goodbye christmas pud - hello 2009!

The year is inching to a close, and with it, my year of firsts!

2008 brought my first half marathon, first 10k and first sprint triathlon.

My primary goal for 2009 is the London Triathlon - and guess what? I've just entered!!!

That's right! I'm now officially locked into the 2009 London Triathlon! It's all very exciting - this will be my first (and possibly only) attempt at an Olympic Distance Triathlon - as the distances are going to be over double what I've already undertaken in the Sprint.

Looking at the figures, this is what we get;

Sprint Triathlon: 400m swim, 20km bike, 5km run
Olympic Triathlon: 1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run

So we can see there are some pretty monumental differences there.

I've stepped up training since my last post and have been active almost every day. On boxing day I took to a very chilly morning and ran along one of my old routes when I was training for the half mara - it brought back memories of when running was actually exciting (OMG I can run 10 miles!!!!!)

In other news I'm heading off today to gather gear for the Mt Kili climb. I love gear shopping, and pretending to know what i'm talking about to all the gear geeks. They always see right through me. I can't even spell carabiner.

twas the night before christmas (well, almost)

it's christmas time. i've spent the evening scouting for princess related items for a young relative which says princess for her, but is also influenced by my own secret agenda of style/quality/independence/strength/ambition to one day complete triathlon.

i know it's a familiar cry; but it's been a busy month, and has resulted in absolutely no training activity for EIGHT DAYS


shocking, i know. usually this delayed inactivity would have me scratching at the post but i've actually enjoyed the break.

for a few days, at least, and then rectified by two heavy gym days in quick succession. the gym program i worked on with the PT has just hit five weeks, and there's two positives to report:

one being that i can now complete 30 press ups, without inducing coronory.

second being that i can use that hardcore ab looking machine, without looking like a fool. not sure how to describe it, but it's the one you stand up, elbows supported, and then pull your knees to your chest. i've always thought it looks very difficult, and was quite proud when i managed multiple repititions. then a sixty plus year old woman got on it after me and did like forty in a row. damn those fit grannies.

it's only nine weeks until the Mt Kili climb. yikes! i feel starved of oxygen just thinking about it...

climbing africas highest

okay so my once a week blogging tradition hasn't been terribly consistent of late... but it's tough out here in the blogging world. we have responsibilies beyond these pages, and with responsibilities comes winter, and with winter, comes inherent laziness.

well, not laziness as such, but who was i kidding? as if i can train NOW for something that's about 6 MONTHS away????

haven't been stationary of course, am still getting through at least one spinning class, a couple of swims, a run and strength training each week. but it's lacking in goals - and as such, not a great deal to report.

in other news - have just booked a trip for next feb to climb Africa's highest peak; Mt Kilmanjaro. it'll take six days to reach the summit, but there are glaciers there, yes, glaciers! i haven't crossed a glacier off my list yet, so am well pleased. and i'll have six days of going up up up to relish in the pleasure...

so blogging shall continue into 2009, albeit a little slower over the winter months, and will aim for every two weeks instead of the usual every week.

so stay tuned!!!

running in the dark

it's the end of the second week attempting to get back into running and things are a little less painful! horrah!

this week i managed:

25 minute run outside
20 minute treadmill run
2 hour cycle outside
2 x 45 minute gym routines
1 little swim doing speed drills

so my running is still only at twice a week, rather than three times as i've been aiming - but it's still an improvement so i'm happy with that. and therefore, it's time for a new challenge!!

i've decided a new aim for this week's running exercises! i'm going to time myself running to the end of my street, as fast as my little pegs will propell me. it's only 300 metres - a good little starting distance for me to get motivated with.

the aim is that over the next few months, i get faster, and then slowly start to increase the distance. so that within six months, i'm qualifying for London 2012 - hahahaha. okay, kidding, really.

but hopefully will get my pegs used to moving at a rate which is marginally quicker than a four year old toddler.

(btw: i'm not basing these How To Run Faster techniques on anything remotely educational, just a bit of guess work... will see how she goes!)

the art of making excuses

so with one sprint distance tri under my belt, the next major goal is the olympic distance triathlon. this one, i do believe, is going to hurt. we're looking at the following distances:

swim: 1500 metres
bike: 40 kms
run: 10 kms

other than this being a helluva distance, i'm also going to have to complete an open water swim in the thames, wearing a wetsuit... here's the map of the 2008 circuit for the London Triathlon:



last week i set some training objectives, which i didn't manage to achieve - big surprise! had a busy week, so will see how i get on in the forthcoming week. what did i get around to doing, then?

1 x 25 minute run outside
1 x 45 cycle outside
2 x strength training gym sessions
1 x 30 minute swim, at a good pace

on the plus, i did have a consult with the personal trainer and have developed a new gym routine based on the objectives of: running faster, strengthening knees and core, and toning upper body. have even incorporated such fun new toys as swiss ball and medicine ball. i'm so easily pleased. really.

on the negative, on friday i pulled a muscle/tendon/something in my foot from wearing inappropriate footwear - which now results in my foot grinding when i move my toes... hmmmm... perfect excuse to hold off on the running the rest of the week! yipppeeeee...

(note: must stop rejoicing in the No Running Excuse)

finding the point to running

it's been three weeks since the triathlon, which almost makes me laugh... mostly because my 'whats-the-point' level for exercise has already reached familiar heights.

so, what have i been doing? for the last three weeks, i've been pretty consistent at going to the gym for strength training, doing classes (spinning, pump, step), swimming (albeit as a wind-down, on my way to the spa...) and a two day cycle!

one thing i haven't been doing.... is running.

in an attempt to find some focus/motivation/point to running and exercising -- i've just read this article, http://www.220magazine.com/?page=features&id=47235

here's a little extract which brings to attention exactly the opposite of what i wanted:

"For most people the ultimate question is: ‘What is the meaning of life?’ Yet, for triathletes, the greatest dilemma is more along the lines of: ‘How can I achieve multiple personal bests next season, while crushing my rivals like ants?’

One popular approach is to swim, bike and run like a maniac all winter and then expect results across the board next year. But those treading this path usually learn that improving all three sports at once is like the Holy Grail quest, and leaves you with a broken body and spirit.

A more measured and long-term approach is to work selectively on one element of the sport until you master it. And why not your running? After all it’s often the most crucial discipline, the one on which most races are won and lost. Endless swimming can be boring. Lapping the pool every day may well make you more slippery in the water, but its mind-numbing properties and inevitable ‘eau de chlorine’ whiff won’t have a positive impact on your social life. What’s more, the relative time gains in the shortest triathlon discipline aren’t going to eat into your overall time that much. As for cycling in the British autumn and winter, the experience can be summed up in four words: wet, miserable, dark and dangerous. So running it is…"

i used to enjoy running, what happened? i got competitive, compared myself to others, felt like a blob, and the hate was seeded. but what if i could re-discover the delights...? i'm tentative even as i write that: crikey, not a good start.

so kids, it's not what i wanted to hear. but i'm going to try it; just for a month. the first step is 'slow and steady' - getting used to running 3 times a week - but in this weather, should i be aiming for treadmill (boring) or outside (slippery)? i've always found treadmill running a bit of a cop-out - but here's an interesting article comparing the two:

http://www.runningplanet.com/training/treadmill-versus-outside-running.html

article outcome: 1% incline on the treadmill seems to level out the difference as much as possible. done!

not one to follow a punishment plan designed by others, here's my aim for the next month:

2 x week : 30 min run outside at my usual plodding pace

1 x week: 20 min run on the treadmill at slightly faster pace

1 x week: 50 min spinning class

1 x week: 45 min swim at a med-high pace

1 x week: strength training at the gym and/or pump class (mostly focussed on strengthening core)

this seems like a lot, but i'll be able to combine some of the activities on the same day (ie. running for 30 mins outside on my way up to the gym, to go for a swim or do a pump class). and anyways, i've just joined a fabulous new gym and need to get my monies worth! it was voted 2nd best gym in london, and is my treat for dealing with a lifetime of showering with hair caked to the bottom of my feet... hmmmmm.... tasty....

on the road german style

two days. two bikes.


cycling from berlin to poland


germany is top notch for cycling. really. england could learn a few things. our ‘cycle’ map took us along a succession of purpose built cycle only paths – through beautiful forests, along rivers, through towns. Often the cycle path was in better condition than the actual road.

our trip didn’t start well, and we cycled in the wrong direction for 45 minutes. whoops. not one to turn around, we re-evaluated the route and continued.

unfortunately, I didn’t have my trusty speedy racer. unable to deal with the hassle of taking it on the plane, I borrowed my friend’s putt putt bike. I thought it would be okay, but every slight incline was painful. I felt like I was in an episode of antiques roadshow. the bike was old, heavy, three gears, small frame. I tried to grin and bear it – but it’s like going from first class back to economy. the next trip, I’m finding a way to get my racer on the bloody plane.

making it to poland was great – we didn’t take our passports and glided past the border without incident. coming back was a little trickier – as we were on the train – and there were some hairy moments as the police went through the carriage checking passports (but stopping short of us for some reason!!)

I’ve learnt a few things this trip.

1. do not return to the ye olde crappe bikey. ever.

2. cycling in autumn is brilliant!!

3. take passport when crossing borders