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!