Due to popular demand (I am quite surprised by the requests I have had) I have begun a new blog, which logs my future training and forthcoming challenges.
Please check out www.trihardtraining.blogspot.com
Good to be back...
Tuesday 21 August 2012
Sunday 15 July 2012
Final Chapter
It is Sunday morning and I hope to get out on the bike later (not sure if MTB or road). Despite the awful weather I enjoyed a 40 min (wet) run yesterday. Also got a swim at the Club Saturday morning - quite a tough session - can't be back to full fitness yet because I was struggling at the end. Nice to see all the guys and girls afterwards for a coffee and a catch up.
So even though the volume has been drastically reduced I am still very much in to the sport of triathlon and thinking of the next goal(s), albeit it might not be an Ironman (well not straight away!) As previously highlighted I need to balance my sporting ambitions with a few other goals at work and home.
Some of my mates at the Club are already talking about the next one - Switzerland, Lanzarote even Norway (I think that is a new Ironman event). They are adding new events all the time so despite being popular there should be plenty of opportunity to get involved in the future. But for me, no decision at the moment - I need some time to simply re-set the balance.
So for the time being this will be my last post and the end of my (first) Ironman journey. I have enjoyed recording all the 'highs and lows' and been very grateful for all the positive feedback that I have received from followers of the blog. Please leave a comment on this post if you would like to hear more. My training will continue so there is always something to blog about.
But for the time being this particular chapter of my life must come to a close. I am proud of what I have achieved and am glad I finally got to hear those important words...
'David Pegler, you are an Ironman'
So even though the volume has been drastically reduced I am still very much in to the sport of triathlon and thinking of the next goal(s), albeit it might not be an Ironman (well not straight away!) As previously highlighted I need to balance my sporting ambitions with a few other goals at work and home.
Some of my mates at the Club are already talking about the next one - Switzerland, Lanzarote even Norway (I think that is a new Ironman event). They are adding new events all the time so despite being popular there should be plenty of opportunity to get involved in the future. But for me, no decision at the moment - I need some time to simply re-set the balance.
So for the time being this will be my last post and the end of my (first) Ironman journey. I have enjoyed recording all the 'highs and lows' and been very grateful for all the positive feedback that I have received from followers of the blog. Please leave a comment on this post if you would like to hear more. My training will continue so there is always something to blog about.
But for the time being this particular chapter of my life must come to a close. I am proud of what I have achieved and am glad I finally got to hear those important words...
'David Pegler, you are an Ironman'
Wednesday 11 July 2012
Movie of Ironman Austria
I think I have successfully managed to load a low resolution version of the IM Austria movie to the Blog. Hope it works on your PC.
First minute is general footage and then it is the 'David Show'. I am wearing a black and red Zoot tri suit and a black 'Sonic the Hedgehog' cycle helmet (not that you can see much on the bike shots - a little too fast for the camera). For the run you can see me hobbling over the line but fortunately with a smile on my face. Please excuse the 'Sailor-Boy' hat but was perfect for filling with ice in the hot conditions.
Listen to the commentator on the bike shout (at 90km turnaround) - 'Ice Cold Beer, Ice Cold Beer' - a little bit of a tease.
I hope it gives you a bit of a feel for the event - enjoy!
Final acknowledgements
Back on the road bike yesterday. Selected the singlespeed machine for the hour commute each way to Brighton and back. In the morning the focus was on relatively high cadence - quite easy to do on a singlespeed bike on a route without hills. The return journey was a strength session - not by design, simply a very windy evening and hard going along the coast.
This morning was my first run since the Ironman (swapped Tue/Wed sessions). I was pleased with my efforts - it was an interval session, including 6 sets up hill and off-road. The legs worked well enough - no ill effects or fatigue.
In bringing this blog to a close (well almost) I need some final acknowledgements and thanks to the characters involved.
I was encouraged to start this blog by one or two friends that were just starting to get involved in the sport and interested to find out about the crazy world of Ironman. I have been quite amazed how many people have actually being following my progress and have told me that my own story has inspired them to set some challenges for themselves. Since my first blog I have had over 5,000 views and only 4,500 of those are from my Mum. No seriously, I really do appreciate people's positive comments and it is so wonderful to think my rather basic content has had readers coming back for more. So a big thank you to all the followers of this blog.
As previously highlighted I know I wouldn't have got to this point without a great network of friends and family. Special thanks to all the guys and girls at Horsham Amphibians Triathlon (HAT), for inspiring me to improve my fitness and increase my triathlon event distances over the last few years. I suppose I should single out both Coach Mark Tickner (MT) for providing some structure to my training and my closest training buddy, good friend and neighbour, Chris Neilson.
Big thanks to also go to all the people who kindly sponsored me, raising significant funds for the Chestnut Tree House children's hospice - a very worthy cause.
And lastly but most importantly - my wife and children - I really do not recommend committing to such an event unless your loved ones are 100% behind you and at the very least understand why it is so important to you. My family have been wonderful and I simply couldn't have done it without their support.
This morning was my first run since the Ironman (swapped Tue/Wed sessions). I was pleased with my efforts - it was an interval session, including 6 sets up hill and off-road. The legs worked well enough - no ill effects or fatigue.
In bringing this blog to a close (well almost) I need some final acknowledgements and thanks to the characters involved.
I was encouraged to start this blog by one or two friends that were just starting to get involved in the sport and interested to find out about the crazy world of Ironman. I have been quite amazed how many people have actually being following my progress and have told me that my own story has inspired them to set some challenges for themselves. Since my first blog I have had over 5,000 views and only 4,500 of those are from my Mum. No seriously, I really do appreciate people's positive comments and it is so wonderful to think my rather basic content has had readers coming back for more. So a big thank you to all the followers of this blog.
As previously highlighted I know I wouldn't have got to this point without a great network of friends and family. Special thanks to all the guys and girls at Horsham Amphibians Triathlon (HAT), for inspiring me to improve my fitness and increase my triathlon event distances over the last few years. I suppose I should single out both Coach Mark Tickner (MT) for providing some structure to my training and my closest training buddy, good friend and neighbour, Chris Neilson.
Big thanks to also go to all the people who kindly sponsored me, raising significant funds for the Chestnut Tree House children's hospice - a very worthy cause.
And lastly but most importantly - my wife and children - I really do not recommend committing to such an event unless your loved ones are 100% behind you and at the very least understand why it is so important to you. My family have been wonderful and I simply couldn't have done it without their support.
Monday 9 July 2012
Don't tell my Mum
I decided not to buy any Ironman memorabilia at the Expo before the event as I didn't wish to jinx my race. However, when I returned to the Expo afterwards there was very little stuff left - everyone else must have had the same idea.
Not to worry - I still got my finisher's shirt and Ironman medal.
Back in the UK I had a crazy moment and decided to get the ultimate memorabilia item that I could keep for the rest of my life - the Ironman tattoo.
When I mentioned it to my wife and children they were quite keen and supportive of the idea. So I went ahead with a small tattoo on the back of my left leg, just above my ankle and easily covered up by a sock, if needed.
Although it hurt a little (not as much as the marathon) I am pleased with the results and have already had lots of positive comments.
Just don't tell my Mum - she will kill me!
Not to worry - I still got my finisher's shirt and Ironman medal.
Back in the UK I had a crazy moment and decided to get the ultimate memorabilia item that I could keep for the rest of my life - the Ironman tattoo.
When I mentioned it to my wife and children they were quite keen and supportive of the idea. So I went ahead with a small tattoo on the back of my left leg, just above my ankle and easily covered up by a sock, if needed.
Although it hurt a little (not as much as the marathon) I am pleased with the results and have already had lots of positive comments.
Just don't tell my Mum - she will kill me!
Sunday 8 July 2012
What's next
This morning and a week after my Ironman challenge I was back on the bike. This time up on the South Downs getting wet and extremely muddy enjoying an easy 2 hour mountain bike ride. In addition to approx. 1 hour of swimming that makes a total of 3 for my first recovery week.
Next week is a little more back to normal and Coach MT has me down for 12 hours.
My focus for the next month or so and thinking about my 'B' race is getting back to fitness for something a little different - an Xterra event where I will be on the mountain bike and running off-road.
The event I have my name down for is the Vachery XTri on Sunday 26th August consisting of the following:
1,500m swim
30km bike
10km run
Looks a great local venue - still lots of places. Details can be found via the following link:
http://www.vacherytriathlon.com/
Coach MT has me down for the following sessions this week:
Mon - strength 0:45; swim - 1:00 (optional)
Tue - run: intervals 0:40
Wed - bike: cadence focus 1:30; club swim 1:30
Thu - strength 0:45; run: easy 0:30
Fri - bike: easy 1:00
Sat - club swim 1:00; run: off-road 1:00
Sun - bike: MTB 2:00
Next week is a little more back to normal and Coach MT has me down for 12 hours.
My focus for the next month or so and thinking about my 'B' race is getting back to fitness for something a little different - an Xterra event where I will be on the mountain bike and running off-road.
The event I have my name down for is the Vachery XTri on Sunday 26th August consisting of the following:
1,500m swim
30km bike
10km run
Looks a great local venue - still lots of places. Details can be found via the following link:
http://www.vacherytriathlon.com/
Coach MT has me down for the following sessions this week:
Mon - strength 0:45; swim - 1:00 (optional)
Tue - run: intervals 0:40
Wed - bike: cadence focus 1:30; club swim 1:30
Thu - strength 0:45; run: easy 0:30
Fri - bike: easy 1:00
Sat - club swim 1:00; run: off-road 1:00
Sun - bike: MTB 2:00
Wednesday 4 July 2012
So would I do it again?
I enjoyed an easy swim at the Club last night but cut the session to around 45 mins, which included some kicking drills.
A good number of the Club members were keen to here the 'war stories' of the Ironman event and Matt and I did our best to talk them through our experience. The question that most comes up in discussion is 'would you do it again?'
Personally, I think it has to be 'Yes'. For the most part it has been a very enjoyable journey topped off by a successful race. As you would expect it has had some 'up and downs' but that's life and I think it is how you deal with those high and low points that define you. Looking back on the last few days I am already forgetting about the pain of the run and remembering the great location, good times spent with my friends and wife, excellent food, accommodation and simply being immersed in the special bubble that is the world of 'Ironman'.
In saying 'Yes' to doing another such event in the future I must consider beyond the last few days, which was actually just the 'icing on the cake', the real commitment came from the training and support that was needed from my friends and most importantly family to complete the journey. Before comtemplating another I think that it would only be fair to sit down with my loved ones and remind ourselves of what it involves and the possible sacrifices both them and I are likely going to have to make.
I think I actually got the training, work, family balance about right but what I did find is that it does take over your life in other ways. You cannot seem to get the thought of the training and event out of your head. I started looking at my training diary before my work and social diary and planning everything else around that. I suppose this blog has been a great tool to record my journey but at the same time has made me more concious about the time and energy I was using thinking about triathlon. It is hard to stop it taking over. I expect that is also why it is also hard to let it go, it being such a big part of my life for the last 6-12 months. May be that it why I don't want to say 'No' to the question about another one, because I don't want to lose the structure and feeling it has given me - this is getting deep!!
All I do know is that it is probably healthy to take a break and for that reason alone I do not expect to do another full 'Ironman' event in the next year. However, there are plenty of other challenges and more 'bitesize' goals I need to plan and achieve in relation to health/fitness, work/career, and family/home that I am looking forward to.
In relation to this blog... Well I have another few posts to write and final topics to cover and then I suppose I will have to bring it to the end.
However, I know it is just the end of chapter and not the end of my triathlon journey. Watch this space!
A good number of the Club members were keen to here the 'war stories' of the Ironman event and Matt and I did our best to talk them through our experience. The question that most comes up in discussion is 'would you do it again?'
Personally, I think it has to be 'Yes'. For the most part it has been a very enjoyable journey topped off by a successful race. As you would expect it has had some 'up and downs' but that's life and I think it is how you deal with those high and low points that define you. Looking back on the last few days I am already forgetting about the pain of the run and remembering the great location, good times spent with my friends and wife, excellent food, accommodation and simply being immersed in the special bubble that is the world of 'Ironman'.
In saying 'Yes' to doing another such event in the future I must consider beyond the last few days, which was actually just the 'icing on the cake', the real commitment came from the training and support that was needed from my friends and most importantly family to complete the journey. Before comtemplating another I think that it would only be fair to sit down with my loved ones and remind ourselves of what it involves and the possible sacrifices both them and I are likely going to have to make.
I think I actually got the training, work, family balance about right but what I did find is that it does take over your life in other ways. You cannot seem to get the thought of the training and event out of your head. I started looking at my training diary before my work and social diary and planning everything else around that. I suppose this blog has been a great tool to record my journey but at the same time has made me more concious about the time and energy I was using thinking about triathlon. It is hard to stop it taking over. I expect that is also why it is also hard to let it go, it being such a big part of my life for the last 6-12 months. May be that it why I don't want to say 'No' to the question about another one, because I don't want to lose the structure and feeling it has given me - this is getting deep!!
All I do know is that it is probably healthy to take a break and for that reason alone I do not expect to do another full 'Ironman' event in the next year. However, there are plenty of other challenges and more 'bitesize' goals I need to plan and achieve in relation to health/fitness, work/career, and family/home that I am looking forward to.
In relation to this blog... Well I have another few posts to write and final topics to cover and then I suppose I will have to bring it to the end.
However, I know it is just the end of chapter and not the end of my triathlon journey. Watch this space!
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