Bike 2 Run

Yesterday I cycled one of our regularly lunchtime routes. 16.4 miles in 57minutes.

Today I ran it in 2hrs 15, though the slight variation to the route makes it 16miles.

You spot different things when you're running compared to cycling.

As well as taking longer I ate more jelly babies.

Cheating or Lateral Thinking

Was sent a link to "Frog Leap Test" along with the challenge to solve the problem of getting all three frogs from the left to the right, along with getting all three frogs from the right to the left.
Thinking laterally I searched google for "frog leap test solution".
I've subsequently been told this is cheating.

220-Wiggle Athlete Competition

Never heard back from Wiggle after applying to be one of their sponsored athletes for 2009. This month in 220 Triathlon, the magazine in partnership with Wiggle are looking for a Long Distance Triathlete to sponsor in 2009.
My application went in last night.

The allure of chlorine

After the hard run of last sunday the week since then should have been a bit easier. In fact the week, being week6 of the 24 week Ironman schedule, was designated as a recovery week. The turbo session for tuesday evening was far from easy and the weeks run efforts were a little testing on wednesday. My two trips to the gym saw the weights go up by 5kg on each exercise (an accumulative increase of 800kg per session).
Whilst the lure of chlorine wasn't enough to get me up on week day mornings for a swim, I twice found my cat Winnie curled up on my swimming trunks. On one morning she'd pulled them off the foot of my bed, the other occasion from off the top of my bag. As see normally seems to make more of a fuss of me when I return from the pool in comparsion to returning home from other places I've long suspected that she likes the smell of chlorine. I think these two instances prove it beyond doubt.

30 Minute Swim Results

The results from the 30 min swim that took place in January are now through. My 1,965m earned me 10th place from 21 in the male 40-44 category. Not bad for a national competition.

First Run Race of 2009

Today witnessed the Great East Run. A 20k run based in Bungay organised by Bungay Black Dog Running Club and sponsored by Elgoods Brewery who give a bottle of their Black Dog beer to all finishers. You'll note a theme in that the last run race I did also involved beer being given to all finishers.
The aim was to cycle there, run the race as a training run with a bit of a warm up to make it up to the 14miles long run I had on the scheduled and then bike home.
Succeeded in biking there and back. Succeeded in adding on a warm up to get me to over 14miles. Failed to run it as a steady training run, though I did manage to run it with fairly even splits at a shade under 4:30 per km (7:13mpm). Was only 20seconds off a PB and based on how I've been running lately I'm very content with that.

Yippee - Snow melting

The snow of yesterday morning and of last night has melted this morning with temparatures soaring to 5C. Okay it's not warm, but it's warm enough to be ice free. The forecast for tomorrow is clear blue skys and barely a breath of wind. Should be really nice for a bike ride tomorrow.
Sunday is due to see a bit of rain, but hopefully early morning before I ride with some fellow Tri-Anglia members to Bungay for the 20k Great East Run.
I'm now entered for the 5k Swimathon in April.

Like Snow?

I like snow when I'm away snowboarding. In fact I like a lot of snow when I'm away snowboarding.

When I'm somewhere where I'm hoping to cycle I'm not liking snow. Woke up to more of the white stuff this morning. Have now missed more cycling this winter than the last 3 put together. Enough already.

IMC Accomodation and travel booked

A weight was lifted off my mind today. Although I've been entered to Ironman Canada for a while now only today have I been able to firm up how I'm going to physically get to the start line on 30th August. Flights, trailers, cars and campsites are now booked.
Felt a bit more motivated training today. Hopefully that motivation will get me out of bed in the morning for a swim. Next I need to sort transport to Nice for Ironman France and transport to l'Etape.

Hour Swim

Yesterday was the 1hour swim and I managed 3,820m. Managed the same distance in the first 30mins as I did in the 30min swim a month ago. And 3.8km in the hour is reasonably good. Though as I did the 3.8km of Ironman UK in 57mins and because I managed 4,080m two years ago in the hour swim I can't help but think that my swimming isn't on form at the moment. More effort needed.
Have started going to the gym now. This evening was the second outing. Hopefully that'll help.

More eventful than I'd like

Was involved in an ice induced 4 bike crash and had two rear punctures on todays club ride. More incidents than I'd like. Was amazed had how far we slid when we went down. In a sureal way it was fun, but have no desire to do it again.
Last time I hit the deck whilst riding was the day before Ironman Switzerland in June 2007, so I'm keen to go at least 18 months and 12,000 miles before doing it again.

Half Marathon Efforts

After the snow of earlier in the week I had a good effort session today on Whitlingham Lane with Jeff Lansdel and Lynn Emmett. 10-15minute warm up, then four efforts of 8mins, 7mins, 6mins and 5mins at half marathon pace (7:15m/m) with 3minute jog recoveries between and a 10-15minute cool down. Whitlingham Lane was icey the further along it you went, so didn't venture much beyond where it joins the river. Covered 8.1miles, and felt good.

Snowing in Hell?

Ever heard the phrase "when hell freezes"?

Could it have been today?

Along with a couple of mates and nearly 500 over cyclists I took part today in a cycle sportive from Biggin Hill called the Hell of the Ashdown. It was cold. 0C with 35+mph winds making it feel like -7C. We had an hour of quite heavy snow. Felt I was guilty of bringing the snow back with me from Les Deux Alpes.

Quite a challenging 100km course with 5,500ft worth of ascent.