What A Difference A Bike Makes

Christmas is over and now it's New Year's Eve again. What a year it has been with so many challenges and plans for the future. The biggest change this year has got to be my decision to complete a Half Ironman in June of next year though. And up until a few days ago I was beginning to think it wasn't going to be possible. My ankles were aching, I'd missed a few training sessions and the beer was flowing a little too easily. That was all put behind me though when I finally managed to purchase a new bike. Being from Halfords, I wasn't going to get my hopes up too high but after the one ride on it I can now definitely see myself completing this challenge. 

This bike is so much quicker than my trusty hybrid and I don't have to put in as much effort. Infact there were a couple of moments when I was flying downhill that I was positively scared I was going to come off it. Shoving it into top gear, pegging it downhill after there had been plenty of rain in the week before it and heading into a blind corner probably didn't help but it's still good to see that the possibility of speed is there.

Next though will be the swimming. I need to get into the pool far more but the opportunities just aren't arriving due to the cost. I'm hoping that in the next month that'll all be sorted out.

Anyway, it's Rosy's birthday today so must ensure that everything is ready for her.

The Beginning of an Iron Journey

And so it begins... after reading much of Don Fink's book, Be Iron Fit, I have started my journey but nothing really goes to plan does it.

My first session was swimming which was actually pretty good, apart from my elbow hurting a bit after which meant I didn't complete the second swim session in the week. After that was a couple of runs and a brick session. All of these training sessions have been at a nice easy pace and a low heart rate, so it hasn't exactly been strenuous, but while getting the bike out tonight it had yet another flat on the back tyre. Needless to say, I didn't change it in the rain with rumblings of thunder in the background but managed to get the exercise bike into the house and do the time indoors while watching "The Almighty Johnsons".

So, everything is still on track at the moment I just need to fix the wheel and get back on it tomorrow in order to wear my outdoor kit.

Half Ironman Triathlon coming up

After much deliberation I have taken my first step towards becoming a possible ironman. I've thought about it, written notes about it, talked about it and even dreamt about it, but now I'm going to do something about it. On the 2nd June 2013 Dengie Events will be holding a half ironman triathlon in Fambridge, near Chelmsford. It involves a 1.3 mile swim, followed by a 56 mile bike ride and finished off with a 13 mile run. I've completed marathons and half marathons before, have cycled London to Paris in three days but now I've set my sights on this challenge as a stepping stone towards the Bolton full Ironman distance event in 2014 (2.4mile swim, 112mile bike, 26.2mile run).

Admittedly, I haven't actually paid for the event yet but I have just bought a new pair of trainers, after a running analysis, and actively made enquiries to join a triathlon club. As soon as my membership to Born2Tri has gone through, and I've been paid again, I'll sign up and be well on my way to being an official M-Dot owner.... hopefully maybe all things going well.

Wish me luck.