Last week and this

Last week was initially supposed to be a big week with loads of cycling and running but with the passport mishap, I almost wrote it off.  However, it didn't turn out too bad; 9 hours of exercise.

Swim: 2 sessions, 2hrs16, 2.3kms
Cycle: 5 sessions, 4hrs25, 60 miles
Run: 2 sessions, 2hrs20, 15.3 miles

This week is very different.  With my marathon on Sunday, I don't want to run too much so I can rest my knee as much as possible. Along with another sports massage, I think that will leave me in pretty good shape for Sunday.  And to try and make some more progress with the swimming, I plan to swim most days.

Monday: Cycle with my daughter plus 1 hour on turbo trainer
Tuesday: 45 minutes swim plus sports massage
Wednesday: 45 minutes swim plus 30 minutes run
Thursday: 45 minutes swim
Friday: 45 minutes swim plus 30 minutes run
Saturday: 1:1 swim lesson and then group lesson (planned)
Sunday: Marathon

The best laid plans...

Its always dangerous to leave passports unchecked until the day before a holiday!!!

My wife and the girls were meant to be flying to Lanzarote last Monday leaving me with a week to my self, free from any responsibility.  However, it turned out that my youngest had an out of date passport so there was no option but for a third of the travelling party to stay at home.  No lie-ins for me.  Arrrggghhh.

So we've made the most of it.  I had to ditch my mate Ed and go to Devon with the littlun.  My Dad looked after her for a morning so I could get a very pleasant 11 mile run in on my favourite ever route.  It is seriously hilly which I love and time goes out the window.  After the first hairy mile on the main road (no path), it is tiny lanes with no cars and stunning views.  I had to stop and take some photos.

I'm also shipping my daughter off to a club so I can at least go swimming and do a run or two.  I can't, however, ride as I can't be too far away in case I have to collect her early for any reason.

So tomorrow is a swim, maybe a short run and a stretch followed by a sports massage.  11 days until the marathon so I have to take it reasonably easy :-)

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to one and all. I hope your celebrations went well last night. Fairly tame hear in Centre Parks with a meal and then impressive fireworks with my wife and kids but all good fun.

I can't quite believe its 2010. It seems only yesterday I was sipping champagne and saying how shocked I was that it had changed century but that was a decade again and a lot has changed.

Looking back I achieved a long in 2009. I took up cycling again, covered nearly 4000 miles and completed the Etape. I still managed 570 miles of running and finished a very tough marathon. But that is all in the past and like a shark, I need to keep moving, focus on new goals and make plans (does a shark make plans). And that of course, is the marathon and the ironman.

With this in mind, I really want to start training. Its been over two weeks since the operation and its all going well. I had my stitches out on Tuesday and all my wounds are closed. I still have a bit of pain where I am bruised but nothing too bad.

After leaving my Mum's in Devon, we went to Longleat for four days in Centre Parks. I went swimming with the girls and just had a mess about and a little swim to see how I felt. I had been told by different doctors to wait between 3 and 6 weeks before exercising but I felt completely fine after the swim. No pain, no discomfort, no issues as far as I could see and feel. Foolishly or not, I declared myself fit.

So yesterday I went for my first proper swim in about 8 years. There is no dedicated swimming pool in Centre Parks but given the number of wave pools, slides, rapids and outdoor heated pools, the main pool area is not that busy. I'm guessing its about 20 meters across and I started doing laps. My aim was between 30 and 45 minutes. I think I did about 40 mins with a small wait for the wave machine half way through. I tried to concentrate on some of the technique I had seen in a swim DVD that came with a Tri220 mag. I also listened to things my daughter had told me about pointing your elbow (she is an excellent swimmer). I was fine at times but struggled to breathe when turning to my left. Got a few mouthfuls of water and had a few panics. I did 28 widths and was pleased but know I have a long way to go.

I have also done a bit of cycling with my daughter on a tag-along. She is getting big and there are a lot of hills so its hard cycling. I might have overdone it a little yesterday so I'm taking it easy today. Then back in the pool tomorrow as I want to get as confident as possible before my lessons start on the 16th.

I wish you all well with whatever plans you have for 2010. Special thoughts to Ed who is still struggling with his chest. Get well soon.