I've been following the scientifically and professionally prepared tapering schedule in preparation for Sunday's Event. This includes carbohydrate loading to maximise the glycogen storage in the muscles. Having severely restricted my carb intake over the past 7 months, I was looking forward to the 3 days of loading.
Within half an hour of my first baked potato in over 7 months, I identified an unusual side effect. I have dispensed nearly 2 days worth of pee in less than one afternoon and for the connoisseurs out there it's visibly more healthy. I had to excuse myself twice during swim club last night to provide some relief. The flow shows no sign of abating either, with the situation repeating itself today.
A previously undiscovered phenomenon? Or perhaps my belt's just a notch too tight? Regardless, it's helped further the weight loss, if even temporarily and against expectation during these wind down days.
Current weight is 14 stones 5 pounds (201 pounds / 91.2 kg).
Landmark 5: That's 100 pounds of weight loss so far. Wouldn't it be nice if I could get my current weight below the 200 pound mark by Sunday.
Friday 30 May 2008
Tuesday 27 May 2008
The final week
The final week's preparations leading up to a big sporting event has been scientifically refined over many years and this knowledge has been passed on to me. Eating plans, training plans, rest days, etc. Basically nothing too strenuous.
So I ran up 3 Munros with only 2 bananas in my backpack.
Beinn a'Ghlo to be precise, the collective name for a range of 3 Munros. It took 4 hours and 30 minutes to complete. What does that mean in the real world I hear you ask? My standard off road course 5k run time is now 27 minutes 15 seconds, a further improvement of nearly 20 seconds.
Current weight is 14 stones 7 pounds (203 pounds / 92.1 kg).
So I ran up 3 Munros with only 2 bananas in my backpack.
Beinn a'Ghlo to be precise, the collective name for a range of 3 Munros. It took 4 hours and 30 minutes to complete. What does that mean in the real world I hear you ask? My standard off road course 5k run time is now 27 minutes 15 seconds, a further improvement of nearly 20 seconds.
Current weight is 14 stones 7 pounds (203 pounds / 92.1 kg).
Friday 23 May 2008
Road cycling stinks
Not only the smell from the diesel fumes, but also the 25mph head wind and the majority of other road users who think bicycles are merely to be toyed with from inside their metal boxes. All of it stinks.
After completing my very first attempt at the proper cycle route, I failed to even come close to The Editor's time of around 45 minutes posted last year.
I can't envisage getting in to mainstream Triathlons due to the roadside pollution that would need to be endured during training.
I'm taking to the hills.
Current weight is 14 stones 9 pounds (205 pounds / 93.0 kg).
After completing my very first attempt at the proper cycle route, I failed to even come close to The Editor's time of around 45 minutes posted last year.
I can't envisage getting in to mainstream Triathlons due to the roadside pollution that would need to be endured during training.
I'm taking to the hills.
Current weight is 14 stones 9 pounds (205 pounds / 93.0 kg).
Tuesday 20 May 2008
Run training works
I wouldn't have thought it possible.
One run up a big hill last Sunday, and tonight I knocked 1 minute and 6 seconds off my personal best 5k time around my standard course. I knew in the first 100 metres that it was going to be significantly faster.
27 minutes and 34 seconds.
Which means that 26 minutes might be achievable on a flat course. I just have to find another big hill to run up this weekend. Apologies in advance to The Editor if that upsets your Italian holiday.
Current weight is still up a little, this time from spending most of Monday eating like a horse to refuel from Sunday's run. It'll be back down by the end of the week, though.
One run up a big hill last Sunday, and tonight I knocked 1 minute and 6 seconds off my personal best 5k time around my standard course. I knew in the first 100 metres that it was going to be significantly faster.
27 minutes and 34 seconds.
Which means that 26 minutes might be achievable on a flat course. I just have to find another big hill to run up this weekend. Apologies in advance to The Editor if that upsets your Italian holiday.
Current weight is still up a little, this time from spending most of Monday eating like a horse to refuel from Sunday's run. It'll be back down by the end of the week, though.
Monday 19 May 2008
Run training
I keep reading about how to improve my run time. The general advice is to do interval training and also do some hill running.
So I ran up a Munro (3000ft hill), slowing down only at the bits that were too steep to run up.
The average hill walker now thinks I'm totally nuts, but it's amazing for improving my aerobic fitness. Also, it's quicker than walking.
Current weight is up a little from drinking too much booze. It'll be back down in a day or two.
So I ran up a Munro (3000ft hill), slowing down only at the bits that were too steep to run up.
The average hill walker now thinks I'm totally nuts, but it's amazing for improving my aerobic fitness. Also, it's quicker than walking.
Current weight is up a little from drinking too much booze. It'll be back down in a day or two.
Friday 16 May 2008
The appearance of muscles
Frankly, I'm gob smacked. In a good way.
New muscles are appearing daily. On my arms, legs, stomach and back. Flappy skin is disappearing by the minute. Swim times are improving, run times are improving, cycle times are improving, hill walking is improving, breathing is improving. Overall well being is improving greatly.
I wonder what would happen if I applied the same training to my brain?
I have hit a moment of realisation, though. The feeling of continually improving my physical performance is great, but what happens when that levels out and the body reaches a peak? A long way to go yet, but how is the motivation upheld when that point is reached? Or does improving by 0.1 second then give the same joy as I get when I knock 20 seconds off my latest run time now?
The next milestone is fast approaching - breaking through the 200 pounds mark. Then I will have shed more than a third of my body weight.
Current weight is 14 stones 9 pounds (205 pounds / 93.0 kg).
New muscles are appearing daily. On my arms, legs, stomach and back. Flappy skin is disappearing by the minute. Swim times are improving, run times are improving, cycle times are improving, hill walking is improving, breathing is improving. Overall well being is improving greatly.
I wonder what would happen if I applied the same training to my brain?
I have hit a moment of realisation, though. The feeling of continually improving my physical performance is great, but what happens when that levels out and the body reaches a peak? A long way to go yet, but how is the motivation upheld when that point is reached? Or does improving by 0.1 second then give the same joy as I get when I knock 20 seconds off my latest run time now?
The next milestone is fast approaching - breaking through the 200 pounds mark. Then I will have shed more than a third of my body weight.
Current weight is 14 stones 9 pounds (205 pounds / 93.0 kg).
Wednesday 14 May 2008
The Maiden Voyage
The "on loan" 1950s racing bike has had a new seat post, a new saddle, newly lubed up bearings in the front wheel, a whole lot of gunk removed from the chain and some tinkering with the brakes and gears; £6.99 (eBay).
Using it to beat my initial mountain bike 20km cycle time by over 4 and a half minutes; priceless!
Technically, it was a hilly 20.8km course completed in 41 minutes 03 seconds, which equals a pro rata 39 minutes and 28 seconds over 20km. But a flat course should see the total time decrease slightly further, as will more practice.
Coupled with the new personal best run time of 28 minutes and 40 seconds over my usual hilly "off road" course and my improved swim time approaching 13 minutes, The Editor is becoming increasingly outwardly concerned. However, inwardly I suspect it is also having the positive side effect of enhancing motivation for his two least favourite component parts of the Triathlon.
However, if the same age and weight related handicapping used in the 2000m Concept 2 rowing challenge was carried over to "The Event", I wouldn't be in the running, so to speak.
Current weight is 15 stones exactly (210 pounds / 95.3 kg).
Using it to beat my initial mountain bike 20km cycle time by over 4 and a half minutes; priceless!
Technically, it was a hilly 20.8km course completed in 41 minutes 03 seconds, which equals a pro rata 39 minutes and 28 seconds over 20km. But a flat course should see the total time decrease slightly further, as will more practice.
Coupled with the new personal best run time of 28 minutes and 40 seconds over my usual hilly "off road" course and my improved swim time approaching 13 minutes, The Editor is becoming increasingly outwardly concerned. However, inwardly I suspect it is also having the positive side effect of enhancing motivation for his two least favourite component parts of the Triathlon.
However, if the same age and weight related handicapping used in the 2000m Concept 2 rowing challenge was carried over to "The Event", I wouldn't be in the running, so to speak.
Current weight is 15 stones exactly (210 pounds / 95.3 kg).
Sunday 11 May 2008
Thigh bursting weekend
My left foot doesn't hurt badly any more.
My thighs, however, are protesting loudly after completing my request for them to work overtime at the weekend. This will pass in a day or two, and I'll be left with "Super Hero" quads. It was definitely worth it, though, despite hardly seeing further than 200 metres all day.
To top it off, I was recalled to compete in the final of the 2000m rowing challenge today, less than 16 hours after yesterday's mammoth 9 hour ridge walk. I gave it everything I could muster and was shouting like a mad man during the final 500m push. But I won! By 0.2 of a second. Nobody remembers second place. For my troubles, I earned a free massage, which will come in very, very handy after the Triathlon.
Current weight is 15 stones and 3 pounds (212 pounds / 96.6 kg). Which is a slight increase, but relates to the 8 or 9 litres of water consumed yesterday.
My thighs, however, are protesting loudly after completing my request for them to work overtime at the weekend. This will pass in a day or two, and I'll be left with "Super Hero" quads. It was definitely worth it, though, despite hardly seeing further than 200 metres all day.
To top it off, I was recalled to compete in the final of the 2000m rowing challenge today, less than 16 hours after yesterday's mammoth 9 hour ridge walk. I gave it everything I could muster and was shouting like a mad man during the final 500m push. But I won! By 0.2 of a second. Nobody remembers second place. For my troubles, I earned a free massage, which will come in very, very handy after the Triathlon.
Current weight is 15 stones and 3 pounds (212 pounds / 96.6 kg). Which is a slight increase, but relates to the 8 or 9 litres of water consumed yesterday.
Thursday 8 May 2008
Sore foot
In my previous entry, I was very self congratulatory regarding completing the full Sprint Triathlon distance as a personal practice event.
I spoke a little too soon.
I now have a sore left foot.
My self diagnosis keeps shifting between a tiny fracture in a small otherwise unnoticed and useless bone, to deep tissue bruising. Not having any medical training means that I really don't have the foggiest what's going on, other than my run time is going to get slower due to lack of training. However, to combat The Editor's possible buoyed mood after reading this news, what with the current regime of squats , I have spent time off my feet this week reducing my swim time.
The new projected swim time is now dangerously close to 13 minutes flat. The Event time might vary considerably from this as new evidence emerged late yesterday afternoon regarding the haphazzard approach to the electronic timing station locations. Basically, your swim time includes getting out of the pool and getting to the transition point entrance, which could be some distance away.
Current weight is 15 stones and 2 pounds (212 pounds / 96.2 kg).
Interesting point of note: The average male has begun to notice my weight loss (after nearly 6 and a half stone), whereas the average female began to notice after only a few pounds.
I spoke a little too soon.
I now have a sore left foot.
My self diagnosis keeps shifting between a tiny fracture in a small otherwise unnoticed and useless bone, to deep tissue bruising. Not having any medical training means that I really don't have the foggiest what's going on, other than my run time is going to get slower due to lack of training. However, to combat The Editor's possible buoyed mood after reading this news, what with the current regime of squats , I have spent time off my feet this week reducing my swim time.
The new projected swim time is now dangerously close to 13 minutes flat. The Event time might vary considerably from this as new evidence emerged late yesterday afternoon regarding the haphazzard approach to the electronic timing station locations. Basically, your swim time includes getting out of the pool and getting to the transition point entrance, which could be some distance away.
Current weight is 15 stones and 2 pounds (212 pounds / 96.2 kg).
Interesting point of note: The average male has begun to notice my weight loss (after nearly 6 and a half stone), whereas the average female began to notice after only a few pounds.
Tuesday 6 May 2008
The art of nobbling
In retaliation for my suspected nobbling of The Editor's training, he secretly chose to make a pre-emtive sabotage stike many weeks ago. After trying all the available sizes of replacement seat post for the bicycle lent to me by The Editor, it is becoming clear that the correct size either no longer exists, or the bicycle frame was modified to ensure that no available seat post would be suitable.
I have the option of riding the triathlon without a seat, trying my hand at fabricating a collar for the seat post, or finding another bike from somewhere. Notably, I still haven't done any cycle training and "the event" is only about 3 weeks away.
On the plus side, I did complete a full event last night (swim, cycle (spinning) and run). The run was completed within 3 seconds of my personal best on that course, so it appears that the prior swimming and cycling has little or zero negative effect.
Current weight is 15 stones and 3 pounds (213 pounds / 96.6 kg).
I have the option of riding the triathlon without a seat, trying my hand at fabricating a collar for the seat post, or finding another bike from somewhere. Notably, I still haven't done any cycle training and "the event" is only about 3 weeks away.
On the plus side, I did complete a full event last night (swim, cycle (spinning) and run). The run was completed within 3 seconds of my personal best on that course, so it appears that the prior swimming and cycling has little or zero negative effect.
Current weight is 15 stones and 3 pounds (213 pounds / 96.6 kg).
Friday 2 May 2008
Circuits, or how to raise the pain threshold
My first proper participation in "Circuits" was two days ago. I still can't walk without deep muscular sensations not unlike pain. Certainly, I know my legs are still there because they object a little every time I move them. It was a tough class and uses nearly every major muscle in the body.
On the plus side, it helped tremendously with my swimming time during last night's swim club. I could knock another 60 to 80 seconds off my updated swim time if I went flat out, but of course I'd be ruined for any further sporting action immediately afterwards. The Editor, despite succumbing to recent intimidatory tactics, should not be concerned since there is now less than 4 weeks training to go, which doesn't really leave any scope for improving times or participating in many more Circuit sessions!
Current weight is 15 stones and 3 pounds (213 pounds / 96.6 kg).
On the plus side, it helped tremendously with my swimming time during last night's swim club. I could knock another 60 to 80 seconds off my updated swim time if I went flat out, but of course I'd be ruined for any further sporting action immediately afterwards. The Editor, despite succumbing to recent intimidatory tactics, should not be concerned since there is now less than 4 weeks training to go, which doesn't really leave any scope for improving times or participating in many more Circuit sessions!
Current weight is 15 stones and 3 pounds (213 pounds / 96.6 kg).
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