Norwich half Marathon

Blimey, cant believe I'm half way through the next week without updating the blog.

So, Crap week at work last week so succumbed to a Chinese takeaway on Friday & did no exercise. Turns out my favourite Chinese has changed cooks & it tasted like crap.

Anyway, blasted into Norwich Saturday morning and got Christmas shopping done & picked up Arleyas MTB from Halfords by 9.30am. Then headed off to Whitlingham Barn http://www.cafecafe.biz/jobs.htm
to meet up with the Tri-Anglia girls for a group mountain bike ride. http://www.tri-anglia.co.uk/

Done just over 20 miles and went round loads of places i didn't know existed. Fantastic ride & thought the ladies were all really nice & friendly. Tina who organised it had a big off around the Trowse woods. Was quite lucky not to break something, tough girl though and soldiered on. Look forward to doing it again. Heres the route. http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/79288234

Headed up the Norfolk showground to support some friends doing the Norwich half marathon. horrible weather, wet & windy. All three of my friends completed the race. Chris 1hr 47, Danny 1hr 57, Becs 2 hrs 27. well done to them.




Danny 7 miles




Becs 7 miles




Danny 12 miles



Becs 12 mile

Sunday evening it was on the Turbo for a 13 miler.

Monday involved a trip to Sheffield with work so no exercise done that day.

Tuesday - Swimming lesson, still not really sure if I'm improving too much. Will have to do some more front crawl at the UEA on Wednesday with a float i think. Getting a bit frustrated with it.

Also signed up for my first Triathlon. East coast Triathlon on 22nd April 2012 http://www.activeoutdoorsport.co.uk/?p=2261

That will do, here's a link to my facebook page where there are some more photo's if you want a look.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=826854694&sk=photos

Where has the week gone?

Not much to report this week. Work has been a bit stressfull with a 2 day course on Monday & Tuesday followed by a company visit on Wednesday. Back in the office today to deal with a backlog of emails & random 2.5  hour meeting, plus an hour for the first stage of my interview for a grade d role.

Anyway, what have i done on the exercise front? nothing monday as had to squeeze a tesco run in after work.
Tuesday - swimming lesson. Getting a bit disheartened with it at the moment as i don't seem to be getting to grips with the front crawl. Cant understand why i cant just get it.

Wednesday - smashed out .96 miles swimming at the UEA in an hour.

Thursday - 1 hour on the turbo covering 13.21 miles

Probably try and do another hour on the turbo tomorrow & have a ride out planned with Tri-Anglia on Saturday on the mountain bikes. Will be my first ride in a group.

The other member came out with a phrase i quite like. She said she did Tri-athlons 'to complete not compete'. Glad there are going to be other like minded individuals in the club.

Themelthorpe Curve, Norfolk

Good Mountain bike run today. Left about 10am this morning in thick fog. Mist didn't really lift all day and i arrived back home still in the fog.




Just leaving Norwich

 
 


Just outside Norwich

 



Mist clearing a bit

  So, went past my previous Marriotts Way run where i turned round at Reepham & Whitwell station. Track gets a lot rougher on the way to the Themelthrope curve but it's still easy going. Quick note, you can grab a mug of tea & a slice of homemade cake for £2 from the station here ;-)




Reepham

 Once past Reepham you pick up Marriotts Way to Aylsham which is another 6 miles, or so the sign says. Track gets a lot better again here



Aylsham

 Arrived at Aylsham and the end of Marriotts way. Theres a Tesco next to the cycle path if you want to grab some grub. Pop over the road and your at the Bure Valley Railway. You can either stick your bike on the little steam train or hit the 9 mile track to Hoveton & Wroxham. Obviously i cycled.



Bure valley railway

 



Bure Valley Railway Aylsham

 Lovely cycle track, really quiet today, only saw a few other people.



Buxton Mill taken from Bure Valley Railway

 


Hoveton & Wroxham station

 Made it to Wroxham station in just under 4 hours, distance from Norwich to here is about 36 miles. No more cycle track so i decided to get the train to Norwich. £3.70 including my bike, takes about 20 minutes. Then it was a swift cycle home from the station.
Bike, nice and muddy, so gave it a good clean. Unfortunately got a big scratch on the crossbar where the bike slipped against a piece of sculptured track on the route which i;m a bit gutted about. Will need to touch it up with some white paint.

So, a nice 38 miles done today, here's the mapmyride route. I had to edit the mileage because despite pausing the application when i was aboard train, it still decided to log the train journey ????

http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/78367310

2012 plans

Lazy day today after yesterdays 20 hour shift. Just had to pop into the city to get Arleyas grade 4 piano book & some shoes for her.

Planning a Mountain bike ride tomorrow, full length of Marriots way then across to Aylsham, then 9 miles following the Bure valley railway to Wroxham. Not sure if i should get the train from Wroxham to Norwich or bike it, dont really fancy the long road ride on m MTB. Looking at about 30+ miles anyway. may take a diversion round Whittlingham lane as well.

Here's my events for 2012 so far, need to start booking them up soon. Might book one or two each month. Bit short of money at the minute & could also do with getting some Tri Anglia kit.

Feb 2012 Fritton Lake off-road Dualathon
March 2012 GBC Spring Challenge
April 2012 East coast Triathlon
June 2012 Fritton Lake Triathlon
June 2012 Norwich 100
July 2012 - Norwich Triathlon
July 2012 - Norwich River Swim
July 2012 Victory Triathlon
Sept 2012 - Norwich Sportspark Triathlon
Sept 2012 - The Great Barrow Challenge

I'm also hoping to raise some money for charity as well so if you would like to help, here's my charity page

http://www.bmycharity.com/clearseaz



Norwich, children in need call centre

 Pic of me on the phones at last nights Children in Need Appeal

Children in Need

Couple of updates.

Thursday - managed 12.8 miles on the turbo trainer.

Friday, walked to work at 8am, 1.09 miles. Thought it was much further than that so feel quite ashamed that i use my motorcycle to go to work each day. Do i sell it? Ducati Monster, 2 years old if anyones interested.

Finished work at 5pm & headed off to another Aviva building to take children in need phone calls. 6pm to 2am, job done, great night, i think we took close to £160k. Unortunately, ate tons of junk food that had been kindly supplied by local businesses

Swimming

Tuesday - Swimming class, felt like a backwards step this week. Trying to work on the legs which had an adverse effect on the breathing & arms. Swam 20 lengths which is about 400 metres. Not sure what to do, keep going with the float until breathing just becomes natural?

Wednesday - UEA swim while Arleya was at Karate. Stuck to breast stroke as feeling a bit pissed off with the previous nights crawl.

On the plus side, new PB, swam 1500metres in 57 minutes. Furthest I've done. Would be quite comfortable on the Norwich mile river swim planned for 2012.

Turbo time

Boring day. Left work at 2pm to take Arleya to the dentist. moulds & photo's taken so they can prepare her brace. She just needs 4 teeth extracted & back we go. Should take 2 years to straighten them.

Could stick up some before and after pics of her gnashes.

Fitted the bike back into the trainer where it will stay till the weekend. Knocked out 12.8 miles whilst watching 2 episodes of The Office, season 2.

Marriotts Way Norfolk

Cracking day again. Decided to do a walk this morning instead of a run so i could fit in a decent mountain bike ride this afternoon. Just trying to be a bit careful with the knees.

So, did a relaxed 2.73 mile walk round UEA while Arleya was in Karate. Route here http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/57692922

Got home & got the mountain bike out. Rode down to the start of Marriott's way foot path near Halfords & set up. Great easy ride, nearly all flat. Got all the way to Reepham & Whitwell station. 30 mile round trip



old carriages at reepham




Old platform at Reepham





info all along Marriott's Way



Thought I'd better stick some pics up to try & reduce the bore factor of my blog.

Well, here's a link to the mapmyride route i logged & another link to some more info on Marriott's Way. I'll be doing it regular for sure. I think if you carry on past Reepham station it's gets more rough, unfortunately i ran out of time so had to come back didn't get to check it out. http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/57720970

Marriott's Way history & detail  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriott%27s_Way

Found a great website last night - http://www.sustrans.org.uk/sustrans-near-you shows the National Cycle network which covers Marriotts Way as it is part of National cycle route 1. You can also get the maps on a free iPhone app which is great http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/the-complete-national-cycle/id436521445?mt=8&ls=1

So, 95miles of walking & cycling this weekend, chuffed with that, weather has been great as well. Not looking forward to getting back on the Turbo next week now :-(

Norwich to Holt cycle

Great day today, managed to get in a 4 hour ride round the Norfolk countryside. Bit cloudy but not too cold. Nice & dry.

Another 60 miles log, check out the route here http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/77126554

Bike running well, managed some fair sized hills quite easily, weight loss & increase in fitness is starting to be more noticeable when on a long ride.

Couple of mile run planned tomorrow wile Arleya does her karate, then maybe a couple of hours Mountain bike ride. Want to check out the Marriotts way paths a bit more.

Turbo Trainer

Nothing over exciting to report today.

Did an hour on the Turbo trainer & knocked out 13.28 miles.

Looking forward to getting out on the road on Saturday for at least a 50 mile ride. Possible run Sunday as well wile Arleya is at Karate.

Need to find some gloves with fingers as i envisage it being colder now.

Lost weight

Back to work today after sickness, felt a bit ropey first thing but well recovered by afternoon.

Arleya fainted at shool today, not sure if it was related to the bug i had or the vaccination she had on Monday. School nurse thought it was just down to the heat of the classroom. Guess imo nursey!

Anyway, due to passing ot thought i'd better let her miss her Karate lesson this evening. Took a bit of effort for me to motivate myself to go for the Wednesday night swim but glad i did.

Swam 54 lengths in 53 minutes which is 1100 metres. 99% breast stroke as my front crawl is best kept to the lesson session or pool when nobody else is around. Still, most of the triathlons i intend to do next year have swims well under what i did tonight.

As i was coming out thought i'd weigh myself as i hadnt done for a while.

15st 1lb. My lowest weight in probably 6 years. No smoking for over 140 days either. well chuffed with myself this evening. Just need to make sure i keep exercising each day during the winter. Would be gutting to put weight back on.

Since i started my non smoking and exercise regime in June 2011 I have lost 11lbs :-)

Bad start to the week

Woke up at 5am Monday morning with bad stomach pains, sickness & diaorrea followed & has knocked me for six till this afternoon so not much exercise done.

Managed to keep toast down from lunchtime today & felt well enough to go to my swimming lesson this evening.

Swam 25 metres front crawl twice without the float so happy with that. Although i did swallow about a litre of pool water. Must have looked like a floundering idiot though.

Not much else to report today. Need to get a swimming hat & float tomorrow so i can continue practising the front crawl at my Wednesday UEA sessions. Feel progress is being made though & so should be good for 2012 Triathlon season

Karate course for Arleya

Took daughter down to Hatfield today for the TSKUK course. Bit of a trek but she needs another 3 TSKUK stamps so she is eligible to grade for 2nd Dan when she's 13 next year.

http://www.eska.co.uk/

Not exactly action shots.

Bit off topic but stopped off at a model shop at Snetterton on the way home. Absolutely fantastic place. So, if you have driven passed this shop on Snetterton circuit for years without having a look, i'd strongly reccommend it. Everything from radio controlled cars to model railway layouts, scaletrix, dolls houses, tons of lego, military dioramas etc etc

Names SP models http://www.spmodels.co.uk/information.php?info_id=7

Managed to squeeze in another hours worth of turbo training tonight & did 12.7 miles. Knees definately on the mend so another week  i'll be back on the running. Looking forward to my swimming lesson on Tuesday, hopefully make some more progress with the front crawl

Smoking update = 140 days smoke free tonight :-)

Florida Ironman 2011

Had to share this from todays Ironman in Florida, this guy is 82 years old, inspirational. I'll stop whinging about my knees, lol.




Ironman Florida's oldest athlete Frank (82) getting out of the water

Another 10 mile done on the turbo tonight. Finding the turbo a lot harder work than on the road but at least means i ca get on the bike everyday. Need to get a weigh in next week, see if i have lost anymore

November 5th update

Tri-anglia membership for 2012 is now open so I've jumped in joined that club. Not sure when I'll take part in m first club thing though. Probably be one of the Saturday cycle rides when it's a dry day. Not like today, lots of rain so I'm going nowhere. http://www.tri-anglia.co.uk/

Turbo trainer arrived yesterday so i set that up & did an hour, no way of monitoring how far i went  thought so off to Halfords today to get some kind of odometer for the back wheel.

Bought it from Wiggle, arrived in two days, fantastic service.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/elite-crono-fluid-elastogel-trainer/

Great item, 30% off plus if you enter the code UK10 you get another tenner off. So only cost me £129.

Needed a riser block though. I've made one out of the cardboard box that it came in, looks naff but does the job & saves you £20+

Arleya has a Karate course in Hatfield tomorrow so doubt I'll get any outside exercise in either. Probably for the best as the knees are still painful. Will probably stick to no more than 3k runs going forward, at least until i can complete these with no issues.

Mucky Races - Sunday 30th October

Had a good day doing the Mucky Races 5k run. Although went out the night before & had a serious hangover (my bad) then cracked my head running the stream when going under a bridge.


Dirty Mucker team


 Managed to finish 89th which wasnt great. Becs finished 72nd but our star of the team was Andy who finished in 7th place


Nearly done



Just after the bump on the head

 Certainly inspired me to take part in future events.



My knees have really been suffering since the race & are quite painful so i will be having at least a week off from runnning. No cycling done as been pitch black when i've got home.

So, i've ordered a turbo trainer from Wiggle so i can do some biking everyday regardless. Used some of the cash from the sale of the Carbon Boardman. Got £800 for that in the end. Also sold my old MTB for £32 with 10% going to help the hero's.

If anyone would like to donate to Help for Heros then please follow the instructions on my charity page.
http://www.bmycharity.com/clearseaz

Started my swimming lessons on Tuesday with Norwich Penguins. It was brilliant, within 30 minutes  was front crawling further than ever & starting to get the hang of the breathing. However, when i went swimming on Wednseday evening it didnt go so great, although swam 1050 metres. Perhaps i need to do more work with a float . Still, feel like i've made a breakthrough & not so concerned about the swimming aspect of Triathlons. More concerned about my knees and the running now.

Thats it for now, hopefully get a decent ride in on Saturday. No chance Sunday as i need to take Arleya to a Karate course in Hatfield.