gore-torn

So today I found a rip in my trail running shoes/hiking boots.  Not happy Jan!  I promptly phoned Kathmandu in Brisvegas asking what to do seeing as how they are less than 6 months old and were purchased in Canada.  After much searching and very little success on the Salomon website I enlisted the help of Kathmandu again.  Head to this number and speak to this guy; and good luck I was told.

No bother.  The chick was really lovely about it after I’d explained the situation and she promptly set up for me to return the shoes to have them assessed.

These shoes are one of my favourite pieces of kit.  The Salomon XA Pro 3D I have, purchased in Vancouver for the bargain price (we’ll call it good negotiating skills) of $125 CAD. I really should have written about these little foot rockets before this, but well, I guess I just took them for granted, and didn’t actually have to think about them.

They are light, waterproof and provide excellent grip, in all situations that I’ve encountered while wearing them.  Covered in Gore-Tex, and completely waterproof, I would have thought they’d weigh more than 390g – but they certainly don’t feel like it.  The shoe is, infact, completely waterproof.  Wearing them to the beach a couple of weeks ago, the got all mucky so I just washed them off under the tap – my foot, dry as a bone.  They’re comfortable, courtesy of the Orhtolite sockliner.  Although these don’t make it feel as though you’re walking on little pockets of cloud all day, they fit like a glove.  Something to do with Salomon’s ‘Sensifit’ that “works to cradle the food providing a precise and secure fit”.  It works.  I’ve never felt slippy or unstable in these shoes despite the pretty much elastic lacing system.  I also like the laces.  It literally takes about 3.5 seconds to do them up, and getting them off is just as quick – just release the clasp and you’re pretty much done.  Another thing I really like about these shoes is that they’ve included a rubber toe-cap to ward off any nasties that come your way when wearing them – we all stub our toes from time to time.  I really like these shoes.

I also love the fact that after a bit of searching someone on the end of the phone was actually helpful with my warranty questions.  No questioning or bitching at all – just help.  I like that

Today was an easier training day.  This morning, feeling motivated, I pumped out 15k on the bike in 25:50.  Not a bad way to start the day.  This afternoon I went for a more leisurely stroll down the beach.  It was a walk without a purpose.  I just wanted to get out and walk for a bit, and what better place than my local 800m stretch of beach.  It wasn’t so bad.  Took my little phone and made the little GPS gizmo in it do some work.  I quite liked the walk this afternoon – it wasn’t too stressful, but most of the time I was working in zone 2, where I find it hardest.  That might become a regular event.  The high MHR is due to a couple of little jog stretches that I did.  Just to see how I went.

15k – 25:50

27:44

365 cal, 15%

AHR: 169

MHR: 181

Walk

26:43

249 cal, 33%

AHR: 138

MHR: 171

Just as I’d turned to come back a couple that were walking in the opposite direction to me as I headed south were walking about knee deep in the water.  A smallish white was came up and nearly barrelled the chick.  She actually did the pre-fall stumble, but managed to regain her composure without getting her hair wet (not that she was a prima donna or the like).  She retreated to the other side of her husband, and to shallower waters after that little run in.

smashy smash

I’m not overly sure what the hell I was thinking when I decided to do a crossfit style 300 workout today.  I must be insane.

The workout

20, 5 for time

16 laps

squats

push ups

db bent over row – 7

crunches

10 laps

db thrusters – 7

db to shoulder – 10

reverse crunches

db swings – 10

1/2 burpee

Time: 11:10 for 20; 14:30 for total

5 k cycle – level 1 – 8:48

As I said.  I’m not sure what the hell was going on in my head.  It hurt.  Like hell.  It was some form of redemption for the shit that I’ve been doing to myself since I left NI; but there’s still such a long way to go.  Thinking back, and looking at my polar stats and previous workouts on here I’m fucked.  I’ve nothing on what I had.  So much training was let go.  And now it’s going to be so much harder to get back.

26:33

378c, 12%

AHR:176

MHR: 190

I don’t know how on earth I got through it. I know when I’ve worked hard.  I literally laid on the tiles for about 5 minutes, listening to whatever was coming out of the ipod.  It was literally just on whatever it wanted to be on – I didn’t care.  I was just sorting myself out, wondering if I wanted to throw up.  Wondering if I was going to throw up.  Not wanting water, but then not being able to stop drinking it.  An hour or so later when I headed out to the range I was still feeling as though a big old rainbow yawn might be heading my way at any time.

I’m so so tired now, I just want to go to bed, although I’m afraid to go too early for fear of waking really early, again.  I’m exhausted, but there was a switch flipped at golf today…I’m now motivated.  It came back again!

Zzzzzzzz

Cheap skate bastards

21-13-6

Jumping PUs

BW Squats

1/2 Burpee

06:12

10 mins bike, 2 mins glidex

24:03

235 cal; 28% fat

MHR 89%

AHR: 72%

Zones: H: 05:01; M: 11:57; L: 07:28

 

Not feeling it at all today.  Nearly feel as though I should have just stayed in bed.  So much harder when I’m fatigued.  My legs and traps are fucking killing me.  Burpees fucking killed me…shit.  My left knee was giving me a bit of gip when I was cycling, but perhaps that was just lookin to ‘get out of it’ a bit early.  Was fatigued & uncomfortable more than anything.  I can’t believe I’m not feeling it today – especially as I was so motivated last night.  Ugh. 

 

She wants me to do her new cardio program with her today – that’s never happening.  Not only am I not sure I’d beat her – actually I think it’d be pretty close except I feel quite sure I’d kick her arse at the crossfit bit I threw in there; but I feel way to sore to even contemplate competing against someone at the moment.  Dead is how I feel.

 

And my fucking internet isn’t working again.  This is really starting to piss me off.  Fucking bastards. 

 

On the up side of the coin for the last few days I’ve been in the greatest mood, except that I now feel as though I’m starting to let things annoy me again.  Expecially the fucking internet.  And my bounce commission that the cheap-skatey-fucking-Edenmore-bastards probably aren’t going to pay.  There’s nothing that I can do about it if they don’t pay – I’ve just been suckered into doing something that’s not my job.  And they’re making me pay for the fucking visa that they fucked up the application of.  Fucking bastards.  Nearly makes me want to bring out the fucking C-word to describe them.  Fuckers.

 

Afternoon training:

20 minutes bike.  5 mins warm up, 10 mins hills, 5 mins easy.

DB Bench

DB Inc Bench

DB Flyes

10 mins treadmill, walk

58:47

427cal, 41% fat

MHR: 84%

AHR: 62%

Zones: H: 01:00; M: 12:10; L: 41:24

 

After work and training she delivered me to Rushmere for coffee then to Tescos for some supplies, to finally bring an end to the famine that is currently engulfing my house.  I had a really good night, and really needed it to stop me thinking about the cheap-skate-bastardy shit that keeps happening at work.  Bastards.  We had such a laugh; we always have such a laugh.  Recalling stories from my trip around Germany last year, some of the extremely numpty-head-ish things that Niamh did.  Unbelievable.  The christmas tree incident and K’s reaction to it was probably the funniest thing ever.  She couldn’t understand how I actually put up with it…

Big shoulders

Cardio – Bike – 5 mins warm up, 10 mins speed intervals (15:30), 5 mins cool down, 10 mins walk on treadmill.

Legs are really fatigued today.  Not doms sore, just tired.  Feel great about training though.  Would have been so easy to do nothing, but I’m feeling really motivated about getting back into things.  Was reading over a blog where I’d done a 300 (2 x 150) in 14 odd minutes.  Made me seriously consider doing that in the morning.  I even set up the cable machine for the jumping PUs.  Would give me an indication of where I am compared to April last year.  I think it was april 14th.  I can’t remember feeling over fit then, or really feeling much fitter than I feel now, but I certainly was putting in the hard yards.

I’m not sure if I really feel fit at the moment.  Or probably more so I’m not sure how fit I feel at the moment.  I really do feel like I’m getting fitter, and at times I feel like I’m dropping fat, but at the same time I’d never be 100% certain.  a couple of weeks ago I put on my green uptton up Diesel shirt & it was totally tight around my shoulders & arms.  I interrogated Ma about whether I’d gotten fatter & she said no, that it was muscle.  She said that she’d noticed whenever I was standing in the gym in my nike training vest with my arms folded.  She randomly poked my shoulders & said something about ‘no wonder she can wellie the ball so far’.  RESPECT!  Building muscle I suppose, just sometimes hard to see it in myself.  I think it’s the haze that expecting perfection creates.

 

I really feel as though the pursuit of my perfect body is in full swing now.  Feel as though I really am going to do it this time.  And that’s the motivation I need to take to Canada with me.

Lazy Day

Woke up this morning, not much rain about but the course is still closed – water everywhere, flooding down near the Lagan, but let’s face it; that isn’t all that weird.  Hockey’s on, but I’m not going, can’t be arsed, need some time away from her.  Mrs U will collect me tonight on her way back from hockey and we’ll spend the night at her place.  It will be good, although I really don’t want to be drinking too much tonight.  We’ve had way too much booze over the last month or so.  I woke up this morning thirsty – absolutely parched. 

We spoked briefly last night and didn’t really get anything sorted out; but it’s better than what it was.  She said that if she was in my position that she would understand that I was pissed but she wanted me to appreciate where she was coming from.  I do.  I really do, I guess I just feel that it’s pretty unfair and harsh that there’s an obvious connection there but nothing can be done about it.  I’m the sort that follows my heart.  I guess I just want to be able to follow that connection.  Fucking shit!

I did go into the gym to train today.  I wasn’t feeling it cause every bastard wanted me to fix the bikes or some other thing for them.  Yoga teacher said to me ‘this bike’s not working’…I was just like ‘neither am I’.  That’s really the way I was feeling at the time; and it got the point across.

22:44 – 20 mins bike, controlled heart rate.

223 cal, 29% fat

MHR: 83%

AHR: 73%

Zones: H: 03:41; M: 12:54; L: 06:00

Legs felt a bit stiff today, but I made it through the session ok.  I felt ok, but just wasn’t feeling the love today – not happening.  Then I came up and had eggs – they were so good too!

Ignorance is not bliss

So we’ve had a row.  Quite a big one for our standards.  My phone bill is significantly down but my feelings are completely up the left.  It all started about us going to Dublin for the weekend to meet Ms K.  It started when she lied to me about the reason she didn’t want to come, and said that it was my fault.  If only she had of been honest there wouln’t have been nearly the drama that there now is.  Safe to say that I’m feeling really shit about things at the moment.  We’ve agreed that we need to talk, but I’m just not sure where to start.  Perhaps some more ‘I’m angry at you cause I don’t want to be hurt by you’ time is needed.  I just don’t know.  Friday night stuff happened.  Sunday night stuff happened again.  Monday night we both ignore everything that probably needed to be said; Monday night I confront the issue (probably not in the most delicate way).  Tuesday I only text to find out the necessary questions – do you still want to come to the coast or is that too cookie jar?  Yesterday – communication embargo and ignoring each other when we’re in the gym.  Hmmm…what a way to go about repairing a friendship.

Just wasn’t into training today.  Did make the effort to go in and do something though, so I’m pleased about that.  I’m bitterly disappointed at the state of myself after a weekend bender.  It was so big that on Monday morning I actually phoned Mrs U to ask if we’d been drunk all weekend.  We both whole heartedly agreed that there was at least 12 hours when we didn’t either have a drink in our hand or be lost in a hazy morning after.  We don’t seem to get hangovers anymore.  A product of much alcoholism training we believe.  But it’s getting well expensive.  Mr U commented that the utility room looked rather like a bottling plant and that just cause you’re on pints doesn’t mean that you have to neck them.  Yet strangely enough neither of us really felt that blotted.  Hmmm.

Right, so training…

30 mins cardio

10 mins run intervals 60:30 at 11.5 & 5 mins walk at 5.8

Bike – 15 mins level 3 – 4.

391 cal, 18% Fat

MHR: 97:

AHR: 82%

Zones: H; 19:09; M: 11:39; L: 01:12

 

The other day when I ran I felt great.  No bother at all knocking out 2 minutes at 12 – today was a completely different story.  All shite and well up the left.  I don’t know whether it was something to do with my earphones breaking again.  I always, always train better with the ipod in.  Maybe cause it blocks everything else and all I’ve to focus on is the workout.  Maybe it’s cause I can just ignore everything and everyone.  Maybe it’s that it’s the music I want to hear, and I can have it LOUD!  I don’t know, but training isn’t the same without it.  I was fucking angry.  I had to get off the treadmill before the urge to hurl the ipod at the nearest wall overtook me…  I walked away, fuming.  I can’t live without my ipod.

 

We talked briefly in the gym this afternoon.  It was all uncomfortable.  I offered a spot for her last set of DB Bench, but she said she didn’t want one, she didn’t want me to drop the dumbbells on her head.  She said she thought I looked as though I wanted to kill her.  I wasn’t thinking that at all, I was thinking that it was uncomfortable; but I made an effort to go in and speak to her.  We talked as she left, but it was uncomfortable as hell and people kept coming along so it wasn’t productive at all.  I wouldn’t want to talk about that stuff in work anyway.  I don’t do head stuff at work.  I couldn’t even look at her, but when I did make eye contact I liked her just as much as ever.  It’s so confusing.  My head’s so messed up… 

Back in the saddle

So I’m back.  Back with a vengence.  I know I say this all the time, but I’m really starting to believe it now.  I like going to training; I plan my day around it – like getting up before 8am starts.  Not so bad at all.

Todays training:

0613

20 minutes cardio – bike. 5 mins warm up, 10 mins hill sets, 5 mins cool down

3 rounds – 20 Squats, 15 FB Crunches, 10 Push ups, 5 Burpees (5:50)

30: 00

315 cal, 25% fat

AHR: 150

MHR: 184

Zones: H: 09:19; M: 15:12; L: 05:13

 

Was pretty happy with that.  Shoulder was a bit sore down the medial border of my medial delt, and at the distal point of my ant. delt, but it’s all good.  Trained again before I went to Mrs U’s house – 30 minutes back weights just, but was something at least.

 

4 x 8 Cable high row; 3 x 8 Cable seated Row; 4 x 10 Upper Back; 4 x 10 Incline row (low)

170cal, 46% Fat

AHR: 57%

MHR: 78%

Zones: M: 02:05; L: 19:44

 

My shoulder wasn’t sore while I was training; but I was definitely being a bit careful; really looking after it; making sure my scap was stabilised etc.  It was completely uncomfortable as she walked in just behind me.  I’m not sure how to deal with this.  It was a good excuse to really focus on the workout; but I’m still noticed her; as always…  Oh why the fuck to I like her so much?!

Done & dusted

So yesterday was the spin-a-thon.  Officially the longest 12 hours of my life.  The bike was my home. 

Why did we put ourselves through this?  BBCs Children in Need.  Some charity over here that helps kids out with stuff when they’re carers for their parents etc.  Not entirely sure about it, but what the hell.

It started out ok.  Not too much problem in the first couple of hours – although I woke at 5am thinking that I hadn’t enough sleep and was going to struggle.  The first group was great craic and the time went relatively quickly.   

Day plan:

5.10am – wake

5.30am – breakfast – oats, yoghurt, grapes

6.30am – coffee

7.00 – 9.00am – cycling

9.30am – 3 eggs, mushrooms, 1 slice toast

10.00 – 12.00 – cycling

12.30pm – 1 & 1/2 chicken, ham & cheese toasties.  Spa

1 – 3pm – cycling

3.15pm – pasta salad, chicken, curry cous cous

4 – 6pm – cycling

6.30pm – couple of spons of rice with curry sauce & little bit of chicken.

7 – 9pm – cycling

9.10 – 9.40pm – spa

10 – 12midnight – cycling

12 – 2am – 4 Millers, 1 glass red wine in spa.

21 hours later I was done and well on the way to bed.  Utterly exhausted.  Just enough energy left to get in the spa with some millers, GI Joe, Chef & she.  The boys left quite early, but we stayed on a bit longer.  Opening Millers with a spoon is tough work, and quite dangerous.  She took the opportunity (any opportunity I’m told) to try to drown me.  In my defence I’d done 12 hours on the bike and had drunk 4 Millers by that point.  So much fun though!  Was pure murder on my bum, despite having D’s cycling shorts after the first stint.  Definitely helped, but still didn’t keep me from excruciating pain in my arse.  By the final ride I was dead.  Couldn’t sit up, couldn’t sit in racing pose – all I had was standing, and that wasn’t entirely pleasent in itself.

Was hitting ups and downs all day – half way through the 3rd stint I was sure that I couldn’t make it.  That I couldn’t finish.  She visited me in the morning, during the 2nd – that made me feel so much better.  She brought 2 of her kids along but still was concentrating on talking to me.  Missed her as soon as she left.

Food wise I know that I didn’t eat enough – despite getting probably an average of 3 bananas & .5 lit of water per 2 hour stint.  I was on viper & energy gels too, but there was no way I could possibly replace all the calories I expended.  I started initially to struggle with getting the toasties down – they were dry & I just wasn’t really into eating. The pasta salad & cous cous went down easily enough but really really struggled with the curry.  In the last break I didn’t even bother, I knew I wasn’t going to get anything down, so really made an effort with the bananas – probably 8 during the last 2 rides.

 

Daily total stats:

14:23:17

6442 cal

That’s over 3 days worth of food…my god!  My stats were down for the last ride, but I was fucked.  I feel a bit cut that I couldn’t keep it up at the end, but it was a good effort.  No idea how I did it.  I feel so tired now, but the weird thing is that I would totally do it again.  Just to beat the last score.

Entirely fucked.  Away to sleep it off.

God speed

Split shift again. 15 Hours Down

Yet another split shift.  Feel more used & abused than I really want, although how can one tell the difference between being a good person, kind hearted & doing the right thing and being just plain walked all over?  Sometimes I feel as though I get stuck in the middle of that great big abandon.  I won’t see them stuck, but I feel as though I really can’t say no.  I’m too close.  I live to close.  I’m too nice.

 

To be fair GI Joe is very good to me at times, like letting me off work early to play golf, then giving me the hours, saying that I make it up anyway.  Which I do.  Simone the big man would never have considered that to be fair but GI Joe knows I put in.  Knows I earn what I get.  Loads of people have said to me that the place will fall apart when I’m gone.  K-C reckons she’s leaving.  No motivation to come she says.  Is that me, or the program?!  Hmmm.

 

I was surprisingly busy at work today.  Not so busy, but every time I was just getting into something someone was lookin me for something or other, just generally being high maintenance.  Me being tempermental…  Ma’s mate phoned me twice, once to say that Big Pelier could come to the spin-a-thon (bloody good thing too or I would have had to call and shout at him).  So I mentioned that one of us would be in contact with him.  Then she called again to tell me that I shouldn’t phone him, that he was busy at work & he said to her not to phone him at work.  Bloody hell – I can imagine why – no doubt he doesn’t want her rabbitting on at him while he’s doing his copper thing.  I briefly wondered if she phoned him to ask if she could take a crap.  Probably.  GI Joe and I laughed about that, she’s a nutter – harmless but an absolute numpty head.

  

Today was the beginning of the end of the spin-a-thon challenge, or Saturday from hell as I’ve begun referring to it as.  My god, I can not believe what I’ve signed up for.  So, it’s currently all systems go on the eating front.  7000cal in a day.  Shite.  Actually, that might be a great weight management plan…do one of them a month & bada-bing bada-boom, all of a sudden you’re maintaining the athlete look no worries.  Insane thought.  Definitely saner people locked up…

 

 

The new Polar is awesome.  FT60 training computer it’s officially known as.  I’ll just say it’s class.  It is clear, does everything one could ever want and looks smashing.  And at £184.50 it costs more than most can afford, or will pay, making it kinda exclusive.  I love my Polar.  I’ll be sad to get rid of the orange one, but I kinda need the 50 quid.

 

Training today was light.  Just a quick spin to empty the glycogen out of my legs before I load up again for Saturday.  After the spin I did K-C’s new weights program, somewhat to see what it was like, somewhat out of boredom & somewhat to tell her that I can do it, to push her further.  Was a bit easy, I must say.  Although I think a lot of it was cause of the fatigue from spin, that I probably didn’t push as hard as I could have.  That I just set out to do what she did…only a little more weight.  GI Joe stretched the hell out of my hammies & calves before I spun.  Was surprised by the flexibility still in them, even though they felt as tight as hell.  Also getting pretty happy with the development in my legs, some nice shape coming through above my knees.  Although still not as good at K-Cs.  I love her legs.  Could look at them all night long, all day & for, well, just such great definition in her quads - absolutely class!

 

SPIN (Maximise performance & improve fitness)

1:00:27

554 cal (23% fat)

AHR: 153

MHR: 183

Zones: H: 25:04; M: 22:52; L: 12:30

 

WEIGHTS (fat burn & improve fitness)

00:23:34

158 cal (36% fat)

AHR: 131

MHR: 185

Zones: H: 00:41; M: 07:49; L: 13:59

After I’d trained & rested for an hour I was back at work for shift 2/2 today.  K-C was in looking through her program – we had some great craic.  I love working with her…cause I can tell her what I think & she takes it.  Cause I don’t have to baby her.  I just like hanging out with her.  In so deep.  Feck!

Just went off to get some food before.  Loads of protein, stuff for sangas – cooked chicken, turkey, avoes etc.  Steak, broccoli & loads of fruit.  Also got some of my favourite greek yoghurt and some of the wonderfully delicious and zingy Intense burn energy drink – 2 for £1.50 woot.  Bring on Saturday of hell. 

 

 

 

Spin-a-thon…Bloody Hell.

So, I’m back.  After quite a significant absence.  Not my fault at all…bloody internet.  Now I’m reconnected with the world. 

So, of late…things go like this.  Training was well back on track – maintaining quite easily at 73 – 74ish.  Not really eating that well – been kinda up and down, mainly through inconsistent timing, poor choices and lots of booze.

Training wise, not so bad.  Was getting full into the cardio, working it hard & suffering a whole lot.  I’d swapped to another formula.  Yet another formula.  It was all going well then I got sick.  It was after Belfast’s Oktoberfest.  Was such a great, crazy, unintentional night out, but then the sickness hit.  Was well out of action, dosed with the flu for about 2 weeks. 

Stupidly I’ve signed on for a bloody spin-a-thon for the fecking Children in Need.  Everyone in the gym, well everyone who’s signed on, is doing 3 hour stints.  GI Joe & I are doing 2 hours on, 1 hour off for the whole 18 hours.  That’s 12 hours on a bike.  Nearly a whole flight from London – Hong Kong.  Bloody hell.  Been doing lots of training for it.  Worked up to 2 hours, which, when company is good is pretty easy.  Very doable.  Last Thursday, the 30th did 2 hours on, 1 off, 2 on.  Bit of a zombie-esque state at the end of it, and my head was away at work.  No wonder, burnt approximately 2200 cal that day – a whole day worth of food. 

That in itself concerns me a bit cause of the amount that I’m going to do in 12 hours.  The 2nd lot burnt more, definitely more – was harder on the body I guess, pushed a bit more cause K-C was there, motivation!  By the end of the 12 hours no doubt I’ll be working at a lower rate, but cause of the duration & intensity I’ll probably be burning more.  Probably about 7000cal for the day, maybe more.  That’s like a weeks worth of calories.  How the hell am I going to put all that in.  K-C is becoming a waitress for the day.  I’m gonna have to give her millions to cover my food/drink bill that day.