I'm back......

I've spent the last few weeks considering what I really wanted to achieve out of this sporting summer. As anyone who has read any of my drivel knows I was planning to try and take on my fourth Ironman distance triathlon. I'd initially looked at a race in Northern Ireland and then had moved on to look at a race in Almere which again was a version of Ironman.

I realised in the last few weeks I was doing this to prove something to myself and I suppose I worked out in the same period that I have nothing to prove. I, as the shout at you as you cross the line, am an Ironman. No-one can take it away, it's written in the record books that I have finished, albeit not the fastest, 3 Ironman races and I have the medals to prove it! I also recognised that it's ok to be me. That might sound strange but I keep pushing myself to be a better person never really accepting that I am or could be good enough. Something changed that and I've finally accepted it's ok to be me. 

So I felt released, unburdened by the need to do another Ironman, I don't really like the swimming part and it's a massive amount of training. I do enjoy the training but the endless lengths in the pool, the chill of the Scottish open water and the constant nagging thoughts about the next session that needs are all things I suddenly don't miss. I feel free, relaxed and ready to do a race that I might enjoy taking part in. 

So with the Ironman ruled out I opened my iPad and looked at races all around the place. I didn't rush but took time analysing the relative merits of each opportunity and how it fitted with what I want to do sharing time with my fab wife Danielle, family and friends. I remembered a race that one of the Dunfermline Multi Sport group had raced last year and looked it up online. It's a cross Scotland race of 105 miles following the route of the Great Glen way on foot, bike and canoe. No swimming! Perfect!

So I've entered and oddly enough met the athlete, Alan Affleck, who had completed the race at a training run tonight. It was good to say hello and we're meeting up shortly so I can learn from an experienced competitor. So the Coast to Coast is on the same day as Challenge Almere starting in Nairn and finishing in Glencoe. I can honestly say I'm really looking forward to it and the challenge that lies ahead.

I'm going to keep the blog going as a record of the ups and downs of training for a multi sport event and feel happy that I've settled and entered a race that I think will suit me.

Life is for living and for the first time in ages I feel able to step back and be thankful for all that life offers. It feels full of opportunities at the moment and I'm ready to embrace all that a Scottish summer offers.

I can't finish this without mentioning my good friend and inlaw, Max. He ran his first marathon this weekend in Edinburgh and I felt so chuffed for him in completing a massive achievement. His efforts have helped get me back into training this week after a couple of more relaxed weeks. Well done on completing your first and I hope we will meet at the start of a race sometime soon! 

I was out with the DMS crew tonight running the gate to gate time trial - 6 athletes and me took on the 4.6 mile course. The impressive Iain Taylor set a course record of 29.30 and everyone out did some fine times. I finished in 33.26 - I was really chuffed with the run despite coming in last by about 800 metres! They are a good bunch of guys and were very encouraging supporting me across the finish line. I really enjoyed the test but when I looked at my watch and went through the first mile in under 7 minutes I knew it was going to be fast, too fast for me. I hung on in and at the end still felt strong at the end. It was great to have a target ahead and my plan is before the end of the summer to not come last on one of the time trials. As always time will tell! Thanks to everyone who turned up tonight, a bunch a fantastic people who revel in the challenge. My kind of training!

It's been a long week!

Well it's Thursday already and I can't believe another week is almost done. One of the challenges of training for Ironman is combining the training with work and personal commitments. It's not easy! 

The band is preparing for the gig on Saturday night so I've been spending time getting ready for that in addition work is busy with a few tenders about to be sent out as well as cost plans needing done. So all up it was a struggle to fit everything in but here is a record of the week's training.....

I was up early in Sunday and felt great. The sun was shining and I set off over the hill to the bike track. I ditched the iPhone to get rid of the Christmas song shuffle feature and went back to my trusty iPod which is stuffed with new country! It's a bit embarrassing when you realise you're singing at the top of your voice about great girls look in trucks!!!! Anyway it was early so not many people about to complain. I went down the track to the junction that leads to Newmills and set off down the path. I love the views on the way to Culross. 

When I got to the coastal path I decided to head round the point past the salt mines and back to Newmills - I was feeling strong and followed the coast through Torryburn and then back up to Cairneyhill past Forester Park golf course and home via the Col du Carnock. A evil hill but after 14 miles it was torture! Anyway over 14 miles done and the whole day ahead.

On Monday I met my Adventure racing pal Neil and we jumped on the bikes for a few laps of Arthur's Seat. It's a great playground and was packed with runners, bike racers and Rat Racers. Not sure what event was on but there was signs of a race at Holyrood car park. The climb up the hill is fairly short and not that steep, apart from a few places but with the wind off the west it was tough enough. The intention was to wind up the speed and do faster laps each time. We managed it on all but one of the laps. 

After a good test we headed off to the pool to get some much needed time in the pool. The pool was busy enough but there were enough lanes to give everyone space. 

A huge scone added back all of the calories lost doing the biking and swimming.

Tuesday and today were run days with one circuit session thrown in and Wednesday was a rest day. Planning getting out on the bike in the morning but a busy weekend is likely to prevent any decent mileage on bike or foot.

My weight remains in the 13 stones which is good for me and with 24lb shifted so far I think it's helping both my running and biking. 

One of the other battles that you face is the fight with the mind. Sometimes motivation can drop and training can become a chore rather than a joy. Niggles that normally disappear seem to linger and bed seems a little more comfy than pulling on the Lycra again. This last week I've had to push myself to get out. The combination of lots to do at work and starting to build up the training hours is hard but I know every hour invested now will benefit me later so I keep going. I've also been unsure about what race to do but I'm still leaning to Amsterdam in September. We'll see! I'm sure my mojo will return in the next few days as when I'm busy working training seems to help clear my thinking and give me ideas that actually save me time when I sit back at the desk. The mind is a complex and strange place sometimes! 

Auchterarder revisited!

The sun was shining when I opened the blinds and with the arrangement to meet Derek at Knockhill corner at 9.15 in place I set off looking forward to the trip.

Derek appeared on the A823 just ahead of me and we set off up Knockhill. There must have been a track day on as a few cars were heading up at the same time. The drivers tend to be younger and seem to enjoy cars with modified exhausts and blacked out rear windows. The interesting thing is that they all seem to respect bikers and give plenty of space.

I was feeling strong today and the climb to the top of the hill was pretty easy. It was only at the top that I noticed the wind and it seemed to be picking up. From Knockhill we climbed over Dunning Glen which was just stunning. I said to Derek that we don't get the temperatures that they get down south but getting out into Dunning Glen in 3 layers, longs and winter gloves makes up for it in so many ways. It is my favourite place to cycle of all the routes that we do. I'm pretty sure that we saw Alan and Sean from DCC heading in the opposite direction going towards coffee in Dollar with the rest of the club.

We descended slowly past the Simon Howie farm chatting about some of Derek's cycling ideas which if they come to fruition will be brilliant for Fife.

We turned left in Dunning and fought the wind all the way over to Auchterarder. It had picked up and it we took turns to lead to get a short rest from the blustery conditions. The last climb up to Cafe Kisa seemed to go on and on and when you arrive in the village you keep thinking that you are there as all of the houses look the same.

We didn't have a huge amount of time so ordered our usual drinks and fruit scone, the food of all Saturday cyclists in our regular seats by the window. They are a wee bit away from from the main seating area which is probably good for the other customers as two sweaty bikers would not be my idea of good company! The scones in Cafe Kisa are the best in the area and I'm sure they were the reason Derek chose today's route. The service is awesome and it is our current favourite stop off.

We jumped back onto the bikes and headed up through Glen Devon and with a following wind the climb seemed fairly easy. It was still fair but the wind had picked up and the clouds were building from the west. When we started our final climb an RV went past towing a boat. There was no traffic but the driver still pulled in far, too early almost taking out Derek as the boat swung in. Derek, the coolest biker on the planet was tested to the full and shared his thoughts with the driver adding a hand gesture to make his mistake clearer. We ride at our own risk but it's frustrating when drivers are careless.

So I swung off towards Saline and home. I had to get back to pick up Rebecca, my daughter off the bus from St Andrews where she is a student. She complained that she never gets a mention in the blog so here you go! It's great that she's here for the weekend!

Another brick in the wall.....

I woke up early as usual and as has been the case for the last few days the sun was shining and there was hardly a breath of wind. I put on my cycle kit and a pair of tracky bottoms, walked the dog and was presented with porridge and fruit on return. This wasn't a generous loving act by my gorgeous wife, just a mistake as she had microwaved the wrong flavour! I happily accepted the mistake and enjoyed breakfast. I have a cunning plan to mix the contents of the boxes up to ensure similar results in the future!!

So once more as Danielle headed out to work, I set off on my bike reversing the route that I did on Tuesday. The wee hill that leads up and over to the bike path quickly raises the heart rate and I hoped I didn't sound like a crazed lunatic when I bumped into my neighbour Anna out with their dog. It was pretty chilly this morning and I'd noticed a thick layer of ice on the windscreen when I was leaving but with the sun on my back I soon began to heat up.

The roads were pretty quiet and the only thing that impeded my way was a stray dog wandering the streets of Newmills. A lady asked if I'd seen the pooch before and for some reason I said I hadn't seen him around. Of course I hadn't, we live miles from Newmills!

I motored along to Kincardine and then headed along to Clackmannan. There is a short section of the road after you cross the link road to new bridge that feels very French. The fields are unfenced and I love the freedom of the fence less fields! I was passing one of the farms went looking around I noticed the farmer giving his bull await looked like a hair cut or shave! He was working with a set of clippers and it took me a second to work out what on earth he was doing. Not sure why you give a bull a hair cut. My morning got even stranger when someone who looked spookily like one of the guitarists out of ZZ Top was working in his garden just round the corner from the bull at the barbers. All very strange!

I returned up past the end of the cycle path and back past the Longanlea Cafe in Forestmill. There was a lone chap sitting outside with the cafe still shut. I wondered if he was waiting for his daily cup of misery and sitting in the cold was going to be the best part of his visit to the cafe! I'm being cruel but it is a miserable place!

I pedalled back in to Carnock having completed my 40k spin and threw on my runners. I only ran for 30 minutes but my legs felt strong and I felt I was moving at a reasonable pace. For those that don't know a brick session is a bike followed by a run. It is integral part of the training plan and I plan to stick a short run into my Saturday longer bike ride from now on.

At the end of the afternoon I went back into the gym for a circuit session. It was all going to plan until I tried lifting a very heavy weight and felt my right chest muscle pull tight. The heavy weight was me and I was doing a press up. My upper body strength is rubbish but I know that if I get it in better balance with my legs it will not only help my swimming but give me a stronger riding position on the time trial bike. So I did the rest of the circuits that didn't need my upper body and then stretched out to avoid pulling anything else.

So not a bad day in the training office. Weather looks a bit pants for tomorrow so heading to the pool.

It was the Dunfermline CC 10 mile Cleish time trial last night with 43 riders competing and 10 from DCC. If you've not seen a TT rider in action here is a picture of Iain Taylor that freelance photographer Allan Fotheringham took last night. His website is http://allanfotheringham.zenfolio.com/ if you want to see more of his outstanding photo's