Hi All, I've had a good few days training which I'll run through first. Friday I was off work so I managed a good run and a good solo pool session. Borrowed from the Thursday night session with Absolute Tri Club I did 48x50m off 75secs. Thats a total of 2400m in an hour, steady pace I know but notable as it's the furthest I've been in an hour... and over half race distance. I went for a steady long run saturday evening too, a nice steady pace sub 8min miles for 1hr30mins, not bad after only having 4.5hrs sleep Friday night. I finished off the weekends training today with a 4hr ride, 60 miles at 15mph, again the furtherest I've been... and again over half race distance. It's scary to think how much further I have to go and do it all together, but progress nonetheless, I need to remind myself I'm still a beginner. I'm doing the Clumber Park Duathlon next Saturday so it was good to take in the route today, I did 4 laps of the course so the distance won't be a problem, just need to remember not to get too carried away.
As things start to progress it's important to mention I'm doing the event to raise money for a great charity, The Karen Green Foundation. This is a new charity and one it's great to be involved with, even more so at such an early stage. I never met Karen Green but I'm proud to be raising money in her memory. From what I've heard about here she sounds like my kind of person, great resilience and truly selfless, very inspirational. Please take time to watch this weeks YouTube video which is Mick Green talking at the launch night of The Foundation. You can check out the website for further details here http://www.karengreenfoundation.com. I'll let you know sponsorship details at a later stage when I've got it all sorted, but needless to say I'd be grateful if you could all donate generously.
It leads nicely on to my ramblings, in the UK today is Mothers Day, a day when we remember our Mother, a person who is so often taken for granted. So Mum, thanks for everything, I know I'm not the most patient person but your the best Mum possible, I wouldn't swap you for the world :-). I also went to see my dear old Gran today too... luckily she's got very bad eyesight, or she would have had to look at me sat on her sofa in my underpants with a pack of frozen potato wedges on my knee (a precaution only). Luckily though, that's sorted tea out too. Anyways make sure you tell the people you care about how you feel, I'm not great at talking but hopefully mum will read this blog and get the message (she's actually sat opposite me now but this is the modern way) :-).
For now, Matto_w out x
Showing posts with label Cycling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cycling. Show all posts
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Sunday, 19 February 2012
The Build Phase and the British Heart Foundation
Thanks to everyone for your kind words and words of encouragement after last weeks blog. It was a representation of how I was feeling but things always comes across a lot worse in print. I'm feeling ok in myself, and there's no way I'm not doing this. Back to focusing on one session at a time and lets see where it takes me. My life feels like a long ride at the moment, lots of ups and down and I don't really know where I'm going, I'm gritting my teeth and digging in on the inclines and hanging on for dear life on the declines.
Tuesday was an important day for me, February 14th. It was the 2nd anniversary of the passing of my Grandmother, the passing of someone close to you is always tough, I've always felt extra close to my Mamma. I was born on her 50th birthday and have always felt a special bond. I come from a close family and I'm lucky to have all there support in (almost) everything I do. I used the money that was left to me in her will to buy my bike and all the other associated gear when I started out last year. It felt good to spend the money on something that would enhance my life, I know she would approve. During my Outlaw training it is my intention is to raise £2000 for charity, the first £1000 will go to The Karen Green Foundation, and the second £1000 will be donated to the British Heart Foundation. My Mamma had two triple heart bypass surgeries in her life-time. The first one was in the seventies when the survival rates were much lower than today, so I feel lucky to have had her in my life at all. She was a great supporter of the BHF, they gave her the support she needed. I intend to carry on this support in honour of her. Mamma was very religious and had a strong faith in god, now I'm a staunch atheist but I always feel she's there somewhere and I look to her memory to keep me going at time when I need some inspiration, I know she would be proud.
This week was the first week of the Build Phase in my Don Fink program. It has gone ok actually, I think the few days off last weekend did me some good. Tuesday was the usual swim before work and run after. I had Wednesday off work so I enjoyed my transition session at my own leisure and went to the extra swim session I needed with Absolute Triathlon Club in the evening. Thursday I was back to the pool after work and then hit the Turbo when I got home. I skipped running on Friday as I had something far more important on. In the Build Phase the weekend long run and long ride now become brick sessions... Saturdays long run was followed by 30 minutes on the Turbo, and todays long ride was followed by a quick run, both felt good. I pushed hard on the bike today, my legs ache but I'm determined to get better.
This weeks music was good, a double Idlewild session on Tuesdays run, The Remote Part and Warnings/Promises, one of my favourite bands. Turn on the Bright Lights by Interpol, and Brothers by the Black Keys were the other albums I listened to this week. One of my favourite songs ever is Century After Century by Idlewild, but incredibly there isn't one version on YouTube!
Another week where I had to go solo on the long ride and not join up with my friends from the club for the Eakring ride. I just want to quickly mention Helen, she organises us on Sunday and is massive energy giver to most, if not all of us. She is such a warm and generous person, everyone loves her with good reason. She is the reason I, and probably a few others are doing Outlaw this year, she is an inspiration so Helen... thanks, and keep up your training, you're doing great xx
The reason I had to skip the ride was I needed an early start. It was my cousin Adam and his lovely wife Louise's babies 1st birthday and I really wanted to get over for the party. Everyone loves party food at kids parties right? Great for the training diet :-) Happy first birthday Edwin xx
Happy Birthday too to Gabby, hope you had a great secret holiday, hopefully see you and Lummo soon. Lets schedule in some time.
And a special Happy Birthday to Howy too, welcome to Club 30 squire, I also hope you enjoyed your secret weekend break with Hels.
Thanks again for taking the time to read this. Those of you who know me know I'm not much of a talker, so it's a bit weird putting all this stuff out there. If I was better at talking I probably wouldn't be where I am now... I probably wouldn't have even found triathlon, but here I am, on the way to Outlaw.
Matto_out xx
Tuesday was an important day for me, February 14th. It was the 2nd anniversary of the passing of my Grandmother, the passing of someone close to you is always tough, I've always felt extra close to my Mamma. I was born on her 50th birthday and have always felt a special bond. I come from a close family and I'm lucky to have all there support in (almost) everything I do. I used the money that was left to me in her will to buy my bike and all the other associated gear when I started out last year. It felt good to spend the money on something that would enhance my life, I know she would approve. During my Outlaw training it is my intention is to raise £2000 for charity, the first £1000 will go to The Karen Green Foundation, and the second £1000 will be donated to the British Heart Foundation. My Mamma had two triple heart bypass surgeries in her life-time. The first one was in the seventies when the survival rates were much lower than today, so I feel lucky to have had her in my life at all. She was a great supporter of the BHF, they gave her the support she needed. I intend to carry on this support in honour of her. Mamma was very religious and had a strong faith in god, now I'm a staunch atheist but I always feel she's there somewhere and I look to her memory to keep me going at time when I need some inspiration, I know she would be proud.
This week was the first week of the Build Phase in my Don Fink program. It has gone ok actually, I think the few days off last weekend did me some good. Tuesday was the usual swim before work and run after. I had Wednesday off work so I enjoyed my transition session at my own leisure and went to the extra swim session I needed with Absolute Triathlon Club in the evening. Thursday I was back to the pool after work and then hit the Turbo when I got home. I skipped running on Friday as I had something far more important on. In the Build Phase the weekend long run and long ride now become brick sessions... Saturdays long run was followed by 30 minutes on the Turbo, and todays long ride was followed by a quick run, both felt good. I pushed hard on the bike today, my legs ache but I'm determined to get better.
This weeks music was good, a double Idlewild session on Tuesdays run, The Remote Part and Warnings/Promises, one of my favourite bands. Turn on the Bright Lights by Interpol, and Brothers by the Black Keys were the other albums I listened to this week. One of my favourite songs ever is Century After Century by Idlewild, but incredibly there isn't one version on YouTube!
Another week where I had to go solo on the long ride and not join up with my friends from the club for the Eakring ride. I just want to quickly mention Helen, she organises us on Sunday and is massive energy giver to most, if not all of us. She is such a warm and generous person, everyone loves her with good reason. She is the reason I, and probably a few others are doing Outlaw this year, she is an inspiration so Helen... thanks, and keep up your training, you're doing great xx
The reason I had to skip the ride was I needed an early start. It was my cousin Adam and his lovely wife Louise's babies 1st birthday and I really wanted to get over for the party. Everyone loves party food at kids parties right? Great for the training diet :-) Happy first birthday Edwin xx
Happy Birthday too to Gabby, hope you had a great secret holiday, hopefully see you and Lummo soon. Lets schedule in some time.
And a special Happy Birthday to Howy too, welcome to Club 30 squire, I also hope you enjoyed your secret weekend break with Hels.
Thanks again for taking the time to read this. Those of you who know me know I'm not much of a talker, so it's a bit weird putting all this stuff out there. If I was better at talking I probably wouldn't be where I am now... I probably wouldn't have even found triathlon, but here I am, on the way to Outlaw.
Matto_out xx
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