Sucker for punishment

Just signed up for New York marathon 2011 - well, they say pain is temporary.....so next year I am all set for the two BIG CITY marathons.

New York and ..................Leiden.

New York Marathon

Home in one piece after the new York Marathon in a PB time of 3:53:55.

Mixed feelings really as I was expecting to run 3:50 but the course was simply brutal in some parts and the Queensboro Bridge (see picture taken by my running mate NE) at 24-26km was so tough that simply getting over it felt like an achievement.

Reaching First Ave however made the climb all that more satisfying because the support was awesome.

Here are the stats:

Place 12008
Age place 1415
5km 26:21
10km 51:53
15km 1:17:56
20km 1:44:47
Half 1:50:51
25km 2:12:39
30km 2:40:11
35km 3:09:59
40km 3:40:45
ave 8:56 per mile

Splits on the day up to 30km were bang on target. After that the hilly nature of the course made it so tough that I inevitably slowed. In fact Central Park was more like a cross country!!

Superb marathon and the support was out of this world. Would I do it again? Yes, you bet!!

Good weekend training and........

That was a goodie......105km cycled (ave 30km/h) and 21km ran (ave 5:32 min/km). Sore achillies could not dampen my delight at a great weekend.

Just need to get the swimming back and I'd be happy. Next attempt at swimming 1 Sept.

And saw my beautiful girls after a long break.......I love you and miss you guys so much......love Dad xxx

2011 and beyond

Signed up for the Pirate shindig at Ironman Germany (Regensberg) for August 2011 so hope my shoulder is fixed by then!! Just about to order a new bike ........won't be ready till October so if a long waiting time means a good bike it should be a cracker. IM Germany looks a litle lumpy so am going to need all the help I can get.

NY Marathon training starts in earnest next week - going to do a mix of running and cycling so see if that works.

And just come back from a trip to China where I climbed the Great Wall on my day off. Awesome experience. And I am told that there is a Great Wall of China Marathon........now that's tempting maybe for 2012 if I can find someone to join me. That reminds me I must call NE........

First Duathon

Bit of a first last week as I did my first Duathon - run 5km, bike 28km and run 2.5km. Had no idea how slow/fast I would do it but came in after a respectable 1:24:38 without any training and little planning. So might do one again.

Swam for the first time last night in 4 months - no good - shoulder still bad and I am now told it looks like I chipped a bone in the shoulder when I fell of my bike in Feb. That will teach me to cycle in sub zero temperatures. Looks like a long haul on this one but have decided to keep swimming and to just take it very, very easy.

Leiden Half Marathon

Another PB but this time by the wafer thin margin of 11 seconds!!! 1:41:19 and the sub 1:40 is proving as ellusive as ever. Nevermind the Leiden run was actually quite tricky with lots of runners and sneaky, horrible tight steep bridges to negotiate in the last 7 km.

Kingston Breakfast Run

Negative split time at Kingston last Sunday so very pleased. Somewhat unusual distance of 16 miles/26 km but finished in 2:13:09 with the first half run in 1:09:18 - a difference of around 4 minutes. Also got a pic to prove it was a Piratey sort of day - with Kanga and Neil also running.

Reading Half Marathon

Just sneaked a quick PB for a half yesterday in perfect conditions in Reading. 1:41:30 which means I beat last years time but simply can't get under 1:40. Nevermind. Great race and will do Lieden half in May if I am fit enough in a few weeks as I decided I really like this distance.

New York Marathon place booked

Right - place at New York Maratjon confirmed for Nov 7th. Now just need to get out a bit more when the weather decides to go above freezing. Still no swimming and cycling but lots and lots of running......

Injuries and New York Marathon

So much for the comment that the swimming was going well. I should learn to keep quiet. Shoulder completely knackered so must stay out of the pool for 3-4 weeks. Thankfully I was well up on the schedule so no harm done training- wise. And it gives me a chance to get cycling. Have been for nearly 3.5 hours already this week. Avoiding ice and old ladies. Running is......let's not tempt fate.

And I have a guaranteed place in the New York Marathon on Nov 7th - best start saving for the airfare as I have no inention of coming back coach class. Actually looking forward to making that a short of holiday/Christmas shopping trip/marathon all in one go.

Here we go again.......

Week 5 of the Roth training plan and at long last I have got back on my bike after a fall on the ice. So all back on track now for July.

Ran a 5km time trial last week with the Tri club I joined and surprsied myself with a 21:14 time which in snow & ice in the dark seemed to me to be OK.

In summary swimming going great, running going well, and the less said about the bike the better.

Still, 6 months to go so no panic.