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All the information, tips and links in this site are
free -
but you're welcome to make a donation to help us continue to spread the word
Thank you.
17th August 2007. Stop smoking
I don't remember why exactly. I hadn't been out the night before and smoked myself sick, I didn't have a cold, I wasn't pregnant. I seem to recall it had something to do with a conversation with a friend the day before about a one mile open water charity swim he'd just completed. It sounded great fun - lots of people I knew took part and I always listened to their stories with a yearning to be able to do it myself, but knowing I could never be fit enough as a smoker. I suppose I must have just thought 'enough is enough'. Perhaps similar to ending a long-term relationship - hard as it may be. Anyway, I went through the old ritual of burning the remaining Cutters Choice and papers in the wood-burner.
For the first time (and there have been countless times) I used NRT to help me through the first few days and threw myself into exercise. Completely overdoing it, of course and ending up an absolute cripple.
2nd September 2007. Decide to do a Triathlon
One week later... No, I'm not smoking again - shame on you for thinking that.
Running around the block was great. I've never actually 'run' before and I felt very athletic. I could hardly talk when I got back but thats by the by - I did a mile!! whole family v.impressed. Again, I can't remember exactly why I thought of doing a triathlon. A couple of people I know are triathletes but no-one has ever suggested I did it (I suspect they knew how unfit I was). I think I just liked the sound of 'triathlete'. Triathlete is a title reserved for the elite fit gods and I wanted to be one.
Unlike all the other attempts, I know this time its going to work. Its confirmed to me that sometimes we really do need to take radical steps and I decide to spread the word by creating a web-site called Stop Smoking Stay Slim. Because if I can do it, anyone (medical conditions aside) can. Even the older person can enter in their age-group.
Telling everyone I know I'm going to do a triathlon is a committment. Telling the world - well, there's no going back.
I have only ever used my scruffy little lap-top to send and receive the odd e-mail, shop at Amazon and e-bay and look up the occasional bit of information for a school project. Learning how to create and publish a web-site are as big a challenge as taking on a triathlon - after a lifetime of smoking - at the age of 42. However, there are two strong factors are in my favour and one against:
Its just as well I have the aforementioned personality... Creating a website 'on the cheap' is very, very frustrating. At every stage, the cheapest possible deal needs to be used - usually meaning the very basic share- or freeware version of a software package - which offer practically no help or support facility - resulting in trawling around for hours/days/weeks on discussion forums with little cries for help. Very basic free graphics and no luxury of endless pots of dollars to fund meaty search engine listings (and customers).
I did finally give in a fork out £30 for an hour with an experienced local web-site designer, having spent at least a week trying to figure out how to link my pages (turns out I'd missed out the 'l' in 'html' when linking) and other little annoyances. I arrived on her doorstep with my scruffy little lap-top which has been dropped and none of the leads make good connections any more. I kept having to remind her not to move it accross the table or she'd lose power or internet connection, or both. Its nice to know shes there and sometimes she'll look at my site on-line and give advice for free. My ears prick up whenever I hear so-and-so's husband or friend is a techie and they become my new best friend. I am going to advertise heavily and my plan is that Amazon, Commission Junction, Google Adsense etc are going to fund the site, and to be honest, I'm hoping a world tour. I just need to get some traffic.
What I have spent so far (Website):
3rd Sept 2007. Join local gym - my first gym membership EVER!
Diary: Did an induction but don't enjoy being at a gym. I find it all rather public. You can't help looking at the wobbly bottoms of the people in front of you and you know someone behind you is looking at yours. The only advantage I can see is that you get to watch the news or some chat show while you're running. Something I never get round to doing at home. I'll mainly just use the pool I expect. Still exercising like a maniac and educating myself. I really don't have a clue other than gradually going further, longer.
9th Sept 2007. First proper open water sea swim.
Off Battery Rocks, Penzance sea-front with a few friends in the sunset.
Diary: Fantastic! only managed a tiny bit of crawl due to the cold/seaweed, so will have to work on that. Didn't stay in long due to total numbness in my peripheries. Down the pub for lots of warming up after.
What I've spent so far (Triathlon):
19th Sept 2007.
Refine my crawl and learn to tumble-turn. Now tumble-turning looks difficult and, yes, the first few tries you do end up near-drowning and looking like a tit (but not the triathlete in training kind). But after a few goes, it's surprisingly easy! Getting the crawl right is lovely. It really is all down to technique, concentrating on being slow and graceful at first. The speed comes later. Once you've got it, it feels very nice - especially with your eyes closed.
24th Sept 2007. Join Road Running/Triathlon Club
Diary: Nervous? Walking into a room full of PROPER athletes on my own was the most horribly nervous moment I've had for as long as I can remember. However, they didn't all take one look at me and laugh hysterically. They were all very friendly and there was another new girl and we ran 3 miles!!! I can't believe it - I havn't run that far since one of my brief quit attempts in my early 20's. Very, VERY impressed with myself and look forward to going again the next week (3 miles!!!)
Now swimming in my lunch breaks. Can now do 12 non-stop lengths of crawl.
Local bike shop - ride the bike of my dreams, its pink and £800 - but manage to resist...for now. Spend £12 on anti-fog goggles instead.
1st - 18th October 2007. Training, Training.
Diary: Run 5km at the running club yesterday - took about an hour - only stopped twice (once for my running partner-honestly! and once for me because I had a stitch). Also did one hour in the pool - can now do 20 lengths non stop.
Bought a second hand bike. An absolute bargain with extremely thin wheels, carbon bits and clippy-on shoes in my size! Saracen Sestriere.
Went through a bit of a low point of training last week - clearly doing far too much, too soon - more than the recommended 10% per week - but its helping me cope with life sans cigarettes which I'm still adjusting to. Training is not pleasurable or inspirational at the moment. It is time-consuming, obsessive, expensive. Had my first outing on the Sestriere without the shoe clips this week. Totally different angle of cycling to what I'm used to - caused a bit of neck strain, sore hands and numb privates. Expect I'll get used to it. Tried to be a bit cocky and attempted a run straight after the 16 mile ride. Got half way up the road and had to turn around and limp home.
Later that month...Ran 5 miles with the running club again this week. Had to stop briefly 3 times (1. because I fell over and ended up spread-eagled on the pavement. 2. to talk to the police. 3. to rescue a hedgehog) otherwise, I reckon I could have carried on non-stop! Longest bike ride ever this week - 16.2 miles in 1.5 hours. At least I've now sorted out the seating problem.
Had my first sporting injury. Having plucked up the courage to go out with the clip-on shoes, I stopped mid-way to have a snack but dropped my biscuit. Leaned over to pick it up from the road but forgot to unclip first and was therefore glued to the bike by my feet. Very sore arm, very bloody chin, very embarrassing.
18th October - 1st November 2007. Sign up for Triathlon
Diary: That's it - I definitely over-did it last week, on Friday, still with cold, I ran about 4 miles in the morning and another 5 with a friend in the evening along the sea front. That evening I had a niggling feeling in my left ankle which turned into a bloody great hurt after my non-stop 5 mile run with the Club the next day. The Club advised me to get my running assessed - which I did - and ended up spending a decent amount of money on a pair of custom-chosen good running shoes, plus a few other bits and pieces from her shop. What I should have done was come home and take it easy. What I did do was a 13 mile bike ride and help mix cement all afternoon. Needless to say, my knee is still quite sore.
Later that month - Diary: Knee now fairing better but still have to keep an eye on it. Went 20 miles on the bike and ran 6 miles this week. Sign up for the local pool-based triathlon! - least I don't have to get in the open water with all that seaweed.
November 2007 - serious training
14th November: Bike - 23 miles in 1hr 52mins followed by 1.3k on treadmill
16th November: Bike - 5 miles followed by 30 minutes on treadmill
21st November: Bike - 25 miles followed by 3k on the treadmill
26th November: Swim - 64 lengths with some sprints/drills
28th November: Bike - 28 miles in the rain, followed by 10 mins treadmill to warm up feet
I don't know if you've ever noticed this, out on your ride along cycle tracks, coming up behind pedestrians walking side-by-side. They can never decide between themselves which way to go. Especially if you don't give them much time. Next time you're out on a track and spot that couple walking along blissfully unaware of you coming up behind them at 15mph - put on your squeeky brake or shout 'coming through' as late as you dare and smile as you see them bump into each other as they try to go to opposite sides. Wellll... it is a cycle track.
December 2007 - all running stops until 'Turkey Trot'
Diary: Left knee is playing up again. Want to take part in my first organised run 'Turkey Trot' on the 9th December so will rest it until then. Also, the weather is so bad that I haven't had much incentive to go out on the bike either.
8th December: Swim - 100 lengths in 55 minutes.
Diary: The Turkey Trot was absolutely fantastic - one of the greatest moments of my life!
Everyone who was going to do it with me, for one reason or another, chickened :) out. Okay, so storm-force winds were forecast and the children's fun run was cancelled (the main reason a lot of us were going). So I took myself off all by myself to do my first ever 4 mile organised run.
The weather was even worse than predicted, my knee started to ache at 2 miles and was agony by 3. The battering wind and rain was relentless. But I teamed up with another runner going my speed and we laughed our whole way round. At some point near the end, some of my club members came out to encourage and run with me for the last bit.
Then, with the finishing line in sight, the most amazing thing happened. My club members were shouting that members from another club (green-shirts) were behind me, and not to let them take over. Suddenly, it was a race between ME and the GREEN-SHIRTS and no-one else (in fact, most of the other runners had finished long ago). Everything seemed to go into slow motion. My left leg was now completely numb and didn't hurt any more. I lengthened my stride and waved at my adoring crowed as they clapped and cheered me across the finishing line IN FRONT of the green shirt!. A sweet victory. NOW I know why people run.
Considering the state of my knee, the weather and mild hangover, I thought my time of 4 miles in 39 minutes was very acceptable.
I remember when I first walked into the room of athletes on my first night at the road running club and now completing this run. Both on my own. It makes the achievement so much greater and I'm so proud of myself (and no-one else will do it with me).
The next run I attempted was about a week later - a fancy-dress Christmas run to see the famous Mousehole Lights. I only managed one way (3 miles). But at least got to see the lights with my fellow club runners - what I had been looking forward to. Got a lift back with another drop-out and got a few drinks in before the others got back to the pub. I realised I would have to hang up my running shoes for a long time.
Christmas came and went with little training and much eating and drinking.
January 2008 - Back on course
Opt for mainly treadmill running as this seems to be easier on my knee:
16th January: Run - 5k on treadmill, 34 mins
17th January: Run - 5k on treadmill, 35 mins
18th January: Bike - 10 miles. Run - 6k, 42 mins
20th January: Run - 6k on treadmill, 41 mins
21st January: Swim - 40 mins
22nd January: Run - 1.5k on treadmill
23rd January: Bike - 15 miles, 1hr 10mins. Run - 4k on treadmill, 28 mins
24th January: Run - 4 miles outdoors resulting in very sore left knee
25th January: Bike - 15 miles, 1hr 8mins
Too cold for the bike, so swimming only until 5th February. All tumble-turning stops after a near death(ly embarrasing) wrongly timed turn when I hit my head very hard on the poolside, but was so ashamed that I pretended it hadn't happened and continued to swim for another 20 minutes in agony and hoping I wasn't bleeding too much. Tumble-turns are for show-offs.
February 2008
Lots of swimming, plus:
5th February: Bike - 1.7 miles. Run - 2k, 15 mins
6th February: Run 2.5k on treadmill, 25 mins
7th February: Run - 2.5k on treadmill, 18 mins
8th February: Run - 2.5k on treadmill, 18 mins
9th February: Run - 3k on treadmill, 21 mins
11th February: Run - 3k on treadmill, 20 mins
12th February: Run - 3k on treadmill, 19 mins
14th February: Run - 3.5k on treadmill, 22 mins
15th February: Run - 3.5k on treadmill, 22 mins
16th February: Run - 3.5k on treadmill, 21 mins
20th February: Bike - 15 miles. Run - 1.5k, 11 mins
22nd February: Run - 4.4 miles on seafront, resulting in sore left knee again.
Physio doesn't know what is wrong with my knee. He thinks it may be wear on the cartilage around my knee but cannot understand the numbness. Suggests I run on a treadmill only as this doesn't bring on the symptoms. Not very sociable and not much use for a triathlon. Ho hum.
24th February: Bike - 16.2 miles. (15 miles 1hr 2mins)
26th February: Bike - 18 miles, 1hr 13mins (15 miles 48mins). Run - 6k on treadmill, 38mins
27th February: Swim - 1 hour
28th February: Bike - 20 miles, 1hr 32mins. Run - 1k on treadmill, 7mins
29th February: Swim - 1hr
Bloody British Weather - next time I'm going to do a triathlon in the middle east. It ALWAYS seems to be WINDY or COLD or WET or all of the above. I know most of my training has been between last Autumn and this Spring but even so, the odd still, sunny day wouldn't have gone a miss. Its like my 'Diving era' pre-kids. I have only ever dived in the most miserable, almost zero-visibility, cold British waters where the most exciting thing I ever saw was some miserable ship-wreck with a few miserable eels and fish hanging around. Did I ever get to Egypt? The Great Barrier Reef? No. I wonder if they do Sprint Triathlons in Hawaii? - expect you can only go as Ironman. Hmmm!?
The website is now up and published. I cracked the HTML and CSS codes and didn't quit when the chips were down. What a great feeling to see it up there for all the world to see (if only they knew where to look). It's still in its basic form and needs tonnes more work adding more information and adverts. I've even set up a Cafe Press store with my TIT -Triathlete In Training merchandise - but I'm the only one who's bought a t-shirt so far.
Website outgoings:
Website earnings (Google)
Checking my web-stats has become my latest obsession/compulsion. I cannot get through a day without doing it. Actually, call me paranoid, but I'm sure the World Wide Web sends out subliminal messages to keep you coming back for more. Perhaps theres a gum for that - Laptoparette? Anyway, I'm quite pleased to report that I am currently ranked 60% for all Website Grader's billions of sites. Not bad. I have to make a few adjustments here and there, give all my images 'alts' (sigh) (techies will know what I mean) get about 2,000,000 backlinks, pay Google and Yahoo at least $100 a day and I should be cooking on gas.
Realise, with horror, that theres only about 5 weeks to go and I've not really put in THAT much effort. I've been mainly 'just cruising' and not pushing myself. Basically, taking no notice of the advice I've been giving in my website at all. However, I will now BRICK, SPRINT, TIME TRIAL and BREAKTHROUGH, alot, until the dreaded day.
