Let the Taper Commence...

Today feels like a major battle won. For all those following the Fink training schedule or something similar then the last 3 weeks is the taper, the gradual decrease in training until race day, and that's where I'm at. My programme peaked at 20 hours this week and comes down to what seems like a breeze at 14.5 hours next. To put it into some sort of context that is the kind of amount I was doing 10 weeks ago around week 17. I'm delighted with my commitment and the amount of effort I've put in, since week 16, 12 weeks ago, I've only missed 2 training sessions. It's taken a large degree of effort and a huge amount of sacrifice but that's what it's all about. If you want something hard enough.

Now I'm under no illusion. Race day will be something else altogether. So far I've swam 1.9miles, I've ridden 100miles and I've ran 22miles. I've done as much as 7.5hours in a day. But July 1st will really be into the unknown, just to remind you I'm aiming to do 2.4miles swim, 112miles on the bike and 26.2 miles run all under 13hours.

Whilst doing this challenge to become an Outlaw I'm raising money for a great cause. The Karen Green Foundation is a new charity raising money for organisations and individuals researching, treating and fighting leukaemia and cancers of the blood. Please follow the link to there website on the right or if you like you can sponsor me via the link to my Just Giving page.

Thanks Matto_w xx  

10 Weeks Down... 20 To Go! A Moment of Doubt?

Training wise I'm probably at my lowest point to be honest. I've been taking it session by session and not been worrying about the event at all. The weather hasn't helped, but getting to a third of the way there has really struck home. I can't even comprehend 13 hours of exertion. I'm not sure I can swim for 1 1/2 hours + to cover the 2.4 miles, I don't know if I can cycle for 7 hours to complete the 112 miles, at the moment my average speed isn't high enough for shorter distance on my training plan at the moment let alone anything else. And when all that is said and done, I'm not sure my little legs will fancy running a marathon, never mind a sub 4 hour one at that.

On Tuesday I swam as usual, but in the evening I substituted my usual run with a Turbo session. Wednesday I had off work so I was really looking forward to my transition session... it didn't go well, after a steady 45 minute cycle the 30 minute run was awful. Thursday was swim and spin, spinning seemed even harder work than usual. I'd made plans Saturday evening so I decided just to do my long run Friday evening and skip a run session, the run was fine but it was freezing, evening more disappointingly I missed the first social event of the Absolute Triathlon Clubs calander. Hopefully everyone had a great time at the Dogs in Nottingham and plenty of money was raised for the Karen Green Foundation. And that's that, I skipped the Sunday ride, too tired etc.

So I need to pick myself up, thanks everyone for your kind words and support, no-one said it was going to be easy, and it wouldn't be such an achievement if it was I guess. I've written out my next 10 week Don Fink plan and it terrifies me, I've no idea how I'm going to find time for everything, but I will. And I will do this.

This weeks long run was accompanied by the Deftones which I think tells its own story... see the YouTube player.

In other news I've booked my ticket to the Triathlon Show 2012 which should be a good day out with some fellow clubmates. If anyone is going let me know.

Just as I'm writing my great friend Julo has text to ask where this weeks blog is. I'm so out of sorts it's slipped and is a day late :-) She'd telling me to stop moaning and get on with it... so that's what I'm going to do. Another self indulgent post but I think it's important to document how I'm feeling on this journey. Thanks for taking the time to read.

Matto_out

PS Campbell and Peace Dentistry have pledged to give £1 to the Karen Green Foundation for every 'like' on there Facebook page. Please follow the link and hit 'like', you can donate £1 of someone elses money to a great cause. http://www.facebook.com/CampbellandPeace

Weight Watchers

Thankfully, after last week, it was an uneventful weeks training. Every fourth week in the Fink program is an easier week, it's been a nice week training. I did something for the first time too... I missed a session, my first one. Now this obviously could be seen as a bad thing, but frankly I'm quite relieved. I suffer missed session guilt, so not to stress about losing 1 hour feels good. I even restrained myself from going on the usual Sunday Eakring ride. I've mentioned before how much I enjoy it but they were scheduled for much longer than me. Now I know if I went along I'm unable to turn back and do a shorter session, so the only thing to do is not to go and go solo. Despite the cold it was a good ride.

This focus of this weeks blog is food. Now I'm not great at swimming, and I'm not great on the bike, but I'm frankly awful when it comes to eating, I can quiet literally take food or leave it. Following last weeks episode of being blown off and getting some stick for being a little lightweight I thought I'd reassure you that I'm (trying to) eating well. Every day at work I make time for breakfast, I have a midmorning snack, a sensible chicken/rice convenience lunch, and I have an afternoon small meal/snack. In the evening I've been alternating between fish and red meat. It's not something I've ever really talked about, but I'm self conscious about weight. I've always controlled my diet and have never been 10st. I'm happy to say I'm 9st8lbs at the moment, trying to eat well, I'm eating some greens (spinach) and trying to view food as fuel. So far so good. Anyone who wants to offer me a good meal, whether home cooked or a meal out please get in touch :-) Thanks to Helen and Paul for last nights tea too.

In unrelated news and to add to my busy life, my band (well 3/5 of us) got back into a practice room this afternoon. Man it felt good, we'll hopefully be releasing some new music in the forthcoming months... I'll keep you posted... Now back to triathlon...

On yesterdays run I listened to the Black Keys album Brothers, which is always a welcome companion. My friend Julo said to me this week that I use music to motivate and get me going, but to be honest it's more a reflection of mood. Tuesday I listened to one of my favourite albums from my student days, Reuben's Racecar is Racecar Backwards. It's a bit throw away but Fall of the Bastille is genuinely one of my favourite songs. I'm going to leave you with a line from it that I draw inspiration from...

If you say "nothing left to loose" 

Then you have not lost your voice 

Matto_out x

PS A quick shout out to Marco, my friend how has taken up fencing... he loves a minority sport :-)