It's all over

Well finally made it!!! 

Was a crazy day! Temperatures were 28C +!!!

Still not sure of the splits (or even my finish time) but I think the swim went well. Came out feeling fresh and the first 90miles on the bike also went well...

But then the batteries went flat and there was nothing left for the run - which is why it was over 5hrs!!! Rubbish!

Considering all the problems during the build up I know I can do better. But at the moment only 1% of me wants to test that theory!

Anyhew, thank you for reading this and for all the support. If it's encouraged you to have a go yourself (are you crazy) let me know and I will be happy to help! :-)

The night before...

Crazy hot in Port Elizabeth. 27C today and predicted to be even hotter. Got to get the nutrition and fluids right or it will be a short race!

Registration and racking of the bike today. All went well. Just want to get started now. Hopefully this time tomorrow will have a medal in hand!

Having an early night now. Alarm goes off at 5am. Race starts at 7!!

Port Elizabeth

Arrived Port Elizabeth at 5pm. Some big waves out there and pretty hot! Just had an awesome steak though! Time for an early night!

Arrived SA

Well, finally here in sunny Cape Town. Arrived 10am this morning. 
The build up has not been brilliant! In the last 5mths of training for this event I've suffered shoulder probs, knee probs, chest probs, etc. 
If this all sounds like pre race excuse's your darn right!!!
All seems very daunting at the moment!!!
Anyhew, we travel to Port Elizabeth tomorrow, where the race takes place. Will be about 8hrs driving... 
Blimey - am currently in Pringle Bay coffee shop and we've just been invaded by a baboon on the scrounge!!!
Ho hum!

Daily Training

Tuesday 25/2

Cycle – 13.5mls

Finally back in the saddle!

It’s been TWO weeks since been able to do any training! This bug has been horrendous! Feel completely out of shape and the race is only about 5 weeks away!

Hopefully i will be back in the pool over the weekend and then try and get back to a normal training week from Monday.

And a big, HUGE thanks to all who have provided sponsorship!

Daily Training

No blogs for a while... which is because I’ve been struck down with a bad case of EbolaBubonicMan Flue! Haven’t done any training at all since last Friday! Almost a week!!! Arghhh....

Daily Training

Thursday 10/2

Cycle – 49.4mls (3hr17m26s)

Finally got the ‘Just Giving’ web site sorted!

Had a decent cycle today. Alarm went off at 5:45am and was on the road not too long after. Was cream crackered in the evening though. Probably have a bit of a rest day tomorrow.

Daily Training

Wednesday 9/2

Run – 4mls (36m22s)

Swim – 1km (16m54s)

Managed to up the running mileage a bit this evening. Up to 4mls!! Whoop! Then had a super fast 1km swim.

Daily Training

Ok – So I’ve been completely rubbish keeping the blog up to date of late... Sorry about that.

To summarise; the swimming is 100% ready. They cycling is going ok (did 70mls last Tuesday and plan to do 80mls tomorrow) and have now started running regularly again!!! Not very far though but just nice to get a few miles in here and there...

So with such confidence, that i will actually be able to get to the start line, we’ve now booked the flights, etc.!!!

We leave the UK on the 6^th of April and land in Cape Town on the 7^th. On the 8^th we set off on the 450ml drive from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth.

On the 11^th we drive back to Cape Town for a couple of weeks R&R – And when i say ‘we drive’ i mean Karen... I plan to sleep!!!

Less than 9 weeks to go now!!! Yikes!

Daily Training

Monday 24/1

Cycle – 43.2mls (2hrs40m)

Bit of a lazy day today. Cycled to work and back but that was it... Lots of punishment planned for tomorrow though!!! J

Daily Training

Sunday 23/1

Swim – 3.6km (1hr5m24s)

Had a good swim before heading back south this evening... Tweaked a stomach muscle though... Body is falling apart!

11hrs 23mins of training this week though! Probably wont manage that next week as we will be in the middle of moving home... Maybe will give the aches some time to heal!

Daily Training

Saturday 22/1

Cycle – 43.2mls (2hrs40m)

Big cycle this morning. Cycled from Eastwood to Holme Pierpoint (National Water Sports Centre), did 5laps then rode home.

The sun was out and everything felt great... Except for the seat post problems.

Later the bike went back to the shop to have one of the brackets ground down. Hopefully that will do the trick!!

Daily Training

Friday 21/1

Swim – 4km (1hr16m12s)

Came to Nottingham for the weekend and went to the local baths for a nice gentle swim. Nice baths at the Nuffield here. And a great way to spend a Friday evening! J

Daily Training

Thursday 20/1

Swim – 1km (17m0s)

Cycle – 33.9mls (2hrs18m)

Another good cycle today... Still having probs with the bike though. Will take it up to Nottingham Friday for a visit to the bike shop!

Daily Training

Wednesday 19/1

Run – 2mls

Had planned to have a big swim this evening but another late night at work scuppered that idea! Did manage another 2mls running on the treadmill but the left knee has been grumbling ever since.

This really will be a problem if i can’t get some run miles going soon! Will keep concentrating on the cycling and keep the fingers crossed!

Daily Training

Tuesday 18/1

Swim – 1km (41m20s)

Cycle – 47.9mls (15m45s)

Had a rest day yesterday but today was time to clock up some mileage on the bike! Unfortunately the tyre gods were in a bad mood!

Did aprox 20mls in the morning before the front tyre hit a stone in the road and went pop! Unfortunately the spare inner-tubes I had with me were for my old bike and the stem wasn’t long enough to fit the Felt! Fortunately though, i was only 1.5mls from the nearest bike shop, so after a short walk was soon back in business.

On the way home from work i decided to do a few laps on the hills around Crystal Palace. 10mls in and another puncture occurred!!! Doh...

Luckily i had bought another spare from the shop and soon had it changed. Chickened out from CP and headed closer to home and did a few miles around Wimbledon. Didn’t want to be too far from safety if the tyre gods were going for ‘strike three’!

Despite the setbacks still managed to get close to the 50mls target which was good... and lots of practice changing tyres! Awesome!!!

Daily Training

Sunday 16/1

Swim – 2.4km (41m20s)

Run – 1.6mls (15m45s)

Two good bits of news today. Had one of my quickest swim sessions ever and then managed a small run.

The knee seemed ok so plan to keep ticking over with a few run miles here and there, whilst still concentrating on the cycling.

Daily Training

Saturday 15/1

Swim – 1.2km (22m45s)

Cycle – 41mls (2hrs44m)

Had a big bike session this morning in Richmond Park. Good to get the miles in but it was sooo very slow! And as I write this blog the knees are still complaining! Am very worried about the running. Might try the treadmill tomorrow and see what happens.

Just 12 weeks to go!!!! Eeek!

Daily Training

Thursday 13/1

Swim – 2.4km (42m33s)

Just a swim this morning. Gave the legs a rest today but hopefully another long cycle tomorrow.

Daily Training/Weekly Training/Training Pants!

Thursday 6/1 - Swim – 2.8km (50m57s)

Friday 7/1 - Swim – 2.4km (43m00s)

Saturday 8/1 – Cycle 9.47mls (35m40s)

Sunday 9/1 - Swim – 3km (55m35s)

Monday 10/1 – Swim – 1km (18m55s)    Cycle – 21.4mls (1hr40)

Tuesday – Zippo!

Wednesday 12/1 – Swim – 0.4km (7m22s)      Cycle – 28.9mls (2hr20m)

Apologies for the lack of blogs... Almost as slack as the training! Knees are still a problem... Haven’t run for ages and am getting through a pack of Nurofen every couple of days.

The knees seem to survive the cycling though. Am now just concentrating on cycling and swimming and hope to get back into running in the next few days... even if it’s just a couple of miles here and there to keep em working.

Still having problems with the bike... dropping through gears, seat post keeps adjusting itself and my try bars keep taking lumps out my legs... oh and the trip computer is tripping!

Anyhew – time for bed now. Big swim (hopefully) in the morning...

Daily Training - NOT!!

Haven’t blogged much recently as have been nursing sore knees since the last run. Hope to get a swim, and maybe a cycle tomorrow...

For the moment though... been sent a link to this video! Hope you find it as hilarious as i did!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B03dFMG8nR4

Daily Training

Daily Training

Friday 2/1

Swim – 4.2km (1hr18m38s)

Run – 10.5mls (1hr26m46s)

Another busy training day. Had a great swim and then went for a fairly long run... unfortunately ran out of steam around 8mls. Will need to put more work in on the nutrition strategy!

Also seem to have tweaked my right knee very slightly. Am completely paranoid about injuring something during the build up. May have to have a couple of days off to avoid further damage...

Ho hum...