I battled with Paul for a while then gave up, only to change in to an easier gear and pull him in again. A wobbly dismount and unpractised T2 led in to a steady run. Paul disappeared in to the distance so I just tried to keep going to the finish. Doug overtook me about 500m out - I stayed with him for a while but didn't have the will-power to keep up the sprint.

My unofficial goals pre-race were: beating Craig and finishing within sight of Granty. Surprisingly I finished the swim ahead of Craig and managed to overtake Granty on the run in from the dam from a 3.5 min deficit out of T2. Finished 16th a few minutes slower than last year, but I'm quite pleased considering it's the first and last race of the season. My wetsuit burn right where my collar sits is quite painful, calves and achilles are stiff and my shoulders kill. A productive day all in all (though I may have slept past 3 speed cameras while...touching... the speed limit on the way home. Bugger.

Bleugh...

2009-06-20T08:24:00.001-07:00

...eeeuuuuughh. Bed time. That is all.

I'm back from 1944...

2009-06-13T08:19:00.000-07:00

...and it seems like a scary place!

The mirror is no longer my friend...

2009-06-02T11:20:00.000-07:00

... I stole away early from work for some phys this avo - 40 minutes of doing laps of the trim trail in the baking heat had my hr up (to the extent that I got a cracking nosebleed - is that normal?). I planned to do a weights sesh straight after so biked straight to the fit suite. I walked in, saw myself in the mirror and gasped in horror at the spare tire round my middle (not quite as bad as that, but no 6-pack). I turned straight back round, restarted my gps and started running. I struggled to keep going once I hit 50 minutes, and the gate (and smiley guard) were a relief to reach. Some big work to do over the next 3 weeks!

Fatty...

2009-05-31T06:54:00.000-07:00

...that is all.

Brize Tri...

2009-05-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

...I hope it went well for everyone today. We finally got weather and a/c at the same time today so I was up jumping from 10 til gone 5. I would have loved to race but jumping was great too...

Swim, run, flirt...

2009-05-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

...a mile in the pool this morning followed by a fast 3 mile run at lunch. Added bonus - the pretty smiley girl that was on the gate when I ran in in the rain last night was on today too and gave me abuse for only running for 20 minutes. Nothing raises a smile like harmless flirting with a stranger :o)

Maypril showers...

2009-05-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

...i love bad weather! For running that is, not so much for jumping. After 9 weeks of bad weather, I finally qualified as a military parachutist. I drove up to Lincoln on Sat to catch up with Granty and had lots of beer and random dancing in town. Wasn't feeling too well first thing, but I resolved in the car on the way back south to do some exercise. I got back and went straight out for a 5 plus mile run in the howling wind and horizontal rain. I felt rough for half a mile after 10 minutes, but after that I was strong all the way. It helps that I love training in really crappy weather, but I also think I'm fitter than I thought. My heart rate was high but I think that was a combination of hangover, tiredness and the fact that I actually felt strong enough to push myself. If I watch my diet and stay motivated in the run up to Dambuster I think I could have a good race.

I don't know why, when I feel this good after a run, I haven't been able to motivate myself to get out. Man up pills required.

Jumping...

2009-05-12T09:44:00.000-07:00

...I am not :o(

However, I am single-handedly supporting Coop through increased chocolate sales.

50-odd miles...

2009-05-04T06:02:00.000-07:00

...this morning. Fast ride with the local boys. The slower ones dropped off so the quickies decided we were going to speed up (the problem with riding with 3 PTIs - half an hour of rotating quickly on the front then falling back upped the pace significantly to the extent that I was hanging out for most of the way home. Fitness is a work in progress, though it's looking up...

Hamstrings...

2009-04-27T11:36:00.000-07:00

...hurt. More stretching required.

Aero position...

2009-04-26T13:55:00.001-07:00

...I took my new bike out for a trundle this afternoon - it rocks! My riding position is soooo much more efficient, aerodynamically. Alas, my body will take a bit longer to adjust to staying in that position. After 5 minutes, I started to feel fatigued until I sat up and slowed down from 36kph to 29. The final 10k felt a lot better but there's work to be done. I think the tiredness is in large part due to fatigue from yesterday, combined with not having ridden on aero bars since Vitruvian in September last year. I know that if I stretch and keep riding, it'll get better.

The bike is sweet though, much more aggressive than my Scott. It needs tweaking here and there (saddle height, tire swap, bottle cages) but has immense potential.

There must be a TT going on somewhere between Oxford and Portsmouth, Turboman?

My bike is sad...

2009-04-25T16:40:00.000-07:00

...I went out for a long ride today with Witney, 82 km of hilly fastness! I'm still not comfortable over that distance (my legs were tiring towards the end), but overall I was pleased, especially after my hard weights session last night. I took the Scott so I didn't ram my tri bars up anyone's saddle, despite itching to try out my new steed. After the caff stop, my rear mech started playing up, and I couldn't stay in the same gear for more than 2 seconds at once for the rest of the way home! My bike was sad that it now has competition for my affections! Significant frustration :o(

Test ride tomorrow, wait out...

Slice...

2009-04-24T14:43:00.000-07:00

...I pootled down to Tri UK ce matin, and came bike with a shiny new bike. Now I just need an engine worthy of the bike...

Bicycling...

2009-04-21T12:44:00.000-07:00

...lots of. I joined in a bike ride with a couple of the lads from work this evening, and biked over to join the Witney Chain Gang. 2 hrs + later, I'm very tired but pleased I only got dropped once, on the last hill. I'll make a cyclist yet :o)

Bike...

2009-04-19T09:23:00.000-07:00

...I was (unusually for me) in the bar in le mess last night watchin Rocky 4 when who should emerge from behind a pint of Guinness but Roy B Running, fresh from Cyprus and his sponsors, having been to collect all his gucci kit from TriUK. Git. So we headed out for him to try his new bike (pictured) this morning. Unfortunately the 22 miles turned out to be a bit longer that advertised (by me), so it wasn't the chilled pootle I expected. I was working hard to stay ahead of Roy, until I flatted (due to a bald spot I somehow hadn't noticed, matching the one on the front tire in the same spot - courtesy of a rabbit-induced skid a while back). A nice (1h37) morning out, all in all. The Kuota looks fast and phat, and the Oakleys are sweet. I may be making a shopping trip to Yeovil over the next few weeks...

Sedbergh...

2009-04-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

...I also neglected to mention (perhaps due to vast alcohol consumed shortly afterwards) that I joined some of my old fell running crew for a long a$$ bike ride on Friday. Being fell runners, they've picked up a number of funky injuries over the years, so have turned to bike/tri as an easier way of training. They were on their way to Langdale for a Sportive over the wknd, so I jumped on with them as far as Sedbergh. With some large-ish hills and bigger down hills on the way out, propelled by morale and a tailwind, riding with them felt easy, being my first intro to riding in a group. 3 hours back in to a headwind alone in the rain was less fun. 5 hours on the bike, and a well deserved lash-catch up with my old skiing gang in the evening = a thoroughly enjoyable day.

Penyghent...

2009-04-15T11:04:00.000-07:00

...last night on random impulse, I went for a bimble up the hill behind my house (9k behind and 2000 ft up undulating fell from my house) having done not much all day. It took me a comfortable 1h45 to summit and back, inc running all the climbs and 3k of bog.

I'm not properly fit but I'm hopeful of getting there soon :o)

12.5

2009-04-11T13:33:00.001-07:00

and falling

Running legs...

2009-04-08T11:53:00.000-07:00

...are back. I swam this morning after a long hilly off road bike last night, then hit the hills on foot this afternoon. My running legs are coming back -fair enough I wasn't pushing hard but I managed 90 minutes of tussocky grass, steep paths, limestone pavement and friendly lambs with no issues. Smiley face.

2009-04-07T12:45:00.000-07:00

Swim, swim, bike, run, sleep, eat, tv - lots of exercise! Woo hoo!

Help...

2009-03-29T08:07:00.000-07:00

...I can't stay motivated. The guys just won the windermere Helly AR and as I wasn't jumping, I could've entered. Cept I didn't know til Friday whether I'd be off or not. Congratz to them but I'm gutted. I can't enter many races cos I don't know when I'll be free.

So I need help on 2 counts to get myself sorted:

1st - I have 2 weeks off from next friday and I need somewhere to go - ideally somewhere I can get fit and stay motivated (and get some sun) - any thoughts?

2nd - I need help with a proper trg programme that I can stick to. Do you guys change week to week according to where you are in the season, or do the same elements in different sessions.

Help me!

Tired...

2009-03-24T10:09:00.001-07:00

...I am. And demarbleised.

Can't tell my ar$e from my elbow - they both hurt...

2009-03-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

Monday to Wednesday - Jumping

Thursday - 30 squids worth of Magners, Jack and 'buca dressed as Boyzone while dancin like a machine

Friday - stonking head and half a day in bed

Saturday - 50 minute bike ride followed by 30 minutes of planned running and 2 hours of unplanned running - I now know Oxfordshire much much better than I expected.

Sunday - High School Musical 1,2 and 3 while re-reading Twilight for the 4th time.

I'm v chuffed that my (randomly acquired through hauling my lardy a$$ in to rigging lines) RSI in my left elbow, badly bruised left glute (from landing on aforementioned lardy a$$), and twisted ankle (from tripping over lardy a$$ while carrying all my kit in the dark) didn't hurt throughout my 3 hours of exercise. I'm not as unfit as I thought....maybe.

Ouch...

2009-03-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

...did my 6th jump tonight, 2nd at night time. It's quite interesting jumping in the dark at 700 ft at 120 knots carrying 150 pounds of kit. And even more interesting carrying your kit off the dz when it weighs as much as you.

My whole body hurts! Needless to say, no training this week.

Whiplash...

2009-03-12T11:08:00.001-07:00

...post dropping on-to-head. Ouch. Enjoy Lanza you gits!

After Eights...

2009-03-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

...post run...weights...swim...bike - training is making me feel good again :o)

Alas, I also need to get lots stronger to carry all my kit and hoik myself round the sky, so I'm gonna be staying heavy and losing fat. As long as I stop eating a box of after 8s each night!

No plans to race just yet as I don't know when I'm going to get time of the course, tho I hope to RAF Champs and Vit it again, plus Rat Races. And try and do a private bespoke trg camp in my week off - by which I means I'll be out running by myself :o(

PS...

2009-03-06T12:10:00.000-08:00

...my little sister just came 13th at the World Freestyle Ski Championships Half Pipe in Japan...sha-mone!

My butt...

2009-03-06T11:54:00.000-08:00

...isn't that big really. One positive thing about working in a big shed full of PTIs is everyone understands the need to get longer lunches to train, and there are lots of free pool sessions too! As a result of this, and the fact that we haven't started jumping yet means I've been eating better and training again. On the down side I just bought a biiiig telly and a PS3 so I have a few more things to distract me from learning how not to break myself safely out of a herc.

Now I just need to get time off coinciding with races...

Nachos and cheese...

2009-02-18T11:07:00.000-08:00

...dangit. All that hard work running round the dales spoiled...no fat comments from you please Daz (though I've heard all the nastiness through other sources already). One day...you'll see...I'll be king of the triathlon world!

Burger King maybe.

Hockey (x 2 hours)...

2009-02-15T06:36:00.000-08:00

...this morning after driving up from Wad early. I'm most tired now, and I still have to hit the hills of Yorkshire on my bike later. It's nice to be home and not in Flatcolnshire any more. And I want one of those really long water slides from the Barclays ad that goes from work to home - awesome! Any thoughts pending that happening for keeping myself fit and entertained this week? I have my mtb, my fell shoes, and my car...

Happy Valentine's Day...

2009-02-14T14:17:00.000-08:00

...of which I spent the morning passed out. Dining-in last night, and it was absolute carnage! A week of lve now to chill, lose 10kg and get fit. What are the chances?

Helly Hansen 4 - Pirbright

2009-02-08T05:45:00.000-08:00

First of all, apologies for the delay - I've only just got the circulation back in my hands...

...last weekend was the 4th round of the Helly Hansen Adventure Race Series, at Pirbright Camp. As the met boys had predicted siberian cold, we brought the arm warmers and I'd bought new gloves. I'd spent the previous 10 days with severe tummy issues, which happily resolved themselves in spectacular fashion 15 minutes before the start.

I also had pre-race nerves (unheard of for me), manifesting themselves as shouting at the lads (sorry). Luckily, as soon as we started, it was all good. We stayed handy in 2nd place for the first run and out on to the bike, a good move as it turns out. Much of the bike course was on single track, with an out and back and 2 loops at the far end. With Team VOTwo out in front, we got overtaken by Team For Goodness Shakes with Team Helly Hansen coming up fast behind. On lap 2 we caught up with the other 250 teams of 3 on the single track. My anger got the better of me so we spent 20 minutes running through thick brush carrying our bikes while shouting 'track' at the teams ahead (one of whom shouted, "what, are you trying to win or something?", obviously unaware of the 2nd lap).

We came in to T2 still pushing hard, and with Team Helly right with us. I was comfortable with our running ability, though less so in the boats. The run was the hardest yet - not v long but v hilly and rough underfoot. The kayak was a long cold one, though at leats not frozen this time. Unfortunately we picked up a boat with a deflated bottom, which slowed us significantly and let Team Helly set off on Run 2 ahead of us.

Unfortunately half a mile in to Run 2, Callum the Dentist cramped badly, and we had to stop and stretch. I was unbelieveably frustrated as we'd finally had a crash and cramp free race until then.

I was quite dispirited as we ran back in, only to see Team Helly on the skis a couple of hundred metres ahead. We had the fastest ski yet, and left the skis only 5 metres behind them. They hit the cargo net well (unlike me), and got over the wall to finish a few short seconds ahead of us.

I was gutted beyond belief but cheered up because a) we were the first non-sponsored team and b) as we'd been beaten by a mixed team we were in the prizes!

It was Navy Chris' first time with Team RAF Race with Granty overseas, and we all acquitted ourselves well. We've got enough for 2 competitive teams for future races (next one being at Windermere in March).

Come and play - www.sleepmonsters.co.uk

Back soon...

2009-01-17T13:16:00.000-08:00

...never fear. First run of the new year this morning (excluding the drunk run home from Lincoln) followed by 2.5 k in the pool. I'm coming home.

Bonjour Tristesse...

2008-12-14T13:12:00.000-08:00

...but a good race last week, first time canoeing on a frozen lake in an inflatable boat - or a rapidly deflatable boat as it turns out.

Souvent femme varie...

Going on holiday...

2008-11-04T13:10:00.000-08:00

...to northwood. Rubbish :o(

Helly the Second...

2008-10-25T05:28:00.000-07:00

...at Longmoor Camp in Hampshire, was mad fun!

We got a last minute entry and were without Callum the Dentist as he had busy work to do. The RAF Active dude had put me in touch with Heidi, a ground-based microwave oven operator like Granty and she seemed quite excited to be racing (with the disclaimer that she was a 400m hurdle, not a runner).

This race had 300 teams entered, compared to 180 the race before so we got there early and got sorted. We started on a disused airfield (mostly mud), following a similar format to the 1st one. We managed to duck under the tape to get a fast start as that had proved invaluable last time. On the go, i set off with the VOTwo guys, not turning round til half a mile in to find my teammates out of sight. The opening run was about 3k, on very sandly hilly terrain, but quite fun. By the time we got on to our bikes, we were well back in the pack. We set off at a steady pace, only for Granty to get a flat half a mile in. Sending Heidi on ahead, we got things sorted fairly rapidly, to spend the next 20 ins screaming through the pack (so enthusiastically I went straight past Heidi). At this point, the tracks were so clogged up we may as well have been walking.

After some fun descents and slow climbs, we got back to transition and ran straight out towards the kayaks. Surprise this time, we had no paddles! The water was freakin freezing but there were that many reeds in the water we basically pulled ourselves round before running back to T3 for the same bike again. We had 2 mixed teams and a ladies team around us all the way round, and while I'd long decided to have fun and not worry about doing well, we really wanted to beat them. We put the hammer down at the end, taking it in turns to push Heidi up the hill, then down to T4. We overtook at least 5 teams in T, before sprinting round the skis, overtaking the ladies before the cargo net, over the wall to the finish!

All in all a fun weekend, but I know that with the right team we can challenge for 2nd place with no worries.

Duathlon in Kendal tomorrow, will be interesting to see if my knee holds out on the runs..fingers crossed.

Au Revoir...

2008-10-03T17:08:00.001-07:00

...Stuart.

Forgive me, it's been a while since my last blog. Mostly as I haven't been competing, and haven't been trg because of my knee being mostly ineffective and very painful. Unfortunately I have been imbibing significant quantities of alcohol (thanks Claire for picking me up from town at 0630 this morning, no, nothing happened). I've just finished my umpteenth Mr Vice of this tour, succesful evening overall (despite an hour spent blowing up modelling balloons instead of ironing uniform).

I'm not sure why Mum was on MSN at 0100 (perhaps my insomnia is inherited), but she let me know that Stuart Holdsworth was knocked of his bike and killed yesterday by a car and caravan at a junction I cross on 80% of my rides at home. Stuart was a top bloke (who sparked my interest in being a roadie instead of a 'proper' cyclist by giving me abuse about my mountain bike when I covered my little sister's paper round occasionally and delivered his newspaper). He was the driving force behind the Settle Cycle Festival and the World Wide Wheelers. I don't really know how to react, other than slowing down when I'm driving. The number of times you see reports of people hit by vehicles...but if you believed it could ever be you I suppose you'd just stay at home watching tv, and get fatter and lazier.

Best (anonymous and private) wishes to Stuart's family.

Rest easy fella.

Helly Hansen...

2008-09-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

...Bad A$$ adventure race today in Cannock Chase was awesome!

Granty, Callum and I drove over this morning for a bimble round our first proper adventure race. I've been feeling grotty and coughing up greeny-brown stuff for a few days, and not sleeping so I didn't have high hopes of performing well.

After racking and having the race brief, everyone started filing down a narrow track under a banner. Having seen the photos from last year, i knew all 540 of us (180 teams of 3) would have to start down that track so we hung back and got a seat on the front row alongside the 2 VO2 teams. We started with a 2k sprint through the woods back to transition to pick up the bikes. We stayed in 4th place throughout but passed all but one team in T1 as they were all putting on cleats.

We biked on tracks, mostly uphill for about 40 minutes, with some technical single track (inc one massive stack and a slightly bent disc brake by Callum), with several teams coming past us before T2 on the other side of the Chase. Here we left our bikes and ran 4 very (very) hilly km to a canal where we jumped in an inflatable canoe. We passed the lead team about 3/4 mile out from this T and they were looking strong (eventually finishing 1st in 2h09). Unfortunately I'm not an experienced paddler and we did a number or 360s and rammed 2 barges before almost getting the hang of it. A mile and a half later we climbed out (Granty spent half the trip laid out in the boat bottom after i clonked him on the head once too many times with my paddle) and sped back over the same run course to T, passing a shed load of people over the next 4 km including Steve Paley and the Lincoln Tri guys (Granty actually giggled).

Back on the bikes and a hilly but easier return route to final T. The guy at the road crossing told us we were 4th, so we put our feet down and racked bikes, before doing a sack race (each person has one leg in - interestin g in teams of 3), a plank ski race (a la mobile team challenge), a cargo net crawl (v hard), and a wooden climbing wall covered in baby oil, before finishing in 4th place in 2h38!

Yeah baby!!! We got an ok t shirt, a decent goodie bag and a shake, so all in all a top day. We'll be doing the next one for sure, give me a bell if you fancy it!

Nachos and cheese for tea as a treat too. Unfortunately I also bu&&ered my right knee while running (fast) - tendonitis style pain down the outside of my knee, hurts to walk or climb stairs - not ideal really :o(

Fibre...

2008-09-14T05:19:00.000-07:00

...lacking in moral, again.

Stapleford Du (won spectacularly by the RAF) was this morning. I was going well until the 1.5 k point, turned round and felt an agonising pain in my chest. Fearing heart attack, I stopped until it went away. Started running to catch up and it came straight back. As a result, I walk/jogged back to transition, got changed and waited for everyone else to finish the bike. About 15 people all came through within a minute, including Granty Doug and Mike, followed shortly by Jen. Although Lincoln Wheelers put in a good effort, we just pipped them.

This only the first time I've stopped since I did my knee 4 and a half years ago. As a result, I'm feeling a tad down.

Rubbish.

Cake...

2008-09-07T06:33:00.000-07:00

...courtesy of Mr Pullin, who beat his PB convincingly at Vitruvian. I shall say this only once, as anyone who was in the first couple of waves at the race will be fed up of hearing the commentator say it - I am a Vitruvian. Though the race photos do not bear this out...

Overall: 04:42.54

Swim: 00:34.49

T1 and Bike: 02:28.00 (ave hr 146 bpm)

T2 and Run: 01:40.03 (ave hr 151 bpm)

I must confess having never raced more than a sprint at the start of the season and entered the Vit without due consideration to what was involved, I was a tad nervous on Fri night driving round the bike cse. This was offset by the fact that Dambuster was my favourite bike cse and that i'd actually been eating partly sensibly and doing a little bit of trg.

The start of the race was particularly pleasant in terms of lack of washing machine-ness due to being in the sunrise wave of only 80 starters pre-wind. Somehow I managed to keep clear water for a lap and a half until the wave behind started catching up. I knew Navy Chris was somewhere near me as I'd seen him zigzagging ahead of me (he, Granty and Turbo were the only people I was really concerned with beating at the start) but had no real concept of where I was in the field. I was mostly pleased with my performance as I was nicely tired running in to T1. I saw Sam Wright running past me as I put my socks and nice new fast hat on and rushed out on to the bike.

I was determined to take it steady for the first lap, a plan which didn't survive catching up with Sam and racing him to the feed station. As we came to the first hill on the second lap I managed to put my foot down a bit, motivated by all the later waves on their 1st laps. I jettisoned one full water bottle as I was struggling to even finish my 1st electrolyte bottle, but still managed all my gels and to stay hydrated. I nailed my dismount in to T2 and had a quick turn round on to the run, seeing Sam W and Navy Chris biking in as I ran out (a big boost to realise Chris was behind me).

Despite my aim of neg splitting on both bike and run (I managed on the bike), I set off fast to put some space between Sam and myself. As a result of my hydrated state, I debated 'letting go' mid-run but couldn't bring myself to do it. By 4 km I was suffering bad stomach cramps and had to dive in to a thicket to get my bum stung by nettles. Things got better rapidly, and I ran strongly until getting back to the dam on lap 2 (encouraged by seeing Sam and Chris a long way back and Turbo running the other way a couple of minutes adrift of where I thought he should be to be on for a similar time). As I started along the dam my lack of trg caught up with me and I had to stop to stretch off both legs and stomach. From then on it was a case of damage limitation, almost grinding to a halt on the final small hill before staggering over the line.

Considering I've never run 13 miles in one go, never cycled 52 miles in one go and only swum 1900 metres in one go once, I was incredibly pleased with my performance. I'm realising that with a bit of work I could be quite handy at this tri lark, especially if I train long and race short and prep well over the winter. In addition, the atmosphere is fantastic, everyone's really sound and it's top fun! Turbo, thanks for the incentive (I'll do anything for cake).

Well done to Turbo, Navy Chris and Granty who got their 5 hr targets too!

Pizza...

2008-09-01T02:56:00.000-07:00

...post Rat Race half way up a much travelled (by us) hill in Newcastle.

Granty, Callum and i went up to Baltic Square (next to the Sage) in Gateshead, right by the Millenium Bridge. For anyone who hasn't done one of these races before, I can highly recommend taking part. Superbly well organised, it was a fantastic day.

Checking in the night before, we arrived after 9 a.m. and were given a large and a small A-Z of the city, and an orienteering style route book. As the race wasn't due to start til 1100 we had a while to work out the route and sort kit out. At 1100, we were given a coordinate and set off on the Prologue, following a route to get code letters to release our bikes before the bridge tilted at 1145.

Taking 25 mins to reach transition, we jumped straight on our bikes in 2nd place and set off towards the seaside (a long way away). By the time we'd located the first Sport ident dibber check point we had around 4 pairs either side of us, both mixed and all-male. We carried on seeing these for the rest of the race. After a few more cunningly hidden check points, we arrived at a beach piled with kayaks. As the one with the weakest arms, i had to run back a mile while the lads paddled round a headland, meeting them at another checkpoint. Callum was starting to bonk a bit so I swapped in and Granty and I proceeded to get rather wet paddling back to our bikes. Then followed the first of a lot of steps, up and down to another beach, then a chippy to guess which chip tray the SI box was in, then back to the bikes and a long a$$ way back to transition. At this point we had an activity stop - climbing, bungee run, ball pool and abseiling off the tyne bridge - all awesome fun. Straight after this we were straight on to the 2nd adventure loop aka a long bike ride, a 'fast walk' round the metro centre, assault course, orienteering on foot, high ropes, bouldering and archery, before jumping back on the bikes and returning to transition.

Unfortunately as we hadn't expected the sea kayak section, the mini-a-z was damp and in bits. How Granty managed to nav us around Newcastle on foot and at pace with only one minor mis-step I have no idea. Over an hour of hooning up and down hills to read lamp post numbers was hard work and we were all flagging by the time we got to the start of the final segment. The epilogue was a race up and down 4 rather long and steep sets of steps - the fact that my HR was over 200 for more than 5 minutes of this section shows how hard it was. We finally raced over the line after 7 hrs and 10 minutes of constant exercise, 2nd place in category and 8th overall.

All 3 of us know that, with the experience gained this weekend we can go on to place top 3 in future, judging by how close we were on our first time out - lesson no 1 identified = waterproof map case!

Check out http://www.ratraceadventure.com/ for more details!

I also now know that I can stay on my feet for the requisite 4 hrs 59 minutes needed to complete the Vit next weekend!

Rat...

2008-08-28T13:55:00.000-07:00

...Race! Driving up tomorrow with Granty and Callum. Shweeeet! Best of luck to everyone going to Almere.

That is all.

Fruit Salad...

2008-08-25T13:09:00.000-07:00

...with cream post-long a$s hilly bike ride in the rain after a rather hilly run after a long and hillier bike ride!!

Having had an emotional couple of weeks, I've finally escaped on leave! In light of the fact that I have no training base to taper from, I'm going against all research and common sense (for a change) and training right up to the event. I've just completed day 3 of 5 fell races in a row, cycling to and from each one to get some miles in (Malham Show, 11th, max hr 210; Halton Gill Show, 2nd, max hr 198 [1st in Sack Race and Piggy Back Race, 4th in egg-throw]; Hebden Show, 15th, max hr 191; still to come, Reeth and Kilnsey). Kilnsey (tomorrow) is a mile-long fell race involving 2 sprints along a field, 2 river crossings, 2 wall climbs, one scree-slope climb, 2 scree slope descents and 1 30 metre descent of a vertical crag without safety equipment, all in view of several thousand spectators). As a result, I'm shgaged. Also heading up to the Toon on Fri for the Rat Race with Granty and Callum, a day of Urban Adventure Racing. Another very expensive t-shirt but it should be good fun.

I'm hoping that my relaxed mental state from being away from work will make up for the lack of miles but we shall see. And in response to your wager Turbo, you're on. Post-race cakes are just about do-able on your salary after I come in in 4:59:59 having beaten you on the finish by 2 hundreths of a sec!

Living up north in the proper part of the world, a load of my mates did the various Cheeses Wensleydale Triathlons that Daz did the other week. They reinforced what he'd said about the hardcore toughness of the event, not just due to the fact that T1 was under water! Team entry next year?

A bientot

Raspberry flavoured vitamin C...

2008-08-14T13:39:00.000-07:00

...post weekly treat (Coningsby chips). I'm sooo tired after my 2 day spinning course (Rick Kiddle), plus doing all my work before and after, then swimming at the lake tonight that I have no energy left to prep my Mr Vice for tomorrow night. I suspect not much work will be done tomorrow other than internet research and prop shopping. Guest night, any thoughts?

On the plus side, I know a lot more about HR and Zones now, n I've had a lot of time to consider my goals for the winter now that skiing's not going to happen for me. I'm feeling v motivated, can't wait for after Vit so I can start trg properly! How odd.

Keep training Vitruvian Men and Women, 3 weeks and counting...

Nasty pink mouthwash stuff...

2008-08-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

...post wisdom tooth extraction. I popped in for a filling and the git yanked out one of my teeth instead. I drove over to Tats about 4 hrs after and broke down, blubbing like a child for 20 minutes. It was most disconcerting. Unfortunately it has also taken me out of training for a week, 3 or 4 days to go :o( I'm so fed up, I'm getting dangerously close to spending a fortune on lots of new kit to cheer myself up.

On top of this, Granty, Navy Chris and Sam the Dentist are all racing in London tomorrow (good luck) and wandering round the expo with all the cool stuff this afternoon. I'm feeling dejected and bored.

Thoughts to keep myself entertained? Thoughts for new things to waste my wages on?

Team Rachel (with Orange Lucozade Sport)...

2008-08-04T13:14:00.000-07:00

...only managed to be looking all in the same direction for 1 of the 8 or so photos I took. Unfortunately by the time I got to number 8 the young girl was looking like she wanted to bop me one with her lucozade bottle.

All in all, Saturday was a fantastic day - I think also that Team Rachel's excellent performance was a fitting tribute to her.

It's the first time I've been to the Relays, and I hope it won't be the last. It was without a doubt the most fun I've had on race day since I started tri-ing. I spent most of the morning running round with my camera in a hi-vis vest marked 'Press' that Mike had managed to pilfer for me allowing me back stage access (photos to follow). Being able to cheer on the guys and girls of Team Rachel each time they came past the grandstand, along with the terrific atmosphere provided by the other spectators was the best feeling.

I can also state quite categorically that the standard of competitors at this event is mind-blowing. Some of them even race well too. Even the pretty girl who clocked me admiring the cut of her tri suit a bit too closely gave me a smile and a cheeky wink. I'm so glad this sport chose me. Jase obviously agrees with me (see photo of him moving out of his tuck, so astounded is he by the view ahead).

Unfortunately my race didn't go quite as well. After taking a heel to the eye during the swim start as swimmer 1 I was a bit nervous, having suffered the same fate at the Inters. However, I got in to my stride (stroke?) and swam well, making up for lost time by making 7 places sprinting up the 'beach" to handover. After starting the bike in the wrong gear, I settled in to it nicely before doing my by now familiar 'carp, I don't have disc brakes on this bike' last minute skid in to dismount and handover to Granty. My run start was quite similar to my swim finish, taking 3 guys down the narrow corridor in front of the grandstand where there's only room for 1 (try overtaking jumping down the side of Kilnsey Crag then come back and tell me it's not safe to overtake in front of the grandstand). Despite the rest in between though, I wasn't feeling the run at all. Even with a reasonable time I felt I'd let the lads down a bit by not pushing harder. Unfortunately we got pipped at the line by Lincoln Tri despite Ady and Paul putting in monster runs to hold them off.

After a nice BBQ chez Granty's mansion-sized tent and an iffy night's sleep in my seasoned Quasar, we bimbled back to the start for day 2. The day started well with t-shirt collection. The Nottingham design bore a startling resemblance to a famous brand name logo not dissimilar to my own surname, sullied by chavs the UK over. My own personalised tee!! The swim also went well, with no kickage other than Granty pausing to give me a swift blow to the ribs on the way past. After this, I lost track of everything until T2. Mike M was leaving T1 as I left the water, so I assumed Granty was somewhere near him. After the Inters I was taking no chances on Ady being behind me so I burned through transition, using my favourite 'try it on race day for the first time' technique to double foot jump mount my bike (gracefully, in my head at least) without stopping. Westy flew past me on lap 1, and Ady caught me on lap 3 (which at least meant I'd swum well). In the past i've always caught Granty early-ish on the bike, but Ady hadn't seen him either. Either he'd had a shocking swim and cramped or he was flying round the bike. Deciding enough was enough I tried my best to leave Ady standing (and failed miserably).

The bloke ahead of me in to T2 decided to scupper my smooth T by swerving in front of me as I dismounted, causing me to lose a shoe. As I finally sorted my life out, Ady was right with me. I again managed to jump past 2 slower starters in front just before the narrow, and as I climbed round the corner I spotted Granty's familiar 'Bambi on ice' gait in the distance. Having someone I knew to chase got me round the run well. In fact yesterday was the first time I've really been happy with my tri run since I started. There may be hope for me yet.

Despite finishing over 4 minutes behind the Mikes, I thoroughly enjoyed my race and my weekend. As I race better by building up rather than tapering, I have my 2 weeks pre-Vit planned out (including Rat Race Newcastle). And to be realistic, it will be more a matter of survival than competition for this year I suspect. This week's worrying me more - 2 trips to the dentist for fillings while still on antibiotics for the nasty things in my throat that have come back, followed by CCS and my fitness test! As long as I beat Turbo's not unimpressive (for an older bloke) 11.10 by at least 3 levels, I should survive the banter I always get from my lads for only just passing the press ups.

Train little and seldom - why tire yourself out :o)

Strawberry Whey Protein...

2008-07-29T13:59:00.000-07:00

...delicious. It's cheered me up slightly but not too much. I'm too fed up and tired to talk about training, it's enough for today that I've done it.

Nos da.

Alpen...

2008-07-26T04:42:00.001-07:00

...(No Added Sugar) for breakfast after getting up v early to be Orderly Offr. After a good weights session this morning it is my intention to rest* for the remainder of the afternoon before running when the temp drops, and before inspection of defaulter this evening. I may nip out and buy a new bike too for doing the Rat Race on. Descending stairs on my nice carbon CR1 does my back no good at all. Or my wheels.

I also saw the new Batman last night - freakin awesome! Heath deserves an Oscar even without the whole dead thing. Don't buy a big drink though as it's quite long and you won't want to pop out. Not sure about the 12A rating, a couple of bits were a tad icky. Guess I'm getting old. Off to enjoy le soleil :o)

*Rest (link to Turbo** being tired).

Everything Daz and Kelda have said is true. Commonly held belief is that transition is the 4th discipline in tri but they're wrong. In the world famous and hugely succesful 'Lonsy Approach' (LA) to competitive sport, (see LA point No 73) rest is actually the first and most important discipline.

In order of importance (not in chronological order due to DQ/DNF risk):

1. Rest (if you get tired you slow down).

2. Eat (if you don't eat you get tired and slow down).

3. Transition (free time if done well, vital as no extra effort is required so you don't get tired and slow down).

4. Run (right at the end, most important that you keep running or you'll have swum and biked for no reason). With points 1 and 2 done properly, you shouldn't get tired and slow down.

5. Bike (there's still time to catch up with the people in front on the run as they get tired and slow down).

6. Swim (right at the start, less chance of getting tired and slowing down unless you get kicked in the head).

**Pic above = Turbo following his downward spiral of cake addiction and feeding after we called him fat. Don't call people fat, it hurts. Unless they're really fat.

For Goodness Shake...

2008-07-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

...ChocMalt flavour. Yuck. Strawberry = yum :o) But I'm allowed to drink them after a hard session so I can live with chocolate.

I managed my fastest non-race 5m tonight after a run and a hard swim yesterday and swim today so I'm smiling and tired even after a sh8 day at work :o)

And as for Turbo, cheeky burger...I'm allowed to feel bad but it's not nice to try and make me feel bad! Wrt your comment Mr Muffin-top: Too much alcohol - nope. Too much food - nope. Didn't train the following day - nope (slow evening sesh).

Too much ice cream from the pretty french girl in the pudding room that I chatted to half the night? Most certainly ;o)

I refer you at this point to my blog of 8 Jul and my philosophy on exactly what can constitute a training session during a night out...I am McLovin.

Sgts' Mess Summer Ball..

2008-07-19T10:33:00.000-07:00

...= Best night I've ever had in Lincolnshire. I am now very tired.

That is all.

Fibre, ...

2008-07-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

...Lack of Moral.

An issue I have not often suffered from when running. Until I started running after cycling and swimming. Then whining about it in my blog. For a long time...

To keep things in perspective so I don't get too depressed and descend in to another spiral of destructive alcohol and junk food consumption, Dambuster was the first time I have ever raced anything more than a long sprint. Tallington was the second, and the longest tri I've raced. I stopped cardio training in november to get my strength up for the ski season with a significant degree of success, and haven't felt well enough to put in more than 2 or 3 training sessions a week since then. Rationalisation is another word for 'excuses' btw.

Bearing this in mind, I'm mostly pleased with my race at the IS. The swim, as previously mentioned several times by others, was particularly violent (this being my 3rd open water race, this was quite an experience). I don't know if fear of impending death by washing machine was the reason I was so slow, or I just didn't remember to push myself. Either way, I was really conscious for the first time afterwards of my inexperience in this sport. Live and learn, if you're lucky.

I was feeling very strong on the bike, despite stopping twice for the full length of red lights (no matter how many anti-army complaints there are, at least 2 RAF Trisuits ahead of me rode through the lights against the traffic on lap one). I expected most of the girls to be ahead of me after the swim, but it's only when I caught Ady (only to be re-caught at the lights) half way round lap 1 that I realised where I was in the field. I had an emotional near-miss with a wall on the steep hill bend 1st time round too following my 'don't brake unless you're going to break' descending philosophy - 10 seconds later and I would have been practising my dive through a car windscreen - sorry driver.

The run is where it really fell apart. I've never loved the road or the flat but I just had no mental drive to race (again, a new experience). It was only on leg 4 of the run that I picked up and put my foot down, leaving any trace of LMF behind. I wasn't particularly tired, and I'm somewhat ashamed of myself that even though I knew Turbo and Jeff Morris were within easy whupping distance I just bimbled. I'm packng man-up pills in my bike bag from now on (pain is temporary, shame lasts until you admit you were weak and work past it).

Sags, you're right about the food. I'm eating a significantly better diet than I was a month ago, cutting out an evil a week (currently, No Alcohol, No Crisps, No Fizzy Drinks (except diet coke), One Small Glass of Fruit Juice per day, 6 days a week and No Puddings after lunch or dinner). My willpower seems to be working fairly well in that respect. I'm losing both excess weight and fat at a reasonable rate considering I'm still not feeling well enough to train properly - removing lucozade energy, coke, dr pepper and fruit juice from my diet have taken off over 800kcal a day. I'll reconsider some of these when I can see my abs again.

That said, work keeps running me down so much that all I want to do when I get home is sleep, despite the fact that I'm getting a more appropriate work/life balance. Happily, deadlines and bosses are away for 3 weeks so I may survive to train properly yet.

I think that's about all that's on my mind at the moment, moan over. Off to iron my 5s for the Sgts' Mess Summer Ball (with dodgems and an awesome arcade, no need to drink and make a tit of myself).

much tri love (still), Lonsy - Currently on Day 19 without a full day off work.

(The last time we talked Mr Smith, you reduced me tears. I promise you, it won't happen again.)

Banana protein shake...

2008-07-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

<--- My time at Tallington, kicking my Dambuster time's ar$e.

...post lake swim...mmmmm. Something sweet that passes as pudding but is secretly good for you - the perfect solution!

I managed a decent bike last night, missed a turn and ended up doing an extra few miles which was a nice surprise as I was still feeling strong. I got talked in to a short drive to Tatteshall for a swim after work by Granty, despite having a sh1tt3r of a day at work and I'm so glad I went. For an hour I had nothing on my mind except the rhythm of my stroke (and the smell of bbq sausages on the 2nd lap). It was so relaxing.

I'm feeling much better prepped for Tallington than I was for Dambuster (my first Standard), having done a bit of running, a bit of cycling and lots more swimming in the open. I'm planning on sleeping at least 4 hrs too which may help kick some Dambuster-time ass (if I could remember what time I got, not really getting this whole racing thing right yet).

Last thought before sleeping (apart from breakfast), muchos muchos thanks to Tinman, Granty and Ady - you guys are keeping me training. If I didn't know you guys were gonna be there I'd be sat on my a$$ watching dvds n I need motivating to get out of the house (aka my small room). Thanks guys.

A bientot, fé de bo rêves.

Iron tablets, odourless garlic and vitamin C...

2008-07-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

...post-tea. I can't train properly at the moment because I have a constant sore throat and feeling of tiredness. This happened last summer too - i trained hard after 2 summer balls and spent 2 weeks in bed off work. It killed me for about 2 months. I'm so scared of that happening again that I daren't push it at all. I haven't ridden my bike outside of racing since september apart from 1 turbo session and a couple of duas, so I can't help feeling I might improve a wee bit if I got out more - I just don't feel well enough to do it.

As a result, puddings have been replaced by vitamins and lots of water :o(

Does anyone have any man-up pills? Maybe watching Mamma Mia at the cinema will help a bit :o) And at least I don't feel quite as bad as in this photo - another classic hair do.

No pudding tonight...

2008-07-09T09:53:00.000-07:00

...I don't deserve it after getting whupped by everyone at Cranwell. I had a good swim, inc tumble turns which I've never done in a race before, an ok bike (Navy Chris nearly beat me), and an ok run (only Sags and Daz overtook me, I can cope with that). Turbo, the next beer's on me for failing to match your challenge by 30 seconds (though take note of the adjacent pic ;o). I am officially weak. I'm actually more gutted we didn't win the team prize though. I thought we had it then the fantabulous BWH pipped us at the post. At least we beat you in the skiing :o)

So I'm having a night off to recuperate, sulk, watch a dvd and maybe walk to Spar for a peppermint cream. Even though I don't deserve it, it'll make me feel better. And I now have motivation to train...Turbo...I have you in my sights and I can wait til next summer. Revenge is a dish best served cold. :o)

Fat Slow Lonsy

PS Well done to everyone who raced btw, lots of novices came along and one dude even ran the run route twice, the first time carrying his punctured bike on his back - much respect.

A bientot.

Pineapples, bananas and coconuts innocent smoothie...

2008-07-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

...never ever from concentrate. Mmmmm. Tasty, plus it counts as fruit and veg, so it's good for you, so the sugar and calories don't count. Bonus.

I'm badly in need of feeding up post-airshow weekend, having had 3 of the 4 weekend nights (thu and fri count as the weekend for single people because all the married people go home on sat and sun. we have to socialise with the marrieds so they don't get sad) very very drunk, getting minimal sleep before getting up and babysitting all my cadets for 14 and a half hours. To be fair to them, the cadets are nice, but damage control is required occasionally. Finishing on sunday night was such an awesome feeling, until I got to the after-party marquee to find out the queue for food was 3 times as long as the queue for the bar. My impatience was greater than my hunger so to cut a long story short, after 40 minutes leaning on the bar, there wasn't any whisky left to go with my coke so I had to move on to rum. Times are hard.

On the plus side however, this weekend has been a revelation. If I dance all night and don't go home alone then I work off just as many calories as a hard training session. Everyone's a winner.

The bottom line of the above waffle is that I have done no training since the middle of last week. Turbo, I fear you're safe for a couple more races yet but watch your back (I mean watch your back in the race, that's not a threat for mistaking my over developed pecs, relaxed due to my efficient running style, for 'moobies'. You git. ;o).

As I write (just back from Asda buying above mentioned fruity liquid dessert, cereal bars and several leaving presents), Granty, Navy Chris and Sam the Dentist are all racing the Wolds Brick (or variations on it, nav skills are not a required skill for fighter controllers apparently). In line with my new theory, I don't feel at all guilty about not being there. I am at peace.

Bring on tomorrow, racing round the old stomping ground.

Valentino 'Lonsy' Rossi

PS I forgot to mention, Ady is now a celeb among spotters! He was even observed signing autographs on saturday.

Mrs Crimble's Chocolate Coated Macaroons...

2008-07-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

...from Budgens to cure my day long hangover. Thanks for the welcomes guys, it means a lot. As Tin-homme has noted, I did miss a lake session with him and Granty last night to have a quiet night in. Sadly, I went over my 2-shandy limit in happy hour and ended up in Ritzy's via Revs and Trebles-for-Singles (it's all in the name, the 'singles' bit refers to a measure not a status btw).

For those of you that don't know Lincoln, a visit to Trebles has the capacity to make or break a night. Mine broke. For Mike 'Doubting Mike' Masters, the only evidence I offer in my defence is that I didn't get back to camp until 0745 - to me a thorough justification for missing a swim ;o)

Am heading back to work, no training for moi ce soir (due to aforementioned hangover), but if anyone's heading over to the Airshow I shall be bimbling around all weekend - feel free to come and say hi at the gym or the air cadet tent.

One final note for those who doubt that I used to be Hasselhof's hair inspiration and his stunt-hair-double for the CPR scenes in Baywatch, please check out the photographic evidence above...I miss my hair :o(

Cherry crumble and custard...

2008-07-02T12:47:00.000-07:00

...post chicken fajitas ce soir - delicious! I'm most excited that I now feel like I'm getting my runner-ness back while retaining my biker- and swimmer-ness. I had a good session in my new Brooks after getting out of work almost on time, though I'm making up for it now after getting a load of work red-penned :o( I fear tomorrow night may descend in to alcohol-fuelled madness with a possible drunken run home from town, though who knows what might happen ;o)

Enough procrastinating, to work! DW awaits...

Big Peanut M&Ms...

2008-06-30T14:22:00.001-07:00

...from the CoOp in Coningsby for pudding tonight, after a long long swim (well, for me) round Tattershall Lake. After barely staying on Granty's heels (after he came back for me) and watching Tinman set off for 4 1k laps like he was being towed by a jetski, I definitely deserved the tray of chips I had for tea. I've never swum that far in my life in one go, and it's getting close to my total cumulative distance too! I'm pleased to say that my new wetsuit a) doesn't chafe too badly and b) was the only one in the lake not to get christened this evening - though I suppose as I was swimming at the back it probably got christened by everyone ahead of me :o(

Still, tonight was a big step forward in swimming terms, so if I can bring my running back up to scratch then we might be getting somewhere. Now I just need to survive the airshow :o( J'en ai marre deja.

Chocolate Muffin and Mint Poppets

2008-06-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

are awesome. And kept me going through Prince Caspian, which was pretty cool. Last night's shandy and kettle chips didn't keep me going through this morning's 5 miler unfortunately. I got whupped by my non-running mate. I nearly went out again tonight to try out my new trainers, then made the mistake of sitting down with my laptop and a bag of doritos instead :o( Long ride tomorrow, then a run to make up for it :o)

Treacle sponge with butterscotch sauce...

2008-06-24T13:18:00.000-07:00

...pudding for this evening, which I felt fully justified in eating! Having spent lunchtime babysitting phots and filmcrews and trudging round the airfield, I managed to squeeze in a cheeky swim with the Grantmeister after work. The water was especially viscous yet breathable today - hydration's now not a problem having swallowed half the pool but lifting my arms is :o( I should probably do proper sets or something, but 100s followed by 400s seems to work ok. Not sure how that helped my 1500 on sat, but i did something right. I'll be paddling in Tatteshall next week too, to learn how to do the lake thing better - I think it's easier cos there's no turning.

Run tomorrow after work - somehow it's gone from my strongest discipline to my weakest. Time off the fells has done it I think, bloody flat lincolnshire. Bring back the hills, banish the flat. It's far too easy to run on (for everyone else).

Birthday Cake...

2008-06-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

...has far too many calories in it. And if over-consumed can result in the vague queasiness I'm feeling right now. I'm starting to worry about the calorie balance ({calories in - calories out = 0} + will power = lighter = faster).

Though I'm new to the game (the specific swim-bike-run game), I've spent 20 years around competitive athletes in various guises, and one of the things all the most successful ones seem to have in common is obsession. I don't know whether it emerges fully formed or it grows little by little (training once a day, weekends for racing and beer develops in to 12 sessions a week and training in hr zones, not even one extra M and M is permitted.

Sadly, one of my favourite things is one of the worse for me - Jack and Coke. The Jack I can cope with but the Coke has many many hidden nasty calories. [One of the benefits to being as lightweight as I am - cheap nights out. One of the drawbacks - after the first couple of Jack and Cokes you forget why you'd stopped drinking (to focus on training and not make an arse of oneself) and start making new reasons not to drink.]

There seems to be only one answer aside from the impossible cessation of consumption - train more. Happily my day off today acquired an additional spinning class and circuit session due to staff absence - the gym's not all bad. I've added a new equation - work = exercise = cake :o)

2008-06-23T12:09:00.000-07:00

Monday, June 23, 2008

As a first time blogger, can I ask if it's normal to be mocked and abused for not knowing how the system works? My so called friends (all au fait with just about every aspect of online life) seem to find my lack of IT skills amusing. If you saw a man drowning in a pool, would you point and laugh or throw him a lifeline? Apparently, you have to learn some things for yourself. So here I am. I find the best way to deal with all those things that buzz away at the back of your mind is to write them down, and as I seem to get through a lot of notebooks, this seems a more economical way to go about it. Donc, voila. Blog #1. Welcome to the 21st.
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