Discipline

Up until recently, I was really enjoying my new found discipline and routine.

I was getting up at 6am, doing my morning exercises of stretches or yoga then stretches and then heading out for a run, swim or bike ride.

I was eating a banana each morning before heading out, followed by a small vat of porridge when I got to work. Pasta for lunch, yogurt for afternoon snack and vegetables and meat or fish for tea.

I was packing the next days kit before I went to bed for 10pm.

I was working for me. I was feeling great both from the diet, sleep and from the exercise.

I think I'm currently having a wee 'break' from my new routine. Chocolate is back on the menu, carbs are back in the evening meal (although this was needed anyway) and late nights are creeping in.

I think I'll start my routine again when I come back from my holiday at the end of February. I'm in London until tonight then I go on holiday to Glencoe on Friday, not back in to 'normality' until the following Monday so no point resurrecting the routine until then.

Oh well. At least I can try to be good!

Week 1 of Ironman training!

I chuffed with my first week. It is a very easy start with 3 easy weight sessions to build up my capacity to more strength work at a later date, yoga for flexibility and dynoband work for my rotator cuff (a residual injury from my swimming days).

I went on a couple of bike rides, not counting my daily commute, of 10 miles and 27 miles. I did the 10 mile ride on Thursday as an extended commute. It was cold, wet and windy but it was great to be out!

Sunday's ride was a different story. I arose to find a cold, clear, sunny, windless day. Perfect! I wrapped up and headed out towards Longniddry, with a slight diversion for a wrong turn, then back along the coast. I don't think this picture quite does the day justice but I didn't want to stop too often because I too cold. An extra layer will be needed next time!

A great end to my first week!

Lows? The 6am starts are going to take a bit of getting used to.
Highs? I did all that I set out to achieve, I had a great bike ride on Sunday and I was motivated!

I'm going to try not to bore you here with the intricate details of my training plan, but I can't promise! You can see my full training plan on http://www.base2race.com/, if you email me for access.