And so it ends......

Dear friends and sponsors, proof, if you needed it, that I am alive and (sort of) well.

Full results at https://www.sprinttriathlon.org/

Bear with me and I'll tell you the tale of my morning.  It began at 5:45 with my alarm and ended with me in a bit of a messy heap, but alive if tired and emotional.

Thanks to the weather gods of triathlon, it stayed dry throughout the event.  Miraculous if you consider a) the forecast and b) the constant heavy blackness of the sky.

So to the "race".  If you've been good enough to listen, you'll know that I've been swimming a lot.  Up to 1km of front crawl.  So I thought, I'll do the first 200M crawl and when I start to slow down, I'll switch to breast stroke.  Whether it was the long wait by the side of the pool and the ensuing nerves (I was just very early), I don't know, but after 4 lengths of crawl, I was struggling - really.  Out of breath and feeling a tad unwell.  So breaststroke started earlier than planned.  Luckily there were only 2 of us in the lane, so no congestion.  So finished the swim - then realised, to stop the clock I had to haul myself from the pool (hard enough for me at the best of times) and get to the timing mat, so my little chip could be registered.

So, swim done in 09:47, rspectable and almost exactly on target.

To the bike!!  To be honest, I was still gasping, feeling a little sick from the swim, but figured I'd soon settle into a rhythm.  They had warned us there was a hill!  You ever cycled from St Albans up to Shenley?  I hadn't.  i realised it was getting tough, when i glanced at the speedo and it read 5MPH, then another glance to the roadside and a fellow competitor sitting on a bench vomitting!  Felt like joining him.  But this was only 5km into the bike ride and there was such a long way to go!  coming back i got to go down that hill (and broke the 30MPH speed limit - OK it was only 32MPH, but I smiled!)

Feeling good, i [passed loads of others on the ride and was only myself passed by 2, and one of those I clung onto the back wheel of for most of the last 7-8 km!

Bike time 42:04 (very respectable).

Coming back into transition, I was massively perked up by the wonderful sight of a smiling wife and daughter waving and cheering.

I dismounted, and just about managed not to fall over - the legs were feeling decidedly dodgy!

I should have known this, and I sort of did, but it never really sank in.  Swimming and cycling and running one after the other, just is so much harder than one at a time!  I kind of hoped it wouldn't be.  but the comedy old-man shuffle with which I left the transition area said, bloody-hell, this is going to hurt!  It did.

After 2km the injury kicked in, and when it does it is so hard to run.  but I was going along a main road and was frankly too proud to stop and walk.  Probably done irreparable damage!  The run was hard.  I passed loads of people of walking, and loads of people running passed me (at least none of the walkers got me).

I actually managed to pick up the pace (in the last 400M).  I'm not ashamed to say that as I crossed the line, I welled up.  Mixture of relief, pride, exhaustion?  I don't know but it's done! 

Run time 30:51 (attrocious - but something to work on if I can get the leg fixed)

Finishing time 1:22:41.  Delighted? Yes for now.  Now I've got a target, a benchmark!  So then, next year!!

OMG It's almost time!

Is this just self-indulgent twaddle?  Well you don't have to read it.  In fact is this whole venture just some narcissistic exercise in middle-aged preening?  i don't know, but what I do know is that it's here.  The time has come (well in 5 days) so it's time to seriously consider my targets.

When I started out on this "journey", I casually set myself a target of 90 minutes (which secretly I thought would be a "piece of piss").  then I hurt my leg and frankly anything under 2 hours and finishing at all seemed like a reasonable plan.  But the training's been going well and I'm feeling quietly confident (not so quiet now I've broadcast it to the world) so i'm going to stick my neck out and make a prediction.

What has brought this on really is looking at last year's event results. You can too at www.sprinttriathlon.org if you feel so inclined.  90 minutes would place me more than half way down the field and way down in my age category.  I'm in the latter half of my age category in terms of age, if you see what i mean, so I probably shouldn't be surprised.

So, predictions. (excluding transitions for which there are very generous allowances)

Swim 09:45
Cycle 41:15
Run/hobble/walk 34:00

That makes 85 minutes and probably the inability to walk for a week afterwards.  You gotta have a goal, and there's mine.

Just a couple more training sessions to go.... Bike tomorrow, swim Thursday and I'll see how I feel Friday before taking saturday as a rest day.  Wish me luck!

12 days

I know that most of you who sponsored me, only did so to make sure I go through with this madness so you you can really see me suffer all kinds of middle-aged man agonies! Good news, I ache all over and all I did was swim 1km this morning. OK I gymed (is that a word?) yesterday, but my poor shoulders!

Silly old sod that I am, I'm counting down with a mixture of dread and excitement. Gone are my sub 90 minute ambitions, and frankly just getting round and being able to walk on monday 4th is the key ambition now!

Good news (ish) for me is that I did manage an 8 minute jog(shuffle) on the treadmill yesterday, without a major painful reaction, so i do plan to complete the course without resorting to walking and that will be a personal victory.

So, cycle tomorrow, swim, Thursday, gym Friday, weekend of cycling and we'll see. Wish me luck, and wipe those evil grins off your faces!

Weekend of cycling

Just a quick update, triathlon fans! Been out on the bike twice this weekend and I have to say that the cycling is by far the most pleasurable of the three disciplines. It's still hard, but managed 13 miles this morning, which is plenty further than the event, so I know I can do it at least.

This morning out around the lanes of Welwyn and Codicote other proper cyclists even deigned to acknowledge me. I must look "proper"! Got a bit hairy at one point when being followed down a steep hill, by a fellow (can't think of another word for cyclist), went over a bump and my water bottle jumped out of its holder and nearly took the bloke behind me out of the game.

By the way, in case you're wondering why I went out twice in 2 days, it's cos I'm in Dublin the next 2 days and won't be able to do any training. Up at 4 tomorrow to get early flight and back at midnight tuesday, so may miss Wednesday morning training too, or is that just wimpy? Yes, it is just totally wimpy isn't it! So gym Wed at 07:00 it is!!

BTW, half way round this morning's jaunt, arse numbness really kicked in. I guess you just get used to it, do you?

Anyway, time to go! 3 weeks today till the event. Bring it on!!

I Ate All the Pies

Well, when I say "all", it was just one pie, but it was a big fat steak & kidney, with chips (and beans). My body is a temple and I am an athlete in training. Then I wake up and I'm a lazy over-eating slob again.

Enough self-loathing, surely an unedifying spectacle. Bright spots on the charity triathlon horizon are.....

1. good gym workout this morning
2. Really good bike ride yesterday before work
3. Swimming back on track now body remembers what to do
4. worked out how to pump up the bike tyres (but track pump cheap and nasty and knackered)
5. still 3 weeks to go!

Black spots on the horizon
1. Just one big fat one (no, not me) the injury to my left calf - only fit for veal now and definitely not for running on!

But as I always say, "onward and upward" - don't know why, and I'm sure very annoying to family and friends, but we all need our catchphrases (don't we Brucie!).

Weekend of cycling ahead, really looking forward to that (no, really, I am).

So dear sponsors and those who will get round to it before the event (honest), have a great weekend and I promise to report back on cycle training on Monday (when I shall be in the beautiful city of Dublin).

Bye!

Idiot Boy

Yes that's me!  Idiot boy!

Been wondering why there have been no training updates?  Simple!  There's been no training.

So I thought "right, 4 weeks to go, do 3 weeks hard labour and then wind down with a week to go"  but a gentle start after 2 weeks off. Don't want to overdo it.

Off I went slowly (jogging) to the woods.  In my day that would have been a warm up or what I liked to note in my training diary as the "short wood loop".  It all started so well, "Jokerman" on the ipod (remember those day kiddo?) and then the annoying voice of Runkeeper kicked in, "5 minutes" and the pain started.  The old pain.  The lower left leg, calf pain.  The lay-off for 2 years and give up running pain.  Oh joy of unbelievably deep joys!!!

So I stopped.

But then i thought b*gg*r it.  Only 4 weeks to go, what have I got to lose (my leg?).  Ro I ran (hobbled/staggered) for another 20 mins.  Funnily enough it hurts quite a bit now.  Even "old Compton St Blues" couldn't help take the pain away (nice try Al).

So tomorrow, bike, Monday swim, then by tuesday, I'll be running again.  I ran nearly 5k today, bad leg and all, so 5k in 4 weeks bad leg and all won't be a problem will it!!!

It's just too hot to train

Sorry, I know told many of you that while I'm enjoying sunny Florida, I'd still be finding the time to get in some lengths and get on the bike and the treadmill.

Well first off, these pools (there are 7 of them
) don't have what you could identify as lengths and anyway, the water is so warm it'd be like exercising in the bath

The bike and treadmill? I just can't contemplate any more exertion than turning over on this lounger.

Still got 4 weeks when we get back. That's plenty of time. Isn't it?

7 Sundays

That's all I've got left and I'm on holiday for two of them. All getting a bit close and to be honest I'm a bit worried. Not that the training isn't going well. I ran for 15 mins this morning again. So I'll get half way round the run!! But I haven't done any multi-event training. I haven't leapt glistening with water, trickles running over my manly pecs, from the pool and onto my bike. I haven't struggled off the bike (and it is a struggle, can't get the leg over the saddle without getting cramp - is that a bad sign do you think?) and set off running down the road. In fact when I get off the bike my legs are like jelly and it's all I can do to straighten them to get rid of the cramp (from getting off the bike)!

And.... My wife noticed this morning (don't ask how) big bruises all over my poor posterior! I can only assume from the bike seat (I had a book down my pants in the Board meeting this week, so it can't be that). So I need more padding. This weekend, Sports Direct, £9.99, has to be done. I'll let you know how I get on!!

I Like the Bike

And I think the bike likes me. Did a good steady 10 miles this morning, including some hills. I know we are not exactly talking Le Tour, here, but they were challenging enough for a beginner like me!

One minor problem. The "tri" shorts. I'm sure they are great for competition, but not enough padding for training. I am a little sore and currently sitting on a cushion, but that will pass. Luckily "spanky" Scully is on holiday tomorrow, so I should get away with minimum discomfort at work (sorry Tone!).

So all set for a good gym session tomorrow with an extended time on the treadmill to test the running legs. Getting quite excited about the whole thing now!!

Thank You

I just wanted to take a sec to say a big "THANK YOU" to all of you who have sponsored me so far. I'm genuinely touched and while I shouldn't be surprised at your generosity, I am, so thank you again.

Meanwhile, I thought I'd better update you on the bike ride yesterday. Obviously I didn't die, so that's a plus (for me anyway). It went OK. I rode about 7 miles (according to the little computer on the front) and it felt weird, but OK. Only one minor incident....

I know I've mentioned before that the gears take a little getting used to, paddles by the brake levers. I thought I had it sussed, so I decided to tackle a bit of a hill. Head down, peddling hard, hit the bottom of the hill and started to climb. Immediately it was really hard going. Started shifting through the gears, but it wasn't helping. Stood up out of the saddle to give it some real effort, but it just got slower. Bloody hell, I was thinking, I'm really not as fit as I thought. I was grinding to a halt, starting to wobble, feet stuck in toe clips about to do a comedy slow-motion fall sideways into the hedge - when it struck me - I'd been going up through the gears instead of down (or vice-versa) and just as my momentum was about to be finally turned from forward to downward, I managed somehow in a desperate manoeuvre to shift through half a dozen gears and make it to the top of the hill! Felt good!

This moring was easy after that, just 1km in the pool, no space invader in the shower, just a nice gentle morning.

Laters!!

Bike

Decided that every entry from now on will be the title of a Pink Floyd song!  (Maybe in my search for sponsorship I should just title them all "Money").  Was inspired by hearing "See Emily Play" on 6 Music this morning!

My lovely, lovely big brother, has loaned me his "winter training bike". I sat on it on Sunday (and couldn't get off). It's big and frankly a little scary. The gears are very different (little paddly things by the brakes), the seat is slightly less sharp than the blade I shaved with this morning and i have to somehow manipulate my feet into clips while avoiding on-coming traffic.  I know cyclists among you will be thinking unkind things like "useless tosser" but it's all new to me!  Oh, and my new "tri" shorts arrived yesterday.  They are tight!!!!

So here's the deal. Going to go out for a proper "sesh" on the bike in the morning and one of three things will happen..

1. I will die
2. I will get hooked on proper cycling and spend my children's meagre inheritance on cycling gear
3. Nothing much

So that's all for today, except that I had a decent session in the gym this morning, including a good hard 10 mins running on the 'mill. So far, so good!

All going swimmingly

Change of tack in the pool this morning. I've alway been a breast-stroker (yes I know, fnarr-fnarr) but I'm working on becoming something of a crawler (and yes, some of my colleagues may say I'm there already).

So this morning I got my head down and did 1km of front-crawl. Nothing remarkable in that, except that a year ago, I couldn't do 2 lengths of it. So feeling good. Little ache in the shoulders, but feeling pleased with myself. So by 3rd October (D-Day) I expect to be able to a mile of crawl with ease. That'll make the 400M I need to do on the day feel like a walk in the park (if that's not an inappropriate simile for swimming?).

Tomorrow, I plan to run, outside, for the first time in as long as I can remember. So expect a tale of woe and pain and injury over the weekend.

Sorry, not many jokes in this post! Oh, and please sponsor me! Thank you!

Shower etiquette

Call me a prude if you like, but there are rules about these things.  Un-written rules that we men understand instinctively.  When I get in the shower after a hard session in the gym (as I did this morning), and there are five vacant shower heads along a wall, I choose shower number one.  Now this gives subsequent arrivees three shower options.  Note only 3 options, shower number 2 is not a valid option if 3, 4 & 5 are all vacant.  Not rocket science?  Not contoversial?  You're all with me so far, right?

So will someone please have a word with Mr former stock-broker, Space Invader, who for the third time in recent history, this morning, selected shower head number 2!  Why?  I can't tell him, can I?  Any suggestions?  Maybe he has to be that close to get a proper look, but I suspect he just has no concept of personal space.

So back off, Mr Space Invader, it's just NOT RIGHT!

72 Days to Go

Stopped counting in months and weeks, the numbers were getting too small.  72 Days sounds like plenty of time to get in shape.  Who am I kidding!

Still, jogged without pain this morning, got to be a positive sign!  (OK was only 8 minutes and on a treadmill, but it was jogging, it was faster (just) than walking pace).  Bike's arriving in one week.

Just need some sponsorship now.  Got some from Denmark, Switzerland and Canada, but not UK yet.  So come on!  Give me some encouragement (and it really is a good cause - patron is Kate Adie for goodness sake - what more do you need to know)!

Click on the tab at the top.  Oh, and thank you!

I heard a rumour....

(As the mighty Bananarama once sang) that I'm fit and therefore this triathlon is not really a challenge.  Poppycock!  I like that, think I'll say it again... Poppycock!

I used to be a runner, yes that's true, but anyone who knows me well, also knows that I haven't been able to run for around 2 years now.  Frankly the way my legs are not healing, I'll be walking the 5k as a man in a diving suit hurtles past (oh no, please no fancy dress).

As for cycling.  If slowly peddling the mile into town (yes, with my wife's basket on the front of my mountain bike) constitutes cycling training, then call me Bradley Wiggins and watch my backside as I disappear up the Alps.

Now, swimming, I'm confident in the swimming.  I'm not quick, but if they allowed me to do double swim and no run I'd bite their hand off (whoever "they" are)

So what's this all about?  Long and short?  Push to shove? This is a challenge for me, really it is, so sponsoring me to do it is a mixture of supporting that challenge and the excellent work of Hope and Homes for Children.  Remeber the more you give the harder for me to back out and the more pain I suffer - surely incentive enough! So click on the tab at the top of this blog.  Thank you!

2 hours on the bike

OK, it wasn't 2 hours of high speed training, it was 2 hours of chaperoning a load of Girl Guides.  But they're quick those young-uns.

I'll admit, my backside was numb, my waterbottle drained and my legs jelly.  But it was the first proper outing on the bike in a year, and it was 3 miles to the start and then another 3 miles home at the end and I did it.

The bike though, oh the bike.  Heavy, not quite big enough and the flaming gears, slipping all the time.  Drove me nuts.  Each time they slipped, legs jarred.  Got to get something done about it, unless of course if anyone is reading this wants to lend (or sell) me a decent road bike for the duration?  No? Thought not, because someone would have to be reading it first, wouldn't they/you?!

So next job, get bike fixed, buy helmet and get back on it tomorrow!  All in all, think last night raised more hopes than it dashed, so all is not lost.  Don't forget to donate!  Thank you John, for your generous donation, now come on the rest of you, make it impossible for me to pull out by giving so much, I'll have to do it on crutches if it comes to it!

There's only one cure for my bad leg

And that is to sponsor me on this link http://www.justgiving.com/IanAppleby
Maybe not clinically proven, but it will definitely make me work harder to be fitter for 3rd October.

Today's training didn't go so well. 3 minutes on the treadmill in the gym and I had to stop. Stupid leg. Stupider me for trying to run before allowing it time to heal. I still have 3 months after all! So no more running for 2 weeks. Plenty of time to focus on the swimming and the bike.

The bike is a bit of a worry too if I'm honest. I haven't cycled further than a mile since a gentle ride out with the Girl Guides a year ago (I know it was a year ago, because I'm going again tonight).

So new resolution. Get out of the gym and onto the roads. Off the exercise bike and onto the real thing. Bring on the Guides, tonight they're toast!

And so it begins....

Or rather it doesn't.  Because my leg hurts.  No, not the one that's been hurting for two years and prevented me from running, oh no, that would be too convenient.  It's the right leg this time.  Still I can cycle, even if I don't have much of a bike to cycle on (despite the best efforts of Giles and Andy - thanks guys for trying to fix the gears) and I can swim.

Actually, the swimming's going rather well.  I'm no Sharon Davies (more like Windsor Davies), but I reckon I can do myself justice in the pool.  So that's the first 10 minutes of the triathlon sorted, just the other hour and a half (yes I am kidding myself) that I need to worry about now!

I have a just giving page set up for all you lovely people to sponsor me, and it is a great cause, so please give.  Then while I'm hurting I can still smile at the little bit of good I'm doing at the same time.

http://www.justgiving.com/IanAppleby
http://www.hopeandhomes.org/


I'll post regular updates between now and race day 3rd October, so stay tuned!