Kickass Month.

Just a quick blog post...

This month has been pretty damn good for training.

I did my first century on the bike. Which, incidentally, was also more mileage than I had ever done in a week. I checked that.. I had always fallen a bit short.

Ive also started to hit the pool. As I've mentioned before, Ive never really done any swim training... well, I hit the pool in the second week of the month and then joined a gym and have started to establish a bit of a routine. Ive now done more swimming in the last 3 weeks than I did in all of 2009. This isn't exactly a reflection of three weeks of intense swimming.. its a sign that I just didn't swim last year. In the last 3 weeks Ive swum 10700m... Over 10k of swimming. Sweet!

2 weeks back I hit a good target of 2 workouts in each sport for the week. 2 swims, 2 bikes, 2 runs... AND a weights session.
This week I hit the 2 X 2 X 2 again and its only Friday, which means I'm likely to hit my ideal target for the week which is 2 X swim, 3 X bike, 3 X run for ~ a 10 hour training week.

Today is a rest day though, and I'm very glad of it. I don't yearn for rest days that often, but today I need one.

More london

Got a better photo this morning. It froze overnight. Running on ice is SLOW, took an hour for five miles.

Extremes?

Well after last weeks pleasant runs in san diego, this week I am in london for a few days. Here in london they have had the worst snow for 18 years. Buses were cancelled, most of the tubes were cancelled, as were the trains.
My flight here last night was cancelled, and my journey here today took 5 hours. Essentially the city has ground to a standstill.
So, one of my work buddies and I went running. We ran 5 miles through the snow in hyde park.
Lots of fun!
Attached should be 2 photos, one of the view of the winter wonderland from the train, the second of me running in hyde park.
Oh... And I was wearing shorts.

Mountain top view

Yesterday morning, i drove up the road from my house, parked at the cave hill park carpark and went for a run. The first mile was uphill. I ran right to the top. I got to the point where the path stopped. It was snowing and the wind was cutting. But the they was amazing. The people walking their dogs, wrapped up in coats, hats, scarves etc looked a little surprised by the fact that i was running by them in shorts and a light rain jacket, which made it all the more fun. I then ran the whole way down the mountain, and back home on the roads. 8 miles in total. Not that long, but my longest run in two months. It felt good.

Mountain top view

Yesterday morning, i drove up the road from my house, parked at the cave hill park carpark and went for a run. The first mile was uphill. I ran right to the top. I got to the point where the path stopped. It was snowing and the wind was cutting. But the they was amazing. The people walking their dogs, wrapped up in coats, hats, scarves etc looked a little surprised by the fact that i was running by them in shorts and a light rain jacket, which made it all the more fun. I then ran the whole way down the mountain, and back home on the roads. 8 miles in total. Not that long, but my longest run in two months. It felt good.

Running in san diego

San diego has got to be my favourite place in the world to run. Going out in the morning before dawn and running by the bay is beautiful. Running back and seeing the sun rise over the bay is spectacular.

I posted a pic of myself on facebook that I took of myself while out running with the San Diego skyline in the background and my friend Jen recommended that I should do this everywhere I go. Which seems like a damn good idea.

So here is the sunrise, and me by the bay..

Funnily enough I actually wrote a post on my phone prior to leaving ireland with a photo I took from the top of the cavehill. For some reason sending it failed so I will post that when I get home.

I've had a good week of training. 7 miles tuesday and 5 miles on wednesday and thursday. Also on tues and wed I managed to fit in 10 miles on a stationary bike. Then on wednesday night I did a bit of cross training and some swimming. Probably the most active I've been in a single week since I was a little kid :-) This morning I was out and on the road for my run at 4.45am. Of course back home there is no way I would manage that. It helps when you're jetlagged and waking up superearly anyway.

What? Another day off?

So, at the weekend I tried to continue my new regime as planned. I decided to go to an advanced spin class. I figure, I've been to one class now, that makes me advanced.
Of course, I don't want to make things too easy, so I figure I might as well run to the leisure centre.
So, I run 4 miles, then endure an hour of spinning like crazy while being yelled at by a small woman who really missed her calling as a drill instructor in the US marine corps.
Tough, but fun
Sunday I rounded off the week with a four mile run. Should have been longer but due to a combination of factors (my birthday, oversleeping, dinner at the in-laws and a blister about the size of county cork on the sole of my foot) I figured 4 miles would do it.
So, that is one week of my 10 week half marathon training complete. A 23 mile week... Not bad considering most of the last month I've been totally out of action.
Today, monday was another day off due to travel.

Blog rebirth!

After my typical multi month break from blogging, Im back with more pointless nonsense.
Its 2009 and this year, I have decided, is to be one of lots of exercise and sportiness.
Last year I did 2 10K's... Well one and a half really.
the first was a disaster.
I injured myself a week before the race and tried to run anyway.. but ended up making it worse, having to walk half the course and knocking myself out of training for a few weeks.

The second one was a lot better. I did the Seeley cup in Belfast and finished in a respectable 48.17. My previous personal best in training was about 52 minutes, so I was very happy with that.
I did manage to injure myself a little there too, but after a few physio visits and seeing a podatrist I am back on form again. It was great to find out I have been wearing completely the wrong type of shoe for a year.

This year I have decided to be very ambitious. All last year I gradually increased my running from not running or doing any exercise at all, to running 30 miles a week and with a 10 mile run as my longest.
This year I am planning to do 2 or 3 10k's
2 half marathons (possibly 3)
and 2 sprint triathalons.
Id like to do a full triathalon, but dont think I will be able to get myself to a sufficient level.

This week, I started my training plan for the first half marathon. Its a 10 week plan and will have me prepared to run the Omagh half marathon on the 21st of March. I am also doing a 10k on the 8th of March. then possibly another 10k in April, Another half marathon in May and the first sprint triathalon in June.

My training invovlves running 5 times a week, going to spin classes twice a week, going to the gym and swimming.
Obviously, in order to maximise spending time with my family and holding down a job, this will take some work, so most of my running is late in the evening after Zane goes to bed, and the spin classes twice a week before work.

Its going to be hard work, but I am looking forward to it.

This week I got off to a good start. I got my orthotics from the podiatrist and did 4 miles on Tuesday night, then 5 miles on Wednesday night, then a 45 minute spin class at 6:45 on Thursday morning, then another 5 mile run on Thursday night.

Today, Friday, I am giving myself a day off.

I will keep the blog updated with my progress.

Airports and boredom

Im sitting in the airport in Atlanta Georgia.
This morning I was in Charleston, South Carolina (a BEAUTIFUL place).
I arrived at the airport shortly after 12 for a 3:30 flight.
3 and half hours of waiting.
I arrived here in Georgia at 5.
My flight home was due to leave at 8:25
Another 3 and half hours of waiting.
At about 7 I found out my fliht is not delayed to 11 pm.
Add another 2 and half hours of waiting.
A total of 9 and half hours of sittin around airports in one day.

On the bright side, while browsing the internet I just discovered that Amanda Palmers upcoming Solo album is out soon. I also just realised it is produced by Ben folds.
The same guy who produced the William Shatner/ Henry Rollins/ Adrian Belew track in the post below.
My respect for the man has just grown 100 fold.

*update*
flight pulled back by one hour.. we now leave at 10 pm. Slight improvement.

*update 2*
Ben Folds does a great version of Tiny Dancer, the only Elton John song that I like...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g06RXYsksRg&NR=1

Genius

Henry Rollins.
William Shatter.
Adrian Bellew.
All on a track together.
Pure genius.