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

Feeling almost Continental....

It's been a fab day almost European, in fact just about as good a day that Scotland can offer at this time of year. A group from the Dunfermline Cycling Club are mid way through an 8 day 100 mile per day training session. I know in advance of the report of today's ride it will have been a classic, climbing up through the Perthshire hills to Dunkeld and home - I would have enjoyed the route myself if it wasn't for that pesky work!

I was up at the usual early hour and took the Scruff bag out for a walk - it was cold but even at 6.30 you could feel the heat in the sun and it felt good. I dropped the dog back into the house and dragged on my bike kit, waved Danielle goodbye on her way into the office and set off up to Saline. I had decided that I would do the route of the Carnock Epic, our homespun time trial race, and immediately felt the sun burning on my back. It was wonderful.

When we were in Cape Town a few years ago I watched the runners and bikers out early training in the morning sun before the heat of the day built. I often wonder if Scotland had the same climate would more people be out running or biking before work making the most of the warm mornings - well maybe not but we can dream. The run through Saline to Forestmill was just brilliant although I could feel the start of what I guessed would be a stronger wind later in the day.

Forestmill is the site of one of life's enigma cafe's - every time I've been in there for a coffee I have felt deeply unwelcome and have been given the impression that I am most definitely not the sort of person they are encouraging to frequent the cafe. The coffee is ok, the cakes are good and for this reason plus my desire to check if it was just a bad day I sometimes go back. I think it might just be me but I don't think the owners are keen on Lycra clad bikers or maybe I just need a blue rinse to fit in with the regulars!

Anyway from Forestmill I ploughed on down towards the end of the cycle path about half way round the Epic course. It was at this moment I had a late change of plans and carried on to Clackmannan, up to Kincardine and then through Culross and home - 25 miles done before breakfast!

I had considered running last night but the wind drove me inside and I did a 30 minute interval set - not a huge amount of fun but added to my circuit session in the morning it made for a reasonable days work out.

Circuit session planned for the morning before a ride out lunch time as i'm marshalling at the TT race tomorrow night. I think the weather is set to get worse later in the week which will be pool time.

Off to meet the awesome Father Jack, to rock away the stress of the day! Hard to beat.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.....

I went out for a run today and to be honest was procrastinating about it as I didn't really feel like running today. But needs must so after gathering all of my technology, my heart rate monitor and iPhone I set off unsure of my route and how far I was going to run.

It was a pretty mixed bag weather wise with a gusty breeze from the west and the occasional wintry feeling shower. So as I set off I just went off in the direction I fancied and headed up the hill and over to Cairneyhill. I was breathing pretty heavily when I bumped into our wonderful neighbours, Les and Anna, out walking their dog and a few other folk from the village doing a sponsored charity cycle to raise money for the local summer Gala.

So realising there was going to be loads of bikes on the cycle path I carried on to Cairneyhill and then down to the coast. It was a bit more gusty down on the shore front and as I looked at my garmin to check speed and distance it run out of battery. One of my mates described me as having a wide frame that acted like a sail in the wind and it sure felt like that today running into the south westerly. With no watch to guide my speed I felt strangely released and ran without a care in my head. Well apart from my iPhone selecting Christmas songs. I had set it on shuffle but every other song it played had a Christmas scheme and after the 3rd or 4th song came on I was beginning to feel a lot like switching it off rather than Christmas!!!

The run through Newmills forest was pleasantly sheltered from the wind and the tracks full of older walkers with backpacks and benches with much tea being drunk from flasks. I was offed a cup of tea as I suspect I looked like I needed one!

As I emerged back onto the bike track I noticed a couple of runners about 300 metres up the track. Deep down, lurking under the non competitor I am there must be some sort of competitive spirit as I picked up my speed and went after them. I had about 2 miles left on the track and started making progress on the target. I noticed that the right hand runner started to turn round to check where I was and when I was within 20 metres he started pulling away from the girl he was running with obviously demonstrating that he felt he could run quicker without his running partner.
As I drew up along side, the female runner picked up her speed and ran along side. What was I to do? I picked up my speed and broke free and by this time I was moving along at a fair old lick! I started to question my decision to pass the couple as I didn't want the ignominy of being overtaken having passed them so I had to keep my pace up.

I suspect that miles 10 to 12 were the fastest that I ran in my entire run. As I turned off the track I looked behind and they were no-where in sight. They had probably stopped to have a good laugh at the old bloke pegging along trying to keep ahead of them!

So I think I did between 12 and 13 miles. It went ok - need to ramp the training up not only of I'm to do an ironman distance race this year but to keep up with the Stalleys who are running the Dublin marathon with me later in the year, 4 days after I turn 50!

What a week....

I've had a brilliant week. The early part of the week on Sunday to Tuesday was blighted with my sinuses all blown up and me completely bunged up. On Tuesday I thought that the Wednesday's race was out of the question the following morning I woke up feeling much better and pretty clear.

I'd ridden into meetings in town on Monday which was pretty unpleasant. The wind was howling and feeling bunged up I struggled to breath properly. My legs didn't get going and seemed never to warm up. It was a struggle from start to finish. I blaming my sinuses but maybe my lack of bike time was more of an issue.

So I rocked up on Wednesday night unsure about the wisdom of my decision to take part. It was a 10 mile Time Trial race which means that the riders start every 60 seconds and you do the 10 miles as fast as you can. The race started in Freuchie and Iain Taylor met me early so we could drive the course and get an understanding of where to put the effort in. The race was brilliantly well organised and we signed in. Being new to this type of race I was given an early start time and went off number 3 out of the 48 competitors. Iain gave me some tips and then set off for his warm up.

I unloaded the bike, checked the bits and tyres and then set off up to the start. I didn't really know what to do and ended up heading up past the start and just pottering around on the road near the start. It was bizarre and I felt out of my comfort zone. I know what happens at the start of a marathon, ironman or triathlon but this was new. So I pulled into a picnic area and stretched out trying to work out how long it was going to take me to do the 10 miles - I decided that between 30 and 32 minutes would be a great result for me.

I made my way to the start and waited in line. The first few riders were off and it was my turn. I decided not to get held up and stood with one shoe on the ground to push myself off. I had imagined that if I had fallen over at the start I would look an idiot thus my push start.

Five, four, three, two, one and I was off. The first mile is free in that it's downhill and fast. I got down onto the tri bars and wound up the speed. There were marshals at the first two junctions but the third, a quiet one, was unmanned. I glanced up and a lorry started to pull out. I slammed on the brakes and was fortunate to squeeze round the back and missed the back of the beast by inches. It felt like inches and in reality was probably feet but it was scary and shook me big time. I took a few seconds to gather myself and pulled hard on the pedals to put the power back down.

I saw a rider in the distance, which proved to be hugely motivational and I put my head down until I slipped past him. The course was pretty flat and I was going ok - I knew that I could push harder but was concerned that I would blow up and fall apart. I stood up on the turns but otherwise managed to stay down on the bars for the balance of the race.

As I neared the end I saw the first rider and the motivation pushed me on to catch them and passed them about a mile before the end. I crossed the line the finishing in 26.02 which turned out to be 33rd out of the 48 racers. Iain did a 23.50 which was awesome. It was a great night and I think I'll be back to take part again. I took the picture of him just after the end of the race - looked ready for another one!

Today was the Kinross Sportive. I missed out on an entry but pedalled up to Kinross just in time to take a picture of the DCC train about to start. I then went over to Milnathort, Path O Condie and home via a few more hills. I did 90km, half an ironman but I felt the hills in my legs by the end. Sometimes you just take a look around and realise what a fantastic place we live. The weather was sunny, if cold, today and the countryside just outstanding. I was lucky that the wildlife came out to play and kept the hard miles interesting. It was just brilliant!

The DCC train finished with James Bell and Andy Bruce leading the charge in a time of 4.46 which again given the hills and 100 mile course is absolutely awesome. I've got so much respect for the DCC squad - they are just great cyclists. One day maybe.....

I've spent some time in the gym but not enough time in the pool. WIth my sinuses clear I'm hoping to get stuck in this week.