History Lesson

 Was just doing some historical research from 2014 and found this blog post around the same date as this..2024 at the top.  The plan is slightly less overall (intermediate v. advanced), but the spikes etc. are remarkably similar.

Resting Place.

 Rest day today...or at least it is now.  That wasn't the original intention as could be demonstrated by my pile of running clothes at the top of the stairs in readiness for an early one, but the rain intervened so I gave up on it and did a few other jobs instead.  I got back in good books by hanging the hay nets and mucking the field out, and off loading the car of flooring materials into the old stable block in readiness for the weekend.  It's also table tennis night, so I do get some exercise at least.

It does leave me with a bit more time to find over the Easter break though, so that might be a challenge but at least I don't have 8hrs + taken up with work so should get the time.  We have a family do on Sunday lunchtime + Easter egg hunt which always goes down well, so I will have to avoid that of course.

Big Overheads

 53 minute run today.  I planned on 1hr, but I just could not kick myself into doing those few extra minutes before I turned round for home.  Odd really, because even though I was a few minutes late setting off (just after 6) I knew I was not short of time.  It's Easter weekend coming up, and even though I don't have to waste (!) time at work, I expect to be busy with other 'stuff' that will curtail opportunities for exercise. I'm also fitting a laminate floor in the refurbished stable block (buying it tonight) so will be under a bit of pressure to get a result there.  I think/hope it's a reasonably easy job but still needs doing.  I can then hang the other internal door and then move onto the kitchen/bathroom area which is potentially the expensive bit!  ..and to start that I have to make a decision about the roof i.e. do I start again on that side?  I will need to get some advice from a roofer.

Its all Going Swimmingly Well.

 Swimming this morning.  Despite my efforts to get there early enough for a good hour, it resulted in just an extra 4 minutes. I must get more efficient at making the sarnies and having a bowl of something.  I could blame the taking the bin down the drive time or the 'filling 2 haynets' for my better half to rest her back, but it was just me being a bit dis-organised.  Maybe I should make my lunch the night before?  Hmm, might try that next time.  Anyway, I managed 74 lengths before my cramp felt too bad.  Not that it was coming on it just felt like it might start, so I stopped before it got 'embedded'.  I did 74 lengths on 48 minutes, which is not very fast, but about my normal pace so quite happy with that.  I shared a lane with another long distance chap for about 20 odd lengths before he departed, then a breast stroking lady (!!) joined me with bout 25 laps to go so not too bad.

Easter Bunny.

 I gained an hour last week on the plan, and even better I found out this morning that my spreadsheet had not been calculating the totals quite right (it was looking up the last plan from 5 years ago), so I've gained even more!  Still 13hrs behind though, so not all good.

Cycled into the office today so that's a good start to the week, and I plan a swim tomorrow to give my legs partial respite.  I hope the weather is reasonable Wednesday then I can get the additional bike ride in without interfering with the Easter weekend

Leverage Support

 52 minutes of running, 1 hour of cycling to do in 2 days.  What could possibly go wrong?

With a bit of luck I should go over plan, thereby getting slightly back on track.  After feeling so bad on Tuesday I'm rather relieved/pleased it was obviously a one-off bad day, and even after an hour's run this morning felt pretty good.  The weather was forecast to be fairly wet, but it looks like an improving picture with just a bit of rain midday on Saturday so I will have options when I get the bike out.  Talking of which, I need to fit the new lever, cable et al before I use it so hopefully get that done early Saturday. 

Go Your Own Way

Well, I did it.  I went swimming and didn't get any cramps in my feet so that's progress.  Whether that's because of the stretching, the extra fluids I've been drinking or something else I'll probably never know but suffice to say I was quite satisfied with the 70 lengths and would have done more if the chap who joined the lane when I'd done 50 lengths wasn't like an express train.  I felt a bit guilty being in the fast lane when he was so much faster.  Mind you, he kept stopping every 4 lengths so obviously a sprinter as opposed to my long distance, very slow pace.

So I need to get an hour's run in tomorrow morning to leave me with a reasonably easy weekend even if it means a bit of cycling in the wet (.it's a poor forecast).  So much for my 'bike into the office twice' this week.  I don't think there's been 2 dry days in a week since Christmas, and next week it looking pretty grim.

Stretching it a bit.

 5 years ago whilst doing my training I seemed to be continually tired and continually hungry.  This time that feeling has kicked in this week, particularly today where my motivation do to anything is lacking.  I hope it's temporary but I have a feeling I will have to get used to it.

A 1hr run this morning didn't feel too bad in spire of 3hrs on the bike yesterday.  I was on Stella yesterday (best bike) due to a knackered gear lever on Cilla.  I'm expecting a replacement tomorrow which will test my installation skills (I've never put a lever on) and probably find out I need another part.  My better half has been fairly patient to date during my training 'journey' but I can tell she is less happy about time away from home the current bike maintenance time. The swim time is also not getting done due to a) limited options for lane swimming at the pool (mainly early mornings) and b) worried about severe cramps such as I experienced last time.  I've been trying get some stretching in, but only ad hoc when I remember, I probably need some sort of routine to make sure I do them so I need brainstorming with myself.

  

Passing Out

 I clawed 51 minutes back on the total last week.  I'm still about 15hrs down overall, and have absolutely no chance of getting that back, but at least I didn't slip any further behind.  I did a 10 mile run yesterday and felt quite tired after it, in fact I would say I haven't felt like that since my last marathon.  My legs were aching, knee as sore as it ever has been and couldn't get comfortable when getting off to sleep.  However, I feel reasonably OK this morning so I won't dwell on it.  Oh, hang on, I just did.

Motorbike MOT today, so I dropped it off at lunchtime and will pick it up at 5.  I can't decide if I should sell it now then 'invest' in something newer, or wait a while and do it after the triathlon.  This is because my free time will be taken up by exercising, but at the same time my existing is losing value and will probably get a better price for it now.  I don't have to invest in a new one immediately, but I expect I will want to.  This assumes it passes the test OK.   

What's The Use?

 It's Friday today, and although I had an hour's run in mind, I woke up totally knackered, reset my alarm and went back to sleep.  I'm not too concerned, the plan calls for a 'rest day' of the week and I'm feeling better for it.  I need a 75 minute run and 45 minutes swim to reach the weekly target, but might substitute the bike for the swim.  I never seem to get the opportunity at weekends to align lane swimming with my free time, and I will do more than 45mins on the bike which might mean I claw back a bit of lost time from a few weeks ago.  I'm also still suffering with foot/toe cramps and I need to get into a bit of a routine doing stretching exercises.  The thing is, they are boring and don't feel like they are doing me any good although I am sure they are. It's not like a run where even if I go slowly I still feel like I've done something 'useful'.

All About Me.

 'I'm a [insert word here] expert, and this is what you should do'...  These are the headlines designed to raise your curiosity and dive into the advert riddled world of news articles, only they aren't news, they're just someone's opinionated rubbish that anyone could spout.  I really do despair sometimes.  They are so desperate to fill all that white space and bring in the advertising revenue.  Todays' upsetting feature was a 'I'm an AI expert, and here's why blahblahblah' I couldn't bring myself to read any further than 'why'.

Anyway, I was an hour running short at the end of last week which was a bit disappointing given that my aim to finish slightly up on the week.  I pulled my back on Saturday morning lifting a bag of plaster and starting the floor laying in the old stables.  I did just over an hour run in the afternoon, hoping it would help and although I finished the run, I'm not sure it did me any good.  I felt better on Sunday, but not enough to do another run, and time was short so it was half an hour on the bike partly to see if would be ok for Monday.  It wasn't too bad so a bike to work and back was a good start to this week at least, followed by an hour this morning round by Rodneys.  I didn't feel so 'fluent' towards the end of the run, with my knee feeling a bit sore, mortens neuroma still there and few twinges but since sitting in the office all morning everything seems to have settled down.  Lets hope it was just an off day.

Nearly There.

 2hrs of running, 45mins of cycling required to finish off the week, so that should be doable (is that a word?).  The run will be the most difficult.   I bottled out of doing a run this morning as I was feeling a bit off colour coupled with the fact I needed to get into the office a little earlier to switch some power leads over before the troops arrived.  The plan calls for a 1 and a half hrs run on Sunday, so that leave about half an hour to do plus 45min cycle.  I might try and get the bike in tonight if possible, then that leaves me with slightly more flexible options.  It's mother's day Sunday so that will squeeze my time a bit, and I have half promised that I would conjure up my slow beef meals in the evening.  In short, I should get the total time in even if it's not split quite accurately between the disciplines.

Stretching it A bit.

It's Thursday and I'm managing to keep to the schedule fairly well so far.  Cycle to work on Monday was pushed back to Tuesday, but I got 2 x half hour sessions on the rollers Monday.  An hour's run Wednesday morning with a 45min swim in the evening, then another hour's run this morning.  So, not so much to do at the weekend.  Last night's swim was cut short though due to foot/toe cramps so I need to do something about that.  I read that stretching is probably key, so if I try and do that between now and the next session I hope it improves.  

Jobs for The Boys

Today's threatened fog didn't materialise, so I cycled into work in the rain.  Mainly drizzle really so wasn't too bad.  I'm hoping everything gets dry before home time, it's not the warmest of days so it's good to start dry at least.  This means I'm back on track for the week after 1hr of rollering yesterday (2 x 30mins) but I need to get a swim in without it interfering with an early run or similar.  I need to check the pool schedules. 

On another matter, I might contact an agency about a job this afternoon.  Salary is 20k more than I'm on now, and sounds interesting. ..but do I want to give up a low pressure local job?  Watch this space. 

Weather I Like it Or Not

 Not a good start to the week so far.  Ok, it's only Monday lunchtime, but my planned cycle into the office was halted due to a rather cold, frosty start to the day so I retreated to the rollers where I only managed 35mins before they got the better of me.  I will need to up my game this evening, which will mean more of the same on the rollers or go for  run outside my comfort zone i.e. after my evening meal.  I would have gone swimming if it was possible, but they seem to be geared up for morning lane swimming rather than what they did 5 years ago which was late evening sessions.  I'll more than likely end up on the rollers, so I need to find something interesting to watch on the laptop i.e. Netflix or Youtube.

However, last week went to plan despite missing a swim session, but made up for it with a bit of extra running.  This week is one of the slightly bigger weeks, so I need to keep on top of it.  Weather forecast is for cold mornings but at least not much rain so should be OK if I can get at least 1 ride into to the office otherwise its a busy weekend.