Thursday, December 31, 2015

Thinking About Getting A Treadmill...

I know. I know. The ubiquitous treadmill is not exactly the training tool for the professional fell runner but I think I can make it work. I'm not looking at it with an eye to medium or long runs but in terms of interval/speed work, in a controlled, measurable environment I reckon it could work. Treadmill running isn't exactly like real running but in terms of getting into a habit - and I'm not talking nuns clothing - it could be my best chance of getting into a regular routine. The fact that I saw an internet clip today of Mo Farah completing a seventeen - yes! seventeen - mile treadmill session only strengthens the case! If it's good enough for the great man then no one can pooh pooh it - and before you ask, I already started to pen this post yesterday as a draft. The idea of a treadmill has been bubbling for a few days. I guess today's Mo Farah internet clip was a portent that it's meant to be...

So anyway, my arms and abs are aching so I decided to take a full rest day today - although I have been into work so it's not like I've spent the day in bed. I'll be back on it tomorrow - and you can take that to the bank.

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Another Day Another Row...

Personal Best - but it's getting harder. Much much harder. Different tactics today. Hit the first 1000m just slightly off pace. Stepped it up to the pace in the next 500m and then pulled it down towards 1:50/500m to romp home a full 2.3s inside yesterday's time in 7:52.0. That's (oxymoron alert) a whole half a percent faster!!

I followed a slightly different format today - nothing quite like mixing it up a little. Oh yeah baby, I like to live it on the edge! Thirty minutes on the bike followed by the row and then another thirty on the bike with core strength reps to finish.

Tomorrow's plans to work from home have been thrown into disarray by an bit of an emergency in work so I'll be in Bristol first thing. Grrh.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

And Into The Sevens...

As I drove home thought's turned to training. I decided it was time to break back inside eight minutes for the 2000m row. Without any hesitation on arrival home I headed into the gym for the attempt. It had to be metronomic and steady. At 500m in I was on pace, just inside the target. By 1000m doubts began to creep in and the hardwork started. By 1500m I was beginning to breath really hard - not to mention starting to feel a bit faint - but from there it was just about hanging on. I pulled the last stroke to finish in 07:54.3 and it felt good - once I got my breath back. Then I dug out my records. My PB for the 2000m is 07:25.4 set way way back on the 5th of May 2005 - only need to find 30s from somewhere then...

Of course, I followed the row with forty five on the bike before the core strength work. Beginning to feel good about things. There is no sign of the sagging bits becoming less saggy yet but then it has only been eight days. 2016 could be the year....

Monday, December 28, 2015

Well I Couldn't Do it...

I couldn't pull a rest day. True, it was an easier day but by mid afternoon I was fidgeting like weasel on hot coals. I succumbed and put in 75 minutes on the bike. No row. No core work but definitely not the rest day it should have been. I'll be back to the full program tomorrow although it'll be a test of the new training ethic as to see how I feel after the day at work. I will not fail.

Other than that, it's been a welcome few days off from the hustle and bustle. The only downside is that my oven has broken - boo. It's only the element though and the replacement should be here by midweek.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

More Like It...

Fastest 2k row to date, 8:02. Way way down on my best of.... ten years ago... but then I'm ten years older - not to mention bloody unfit and sagging in places I'd rather not sag. Still, will be nice to get into the sevens in a day or two.

Still feel a bit bloaty but better than yesterday. Followed the row by the bike and of course the abs and pull-ups. I might take a rest day tomorrow before heading back to the grindstone that is work on Tuesday.

On other matters, I finally managed to get to the supermarket. Mind you, I almost turned away when I was confronted with another very full car park. What the hell is wrong with people? Last Tuesday - chockers. Last Wednesday - chockers. Last Thursday - chockers. Saturday - Chockers. Today - chockers. Some people need to take a long look at themselves. If it wasn't for the fact I haven't been to the shops for almost two weeks and have practically nothing left except soursough starter and flour I'd probably turned back. Hopefully I now have enough food to see me through to the new year when the madness of people will be back to the normal levels of madness.

Saturday, December 26, 2015

A Bit Fatigued...

Another day, another row, bike abs complete but it felt laboured today. I think the honeymoon might be over and that now the hard work is about to begin but I didn't have any motivational difficulty completing the session. So hopefully, however tough it gets, I'll be tougher...

Away from the training, I've been feeling a bit bloaty today. Hopefully a good nights sleep will fix that.

Friday, December 25, 2015

A First...

I have never ever managed to find the enthusiasm to exercise on Christmas day before. More of the same for me today though. Another 2k row, bike, abs and pull-ups. Another tiny step complete up a very very long ladder...

Thursday, December 24, 2015

So I Had The Day Off Yesterday...

From training not work and I stayed down in Bristol for my birthday so didn't have a spare moment. Back on it today though. Another row, bike abs... You'd think it would get boring wouldn't you? But it hasn't so far.

Now I'm not going to get ahead of myself and these are very early days but with each session done I feel driven towards completing the next. I've even rolled out the big guns - the heart rate monitor - to gauge improvement in my fitness, keep me focused and inspire me onwards and upwards. I can feel some graphs coming to the training log spreadsheet. I do love a good spreadsheet...

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

I Knew It Couldn't Last....

After successfully cooking and - and this is the important bit - eating Cauliflower cheese without burning my mouth Sunday the natural balance of the universe returned to normal tonight for the microwave re-heat. Not sure I'm ever going to learn...

Anyway, I managed another good exercise session tonight. Another 2000m row, sixty minutes on the bike, ab-crunches and pull-ups. I'm now sporting an aching stomach and crooked neck. I've also put my training log on my blog. Nobody will view but hopefully it will act like a psychological carrot - or something like that.

Monday, December 21, 2015

Under A Malaise

I've been struggling to find my mojo - not the half penny chew of yesteryear - for a while. I've had more false starts on the comeback trail than a sprinter with a tic. I've decided I'm not going to race for a while. I'm going to try and get back some basic fitness away from the indignity of doing utterly pants at races - and I have really been utterly pants for a few years.

I'm going to start with a cardio routine of rowing and bike and crunches, pull-ups and push ups for core strength. I want something I can do easily after work with minimal chance of making excuses. I should be able to accurately monitor my fitness level and once I'm ready I can start again...

Thursday, December 03, 2015

Tuesday, December 01, 2015

To Cardington, Or Not To Cardington, That Is The Question...

It's not an easy race. I have zero mojo with associated total lack of fitness but it's a bloody good race. Going to be a late call I guess. I've got till Sunday morning before dawn to decide...