Ko Lanta is a real beach destination, think beach huts, crystal clear water and white sandy beaches and you will not be disappointed. We were staying just down the road from Gift and Kev who were in the hotel with slightly more stars than ours! Visitors were allowed so we soon made ourselves at home in the endless pool, the jacuzzi, on the loungers and so on. We watched the sun set before heading out to eat.
We grazed on yet another fish feast, Sea bass, Barracuda and prawns done on a bbq, my mouth is watering again just thinking about how yummy our feed was.
Friday we were on yet another speedboat, are you getting the impression team benben like life in the fast lane!!! Today we were on a trip to a small inhabited island Ko Rok to do some snorkeling. A rather rocky ride to our 1st snorkeling site did make me feel a little sick! The day was spent snorkeling and relaxing on those white sandy beaches you think only exist on postcards. Ben and kev checked out the corals but did not catch any dinner! After being in the sun all day we needed a little down time before dinner.
Guess what we had yet another amazing Thai banquet. Gift being Thai and Kev who can speak a very impressive amount of Thai looked after us “ferangs” (Foreigners) very well. They know exactly what to choose on the menu, tonight we munched our way through chicken satay, fresh pawns, duck curry, rice with pineapple and cashew nuts, glass noodle salad and it all went!! Oh how did I forget team benben treated themselves to a beer, ok to be honest we shared a large bottle between us, each night tho!!!!
Friday was the day off training so guess what we did sat morning before brekkie, yes the trainers were slipped on for a 50 min trot. Breakfast with Gift and Kev before we were back on the speedboat and heading home to Phuket. It was yet another rocky ride with some big waves unsettling the stomach. Quick turn around and we were heading to the sports club for a swim session. The 25m not 50m pool was used, that can only mean one thing…………sprint sets or swimming as fast as you can!
Sunday was the usual long steady bike ride 120k with the group, no charging 4 legged beasts this week, how dull hey! Ben and I with the 2 local Thai superstars popped the trainers on for a 4k run off the bike. Just so I am not giving anyone the wrong impression I am very much bringing up the rear as the boys float on ahead!
Sunday eve was all about food, again!! Ben and I had been invited to Gifts to enjoy a Thai cook off! Gift, her family and Kev were all making a dish, team benben were…..taking the fruit for pudding, pineapple and lychees. But don’t just think we took a pineapple and bunch of lychees, oh no my creative skills got put to good use, Ben’s engineering skills were also utilized!!! We took a pineapple boat filled with lychees of course!! Ok so I was probably the most excited person about our boat creation!!! I will be honest (hands up full on no denying, plagiarism!) I cannot take credit for the idea, our pineapple for desert on Sat night was presented in a pineapple that had been cut into the shape of the classic Thai boat the long tail. Ben cut the tail off our 1st attempt!
Mon we were back in the pool, it’s just under 2 weeks to race day so the main set was a straight up 2k set holding your fastest pace, it was just not happening for me in the water today, toys got properly thrown out of the pram!!!!
Session number 2 of the day had to be better than the swim. Mon afternoon is the longer run, 1hour 20 was on the clock. Last week we got drowned and chased by cows what would happen this week…... Dogs, yapping dogs and 3 of them! On our way out to our half way turn around point the dogs hardly wagged their tails, on the way back is was a very different story, had they not had their pedigree chum? You would have thought I had stolen their bonio the chase they gave me. The treatment was not just for me, the same was in store for Ben who followed a few mins behind (his turnaround point was of course further down the road than my turn around). Both of us were saved by passing drivers, they could clearly see the dogs were unwanted company and steered their trucks in the direction of the dogs and continued to drive for the dogs as long as they chased us. We escaped again in one piece, team benben and doggies were no worse off.
With the race on the horizon the training volume starts to decrease but the intensity, otherwise known as pain continues! Tues ben and I did not cycle with the crew, instead we went over the hills we will be racing on just to get as familiar with them as possible. Vital seconds can be lost if you are in the wrong gear or take the wrong line!! A fast 1.5k gallup on the track followed the bike ride, I was glad when those 3 laps were completed and even better I had held my fastest 500m lap for the 3 loops, you go my little legs!!! FYI Ben completed the 1.5k over a minute quicker than me and no I did not stop for tea and biscuits half way round!!!
A sea swim, a track session, another bike and run session, a core session, swim squad session, little run have all been done over the past few days. Out of the lycra we have found time for a sports massage, manicure, and pedicure. Just for peace of mind Mr and Mrs Webeck it was just myself who had the manicure and pedicure. I must give the body scrub a go and I must get my hair trimmed. I have probably spent about 10 mins over the past month doing hair and make up it really is wash and go! Although once I go and the hair dries I realize I do often resemble some unkempt lion at times, minus the roar!!!
A week on Sun the 27th is the LPT (Laguna Phuket Triathlon) a week after it’s another race 70.3 or half ironman. This means over the next few days lycra clad triathletes will be heading to the island.
Next week is also taper week where training takes more of a back seat and sleeping / rest is what it’s all about. Keeping stress levels down is also key race week, I do not think that will be a prob for us, the most challenging things I have to consider is what to eat, pineapple, mango or both! What colour lycra outfit shall I put on today, what colour polish for my nails do I go for, stressful huh!!!
On that note I had better roll over and switch off before I g
et a headache looking at the computer screen for too long! By the way ben is already asleep!!!!!
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz xx
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