Seasons Greetings

Happy Christmas readers, and because I wont have written again for another 6 days or so, Happy New Years (picture streamers and those blowing things going off!) . I hope all who read this have a great 2010, meet all their goals and expectations and simply love and live life!

I am sure gonna try.....well......for the next 12 weeks (90 odd days) there is going to be a complete focus on the race, but after that, its time to give some time back to the family, get my ducks in a row work wise. 2009 has been a year to forget with regards to work, and for 2010, the goals and KPI's I will have set will be of a completely differant nature to what they were in 2009, so here's hoping huh!
With regards to a year review for triathlon, training and racing, I think I will actually post that next week, so that should be some interesting writing on my behalf and hopefully reading for you!

Today I am actually pretty sore. Its kind of strange that I am, but funny, its the way this week felt started. I woke up on Monday morning, usual time to go for a swim (with jase), and I felt like I had some straps holding me in bed. I was absolutely wrecked, tired, sore and snuffed! I wanted to pull the pin on the session as I dont think I have felt that poor for months, but in the end, got my lazy arse moving (albeit it very gingerly) out of bed and downstairs and off to fetch Jase. Boy, thank goodness it was a recovery set because there was no way I would have been doing anything at threshold on Monday!
I cycled into work on Tuesday and met up with Matt Porta for a few leisurely laps of Centennial before taking on my swim set at lunchtime. Good set as well, and I got chatting to a new club member who did his first CCTri race on the Sunday....good to see another person out there challanging themselves and looking to improve. Its funny being asked for tips and advice when I am a mere infant to triathlon in terms of how long I have been doing it for. I have not even done 10 triathlons yet I think....but its also testiment to the guys around me whom have been so generous with their time, encouragement, abuse, advice, abuse, chit chat, support and of course....abuse! Vlad, Jase, Andrew M and Andrew C, Rollo, Matt, Steve 'Mad Dog', Jeffinator, the Angriest Little Man Alive (aka ALM or Allen), Smithy, Skinny Wiggle.......chaps, thanks for the input......its been awesome and long may it continue! Anyway, I hope this chap keeps coming abck to the club races and finds the same enjoyment I have in this sport and its community.

Back to the training for this week. I did the brick session again on Wednesday morning, loved that as always, was very happy to pull a split of 3.21 out for a 1km rep!! I swam wednesday night, and ran with jase on Thursday morning. I took Friday off for Xmas day, but boy was I tempted to get out there for an early morning run......I think a wise decision I did not, but the temptation was certainly there.
I ran with Andrew M at Trotters on Saturday morming. It was the monthly 10km Time trial, I was nervous after the last time trial which i really really struggled. Anyway, Andrew took off like an animal as usual, he is so strong in this distance. I guess I reeled him back in a bit, but I was never going to catch him...he ended up finishin in 39.15ish, with me about 39.30, so it was a good hit out. Into the surf afterwards for a very cold ocean swim, whereby I got numb fingers.....in the middle of December.....WTF! I finished the week off with a 135min Turbo Trainer session with a 13km run off the bike...great stuff....loved it! The run off the bike was all a botu focusing on keeping the HR low and not worrying too much about pace. I found it very hard to run that slow, very uncomfortable to be honest, but I am going to have to learn fast, because...in march, I wont be able to sustain even the pace I did today for 42kms, not after a 180km bike ride. Rollo's program for the next 4 weeks is geared exactly for that, running slow and long to ensure I can do it efficiently!

So in summery :
Swim : 5km (2hours)
Run : 50km (5hours)
Ride : 70km + 4hours TT
Total : 13hours

Apart from Monday, I loved every set!

As for new Years resoltuions...I never set myself any. In my opinion, if you want to make a change to your life, you dont need to roll into a new year to make that change...its a mind set thing, make the decision and stick to it. Easy! I know its not that simple all the time, but mostly it is. We have weak points in which we are susceptible to temptation or renegading on the decision we have made, but if you can find something which will help you get through the tough times...then what ever the change you have made will become easier. My plans, and I am making them public are this :
As of January 1st, cut out all crap I currently eat, these are lollies, chocolates (for some reason this is my problem at the moment), chips and maybe redbull kind of drinks...
As of the end of January, cut out grog....

These 2 challenges for me are to end when I finish the Iron Man in March, so both are short term, but both still hard in their own right...I am depriving myself of some of the finer things in life (not the finest, but they are amongst them), because I want to give myself every opportunity to get through the race and finish strong, and I want to be primed and at my best to give it a real crack! Hopefully with people out there knowing these 2 short term goals, I will not be tempted to endulge!

Anyway, all the best to everyone and your families, and until next year...........................