DAMBUSTER and the week after!!!!!

So no major issues with getting over to the race, flight OK, bike OK, stayed at me mams, slept OK, got there in enough time etc, diet maybe not the best in the week prior and I had done nothing exercise wise since Monday due to work/family stuff. But other than that I was looking forward to the race and meeting up with all again. So results.......

Overall Finish 105(Not Happy) in a time of 02:24:49(Not Happy)

Swim 00:26:38(Happy) My swim is coming on and its good I use to be a 29/30 min and all swims done this year are 26,24 and a 22 so happy days. Felt funny swimming and all the guys you know that are in front or behind you are all RAF. I found myself in between the lead pack and all the rest , there was 2 others that swam alongside nearly all the way I could not work out who it was. I was overtaken by only 2 from the wave that started behind me so to be honest I was happy.

T1 00:01:08(Steady, no issues) Saw Sam Wright here so thought got to have him on the bike then try and hold on on the run.

Bike 01:15:36(Jesus Christ) I am not happy. OK it was windy but boy I could just not get going. Sam and I had maintained the same distance between each other so I thought to myself we all must be feeling the wind. Just get into a rhythm and maintain. Easier said than done it was not till I turned on to the A47 that I got my bike legs together, toooooo late. At one point I was clocking 30mph on said road and some guy came flying past me like I was not there, Thought it was Saggs on his TT but he ensured me it was further South.

T2 00:00:45(Again no messing in and out) Saw Sam again in transition just thought try and stick with him.

Run 00:40:42(Not happy) I had been doing Brick sets in training for IMUK in a bloody quicker time and covering a further distance. This is a flat run really so disappointed with time. Not really sure what happened maybe it was the bike, I'm not happy with this time though. Even with Mal, Westy and Jase telling me I looked good on run. So more stuff to work on.

So the week after Dambuster has been a nightmare for me. Woke up on the Sun with a major chaffing issue. I will not go into this too much, but basically I have done nothing since the Race on Sat and its now Wed. I can Hardly walk and I have had to go to the Docs. I cant believe it I have the Day in the Lakes Half this Sun and this race is my last practice race ready for my IronMan. I was going to have the bike, the kit, the food, the prep etc all the same as IMUK and then a 4 week taper. Is it all going wrong so close to the big day. I'm gutted and feeling really sorry for myself. I so want to do this race on Sunday I need to know all is ready and I'm OK.

New TT Bike

All brought by work. Yes you are reading right, work have purchased this for me. I was given £2500 to spend . I did not want to take the pee so spent £2000. There are obviously stipulations with this deal. Ill explain to you when I see next as this not he place for me to put them on.

I also wanted to get the bike fully made up not just the frame, so I went for.........

Ribble TT - Carbon Aero TT Ultegra 10 with Mavic Aksium Wheels

2009 Frameset12K Carbon monocoque frame and forks with high quality components from Ultegra, Dura Ace and Dedacciai.The Ultimate in design, aerodynamics, stiffness and performance- Carbon 12K monocoque frame and forks- Shimano Ultegra 10 speed Double groupset- Dura Ace 7900 TT79 time trial/triathlon brake levers- Dura Ace 7900 bar end shifting levers- Mavic Aksium Wheelset - Ribble headset 1 1/8" Hidden (ITS) 45x45- Aero TT carbon seatpillar- Selle Italia XO Transam saddle- Deda Crononero Team handlebars and Deda Parabolica Uno extensions- Deda Quattro Stem- Vittoria Rubino Rigid Tyres.

I decided to get the standard wheels saving cost and putting my Zipp 404's on., also got Look Keo Carbon Pedals along with Sella Flite Kit Carbon Saddle.

Now I am very happy with the bike and looking forward to getting her out. Which wont be this w/end as I have another dress rehearsal Iron man Bike so 'S' Works it is.

Still Alive

Pics from Athy

So I've not been on for a while various reasons, work being the biggest but also I have got my MOJO back finally and I'm enjoying training again so been getting it in. Also did a race last w/end.... to follow. Well only 7 weeks to IMUK and I'm eating, sleeping living the event at the moment. My bike is set up as will be for race day and I'm out on her as much as I can, running trainers well and truly broken in. Drink, gels and food as on the day even tried the minging Lime and Lemon Power bar gels(Yuk). Training going well again got a 4 hr bike tomorrow followed by 2hr run, as if doing IMUK, Dress rehearsal and that's me no more big stuff. Looking at a 4 week taper.





Doing Day in Lakes at end of month as a recce of race day but only a half. Got a tripped planned over the water to recce the route etc. Oh and Dam buster. I may do Dublin Marathon in October if I get post IM blues and I need to do something!!!!!!!!





I have a new TT Bike arriving Wednesday I hope(Mick Knows) Courtesy of work, oh sometimes I love my employer. Ha Ha. Ill post photos when it arrives. Unlike Turbo Man I cannot promise such a beauty. But some of us just don't get the luck!!!!!





So injuries and niggles seem to have disappeared and I'm back into the training. Did a standard distance race in Eire last weekend, what a beauty of a race along with a cracking day weather wise.


Swim 20:59


Bike 1:04:28


Run 40min... To be honest was well happy with result and to get a 2hr 09min finish time well pleasing, slightly annoyed with run time but I'm feeling stronger in training so Ill get that down to at least a 38. Overall 72Nd out of 811, 17Th in age group.

Airports

I have finally decided that airports are no good for you. After 4 flights in the last week im dead. Im currently sat in the airport waiting for yet another delayed flight. No excues but they coming, I feel like poo. Looking at Saggs blog I feel like him, but not as good, never mind not running for a week Ive nearly gone a week with doing nowt. Its all this flying back and forth, staying in hotels and sitting in careers meetings. Oh Im so bored, de-motivated and tired. Reckon Ive peaked too early for Ironman??? Hope not. Ive decided that Im going to do the Duathlon tomorrow as a kick up the ass I need to get the Mojo back and get in to it again. Running is still a slight struggle.Swimming been going ok and cycling aggrevates the Knee. Got a bike fit booked for 19th May which is good, so Ill be racing the Sprint on 20th and my S Works will be out as this the one I want fitting. Just heard flight delayed due to freak weather at Heathrow?? Thought we only get that over here. I also agree with Saggs that Jase is going to be flying this year and good on him he put alot of effort in to it.

Resting

Well its been a while since I last posted, Micks moved, Saggs gets a bronze at national, Jase gets a awesome 3rd(Bike looks nice) Matt, Pete and Daz storm SA(Well done). Even Kelda recovering from injury, The association membership is keeping me well busy(Lots of new members), what with meetings, life etc. I'm hardly doing any training. A blessing in disguise as my knees required the rest. I managed to get out Sat just gone for 77 miles on the bike, rested Sunday, cycled 52 on Mon, Swam 3000m on Tue rest Wed and wait for it ran yesterday.Get in there. Good and bad news 1. Knees better but still a little tender. 2. Managed an Hr. 3. Feels like nowt now which is nice. 4. No more running till Wed's duathlon I think though. I have a stag w/end in Nottingham so not sure if I will feel too good by wed. I really have become a tee total er this year so the lads have to give me some lee way!!!!!(I hope) Fly back to Belfast Sun so a few days recovery. Which I think my body will like. Have got some photos from Malaga and Connemara to get on site. I will get round to some time. Oh saw Fat boy Elliot at Cranners Wed he was doing well. Was nice to see him he hoping to do the sprint there if he can get off. Must go been called to gate.

Weekly Update

So since being back after Malaga Training Week I have still not been recovering but I have finally listened to my body and decided to take a well earned rest. So....

Mon 06/04/09. 1st day back to work, killer feeling really tired. Did 22oom swim in evening really hard going.

Tue 07Th did a 45 min L3 run felt OK. Core work in eve.



Wed 08Th work still killing me trying to catch up, keep smiling but really its pissing me off. Do hard 28oom swim set in eve.



Thu 09Th. I cant help my self and get up 04:30 in gym for 05:00 onto tredder. 30 min warm up at Low L3 then 30 min at Low L4 with 30 min warm down at Lowest L3. Covered 12 miles in Hr and half, Avg HR 143 my legs are in bits later on in the day and I'm struggling to walk. Tanya my masseur gets me in for 30 Min's she is ace. It is just a courtesy check over she confirms my deepest fears my legs are in bits after a Ultra Marathon and training camp, in particular my Achilles. Time for Uncle Reg to take a rest can I do it.......... On ferry travel back to the Mighty Ingerland for Easter to visit In laws and parents. Yes my bike, run kit and swim kit are packed.



Fri 10Th. Awoken at 05:30 on ferry time to get off and travel home had 3 glasses of red with Mrs S last night not feeling to good. Get to Lichfield for 08:30. Meet the in laws UN-pack and have an Hr snooze. To be honest was going to do an Endurance swim Set today 7X 500m sets with 30 secs rest. I decide not to I need the rest I'm getting run down. So have done nowt all day relax, had meal out with Mrs S family was nice but had a few beers which is too many for me and I feel a little ropey.......... Want to get out for a quick spin today say 40 mile nice low gear,work on the technique.We will see.

Home

Got back Sat 04/04/09. No hassle with the flight. Spent some quality time with Mrs S, got her a nice gift from airport she was happy. Nice one. Diesel well happy to see his Dad. Used today as a recovery day.

So woke up this morning 05/05/09 after the best sleep I had for the last week. Mrs S said I could go out for a wee spin. Did 1hr 52 on bike and covered 32 mies. God its windy. Doing nowt for the rest of the day apart from resting and getting stuff ready for work. Going to cram some training in Mon to Wed then its to my parents for Easter so will have my rest then and stuff my face with Chocolate. Nice.....