I thought a quick update was in order before the chrimbo holidays.
Not much on the sports front to report as it's been a busy couple of weeks with birthday parties, xmas parties, client parties and staff parties. A lot of drinking and eating and not much training. I've tried to keep it ticking over not to loose too much fitness.
My christmas break starts on Friday (Natale's birthday) which I am seriously excited about as I need to get away from the office for a bit.
Realistically this is the last post for 2012 so have a fun xmas break & happy new year!
I'm excited to start the programme in January but until then it is HO HO HO.
RJB
Monday, 17 December 2012
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
PB, Birthday, Bike Fitting and Death.
I know I have been neglecting my blog over the past couple of weeks but I've been busy with all sorts. Quite a lot of work, a bit of racing, too much wine, not enough training (especially swimming) and family losses.
I'll do this chronologically or it will turn into an dog's breakfast.
Race: On the 11th of November I ran the club 10km race in Leatherhead with about 70 keen Clapham Chasers all wearing the blue, green and white. This event has become the annual club race as it was the first race ever entered by a chaser some 7 years ago. Conditions were fantastic for running at 10 degrees C and bright autumn sunshine. It is a rather hilly course, basically up and down so I wasn't expecting a decent time as I haven't been running much and the fitness wasn't there due to excessive wine consumption and the justification that I am 'resting during the off season'.
Anyway..... long story short I ran a time I was really happy with (41.11) so I am on track for that sub 41:00 in 2013. The ultimate goal is a sub 40:00 10km but I am still a way off that one. It was a great day out as most of the Chasers took the organised bus there and back. Unfortunately Natale had to pull out due to a niggling injury but was there cheering us all on. That evening we had our annual awards dinner which was brilliant fun and really interesting to see some people with makeup on :-) Natale got a special award for outstanding contribution for kit and a couple of our mates won best veteran male and most improved woman triathletes. I didn't win shit!
Birthday: 12th of November, best day of the year of course as it is my birthday! We both woke up with a hangover which was kind of expected after the mixture of drinks.
Bike Fitting: After a superb birthday breakfast - that isn't a euphemism, we were off to the bike centre in Crystal Palace for my bike fitting. This was really interesting and good fun to see the mechanics of the human body on the bike and how everything works together; I know I'm a geek (see pics below). Two and a half hours later and a lot of turbo trainer work I had a road & triathlon setup completed with new saddle and new tri bars. Thanks to the lovely wife for the gift and the patience to sit there for nearly 3 hours. This was followed by a lovely dinner.
Death: On Sunday my dear old gran passed away :-( She had a bad fall last week and fractured her hip very badly. She went into hospital last week and passed away in her sleep on Sunday morning. She was a lovely warm & kind person and she is going to be missed. I loved you Gran Joan, you had a good innings.
Time to shake off the cold and get back on the bike and into the pool. We got a training plan to start!
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Just more running really.
Wow where does the time go, it's been over two weeks since my last entry. I hope there is someone out there at that actually reads this thing or cares about the useless information it tenders. Who knows.
It's been quite busy on the sports front with a half marathon, park run & cross country being completed by one or both of the Baylys. As it is off season the swimming has taken a bit of a back seat which is
actually very welcomed. Hammering out lengths in the pool is definitely the least exciting part of triathlon training.
On the 14th Natale & I completed the Oxford Half marathon in a steady but decent time.
We spent Saturday evening up in Oxford town in a very quaint/odd guest house and then almost missed the start of the race as I got lost trying to get the car out of Oxford city centre. The entire town is made up of insane little one way roads so once you take a wrong turn you are basically screwed. I almost had a melt down & personality failure but we eventually go to the start line in time. Race was decent but not fantastic as it didn't even go through the beautiful town centre. Strike that one from the race calendar for 2013.
Last weekend I did my first cross country race of the season and Natale ran Wimbledon park run in a new PB, very impressive indeed. I reckon she is going to get a GB outfit before me which would be wrong wrong wrong :-) I ran a brutal cross country race in Epsom Downs up and down a big hill, I am clearly a sucker for punishment. Maybe I am catholic. No I am not.
Off to sweden this weekend to see Matthew & Jessica A.K.A Mutt & Jeff.
Only other news is I was elected onto the Clapham Chasers Committee so pretty chuffed about that.
It's been quite busy on the sports front with a half marathon, park run & cross country being completed by one or both of the Baylys. As it is off season the swimming has taken a bit of a back seat which is
actually very welcomed. Hammering out lengths in the pool is definitely the least exciting part of triathlon training.
On the 14th Natale & I completed the Oxford Half marathon in a steady but decent time.
- Ryan 1:33 (PB)
- Natale 2:04 (PB)
We spent Saturday evening up in Oxford town in a very quaint/odd guest house and then almost missed the start of the race as I got lost trying to get the car out of Oxford city centre. The entire town is made up of insane little one way roads so once you take a wrong turn you are basically screwed. I almost had a melt down & personality failure but we eventually go to the start line in time. Race was decent but not fantastic as it didn't even go through the beautiful town centre. Strike that one from the race calendar for 2013.
Last weekend I did my first cross country race of the season and Natale ran Wimbledon park run in a new PB, very impressive indeed. I reckon she is going to get a GB outfit before me which would be wrong wrong wrong :-) I ran a brutal cross country race in Epsom Downs up and down a big hill, I am clearly a sucker for punishment. Maybe I am catholic. No I am not.
Off to sweden this weekend to see Matthew & Jessica A.K.A Mutt & Jeff.
Only other news is I was elected onto the Clapham Chasers Committee so pretty chuffed about that.
Monday, 8 October 2012
Serious Weekend Warriors
What a brilliant weekend we had, very full but fabulously sporty.
Saturday morning we got up early to do our 3rd ever park run. They are just brilliant fun and I can't believe we haven't done more of them. 400 people of varying running ability thrashing it around the 5km course, plus you even get free coffee and cake after the race. Check it out here: www.parkrun.org.uk
We both had really good race (2X PBs for the course) and it was very wet and dirty. I really should have taken a pic of us both covered in mud.
Saturday evening was Simon & Sam's wedding drinks party in Southwark which was a good night out. We had a few shandies and headed home at about midnight. Not going to talk about the rugby.
6:30am on Sunday and we were up (hangover and all) to get ready for our 101km Windsor bike ride. We cycled with two other Chasers to Windsor and back and had a lovely day out. A special mention to Natale who now has two 100km plus rides under her belt this year. You really do rock and I am very proud of you. Not bad at all for someone who suffers from back pain daily so no excuses for anyone.
Five hours later we got back in Clapham hungry and cold.
The pic is lunch in Windsor. Brrrr.....
Sunday evening we were treated to a fabulous steak at the Cattle Grid. Jason & Nina have just returned from their central asian odyssey and it was so good to catch-up and hear all the stories including getting engaged. Congrats my friends.
Sunday, 30 September 2012
France Photies - at last
Here are the French photos from our first international triathlon and holiday :-)
Chantilly: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22538412@N03/sets/72157631655929637/
Epernay: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22538412@N03/sets/72157631655846744/
Paris: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22538412@N03/sets/72157631656008639/
No race news as we have both taken it easy during September after a long triathlon season. Half marathon training is going well and we are both still planning on running our Oxford Half next month.
Chantilly: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22538412@N03/sets/72157631655929637/
Epernay: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22538412@N03/sets/72157631655846744/
Paris: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22538412@N03/sets/72157631656008639/
No race news as we have both taken it easy during September after a long triathlon season. Half marathon training is going well and we are both still planning on running our Oxford Half next month.
Monday, 17 September 2012
Track Day
Saturday was the club's annual fun track day where everyone gets to dabble in track athletic events you normally don't get to do during training or racing.
I decided it was a good idea to do the 100m, 200m, 4X100m relay & the 4X400m Pint relay.
Natale signed up for the 200m, 4x100m relay and the 4X400m Pint relay.
My 100m & 200m were the 2nd and 3rd events of the day and after jogging from the finish line down to the 100m start line as my hardcore warm up I ran both races in quick succession. Thirty seconds later and I had strained my glute so the fun track day was over for me, what a muppet! I really really should have warmed up properly and sprinting 100m and 200m as fast as you can, cold, is not a good idea.
From that point on I was merely a spectator which was actually quite pleasant, just lying around like a lizard in the last of the summer sun watching everyone else run around like crazy people. I am still a bit stiff today but at least I didn't seriously injure myself.
Natale managed just fine (also with no warm up but less mullet behaviour) and ran a great 200m & 4X100m relay. As expected the highlight of the day was definitely the pint relay. 4 members on a team, each person has to down a warm pint of Carling beer followed by a 400m run then high five a team mate and off goes the next person, down pint & run 400m. This was hilarious to watch and brilliant fun. Their team came stone last but they did themselves proud. The key here is speedy beer drinking and not speedy running :-)
Once the blue ribbon event was done it was down to the pub for a few cold beers.
We all had a really fun day in the sun & will be back next year.
Here be pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22538412@N03/sets/72157631573395417/
I decided it was a good idea to do the 100m, 200m, 4X100m relay & the 4X400m Pint relay.
Natale signed up for the 200m, 4x100m relay and the 4X400m Pint relay.
My 100m & 200m were the 2nd and 3rd events of the day and after jogging from the finish line down to the 100m start line as my hardcore warm up I ran both races in quick succession. Thirty seconds later and I had strained my glute so the fun track day was over for me, what a muppet! I really really should have warmed up properly and sprinting 100m and 200m as fast as you can, cold, is not a good idea.
From that point on I was merely a spectator which was actually quite pleasant, just lying around like a lizard in the last of the summer sun watching everyone else run around like crazy people. I am still a bit stiff today but at least I didn't seriously injure myself.
Natale managed just fine (also with no warm up but less mullet behaviour) and ran a great 200m & 4X100m relay. As expected the highlight of the day was definitely the pint relay. 4 members on a team, each person has to down a warm pint of Carling beer followed by a 400m run then high five a team mate and off goes the next person, down pint & run 400m. This was hilarious to watch and brilliant fun. Their team came stone last but they did themselves proud. The key here is speedy beer drinking and not speedy running :-)
Once the blue ribbon event was done it was down to the pub for a few cold beers.
We all had a really fun day in the sun & will be back next year.
Here be pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22538412@N03/sets/72157631573395417/
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
Back at School
Ahh....what a lovely holiday in France; we had it all, triathlon, cycling, champagne tasting, great food, amazing views, beautiful landscapes, decent weather and fantastic art. We had a really fun and relaxing time on holiday and the batteries are recharged for some more London mayhem. I am happy to be back home even though I would prefer not to be at work. The weather is warm the whole week so good times.
I won't go into all the details of the holiday but a special mention for Natale's first triathlon. She did exceptionally well besides getting lost on the bike course. Tsk tsk...
She was the 3rd fastest female swimmer in her distance which is amazing for a virgin, I mean novice. Added to that, even with an extra 5 km of cycling (zero sense of direction) she came 7th in her age group and would have come 3rd was it not for the orienteering practice she managed to fit into her race. Well done babe!
I had a good race and got a PB of 2:22 so I am happy.
After all the wine, cheese and baguettes we are back on the bike, so to speak. We have a lake swim on Saturday then we are doing the club ride to Brighton on Sunday, it's a 100km so should be fun in the sun.
Next major event is the half marathon in October. I can't believe it is already September, it's almost my birthday which means presents :-)
We are also volunteering at the London Triathlon in a fortnight as our club does one of the waterstands and it's the biggest triathlon in the world (I think) so it should be fun & good to give back a little bit.
That's it for now. Back to work everyone, nothing to see.
Some holiday pics to follow.
I won't go into all the details of the holiday but a special mention for Natale's first triathlon. She did exceptionally well besides getting lost on the bike course. Tsk tsk...
She was the 3rd fastest female swimmer in her distance which is amazing for a virgin, I mean novice. Added to that, even with an extra 5 km of cycling (zero sense of direction) she came 7th in her age group and would have come 3rd was it not for the orienteering practice she managed to fit into her race. Well done babe!
I had a good race and got a PB of 2:22 so I am happy.
After all the wine, cheese and baguettes we are back on the bike, so to speak. We have a lake swim on Saturday then we are doing the club ride to Brighton on Sunday, it's a 100km so should be fun in the sun.
Next major event is the half marathon in October. I can't believe it is already September, it's almost my birthday which means presents :-)
We are also volunteering at the London Triathlon in a fortnight as our club does one of the waterstands and it's the biggest triathlon in the world (I think) so it should be fun & good to give back a little bit.
That's it for now. Back to work everyone, nothing to see.
Some holiday pics to follow.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)