Ben Does Life rocks!

I stumbled across a great read the other day as I was perusing my mates blog (reddirtnurse.blogspot.com) where he'd posted a link to a youtube video Ben Does Life - Youtube

Inspirational is definately an understatement. While I (thankfully) never reached Bens weight I was at my worst 30kgs/66lbs over my BMI.... whilst I find it unlikely I'll reach the 94kgs to sit within the "normal" BMI I'm aiming for 98kgs... to be honest I'd be happy with double digits.

Anyways.. last swing off I managed to do my first ton (100kms) on tke bike... was pretty easy really and J was having leg cramps on the last 1/3 of the ride so I was just spinning along.

The next wasn't so pretty with a 14.4km run (longest again) with an average pace of 9km/hr (which is about normal for a long run for me). We ran down to Point Walter and lordy it had some hills coming back

79 Days..

Hmm 10 days since the last post.. not that there is any particular reason for that.

In the interim I've bought a new wetsuit - a 2XU C1 from totaltriathlon... Definately an interesting feeling putting it on

89 days...

So it's been a while since I last blogged. Bite me. We are gradually drawing closer to the half, 89 days to go to be exact...

I am actually beginning to think that I might have a better than decent chance at completing it within the cutoff time. My running has improved to the point where I might actually enjoy doing running (it helps that my pace is increasing. I managed 11km/hr for 40mins the other day and today I was doing 5 reps of 2mins at 13km/hr. I wouldn't say the last rep was easy... but dammit I wasn't huffing either.
I'd like to do it in under 6:30 but it will be what it will be on the day.

I think its been a combination of improved fitness and a change of running style - I'm endeavoring to land more mid-foot vs heel striking. The fitness has everything to do with my coach Emma Jones who I also work with up on site. I haven't really pulled up sore at all, fatigued definately but not sore! Awesome feeling.

We (Matt, Emma & I) are fortunate to have a friend (Brendan) from work coming over to Canberra with us. It'll make a huge difference with someone around to take some photos and a bit of cheer (and maybe as a gopher post race when I crash in a heap)

Had some good rides lately.. had my first punishment in the hills last week. Garmin Hills Workout

My lovely wife has bought me a Cycleops Fluid 2 for Fathers Day which means I get to punish myself even when time or weather doesn't allow me out.

Three weeks in... Less than 21 to go.

So I made the commitment this week and went ahead and booked a Canberra Half Ironman spot.

Later in the week Em and Matt too the plunge.. which will make the journey a bit easier with us all heading for the goal. We're lucky to have Em, a prior Ironman finisher, Exercise and Sport Science Specialist, Level 1 Tri coach, overseeing our programs.

We're looking at staying at the Breakfree Capital apartments... 3 bedroom apartments that are about 1km from the Start/ Finish line....

I'm looking forward to today... our day of rest as its fly in/out day... had a quick AB/ Pilate session at 0500hrs though... am happy have dropped an inch from the waist, and around 2kgs... obv has everything to do with exercise output and a diet change.

Gadgets and Happenings

OK... it's been a couple of weeks since I posted but things have been going quite well... Em (Coach) has been developing a program... Did something each day during the break (2x Swim sessions, 2x Runs, 2x Cycles). I'm proud because the weather was freakishly awful. As in peeing with rain and howling winds. My thoughts behind getting out in the cold, wind and rain was pretty simple... if I can motivate to get out in this I can get out when its nice too.

I have bought another gadget. A Garmin 310XT, the most nifty thing is the GPS tracking for distance etc. You can view your workouts online... and publish them as well...

All in all... feeling pretty good... dropped some kg's(weighed self today in runners,t-shirt and shorts = 113.4kg) and doing some exercise!

Ride with Emma... Howling wind (100km) by nursepeter at Garmin Connect - Details

Ride with Emma... Howling wind (100km) by nursepeter at Garmin Connect - Details

Am I Going to start again

Funny how things go. After dramas with the last coach... and being shifted to a new site for work I've been lucky enough to be on-swing with a Health and Wellness Specialist (gym instructor) who happens to be a triathlon coach. She's done a number of Ironman's and came 2nd in the Albany tri... best of all she on the same Tues- Tues roster as me! The wicked thing is that I get the personal motivation here and at home and she understands what limitations are here on site for the training!

I admit... I had almost fallen off the rails in the last fortnight. My supposed coach, (Name withheld), basically has not replied to any of my emails since the initial startup, which left me feeling frustrated and unmotivated as the plan just wasn't sitting right. I'm still bitter about throwing a hundred odd dollars at a guy to develop a training plan which was full of errors that I had to contact him about. But what can you do.... can't email him as he seemingly isn't reading them, not much point in phoning him just to say.. I think your service is terrible and I've had to revert back to trying to figure it out myself.

Anyways, I've been coaxed back to some running thanks to my lovely wife, Jess. We'd bought a new bike for her (a semi mountain bike/ hybrid - a Giant with 700c wheels) and a Croozer 535 for Luke to be trailered in.

Not a bad combination as it allows it to convert from trailable to a runner (with the big wheel pictured) to a stroller with a moveable front wheel. I've finally managed to source a 50mm stem for the TT bike too, I'll just need to get a 3/8th 4mm hex socket so I can torque wrench the bolts.

Jess managed to get me out of my funk but dragging us all out on a ride/ run... and so the wheels were in motion again.

I have the City of Perth - Olympic Distance event on Sunday. It'll be interesting because its basically the same swim(1500m), half the bike (40km) and run (10km) of the Half Ironman in May. With my slight sojurn of apathy I'll predict a slow and painful completion of the course. Fingers crossed I don't injure myself.

I Miss my New Seat...

Unfortunately, like I have mentioned in previous posts, I am trying to train whilst doing a fly in/out roster. This isnt so hard except for the change in setup for equipment. Instead of my professional bikefit I have a spin bike which is ok except for the lack of clip in pedals and an anatomical seat... this week as programmed I've done two rides (30 & 40mins) each. I now know what people mean when they talk about how bad seats can place pressure on the blood flow and nerves to the penis.... I mean... after about 25mins I'd begun to lose sensation.. def not a pleasant sensation.... Not sure how i'm going to fix this... I guess the only way will be to get up out of the seat and crank a few minutes regularly to maintain adequate blood flow... hmmm

I came across another good quote today from a running blog as I was searching for reviews on Fitdeck

"EVERY MORNING IN AFRICA, A GAZELLE WAKES UP. IT KNOWS IT MUST OUTRUN THE FASTEST LION OR IT WILL BE KILLED. EVERY MORNING IN AFRICA, A LION WAKES UP. IT KNOWS IT MUST RUN FASTER THAN THE SLOWEST GAZELLE, OR IT WILL STARVE. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE A LION OR GAZELLE - WHEN THE SUN COMES UP, YOU'D BETTER BE RUNNING." - ANONYMOUS

So Fitdeck looks interesting. Basically a set of cards with one exercise on each that you shuffle to derive a different workout each time... There are a number of different sets aimed at different sports/jobs... The ranges are Bodyweight, Yoga, Pilates, Combat Sports, Firefighting, Speed and Agility, Stretching, Pullups, Kettlebells, Travel, Office... plus more... i guess they explain it better here...

I looked through the three sections Starter, Booster and Performance... and wanted to order about $150 worth of decks... bring on pay day!

Other than that training has been going as planned other than deciding not to run in 40-45 deg heat on Sat afternoon... I got up early on Sun morning (0420hrs) and shuffled everything back... so Tuesday (today) isn't going to be my day off... dammit!

Let the Reprogramming commence

Hey, Been a couple of weeks since I last posted.  With it being Xmas I think thats fair! Since I last posted we've managed to get our house under offer, which means a significant weight off my mind, with a reduced mortgage. I turned 36 as well... just another day, though Jess did buy me a great pair of Tri shorts.

I've also had a pro bike-fit which rearranged the geometry on my TT bike to resemble a road bike. According to the physio, this is the most biomechanical way to strengthen the legs... time will tell I guess. All I know is that it feels different. Part of this process was getting a new saddle as part of the service I was sat on a pressure pad and had my pelvis measured (where it contacts the saddle - the "sitting bones") which showed I had a woefully too narrow seat in place (86mm) so I was recommended to buy a Selle SMP Avant (145mm).

$300 of handmade Italian leather under my derriere (?sp)... The big groove down the centre is to protect my soft man-bits (hopefully). It certainly has stopped the numb toes and ball of foot that I'd been experiencing before. It also makes the contact feel more... planted I guess is what you could call it, like sitting on a table, but not in a bad way.

I've enlisted the services of Brian Kempson of Endurance Fitness - a Level 2 Triathlon Australia coach to develop a training program for me with the main goal of completing the Half IM without injury. Basically I said  to Brian - I don't care if I'm crawling over the line at 7:29:59 (the cutoff is 7:30) I just wanna do it. So I started mid week and in the 5 days of training I've covered 4.2km Swimming, 106km Riding and 12.74km Running. The challenges Brian and I face for my program is my Fly in/ Fly out roster. I think my biggest weakness will be the run though I feel like I am running faster than I have run before, for longer.

The next big investment will be a triathlon wetsuit (hopefully before the Olympic Distance tri at the end of the month) I have zero idea as to what to buy, guess some serious research will be occuring this swing.

Upcoming races/events
17th Jan - Cottesloe Classic Mile - 1600m purely swim event
31st Jan - City of Perth Triathlon - Olympic distance - 1.5km Swim/40km Cycle/10km Run

So to put that into perspective... its 400m short of the half ironman swim, a 1hr 20min Cycle and a City to Surf run at the end of it... 3hrs of fun...