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.

All work

No time for training. Rest day. Sore left knee.

Piggin tired

Rest day. If chasing piglets, catching piglets and carrying piglets 100mtr is a rest. Probably unethical to do weight training with live animals. Sneaked a few bicep reps anyway. Sore left knee. Sore left calf. Lots of blood still.

Ride on

Pressed for time again but managed to do 20 minutes "research" into challenge I have set. Think it will be done a mid week in June 2013. Training was 10 miles on MuddyFox MTB road. Medium pace. Then slow, headwind, cheers. Left knee and calf sore. Lots of blood. Happy on bike, have raised saddle so legs almost straighten as I pedal, amazing how much difference almost setting bike up properly has on speed and effort required.
Might have found volunteer to help organise the fund raising side of it.

Flexibility

This is the challenge I have set myself. This is not as big a challenge as trying to get any form of discipline into training so flexibility is the key, just as well as midnight I was on the hill looking for a horse and instead of weight training today I was chasing pigs. Actual exercise done. Once circuit of the Bonsai Mountain. Slow anticlockwise in the dark. 5 miles on R200 road bike. Medium pace. Rain. 5 miles on MuddyFox mountain bike road. Rain. Slow pace. Left knee really sore. And bleeding.

I cant stand up for falling down

 The plan to ease myself into training hasn't really worked this week so I am in two minds about it, one is delay starting but that's for wimps, the other is the in at the deep end approach so, provided I get time to clear out the workshop tomorrow and uncover the weights bench and then carry the rowing machine in which at present is dumped unceremoniously on top of bags of straw under the eaves of the stable into the newly created floor space, then I shall start the core training plan that he who cannot be named has sent me.

Meanwhile, due to more pressing matters like family life and smallholding I only had time to take a "quick" trip anticlockwise around the bonsai mountain. I probably spent more time getting ready than actually doing but I was pleased with the end result which was a full circuit in 23 mins a personal best. This despite falling over 3 times, due to the incredible rainfall turning the slopes into mud slides, the third time giving me a very warry cut on my left knee. The sore one. Its still sore.

Trapped

Rest day. Trapped in car for 270 miles. Sore left knee.

Rest day

Rest day. Sore left knee.

Walk on by

Walk to work across the Bonsai Mountian and Hergest Ridge. Easy pace. 1 hour 15. Next year seems a long way off.

He knows me so well...

Got a message from my personal trainer today, well I say personal trainer, I really mean he who cannot be named who being Army knows a thing or two about getting fat lardy's into shape. As this is going to be my biggest challenge to date, the three peaks, 500 miles bike and all in 72 hours I have decided to approach this with some degree of planning. This includes a proper training programme. I will detail the actual training programme for the first three weeks later but it concentrates on three areas, core, strength and stamina. I think its worth quoting the message I got today, it shows a degree of insight into what he is up against, excuse the bad language, he is an officer after all.

Quote after detailing the three week programme. "Only do this three times a week. For three consecutive weeks. Do not increase weights. Do not increase anything. Do not think you are f*****g superman and add your own bits or I cant accurately build up your programme can I! I know what you are like. You are  nob and you always get too keen too quickly, 3 weeks disciplined exercise sticking to the programme and we will build up from there. Deal?"

He knows me so well :)

Actually managed to get half hour on hopelessly set up R200 bike today, noticing each rotation of pedal that knees are too far over pedals, legs never fully extend, heels turn out or in. 8 miles steady pace. Ride was delayed by work, chores, feeding child and looking for cycling shoes which were under dog in basket. Obviously.

Teething troubles

Plan. Fit bike computer to hopelessly set up bike and go for spin. Set benchmarks. Time over distance.
Actual. Find bike computer does not fit bike as super duper carbon forks are so narrow that the wireless transmitter wont allow the wheel to rotate if attached. Not able to take bike out as spend time allocated walking around bonsai mountain looking for naughty pony who is found back at the start behind the almost barn. Still raised pulse a bit during circuit.

He who cannot be named is sending tailor made workout schedule to suit fat knacker with a dodgy left arm held together by space age mechanno. Spend far to long in car today passing several cyclists who look the part. Feel pang of guilt or jealousy as I drive past them. Will definitely have bike out tomorrow for at least 10 miles. That's the plan.

I blame the government....

Friday 6 July 2012

I can't blame the government, but I can blame a magazine purchase, issue 6 of Outdoor Fitness, there was a fresh challenge, the 3 peaks, Snowdon, Scafell and Ben Nevis. Back in the day I would have jogged up all three, now a fat knacker approaching his 49th then its a test, especially as I am going to do it the hard way, like the magazine described,  by cycling between the three peaks. And in 72 hours. Challenge accepted.

Saturday 7 July 2012

Declare that I am going to do this challenge, first to beautiful and oh so patient wife, who takes this statement of intent in her stride. Then text son who is on the 3 peaks challenge this day. He texts back that he will do leJogle with me as well. Hmmmmm....
Text most numbers in phone draws a variety of responses one from Paul simply says, 15mph is 32 hours, 8 hours per peak at lard arse pace, thought this was supposed to be a challenge. Cheers

Sunday 8 July 2012

Preparation begins in earnest for challenge, well I clean my bike and fit new inner tube after blowing it up see http://www.talesfromtherock.co.uk/ for details. Check Outdoor Fitness magazine for how to set my bike up for optimum performance. Find out of the four settings for pedals, seat height, saddle position and bars all four are wrong, about the only thing I have right is that I sit astride the bike. Get an encouraging text from Sara who is a mountain bike maniac, apparently if I set a target of 50 miles a day training I might, just might be able to complete the challenge set for June/July 2013. My flippant response that I will have spare time to take photos and peruse gift shops goes unanswered. Clean bike, think about creating a training programme but eat cake instead.

Monday 9 July 2012

Training regime gets off to a false start as I pull a muscle in chest, as this is done waking up (yes seriously I pulled a muscle in bed while emerging from sleep) it does not bode well for Olympian style training session planned. Long drive to visit one of the further reaches of the Red Kite Empire means no chance to get on clean, fixed, but hopelessly set up bike. Well aware at end of days driving that I will have to cycle that far, and further after climbing one of the biggest peaks in the UK. But hey, no one said it would be easy. Tell Pete of plan, he's keen to join as long as he doesn't have to cycle anywhere. Agreed. He will walk with me up big mountains. Game on. Ribs hurt from bed based accident. No training. Start blog. Its a start. I find if you tell someone you are going to do it, you will.