cooler weather on the way

Saturday is Race Day, that means five more sleeps - as a friend of mine said today, I'd better make them big ones.

I've decided to take things very easy this week on the training front, I more or less took today off, plan on only swimming tomorrow, will do a cycle and run on Wednesday, another small swim on Thursday and then completely nothing on Friday.

The irony is training helps me to relax so not being able to do it just increases the anxiety. Funny how things seem the wrong way round sometimes.

Plans for the day itself are underway. Part of me wants to get things organised and clear for everyone who is coming down to support, the other half of me just wants to close my eyes and ears and pretend nothing exists. It feels like Monica is taking on Bilboa.

On the bright side of things, the weather has turned cooler and I sit here wearing full length leggings. I couldn't tell you the last time that's happened. I heard it may even rain on the day - hard to know how I feel about that but it certainly beats wearing an oversized condom in the blistering heat while nearest, dearest and randoms watch.

sunday success

Success.

Went for a swim in the pool this morning and it felt good. I felt strong and my times were consistent. I didn't do too much, just 400m crawl, 200m breast stroke and the fastest 4 laps I could do. Being out of breath at the end felt good.

There was only one thing that could top it all off. And it happened. I'm at my lowest weight in ages. Woo hoo !

Now off to watch Spurs play Inter Milan and a 3-0 victory to the home side would do nicely.

giving myself a break

The run: did two laps and then half way round the third rolled over my ankle. Gave myself a nice little fright so walked a circuit before gingerly beginning to run again. It was fine and I finished a fourth running circuit before walking the remaining two. Apart from the heart attack mid way through I felt ok and was getting the feeling that on the day I might just manage it.

The cycle: went 11k in and out of the wind and am now completely knackered. I was wearing different cycling shorts to my normal black uniform and realised half way through that was a bit unfortunate. It's a light colour which means as I sweat it picks it up. Let's just say it's hot out there and I was doing more than a ladylike level of perspiring.

I timed the whole session from run through to cycle and it took one hour twenty minutes. Now that includes my own personal transistion of stopping off at a shop inbetween the run / cycle - not to mention the obligatory reading of the newspaper headlines while in there. I also did 11k instead of 10 and a few other minor things which will not be featuring on the day.

I mention this only because I needed to remind myself that a target of 1 hour 30 mins on the day is realistic. In the quiet moments I have to give myself a break and just get over this silly self imposed pressure and pride of doing each event in fast times, just like I have at certain training sessions. It's just not reasonable to expect all of them to be repeated and coincide on the same day. It's just not going to happen.

I also wanted to remind myself that this is supposed to be fun and an adventure not something I endure and then put in a box afterwards. It's about completing it, having set myself that challenge.

The only blip during today's session was when I was coming back from the run to pick up my bike. Two lady runners were coming towards me, they were serious professionals not just looking the part with their radcliffe like tops and belts but they were gliding, effortlessly. As they swished past me, in my whip lashed state all I could do was pray they would not doing the super sprint with me.

pressure building

The pressure is building. Last night all I could think about was "oh this time next week I hope I can sleep". The problem with that was it meant I couldn't sleep at all and am now exhausted. I sit here now thinking "oh this time next week I'll be in a wet suit standing beside the dock at Excel totally cacking myself". What does that achieve? Me, sitting here thinking about it cacking myself. It's a vicious cycle.

One week to go. I don't feel like I've got alot of energy, unless the nervous kind counts. I'm sure that's totally natural and one of these days that will fall away and be replaced with pure excitement and anticipation. Right?

On the business of the training, I've had my brekkie and a small dose of energy elixir. I'm going to have a run, followed by a cycle. Later today I hope to do a swim in the wetsuit.

I see the week as being about survival, mental survival. Rocky Bilboa training pops into my head, totally immersed in what he is doing and (once I stop laughing at myself) think that will need to be me. Focused, single-minded and ultimately insane.

Is this over yet?

new tactics

Decided new tactics were needed to beat the malaise. I've taken on liquids earlier than normal and I've just downed one of those energy bars (not bad taste actually). The theory is the combination will make me swim like a fish rather than a bike.

All should be clear in about 30 minutes time.

Speaking of bikes, I left work slightly early to get home before the mother of all thunder storms decends on West London. I'm only a 10/15 minute cycle so being home for a little while now there's still no rain. I'm wondering if it will just threaten all night or (as is more likely) pounce once I set foot back outside.

Maybe my energy bar will allow me run between the rain drops on my way to the pool

t-shirts, Gods and training

Got back up on the bike today, it felt like it had been a while since I did a 10k. I was the granny on her high nelly coasting along as everyone else (including prams) passed me by. It never ceased to amaze me how quickly you lose momentum when training.

My other bike related job today was to book it in for a service. It was one of the things I've been meaning to do for weeks now and it serves me right that they can only fit it in the day before the triathlon itself. I hope that doesn't turn out to be problematic.

After my cycle I went for a short run. Of the magic 6 I ran 3 and walked 3 which was something I suppose. My knees, hips and calfs feel punished though, I just hope I can get through the next ten days.

I had two funny encounters while out cycling:

- the first was delightful in that I passed possibly the most beautiful looking man I have ever seen. He was simply divine and I almost crashed on sight.

- the second was pure comedy. I got stuck at traffic lights on the Kings Road and looking to my left I noticed a family eating at a table with one of them looking in my direction. I could hear him saying to his wife "hey that girl has the same t-shirt as me". He was right and I told him so as they creased up laughing.

Why was this so funny? Well, it was my People's Republic of Cork t-shirt and you don't get many of them cycling up the Kings Road.

the head stuff

Odd day today. I did the cycling and the swimming but sit here a bit despondant. Maybe it's a mental tiredness thing or the heat is eventually just grinding me down but I'm unexcited at the prospect of the triathlon. I want it to be over. I want the pressure of doing it to be behind me.

I was in the pool earlier and it was incredibly busy. Swimming has been one of the aspects I've most enjoyed about this adventure - especially in the heat - but this evening I shuffled up and down the pool without much enthusiasm. I ended up stopping well short of my usual distance and thinking about it I sort of scuttled away from the pool area.

I'm mulling over the biggest aspect of the triathon - mind set - and wonder whether I've "peaked" (in so far as anything that I've done in the last 16 weeks evokes peaking) that bit too soon or if this is just the regular see sawing of pre race nerves.

What would I be like if this was anything other than the mini mini triathlon? I'm exhausting myself.

book shop madness

I had an odd experience in my local book shop this afternoon. Once in, I had headed straight to the sports section and picked up a few books on running. About 15 pages into a nutrition chapter I realised I was intently reading about glucose and amino acids and the like. This is not normal.

Observation: there is nothing weirder than discovering you've turned into an fully fledged alien.

I no more know (nor care) about the components of food and do not strive for the right balance of carbohydrates and fat and protein. Yada yada blah blah. The whole situation was bizarre and even though the book was snapped shut and rammed back onto the book shelf I could feel a trickle of sweat break out. Was I turning into one of those awful calorieprotienfoodstructureloving individuals?

Thankfully the ice cream I bought on the way home brought me back to reality.

food crisis

Today has been a funny day. I did that run earlier and felt good, then went off for a swim. I did a slightly different routine in the pool, consciously focusing on the 400m distance and what it felt like going faster etc. It was a good session and I felt strong afterwards. All good so far.

It's a few hours later now and I've had a lovely roast dinner (chicken, veg & potatoes) as my main meal. Energy wise though I've got absolutely none, creaky bones wise I've got tons. I'm simply exhausted, lifting myself up is an effort and I'm walking like a ninety year old. Every muscle wants to lie down and sleep for a week.

I'm beginning to think food doesn't like me anymore.

sloshing about

Like yesterday I got up and went for a run. I did one extra circuit before beginning to walk so that was really good and I was pleased. I did the first four circuits in 12 minutes which is in line with Saturday - about 3 mins a circuit too. I walked the fifth and ran the last ones totalling 20 mins movement. If on the day I do the run in 20 minutes that's fine. If on the day I can complete that much of the run actually running that will be more than fine.

The only thing that is bothering me at the moment are liquids. Today is not as hot as the last few days, thankfully, but I still took some liquid before going running and have had some since coming back in. Problem is I feel very sloshy and bloated now. It was the same yesterday morning. It's quite an uncomfortable feeling so I'd like to get rid of it but I'm not sure what's causing it. I'll play around with volumes and types of drinks to see if I can get it right. Don't really want bloated tummy to be a running mate on the day.

Unrelated I was at a party for a friend last night and got a great response to raising money for the RNLI. It was really very cool.

6 in and a gel bar drama

Back from a run. I've broken my two circuit duck. I did three without stopping, then walked one before running another two (albeit a smaller two due to the regular kids soccer school that uses the last quarter from ten am each Saturday) then walked the last one making a grand total of 6. 6 is the magic number.

I'm pleased I've gone that far and will try to do the same again tomorrow morning but oh my god was it hot out there. I had already had a pint of water and a small glass of an energy drink before going out and a pint of energy drink when I got back and find myself now sitting here dripping like I've gotten out of a pool. It's so bloody hot out there. I really do hope the weather is not like this on the day or there will be trouble.

Now. The big learning of this morning, other than the achievement of passing the 6 mark is with the second half of the experiment. The gel pack. All I can say is hideous. I opened it, took the first gulp and almost gagged. I tried again and did gag. It will not be coming out again. For anyone who can stomach gel bars, fantastic I'm sure they are wonderful. For me, dear God never ever again. Stomach turningingly gaggingly induced texture of slime in a packet.

Now for a cycle.

a little less conversation

It's early on Saturday morning. I'm sitting here breathing slowly in the muggy early morning heat wondering exactly what to do next. There are two weekends to go to Race Day and I've deliberately kept them free of obligations. While that's great on the obligation pressure front it's giving me a bit too much time to think about what I should be doing, lots of options, a little less conversation etc.

Last Wednesday after the cycle and swim in the Serpentine I felt quite tired. My legs were still feeling the after effects of Monday's efforts and generally I was sluggish so I took the last two days off.

[I did do a small swim last night but it was 400m only and strictly in an effort to cool down so doesn't count]

I'm up early so feel like I should take the opportunity to do a long cycle and run. I've not yet gone beyond the two circuits of the track barrier which is now really playing on my mind. I was talking to a friend of mine about that as she ran a competitive race not so long ago (also her first) where she hadn't done the full distance prior to the day either. She said the momentum of the crowds and the adrenelin in her body turned it all into a love in and she managed fine - so much so she was ready to go again and that is comforting, definitely.

Overarching all of this though, I think the majority of my training is behind me. Only marginal differences could be made now so really the key thing is to stay mobile, injury free and positive.

[that's what my How to Make London in 2012 book says]

On the details front. I continue to lose weight and in this heat am feeling quite light. I do drink alot of water but am trying to mix water with other (non alcoholic) drinks to make sure I'm properly hydrated. Foodwise I've not been great so that's something I need to watch. Not great translates as I keep forgetting to eat, in this heat it just doesn't come into my head. I had a bit of a dizzy spell early on Thursday so that was a good wake up call and in time enough to get it sorted.

Anyway, for now I am off to have a run. I've decided the gel pack needs to be tested as much as my legs so it's back to the early Saturday morning experiment show. I've been off coffee for about a year so wonder if a gel pack will send me over the edge and positively banging off the walls. I'm at £160 on the raising money front so the pressure is on to perform on the day, that's a motivator and a half !

gobsmacked

this entry will probably seem a bit random. Sorry. In no particular order I am:

a) gobsmacked
b) slightly nervous
c) overwhelmed
d) still gobsmacked
e) happy

b) because this evening I finally got around to setting up a sponsor me page on the very user friendly www.justgiving.com site that helps regular punters like me raise funds for charity without all the paperwork - it also allows the charities collect their money without paperwork so everyones a winner.

Anyway, I have always struggled with the notion of doing this triathlon for charity or money for a couple of reasons:

1) the idea that only good things can be done / achieved if they are done for charity doesn't sit well with me
2) a stubborn notion that setting myself a goal and sticking to it and stretching myself and my comfort zones is a good thing in and of itself
3) the fear that I may not finish
4) if that fear was realised the shame of failing where others have succeeded would send me into a deep depression

All of that being said, for a while now I have been toying with the idea (puke bag ready) that the challenges I set myself, those goals that can only be spoken late at night (i.e. feel better about myself physically, tone up, potentially lose weight, feel better in myself, fit that top that was last in fashion when catherine zeta jones was on that thing she used to be on for bbc etc), those very personal reasons for doing this have actually been met. I have two weeks to go but I feel I have already achieved something. That's a pretty powerful way to go into the day itself.

So, I decided that perhaps a new boundary needed to be pushed. The charidee one. I chose a charity that has always been close to things that are close to me. My brother suggested it and it just made sense. If you've ever grown up or spent any amount of time near the sea you know the importance of search and rescue services. In Ireland and the UK there is a combined service called the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). They are one of few cross border bodies, they are voluntary and they work. It staggers me to think that millions of pounds are spent each year on meaningless investments (Bertie & Tony looking just so on TV comes to mind) yet groups like RNLI scrimp and save to pull people from the water, apparently 21 people every day.

You can help me to raise funds for the RNLI by going to my sponsorship page at www.justgiving.com/stephanieontour or go directly to their website where you can find out alot more about what they do, how they do it etc.

Anyway, moving on ...

a) because my brother, the one who suggested the RNLI has sponsored me the most enormous amount of money and coming in late at night to log on for a few minutes has turned into probably my longest blog ever because I'm gobsmacked at what he has done.

e) not sure exactly what this says about me but I had specifically kept the triathlon thing (I think) a reasonably low profile at work, particularly the idea of asking people to sponsor me for the reasons above etc. This evening, in the very short space of time since I put the page together I've already had quite a few responses. I'm not sure exactly how to feel about it all other than telling myself be grateful people are reading my emails in the first place - especially ones that say I want your money, give me money now, donate, sponsor me, give up your Friday night (or words to that effect). It makes me smile and feel very wholesome that people want to support me in the things I want to do in such a way.

c) & d) I am still thinking about my brother and his donation. Bloody hell. Talk about pressure to finish. He's certainly putting it up to my other brothers.

[making mental note to send email saying it's ok, I love them all equally no matter what etc etc]

I have no idea where this whole thing will end, I hope at least over the finish line with both legs still attached to my intact hips - knees I'm expecting to have given way about 100 yards into the run, composure I expect to have lost very early on and any sense of being in control will have been stripped away with the wetsuit.

Maybe I should add an f), the fuck factor. Money makes it real. Money makes it my responsibility to deliver. Emails and websites mean I've told the world I'm standing up and ready to do this. Fuckadoodledoo.

Bad Steph, good Steph, all I wanted was a t-shirt.

On the training front. I did toss all today and plan on doing the same tomorrow. I'm tired from long sessions, tired from not sleeping, it's hot and I need time to recover.

head wreck continues

Knowing that the triathlon is around the corner and being a crammer by nature I'm tempted to just go for a run (and) or swim (and) or cycle every day. I did all three on Monday evening and although I enjoyed it and am glad that I did it I can really feel it in my legs today, my thighs especially.

I suspect the last remaining few weeks will be tricky from the perspective of over training. I need to be fresh, I need to not pick up any injuries but I also still need to prove to myself that I can do it. I don't really want to be there on the day thinking hey I've never actually done the whole thing before.

The thing they don't tell you about doing a triathlon? The head wreck, it's never ending.

Adventures in London Serpentine

What a busy few days I've had. To recap:

Sunday:

Myself and a friend darted across London to the place of heavenly (& cheap) sporting goods (aka Decathlon) to get her a shortie wetsuit in advance of the Triathlon. She has been using her longie but didn't have a comfortable level of mobility so wanted to try what a cheapie (£20) shortie could offer. The idea being we go there, grab a suit and head to the Serpentine (Hyde Park).

In theory we did that - with a few additional items. Oops.

On arriving at the Serpentine I was (a) nervous as there were no obvious wetsuit wearers in sight (b) mildly surprised that there were ladies bathing topless (c) mildly panicked that there were so many people. Who knew London had this little Costa del Hyde hidden away?

We pottered in, paid our £3.75, wrangled a locker and changed into the rubber that had no place being in the same pool area as topless bathers.

[you can see how we may have stood out a wee bit]

Neither of us had swam in the Serpentine before so this was a new adventure. While I am reasonably hardy in nature and water generally holds no fear for me, the thought of stepping into gunge or slime sends me into convulsions. My friend on the other hand is fine with the "what's on the ground" idea, her fear came from what's between the ground and her i.e. everything else.

[you can see how we may not have been looking forward to our cooling dip]

I went in first and discovered (to my relief) that the ground is gravel and not a hint of slime or reed anywhere. I went into the middle and hung about for a little while getting used to how it felt. My friend got in and really on the comfortability stakes ... looked about a 1. The new wetsuit was fine. It was everything else that was dragging her down.

After a few minutes of splashing about and getting used to things I stuck my head into the water to do a few strokes. Dear God, was I not prepared. Green soup. That is all I can compare it to. It was awful, I felt like I was drowning like a liquid Kermit. My friend, having done something similar to me, decided she wasn't going to endure another nano second and got straight out of the water.

[you can see things weren't going well. We were also the topic of many conversations amongst the seasoned bathers]

Staying in the water I gave myself a good talking to and tried again. And again. And again to get my head under the water and breathe without feeling like the soup was liquid fire seeping in through every orifice filled with little creepie crawlies that would stay in me, harvest and ultimately make me explode.

[yes, that's exactly how irrationally I was thinking at the time because it was exactly that horrible]

After a few minutes I got into the swing of things and the panic began to abate. Thank fuck. My friend however was having a kitten on the sidelines, really hitting full on despair.

Skipping forward, the good news was she got back in the water and fought through the fear and the crap on the water and slowly got her head into the water and found a groove. It was very cool and if there's a Guinness Book of Records entry for the biggest smile ever I think hers was a definite candidate.

I was very proud of her and partially myself too for sticking with it and beating our fears. It was a good day - I even did a run when I got home.

Monday:

Today was pool swim day. I did my regular, again good solid times which was pleasing. On the way home I decided to stay on the bike to do a few extra kilometres because I had not been on the bike all weekend. As it turned out I did the 10k i.e. the triathlon distance. Mmm ... this was a training session and a half. My times were good in the sense that I did the swim in about 12 minutes and the bike session in 30. Could I go for the run too?

I went back to the place where I had parked my bike last week and did one trip around the track. I didn't want to overdo it so left it at that so as not to tempt fate with just three short weeks to go before the race.

I sit here now knackered but pleased with myself that I did so much training and feel reasonably ok, especially my knee.

Tomorrow will definitely be a rest day.

relief

I ran this morning. Not far but enough for me to feel good I had done it. I felt I had to do something today as it's July 15th, Sport Relief Mile Day.

I was feeling bad because I had signed up to do it but due to a conflict I had to pull out. My thinking was always that it would be a good opportunity to test what the triathlon conditions might be like in front of a crowd of people aswell as how my knees and bits respond.

Oh well.

Tomorrow is a wet suit day. The plan is to get into the Serpentine. Part of me is looking forward to it, part of me is stretching for the hard drugs. This adventure is still totally insane.

the best bit?

I'm really pleased tonight. I did a swim session in times consistent with the last few days. I could feel myself getting into a rhythm and getting stronger with each length and that was very cool.

The best bit? I weighed myself leaving the gym and I've lost a few kilos over the last month. Whoo hoo !

run baby run

Just back from a good solid cycle and ..... drum roll ... a baby mini run. I decided I really needed to get back into the running so picked a spot where I could cycle, park my bike safely and then run on grass. It worked a treat and I am really quite pleased with myself.

The qualifier is that I ran about the length of my big toe but I don't care. There wasn't any sore leaden thigh feeling when I switched from bike to run. There wasn't any knee reaction when I was running. It's now about an hour later and everything appears to be in reasonable working order. A result basically.

From a time perspective, I did the bike section in 28 minutes. I picked a route that would have minimal traffic so I could stretch out the gears and give it a real go. This being London there is no such thing as no traffic so I still had to slow down in parts and have made a mental note about the driver of a certain wine nissan micra who should be taught how to drive properly but I'm still pleased with the time.

I'm thinking if I build up my running, very very slowly and pay attention to my knee I should be ok.

Friends of mine last night were talking about being "that guy" when you have too much to drink of a night and your body decides the nearest place is where it will deposit your innards (whether you like it or not). In the triathlon sense I just don't want to be the person who walks the run section. If I'm forced to I will, but I really really don't want to. I can still make crutches the must have fashion accessory of the year !

nothing added but time and Magners

Having spent the evening in non cardio activity I am considering the virtues of a Magners filled Docklands. Could there possibly be a better way to promote good swim participation than get people to swim through tracts of liquid heaven and the winner gets to keep it, nicely chilled until called for?

OK, you're right that is totally unrealistic. Sticking Magners in the swim zone is not going to make people swim faster. Actually, it would turn us all into wet suit wearing limpets, stuck to whatever wall or boat side we could find until not a drop was left.

[I'm asking myself what's wrong with that scenario but then again I'm the one signed up for this so not best placed to qualify the bizarre]

Tonight, as you may have guessed, was about mental preparation rather than physical exertion. I consider it a good work out.

non stop

Today clocked me over into week 9 of 12 and that meant, according to my 'couch to triathlon in 12 weeks' training plan, my swim in the pool would be 500m non stop.

Generally my swimming sessions have been going quite well so I felt this step up should be managable. With a deep breathe I plunged my head underwater and went for it. 500m and 16.5 minutes later I was done with the breast stroke. I gave myself a few minutes to recover and then did the same again in the front crawl, this time taking 14 minutes.

I'm not sure exactly how I feel about the times but I am glad I managed both sets quite well. There are two things that have surprised me though:

- my eyes got quite sore in the goggles, they were irritated even though no water was getting through. I'm not sure what caused it but I assume it has only come to light because I've not stopped and taken my goggles off every few lengths
- my legs are tired. This has surprised me in that I've swam the same distance for weeks now without this tired feeling. I know it's not because of over training (sadly) so it must be the step up from 100 x 5 to non stop - or something to do with the amount of shopping I did over the weekend ... mmm ....

I'm glad I did the full distances though and it gives me time to get used to how my legs feel after a non stop swim.

It's funny how I still have that once I crack something, something else cracks up feeling. This coming weekend I am going to do a mini triathlon to see how I get on. I'm not going to be interested in times (although I will be tracking them meticulously and generally gutted if I'm longer than 1 hour 30 mins), this is more about transition and how my legs will feel switching from bike to running etc.

Actually truth be told, I just hope I survive. All this thinking about it is doing my head in.

head wreck

Today was a mental fitness workout day. I point this out purely in an attempt to counter my guilt. And it is a tremendous thing.

I have a visual of my triathlon number taking corporial shape and following me. If you have seen ads for Tango then the catchphrase of I've been 558'd isn't such a big stretch.

Moan. Boo. Ugh. Tomorrow.

madness

This is really bad so it must come with a warning. My totally irrational situation is that I have a friend coming to visit me this weekend but all I can think about is when i can fit in a swim and a cycle.

Madness, sheer madness !

got my number

It was on the floor when I got home this evening. A big brown envelope from the triathlon people with all the race details and my number. A number for my swimming cap, number for my bike, a number that needs to go around my waist (front and back alternately) and finally a wristband for security purposes.

My heart rate is still high and it's at least an hour ago. This is going to be a very long four weeks I suspect.

On the training front, I did a full bike session and altho through 'orrible traffic (it felt like I got every red light in London) I still did the distance in 37 minutes. Given the mixture of traffic and lights that feels about right for the 10k and afterwards I felt fine.

Actually, fine isn't strictly true, I can feel both knees. They are clicking, sounds like their version of the frog chorus. It's not painful but I wonder if this is the run in to something else - pardon the pun. Really hope it isn't !

Speaking of running, I have still not run since my knee flared up a few weeks ago. This coming weekend is booked solid as a friend is coming to visit but I am toying with the idea of doing a mini triathlon to get as good a feel as possible while also providing a true test of how I stack up doing all three events together. It may also kill me of course.

That being said, I have a lucky feeling about my number. It's a good number. Solid and I like that.

swimming in the fast lane

Tonight I was in the pool and due to a step aerobics class going on in the main area I had to dip my toe into the "professional" lane area.

There were lots of deep breaths, I was going in.

I'd not really used the lanes before as generally the guys butterfly fly up and down and I've used that quite effectively (I think) by swimming just beside them. The idea being I would get used to what it's like with big inconsistent waves.

Anyway, tonight I went in and did my usual breast stroke followed by front crawl routine. It went ok, my times were in line with the last few weeks which was fine but I lost my rhythm a few times due to the others I was in the lane with being too slow or up my arse when I was too slow. I found myself tuning them out which was really encouraging and surprisingly easy to do. I will need to remember that on the day itself when I start to get that hemmed in feeling.

Weighed myself on the way out - I've lost a few pounds. I guess all this living life in the healthy lane is paying off.

quiet hot day

Having done lots of cycling and swimming over the last two days I took today off. Just aswell really given it's so bloody hot in London I don't think I would have managed very far at all.

The funny thing though is my muscles are still sore. Still feeling the after effects of those big sessions on Friday and Saturday. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing but it is comforting to know that I am having an effect.

With my hard earned time off I went shopping. Not a triathlon type II alert, it was just regular (altho not often practised) clothes shopping. The bit that was great though was I found myself buying clothes I would normally shy away from. The sizes weren't different really but the shape and how they fit was.

It makes all the hard work worth it and the muscle fatigue a blissful thing. I wonder how I will cope during the winter when all this triathlon madness is over. I'm beginning to think about that. Strange what ideas hot quiet days can throw up.

21 kilometre Saturday

Little did I know when I sat here earlier today my "I may go for a little run" idea would turn into a 21 km odyssey. It did and I'm now knackered.

It happened without much forethought, I cycled into central London due to the many road restrictions - figured it would be easier than the tube / bus tango.

[I was right as it turns out]

Anyway, while in town plans to watch the England v Portugal game took an unexpected change so extra cycling was required (even more so to get to my destination in time for kcik off). I got there but my god was I ever knackered.

I sit here now many hours (and beers) later a) relieved to be home b) pleased that I managed that number of kms in the extreme heat c) delighted that I can take tomorrow off in the full knowledge that I have earned it.

I really hope I don't have too many aches and pains tomorrow morning. That would suck.

collar bone shuffle

Woke up this morning sore - shoulders, collar bone, arms. That sore that screams you've had a good work out, where muscles and bits have moved and worked themselves into a new shape, to a new beat.

Love it !

The only down side is I'm not sure exactly what I should do today. It's HOT HOT HOT and I don't think I'm ready to do the running thing yet but equally want to recover a little bit from last nights exertions. Maybe a small run later on.

In five weeks time at approx this time I will be a bag of nerves in East London.

Bring it on !