Just over 4 weeks to go.

With just over 4 weeks to go to Ironman Switzerland. I'd like to say thanks to everyone that's sponsored me so far. I've collect £324 for Action Medical Research and have a further £184 worth of pledges (more if I get under 13 hours for the Ironman) which takes the total to £516. I'm then hoping to get work to match this which would take me to £1,032 against my target of £1,200.
Please help me reach this target by sponsoring me, either sign my sponsorship form if you see me in the flesh or online at http://www.action.org.uk/~robertlines.

Ironman weeks 19 & 20 of 24

Two of my biggest weeks in terms of the build up for the Ironman, and with a works trip impacting my schedule from tomorrow morning I've been piling on the mileage.
Last week, week 19 involved a pool swim and a lake swim, 146miles on the bike including the hilly 100mile Castle Ride and 31.2 miles of running including a 20mile long run.
This week, week 20, has only been a 5 day week due to having to miss tomorrow and Sunday, but I've managed to get in 2 pool swims, 31.6 miles of running and 160 miles on the bike.
The result of this is that in the last 7 days I've swam 4.2miles, biked 262miles and run 51miles. I think that is quite enough and I've earned a bit of a rest.
Total for the year is now through the 6,000km mark and is built up as follows:

• Swim, 80miles (128km)
• Bike, 3,119miles (5,018km)
• Run, 569miles (916km)
• Total 3,768miles (6,062km). Thats far enough to get from Norwich to Washingdon DC.

Lesson for today

I really do not like cheese scones.

Castle Ride

Did the Action Medical Research Castle Ride today. Great weather and a great ride. Elapsed time was faster than last year although ride time was slower but it was a different route.
Shatter now so will update later.

Ironman Lanzarote Today

All the best to Stacey and Brian who are, as I write this, on the bike leg of Ironman Lanzarote. It's reckoned to be one of the hardest Ironman events in the world due in part to the heat but mainly due to the hills and the winds.

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Congratulations to Stacey. She completed in under 14 hours.

What a great morning ...

... to be out and about. 8.30am lake swim, still cold but at least it's warmer than two weeks ago. There was also more swimmers there this morning.
Then out for a 20mile run. Had the company of fellow Peter Chapman another member of the Swiss Seven.

Tour de France Le Grand Depart

Attended a briefing session on Monday evening in Regents Park about marshalling for the Tour de France. Proved to be quite a late night by the time my train got me back to London.
Marshalling the prologue of le Tour is going to be such a great experience. I'm really looking forward to it.

Ironman Week 18 of 24

Three quarters of the way there now.
Final touches over the next week or so and then taper.

Waveney Triathlon

Well done to everyone at the Waveney Triathlon

Have compaired my splits and heart rate trace from this year and two years ago in this graphic --->

Was on the Radio Today

Richard Hancock of BBC Radio Norfolk came down to the lake this morning to catch an interview with Simon Edwards, Kerry Davis and myself after the swim this morning. He was after an interview about the local triathlon scene and in particular the Waveney Valley Triathlon that is taking place tomorrow morning. The interview was used as part of his sports round up that was on air between 5 and 6pm this evening.
Your own voice never sounds quite the same as how you normally hear it.

After the swim, Sam Kingston and I went for 100k bike ride and discovered some nice little roads.

Run 500miles

The second Great Yarmouth Road Runners 5 mile last night, plus warm up and warm down, and a 4.9 mile run at lunchtime today and I'm through the 500mile mark for the year to date.
In previous years I've set a 1,000 mile target for the year and never quite made it. So to make the 500mile mark in week 19 is very pleasing. I might hit that target this year.

Can World's Strongest Dad

Found out today what this sign means

It means that you end up returning to the office from a lunchtime cycle ride absolutely drenched even though the sun is shining.
As I was getting ready to go out it seem undecided as to drizzle or not. Before I was 10mins into my ride it was hammering down. Then all of a sudden it's passed and the sun is out. I liked that bit, though I still had wet cycling gear to put on when I came to leave work.
Neither of my usual lunchtime cycling buddies joined me today. They both had meetings and actions to attend to. Did they know?

Ironman Week 17 of 24

After the last few weeks I really needed an easier week. My legs were tired from the 112mile bike ride at the end of week 16.
By the end of the week I was a little better, though some unpromptu beers with a friend Cam meant that getting up for the saturday lake swim was tough. Fortunately it was a Bank Holiday weekend so got away with going back to bed. Although the 18mile run I had planed for the saturday got pushed onto the Bank Holiday Monday and effectively into week 18.
Had a good ride on the Sunday. Rode down to Whitlingham lane to watch the Tri-Anglia Triathletes set off on a 10k club race before joining Velo Club Norwich for thier Sunday ride. I left them when they went for their tea stop to blast over to Ellingham to watch the Norwich Canoe Club come through their portage as part of the Waveney Hasler. Had come across Angie and Warren Thorp on the way across and talked them through the antics and tactics of the canoe race. Rode to the finish of the canoe race where I caught up with my Mum and Brother before heading home (71miles in total) for a 6mile run.
Total mileage for the week: 156.9 miles as 2.9 swim, 131 bike and 23 run.
Total mileage for the year to date: 3,207.6 as 70 swim, 2,664.4 bike and 473.2 run.

Lake Swimming Started this morning...

.... and with water temperature of 13C and air temperature not much different it was pretty cold.
Just swam 1500m with John Digby of EAST in 0:24:07, which was quite long enough.
Takes me to 70miles swimming for the year to date.

How far?

Just had a little play with Google Earth. The image shows how far my training mileage so far this year could have got me (assuming that I could cycle and run on water).