Tri-ing To Make a Difference: 275 Days And Counting

Why would you possibly want to do this?

Visit TTMAD Home Page

Call it crazy, call it a 'mid-life crises', call it boys being boys... I don't mind. I am 45 years old, been physically active most of my life (interspersed with brief periods of sheer laziness) and have decided to complete the South African Ironman in April 2008. (3.8k Swim, 180k Cycle, 42.2k Run)

Someone told me that when you are 45, rich and bored you buy a Harley or a sports car. When you are 45, poor and suffer from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) you do the Ironman.

In 1987 I completed a canoe Ironman triathlon and suddenly realised that if I completed the Ironman in 2008, it would be almost 21 Years to the day since my last big physical challenge.

I have been training for a few months now but took 4 weeks off all training before the 'big push' that starts TODAY (2 July 2007). This BLOG will be a daily Web Log of the life and times of a Ironman Wannabe. I trust you will enjoy the experience with me and please feel free to comment on any of the blogs.

PS. I am doing this for charity and the details of that will soon be posted here, as well as on my own site at www.brandstrategy.co.za and at the TTMAD site (Tri-ing To Make A Difference)

Friday, July 13, 2007

275 Days And Counting

Cold? Was the water cold? Well on a hot summers day when the temp is 28 you would love to jump into a pool at 19 deg, but on a winters afternoon with an icy wind blowing... it was FREEZING. (PS we are talking Celsius here)

Anyway did my few laps for an assessment and was told all is not lost. Have some basic things to sort out about how my hips move and cause extra resistance as well as time of arm entry, but nothing he can't work on.

Then it will be drill, drill and more drill.

Woke up for a run this morning and found the wind howling and the chill factor at about -4. So off to Gym again... 20 min rowing, 20 min spin bike and then 10 min on a machine that works like a bicycle but for your arms and shoulders. Weekend coming up so expect to get in two rather long sessions if I can.

Today
Weight 71,6 Kg
Height 171 cm (not expecting that to change anytime soon)

Run
Distance:
Time:
Heart Rate:

Cycle
Distance:
Time: 20 Min Session
Heart Rate: around 150

Swim
Distance:
Time:
Heart Rate: Double Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!