It's been a while since I blogged on my not so extensive training for the races in June and August. Since the vet highlighted my distinct lack of fitness I would like to say I've been hard at training. However, the reality is that I just got back from 9 booze and food filled days in the UK, visiting friends and the family. It was a great break, the weather was amazing, not a cloud in the sky and between 25-27 degrees the whole time. However, as much as I enjoyed it, the good times are over and I really need to focus on getting some quality training in and perhaps more importantly, watching my diet and cutting out... ok down, on the drink. I've developed a real taste for red wine over the last 6 months and have managed to convince myself that because it is better for me than beer, it's ok. Well I guess it's time to acknowledge that not many endurance athletes fuel themselves on Steak and Red wine. Ok none. So it's whole grains, salads and less 'treats' for me from now on. In fact, they are genuinely going to become treats again, as opposed to regulars. I've been a little too heavy on the cakes this last few months.
So with my resolutions set, I need to get properly training. Hong Kong is noticeably warmer and humid again which means the sweat fest is back on. I've had to start carryng water for anything over 45 minutes and where I have been doing longer runs with a hand held and one more on the belt, I'll now take the camelback with a few litres. I've started to have a think about what electrolytes work for me and don't upset my stomach (none so far!). I'm actually leaning towards a diluted gatorade or pocari (asian equivalent) as my preferred drink, I struggle to eat in the heat, so tend to lean towards getting extra calories from my fluids.
I'm still weaving in a little stationary bike into the mix, intervals 2 times a week followed by the treadmill (adding an extra 1 minute interval each week) and I am attempting to up the speed on the run afterwards. I am now only slightlky slower than a tortoise.
The UTMB requires that I submit a medical certificate stating that I am fit enough to take part and won't keel over during the race. I'm searching for a dishonest doctor who'll sign such an attestation. I'm more a fan of the disclaimer myself, the approach of some other well known races that I've taken part in. I refer to is as the 'you may die but it's not our fault' approach which I am totally comfortable with. As I may die, but only have myself and my penchant for cakes to blame. Even more likely as an asthmatic training in the Hong Kong air, whose run out of becotide and low on ventolin. Hey ho, let's see what a couple of months of dedication to exercise rather than pies does for me.
We have a couple more long weekends in a row in HK due to a number of unique public holidays. In total we have 4 in a row and one more in early June to ease us back into a full working week. I'm hoping to use these days off to get myself into the sort of shape where a doctir will happily sign my attestation withough questioning his/ her oath and ethics.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Ironman v's Ultra runner. Epic Fail
I am sure most people have seen the ironman v's ultra runner video that has been doing the rounds on you tube for the last couple of months. It goes something like:
'I am an ultra runner, all of my clothes come from TK max with enough storage for 3 flapjacks'
'You need to be earning six figures to buy a bike that weighs as much as my breakfast'
'I like ultra running because it takes me to places I have never been to before'
'In my most recent triathlon I was ranked 11th placed left handed Male aged 33-37 and a half who live in the thames valley region'
It's genius. But I have to say on my long run this Sunday my mate, Dave the Vet, gave me a lesson in running. To be fair he is coming off the back of a 10.40 ironman and I am coming off the back of two months of injury, too many steaks and more than a little pinot noir, so I should have known what was coming. Last week was also my biggest training week in some time, so I started sore, Anyway, even making my excuses I realise I have a long way to go and my fitness is not where it needs to be considering my 100k is two months away. Time to get serious about training, well, after a 9 day break in the UK anyway!
The last week of training was pretty strong, I managed:
Monday 7 miles (11k)
Tuesday 11 miles (17k)
Wednesday 11 miles (17k)
Thursday 7 miles (11k)
Friday 1 hour bike (34k)
Saturday 2 hour hike with the girlfriend
Sunday approx 16.5/17miles I think, wasted and a slightly embarrassing injury
I actually had to walk the last 5k or so as I seem to have strained my right buttock. Nothing to do with the triathlete and his Lycra I can assure you. I have a strange shooting pain in what feels like the joint of my hip and leg. Either way, I am walking funny this week. Maybe it was too big a jump in training in the space of a few weeks, maybe too many big hills, anyway I have made the decision to get myself a coach. I'm going to get one of those online ones, mainly because that's what my friend did and he is now considerably faster than me. A couple of trips to Chin-Zilla my favourite, surprisingly strong, massage lady should sort it out. When I was training for other events I found a weekly massage works great guns for minor strains, particularly those linked to a heavy training schedule.
On a positive note I have continued my run of having toilets in the right place at the right time, so I've not had to participate in the other ultrarunners past time of crapping in the great outdoors. It may sound odd to non runners but the effect of a diet of sports drinks and gels has some startling effects. Few of which are pleasant.
In future weeks I shall post my new training plan and progress against it so that hopefully in future we'll see fails on a less epic scale than on Sunday.
'I am an ultra runner, all of my clothes come from TK max with enough storage for 3 flapjacks'
'You need to be earning six figures to buy a bike that weighs as much as my breakfast'
'I like ultra running because it takes me to places I have never been to before'
'In my most recent triathlon I was ranked 11th placed left handed Male aged 33-37 and a half who live in the thames valley region'
It's genius. But I have to say on my long run this Sunday my mate, Dave the Vet, gave me a lesson in running. To be fair he is coming off the back of a 10.40 ironman and I am coming off the back of two months of injury, too many steaks and more than a little pinot noir, so I should have known what was coming. Last week was also my biggest training week in some time, so I started sore, Anyway, even making my excuses I realise I have a long way to go and my fitness is not where it needs to be considering my 100k is two months away. Time to get serious about training, well, after a 9 day break in the UK anyway!
The last week of training was pretty strong, I managed:
Monday 7 miles (11k)
Tuesday 11 miles (17k)
Wednesday 11 miles (17k)
Thursday 7 miles (11k)
Friday 1 hour bike (34k)
Saturday 2 hour hike with the girlfriend
Sunday approx 16.5/17miles I think, wasted and a slightly embarrassing injury
I actually had to walk the last 5k or so as I seem to have strained my right buttock. Nothing to do with the triathlete and his Lycra I can assure you. I have a strange shooting pain in what feels like the joint of my hip and leg. Either way, I am walking funny this week. Maybe it was too big a jump in training in the space of a few weeks, maybe too many big hills, anyway I have made the decision to get myself a coach. I'm going to get one of those online ones, mainly because that's what my friend did and he is now considerably faster than me. A couple of trips to Chin-Zilla my favourite, surprisingly strong, massage lady should sort it out. When I was training for other events I found a weekly massage works great guns for minor strains, particularly those linked to a heavy training schedule.
On a positive note I have continued my run of having toilets in the right place at the right time, so I've not had to participate in the other ultrarunners past time of crapping in the great outdoors. It may sound odd to non runners but the effect of a diet of sports drinks and gels has some startling effects. Few of which are pleasant.
In future weeks I shall post my new training plan and progress against it so that hopefully in future we'll see fails on a less epic scale than on Sunday.
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