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And in a theme running through from another recent post, it’s back to my childhood again as last night I decided to have a go at martial arts (hence the title) I used to do Karate to a very average standard when I was younger and when it got to the higher belts the required class attendance and increasing costs that went with that made me give it up and adjourn to the pub instead of an evening. (So childhood in the loosest sense of the word)

Which is a shame a with hindsight I enjoyed it, it was a great workout and of course had the potential to be useful should I ever need to defend myself.  So last night I returned back to the dojo (sort of) and went for a lesson with Samurai Fitness which not only train kids (including Iona) but also runs adult classes, and so it was for the second time in a week I was doing some circuit training, this time as a warm up, before doing some basic punches and kicks, all great fun and I’m looking forward to regular training sessions.

So here we go, the start of August and no training done since the start of July, of course being the sensible chap I’ve ensured that I haven’t eaten or drunk too much whilst not training, oh wait…..

*sigh*

Stood on the scales this morning and the unsurprising news is that I’m now the heaviest I’ve ever been, ever. 91Kgs, I thought it was hard to lose the weight when I was 83 – 84Kgs, I’ve now made it 7 kilos harder on myself. Time to charge the iPod, sort the Garmin, pump up the bike tyres and get out there. Training for a marathon over the last two years has done me no favours, although it has highlighted a long term problem with my leg (note to self: do the bloody physio!) but all it has really done is made me give up training when I was injured and given me almost endless excuses.

So what to do, well Triathlon seems the obvious choice, I enjoyed the training when I was doing it, and I enjoyed the competition and racing, so lets set a benchmark, 8th September I’ll be “racing” at Dorney assuming I can still squeeze into my trusty wetsuit and my bulk doesn’t break my bike! Then winter training with the aim to race in several races next year, depending on how the early winter training goes I’ll then decide on my race(s) next year….

So now, reading the Triathlete’s Training Bible and talking to people, time to do some planning, wish me luck (or point and laugh)

Have sent in my withdrawal notification….

So now training for 2010 I guess, leaves me with the London Triathlon at Olympic distance entered and that’s it for the year.  Still seeing as I seem to be running at about 85% at the moment and not actually over my lurgy maybe it’s not such a bad thing.

I’ve still not yet reached a conclusion over the Marathon, it was always a case of just getting around the course, but I was hoping to set a decent time, now with my continuing injury it certainly would be a case of “getting around”.

Still with no time yet recorded for the distance, any time I did would be a PB

If of course I do drop out I’m now in good company.

and so with my fifth physio session this morning completed we come to the delicate subject of the London Marathon, something I’ve probably wanted to do since first seeing a piece about it on Blue Peter a very long time ago, this year I finally had my ballot place, and although I’d done my usual drop off of training in November and December come January I was feeling confident.

I had four months to train, I had the kit, and I had (mostly) the knowledge, I altered my training to gradually build my run distances and times, I had a rough idea of a good route to run to get my longer runs done at the weekend without getting too bored of the scenery (out along the road, back along the river for a 12km lap) and was feeling motivated.

However I’m sitting here writing this not having completed a run longer than 45 minutes since the start of February and having completed only 13 minutes of a 45 minute run pain free last week.

Up until today I had considered that I still had a chance of completing the marathon, however today I’ve been advised that I’d be better off considering a half marathon within the same timeframe, but then I’ve also been told to see how it goes, so tomorrow will be a 45 minute (ish) run and then a longer run at the weekend, hopefully will go well, but as of now I’m not expecting to have to worry about getting to the start line for the FLM.

One of those things I guess, after all there is always next year.

So in 2008 (so last year) I managed to keep a log of all races and training….

I covered:
Swimming
26 hours, 58 minutes for a total distance of 60km

Cycling
28 hours, 53 minutes for a distance of 884km

Running
69 hours, 13 minutes covering 667km

So with triathlon being mainly about the bike, it’s clear to see where my training was wrong. Still the aim was to train more consistently in 2008, and I reckon that I managed to check that box. 2009 train smarter.