I notched up just over 27 miles in 7 runs and over 6miles in 7 swims during January.

January 2012 Running

Foor Quantum Wetsuit

Friday: 4Km swim – 5 x (200m freestyle, 200m kick board & 200m hand paddles) + 1000m freestyle
Saturday: 60mi cycle – this was a large charity run – I had a great first 30 ave 20.8mph but the return I had cramp for last 20miles
Sunday: 3.5mi run
Monday: 30mi cycle
Tuesday:  4Km swim – 5 x (200m freestyle, 200m kick board & 200m hand paddles) + 1000m freestyle
Wednesday: 31mi cycle (cold & wet not fun)
Thursday: 6mi run (slow but steady 9:40min/mi)
Friday rest day
Saturday: 34mi cycle

Monday’s ride was nice as there was a few of us out doing it; Dave, Ian, Nev & Jim. On Tuesday Jim tuned up bike gears and it’s shifting better than it ever has, thanks Jim.

I’ve also signed up for an open water sprint triathlon on Saturday week, it’s the only sea sprint this year and I’m really looking forward to see how I do. My swimming is going great and I feel strong in the pool but I’ve never been able to transfer this into open water. I got a new wetsuit so let’s hope that does the trick. I think Ian & Dave are doing it with me.

Nutrition wise I’ve also been doing well, rarely have I manage to sustain training and dieting but for now it’s working.

I cycled to work on Tuesday and returned via Doagh.
Then cycled to work on Wednesday
On Thursday I was doing swim drills before work and after took the bike to get the gears fixed as they ware jumping following a wee fall a couple of week ago.
Then on Friday I hit the gym before work but just did some time on treadmill and the exercise bike.

Since my heel didn’t get any worse on the running machine I going to go for a wee run with Mark in a short while. To get me in the mood I’m watching the Madrid ITU triathlon and have just had some toast with Nutella as a late lunch.

In other new I’m switching my phone an broadband to Sky and as a result I’ll not have any broadband for about 10days. So I’m guessing this’ll be the first month I ever come close to maxing out my data usage on the iPhone. I’m using it now to post this.

The hope is to be able to train loads this summer as I’m off for two months. I’ve loads of work to do while off but I can do it on my schedule so I’ll leave it for the raining days, if we get any LOL.

I’ve been up to my neck in marking. It turns out I’m very slow at it and I’ll probably be at it most of Easter. I should have known this would be the case I’m a slow reader but I’ll just have to work hard at keeping on top of thing more next year.

Speedo Elite Kick Board

Speedo Power Paddle

As for training I’ve been trying to fit in. My swimming has been going great. For the first time ever I’ve started doing drills, as I treated my self to some new equipment for my birthday. Just three simple ones, 200m Free Style, 200m Kick Board (Speedo Elite Kick Board) and 200m Hand Paddle (Speedo Power Paddle). I usually do two set of this with a 200m freestyle to finish off but this morning as I was in no rush I did 5 sets and it felt great. The paddles really make your upper arm work.

Profile Jammer

Yesterday I did 36miles on the bike and got to try out my new tri-bars. They do help you go faster but it’s not that easy to stay down in them for very long. Probably due to my big belly.

The next Tri is 2weeks tomorrow in Limavady. The target is last year’s 1:26. Before that I have a 5miles running race on Monday in Whitehead, last year I didn’t finish so it should be easy enough to beat that (I hope).

First of all life

Today was the deadline for applications for a full time post doing the job I’ve been doing for the past year at work, let’s hope no one else has applied!!

Swimming

Last Tuesday I manage a sub 30min for 1500m (60 lengths) for the first time, granted it was only just under 30mins but it was good to do it. Then this morning I did 750m in 14:03, which is great because I’ve been struggling to get under the 15min mark and I’ve only came close to that time in races when I’ve been able to draft a faster swimming and also had all the extra adrenalin that comes with race day.

Today's run

Running

After 6 weeks away from running due to injury I started 3 weeks ago to run again. The first run I did was 1.5mi and my leg got sore after 1mi, the next two were the same run and thankfully my leg held up, Last Saturday I did 3.1mi and my leg held up and today I did just under 4mi and again my leg held up but it’s starting to get a little sore now.

Today’s run was round the middle dam at Woodburn forest, it’s a really nice place to run and the sun setting across the dam was really colourful.

Server Move

After a very busy Friday when the pupils were off, but most of the staff wanted a chat with me, I headed home to start half-term by spending the rest of the evening (and some of the next morning) facilitating a server move for the school VLE and sites. The VLE move was smooth but our school site is built on Movable Type and it was playing happy. Thankfully the people who host our sites (Synergy Learning) have great customer support and one of their staff worked with me via email until all the bugs were ironed out, even though they don’t officially support it.

Anyway after finishing off on Saturday morning, I had some lunch and then got on my bike for a ride to Browns Bay. It was only my second cycle of the year and I was happy enough at doing the hilly 30miles even if it was slow and well below the average cadence I aim for. It was good to be out on the bike and hopefully I get out on it loads over the next wee while to get my miles up and toughen my butt which is very sore.

Garman Route

I signed up for my first triathlon of the year, the Try-athlon in Portlaoise in April. Dave & Ian had planned to come but didn’t apply on time so are on the waiting list and will hopefully get a spot, otherwise it’ll be a long trip and boring night in a hotel just like last year!

I also got to watch True Grit on Saturday night (the new version) and it was great. Well worth going to see in the cinema, if you have 2 hours free.

I also managed to fit in 60 lengths on Sunday before church to add to the 60 I did on Friday and the 100 I did on Tuesday. I just need to get rid of this sore calf and get out running again and my training will be in full swing again.

To round off a busy weekend I installed this new theme for my blog and then spent about 10 hours fixing it to show what I wanted. I’m quite happy with the results – do you like it?

Swimming

Yesterday I went for a swim and it was fun. That is all!!

3 weeks back

Running
Monday: 3.1mi @ 8.04min/mi + 1mi walk, jog, 3/4, sprint round small hockey pitch
Tuesday: 1.5mi @ 8:20 + 50min indoor football
Thursday: 4mi @8:35
Saturday: 1.7mi @ 12:18 (20min rest) 6.1mi @9:26 (first 10K 58:38)
Total for week: 17.6miles

Swimming
Sunday: 1500m Swim in 29:49
Tuesday: 800m 2min/200m sets, 1.5mi
Friday: 1000m in 19:50
Sunday: 1500m  in 29:31

Best of all I’ve no major pain in my calves after years of bother with them. I have a slight niggle in my achilles and tired muscles but nothing major.

The Thursday night running club with no name and no official capacity had it’s second and we seen another 4 new people come along, all at different levels. Hopefully a few more guys will come this week. The guys that came along forced my Thursday run beyond my comfortable 3.1mi mark to 4mi and at a decent pace considering the decent climb at half way stage.

This in turn gave me confidence on Saturday. I met Ross for our Saturday morning run and he had only had 3hours sleep thanks to his son’s cold. I forced him to get ready and come out into the cold wet morning anyway. He made it round the 1.7mi loop (only his second time running in ages) and we watched 20min of TV back at his house (An Idiot abroad). I then set of to run another loop but when I got the point I need to turn I decided to go to the next road and then the next and then then next and then I was feeling good so decided to keep going and try my first 10K. I made it!! Slow but steady and with only a little pain on my toes.

Tinker

I started Sunday week ago with a 1500m swim, I’ve done another 3 since then taking my time from 32:30 to 29:39 my first sub 30min 1500m. I’ve also started running again but have only made it twice for a 2mi and 3mi, I plan to run every Monday between my day job and a night class at 6pm. I’m also trying to organise an ad-hok running club with a bunch of friends from my church and beyond. The plan is to warm up together and then head out on whatever distance runs suit them best. I’ve planned a series of runs from 1mi – 9mi and hopefully there’ll be someone for everyone to run with. Tomorrow night is the first night, I just hope my throat (which is sore) doesn’t get any worse and my stiffness and pains after football last night are gone.

I’ve also register for Parkrun and hope to make it along to the 5Km runs once a month once it starts to track my progress and give me a target to work towards.

As you can see we have a new addition to the house in the form of Tinkerbelle (my niece named her). It takes some getting use to having never had a cat or a dog but she a lovely cat. However she has the ability to stop me working at will.