How much?

No training due to work, weather, broken gym equipment and too much cake. Was contacted by manufacturers of exercise bike who will come and fix it, or rather look at it and decide if they can fix it for the cost of what my mountain bike cost. Once I pay that up front they will send a suitably qualified person to come and decide how much more I have to pay.

Major malfunction

In door training today due to gale force winds, major malfunction on Life Fitness Cycle, after 9 years of abuse it died. Need to rethink training programme.

Sore left knee

Really sore

Entered first sportive. 14 July 2013.

Sit on it

Rest day spent driving.

New magazine arrived.

New 2013 catalogue of training goodies arrived.

One more time

Once around the bonsai mountain, planned, twice around due to sex crazed canines disappearing act.

Rest day, yeah right

Rest day spent mucking about mucking out.

New personal best

Christmas Eve. Skived and ate cake.

Christmas day would have been a no training day as well but ended up running shuffling around the Bonsai Mountain (above) in the dark looking for a dog.

Boxing Day. Back on form, new personal best 50km lvl 16 cycle cross in 82mins 22 seconds. And I could still walk. Drank 1ltr of Vimto squash. Sore left knee. Max bpm 149.

Massive gains

Huge core workout involving shovel, fork, excrement and flood water. Mix in with fence posts, goats and wood chopping. Right arm feels like dropping off.

Slippery when wet

A slow time anticlockwise circuit of the bonsai mountain due to darkness, galeforce winds, torrential rain, mud and the weight of anti troll equipment.

On target

Managed to train today. Got nowhere fast on the Lifecycle, 20 miles in an hour. On target. Felt like crap, massive headache for first ten minutes, not sure why. Left knee sore at finish.

Health and safety gone mad

For some obscure reason getting on your bike in amber weather warnings is frowned upon so no training today. No Chinese food either so that's something.

Festive spirit

Not allowed to ride bike today as it was raining and foggy. Apparently its not safe. No training due to compulsory Christmas shopping, chinese food was not compulsory but essential.

In excess

Too much driving, too far away from HQ and bikes, meant more time sat in car eating cake. On the plus side I did buy Cycling Fitness magazine. Every little helps!

Scattered showers

The forecast was bang on, and my use of the badly set up R200 coincided with two of the heaviest downpours. My sitting in an office gazing out at the sunshine did not make up for getting wet. Was pleased that the 5 miles in including the walk along the wheel wrecking lane only took 22 minutes. That's as fast, if not faster than the car, once you take into account parking. The return 5 miles took 30 mins but that was in the dark and in heavier windy rain.

The world expects a man to...

..buckle down and shovel it.

Mega workout, unconventional but effective, shifted tons of pooh by wheelbarrow. The runways clear, the stables are clear and my arms are like lead. Tomorrow back on the bike!

Quick fix

No training as was Agnesed, that means the friendly osteopath fixed me. Again. That also means that for several hours after being fixed its better to sit around eating cake rather than get out on the bike.

Hard core

A good hard session tonight, 2000mtr row 8 mins20 seconds and 17.5 km lvl 18 cycle cross. Average BPM 137 max was 161. I did feel like my eyes were going to pop out at one stage.

One car

One car.
No bike.
No training.
More cake.

Ice station Zebra

Its wasn't the freezing fog that put me off cycling today, it was the thought of cycling back home with a Christmas tree. So I took Miranda which left more time for decorating the tree and eating cake.

Harry Icers

I was happy my new gloves had arrived (ebay rules) and so my ikkle dannys were toasty on the ride in on R200 in glorious winter sunshine. The rest could not be said for my neck, ears and head in the helmet vents. It was Harry Icers. 5 miles in. Fast. Return trip a bit slower, cold, foggy.

Sore left knee.

Speed King

Running late this morning, for a change, left HQ at 8.55, got bike, safety checks, walked 1/3 mile along dirt track, said hello to Jess (the collie) fast ride in, 5 miles, into office, changed, cup of tea, sat at PC and it was 09.23. Brilliant. Loved it. Lovely day.
Return trip was shorter than planned thanks to work, no chance to skip off and do the long route back. 5 miles in freezing cold, ice cracking on tarmac cold. Loved it. Lights are fantastic.

Fetch!

No  fitness today, lots of fetching and carrying instead.

No Fear

Sunshine all the way.
5 miles in, fast spin on the poorly set up R200. Fantastic.
Long way home 15 miles easy spin, met a dozen or so Mamils going the other way (what did they know?) all smiles and waves, sunshine and pedalling brings out the best in people, even those in Lycra. Conquered THAT corner, the one that always leads to a panic brake at the last second, something to do with the double chevron sign commanding attention at the mid point. Today I ignored the sign and concentrated on the exit point and it was fab hitting the straight at the exit at mach 2.
No fear.
I did have the brakes covered though.
Not stupid.
Sore left knee.

Night Rider

Back in the proper moving saddle, R200 out in the morning sunshine, 5 miles in. New fitting of light to helmet may have been mistaken for camera which may explain the extremely wide berth given to me by traffic (especially after the BBC prog bikes v cars) Return trip was equally interesting, torrential rain, gale force wind and dark. New lights are the business! In all 10 miles gentle spinning. Great fun.

No go

Too much driving, too much away from HQ, too many sick animals, no time to train. Lights have arrived.

Nothing doing

No training. Cramp gone. Bought new bike magazine, took ages to find it on shelves of shop, looked like a perv hanging around to buy dodgy adult mags. Lights not arrived. Probably not going to cycle tomorrow either as its going to be a long day behind the wheel.

Pizza express

Cramp and idleness meant no training and more time to eat pizza.
Bought another light for bike.
This should mean I am sorted for night rides. 2x300 lumen bar mounted lights and a 200 lumen helmet light covers all arcs to front while rear has 60 lumen fixed light and a 100 lumen strobe. Tinsel to follow.

Rock steady

No training.
Moved some rocks.
Severe cramp in left calf.
Bought new lights for night riding.
Seems like there will be more than one on the pedals to peak challenge.
Decided to start a badminton club.
This is not a poem.

Day off

Day off training.

Knackered.

No energy.

Cramp in legs.

Non rest day

Rest day.

Only moved stone, moved metal gates and other heavy objects.

Best til last

Last day of 30 30 so good time for new personal best of 18.6km on level 18 cycle cross training mode and top speed meant top heart workout av bpm 141 while max was 154.
Total for month then is about 405km or 243milesish in old money. Does not include real bike miles which is not as many as last month due to using car for work, 2300 miles for work!

Totally sore left knee. Rest day tomorrow. Perhaps.

24 hours

Another 30 30 is about to bite the dust. Totals to be declared but much better than March's effort.

lvl 16 hill 13.4km 121 av bpm 149 max

Sore left knee

Nearly there

No real cycling due to stomach upset. Still. Day 28 30 30 lvl 14 cycle cross 12.6km av bpm 115 max bpm 138

Left knee really sore

Keeping on

Day 27 30 30 lvl 14 night ride 13.6km av 126bpm max 151bpm

Sore left knee

Back on two wheels proper tomorrow!

In all weathers

The advantage of having a gym standard exercise bike hits home when for the third day (night) in a row I have been plodding away in torrential rain, well I can see it through the workshop door, inside its pretty dry except for wet canines wandering in to see what I am up to.

Day 26 30 30 lvl 12 night ride 12.5 km av bpm 124 max 138 not bad distance considering 2x dismounts for lace being caught in pedals

Sore left knee

Going through the motions

Discovery that aches and pains are in fact some form of gastric bug meant that the last thing I wanted to do was cycle or be more than 2.3 seconds from the great white phone.

If it was going to be easy then everyone would do it principle along with just sit there and turn the pedals meant 12km of torturous pedalling and another day ticked off.

5 to go

No fun

Moved 770kg of straw

cycled 13.4km 30 mins lvl 12 cycle cross

sore left knee

sore right arm

Not a happy bunny today

Soggy foot

Ditch digging, pig catching and muck shoveling.

30 mins lifecycle lvl 16 hill training 14.4 km av bpm 131 max 150

You're all heart

30 30 training, cardio endurance, 12.3 km min bpm 109 av rpm 80 max bpm 146 av rpm 100

Sore left knee

Sore left shoulder

Not today, another day

Another 30 30 day 21 lvl 16 cycle cross 18.3 km av 139 bpm max 153 bpm

On the wire

Took a clockwise stroll around the Bonsai Mountain and found Wooly stuck in the fence. Lucky lad. Rescued.

30 lvl 14 hill training 10.5 slow boring painful KM

Very sore left knee

Round and round

Quick dawdle anti clockwise to the summit of the Bonsai Mountain, got lost in the dark and gorse in North Face Gully on the way down.

Day 19 30 30 Lvl 14 night ride 14.3 km Electric Six Electric Six

Yesterday seems so far away

So lack of time meant no posting yesterday, it also meant cycling at 11.20pm to complete 30 30

20 mile bike ride on R200,freezing cold but gloriously sunny morning riding with bike buddy for first time, interesting especially when trying to work out who should go on the inside when cars appeared. Got bounced by couple on tandem, they were on a mission, 140 miles at least today. Made my 20 miles in 1 hour 6 mins seem paltry.

30 30 lvl 14 hill training 11.3km

Man test

 Fitness and stamina test. Carry these fence posts

 up the bonsai mountain

to where we are putting up a new fence. Took a while. 30 posts including a gate post 18 trips. Man test passed.

New personal best on lifecycle 30 mins lvl 16 cycle cross 18.2km

Lazy rider

Felt like crap getting on bike tonight and scores on the doors reflect sore knee, sore arse, poor soundtrack choice and lack of effort. 30 30 Hill training level 12 10.3 km

Sore left knee even when not riding

Night owl

Late night blast on lifecycle, took things a little easier today both knees are sore, so night ride lvl 14 13.4 km av 110 max 127

Get on it!

Thought I would have a gentle session on the lifecycle tonight, ended up doing 17.3km in 30 mins don't know what my heart was doing as I forgot to press the buttons. I think it must have been working ok as I didn't fall off.

Very sore left knee.

All about cadence

Felt a bit tired after yesterdays effort but stuck at it and did 30 mins hill training at a higher cadence, always over 100rpm, lvl 16 13.4km av bpm 138 max bpm 159

Sore left knee

Its late!

Training is having to be crammed in to the end of the day so late last night saw day 11 of the 30 30 pacemaker 12.4 km while today I smashed it with day 12 30 30 lvl 16 cycle cross 17.4 km

Sore left knee

Out and about

20 miles on R200 1 hour 6 minutes

Day 10 30 30 lvl 12 pacemaker 11.8km av bpm 128 max 146

Sticking to it

Day 9 30 30 lvl 12 cycle cross 14.5km av bpm 129 max 157bpm

sore left knee

I was asked today how I find the time to do what I do, cycling at 11.20 pm is one. Lack of sleep another.

Full up

Cycling after a three course birthday bash hurts.

Day 8 30 30 lvl 12 Hill climb 11.1km  av bpm 111 max bpm 138

Night time

Day 7 30 30 lvl 15 night ride (you can't see whats coming) 12.2km Radiohead Best of Radiohead

Riding High

The boredom of exercise biking was relieved by an idiot Berner biting into a can of spray paint releasing mind altering aromas and turning a large area olive drab.
Day 6 30 30 lvl 16 cycle cross training 16.6km

Remember remember

Day 5 30 30 lvl 15 hill climb 12 km forgot to press the start button on gizmo so no stats. Slow ride just for giggles.

More of the same.. but different

Day 4 30 30 lvl 15 Cycle Cross 16km av bpm 122 max 155

On the road again

 R100 was beaten into shape, literally with a hand axe and taken for a ride while the sun shone.

5 miles there, and then 5 miles back. Managed to avoid killing myself, zombie pedestrians and throwing R100 over hedge for being slow and uncomfortable.

Day 3 30 30 lvl 16 hill training 12.8 Km

Back in back

All being well tomorrow R100 will be back on the road as he should be and not carried in the back of Vic.

30 mins lvl 10 endurance training 15.7km av bpm 134 max bpm 144

Movember

New challenge, grow a moustache while cycling. I know, I set the bar high, but its for charity mate:)

Today 30 mins Lvl 18 hill sprint 15.3 km forgot to plug myself in so no stats although bike told me at one stage bpm was 154.

Get R100 back tomorrow.

Waterproof

Rain. Rain. More rain. Some wind (not me) and more rain put off any idea of R200 into work so made up with 30 mins 15 seconds hill training lvl 18 15km  av bpm 136 max 158. Boring but dry.

Static hill

1 hour hill climb training level 10 25.5 km av bpm 132 max bpm 158

On the road again

Forgot to plug myself in so no idea of stats but a fun ride on poorly set up R200 to work and back 10 miles.
Still not fitted new pedals.
Or raised saddle.
Getting R100 back from Mr Fixit Friday.

Choices

Glenn visited today so he was the one who chose the long haul route over the top of Worzel wood. Not a long walk. Just a steep one.

Monkey on elastic......

...going up and down.

Sunny day, visitors to HQ so a chance for a clockwise amble up the Bonsai Mountain. Not timed. Stroll.

Late pm. Up and down North Face Gulley, floor to summit and back again 30 mins 10 seconds av bpm 135 max 155.

Sore left side.

Walking like John Wayne. Thanks doc.

Mucking about

No "formal" training but shifted a ton of pooh. Anyone who thinks that doesn't count is free to come and have a go:)

Turbo charged

Finally got an hour is, 27.7 km on hill training setting level 15 to 18 max rpm 183, av bpm 137, max bpm 160.

Pain in left side.

Stroll on

I finally got my sports kit on today but failed to find my trainers so caved in to the inevitable and took a slow stroll to walk off the after effects of osteopath. Tomorrow is a new day. Fresh motivation has been ordered and some miles on one of the bikes will be done!

Honest!

Ouch!

I was Agnesed today. The oesteopath worked her magic and hopefully once I stop crying my back will be back to normal and allow me to train.

Noooooooooooo!

Another day of inaction.

Numbers game

3 walks, 1st 5 miles, 2nd 2 miles 3rd 1 mile.

Zilch

No training.
Again.

They're here!

The SPD pedals arrived but motivation and time didn't. No training.

Excuses

Bad back, too much work, dark early=no training

Bad combo

This old bike with its suicide gear change levers paid a visit to HQ last weekend. Belongs to the technohermit who aged 74 makes the ride into town and back several times a week. His efforts put mine to shame as a combo of getting dark early, torrential rain and bone idleness meant no training today.

Lard

No training. Accumulated more lard.

Rest up!

Day off training. More car trouble. Thought about walking. Had Red MTB at office but no helmet. Ate cheesecake instead of weight loss.

Mamils rule

20 mile on R200 (still badly set up) 1 hour 6 mins av 128 bpm max 148 bpm freezing cold first frost of the season. 100% lycra. Mamils rule.

Later man test, major part of tree trunk rough chopped ready for final cut.

Only the horses

 Today's training was a jolly jaunt over the ridge, along the old race track

bringing this lad home. 4.5 miles 1 hour 5 mins.

Clockwise

A surprise afternoon off and fortuitous break in the weather meant a clockwise amble around and over the Bonsai Mountain. Heart rate barely over 70bpm but it was good for the soul.

Get a grip

Slow ride in on Red MTB. 5 miles 122 av max 141 bpm. Rain. Fog. Handle bars came lose making steering a lot of fun:)

New saddle

Rest day.
Tried new saddle.
av heartbeat 10million.
Unable to walk properly.

Commuter power

15mile route in to work 53 mins av 138 max 161 bpm

15 mile back 55 mins av 134 max 159 bpm

More lard.

Another day accumulating lard. Cycling shoes arrived. Now need to buy pedals to fit shoes and bikes. Arranged to go for first accompanied ride next Sunday with neighbour who is keen cyclist.

I'm a lumber jack

No proper training this weekend but all over workout with my mighty chopper

A wheel test

R200 is still badly set up but with a new 20 spoke lightweight wheel he is a bit faster than last week after I ran over him.
To work 5 miles nearly overtook a Land Rover driven by a myopic militia driver, my sudden appearance at his drivers door encouraged him to accelerate away in a cloud of black smoke
Took long way back 15 miles 56 mins av bpm 135 max 160 bpm

R100

Late day at work no training fat lardy. Went to see R100 on the work bench, now needs a spoke in the rear wheel and all will be well. Ready for the road. Going to set a date for the first 100 miler. Meanwhile eating jelly dinosaurs.

Manflu

AKA laziness and overdosed on peanut M and Ms instead of training. Bought some cycling shoes from ebay, a pair just like the one shoe I have. There are supposed to be two but we have dogs.

Wheely great

No training as manflu and severe weather forced use of car.
New wheel arrived by courier. Woooohooooo! R200 is back in action. As soon as I find time to assemble him!

Uphill struggle

To work and back on the MTB. Massivley difficult due to strong winds blowing me to a standstill at one point, refused to change to granny ring for flat work. Av 129 max 154

Manflu and bad left knee

Long haul

4 miles drgging tetchy hormone charged shitland. 1 hour 4 mins av 119 max 154.

Back again

Tramp across the ridge looking for shitland. 2 hours 4 mins, av bpm 115 max 158. Found him. I rule.

couch potato

No training ate cake and felt bad

No gizmo

With R200 crippled I took Red MTB t work. Gentle plod, miss high velocity of R200. Brought MTB back in car which was fixed at garage.
Back at ranch reassessed damage to R200 and ordered parts from Ebay.

Self inflicted

No training. Turned front wheel of R200 into a large pringle and wrecked front of bike by driving over it.

Rest day

Too much work not enough play time

Long Haul

Took a trek across the ridge looking for pony. 2 hours 15 mins av bpm 108 max 160. Distance covered at least 7 miles.

Slow time

Not much done due to several family celebrations but a slow time anticlockwise circuit of the Bonsai Mountain, turned into a load carry thanks to neighbours donating apples for the pigs.

Tired

2000mtr row 8 mins
10k bike 19 mins 12 seconds
av bpm 148 max 161
Felt like hard work

Zero

No training

Lardy day

No training.
More Chinese buffet.
Work it off tomorrow.
Bad left knee.

Rest day

First one in a while.

Same different

No proper training. Ride to work and manic ride back. R200. Sunny. Headwind on way back. 122 bpm and 145 max.

More of the same

No time for proper training so back on R200 for sprint to work and back 10 miles combined time less than 30 mins and av bpm 122 max 148

Stamina

After 6 days of short sprints on R200 it was time to get serious and do a proper load carry to get the stamina up so little t "volunteered" to be the weight as came with me on a 5 mile trek across the hills. 1.5 hours 108 av bpm 150 bpm max.

No rest

Not a "normal" weekend so back in the saddle of R200 6th day in a row.
R200 there and back 10 miles slow ride today 13.45 there and 17.12 back sore legs, sore left knee, sore back side. Fun riding though. Its a real buzz. Grin factor 10. Av bpm 128 max 139.

Horse power

There on R200 and back again. 12 mins 21 seconds, 17 mins 32 seconds. Av bpm 128 max 139. Sunny. Strong head wind.

Half hour horsing around. Av bpm 20million.

People powered

There and back again on R200. 12mins 37 seconds there, 16 mins 32 seconds back. Av bpm 124 max 145. Sunny day. Head wind on way back. Seat bones sore. Sore left knee.

Mr Blue Sky

Note to self, when going in to work late morning sun, be prepared when returning early evening for a sudden change in the weather.

5 miles in, nice and sunny.

5 miles back nice and rainy. Heavy wet stuff.

av 127 bpm max 138 bpm.

There and back again

Sunshine! Hurrah!

5 mile there super quick

Sunshine. Headwind. I mean a real head wind.

5 mile back super slow.

Av 123 max 137

BFT

New challenge set by he who cannot be named, pass the Basic Fitness Test by the end of play Sunday. This is a 44 pound load carry over two miles in 18 minutes. Easy. The 8 miles in less than two hours the week after is a tad harder.
Today. 5 miles R200 there and 5 miles R200 back. Torrential rain. Head wind. Sore left knee. Av bpm 138.

1.5 miles load carry. Halfway point torrential rain.

MSG payback

Three days of no training and two takeaways resulted in no energy and poor times on training today. But I persevered.

2000mtr row conceptII rower 8 mins 9 seconds
10k lvl 12 17 mins 29 seconds
1k stumble
2000mtr row conceptII rowere 8 mins 39 seconds
10k lvl 12 19 mins 8 seconds

Total time which includes "run", changing equipment, chasing pig from workshop and soothing ruffled feathers of Poppy the pathetic triever who got picked on by naughty pig 1hour 8mins 1 second. av bpm 138 max bpm 154.

Take it away

No training.
Chinese.

Curry

No training. Curry.

Bicycle repairman

Rest day no training

R100 got taken to the repairshop. For some reason they didn't laugh and tell me to take him home. R100 should be roadworthy in 2 weeks.

I feel the need, the need for speed!

Local work load meant taking badly set up R200 out

5 miles av 142bpm  max 158 bpm

30k "sprint" 1 hour 4 mins includes inner tube change on back wheel av 134bpm max 156bpm

Sore left knee and quads. Got to use new gas powered tyre inflator.

R100 is going in for repair tomorrow

New PB

Late night training.
2km concept2 rower 8mins 20 seconds
10km bike 16mins 56seconds new PB

Av bpm 143 max 162bpm

Sore left knee

Get out on real bike tomorrow!

More of the same

New mp3 player still wont produce any sound. Old MP3 player does but in alphabetical order. Interesting selection playing from the massed bands of the Highland Regiments to Napalm Death.

2.5km row ConceptII rower 10ns 24 seconds.
1km run
10k on bike 18mins 20 seconds

Total all 3 38 mins 40 seconds

Av bpm 143 max 160

Sore left knee

Mini Triathalon

Plan to get up early for a mega ride on R200 was overtaken by desire for sleep.

However, massive physical day.

Moved 1 ton of straw.

Moved more pooh, runways clear. All critters have nice clean play areas and beds.

2km row on ConceptII rower 8 mins 8 seconds (slow but sprints in it)
30 mins on bike 12.7 km hill sprints (80's electronic mash up)
1km run (yes this time I would class it as running rather than trying not to cry and fall over)

Heart rate av 137bpm max 161bpm.

Sore left knee, again, and right leg nerve pain.

Together again

R200 fixed
2km row 7.56 mins
10k bike 18.20mins
Shuttle runs
av 136 max 156 bpm

Couch potato

Inner tubes have arrived for R200
R100 goes in to bike shop for a rebuild next week
MTB sat goading me
Worklate
NO training
Crap

Happy days

Work went well, so that meant finish on time and as I am the master (ahem) of forward planning the MTB was in the office as was my kit so I got to ride home in a head wind and torrential rain. But to me it was sunny, and it was great. 5 miles, av bpm 134 max 160didnt need to get out of saddle on track hill. Feeling good.

Zilch

Zero training

Ground hog day

All work no play :(

Dull boy

All work and no time for play today. R200 is in bits around the front door.

Bang Bang the mighty fall

Managed a 200mtr sprint on bike, despite manflu, but thorny problem brought speed freakery to abrupt end as back wheel exploded. Plan for 20 mile road race session tomorrow has a major drawback. No wheels.

The long way home

Beautiful and oh so patient wife helped with training today leaving me at Red Kite office with MTB. But as I had desert combat boots, jeans and rugby shirt, no helmet, made cycling a non starter so I walked back over the bonsai mountain. 1hour 15. It rained. I have a cold.

Rapid progress

Top day

2 x 5 mile rides on badly set up R200 sub 20 mins for both

2000mtr row on concept 2 7mins57seconds

Nearly overtook tractor on bike :) he turned off to get away

Its a long way to the top

Took the long clockwise spiral to the top of the Bonsai Mountain tonight, not timed as wearing wellies restricted traction control. Av bpm 100 max 152 bpm.

The world expects a man to .....

No training other than shifting a ton of pig pooh.

Getting nowhere fast

The gizmo is doing a grand job prompting more effort so this evening

45 mins lvl 12 manual 25.7km av 144bpm max 160bpm

Sore left knee

felt odd at the 35 to 38 min mark but picked up the pace again, finished the 25 km at 42 mins so could have got more but used last of the time to cool down. Will need to maintain that pace for 10 hours a day. Easy life :)

Sprint finish

Put R200 back together after catastrophic blow out of Friday, whole valve had ripped from tube so no wonder it deflated. Fitted new slime tube and put 85psi in. Tube cost a fortune from local bike shed, £9 when I got the last one £4.50 including delivery from ebay. Bike still not set up properly, the saddle is so low a dwarf would find it difficult to straighten his legs on the down stroke. This is the cause of my sore left knee.

Stats.

End of drive to office door 4 miles, 13 mins 40 seconds. 138 av bpm 158 highest.

Return trip 17 mins 20 seconds 128 av bpm and 144 highest.

Note. Sat at computer av heart rate 48 bpm. May have been early onset hypothermia due to freezing cold from torrential rain of inbound journey. That or my heart is mega lazy.

Family Fun

Saturday 18 August 19.00.

Took small child with me on training route as ballast in backpack. 1 hour easy pace through woodland in sunshine!

tri-harder

2km row 7.59 (same)

10k bike 16.20 (much quicker)

1km stumble 6.30 (a bit quicker)

Torrential rain!

Lardy

No training today. Rest day.

Another let down

My racing bike has been languishing in the office. So today in torrential rain I took the MTB to work 19 minutes, quicker as it was raining, av bpm 120 max 154 bpm. Decision made to bring R200 racer back, difference in riding position noticeable after several weeks on MTB but any hope of record time home was dashed by rear flat, interesting in many aspects as it was the first time I have had to manage a skid on a bike, suddenly the thing took on the handling characteristics of a racing snake. Also noticed prior to flat harsher ride, amazing how you get used to the MTB soaking up the bumps. 19 mins for return journey but shredded tube and tyre means no cycling on R200 until spares arrive. Again.

Gizmo

Took the Heart Rate Monitor gizmo around the Bonsai Mountain with me slow time tonight, the newly acquired gadget is very addictive, the info created useful and aside from the fact that I eat enough for three people it does explain a bit why I am so heavy despite so much walking. My resting heart rate (sat at work desk) is 54 to 56 bpm. So walking at a steady pace does increase this but only to 77 to 88 bpm, hardly in the zone. So my average tonight was 102 bpm, max was 152 and that was when "sprinting" uphill for a laugh. If I am to increase my "burn" I need to get in the zone (whatever that is) more often. Ambling around looking at the scenery wont cut it.

I can make you feel good

Back to some training today as the worst of the bug that knocked me out for five days has left my system. Did 2x 5 mile bike rides on the MTB road and lane. Felt really good to be out on the bike, I do love cycling! New toy arrived in the post, a heart rate monitor gizmo that even an idiot can operate. So I now know that the journey back took 24 mins from door to door, av heart rate was 133, max was 158, I used 305 calories and there were several other bits of useful info that I cannot remember right now. I am sure this will add to my training regime, providing I get one.

Sick

Total embargo on any training, or any movement that took me more than 9 feet away from the toilet. Some sort of gastric bug that meant no energy, extreme stomach and muscle cramps and an over reliance on toilet roll put paid to any form of exercise other than the 9 foot dash and door slam. Feeling better today. Just.

Rain stops play

Rain washed away any resolve to fetch demonic pony from the common so in the comparative dryness of the workshop

30 mins lvl 15 12.7km hill sprint session

1km "run" 6.5 mins in rain

2km row 8mins 23 seconds

Feel good. Sore left calf.

Overthe hill and far away

Another animal theme to tonight's training, a yomp across the hills to fetch back a naughty pony. This time my cunning plan to head him off at the pass failed meaning I walked for a mile and a half in the wrong direction before turning back and finding him the other end of the common. 1.5 hours 5 miles, last 1.5 dragging naughty horse along.

Bone idle

No training. Bone idle day.

Payback

Had to do something to make up for excess calorie consumption of yesterday and planned binge on Chinese food tonight so shifted a ton of pig muck by barrow from one end of the smallholding to the other. The did the same by hand with straw.

Also

2km row on concept 2 rower 7 mins 59 seconds.

10k bike ride lvl 10/12 on Lifecycle 18 mins 51 seconds

1km run 8 minutes.

Think my run time needs work, again I say run it was meant to be but legs failed to follow orders.

Felt good at end of it. Quads feel sore.

Light Breakfast

Its not looking good, but I am losing weight but not by stuffing my face with breakfasts like this one, and lets not mention the fish and chips lunch and don nut dinner. A day of salad dodging caused by beautiful and oh so patient wife's birthday week. More dietary carnage is on the cards tomorrow with an all you can eat Chinese buffet planned. Managed to get my lardy arse around the Bonsai Mountain in an anti clockwise attempt to at least burn off one donuts worth of calorie.

It still counts!

It looked like no training day again today but finally got a clockwise circuit of the Bonsai Mountain and a weight training session in. There were a few sprint runs, this time after a pea cock and the weight training was shifting a ton of pooh with a shovel. But it still counts.

No gains

NO training, any benefit from running about on the beach was negated ten fold by large quantities of Birthday cake consumed.

It all helps

30mins sprint training.
OK I was chasing pigs but it counts even though it wasnt stuctured, felt a lot fitter and overtook my quarry at one stage.
Subscribed to Outdoor Fitness.
It all helps

Walk/row/run

Clockwise walk around Bonsai Mountain looking for naughty ponies.
2km row 8mins 3 seconds
1km "run" 6 min approx.

Sore left knee.

MP3 player still not working even after being loaded with windows sound files. Might have to shoot it.

Let them eat cake

No training. Marathon cake eating at W.I. cream tea instead. MP3 player getting on my nerves. Sore left knee.

Try a Triathlon

More gadget problems with new mp3 player which loads music but refuses to play it back as its not recognising the format. Eventually by random and persistent pressing of buttons I manage to stop old mp3 player from its endless repeat of Will Smith and get it to play every track but in alphabetical order. So while I did a mini triathlon of a 2km row, a 10km bike ride and a 1 km run (actually the run was more like trying not to fall over and cry from cramp in calf muscle) in under 38 minutes I listened to Beastie Boys followed by Bolero.

Sounds good

No training 12 hour day at work meant that I got back just in time to eat pizza and watch Olympic ceremony. Bought new MP3 player after test run this morning revealed that Will Smith still refuses to let anyone else play.

Uphill battle

Finally got to do some training, not as much as planned so 30 mins lvl 15 hill/sprint 12.5 km, realised I spent longer loading music onto MP3 player than training and in the event couldn't listen to the music as A) Goat chewed through earphone lead while I was changing the pigs water and B) the 2nd set of earphones worked but for some reason the MP3 player would only play one track, Will Smith Freak This, good but not that good and so MP3 player went over hedge above as exercise bike was wheeled out into the sunshine.
Sore left knee. Realise that I have to keep pace set tonight for 12 hours at a time. Easy :)

Another issue

One of the reasons for this blog was to embarrass myself over how little training I actually manage in a week. Today another zero training day. A late lunch saw me buy another issue of Outdoor Fitness, seems like they are sorting out distribution. I meant to get the exercise bike out for a static hill session but a series of late evening work phone calls ruined that idea. Reba kept my new magazine safe so I could read it late pm eating chocolate. Tomorrow will be different. Theres no chocolate in the house for a start.

New issue

Actual training done today, zero.
Bought new batteries for Concept 2 rowing machine. Threatened to move exercise bike back into conservatory. 30 degrees sunshine melted commitment to train so read useful bits of new Outdoor Fitness magazine.

Theme night

 Theres a definate theme developing to my training.

 It almost always involves animals.

 Tonight's core training session, the start delayed from last week, had to be swapped for another stamina

session as our little pocket rocket shitland came over all stallion and legged it looking for love. Cue hour and a half walk over the ridge and thirty minutes pony wrangling. It all helps.

Family Guy

My training schedule (if it can be called that) suffered another blow today as the sun came out which meant the family stuff took priority over insane plans to to the three peaks on a  bike next year. However thanks to a certain amount of devious genius I persuaded visitors to Rock HQ to go for a little walk before the barbque and took them up the steeper clockwise route on the Bonsai Mountain to the top and back I carried little t which turned easy walk into load carry.
Knee not so sore.

Time out!

Compulsory rest day after being Agnesed. The small but very strong osteopath had a lot to work on this time and after my wrists, back and knee were treated I was shown several new stretches to keep in shape. As usual after being treated moving about with any speed is a no no so a day off. Resume training tomorrow.

He aint heavy

 Training. 5 miles MTB road sprint training.

 5 miles MTB road, steady pace. Good effort noticed in lower gears, 5,6,7  and big ring most of time.

1.5 mile load carry not timed round Worzel Wood.
Sore left knee.