4 days to go
Sorry for no blog posts over the last couple of days but nothing much has been happening except for a run yesterday. Of course it was New Years Eve last night and while most of you may have been partying and enjoying yourselves, I was one of those people who was in bed before midnight, completely sober of course.
I wanted to do a light run the other day but unfortunately my GPS device no longer works after my crash the other week. Due to that, I wanted to know how far I was going to go so decided to do the same run that I did the other day. I knew that it was a 12.9km run so would see if there were any major increases in performance. I woke up and was ready to rugby 7:30am. While I was getting ready I looked at my running gear and decided to opt for my racing suit instead. I saw it as another opportunity to get used to the suit and know if I needed to make any adjustments to it before race day. I put it on, filled up one drink bottle and grabbed a gel on the way out.
As I started to run I was feeling quite good and managed to get into a good rhythm early. I was on a Americas cup yacht about a month ago and was one of the grinders in a race against another boat. You rotated your arms around Ian circular motion to grind the sail up and the rhythm and motion I was performing felt very comfortable. When I felt like my cadence was slowing I focused on my arm rotation and my legs would speed up.
It was hot already and I was looking forward to seeing how I would go in the heat. I ran to the turnaround point and was feeling amazingly good. I was going to take the gel to see how it would impact me for the return 6km but was feeling so god so decided not to use it. I looked down at my watch and I was flying. I hit the bottom of the street and was 15 minutes ahead of my time the other day with only a couple of kilometres to go. I was pushing the last couple of hills and hit the house 3 minutes ahead of my time. 3 minutes doesn't sound like a lot but at my speed, that is about 3/4 of a kilometer in distance which ends up a lot. Anyway, at the end of it all I felt good. It also felt good that there was no more exercise to take place until race day. The preparation had been done and now it was time to relax and get ready with the other elements of the race including a last check of the bike and my nutritional needs. More about that tomorrow though...
Monday, 31 December 2012
Saturday, 29 December 2012
29.12.12 Morning Swim
7 days to go
This morning I woke to the sun shining through my bedroom window and an absolute cracker of a day. My wish to have a swim this morning was looking good. I had a light breakfast and then got changed into my racing suit that Santa had given me as I did not want to be wearing it for the first time in the race. It was looking warm outside but I knew that I had to wear my wetsuit to get used to it for the race. I made sure to grab some Vaseline to stop chaffing around my neck as this has been my issue in the past leaving a sore red rash around the side of my neck that resembles a large hickey...not the best thing to have on your neck whilst at work.
We go down to the beach and I put on the wetsuit. It is hot and I really don't need it but as mentioned, it is something that I need to prepare for. I look at the swim cap and decide that it is way too hot to wear that as well. I put on my goggles after being zipped up and head into the water. My plan is to swim to the boat ramp, then head to the other end of the beach and back to the ramp and then back to the jetty were my support crew (Victoria, Mum and Lachlan) are waiting on the beach. I head out and to the boat ramp and I am already warm in the wetsuit. I am feeling tired in my arms but that is me just warming up. I hit the boat ramp and then turn around and head towards the rocks at the other end of the beach, an 850 metre swim. I start heading out and am feeling okay. My arms have warmed up and I am feeling comfortable. I continue to swim for what seems like forever and the tree sitting on the edge of the water above the rocks looks no closer. Eventually I get there and turn around for the return 850 metre swim. As I start to head back I see a tent on the beach and decide to judge my speed on how quickly I pass it. I am swimming and don't seem to be getting any closer or looking like I am going to pass the tent. I keep going and realise that I am in some kind of rip. I stop swimming swim closer to the beach and then keep going. I am soon passing the blue tent. I am now heading to the jetty and feeling quite good.
I eventually hit the jetty and go past it with 200 metres to go to the boat ramp and back. I start to pick up the pace, I am feeling quite good although the arms are now tired. I hit the boat ramp and turn around with 200 metres to go until the finish. I have a big kick going now and have the arm cadence high. I hit the jetty, turn right towards the beach and before I know it I can see the sand below me. I make it to the beach and onto the sand. I quickly remove the wetsuit, head into the water to cool off before heading for a well deserved coffee and a relaxing afternoon in the sun.
This morning I woke to the sun shining through my bedroom window and an absolute cracker of a day. My wish to have a swim this morning was looking good. I had a light breakfast and then got changed into my racing suit that Santa had given me as I did not want to be wearing it for the first time in the race. It was looking warm outside but I knew that I had to wear my wetsuit to get used to it for the race. I made sure to grab some Vaseline to stop chaffing around my neck as this has been my issue in the past leaving a sore red rash around the side of my neck that resembles a large hickey...not the best thing to have on your neck whilst at work.
We go down to the beach and I put on the wetsuit. It is hot and I really don't need it but as mentioned, it is something that I need to prepare for. I look at the swim cap and decide that it is way too hot to wear that as well. I put on my goggles after being zipped up and head into the water. My plan is to swim to the boat ramp, then head to the other end of the beach and back to the ramp and then back to the jetty were my support crew (Victoria, Mum and Lachlan) are waiting on the beach. I head out and to the boat ramp and I am already warm in the wetsuit. I am feeling tired in my arms but that is me just warming up. I hit the boat ramp and then turn around and head towards the rocks at the other end of the beach, an 850 metre swim. I start heading out and am feeling okay. My arms have warmed up and I am feeling comfortable. I continue to swim for what seems like forever and the tree sitting on the edge of the water above the rocks looks no closer. Eventually I get there and turn around for the return 850 metre swim. As I start to head back I see a tent on the beach and decide to judge my speed on how quickly I pass it. I am swimming and don't seem to be getting any closer or looking like I am going to pass the tent. I keep going and realise that I am in some kind of rip. I stop swimming swim closer to the beach and then keep going. I am soon passing the blue tent. I am now heading to the jetty and feeling quite good.
I eventually hit the jetty and go past it with 200 metres to go to the boat ramp and back. I start to pick up the pace, I am feeling quite good although the arms are now tired. I hit the boat ramp and turn around with 200 metres to go until the finish. I have a big kick going now and have the arm cadence high. I hit the jetty, turn right towards the beach and before I know it I can see the sand below me. I make it to the beach and onto the sand. I quickly remove the wetsuit, head into the water to cool off before heading for a well deserved coffee and a relaxing afternoon in the sun.
Friday, 28 December 2012
28.12.12 Morning Ride
8 days to go
There was no post yesterday as nothing much happened apart from me having a relaxing day and then ging on a date with my wife to go and have a nice steak dinner followed by a broadway show (Mary Poppins). We got home reasonably late and I was shattered but knew that I had to get to bed as a morning ride was in order.
The alarm had not gone off but Lachlan was stirring, the cord on the blinds was smacking against the wall and and a fly was flying around the rooms, all the things that could possibly annoy you and make you want to get up...so I did. I got dressed and headed out. The weather was overcast and not looking too bad. At the last minute I grabbed a Glad Sandwich bag to put my phone in, just in case there was a bit of rain...something I would be thankful later on.
I decided that I would do a shortish ride, around the 50km mark followed by a light jog to warm down. The start of the ride felt good. It was nice to be back on the bike again however I was conscious of the fact that this possibly could be another ride riddled with flat tyres as had happened in previous weeks and was hoping that it would not be the case. The ride was relatively flat to a little town called Clevedon. I knew it was around 15km from the house to Clevedon, another 10km inland to a place called Whitford followed by another 10km ride back home. Due to that being a short ride I decided to go past Clevedon by 10km and then turn around so that I could extend the ride by another 20km. I made it to Clevedon and was feeling good and continued on for another 10km. I hit a little township and turned around and no sooner had I done so, the weather turned. It was pouring down, so much so that I had to tilt my head as the rain was hedging straight for my face. At first I was thinking that this weather sucked but then I realised that it wasn't cold, it wasn't that windy and it was only water so why was I worried. According to the weather report, these will be the race conditions on the 5th so might as well get used to them.
I was heading into Clevedon and saw the inland road turnoff to Whitford. I took the road and realised that at least the next 5km was going to be straight up. As I was pushing up the hills the road that was well used by Dairy Farmers and wet was not allowing my rear tyre to grip as I was coming out of the saddle. It was happening to the point that I had to slow down my cadence I fear of the rear wheel slipping out and me coming off the bike. I soon came over the crest of the hill however I remembered the conditions going up so was careful coming back down the other side. I made it to Whitford and then continued the undulating road back to the house. I made it home with a ride of 59 km under the belt. I dropped off the bike and put on the Vibram's and headed out for a jog around the block. My legs felt good and the 1.5km loop ended fairly quickly. I probably won't be doing another ride until the race. The focus will be on the swimming and the running over the next week, particularly an ocean swim tomorrow if the weather is nice. Below is the link to today's ride and run.
Clevedon Ride
There was no post yesterday as nothing much happened apart from me having a relaxing day and then ging on a date with my wife to go and have a nice steak dinner followed by a broadway show (Mary Poppins). We got home reasonably late and I was shattered but knew that I had to get to bed as a morning ride was in order.
The alarm had not gone off but Lachlan was stirring, the cord on the blinds was smacking against the wall and and a fly was flying around the rooms, all the things that could possibly annoy you and make you want to get up...so I did. I got dressed and headed out. The weather was overcast and not looking too bad. At the last minute I grabbed a Glad Sandwich bag to put my phone in, just in case there was a bit of rain...something I would be thankful later on.
I decided that I would do a shortish ride, around the 50km mark followed by a light jog to warm down. The start of the ride felt good. It was nice to be back on the bike again however I was conscious of the fact that this possibly could be another ride riddled with flat tyres as had happened in previous weeks and was hoping that it would not be the case. The ride was relatively flat to a little town called Clevedon. I knew it was around 15km from the house to Clevedon, another 10km inland to a place called Whitford followed by another 10km ride back home. Due to that being a short ride I decided to go past Clevedon by 10km and then turn around so that I could extend the ride by another 20km. I made it to Clevedon and was feeling good and continued on for another 10km. I hit a little township and turned around and no sooner had I done so, the weather turned. It was pouring down, so much so that I had to tilt my head as the rain was hedging straight for my face. At first I was thinking that this weather sucked but then I realised that it wasn't cold, it wasn't that windy and it was only water so why was I worried. According to the weather report, these will be the race conditions on the 5th so might as well get used to them.
I was heading into Clevedon and saw the inland road turnoff to Whitford. I took the road and realised that at least the next 5km was going to be straight up. As I was pushing up the hills the road that was well used by Dairy Farmers and wet was not allowing my rear tyre to grip as I was coming out of the saddle. It was happening to the point that I had to slow down my cadence I fear of the rear wheel slipping out and me coming off the bike. I soon came over the crest of the hill however I remembered the conditions going up so was careful coming back down the other side. I made it to Whitford and then continued the undulating road back to the house. I made it home with a ride of 59 km under the belt. I dropped off the bike and put on the Vibram's and headed out for a jog around the block. My legs felt good and the 1.5km loop ended fairly quickly. I probably won't be doing another ride until the race. The focus will be on the swimming and the running over the next week, particularly an ocean swim tomorrow if the weather is nice. Below is the link to today's ride and run.
Clevedon Ride
Tuesday, 25 December 2012
26.12.12 Extreme weather
10 days to go
So I woke up this morning with what felt like a hangover. A monstrous headache. Of course a hangover is impossible unless the Christmas cake had more brandy in it than I thought! I felt quite lethargic also so the last thing I wanted to do was go for a run. Looking outside the weather looked worse than yesterday so agin no real motivation to run. But I got changed, had a glass of juice and off I went. I was prepared to do a casual 10km run along the beach front but as I got past the 3km mark, I started to feel a lot better. It was about at time that the weather turned up a notch and the rain came pouring down. It was warm and humid and was not cold so it didn't bother me. There was a strong breeze and looking at the weather forecast for Tauranga in ten days time, it made me think that these could be the conditions that I will be running in during the race. Not much different from Wellington so maybe all those training sessions in Wellington will pay off! I hit the turnaround point and continued back towards home. I realised why I had been feeling so much better on the first half of the run, I had been running with a tailwind. I was now running straight into a head wind and I knew it was going to be a hard slog home. But it wasn't. I was feeling quite good despite me being soaked and the wind, to the point where I decided to extend my run a little further. I got home and 12.8km was complete.
After a nice breakfast I decided to try and figure out how I could upload my training session online. I have tried a couple of times in the past and had various problems but tried it again using my new work laptop. After a bit of fiddling around it finally decided to work. I can now upload my excercise so that you can view what I have been doing. It also means that I can store the info online rather than on a hard drive meaning I have less chance of losing them as has happened in the past. Anyway, here is my run this morning for you to view. Enjoy!
Beachlands Run
So I woke up this morning with what felt like a hangover. A monstrous headache. Of course a hangover is impossible unless the Christmas cake had more brandy in it than I thought! I felt quite lethargic also so the last thing I wanted to do was go for a run. Looking outside the weather looked worse than yesterday so agin no real motivation to run. But I got changed, had a glass of juice and off I went. I was prepared to do a casual 10km run along the beach front but as I got past the 3km mark, I started to feel a lot better. It was about at time that the weather turned up a notch and the rain came pouring down. It was warm and humid and was not cold so it didn't bother me. There was a strong breeze and looking at the weather forecast for Tauranga in ten days time, it made me think that these could be the conditions that I will be running in during the race. Not much different from Wellington so maybe all those training sessions in Wellington will pay off! I hit the turnaround point and continued back towards home. I realised why I had been feeling so much better on the first half of the run, I had been running with a tailwind. I was now running straight into a head wind and I knew it was going to be a hard slog home. But it wasn't. I was feeling quite good despite me being soaked and the wind, to the point where I decided to extend my run a little further. I got home and 12.8km was complete.
After a nice breakfast I decided to try and figure out how I could upload my training session online. I have tried a couple of times in the past and had various problems but tried it again using my new work laptop. After a bit of fiddling around it finally decided to work. I can now upload my excercise so that you can view what I have been doing. It also means that I can store the info online rather than on a hard drive meaning I have less chance of losing them as has happened in the past. Anyway, here is my run this morning for you to view. Enjoy!
Beachlands Run
25.12.12 Christmas Celebrations
11 days to go
Well if I was worried about the heat on race day in either Tauranga or Auckland, it seems I have little to worry about. The temperature today was a mild 21 degrees however completely overcast and raining and predicted to stay like that much of the following week. Of course I looked at the weather in Wellington and it is a stunning day...very frustrating.
It was Christmas Day today and probably the first Christmas that I have not had a drink. The closest I came was eating some Tiramisu and when I poured the flaming brandy over the Christmas pudding. I was offered many a sip of wine today and you know what I probably should have at least had a sip as it will hardly do any harm but that is not the point. What started out as a test for me to lose some wait turned into a battle of will power to make it through to the 5th of January. That has since been extended with the Auckland race now on the 20th however I am so close to the end now that I can literally taste it!
Christmas was awesome today though and was a really chilled out day which is just what I needed. I did feel a little lazy eating copious amounts of food and doing no exercise however that is what the next 11 days are going to be about. Excercise and a focus in my diet. Plenty of protein and starting to reduce the fibre. Nothing worse than needing to go to the toilet halfway through a race! So regardless of weather it was a pleasure to spend this time with my family. Santa was also good to me this year bringing me a 2xu triathlon racing suit for me to wear for the race.
Time to go and relax with thoe family before heading off to bed as I am getting up for a 10km run before breakfast. Merry Christmas everybody and see you tomorrow.
Well if I was worried about the heat on race day in either Tauranga or Auckland, it seems I have little to worry about. The temperature today was a mild 21 degrees however completely overcast and raining and predicted to stay like that much of the following week. Of course I looked at the weather in Wellington and it is a stunning day...very frustrating.
It was Christmas Day today and probably the first Christmas that I have not had a drink. The closest I came was eating some Tiramisu and when I poured the flaming brandy over the Christmas pudding. I was offered many a sip of wine today and you know what I probably should have at least had a sip as it will hardly do any harm but that is not the point. What started out as a test for me to lose some wait turned into a battle of will power to make it through to the 5th of January. That has since been extended with the Auckland race now on the 20th however I am so close to the end now that I can literally taste it!
Christmas was awesome today though and was a really chilled out day which is just what I needed. I did feel a little lazy eating copious amounts of food and doing no exercise however that is what the next 11 days are going to be about. Excercise and a focus in my diet. Plenty of protein and starting to reduce the fibre. Nothing worse than needing to go to the toilet halfway through a race! So regardless of weather it was a pleasure to spend this time with my family. Santa was also good to me this year bringing me a 2xu triathlon racing suit for me to wear for the race.
Time to go and relax with thoe family before heading off to bed as I am getting up for a 10km run before breakfast. Merry Christmas everybody and see you tomorrow.
Monday, 24 December 2012
24.12.12 Holiday Time
12 days to go
After a busy day at work it was time to go home and finish my packing for my trip to Auckland. The bike had been packed and it was some last minute things that had to be thrown into the bike box before it was taped up ready to be transported. Not only was the bike going but anything associated with the bike and from a nutritional perspective so there was nuts, fruits, drink bottles and Gatorade not to mention a bike pump that needed to be included in the box.
I eventually made it to Auckland straight into the festive cheer with bottles of wine opened, beers being offered around and me thinking to myself that not drinking over this period was going to suck!
After a busy day at work it was time to go home and finish my packing for my trip to Auckland. The bike had been packed and it was some last minute things that had to be thrown into the bike box before it was taped up ready to be transported. Not only was the bike going but anything associated with the bike and from a nutritional perspective so there was nuts, fruits, drink bottles and Gatorade not to mention a bike pump that needed to be included in the box.
I eventually made it to Auckland straight into the festive cheer with bottles of wine opened, beers being offered around and me thinking to myself that not drinking over this period was going to suck!
Sunday, 23 December 2012
23.12.12 Mt Kaukau Run
13 days to go
I had a great sleep last night and woke to the sun rising. Feeling refreshed after no alarm going off I got dressed into my running gear ready for a run to Mt Kaukau. Something that I have not done for a while so bring on 14km of hills and awesome views. As I was filling my drink bottles I thought about taking a gel wi me as it was looking hot outside and I need to get my body used to taking them as you don't want to be heading into a race playing with your nutrition especially taking gels when you have not taken them in your training. As I am thinking about them a mild panic sets in as I don't recall seeing the gels that I bought when I took my bike in for a service the other week. Not only that, the spare tyres that I purchased are also missing. I start looking around the house and can't recall even brining the bag with the items in from the bike shop. Before I think about calling the bike shop to see if a week ago someone left their purchases on the counter, I decide to check the car. The car yields no expensive magic shopping bag of goodies. I am in the back seat and I lean over and check the boot. There is the bag in the back. I had put a case in there the other day and did not see it so it must have been covered up in some way but has miraculously uncovered itself. I grab the bag, decide not to take a gel out and head out for the run.
I start my run and it is warm. The sun is out and I am thinking to myself that this time in a couple of weeks I will probably be just about to start the run leg. I run to the bottom of Mt Kaukau and where I would normally stop, I keep running. It is weird how you can judge your fitness when you do the same routes you used to do but can do the father or with much more ease than in the past. Based on how I am feeling, I will be running all the way to the top. I hit the bottom of the winding stairs that means that you are near the top and my lungs are burning. I keep going knowing I have only a little way to go and finally reach the top. I am shattered and my heart rate is maxing out. As much as it hurts it is good to be putting my body through that pain as it will be similar to that in a couple of weeks for around 5.5 hours straight. I stop and have a short rest before continuing to walk up the track before running again. I am hurting from the run up the stairs it its is more than that and I am starting to realise that the heat is taking its toll. I am sweating big time and can feel the sun on me. It is around 21 degrees and no wind, it is only going to be hotter on race day. As I make it to the top, enjoy the view and the start heading back down home, I begin to wonder if the training that has been completed in the wind and the hills of Wellington will out way the heat and humidity of Tauranga and Auckland in a months time. I head home and by the time the 14km and 1:40 minutes is up, I am exhausted. My calfs are killing me and I am hot. I cool down with some water and contemplate why I am feeling so rubbish. I decide that the trip to Auckland will not be as relaxing as I once thought. Instead it is going to turn into a climatisation camp. I am going to have to get used to the heat and how it is going to effect me and I only have 13 days to do it.
I had a great sleep last night and woke to the sun rising. Feeling refreshed after no alarm going off I got dressed into my running gear ready for a run to Mt Kaukau. Something that I have not done for a while so bring on 14km of hills and awesome views. As I was filling my drink bottles I thought about taking a gel wi me as it was looking hot outside and I need to get my body used to taking them as you don't want to be heading into a race playing with your nutrition especially taking gels when you have not taken them in your training. As I am thinking about them a mild panic sets in as I don't recall seeing the gels that I bought when I took my bike in for a service the other week. Not only that, the spare tyres that I purchased are also missing. I start looking around the house and can't recall even brining the bag with the items in from the bike shop. Before I think about calling the bike shop to see if a week ago someone left their purchases on the counter, I decide to check the car. The car yields no expensive magic shopping bag of goodies. I am in the back seat and I lean over and check the boot. There is the bag in the back. I had put a case in there the other day and did not see it so it must have been covered up in some way but has miraculously uncovered itself. I grab the bag, decide not to take a gel out and head out for the run.
I start my run and it is warm. The sun is out and I am thinking to myself that this time in a couple of weeks I will probably be just about to start the run leg. I run to the bottom of Mt Kaukau and where I would normally stop, I keep running. It is weird how you can judge your fitness when you do the same routes you used to do but can do the father or with much more ease than in the past. Based on how I am feeling, I will be running all the way to the top. I hit the bottom of the winding stairs that means that you are near the top and my lungs are burning. I keep going knowing I have only a little way to go and finally reach the top. I am shattered and my heart rate is maxing out. As much as it hurts it is good to be putting my body through that pain as it will be similar to that in a couple of weeks for around 5.5 hours straight. I stop and have a short rest before continuing to walk up the track before running again. I am hurting from the run up the stairs it its is more than that and I am starting to realise that the heat is taking its toll. I am sweating big time and can feel the sun on me. It is around 21 degrees and no wind, it is only going to be hotter on race day. As I make it to the top, enjoy the view and the start heading back down home, I begin to wonder if the training that has been completed in the wind and the hills of Wellington will out way the heat and humidity of Tauranga and Auckland in a months time. I head home and by the time the 14km and 1:40 minutes is up, I am exhausted. My calfs are killing me and I am hot. I cool down with some water and contemplate why I am feeling so rubbish. I decide that the trip to Auckland will not be as relaxing as I once thought. Instead it is going to turn into a climatisation camp. I am going to have to get used to the heat and how it is going to effect me and I only have 13 days to do it.
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