It's not about the bike, as Lance once said. We now all know there's more truth in that statement than we first thought. However, in my case it is all about the bike.
I've done my research and taken plenty of advice to have reached the conclusion that prowess on the bike will make or break my Iron dream. Consensus states that 60 per cent of my available training time should be spent on two wheels, I know that makes sense. My cycling journey so far has been a very steep ascent with some hair-raising hairpins thrown in for good measure. Christmas day 2011 was a landmark in this journey, marking the day when IronSanta saw fit to deliver The Beast, my first road bike.
Until then I'd happily chugged along on a sturdy mountain bike, completed 3 triathlons on it, albeit wincing with embarrassment as I racked it alongside real bikes. It's the triathlon equivalent of turning up at the Grand Prix in a Skoda! Anyway, IronPhil decided that my swim and run times weren't too bad but my bike was a serious handicap, so he scoured eBay for the perfect starter bike. When I saw it winking at me next to the tree that morning, I tingled with a mixture of fear and excitement - to be honest, it was more fear than excitement! You see, I am the cycling equivalent of an adult who didn't learn to swim as a child, I have outlandish fears, huge incompetencies and a dreadful sense of balance. This dates back to my childhood, as the youngest of six, with a big age gap to my older siblings, I didn't have the benefit of hand-me-down bikes when I was growing up. So all those skills that kids and adults take for granted, I don't have. The phrase, 'it's just like riding a bike' for me may as well be 'it's just like climbing Everest'!
Needless to say The Beast and I have come a long way together, from my panic-stricken Boxing Day descent from home to Tesco, to regular 50-60 mile training rides. Together we learned all the skills that real triathletes don't even think about. While they're worrying about getting their nutrition right, I'm worrying about how to take my hands off the handlebars to get my drink bottle out of it's cage or how to take an energy gel out of my back pocket, open it and consume it without crashing! This year, I even managed to reach the pinnacle of cycling success - Tour de France, nah; I earned my yellow jersey on the day I finally 'clipped in' to my pedals. Now you've got the general picture of where I've come from, you might realise what a huge achievement that was. My Pearl Izumi cycling shoes sit proudly on the shelf as a testament to the power positive thought and a patient, encouraging husband! Finally, I look like a cyclist.
As for The Beast, well my first love has become my winter training bike and I'm now the proud owner of a carbon fibre dream machine. With all that gear you'd think I'd be closing the gap (that's the gap between me and IronPhil) It seems not, as my guru whupped my padded posterior over a 55k ride yesterday, acting as my coach, cadence monitor, bike computer all in one. Who needs technology - it's miles that count ... many, many miles, hard miles, cold miles, steep miles, scary, hairy descending miles...just miles!
So when you ask me what I'm on, the answer's simple, as Lance said: "On my bike, busting my ass!" Powered purely by determination.
Sunday, 24 November 2013
Sunday, 17 November 2013
I've got a date
The date has been set - training officially starts on 22nd December, that marks exactly 30 weeks to Ironman UK! IronPhil pointed out that most people would enjoy Christmas first, then start, but he knows me better than that...what a great start to the hols, say I! You see, the trouble with that volume of training is not the thought of the physical effort I'm about to put in, I can make my eyeballs bleed without losing too much sleep over it, but what does keep me awake at night is the stress of organising my life around it. Anxiety levels begin to rise when I'm trying to squeeze in two sessions a day as well as cooking dinner; taxiing my teenage sons around; getting my lessons planned; marking jotters; shopping, washing; cleaning....the list is endless and exhausting; so training in the school holidays is a piece of cake. Can't wait to get started.
For now, it's all about enjoying the relative freedom of life without a schedule on the fridge. That doesn't mean I'm slacking, I've been trying to keep up 6 sessions a week - 2 swims, 2 runs & 2 cycles. Although this week it all went to rats when I logged two 13-hour days at school for parent's night. The only way to squeeze in training with that workload is the 6am alarm call, I know there'll be lots more of those to come in the months ahead, but I will declare right now - I hate dragging myself out of bed in the deepest depths of winter to run, swim or turbo. Embrace the freezing, dawn darkness and make it your friend, is about to become my mantra.
I've also been busy trying to sort out old injury niggles too, after the cortisone injection failed to miraculously sort out my ITB. Cue Pamela at Sports Injury Scotland, who I am now trusting to do what no physio, GP or massage therapist has done before. She's given me a programme of exercises to strengthen bits of my body. This usually involves me side-stepping or squatting around the house with a big, green elastic band around my knees. I'm usually a bit lazy with core work, but I know it makes sense and now's the time to do it before my body really does feel like it's been hit with a sledgehammer.
Oh, I've also had a flu jab, stocked up on protein shakes, energy drinks and inner tubes, updated my i-pod playlist and downloaded a year's supply of turbo sessions. As American basketball coach, Bobby Knight, said: "The will to succeed is important, but what's more important is the will to prepare."
For now, it's all about enjoying the relative freedom of life without a schedule on the fridge. That doesn't mean I'm slacking, I've been trying to keep up 6 sessions a week - 2 swims, 2 runs & 2 cycles. Although this week it all went to rats when I logged two 13-hour days at school for parent's night. The only way to squeeze in training with that workload is the 6am alarm call, I know there'll be lots more of those to come in the months ahead, but I will declare right now - I hate dragging myself out of bed in the deepest depths of winter to run, swim or turbo. Embrace the freezing, dawn darkness and make it your friend, is about to become my mantra.
I've also been busy trying to sort out old injury niggles too, after the cortisone injection failed to miraculously sort out my ITB. Cue Pamela at Sports Injury Scotland, who I am now trusting to do what no physio, GP or massage therapist has done before. She's given me a programme of exercises to strengthen bits of my body. This usually involves me side-stepping or squatting around the house with a big, green elastic band around my knees. I'm usually a bit lazy with core work, but I know it makes sense and now's the time to do it before my body really does feel like it's been hit with a sledgehammer.
Oh, I've also had a flu jab, stocked up on protein shakes, energy drinks and inner tubes, updated my i-pod playlist and downloaded a year's supply of turbo sessions. As American basketball coach, Bobby Knight, said: "The will to succeed is important, but what's more important is the will to prepare."
Sunday, 10 November 2013
Simply outstanding
Had a great night at the Lomond Swimming & Triathlon Club Awards Dinner last night. Not least because it was good to get-together with my swim buddies, The Maids of the Loch and quite an honour for us to be presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award for our Loch Lomond swim relay.
For anyone who doesn't know, we're a group of six women who set a world record as the first relay team to swim the length of the loch without wetsuits. Yep, it was a slightly crazy feat - tough and challenging, a real test of mental and physical endurance. We all left our comfort zones, along with our wetsuits and any trace of sanity, on the shores of that chilly loch many, many times over the long months of training. This experience has had a lasting impact on every one of us and its a true reflection of how incredible challenges change your life.
Taking on the loch swim was not just about swimming, in fact, that was only a small part of it in the end. It was about training your body to acclimatise to the cold water; it was about pushing yourself mentally and physically - not just once, but repeatedly, day after day; it was about juggling your home, your job, your family to fit in hours of training. Ultimately, it was about discovering that two words: "I can't!" no longer existed in your vocabulary.
So as we partied hard last night, into the small hours, we discussed the big question of how do you top a world record? Well, I've got my Iron dream to keep me busy, but all the Maids are going on to tackle amazing feats of endurance too. Some have already signed up while others are in the process of organising their next challenge. Which just goes to show that once you've put yourself out there, you just can't go back and if you surround yourself with like-minded people, you will achieve so much more.
Some may call it a mid-life crisis, but there is no crisis. A real crisis would be sitting at home, making excuses about why you're too busy to do what you really want to do. If this year has taught me anything, it's made me realise that everything is possible ... if you're willing to make it happen. That's why I now believe I can tackle a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and a marathon, all in one day! Thanks girls - the power of determined women. Hmm, could I bottle it and sell if for Xmas..anyone want to buy?!!
https://www.facebook.com/TheMaidsOfTheLoch
For anyone who doesn't know, we're a group of six women who set a world record as the first relay team to swim the length of the loch without wetsuits. Yep, it was a slightly crazy feat - tough and challenging, a real test of mental and physical endurance. We all left our comfort zones, along with our wetsuits and any trace of sanity, on the shores of that chilly loch many, many times over the long months of training. This experience has had a lasting impact on every one of us and its a true reflection of how incredible challenges change your life.
Taking on the loch swim was not just about swimming, in fact, that was only a small part of it in the end. It was about training your body to acclimatise to the cold water; it was about pushing yourself mentally and physically - not just once, but repeatedly, day after day; it was about juggling your home, your job, your family to fit in hours of training. Ultimately, it was about discovering that two words: "I can't!" no longer existed in your vocabulary.
So as we partied hard last night, into the small hours, we discussed the big question of how do you top a world record? Well, I've got my Iron dream to keep me busy, but all the Maids are going on to tackle amazing feats of endurance too. Some have already signed up while others are in the process of organising their next challenge. Which just goes to show that once you've put yourself out there, you just can't go back and if you surround yourself with like-minded people, you will achieve so much more.
Some may call it a mid-life crisis, but there is no crisis. A real crisis would be sitting at home, making excuses about why you're too busy to do what you really want to do. If this year has taught me anything, it's made me realise that everything is possible ... if you're willing to make it happen. That's why I now believe I can tackle a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and a marathon, all in one day! Thanks girls - the power of determined women. Hmm, could I bottle it and sell if for Xmas..anyone want to buy?!!
https://www.facebook.com/TheMaidsOfTheLoch
Friday, 1 November 2013
I've been 'Finking"
Bit of a frustrating week. I decided to take the plunge and have a cortisone injection in my knee in a desperate bid to finally put an end to years of niggling ITB (Illotibial Band) issues - a long standing running injury dating back to the London Marathon many moons ago. So the doc prescribed 10 days of rest. To stop me climbing the walls, I decided to spend the week "Finking". Yep, that's right & there's no "th" in it!
Finking, is a pretty essential part of my grand plan, I quite enjoyed it and will probably do a bit more of it in the months to come!
In this house, it's what's become known as dipping into the holy book of Ironism, aptly titled, Be Iron Fit, written by training guru Don Fink. I poured over his training advice, scribbled notes, dog-eared pages and quoted snippets out loud to my hubby IronPhil. IronPhil, rolled his eyes on a few occasions and yawned quite a lot. You see, as his name suggests, he's been there, done that and got the tatoo. He worked his butt off to get it & finished with a cracking time, but he ploughed his own furrow, shunning gadgets like Garmins, bike computers and heart rate monitors. He also likes to cringe at some of Fink's inspirational quotes and advice and didn't embrace my frequent shared readings of Fink's path to the Iron dream.
So when I suggested that maybe I should buy a heart rate monitor to accompany my Garmin and bike computer, his eyes rolled again and his advice was to save the cash, spend it on wine and just listen to my body when I'm training!
The trouble is, the Fink-tank has a set of plans based on time spent training and all the sessions are geared around working in specific heart rate zones, I'm not sure if I want to be wired up and crunching numbers. Also, I'm a bit of a mileage junkie, I like to know how many miles I need to complete each day, I'm not sure if working in hours will suit me. In fact, I am the saddo who runs or cycles around the block a couple of times at the end of a session, just to see the Garmin clock the exact mileage.
Anyway, it's the end of my week of Finking, I still have the cardio cash, minus £5.99 on a bottle of Merlot, and the jury's still out. What do you think - heart rate monitor or not?
Finking, is a pretty essential part of my grand plan, I quite enjoyed it and will probably do a bit more of it in the months to come!
In this house, it's what's become known as dipping into the holy book of Ironism, aptly titled, Be Iron Fit, written by training guru Don Fink. I poured over his training advice, scribbled notes, dog-eared pages and quoted snippets out loud to my hubby IronPhil. IronPhil, rolled his eyes on a few occasions and yawned quite a lot. You see, as his name suggests, he's been there, done that and got the tatoo. He worked his butt off to get it & finished with a cracking time, but he ploughed his own furrow, shunning gadgets like Garmins, bike computers and heart rate monitors. He also likes to cringe at some of Fink's inspirational quotes and advice and didn't embrace my frequent shared readings of Fink's path to the Iron dream.
So when I suggested that maybe I should buy a heart rate monitor to accompany my Garmin and bike computer, his eyes rolled again and his advice was to save the cash, spend it on wine and just listen to my body when I'm training!
The trouble is, the Fink-tank has a set of plans based on time spent training and all the sessions are geared around working in specific heart rate zones, I'm not sure if I want to be wired up and crunching numbers. Also, I'm a bit of a mileage junkie, I like to know how many miles I need to complete each day, I'm not sure if working in hours will suit me. In fact, I am the saddo who runs or cycles around the block a couple of times at the end of a session, just to see the Garmin clock the exact mileage.
Anyway, it's the end of my week of Finking, I still have the cardio cash, minus £5.99 on a bottle of Merlot, and the jury's still out. What do you think - heart rate monitor or not?
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