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.