One month on

It has been over a month since Ironman. Since then I raced in a local 5k (stupidly, it really hurt), cycled to work a few times and been for a few light jogs. I also got round to getting the backs of the medals engraved.

 

This week (and one decent beasting week before which made me hurt so much I couldn't keep up with C at soft play and I almost got stuck in an underground tunnel) I have decided to get back to being fit. I want to improve my run a lot and I'm at a stage where I can run and enjoy it. I may have had a stress fracture or done something to the muscles in my right foot and two of my toes on that foot lost their nails and ached. The foot was quite swollen for the week or two after the race. This week none of those things have bothered me though a month off has taken a bit of a dent in my pace.

The runs I have done have included 100 push ups and sit ups to break things up and steady jogs. Being out of practice those hurt considerably.

Yesterday I ran to the copper horse, turned right to pick up a bridle path and as I hit it noticed a chap running alongside me who I remembered having been stretching by the statue. I wrapped up my head phones and said hello so we got chatting. I noticed however that he got steadily faster to a point just beyond my current comfort zone given the strange twings and twangs my legs have been throwing at me. Once I found out he was nearly 70 (and had a cold) I realised there was no way I couldnt keep up with him. HE then kindly showed me a shortcut back though to my dismay I found that it was a shortcut to his car and not to where I needed to be, extending my run further. I did at one point have to knock back the pace but I take solace in the fact that he was 23 years in the military and personal trainer and about to head off to run an ultra marathon in the kalahari desert.

Today I went for another run with Chris which was really nice and despite the twinges was happy at 6mph with conversation. Calves got really tight by the end, reallymust stretch.

I'm still elated by my Ironman experience, I love having the picture of Tenby beach on the wall with us all lined up ready to start and the lack of pressure is fantastic. I didn't realise just how much I had it hanging over me and struggled with any missed training opportunities. 

Geoff Hurst You Are An Ironman! (Part Dva)

First lap nearly done, seeing Jan was good fun and looking at some of his stop motion pics I was overtaking...

Again, I promise I'll proof read this one day.

One of my really nice memories about the ride, other than the scenery, was the company. A bloke called Richard who I spent some time talking to about being a larger gentleman being in one's element downhill I saw a few times. A German guy on an excellent Giant bike which he had bought off a pro I had a nice chat with for some time until he admitted that he was struggling to match my pace so had to slow down. A guy who was given an almost empty bottle of water and then missed some food and carried on, he was ever so grateful when I shared banana with him. The girl called Fran he seemed to introduce me after the second time around Narbeth who had an amusing, dry sense of humour.

I had also been spotted by Lauren, Corin's better half, which I considered to be superb Hurst-recognition skills. It was nice to get a cheer from her, her mum and Corin's mum.

The second lap I stepped up a bit with my effort levels and had an amazing time. I seemed to be flying past people. The lumpy part towards the end presented some fun, quite a few people walking here on the 16% incline. I managed to keep spinning...

As I flew into T2 in the town I seem to recall seeing some of the family and possibly hearing my name but I was focusing on not running over the marshal.


Bike finished in 7hrs 6 minutes.

T2 was fine, a lot of people seemed to be sitting on little seats and being checked by some medics or bantering with marshals. I did stop to tell an Air Cadet off for their messily worn Beret and have a bit of faffing with glasses but otherwise I strolled on out to do a marathon.


Leaving transition to start my run could not have been more incredible. At this point I knew that my legs were a bit wobbly but I felt like I had bags of energy still and that I wasn't scared of the run. More than that I saw Jan then Dad again, stood by the exit of transition.

I'm not sure why Dad chose to stand next to a lady with that written on her back, I hope it wasn't thinking it was my fan club.

A short way up the road I then saw the family with Paul and Jenna. Everyone got a kiss except for Paul who recoiled in horror then off I set, wondering how long it would be before my legs started to work.

The way out of town is a little bit stumbly and bumpy but then it lead past my rented cottage and up a hill. A big hill. Then down a hill a bit. Then up it again. And then down a lot. Seeing Peter and Rosie at the top was good and knowing they were there drove me on to reach them and made me keep  the pace up when on the shuttle run at the top. THey were well positioned so I got to see them a lot. They have a way of just being completely at home anywhere. It would not have looked amiss if Peter had held up score cards and gave pointers from when he was an elite triathlete but hadn't ever mentioned to me. Don't know if thats true but he was in the choir at the Queen's coronation. 

I made a concious effort to take my time throuh feed stations and get as much down me as I could. I alternated what I ate and drank and completely avoided the red bull which absolutely stank of chemicals and was the messiest feed station.

Oh yes, on the way up the hill there was a line of about 5 little old ladies, one of whom had a trombone and played us on. Men of Harlech was being played when I went up first.

Shortly after her were Macmillan cheering team who provided an amazing level of encouragement. Must have been a tiring day for them. Not as tiring as doing an ironman probably though.

My memories of the race, just three weeks on, are just snap shots of amazing moments. Mini anecdotes. Conversations with people who I kept pace with for a short time before being left behind or plodding on ahead of. 

General thoughts and impressions during first lap:
OK this is a hilly course. Anyone can run 10k, just do this then worry about the marathon part. People keep cheering me on and saying I'm doing well for a big lad or 'bless him'. Damn my back hurts. thank goodness for those drugs hopefully they'll kick in.

Lap two:
Hey, just get through this one and you're at half way. That is LESS than a run to work and you did that quite a few times without any dramas. Stick to the game plan, dont burn out. Oh! I can run fast downhill and it doesnt hurt as much. People cheering me now properly as I have a coverted 'lap' band on my arm. Someone called me Jolly Green Giant. Streets of people keep yelling my name I could get used to this.

Lap three:
Got to go carefully now, take it easy Hurst, dont burn out. Keep those hips pushed forward, keep form, keep moving the legs efficiently, if walking its power walking.

Lap four:
OK this must be where I hit the wall. Back and foot are pretty painful. Keep hips forward. Gentle pace and can do sub 14. Shit I'm not going to make sub 14 go faster. Shit I'm not going to make 14 hours, how depressing. Yay I made sub 14 hours.

Each time I ran past the house there would be a sentry outside ready to call otheers out to cheer on. I usually had to call ahead to be noticed despite being mean green and not very lean. My daughter refused to come out at lap three so I had to look through the window to see her bundled up on the sofa. Awww. Passing the house was always the best bit of the run for me.

At one point I ran with Corin for a while which was great, really enjoyed sharing our success and the experience with him. 

I rarely needed to dip into my strategies for keeping my mind off things such as reciting poetry in head as the support was so good. Thanks Tenby.

I also ran with Fran again for a while. We found we were going a similar pace and could make 14 hours but then at the top of the hill I regretfully parted company with her. Then she overtook me at a feed station. Then I went past her downhill. Then I found out afterwards she was Iaim's friend. Coincidence or WHAT??

In Tenby on the last lap I had Jan ahead of me, a green flash prompting streets full of people to yell GEOFF GEOFF GEOFF etc. They didnt yell etc. I meant they kept yelling GEOFF. before I had even gone around the corner. Downhill I went as fast as I could, uphill I jogged or power walked. I'm really interested in seeing the watch information to see how fast I was going with the perceived effort. I didnt think I was going to make sub 14 hours but then I heard an announcement along the lines of 'athletes out there you havent long for a sub 14 hours race!' I ran really hard around the corner towards the finishing line, saw paul kaye @Kayeman and really went for it not sure exactly how long I had. I saw the finishing clock and had a surge of emotion equal (almost) to that of C's arrival into the world: I'm here safely and no one can take this moment away from me.

Geoff Hurst, you are an Ironman!

I was so pleased that I could share the moment with Nicky, I was rather stunned and almost got given two medals because I walked in a circle around the mayor. I say the mayor, someone with a large gold chain around their neck I think. Could have been Mr T. "You aint gettin' no second medal fool!" they said in a Welsh accent and I found my wife to give her a big hug. This was her moment as much as mine, she might have been a bit worried after she and my mum almost cancelled the marathon I had done over a year ago as I was suffering so much. Months of supporting me to this place, all the sacrifices of husband going out at stupid oclock etc over. A little while after the race she asked if I could start doing weights again as she likes me with bulging arm guns it seems.

Hmmmm protein shake and wife to lean on.

Waiting for Corin before N had to go relieve the babysitters.

After this I had an amazing time with my dad, stood at the finish line, listening to Paul Kaye tell people they had finished and getting really caught up in the emotion and triumph of others and reflecting on my own succes. I was grateful to Jan for allowing me to do that by babysitting my bike and kit, I really want to see Corin finish and cheer him in. He didn't notice us yelling but he was having a jolly nice time.

Official photos of the race were all crap and I'm gutted there was not a video of my finish (that I can find anyway).

As Jan and I walked back to the house at 11 oclock ish, there were still people running. Barriers were being taken down, signs taken away, hopes of their finish on the edge. I suddenly felt very tired.

It was not the race I thought it would be but I loved it and am very happy with under 14 hours. I'll smash that next time.

I am so indebted to so many for donating http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GeoffHurst I made my macmillan target, for words of encouragement, for fixing my bike, for coming to see me, for  that cheering for me at home, for training with me, for advice and everything that I cant think of. Thank you all.

I'm an Ironman.

Geoff Hurst, you are an Ironman! Part jeden.

I may have given away the ending in the title.

Paul had asked me the day before the race if I was nervous. I don't know how coherent or uninterrupted my reply was but I don't think I was particularly. I was determined, I knew it wasn't going to be easy. I knew that if it was within my control that I would finish the Ironman. I knew that there was no way I could ever give up nor not give my all. I knew that I had been inundated by support in the form of generous donations to Macmillan, kind words, companionship in training, bicycle repair, support at the race and much more. "Come back with your bike or on it" Nicky's note greeted me as I strode into the living room of our rented Tenby cottage at 0500hrs on race day.  Facetious but the amount of appreciation that I have for everything that my family, friends, colleagues and more have given me in the run up to this event would not let me drop shield and run away if it were in my power. More than that though I really love pushing myself through a pain barrier and coming out the other side a stronger person, a week on and I'm still riding on endorphins. You learn something about yourself. The reason that I was confident was that I had put the training in and my kit was tried, tested and repaired to standard. I knew I had it me emotionally and it was now just time to get it done, get it ridden, get it round (in the words of my sister).

Three bagels with peanut butter, coconut water, energy drink, coffee, two banananananas for breakfast.

Jan and I made our way to transition and there was already quite a buzz in Tenby. Our walk took us past the top of the cliff that the marks the run between Swim and T1. A strong wind kept a flag there proud and its pole straining. A vision of the flags atop the hill fort of Edoras struck me. People were making their way to the beach to get to the front of the swim and have a chance to go in feet wet as I was bimbling into transition so I abandoned Jan in a fashion that I'm sure anyone else would have thought rude and dived in to sort my stuff. First I realised that the food that I had with me was now in the wrong place as I should have put it with my bags the day before. Then I realised I had a flat front tyre despite inflating it the night before. A bit of a worry but I put it down to gremlins and just re pumped up. Then I leant my pump to various other athletes whilst getting my wetsuit on. An element of panic set in as I felt that I was running behind schedule until I tried to put my wetsuit on over my casual shorts. I gave myself a stern talking too, called 'oooooh' when someone exploded an inner tube, then got myself sorted. I realised at that point I had forgotten my timing chip. Jan to the rescue! Never has a carrier pigeon so freely flown to sky nor gun dog bolted for the prize as when I told him my predicament and an RV. I met with Corin and his brother Merill in the now dense pack of wetsuit clad warriors marching their way. No I thought of a better one. I met with Corin and his brother Merill in the now dense pack of penguin like wet-suited triathletes, huddling and shuffling their way through a press of supporters to the beach, all aware that things were due to kick off soon and that the marshals seemed to be getting a little jumpy. I came around the corner towards the RV and saw Jan, posed for some pictures with the chaps, sorted my T1 bag and headed down to the beach.

I had to borrow a Garmin watch off Jan as I charged mine thinking that 95% wasn't enough. Unfortunately I charged it on laptop which wasn't plugged in so it drained the battery. When he is able to upload my results I'll post them. He also took lots of pics I'm looking forward to seeing. Pester him..

Swim
As the Readett brothers and I got to the back of the throng on the beach the Welsh national anthem began, marking the beginning of the race. I walked forward a bit further to the back of where the crowd started to thicken but the race had started and I continued my stride straight into the water. IT was very choppy and I was overtaking as soon as I started swimming. This meant subjecting myself to a fair few kicks to the face and the occasional high spirited friendly punch as I went past. I couldn't often see the buoy when sighting unless I happened to be on top of one of the waves at that point so I went for the more distinctive RNLI boat and the general direction of the mass of swimmers that I was amongst. To the first buoy as I worked my way forward in relation to those around me I realised that this was not to be the swim I had expected. I promised Geoff that if he worked hard to the first buoy, went for the shortest but busiest route and got around that the pack would thin out, the waves would be at a different angle and all would be well. I lied. The other side it seemed just as busy, I couldn't see the buoy so I went with the pack again and concentrated on getting power into my strokes to keep moving even though the effort level was much more than I'd have hoped. Some paddle boarders indicated to me and some others that we were off track and far the wrong side of a boat so I diverted myself, found some space and had an OK swim to the second buoy. As soon as I went around it we were being pushed into the shore and the majority of people were swimming in the wrong direction. I was swimming at 90 degrees to some people who often when they hit me changed direction. A couple more busy patches and I was coming out of the water for the end of lap one. My swim hat was popping off my head where it had been knocked so I adjusted it, saw that I was running late (As expected) according to the watch and ran up and down the beach. The second leg I focused more on my stroke in being efficient and sighting to make a more direct route. The jostling for position didn't diminish but it was slightly less frantic. I thought that the second lap was much better but according to my rough calculations that didn't seem to be the case. As I came out of the water there were some dazed people around me stumbling up but I felt that a run was in order.

T1
Move fast and clear
those mortar holes.
l want to see plenty
of beach between men.
Five men is an opportunity.
One is a waste of ammo.
Keep the sand
out of your weapons.
Keep those actions clear.
l'll see you on the beach.

Knowing the end of the swim ahead was a relief but I knew that it opened up a battle up a beach and hill before I could get on with the biking war and marathon occupation. I jogged up the hill until stopped by weight of people walking up the zig zag slope. Lining that route were the purple bags in which we had left our trainers. As number 2104 mine was right up the top. As I came up the last zig (or possibly zag) I saw Paul and Jenna at the top so had to pretend that I was feeling fresh of foot and sprightly of pancreas. I got changed in front of them in what seemed like slow time as my wetsuit (despite copious amounts of baby oil) refused to fall off me. I waved farewell to the Barry Seligman contingent to cross the road to see C on the shoulders of Jan with N and E behind. It was amazing and so important to me to see them at what was in a very not true way a third of the way through the day. It was about 0830.

I jogged to transition with wetsuit in a purple bag which felt really odd.

When I got there I had to run to my bike bag, shove some food down my face, switch glasses, run to my run bag to stash clear glasses, run back to bike bag to get cycle kit on, run through tent to bike to be told I should have dumped my kit bag in a pile. Went back to my bag to be told my another marshal just to leave it. Got my bike and mounted at appropriate place.

Bike

This could be a really long post if I allowed it... excuse me dear reader/ Part of this is me attempting to record for my own memory what was an amazing experience.

As I left transition I saw my dad who had seen me on the way into transition but I don't think knew he was being referred to when I yelled DAD! I overtook quite a few riders and I stupidly decided that perhaps I was going too fast and backed off a bit. I say stupidly because it was a section of the race that was very much suited to me and probably wouldn't have affected me too much. I had promised myself before hand I would go by me own perceived effort rather than comparing myself to those around me and I was below the effort I should have been. Having driven the course was useful but I realised that it seemed a bit worse in the car. On the other hand my back was not 100% from the beginning and I had left transition really needing a wee. Little did I know that this would be the biggest mistake of my race.

The bike course (here: http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/emea/ironman/wales/athletes/course.aspx#axzz3EGi56HLw
) is two loops. One large and one small. The first extends further out to the West then finishes in a hilly portion. The second loop is just the hilly bit again. Coming back from the town of Angle and that whole leg out West was beautiful but I really needed a wee. I was really uncomfortable but I stubbornly thought I couldn't stop so early. When I got to the 'feed station' there was a big queue for the loo at Angle so just concentrated on eating and carried on. I had thought of Chrissie Wellington's advice (passed on to me by Corin) of just going to the loo whilst on the bike but it wasn't something I was practised in nor too keen to do with number of spectators. Instead of going aero into the headwind and using my massive thighs to head East into the strong headwind I therefore sat up and begged extremely uncomfortably. This continued until Narberth, a town upon a big hill, where my morale SOARED. Firstly because I realised that like an absolute nob my speed distance time calculations were very wrong and I was doing better than I thought and secondly because I saw my mother in law Helen and her friend Dilys who gave me a hearty cheer. Lastly because I got off my bike, had a wee, downed a litre of water, ate a substantial amount of N's energy bar, a banana and an energy bar then remounted. A Phoenix arising from the ashes doesn't have shit on how I felt as I remounted. It was about 1210hrs, I was comfortable on the Defy, my legs were feeling fresh still and I was overtaking a lot. I was into the second half of the bike and back to enjoying cycling. The hills on this section were rather grim. There was a section of 16% climb where a number of people were pushing the bikes up on the first time let alone the second. The best climb though was in Saundersfoot where, riding up the first section of the hill (12% I think?) the crowd was so thick and loud that I couldn't help but smile and work hard. Steady up the hills was my motto for the race as a larger chap. On heartbreak hill I was pleased that many of those who overtook me at the beginning of the hill flagged towards the top to be steadily passed by me again. Jan ran alongside me for a good section of this which was great fun and incredibly motivating.

I saw my Great (in two senses of the word, used to be three but he lost weight) Uncle Peter and Aunty Rosie on the way down from there. I've never known a man to be so seemingly at home whereever he is. GEOFF! I heard boom accross the road as I passed them.

I then heard Paul and Jenna but didn't see them as I came into Tenby. I noticed some blobs then heard my name then replayed in my mind that it was them. I wish I had gone faster down that hill but I had in my mind a sharp corner at the bottom which didn't exist. From there it was onto lap 2.

To be continued.

Some more donations might help my memory.
thttp://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GeoffHurst

I'll proof read this some time.

Let's rock

I had hoped to keep blogging over my time in Wales but with an almost complete lack of signal and WiFi that did not transpire.

I ate a lot of carbs throughout the entirety of the time covered by this post.

Prior to leaving for Wales I was away on a genuinely inspiring conference with work which once again showed me that my team really is a microcosm for the passion and quality that makes up the DofE charity. Whilst there I went for a run to loosen up from the drive each way that I undertook and having managed to be blister and chafing free for some time managed to dent this record a few days out from race day on a 2.5 miler. Oh well.

Leaving for Wales was a slick operation in the Hurst household. Mrs Hurst had, with her usual project management skills, dragged order kicking and screaming (along with a toddler doing the same) out of the chaos that could have been our departure. There was an air of 'this is it' as we left the house, Mondeo almost filled to capacity, on our Friday morning excursion to Tenby. I had checked the security of my bike on the rack three times having recently been aware of two incidents of people I respect losing bicycles as they drove yet I was still very conscious of the Defy hovering behind me as we made our steady way West.

On arrival in Wales we found our cottage which was positioned directly on the run course, just adjacent to the access to the North Beach where the swim was held and about a 5 minute walk from transition. We settled in, I met Corin, I registered for Ironman and C registered for Ironkids. A quick glance over the merchandise had me certain that a return visit to the Expo was in order. I met the Macmillan team and picked up some supporting gear at this stage too.

On Saturday I arose later than intended but rushed off, abandoning the family to meet Corin for a pre race drive of the bike course. As I awaited his arrival Paul and Jenna said hello and gave me a potato.

The drive of the bike course was beneficial though I wish I had had an opportunity to cycle it previously to really get a feel for it as some hills that I worried about turned out to be mere mounds whilst some bumps that we felt in the car turned out to be leg and lung busters. Some of the downhill sections it was useful to see that I could take at speed or not in advance and it was good to get an expectation for how to pace myself as well.

The highlight of my day was racing Ironkids with C. We lined up in a pen with about 30 other nervous toddlers of C's age escorted by parents or guardians of varying levels of fitness. Two young volunteers were thrust up front to do a 5 minute warm up which only the front row could see. It was then anounced we had about 10 minutes to wait before the start. Keeping toddlers entertained, warm, attached, from screaming, focused etc was then a bit of a battle until we were given the 30 second warning. No count down aloud to stop people pressing forward but a 15 and 10 second warning had everyone on edge. The claxon sounded and the race became a melee of screaming toddlers being dragged or hoisted up under arms, competitive parents thrusting forward and a few steady heads (like C I am pleased to announce) who knew what to do and just started running. 500m felt like quite a long way with my 3 year old next to me. She looked a bit bewildered at times as the entire route was lined by screaming supporters whilst around us we either overtook those who had shot off too early or were passed by those who had suddenly decided a sprint was in order. The finish line approached, the same that I WOULD be crossing the next day, and she ran calmly accross, took her medal then was delighted to see her fan club, including her Granny who she had not already seen that day. I was really proud of her for just blocking out the hype and getting on with the run at a steady pace. She is an Ironkid.

The rest of Saturday was spent in relaxation, racking my bike and kit, drinking my traditional Guinness, spending time with the family, Paul, Jenna, Dad, Helen, Dilys, Corin, Peter and Rosie. My support team assembled. I went to bed about 2230 hrs after Jan arrived. I took him for a brief tour of the area then hit the sack, breakfast on my bedside table, alarm set for 0330hrs.

Next post the race but its time for dinner, 24 and some time with my wife.It might speed things up if you donate to bring me up to my target. Boy have I earned it... http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GeoffHurst

nearly there

gosh darn I am flipping busy. Hopes of daily blogs have been overtaken by work, cadets, family, packing prep, osteopath etcetcetc carb intake goes up a little bit now. Time to take it easy and look forward to the race. I think I have more concerns about logistics than indo about the event at the moment.

Its the final countdown

Two weeks from now I am going to drink a lot of red wine. I miss a good quaff. With autumn drawing in I am quite keen to tackle some merlot guilt free.

Logistics planning is taking over from training now. A conference and busy time at work are making for not the most relaxed lead up to the race but I'm sure I can switch off from that when I need to.

I was thinking about the Dartmoor Vale marathon that I did ill prepared, injured and poorly paced last year. It was set up by the rotary club (or similar) down there and was marshaled by them and some locals. The race was a double lap of a rather large hill and on the winding, slightly bumpy and off-road decent there was positioned a marshal on his deck chair in a garden, yelling things at us as we passed. I remember the pain of the second lap leaving me temporarily as I realised the very strong likelihood that he actually always sat there in that chair, waving his stick at passers by and yelling but today they had put a hi-vis jacket on him. My yell of 'am I nearly there yet?' to him caused a great roar of mirth which cheered me even further.

Defiant

My alarm may have gone off at 0500 this morning but it certainly didnt bring me to conciousness. Instead I woke up of my own accord at 0630, rather annoyed with myself. A much slower (to spend time with children) exit ensued. I climbed aboard Iaim's bike Rose (name is the brand, he isn't that much of a softy, though he refers to her as tinkerbell) for the last time and set off to the High Wycombe area, 80% confident I knew the route, 80% sure my back would cope and 80% sure I should be doing a 60mile+ cycle with a fortnight to go to race day. Thank makes 240% so the ride was more than perfect.

There were a few reasons for wanting to go out:
a) I like cycling
b) I wanted to test my food plans
c) I needed to go get my bike
d) I missed Iaim
e) Its good to keep the legs moving in run up even if it isnt high effort
f) I needed to get some miles in on Defy to get used to her again
g) I need to do some miles on  her to get new cables etc bedded in
h) I wanted to practice my drinking a waterbottle an hour
i) I could do with losing some weight
j)  One last hurrah on Rose was mandatory
k) There are hills in Buckinghamshire without needing to make a fuss of them like in Surrey
l) Iaim makes an AMAZING coffee (slowly)
m) Get to see his tribe
n) Because fuck you
o) Can't think of anything else and had wanted to reach Z but oh well, doing yoga soon so will abandon this, it wasnt that amusing anyway.

One big problem with the route was Slough. Where are those friendly bombs? It isnt fit for humans (on bikes) still. My plan today was to not let my heart rate increase too much and to feel low effort the whole time. When I got to Slough I just went for it to get the hell out of dodge regardless of heartrate. Was not better on the way home.

I was pleased to get to Iains in a reasonable time (18mph ish) having not dropped out of big ring on the gears and not pushing it (physical effort as opposed to getting off, that DOES NOT HAPPEN) up hills.

My Defy has been through a total transformation. Lots of new parts or old parts completely dismantled, cleaned, greased and reassembled. The parts did not cost much (relatively) and with no labour I could not have currently afforded to have had bike so up to spec without that, let alone sort of bike that will be in racks around me in Wales... What a good egg Iaim is and sorry to his family for how much time he must have spent in his garage instead of with them.

The ride back on it was interesting to note the differences. I spun out down hill more and am sure on the flat didnt get the same oomph compared to Rose but it is performing beautifully and for a hilly course is ideal.

When I arrived home I found that I was in a bit of trouble for being late and that my Macmillan Tri Suit had arrived. Not flattering...

18 Days to go

I had a quick look at my fundraising efforts today and in the process of doing so noticed that I have 18 days left. All that I now fear is the uncontrollable and seeing as it is uncontrollable, like my wife, I'll just have to get on with it and focus on the rest of it.


I am now at a stage of working out what I should eat before and during the race, what I should wear depending on the weather and what pose I should make as I cross the finish line. It feels so in grasp after all this time now that I'm very much looking forward to it. The event will be tough and may or may not go to plan but the really hard stuff is pretty much done now. Cutting out the booze till after the race, a few gentle sessions and as much time at the osteopath as possible.


Today I was inadvertently struck by some joie de vivre when running. A trot to the top of the long walk had me cursing the cold I seem to be battling, hating my back and worrying about various other twinges. Once I started running proper though I just decided to run for fun rather than the jog as planned. A fartlek style session with pushups and sit ups and various other such kinesthetic exercises ensued.


I really can imagine crossing that finish line. 200 meters out the adrenaline and surge from the crowd will kick in, all pain will dissipate and my form will dramatically improve (posing for finishing pics) 100m to go I'll realise that was quite far to try to sprint finish and focus on enjoying the moment and looking for family and friends. I had tears in my eyes on last half ironman as I was in so much pain with my back but I hope this time it will be tears of joy only. "Geoff Hurst, you are an Ironman!" On the tannoy, medal slung over me and I desperately want to hug wife and kids irrelevant of the smell. I wont mind it at all.


Picturing that, moments of prior triumph, knowing the amount of donations and support I've had and all that I've overcome to get to the start line this year will get me through any tough moments in the race. 'Keep going' was my mantra in Galway I think, I'll probably come up with something equally positive on this race.


Thanks to Iaim fornfixing my bike then doing the ice bucket challenge on it naked...

Everything is awesome

I feel ready. I want to get stuck in now and race. The impact on our home lives even with the limited amount I have been able to train has been considerable. 0500 alarms are crap for a civvie like me. I did a bike, swim, bike this morning with the swim being a good chunk over distance and found it fine. Nothing I do from now can considerably impact on my race if I don't go nuts.

ladies man

I had contact with some females today. Yes gents, some ladieeees.

lady 1) Sat in her car with hazards on in middle of busy roundabout looking scared. Hurst made a dynamic risk assessment, found a safe place to pull over and returned, ready to use my thighs of steel to push the car into safety or render similar such assistance. As i strode towards her though, given space by another road user who saw my intention and gave way she looked at me. A look of panic crossed her contorted her face, and still looking at me she started the engine, put her foot down and roared off. I returned to my car and continued my journey comforting myself in the knowledge that i had achieved an unblocking of the highway. Definition of a highway? Any road to which the public has access I seem to recall. Maybe a policeperson can confirm that for me.

lady 2) as i left swimming lake (in uniform) a lady who had also finished swimming did a double take when looking at me and bashed her face on the door frame of her porche as she climbed in.

The common denominator is me being beautiful in these two anecdotes.

Also I have a headache now so night night.

low end gear but some idea

Less than a month to go now.

It hasn't been the year of training I'd thought it would be but I know I have pushed myself. The biggest limiting factor (other than time) has been tiredness and my mind dwells on those opportunities for training that were wasted due to lethargy or sleeping through an alarm. On the other hand 0500 (and earlier) has been an hour to which I have become much better acquainted. I'm less fat though am still carrying too much, I snack too much in the office and booze, though cut, has not been cut out. I don't seem to have dropped in weight but my legs are as ever piling on the muscle. I seem to have a body shape that piles on the muscle mass if i do weights or hit the protein too much so have kept myself away from the gym. My run is still my weakest event and my swim has only been maintained, not improved. My fuelling strategy is still being developed, i have confidence in it though I need to get testing it more. The kit I have, including bike, wetsuit and trainers is mostly second hand or low end (other than bike hat!) but tried and tested is good enough for my budget. I could lose another stone and benefit much more than i could splashing out on flashy gear as much as i do get kit envy now and again.

Being honest with myself I am really going to struggle to get my original target of 12 hours. In fact I wont. A month out I should have an idea of my splits though. Assuming fair weather for all three, no mechanical issues or major injuries. In a lake I can do 4k comfortably in 1hr 10mins. Not sure what volume of people, tide and waves will do to that against adrenaline, drafting and salt water which I'm sure is more bouyant (maybe old wives tale??). On the bike 6.5hours is well in grasp for me without needing to exert myself. For the marathon I have no idea. Never run that far after cycling that far. It will hurt. 5mph is what I'll attempt to average. 5and a bit hours. Chuck in transitions and it will be tea and medals all round. All these times have been achieved over these distances other than marathon at a pace that I've found comfortable. Runs of around15miles have all been cruised at over 6mph without needing to resort to lots of gels or water etc.Training stops in September.

Can you believe that my daughter is 3 tomorrow?

Rest in Peace Chloe

What a fantastic young lady you were.

Over the Hills and Far Away

0400 my alarm went off (what does the 'o' stand for? Oh my god its early!) 0408 i was dragging my aching carcass downstairs and putting on coffee machine. After some digesting, faffing, minor bike alterations and other such routine actions. I headed out. I had intended to leave at 5 but I'm out of practice for that routine
It was about 0530 then that I hit the roads with no one else for company other than a lorry and some startled deer until i reached Newlands Corner. I made my way from there along the A25 to Dorking where I headed North to find Box Hill. Not having been there on a bike for some time and certainly not on Iaim's bike I wasn't sure how to approach it. I think in my mind I had blown it up significantly, the hype about it from bike races probably didn't help. Still significantly up though. First time up I cycled along with the first other cyclist I had seen and we had a very civilised conversation. Down the other side I began to get a feel for how Iaim's bike handles fast corners on imperfect roads. 4 more laps followed. By the Fifth I was a) slower b) much more confident downhill c) much more restricted by other road users d) a bit bored of it e) out of water and needing a wee. I solved those problems, finished my circuit to Dorking then cycled home the same way I had come. Into an increasing headwind I was sad to note but nothing disastrous and can't complain as its all good training. Just under 5.5 hours. 4500foot gained total elevation just over 90 miles ridden. Wasn't too blown by it though did realise i need to work on fueling strategy as my body told me to do one whenever I considered gels this morning. Squeezed 2 in as well as some energy bites n made for me but could do with much more. Lubrication options will ne looked into, OK today but don't want to get hit by that. There was something else I learnt and meant to ask Dan about but cant remember what it was now luckily I have a budding nutritionist and expert baker of a wife helping square me away for future rides.

Buoys, girls and trigger's broom

Change of plan this morning to accommodate some family time in my weekend. I went to Shepperton Swim with wife and offspring at a very liesurely time. My calves were a bit stiff from my run yesterday and shoulder gave a warning\un-nerving and twang when getting wetsuit on (must be a 30's thing). Feeling really tired too. I think 3 weeks on pain meds catching up. Once in the water though i felt fine other than some initial soreness from the chafed nipples. You want warts and all right? Well, the warts were fine today. Anyway. The loops at Shepperton are 750m as opposed to the 1k at Heron lake. I'm not sure which place i prefer. Probably Heron on balance but there is more space for toddlers to romp around at Shepperton and its not next to M25. The plan was to undertake 3k at a steady pace. Lap 1 was fine, i was fresh and seemed to be swimming with a few others around me to keep me on track and gently went round in 14 minutes. After a wave to family lap 2 & 3 happened. I put more effort in having warmed up but was disgusted to see that i had added a couple of minutes on to each. I recognised on lap 3 that i wasn't being very diligent at sighting the buoys to keep me straight. The result was me swimming much further than i needed to. Lap 4 I put more effort into sighting and less into beasting and completed my quickest lap of the day. At heron lake the buoys are massive, i know it well and the course follows other bouys and treelines more so I guess I've become a bit lazy. Lesson learnt
i got out and after a quick cold shower I went to the picnic table at which my family were perched opposite a couple of post swim girls
I was told to my and the girls' delight that Catherine had drawn a picture of a monster with a heart rate monitor. They were very impressed she was signed up to an iron kids event. They looked doubtfully at me.

After the fun of the lake we went to Iaim's where I had a chance to look over a dismantled Giant Defy. Quite a few pieces need replacing. Some such as the chain which i seem to have destroyed within a few months others such as cables which came with the bike and are now due to retire. Iaim presented me with a shopping list and I wonder how long it will be before I don't have any original parts left.

I feel a bit guilty comparing her to triggers broom actually, that bike has been amazingly robust.

The price

I fancied wine tonight. Red wine. Lots of it. A little voice in my head reminded me that i have a five oclock alarm followed by 15+ mile run to get to work and a ride home tomorrow. Most of my weekend is booked for beasting. I love the feeling of seeing the world wake up around ne as i drop into Windsor from the great park in knowledge I've put in a good run. I love the feeling of having something left in my legs after a hill to attack the summit before descent on a bike and i love open water swimming on a sunny morning.  What a tough course I've set myself on and IM athletes live though. Crossing that finishing line is not about however many hours on the day its about many many more hours of lost sleep, missed family time and times where that red wine had to stay on the shop shelf. I guess that's recognised in someone who has completed the event which is why others may hold their manhood cheap that they could not say they were there. The more you sweat in practice the less you bleed in battle. When I'm on that start line I'll know every time I shirked effort or opportunity for training and will regret my poor diet. I'll be glad of every 0500 start and every day I've spent in crumpled clothes in the office as I've carried them in rucksack. I'm actually looking forward to my run tomorrow now, better get some kip.


































      





















































































































Blogger options































Graph of Blogger page views











 
 
 
 
 






































Send feedback



Loading...

Yoga

My weekend i spent more devoted to volunteering than i did to beasting though it was fairly active. Yesterday eve was then all about ATC so tonight was catching up on weekend jobs. I've been really and unusually tired and grumpy and mouth still feels like I've been punched after the wisdom teeth extraction. After mowing lawns, cutting wysteria and finding some cool frogs Nicky and I took the rather formidable decision of attacking some yoga. Not knowing the sequence is a bit of a challenge and the simplest routine quickly escalates into a contortion of confusion whilst trying to watch and obey even where those are mutually exclusive. "Now if you can't get your head to the floor, don't worry." he calmly tells me as my hamstrings scream that if i want even my hands to touch the floor i should start stretching more before and after cycling. Lying on the floor having fallen from a position in laughter whilst watching someone else effortlessly adopt it is good training right? If so I'm a pro now and will skip to advance bit immediately next time around.
I forgot to mention that I had a bit of a sad on at the weekend. Having been allocated some time in which to get a fairly good cycle in I suddenly noticed just how much punishment my bike has received in the last couple of months. A broken spoke drew my attention to many other wobbly ones, i noticed break pads are dead (i think they are original ones i got with bike) wheels were offset for some reason, gears weren't indexed... The list goes on. I got it to a state on which i could at least do a few miles and my pump broke. That made me really angry as i knew i shouldnt have bought a cheapy one.My ever generous hero has stepped up and offered my a full bike service so i drop it off with him tomorrow and he will even lend me his bike so i have no excuse but to keep training.

Back Wax

Wow. So legs being waxed isn't so bad it seems... to clarify, I did have both done yesterday.

This morning I dragged myself out of bed to run to work so got a good 15 miles in AM. It was a steady run and I just wish my timing watch had been working as other than the occasional stop for traffic and water I ploughed on and I'd like to compare back in future. Steady until near end of long walk at which point I realised just how hungry and thirsty I was so strolled in. Jaw not working and with some pain still means I'm not really eating as much as I need to support my mortal form on that sort of endeavour. I need to fuel properly and alter route slightly due to bad road section but now I've done it once without really feeling it in legs it'll become more frequent (And hopefully I can faff less before leaving now I know what I'm up to). A bike ride home during which I managed to keep up over 10mph up Priest Hill without going to granny ring or max effort was a nice way to end the beasting day.

Please see below the video of me getting an Ironman symbol waxed onto my once luscious back fur.

Leg Wax

Thanks to all those that donated. My legs are now waxed, we didn't have enough time to do my back today so thats something else to look forward to. N said she'd allow video if £600 was reached so here you go:

Agony

Well that was an exciting weekend. I tried to blog about it but some WW1 sensors came round and blacked it all out so if your a close friend I'll tell you all about my reaching new lows of indignity. To clarify, that is before I have been waxed. Life got put on hold a bit whilst I was ill.

Worst bit of it all was that I couldn't go and support Dan who completed Ironman UK this weekend. I can't fault his guts, ability to stick to a pace\gameplan and dedication to a season of many short distance and one long distance races, thoroughly deserving. My turn through the grinder next. I had hoped to use it as an opportunity (whilst waiting for Dan) to snoop around the stands at the trade show and get a feel for the atmosphere and as many tips as I could, particularly around fuelling. On the night I was due to go up I just had to sleep but set my alarm (much to N's dismay) every hour to see if I was in a state to depart. I once made an aborted messy attempt at about 0400 by which time Dan was getting up anyway. Good job old boy so sorry I couldn't be there to cheer.

Evans Cycles

Good customer care. Got a light for helmet with new head piece which completely failed light up despite my best efforts. One quick email to Evans and a new one was dispatched which just arrived and works. I do like good customer service. The hat is amazing too, keeps my head cool and feels light. Ideal. To make my head even lighter I had my Wisdom teeth out yesterday. Today I feel like I'm hungover and got punched in the moouth and nose yesterday. KNackered. More posts and waxing and blogging etc soon I promise.

Well that escalated quickly

It was your donations that again drove me out of bed and into the beast this morning. I must admit to having attacked a bottle of champagne last night so I wasn't feeling brilliant at 0500. Nor at 0530 when I pushed off on my bike as the heavens opened and instead of the usual beam of brilliant sunlight that descends upon me I was visited by my own personal douse of what Bill Bailey would call the water based punishment of the Lord. I waddled off on a slightly circuitous route to Heron Lake where I completed a couple of km before heading home. It was all steady work 20min kms on the swim 18mph on the bike (I dont know why I switch units, sorry), 'fat burning' one could call it, others might call it a gentle increase in brick training, the more astute might call it hungover and not well fuelled. Potatoe Pothole.

The weekend has been good for donations, thank you. It seems I should have made the waxing bar a little higher. Chums, colleagues, family and acquaintences have stepped up though and Andy Mac had the honour of making the coup de grâce in tipping me up to £500.01. Trust an engineer. http://www.dilbert.com/2014-07-12/

My sincerest thanks to

Olivia Hurst

D to the an

Andy Mac

Charlotte

Fletch

Ujo Janko

The Elds I will think of you all individually and consider your generocity when on the Ironman. Truly I will. It is tough, and long and also a bit boring so when I run out of poetry to recite (or sing songs like Jerusalem out loud) you will all be considered. I'll need to think up some other escapade to drum up the remainder of my fundraising... Stop press! Almost forgot my new helmet selfie!

Donations

So putting myself throuugh months of pain and sleep deprivation in order to put my body through the mill that is an Ironman didn't invoke much in the way of sponsorship. I threaten to wax myself and suddenly Virgingiving's servers are struggling.

My hearty thanks to those who have donated recently. This morning when the alarm first went off at 0500 I almost jacked the idea of a swim. Instead, knowing of my donor base I gave myself an extra half hour asleep before heading out. I completed 3 kilometers in about 55minutes, possibly a bit less allowing for time in which a nice guy had to come and help dress me because my wetsuit was on wrong. Must be all the muscle. Must be. I finished the swim and would have done another lap as I still felt strong, was overtaking people which is always fun and it was a gorgeous morning to be in the lake. The call of breakfast and an expectant family drove me ashore however and I stuck to the game plan. Towards the end I wondered if I would be happy to get on a bike at that point and cycle 112 miles. To be honest, I think I would. Could I then have run a marathon after that? Hmmm. Maybe. Probably would have stumbled round.

So the moral of the story is that money makes me work harder so keep it coming people. My gratitude has driven me to name and shame today's donors:

Jenna

Chris

Liam

Claire

Iaim Neesom

Jackie

Nic

Lesanne, Nick & Poppy

Kate Also thanks to my wife who is a single parent a lot at the moment and also bought me a very exciting new bike helmet today (Garneau Course, Red). Pictures coming soon. As I write this: RUNNING TOTAL IS  £386. That means £114 by the end of tomorrow if you want to see me waxed. Yes, there will be evidence. Donate here http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GeoffHurst

Wax

My wife has kindly reminded me that just honing my body to greater perfection isn't sufficient and that I really need to push the whole fundraising effort.

I hearby declare that if by Monday 14th July 2014 I have over £500 in donations I will wax my back and legs. http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GeoffHurst 

The last time my back had hair removal it was by a friend Katy who bravely used a year's worth of Veet to disolve the forest that dominates back there. It soon grew back stonger. I cant even remember why I did it.

Prior to that the only significant hair removal was at Rodian's house where it seemed a great idea to have a Superman symbol shaved onto my chest and the hair on my hair shaved off. I'm sure somewhere I have a picture of that but alas not on this PC.

This week I have undertaken a significant amount of exercise to the extent that today my body is kicking off and demanding champagne.

News just in Nicky thinks I should shave the IM symbol on my chest.

Hungry

when I train a lot I get hungry. Zombie, unfulfilled insatiable, hungry. Hungrier than a hippo on hunger strike. A tough (for no apparent reason, not that fast and only 2k) swim first thing this morning and a plodding, legs failing, run at lunchtime made for today's regime. Between those and quite a lot I've done this week after a weekend of excess probably mean my mortal form is demanding sustenance. I've had dinner and now in hungry. Tomorrow i had planned to run at lunch again but I'm not sure how my legs are going to go. Might just warm up then do sit ups etc. Should probably do some stretching too.

Today

Cycle to work gentle pace with occasional push for hills or traffic lights.
lunchtime run, 5mi gentle with occasional faster push for pure joy.
cycle home in thunderstorm and crap traffic.

Hmmm.

arrived sopping wet to find lovely wife had made me some healthy flap jacks to boost me before putting toddler to bed.

Swim with Dan tomorrow morning i hope.

Playing catch up

Ill wife, away in Devon, away with work, away for an amazing wedding (not mine, I already did that and my first wife and I are very happy) and working as well has kept me away from this keyboard.

Behold a picture of me from work this week though. I'm pleased to say that it feels like some normality is returning to my life which has now continued without a break for 30 years... Away from keyboard but I have been putting in the training this week and my legs are aching nicely.

I'll fill in more details soon, I spent time writing to a friend in Afghan over a long post so I hope you'll excuse me and add your thoughts\prayers for her.

Back soon.

Donations welcomed!

Choppy

Post merman I went for a swim when the sea state wasn't quite so calm. It wasn't terrible but was enough to mean that I could only breathe on one side, had trouble sighting when in a trough and occasionally got thrown around a bit. Despite that I ploughed up and down for just over half an hour whilst the family watched or went to the park. That reminds me of a Livy quote: “It is pleasant, when the sea is high and the winds are dashing the waves about, to watch from the shores the struggles of another.”

I was certainly struggling solo in the water without a boat and about the top of my comfort zone for swimming without having someone else in or on the water in case things went wrong. The difference conditions made to my swim was staggering, I had to work hard to fight tide and waves meaning actuall progress was reduced significantly. I can comfort myself with the knowledge that although I found it harder, if it is like that on triathlon day, every other competitor will be feeling the same. 

Have you donated yet? Donate a pound or two now to acknowledge me putting my neck on the line (and potential of incurring mother and wif'e's wrath if I killed myself) for the sake of honing my body to further perfection.

 

Merman

Congratulations to Dan for an outstanding effort in yet another triathlon today, first in age group and a T2 transition of 20something seconds. I can't get a shoe on in 20 seconds.

For ironman i wont be rushing transition, in T1 for instance, tying a cravat incorrectly can cost valuable time later when being looked at funny by people receiving your card and delaying entry. As for personal grooming... Let us just agree that no amount of impending running from T2 is going to make me pay less attention to hiding the outgoing tide that is my hair line.
I had a good swim this morning. We have descended en mass to my parents house for a week and today we were all on the beach by 830 for daddy to swim and everyone else to make sandcastles etc. I swam for 20 minutes along the coast then turned around and swam back. Actually that's a bit of a lie, i swam for 19 minutes and got caught up in some sea weed and after some floundering thought bugger it and turned around. I swam back till i got to the end of Paignton Pier, turned 90 degrees to face the shore and swam as hard as i could.

Recently arrived beach dwellers saw what must have looked like a bellowing red headed seal charge the shoreline and pound up towards a family. No one got the shot gun out though. Shows we're not in Surrey. It was about 2k in under 40 minutes, my watch isn't too accurate and i took my time. The sea was beautiful though, i could see lots of crabs on the bottom even quite far out (thanks to my new prescription goggles) and waves were gentle. To be honest i regretted the wetsuit. My autospellcheck thing just tried to tell me that wetsuit should be spelt wetshit... Hmm.

An afternoon lunching with uncle P(thank you for donation) in Dartmouth with Dad and catching some crabs with Catherine made for a very jolly day.

Out.

Riding High

My ride home tonight was fantastic other than traffic. I wish my watch had a setting to nullify traffic impact and show comparable ride on closed roads. No i don't, i wish traffic wasn't such a problem. Very frustrating when I'm trying to set land speed records. I did a sneaky rep of hill up past Beaumont stables (fond memories of horse riding hijinks from there). Came down a windy 13% decline hill as need the practice. Overall it was one of those rides on which i felt the wind whistling in my tri bars and legs felt like steam engine pistons. Looking forward to telling you about a couple of rides i have coming up. Also i bought a cycling magazine in hospital last week and applied a couple of tips to my ride today around efficiency. Getting back up to speed after a stop and putting effort in up hills were main two. Something else i need to get more practiced at is drinking on the go. A tip I read is to set watch to beep every 15 mins on bike and take a sip. I'm going now as knackered. Nit a very creative one tonight.

Oh what a week

Back from stag do then wife been in hospital so baby had to be in hospital so I had to be in hospital. Home now. Have managed to get a few runs in but not level of training I'd wish, something is conspiring against me for this event but I shall beat it. Devon next week I hope, lots of hills and sea swimming!

I was hoping to write lots but I just spent some time writing a bluey and now I'm very ready for bed (nurses have just left the house too, don't ask). Hope you understand and all that old chap or chapesses.

Stay safe out there.

Not long

You have until Game of Thrones has loaded and adverts finished on Sky Go till I stop typing and hit post. Great stag do this weekend for Ric. Superbly put together, lots of good chaps (some friends of old, others I was pleased to meet) and I enjoyed go karting a lot. Only one person I couldn't stand. Oh and I got to share a bed with Joules. I was even honourably mediocre at go karting despite my weight. I only managed to get out for one run but even with hang over it continued my trend of rapid improvement at the moment. Not just in performance but in how much I enjoyed it. I've just got back from a shorter run on which I performed some stunning sprints. Should probably give more time for trainers to break in before doing it as calves are quite tight now but they can be stre

New Bike

I cant get bike to work scheme and with two kids I was never going to be able to afford a top end carbon beauty. Instead I've gone second hand and I hope you agree that this bike is likely to cause a stir when seen racked up in transition.

Man Down

Inexorably pavement and bike strapped man drew together as graviton exchange triumphed against will of man. A tackled player curls in on the ball, the footing lost toddler spins away from the impact, the cartoon villain frantically resists the unresistable and the balance lost horse rider switches from worry of retaining stirrups to avoiding hooves. The road bike rider twists foot free and tucks in low away from traffic. The freeing failed, the pot hole stopped forward momentum, I toppled. The mighty oak tumbled, the pillar slipped. My head rushed towards the pavement, my instinct took over and fight or flight kicked in. Terra firma and I collided.

Actually i just fell over because a car stopped and my cleat didn't come out of the pedal. Nothing hurt other than pride. White van man behind me gave me a questioning thumbs up and slightly road rashed i continued on my commute. Haven't fallen since i broke my arm when a BMW cut me up ages ago and someone decided drinking tea with sister was better than taking me to hospital.

I feel amazing today. Great family, great day at work, great job, great bike. Blah blah blah. Watching 24 season 1 now.

All bunged up

A swim in the lake this morning has left me with a nose that is about to cause me to be divorced. A nose clip has now been suggested. Ear plugs were latest edition to my kit bag. If I'm told to get a mouth plug next as well ill know she is trying to bump me off for the massive insurance payout. Avenge me.

Anyway i don't know what it is about the lake swimming but it certainly causes nasal dramas. Will it stop being effected the more i go? Is it to do with breathing technique?

Post work 22 mile ride as well was good but wet.

A couple of hours training each day is working well particularly when i can build into commute. I skipped a bad part of usual journey to swim then dropped straight on motorway to get to meeting. Extended bikes to work handy. I'm going to see if I can do a run to the office soon. 14miles but I'll keep it slow and steady on direct route to test feasibility and fitness. Will need to first do a 7-8 miler at that pace to test the stitch problem. Real slow, 5-6 mph. I'm also going to have a look at my gait. And gate. My gate is falling down at home. So is my shed. And some arse kicked or punched a hole in my fence. One of the ones that didn't get blown down that is. Back to gait. More on the front of foot increase cadence etcetc. Skipping is supposed to help both with a rope and the 6year old girl in daisies kind.

donate any amount and make amusing comment to win cake! http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GeoffHurst

Dear Diary

Thank you to Alex W for the donation!

My wife made a very funny joke last night. I told her I had gotten competitive cycling against a van with a bike on it. She said that the van had raced a Van on a bike.

My middle name is Van.

Actually it was very quick witted and I love her very much.

The last two days I have cycled into the office without having first eaten or drunk (not even coffee!). It was fine and I took a more hilly route each time. Didn't over eat afterwards either and its apparently good for fat burning.

She has launched a cake competition! Talking of food and N, she has launched a cake competition!

"After a training break for glandular fever and new baby, I'm back to being a triathlon widow - please make all of this time without Geoff worthwhile by donating as generously as you can to his Ironman fund.

Last time he did a big race he offered various incentives to donors, so I'll start the ball rolling by offering a large chocolate cake to the person who accompanies their donation with the most inspiring and motivating quote by this time next week.

And on a more serious note, Macmillan are an amazing charity and really well deserving of a few of your hard-earned pounds.

(Dan I realise you didn't receive your cake in the end, because I hadn't a clue what kind you meant from your description! If you're happy to settle for just a nice cake I'll get right on it!)

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GeoffHurst"

106 Days left

Less than a week till me '100 days to go' post...

Yesterday 35 miles cycling, 5 miles running
Today I managed to drag myself to the lake at 0530 for a swim. Took it easy and if I wasn't conscious of needing to get home could have continued on. 2K (?) in about 42 minutes. I put the (?) as they are suposedly 1k loops but I don't know how accurate these places are. Great way to start the day regardless.

Good luck to Dan in the World Champs super sprints tomorrow!

Losing weight

I am making progress. Glandular fever expedited things from a weight loss point of view but baby hasn't helped from a sugar intake point of view... Trying to train and recover with less than an ideal amount of sleep isn't easy. I'm down to about 16.5 stone I think now and still have a belly to get rid of. I found an interesting article on twitter \220 triathlon and will try out some of the tips from that.

The whole H2only thing didn't work because a) I forgot b) am trying to use recovery drinks after longer sessions rather than snack badly and c) need coffee. Won't touch alcohol for that time though. Satisfied?

Talking about twitter, do you follow me? @Geoffbeast

Here is the article: http://www.220triathlon.com/blog/age-group-blog-shedding-the-kilos-for-windsor-tri/8699.html


"What I try to do to stimulate a fat burning session I’ll run or cycle for my commute to work several days a week and I’ll do that in a fasted state. I won’t have any coffee or food when I wake up in the morning which is only about 30-45 minutes depending on whether I cycle or run but it’s a smart way to optimise the session. If you’re commuting to work it’s not really a training session but if you are doing it fasted your insulin levels have leveled out while you were sleeping so everything should be at a base level."

Me Wall

Every man who is a real man has a me wall right? I have a gap in mine. One part of that gap is from a 25m swimming certificate from when I was about 5. The other I'm not sure what to put in it. My boss suggested my degree certificate but I'm not sure how proud I am of that, I just turned up for a while and ended up with a piece of paper.

So do you get a certificate for doing an Ironman? That would be ideal! If not then I need to make some sort of display case for the medal. Perhaps a dual one that can live with my Ironman70.3 Galway medal.


The offending gap looks at me whenever I'm working from home and reminds me that I haven't achieved enough. That room is destined to become the kids' room within a year so might have to move it to the loft or something but till then it should be a source of inspiration.

Yes I know the small certificate needs a frame.

Yes I know some of them are a bit wonky.

Final note - hello to the Virgin Helpdesk people reading this from Virgin Giving. What helpful people, good eggs, salts of the earth etcetc you all are.

My fundraising page address:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GeoffHurst

Sick

Those of a delicate nature avoid a swoon by reading no further. Return to your Mills and Boon. For this post is about being sick.

Don't worry, nothing dreary about me needing to man up from illness again nor is it me harping on about the human larvae currently keeping the decibel level high the Hurst household. There is also no bravado ridden stories (and repeats) of alcohol induced vomiting either personal (whilst sprinting with Iaim, gaining Irish hats etc) or of Joe turning our downstairs loo\bike store red.

I decided that I need to work hard on my run as I don't think it has had the attention it deserved and the attention is has had has been jeopardised by virus and child and virus child. I've had a few outings but have almost been putting off being really engaged with it for fear of not getting in a long run as I'll be too slow to make time for it. After a conversation with Dan I realised that I just need to get out there, run faster than comfortable in the time I do have available and build on it.

Today's run, in honour of Allan A and Tori for sponsoring me, was preceded by a dinner of a large plate of beans and some fish fingers. This seemed like a good idea at the time as I expected to be running late in the evening but N gave the green light and I shot out as soon as C had passed out (just from drink folks, we don't give her anything illegal). I ran at a comfortable pace but pretty quickly a pain under my ribs returned from yesterday's run and I didn't push it. Come the golf course I made sure to accelerate into some of the small rises in the path and suddenly felt the dreaded sick rising. I manfully braced myself for an explosion, breathed in and sneezed orange. The surprise settled the remainder of my dinner and I carried on just uncomfortable.

The experience got me reflecting on times where I haven't been so lucky in keeping it down.  Here are three that spring to mind:
1) First time using a personal trainer at a gym I decided to eat two bowls of cereal prior to leaving the house for extra energy. Mid sit ups I made a small mess and then spent 10 minutes of my paid for hour MIA.
2) I ate a cheese sandwich before going for a cycle ride from home in Virginia Water. Up the hill to towards cross roads with traffic lights I saw it again.
3) Whilst playing soldier once on an attack I was ill whilst vigorously shouting something (I was probably pointing in a bold karate chop motion simultaneously) but think that was a mix of food disagreeing with me as much as pushing myself. Then I knelt in it.

Tell me about your own experiences of being sick whilst exercising in the comments or on twitter #beastingvom don't forget to include @Geoffbeast

Thanks again to those who have donated.

Quick edit:

Here is the run, it wasnt me having heart attack at begining, the strap kept falling off. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/505422187

Self Control

I snack on sugary stuff in lieu of sleep if I'm not careful. At work I have bread in the freezer ready to be toasted at a moments notice to help avoid automatic snacking and the biscuit tin has not been visited anywhere near as much as it historically has been by me. Coffee is hit hard and alcohol though less frequent than previously, could still be enjoyed less.

Getting out exercising this week has proven tricky. the will has been there and even the dressing for the occasion but running out of time has meant that beastings have had to be sacrificed. A run yesterday is all. I hope to do something tonight children allowing.

I also just signed up to  H2Only, two weeks of water only for the RNLI. I'll make a donation to them if you make a donation to me for my display of self discipline. #H2Only
It's 27th May to 10th June so keep an eye on this and my twitter feed to see how I get on with neither caffeine nor alcohol. Starbucks shares about to plunge...
If you're extremely impressed, even if already a donor, then please add a couple of pounds to the Macmillan kitty and be aware of the good work of the RNLI. And Macmillan of course. http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GeoffHurst 

Now I'm saving lives of people with cancer at sea.

I'll merge in Battersea Dogs and Cats home or something soon.

115 Days till Ironman...

This week I have mostly been

Cycling.

Most days I cycled for work and chucked in a ride to N's uncle's house in Sussex.

Let me total that up in my head.
Oooh, about 130 miles. Lots more hills than the common commute though I doubt as hilly as the Wales route. Not bad for commuting though.  A run and a swim on the days I didn't cycle. I'd have hoped to have got some more swimming in but it just hasnt happened. I'm looking forward to be able to get to swimming lakes early at the weekend for a bracing swim to set me up for the day. Child and wife care has been a consideration so far as well as my own energy levels. Thinking about it, that total was for last week. This week, starting today is 28 miles.

The longest ride I did was 34 miles which I did at 17.2mph including some nice hills (and finished higher than I started!) into a bit of wind. I was pleased that on arrival I was still not particularly feeling tired from it and there was no subsequent ache.

The fastest I travelled was 60kmph on my way into Windsor. It was beautiful to whizz along on roads that felt safe, werent too pot holey and if things went wrong had plenty of comfy looking grass to bail into.

Lots to talk about it but I have a short window of opportunity in which to spend some evening with my wife and more importantly watch some 24.

21st April

Events occur in real time.

Depending on the speed of your reading.

On the 20th of April, N, C and I went for a walk on the North Downs for fun and to get me out of the house (I was feeling a lot of cabin fever from the glandular fever but exertion was still making me a bit dizzy at this stage and I was tired and dehydrated a lot). Some friends round in the afternoon and off to bed early ish aware that baby could  arrive at any moment.

21st April
I was awoken at 0700 by N who told me that contractions had started. Please could I gt Catherine up and dressed, get myself showered and sorted and we'd all meet for breakfast. Mother in law and Jo given the secret words to come take care of child 1. Mid shower I was just thinking about how civilised this all was (Though I maintain I wasn't taking my time) when I heard N call to me to hurry up, she might be sounding calm but she did still have a baby on its way. Up a gear and down to breakfast.

N and I left C with Jo and plenty of Play Dough then headed off to St Peters. We arrived to be allowed into the triage in the maternity\labour ward but there were no midwives. We sat around a bit lonely for a while till one turned up for work. Lucky there wasn't a baby coming out. We were asked to go for a walk for an hour and we had a really delightful walk around Botley Manor's grounds, adjacent to St Peter's Hospital. The morning mist burnt off as we strolled along toddler less and if it hadn't have been for the occasional contraction (not me, her) it would have been a very civilised morning perambulation.

After midwife was happy that there was a baby coming and it wasn't just N with a pillow up her jumper making things up, we were allowed into the labour ward. The midwife, I was pleased to discover, was really nice and put up with my jokes. All progressing well till Anaesthetist got involved and he, all in, took about 4 hours to get an ineffective epidural into N. Most of that time she was suffering and even after it was in she continued to be an absolute trooper. I was thinking about the energy required for giving birth and the sections where a large amount of exertion is called for, definitely comparable to Ironman! Poor me, at one point in the very hot room, not having eaten much I got a glandular fever style dizziness hit me and the world around the edges of my eyes darkened. Sure signs I was about to add a casualty to the medical staff's day so I got a drink, pulled a pew and called for reinforcements.

My food replens took place with my sister delivering a large quantity of food that I bolted for lunch and Alex (who makes an awesome sandwich I have discovered) brought enough sarnies and cake for N and I to have for dinner.

Anyway baby boy ('E') arrived safe almost exactly 12 hours after N felt first contraction. Although I wouldn't say it was easy it was a lot less traumatic than when C arrived. I didn't cry when he got here which I did with C which I'm sure the Freudian minded amongst you will have something to say about.

There were some complications with N's back afterwards which made the first week pretty tough but family and friends were all amazing and really helped so thanks to all.

must sleeeep

just a brief update that i cycled to work (and back) today. Traffic not terrible but definately annoying with lots of traffic lights. Seemed to be a lot of wind around and not just from my son. Despite this I was pleased to average about 17mph each way.

we did not sleep much last night. Send coffee
and food.

out

From the ashes

Yesterday I returned to work after a month off. It was very difficult to leave family in its new guise for the first time, as it had been for C. The glandular fever seems to have gone other than the fact that I'm still drinking a bonkers amount of water (4 pints water 1 pint milk over night tonight) and often waking with a headache still even when relatively well rested.
I had done a very short jog in the last week to stretch my legs and other than that i had just been doing an increasing number of press ups sit ups and back exercises (as well as some physio things). I had needed to recover properly before getting back into it for fear of setting something off again, especially with how tired I am with newborn. Also I wanted to make sure N feels properly supported with toddler and baby around in these early days rather than me trying to do too much and us all having breakdowns. I hold my daddy drills and good husband responsibilities sacred, family first hooah. Just re read that and it makes me sound like a martyr... I thoroughly enjoy it too. E smiling and C reading first book at 2.5, counting toes in Slovak or dancing around singing national anthem to herself is utterly amazing. Time with wife isn't a chore either and she laughs at some of my jokes (she must not understand the others).

Now I'm back at work i have the opportunity to fit beastings into commute and lunchtimes and time has marched on enough for illness and post baby arrival to allow me to start pushing myself. I'm rather tired. Baby only settles on front, midwives tell us we aren't allowed to do that so we have screaming puking baby or wrath of NHS to balance. He feeds every two hours and needs burping thennsettling after each. This means he is healthy and going for the prop forward look but N is being a hero in supporting him. At night I'm often doing the bits around the feed to ensure we maximise the rest each of us get.

I managed a 5 mile run followed by press ups, sit ups, back raises, hops (40 of each) today on the long walk. I hadn't eaten much and was tired but enjoyed being out and didn't disgrace myself. Thighs aching a little now but otherwise all good.

So that's where I am at the moment. I intend to revisit the last couple of weeks in future posts but was keen to get writing again. Baby asleep now (430ish) so i should be too. Night.