Tuesday 31 March 2009

Day 10 - Tuesday 31st of March 2009

After my long runs yesterday (long for me anyway) my legs were a little dead so I cycle to work quite steady. Didn't feel too bad really. Trying hard to keep the pedals spinning.

Went to the gym for 1/2 hour at lunch to do some upper body work. Going to cycle back too but quite gently.

Tomorrow I intend to have a rest day as my legs need to recover. I'm think that I may ride my bike Thursday but do a longer trip to work, perhaps try to squeeze in an hour or two before I start work.

Monday 30 March 2009

Day 9 - Monday 30th of March 2009

Ran to work this morning. 1 hour ish again but I felt stronger. I think I may run back too but lets see. I invested in some running clothes and as much as it pains me to admit, the tights work!! damn it...all the years of being wrong!


Quick update...ran home! wish I hadnt though, it was a small nightmare of pain and tiredness.

Day 8 - Sunday 29th of March 2009

Woke up early and decided that I should cycle rather than run as I feel that my cycling is my weakest point right now. I did 1.5 hours of pushing my self quite hard. Trying hard to concentrate on using my gears to keep the pedals spinning. I found it a little dull on my own so when I get a bit fitter I'm going to try to find some other cyclists who I can join. Was a great sunny morning though and I actually enjoyed it..madness!

Came home and the family and I decided that a bike ride was in order!! oops. cycled around the local deer park and really liked it.

That's all the exercise for Sunday!

Day 7 - Saturday 28th of March 2009

Saturday is a day of rest for me this week. I think I have had a pretty good first week. My legs are v tired and just need a good break!

Friday 27 March 2009

Day 6 - Friday 27th of March 2009

Had some friends over for dinner so had a few glasses of wine last night! doh! no smoking though which I'm pleased with. Felt a bit ropey in the head this morning but got up and cycled to work. I think my legs are now getting too tired but it was ok ish.

Went to the gym at lunch and did 30 min run and some upper body weights. Cycling home too so all in all quite a busy phys day. Going to take Saturday off as my body is telling me that its getting too tired now. If I feel good Sunday I may do an hour run into the local deer park again. Otherwise ill take an extra days rest.

Still feel positive but am aware of over doing it at the start! still a long long way to go but I feel like I have taken the first important steps.

Thursday 26 March 2009

Day 5 - Thursday 26th of March 2009

I ran to work. It felt not too bad but my legs were still sore from before so I need to give them a decent rest at some point. I was trying to work on my form but it was quite hard. I feel great about doing it and that makes up for the pain in my legs.

I also feel like I have turned a corner with the smoking. I don't actually want a smoke! My lungs are obviously a mess after many years of smoking but I'm sure that the exercise will help me to clear them out of at least some of the rubbish.

Not sure what to do tomorrow but I think ill do a very gentle cycle ride to work and back just to keep the technique going and to loosen up my legs! lets see.

Day 4 - Wednesday 25th of March

Today I do nothing! quite a relief as I'm tired. Tomorrow I'm planning to run to work - 1 hour or so.

Day 3 - Tuesday 24th of March 2009

I drove into work which felt like I was cheating! my wife needs me home early from work so it forced a rest on me which is a good thing as I felt tired when I woke up. I took my gym kit to work anyway.

I did a great work out on the bike in the gym - 1 hour of really trying to keep my cadence steady at around 90. I then did 10 minute run which felt odd after cycling. Now my legs are really tired so tomorrow is a day of full rest!

Day 2 - Monday 23rd of March 2009

So I cycled to work, it felt like I had a head wind the whole way but the trees weren't moving!! damn...I have a long way to go with the cycling part of this training!

I went to the gym at lunch and had a good upper body work out - just bench press, shoulder press, lat pulls and rowing.

I then cycled home - this went much better! the guy at work who did the ironman was talking about cycling and said that I should try to spin the pedals more and work more on the technical side of cycling - it worked.

My legs feel terrible but my mind feels great! Still no smoking and I haven't had a alcoholic drink since Saturday!

Day 1 - Sunday 22nd of March 2009

Ok, so I smoked all the rest of my smokes last night! perfect preparation for a run!! nice one.

My running buddy turned up at 10am sharp after cycling an hour to my house. So I feel really unfit now as he looks pretty fresh and ready to thrash me.

My plan was to start easy with a half hour jog through the local deer park. That wasn't how it went! we did one hour and I almost died a few times I think. But I ran the whole way and am still alive so its a start. It feels great to actually get started. I know I wont smoke today and I'm pretty confident I wont smoke for a long time to come.

Later on I went for a short cycle ride with the family and then a short walk so all in all a very good day. I'm sure that I'm going to hurt tomorrow but I guess that the whole idea!

Tomorrow I plan to cycle to work - 1/2 hour each way.

Wednesday 25 March 2009

The decision is made!

I'm 31, I smoke, drink too much and am putting weight on fast! I have been fit from time to time over the years and even managed to drag my self around the Copenhagen marathon but I wasn't fit enough to do it, I had to force my self around the course.

I have 2 kids and I don't want them to smoke and follow my lead so its time for me to turn a corner and crack on with some serious phys.

A friend at work did an Ironman a few years ago and ever since then it has been at the back of my mind...one day I kept thinking. Well I'm not getting younger so that one day has to be one day soon.

I haven't actually decided which ironman to do yet but ill book one in October when I have a good few months of training behind me and I know I have the will power to follow it through.

My plan is to spend the next month building up a basic level of fitness and not smoking!! then I'm going to follow a 29 week plan http://www.ironmanpower.com/training/guide/Week_1.html as closely as my working life will allow. I have the backing of my wife which is a good start.

Well lets see what happens - training day 1 is Sunday 22nd of March 2009.