Jim's ramblings

Hi again,

Can't believe it's 11th June and havnt kept my training diary! Twat! Anyway, it's gone reasonably smoothly apart from the last couple of weeks, where I did the Blenhiem Tri (Sprint) and shirked on that days long bike then got Stomach bug and missed last weekend, then today did the Royal Windsor Tri (Olympic) so missed this weekends long Bike/Run!

Also the training is doing my head in, it's becoming a chore and hence getting on top really, should have joined Tri Club ages ago, but one was starting in our Gym so thought i'd give that a try, but if no-one is training together what's the point!? I need to train with people not on my jack!

Apart from that Windsor was cool today, 20mins quicker than last year! 2hr 42mins 13s for 796/~1500. Missed swim exit tho, so that cost me aminute on the Swim!

Apart from that life is the usual nonsense apart from the fact i've met a girl - yes it's true! And she's OK2!

OK - l8r - jim

Yes, it is isn't it.

Still not nearly as depressing as they used to be when I was a Weekend Warrior! Would still be suffering physically and psycologically until tomorrow usually (yes, my spelling is attrocious). Another reason why I gave up, the hangovers were becoming more than that, I felt depressed, I'd say 10-20% worse than just a hangover. Also I feel that I have become paranoid, both when drinking and after! Definately time to stop. Actually all my worst experiences have been alcohol related.

Another day in the life tho. It's all Gravy bruv...etc...

Training update:
Sunday:
Did 30mins 'spin' at 100RPM on stationary in Gym followed by 25 mins on treadmill and 5 miles on road, then about 30 lengths in pool. Legs felt shagged both then and today. Also shoulders felt fatigued. Def. not a day for Run or Bike today (Monday) so did swimm. Was OK prob about 2200m in total:
WU 450ish
7x 150 @ 20s
1x250 (cramp in L.Foot)
1x100 (Cramp in other foot)
1x400 (8.15s wasnt pushin it tho. and still tryin new stroke)
1x200 WD
Met woman who was instructor, told me some tips for longer stroke & less strokes/length. I tried to incorporate these into sets. These were to stretch more and rotate more giving stronger catch/pull. Also delay start of catch until other hand enters water. It worked I think but knakering trying to do it properly! Her son was there who was about 16 but 6ft and swam like Ian Thorpe at 15 SPL (unlike my 24)!

Home, checked web for (Run) races/Tri's.

Bed at 11.30...Over & Out Mo Fo's

This is my second entry and as I have mentioned my poetry in the first, I thought I would include a short and philisophical one here. Most of the others are pretty dark! I'm hoping that this will reignite the fires, as I havn't writen for bloody ages now!

Pre-amble: I was looking at some old photo's and there was one of me, but I couldn't remember it being taken or anything about it really, it was another lifetime ago or maybe it could even have been someone else! It just made me think. So I wrote this on the back of the photo. OK here goes:

I lived, I was there, but was I?
My life was over in the blink of a Universal eye.
I didn't live long enough to count,
but long enough to add -
to the path of Humanity,
the path that leads to immortality.

OK, cheers - off for run now!

Hi, as this is my first entry, i'd better make it interesting, OK, cheers bye. Ho ho!

Erm, well yes, here I am, it's me, Jim 38, single, intelligent, witty, articulate, into training, science, computers, philosophy, poetry, socialising, outgoing/introspective (depends how I'm feeling), single, OK I said that twice cos I can't believe it's true! There must be someone out there for me, I've just been unlucky! Or just looking in wrong places - like bars, how sad are they! Given up drinking and going to them cos the people I meet are too sad and up themselves.

Other interests: Meteorology, Dance Music - House (Deep/US Vocal/Old Skool/Funky), Old Skool Rave, Trance (tune in to Passion FM 91.8 for Funky house). I know I'm too old (actually that's crap, I've always liked it, and will continue to do so, hard-core till I die!). Actually I don't get out much these days, so not much clubbing going on! Also like Foo Fighters, Skunk Anansie, BRMC, lots of 'Indie' stuff and classical etc...etc...

The Gym, anything, i'm open-minded ;-)

I will talk about all this stuff at some point, but to start:

I am training for:

The IronMan UK 2006 Triathlon - Sherbourne Castle, Somerset,

on 20/08/2006. And as anyone who trains will tell you, you cant do it when you're hungover!

This will also function as a training diary for this event for me and anyone else who's interested in a first time IronMan competitor's training / experiences.

A bit about my Tri experience:
..2nd year of Triathlon
..Completed about 7 triathlons, including Royal Windsor Triathlon 2005 Olympic - No I didn't get free trip on the air ambulance! (It was about 34C that day).
..Never done a Marathon!
..What have I let myself in for!!?

OK. Today I have been a bit sad and FAILED to turn up for a 16 mile run I entered! Great start to blog, not. I had to get up at 05:30 and just couldnt be arsed! I know it's bad, but I will run 1/2 Marathon dist today on my own instead. I will add recent training into this when I've reviewed the layout and got more familiar with it.

Just to say a good book on the subject

Be Iron Fit - time efficient training secrets for ultimate fitness - Don Fink

. Got from Amazon, only about £8:00. It includes 3 30 week training plans for differing levels of expectation - 'Just Finish', 'Intermediate' and 'Competitive'. I am trying to follow the competitive plan, but it's all a bit ad-hoc at the moment, especially my cycling which is a way behaind! Especially as i'm now in the 'Build phase'! Leads me to first tips:
"Keep to the plan if you can"
"Manipulate the plan to fit your life"
It (they) are all structured to include 'gradual adaptation', a gradual increase in duration/intensity over the period with monthly reductions to allow rest and further improvement. This is the bit i'm having trouble with, hence this diary, it really is necessary to do this otherwise you're just lost and training in the dark.
Don't manipulate the content though, it is structured for a reason, just alter the days if you have to.
Also read 220 Triathlon Magazine - a must for any Triathlon fan.

Wright, that's it for now, L8r - Jim