First Blog of the New Year

A Family Photo

(I'm the one in the waistcoat)

Hi All

I know it’s been a while since I last ‘blogged’ but now we’re in January 2011 hopefully I’ll get back on course.  

Let me get the important bit out of the way and wish you all a Happy New Year. We had a quiet one spending some of the time in a small place in Co. Cork called Castletownbere, and the remainder of it in Clonmel. I would recommend a visit to Castletownbere as the scenery is well worth seeing. We’ve had no water at home since the 19^th December 2010, and even now there’s only a very slight trickle coming from the kitchen tap. It makes you realise how reliant we’ve become on commodities we take for granted.

Now back to the Ironman training that’s starting to take over my whole life, and change the way I live it. Over Christmas I spent time planning out a 32 week training program, which will commence on the 1^st February 2011 and end on the day of the big race in Wales. The program details the specifics of every training session on every day. This way I know exactly what is expected of my body, and how the gradual increase in training will occur. It is a demanding program but it’s the only way to ensure I get the best opportunity to complete the gruelling challenge. As part of my training program I have included two short triathlons, one in Co. Cork and the other in Shetland. I know Shetland seems a distance away from Ireland but I’d like to thank my friend Sandra, who’s kindly planned her wedding date to coincide with the Shetland triathlon (fingers crossed they allow me to race in it).     

Over the next few weeks prior to the 32 week program commencing, I intend to continue with my usual daily training routine of swimming, cycling, or running, twice a day. The week over Christmas I didn’t do any training so it feels good to get back into it.

For the first time in my 49 years of existence, I’ve decided that SIZE DOES MATTER! As part of my training program I’ve started to count calories, something I’ve never done before. I’m presently aiming to consume 1950 calories per day, but to date I’ve been eating slightly less. The size of the meals has surprised me as I use to eating at least twice the amount I consume now. My body is getting use to having smaller portions and I’m starting to gauge what foods contain what calories.

While speaking about size my weight has not changed that much over the 3 week period over Christmas having lost only 2lbs, which is better than gaining it I guess. When I started out on this Ironman quest I weighed-in at 242lbs and on the scales last night it showed me at 224lbs. That’s a loss of 18lbs in 10 weeks. More importantly, my body has changed shape from a large rotund shape to a more shapely physique. Mind you I still some pockets of fat to get rid of.

Week 8 - My First Massage

As you can see, when I completed the Lands End to John O'Groats cycle last year, it was very wet at the start of it!

Well this is week 8 of my attempts to try and get fit enough to complete an Ironman race that involves a 3.4 mile swim, 112 mile cycle, followed by a marathon that is a 25.2 mile run (probably more like a walk and jog by the time I start this last section). I’m pleased with my progress so far but still have a long way to go. Last week I managed to complete the 2.4 mile swim in 94 minutes, which is slightly better than previous, but trying to complete it in less than 90 minutes is proving difficult. I’ve focused more on the cycling and running recently and slowly I can feel the benefits of it. Pity the snow spoilt my outdoor training at the weekends. Here are my achievements over the past 2 weeks:

Cycle Ride – 24 miles (only one ride due to the snow)

Exercise Bike - 230 minutes

Run – Unable to due to the snow

Treadmill – 190 minutes

Cross Trainer – 45 minutes

Light Weights – 120 minutes

Rowing machine – Again, not this week!

Swim – 2.4 mile      

Swim - 45 minute training session

Sauna – 15 minutes

Jacuzzi – 30 minutes

Last week I decided to book a massage for myself on the advice of my swimming instructor, Tom. It turned out to be a good idea. Over two years ago I badly tore my calf and although I haven’t encountered any problems with it, Niamh (my masseur) could feel the tightness and scarred tissue around the muscle. Hopefully this preventative measure will avoid any complications at a later date. For days afterwards I could still feel where she had been prodding and rubbing, but to the touch I could also feel the muscle more relaxed.   

I haven’t put my weight up this week because I’ve made a slight blunder with the conversions from pounds to ounces, but I know I’ve lost at least a stone. I’ll have it all sorted for my blog next week.

Week 6 - When the Going Gets Tough!

Week 6 and I’m still putting in the hours at the gym. This week I felt tired; which is probably due to poor sleeping and my body questioning what’s being happening to it during the past month. During my tired periods I have reflected on comments people have made since I publically announced my idea of wanting to compete in an Ironman, which was about 12 months ago. A friend called Stephen never openly doubted my ability of completing such a challenge and even offered to help me with the running, but I’m sure he questioned to himself how someone could drag a short obese body through such an extreme course. I would have questioned it to myself if I was in his shoes! Then there’s Bernie, who when I informed her of my quest, was so confident I would complete it, caused me to worry. It wasn’t the response I was expecting. I know that everyone will have their own views and opinions regarding my ability to achieve the ‘race’ within 17 hours, but I guess the bottom line is ‘do I believe in myself?’ I’m sure over the next 10 months the ‘self-belief’ will vary from one extreme to another, but the important thing is that I keep focused and work hard through the difficult times. Here’s my past week’s training achievements:                 

                                                                  

Cycle Ride – 22 miles

Exercise Bike – 120 minutes

Run – Didn’t get out at the weekend!

Treadmill – 90 minutes

Cross Trainer – 35 minutes

Light Weights – 60 minutes

Rowing machine – Again, not this week!

Swim – 1 mile        

Swim - 40 minute training session

Sauna –   15 minutes

Jacuzzi – Gave it a miss.

It looks as if I’ve had a quieter spell in week 6, which I have.  I felt that my body needed to rest a little because of the aches and pains I was feeling. For the next couple of weeks I’m consciously going to ease off on the swimming a little, and increase the time I spend on the other two disciplines, especially the running. I still find it difficult to focus and maintain a constant pace

Okay, I think it’s time to take stock of what’s happened over the past 4 weeks. Personally I’m pleased with my efforts and the progress I’ve made. I’m feeling the benefits of having lost weight and my stamina has improved with the swimming and cycling, although I still have a long way to go with the running. My swimming has ‘come on a splash’ having completed the required distance of 2.4 miles, on two occasions this past week. My best time for the distance was 96 minutes so I’m now thinking of under 90 minutes as a target. All the work on the Exercise Bike was focused on hill work, and I might continue this over the next few weeks. I intend to adjust my training plan slightly for the next 4 weeks to focus primarily on the running. I need to build on stamina but my biggest problem is keeping my concentration while performing the simple task of placing one foot in front of the other. Here’s my last week's performance:

Cycle Ride – 26 miles

Exercise Bike – 110 minutes

Run – Might be going tomorrow but we’ll see!

Treadmill – 90 minutes

Cross Trainer – 10 minutes

Light Weights – 60 minutes

Rowing machine – Not this week

Swim – 6.3 miles    

Swim  - 2 x training sessions

Sauna –  30 minutes

Jacuzzi – Didn’t get much ‘Jacuzzing’ this week

This morning I transferred the wide comfortable saddle on my bike for a neat slim racing saddle. It looks the part but after a 26 mile cycle this morning, I can tell you I can feel the difference. I will need to adjust a few bits, and get the Vaseline out for my next ride.

It was my fortnightly weighing last Monday and I misplaced 4lbs, which brings my total for the past four weeks to 12lb. I’m expecting the weight loss to slow down but I will be happy if it keeps going the right way (I still have plenty to lose). Fingers crossed for the coming week!  

It’s difficult to believe that I’ve already come to the end of week 3 of my 10 month training plan, in preparation for competing in the Welsh Ironman being held on the 11^th September 2011. The time has flown and now I’m in the routine of visiting the gym or swimming pool, every morning AND evening, it is becoming easier. My plan is to gradually start increasing the swimming, cycling, and running times to hopefully improve my stamina, although the running is still causing me a few problems. I’m not build for running with my shape and weight, and if God wanted me to run he’d given me longer legs. This was last week’s contribution:

Cycle Ride – 1 hour on a cold frosty morning

Exercise Bike – 150 minutes

Run – 40 minutes in the rain

Treadmill – 65 minutes

Cross Trainer – 10 minutes

Light Weights – 30 minutes

Rowing machine – 10 minutes

Swim – 3,200m      

Swim Drills - 65 minutes

Sauna – 30 minutes

Jacuzzi – again, as much as possible

Last Tuesday I enrolled in a local swimming club and had my first lesson. I want to improve my stroke so to use less energy when swimming, but we’ll see how it goes. I’ve paid for another 8 lessons so will hopefully see some progress before Christmas. As you can see, I’ve started to introduce some rowing into my schedule, just to vary the sessions and use muscles in a different way. I still haven’t got to grips with my diet yet, but will have to start looking at it.

Last week I broke a spoke on the bike while cycling, and the same thing has occurred this morning. I’ll have to do a bit of investigating to find out why this is happening. My first thought was that I’m too heavy for the bike and it’s trying to tell me, but surely I would have got that message last year when I used the same bike to cycle form Lands End to John O’Groats. As you can see from my last Blog, I’d lost 8lb in the previous 2 weeks. Tomorrow is my fortnightly weigh-day so fingers crossed I’ve lost a little more. When I get under 16st, psychologically I’ll start to feel better.  

Week 3 - Getting into a Routine

That’s week two completed and I now feel confident enough to say ‘I’m in training for the Ironman’. Until now I have questioned my own ability to develop the level of commitment needed to train for a challenge of this magnitude, but now I feel I am in a daily routine and much more confident. To start the day I get up at 6am and drag myself to the local Leisure & Spa Hotel for session one of my training plan, which usually lasts about an hour. Then in the evening after work I pop back to the Hotel for session two and another hour, which comprises of a different discipline to the morning session. I usually finish the day off with a sauna and Jacuzzi. This past week I have completed:

Cycle Ride – 32 miles

Exercise Bike – 80 minutes

Run – 60 minutes

Treadmill – 20 minutes

Cross Trainer – 60 minutes

Light Weights – 60 minutes

Swim – 2,000m

Swim Drills - 70 minutes

Sauna – 60 minutes

Jacuzzi – as much as possible

As I stated last week, I intend to weigh myself every two weeks and on the 25/10/10 the scales recorded me as being 16st 9lb. This means I’m still classified as being ‘obese’ in the medical world, but showing a loss of 8lb in the past two weeks is good progress. I’m happy with this weight loss and feel healthier for it. It is definitely an incentive to feel the benefits my hard work at such an early stage of my training.

Over the next couple of weeks I’m intending to analyse my dietary needs, and take a few swimming lessons at a local club to improve my stroke. I know there’s over 10 months to go before the big day but already I’m watching the calendar and counting down. Is this paranoia?      

Week 2 - The First Week Behind Me

Hi Again

Well that’s the first week behind me and a productive one it’s been too, as far as I’m concerned. I’ve been posting regular Twitters on my daily progress but for those of you who have a life and haven’t the time to followed them, here’s a summary of my weeks training for next years Ironman in Wales. In total I have completed:

Exercise Bike – 110 minutes

Treadmill – 75 minutes

Swimming – 4,200 metres

Cross-trainer – 45 minutes

Abdominal Exercises – 30minutes

Turkish Sauna – 30 minutes

Jacuzzi – 30 minutes

I am planning to complete 2 disciplines (swim, cycle, or run) daily and incorporate rest days (I have a long bike ride planned for this weekend and Monday, so the fresh air will do me good). I must admit so far I’m finding the Turkish Sauna and Jacuzzi the most enjoyable.  

To those of you who exercise regularly the amount of training I’ve done so far may not seem much, but in my present condition I’m very pleased with it. On the 11/10/10 I weighed 17st 3lb, and for someone of my height that is ‘very obese’ (not a word I’d usually use but that would be the view of the medical world). I will be weighing myself again on the 25/10/10 so we’ll see how much I’ve lost, if any.    

I know giving my self only 11 months to prepare for a challenge of this magnitude is a ‘tall order’, especially in my present physical condition. As long as I can remain positive and follow through with the training program, achieving my goal will continue to be a realistic possibility. I have had a mixed response from people when they have found out about my plans. The athletes among them see it as a foolish and impossible task, while others that know me have been more positive. As usual my mother’s advice is ‘don’t over do it’, and I’m sure she feels I’m too old to be doing this, an opinion she voiced when I completed the Lands End to John-O-Groats (LEJOG) cycle last year.