Time to re-evaluate the Season ahead

Met with Mark after the session to re-evaluate the season ahead.

Many of the races we had identified early on, now were not to play a key roll in qualifying for the Long Distance World Champs in Perth 2009. The release of the qualifying races last week have changed everything. The races which I am now working toward are:

• 5-10-09: Gold Coast HIM (Sprint Race - 1/33/7)
• 19-10-09: NSW State LD Champs (Foster - 2/60/15)
• 16-11-09: MY "A" Race Shepparton HIM (1.9/90/21.1)
• 22-2-09: Aust LD Champs (Huskisson - 2/82/20)
• 22-3-09: SA State LD Champs (????? - 2/60/15)
• 5-4-09: Australian Ironman

I think this has now re-focused me and I finally I have some direction and purpose for my training...it's definitely back!

WOW...is that what water looks like!

AM Session: Rest
PM Session: BTS Swim Squad

Well the AM session was easy enough to complete....Thats one thing I have had lots of practice over the past 4 months.

PM session...back into the pool...wow...seriously I was realying looking forward to the experience again!
Ok not long into the session the shoulders let me know that this was something I wasn't use to. But I sucked it up and used the power of positive thought...works a TREAT!
Good session....felt good at the end and now believe I was back! The MoJo has returned....niccce!

Enough is ENOUGH!

It is time to put everything that I have encountered over the last 2-3 months behind me and move forward. However, if you are looking for an excuse for not training...I'm putting out a book shortly...101 Excuses to avoid Training! ;-)

All jokes aside, today it hit me that it was time! I have to get back into the training...it has been 4 months since Ironman and there has been no real commitment to get back into solid training over those months. The weight has come back on....the diet is just NOT happening...I feel I have let myself got to rack and ruin! Time to pull up my socks and get things back on track.

The following things need to be reflected upon....very seriously:

• The KPI's I have set down...they need to be adjust slightly.
• Diet...Diet...Diet...no more tuck shop!
• Water....Water...Water...Hydration Man.... a new superhero!
• Time management...need this to be working effectively to fit...Wife..Work...Training...Coaching demands in and keep everyone happy.
• What I would call a 'Triathlon Financial Plan' need to be developed.
• Using plastic boxes in new and innovative ways....
• Bring back the enjoyment into the training and racing
• The Arch Enemy....The Return of the voice....(strategies to combat and defeat this training nemesis)
• No room for being soft!!

This evening it was time....I had this urge to do something physical when I got home....and of course the thing I love to do is run....so I did!

Of course this was not a terribly flat run I good solid hill run...not niggles...got through the run without any great issues. Throughout the run I did really push hard up the hills and used the down hills as a means of recover before the ascent.

Once home completed the first session of the week. This was the first session I had done all week other then the programed rest on Monday morning.

PM Session: Core strength: 10 push ups; 20 sec prone hold; 20 sec squad hold x 15

This is the first one of these session I have embarked on...and couldn't I tell!!

LD Quailfying races

TA has just yesterday sent through their July Newsletter which has the qualifying races for the World Long Course in Perth next year. They are as follows:

Looking at the dates Mark and I may need to re-adjust the key races for the season ahead. I am glad that there is more than one race, gives me a better opportunity to qualify. What I need to do now is sit down and strategically select the races that I could potentially get the most points. This is going to be good....I feel as though my motivation has just returned...its a great kick in the backside...the Mo Jo has returned....touch wood!

BRING IT ON!!!!

Samford Loop for 27-7-08

Exercise after an extended period of sickness......

This afternoon I went for an easy 30min run. I felt good throughout the run; however, it was quite noticeable that it didn't take much to push my heart rate up. It indicates that I'm still not 100%.

Things are looking up.

This morning despite not a lot of sleep again last night..I am starting to feel a lot better. Today is another day of 'forced rest. I think that this will allow me to get back on track with my training next week.

I watched a highlight package from the 2008 Taupo (NZ) Ironman this morning on Fox. What a great motivator....It really assisted me in getting back into the training. That Ironman and Half Ironman are the things that I am destined to compete in.

Yep....still sick.....

The frustration continues....

This is day 7 of what I would call an ALMIGHTY dose of bronchitis....so far nothing much is improving...2nd last day of antibiotics. So far this week very little sleep.

......got to stay positive!!

HOW frustrating.....

Thursday afternoon it started...the dreaded tickle in the throat. By Friday lunch it had turned into a full on coughing frustration.

It is now Wednesday....nearly 7 days later and things are only just improving....I have tried everything to shake this thing in the short term and NOTHING has helped. To make it even better (that's if the last 3 sleepless nights weren't bad enough) I have now passed it onto Karen...(Well sharing is caring).

The Docs have given me antibiotics on Monday and I think they are now only kicking in....I NEED TO DO SOME SORT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY! It's driving me insane!

I was only just starting to find my MoJo for training last week.....Another distruption to getting back into it....I'm now really craving for that 'training' feeling....BRING IT ON!

Not a Happy Camper

I have definitely come down with a bit of a chest/flu infection...one of those coughing things. I have decided to not do anything this morning...no Ride Inside or Ocean Swim. I was particularly looking forward to the Ocean swim....bummer.

Thursday - Training

AM Session- Swim: open water swim with me at Redcliffe 9.30am 60 mins (now happening on Friday)
PM Session- Run: 30 min @ under 145hr

This morning I was meeting Sarah and Jacqui to work out a run route for the Tour. I decided that I would ride in to meet them as I believe that I need to spend a little more time in the saddle to get my cycling up to standard again.
It was quite cool this morning and again I was rugged up but was looking forward to the morning on the bike.
I spent about 2hrs on the bike this morning and travelled about 40km...it was a good morning...felt good and my cycling 'legs' were coming back.

The run in the afternoon was a 'no watch' run. I have a 30min course around my place and did this with no watch. The no watch scenario reduces one expectations for the run and helps in bring the enjoyment of running back into the running. It's a strategy I am trying to use to increase the level of motivation and drive to get back into the training.

Felt good after the run - still struggling with the left calf a bit. With ensuring that I stretch after each run I should be able to overcome this issue.

In saying that I was feeling good after the run was probably a little premature....I now am feeling a little fluey and I am not that impressed about it at all.

Will give the session a miss tomorrow morning to see if I can 'kick it in the butt' before it gets any worse.

Wednesday.....

AM Session: Rest

PM Session: Run: 60 mins @ under 150 hr followed by 6 x 80m strides and 15 min stretch

The run was a good work out plenty of hills and I am happy to challenge myself with this as I believe it is in going in improving my overall leg strength.

However, in saying that my left calf came up quite sore....the stretching helped a bit but I think it is just getting my legs back into the routine of regular running of hills.

What can I say......

AM: Ride: group 1. Focus on cadence staying above 95. Don't worry about hr. Drive there and back

PM: Run; 30-40 mins @ under 145 hr and 15 min stretch

This morning was my real first challenge since I have been back into the training....Mt Nebo....what a way to start. It was again a brisk morning and I think I added another 5kg just in clothe to the weight of my bike. I was full of enthusiasm for a great ride...really looking forward to it. However, the thing I didn't factor in to all of this was the 23km I ran yesterday....hmmmm.

Stay tuned...more to come!

Afternoon Run Session

PM Session: 30-40min run under 145bpm

This was a good session. Felt good throughout the run. About 25min started to get a little pain in the left calf, stopped and stretched for a little while. Felt a bit better and allowed me to continue.

When I returned to home I got into a 15min stretch.

In my preparation for Ironman I developed a 15min stretching routine. I found once I developed a routine of a series of stretches I am more likely to complete the stretch session and of course the motivational music is a MUST!