So what has team benben been up to ???
Week commencing 13th August has been our toughest 7 days of training to date. I knew I was in for trouble when 30 x 100m’s at your best pace greeted me first thing Monday morning in the pool. 180k’s on the bike and a 12km run set off the bike was waiting for me on Tuesday. Run squad Weds am which requires quick feet on our dead legs and a double swim nearly finished me off. Thurs was all about hanging on in there and telling the screaming legs to “shut up”! 4 hour bike ride with big ring efforts, 40 min tempo run then swim squad was nailed before Friday, and relax our day off.
We did the usual on our day off, morning out with Russell and Marg. A hike up Mutton Bird Island with the binoculars to see if we could catch any whale activity was on the agenda. In luck this time, a few blowing spouts were sighted. We are looking at doing a whale watching boat trip in a few weeks to really get up close and personal with them. Mid Sept I have been informed is when the droves of migrating whales will swim down the coast from the warmer waters where they had their calves up North back to their home.
Rest day over we were back in the saddle. Saturday started with an open water swim in the jetty, the water was as clear as I have seen it since we arrived. A few k’s or just over an hour later we were enjoying our brekkie, gour-met porridge of course in the warmth of the early morning sun. I am loving the winter sun, it’s been about 25 degrees over the past few days and I see the forecast is promising us highs of 27 in the not so distant future. Just going back to the porridge, it’s like a daily ritual for us, it’s what often keeps me going through the first session of the day! If you are thinking of oats and water stodge let me enlighten you, oats, half water half soya milk and a combination of any of the following, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seats, almonds, apple, banana, blueberries, strawberries, honey, yoghurt, I tried to tell you it was good!?!
Sat afternoon as we have done on occasions over the past few weeks joined the local cycle club race, and boy did I have some fun!! Essentially the group of men I was cycling, competing and racing with were blatantly ganging up on me, trying to attack me when I was off guard or as they assumed knackered in order to cycle on up the road without me on their tale. Little did they know I had my wing ‘women’ with me, Aimee who kept me fully informed when they were coming to get me! “Cat, Cat they are coming I would hear in my ear piece”! I was all over them like a rash, matching and responding to every move they made. Despite a Mark Cavendish style sprint over the last few hundred meters and the lunge for the line I think I just missed out on the win. No time to find out who actually won, I had had a great work out, lots of fun and a run set was waiting for Aimee and I. This time I was Aimee’s wing woman or pacer, keeping the tempo and heart rate up.
Ben rides with a faster group and took the role of the domestique for everyone. He spent most of the time on the front of the pack driving the train, pushing the pace, working it!
Sunday was an early and loonnngggg run, just shy of 30k’s was clocked up. We had a lunch date with Auntie and Uncle thus Sunday’s sessions, run and swim not forgetting calories and coffee all needed to be done by lunch time. The alarm or ticking time bomb as I refer to it as was set for 5am, we are out pounding the streets by 6am. Home is just a few mins to the closest beach and coastline thus we are very fortunate, time on the tarmac is minimal. What it does mean is the first 45 mins of our run from home is always a hilly one which also includes traversing some beaches and running up flights of steps in order to follow the stunning headland path that leads us in to town. Once in town we can pick up the 9km Coff’s Creek loop which meanders its way through the trees. And then guess what, yep back up and down the hills of the headland to get back home.
And so the week starts again, (20th Aug) back in the pool first thing Monday morning. Last week was the 4th week in each 4 week block, it’s the week with a little less volume but the intensity or pain remains.
I mentioned a few paragraphs above the tanning temperatures we are enjoying and have been promised. No Michael Fish blunders on this occasion, its 27 and guess who’s back….the water dragons that take up residence, sun bathing on the fountain in the garden. Summer must be on its way, hang on, we have yet to have spring!!
With the sun out we took the opportunity to have a look round the local Botanic Gardens, we have also been tipped off its where some koalas may reside. The gardens were a very relaxing and tranquille place with a glass houses, nature trails, boardwalk and rain forest area to wander around, enjoy and soak up the serenity of the space. Every so often we would stop and look up,“koala watch”, by the end of our wander we had also learnt which is the preferred tree of the koala. Even in the know, we were not in luck, no sightings.
This weekend (25 / 26th) Ben and I are Lord and Lady of the manor!! We will be your hosts at the Sapphire Motel, Russell and Marg are heading south to the Southern Highlands, Mittagong to see Nan, or Mum in Marg’s case. We have our “how to” files at the ready, room configuration, tariffs, processing payment guidelines etc etc. I think Ben is hoping 12 years of working in retail and dealing with the public will stand us / me in good stead, the customer is king, simples!! I think I am hoping having spent his years growing up in a motel it will be like riding a bike!?!
On that note, I must leave you there we have a room to do and beds to be made, I hope Russell does not check my “hospital corners” !!
Saturday, 25 August 2012
Friday, 17 August 2012
Games over but full steam ahead for us.....
I left the last blog willing on Team GB, they must have heard me, wow what an Olympic performance for the home crowd. The Aussie camp has an awful lot of silverware, I hope they have some polish!! Sorry could not resist, first and final comment I promise.
Our Hawaii trip is starting to take shape, flights and accommodation sorted, we are also very, very, very lucky to be having a support crew member fly out from the UK to be on the sidelines in Hawaii cheering us on. Mark “Fozzy” Foster is the man making the journey to join us in his grass skirt. I must remember not to leave home without mine, Ben’s I think is already packed!!! We have also had confirmation through of our return flights back home to the UK. Team benben will be back on UK soil 16th Oct just in time for me to wish my big bro, Alex “happy birthday” in person.
Our performance has of course not quite been Olympic standard but training is starting to get epic, we have just got back from a 6 hour session, 5 hours on the bike and an hour run with both disciplines including lots of race pace efforts. This session taxed not only the body but also the mind, 5 reps of a 30km loop, numerous parts of my body were numb after the 4th loop and I still had another one to conquer. The majority of our training is of course to improve our fitness, to ensure our bodies are physically fit, however, an integral part to ironman racing is all about what’s between your ears. The ironman race is like a roller coaster, it has its ups and downs, so when those big dippers hit, mentally you need to be tough, your mind and body needs to be equipped to cope with anything the course and race throws at you. Putting yourself through mind and body numbing sessions is all part of the prep and for us at the moment, just another day at the office / just another day in paradise!
6 hour single sessions or 6 hours plus of training a day is now once again not a one off, on the upside (if 6 hours plus was deemed on the downside) this type of volume does require the odd nap in between sessions. As I type sleeping beauty, Ben in case there was any doubt, is resting. I had better shut my eyes too soon, I do not want him to think I am not tired, thus not working hard enough, I am, I am promise!!
The 6 hour session mentioned above is of course not the only session we have done this week, it is our biggest yet in this campaign, did you notice the careful use of yet, I know what’s in the post!!! Last Saturday morning I braved the dark and cold to hit the tarmac with the boys. 5.15am we are in the saddle which means the alarm pinging at just before 4am. As if the early start is not enough of a rude awakening the ride also requires climbing up Dorrigo mountain (11k’s), no pootling allowed on this pursuit!!! I must admit, smashing about 110k’s on the bike with a 30 min trot off and being back home with a bowl of steaming porridge on your lap with tea and/or coffee brewing all before 11 am is a result. A monster session in the morning also means the afternoon is free to watch a DVD in bed even more of a result! We watched an Aussie classic, “The Man from Snowy River”. We have wanted to watch this film ever since we spent a few weeks in back in Feb in the High Country of Victoria, Falls Creek. I forgot to mention the DVD is a box set so we still have part deux to watch, another result.
Yesterday (Fri) was our precious weekly rest day and a date with Russell, Marg and caffeine. Over the past few weeks we have got into the routine of popping out every Fri morning for a cuppa. Last week the destination of choice was sunny Sawtell, this week we headed a few k’s north up the highway to Woolgoolga which has a stunning headland and if you time it right a great vantage point for whale watching. Unfortunately, on this occasion we did not get the timing right, no blowing spouts in sight. No whales to watch meant just one thing it was coffee time!
A few days have passed since I started blogging and guess what I have just done again, yes that early morning Saturday boys bike ride, although this time it was just Ben and I. The wind gusting between 30 to 40 kmph meant a no show or two. The winding climb to Dorrigo and the views from Bellingen river do make it a little easier to take!
The wind made it a tough outward leg but a much zippier homeward leg. I don’t think any cyclist is a fan of the wind but we really cannot hide from it as the Ironman in Hawaii is known for its vicious cross winds, staying up right on my bike will be my first goal, moving will be the secondary goal. I have just re-fuelled on my favorite, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on rye bread, YUM! I daren’t close my eyes as we are off to the pool soon, although someone has their eyes closed and legs elevated!
A few more hours have passed since I was tapping away, the time has been spent watching part 2 of “The Man from Snowy River”, his horsey is amazing!! That’s the box set watched ready to be packed into a box for home when the time comes, that also means we have it for anyone to borrow if any requests?!?
I think that just about brings you up to date with the latest antics of team benben, like the London 2012 Olympics, this blog entry is drawing to a close. But don’t worry I will be back before 4 years!
Just a few more pics to share of what the countryside looks like when we have time to take it in on an EASY ride and the little friends we meet.......
Our Hawaii trip is starting to take shape, flights and accommodation sorted, we are also very, very, very lucky to be having a support crew member fly out from the UK to be on the sidelines in Hawaii cheering us on. Mark “Fozzy” Foster is the man making the journey to join us in his grass skirt. I must remember not to leave home without mine, Ben’s I think is already packed!!! We have also had confirmation through of our return flights back home to the UK. Team benben will be back on UK soil 16th Oct just in time for me to wish my big bro, Alex “happy birthday” in person.
Our performance has of course not quite been Olympic standard but training is starting to get epic, we have just got back from a 6 hour session, 5 hours on the bike and an hour run with both disciplines including lots of race pace efforts. This session taxed not only the body but also the mind, 5 reps of a 30km loop, numerous parts of my body were numb after the 4th loop and I still had another one to conquer. The majority of our training is of course to improve our fitness, to ensure our bodies are physically fit, however, an integral part to ironman racing is all about what’s between your ears. The ironman race is like a roller coaster, it has its ups and downs, so when those big dippers hit, mentally you need to be tough, your mind and body needs to be equipped to cope with anything the course and race throws at you. Putting yourself through mind and body numbing sessions is all part of the prep and for us at the moment, just another day at the office / just another day in paradise!
6 hour single sessions or 6 hours plus of training a day is now once again not a one off, on the upside (if 6 hours plus was deemed on the downside) this type of volume does require the odd nap in between sessions. As I type sleeping beauty, Ben in case there was any doubt, is resting. I had better shut my eyes too soon, I do not want him to think I am not tired, thus not working hard enough, I am, I am promise!!
The 6 hour session mentioned above is of course not the only session we have done this week, it is our biggest yet in this campaign, did you notice the careful use of yet, I know what’s in the post!!! Last Saturday morning I braved the dark and cold to hit the tarmac with the boys. 5.15am we are in the saddle which means the alarm pinging at just before 4am. As if the early start is not enough of a rude awakening the ride also requires climbing up Dorrigo mountain (11k’s), no pootling allowed on this pursuit!!! I must admit, smashing about 110k’s on the bike with a 30 min trot off and being back home with a bowl of steaming porridge on your lap with tea and/or coffee brewing all before 11 am is a result. A monster session in the morning also means the afternoon is free to watch a DVD in bed even more of a result! We watched an Aussie classic, “The Man from Snowy River”. We have wanted to watch this film ever since we spent a few weeks in back in Feb in the High Country of Victoria, Falls Creek. I forgot to mention the DVD is a box set so we still have part deux to watch, another result.
Yesterday (Fri) was our precious weekly rest day and a date with Russell, Marg and caffeine. Over the past few weeks we have got into the routine of popping out every Fri morning for a cuppa. Last week the destination of choice was sunny Sawtell, this week we headed a few k’s north up the highway to Woolgoolga which has a stunning headland and if you time it right a great vantage point for whale watching. Unfortunately, on this occasion we did not get the timing right, no blowing spouts in sight. No whales to watch meant just one thing it was coffee time!
A few days have passed since I started blogging and guess what I have just done again, yes that early morning Saturday boys bike ride, although this time it was just Ben and I. The wind gusting between 30 to 40 kmph meant a no show or two. The winding climb to Dorrigo and the views from Bellingen river do make it a little easier to take!
The wind made it a tough outward leg but a much zippier homeward leg. I don’t think any cyclist is a fan of the wind but we really cannot hide from it as the Ironman in Hawaii is known for its vicious cross winds, staying up right on my bike will be my first goal, moving will be the secondary goal. I have just re-fuelled on my favorite, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on rye bread, YUM! I daren’t close my eyes as we are off to the pool soon, although someone has their eyes closed and legs elevated!
A few more hours have passed since I was tapping away, the time has been spent watching part 2 of “The Man from Snowy River”, his horsey is amazing!! That’s the box set watched ready to be packed into a box for home when the time comes, that also means we have it for anyone to borrow if any requests?!?
I think that just about brings you up to date with the latest antics of team benben, like the London 2012 Olympics, this blog entry is drawing to a close. But don’t worry I will be back before 4 years!
Just a few more pics to share of what the countryside looks like when we have time to take it in on an EASY ride and the little friends we meet.......
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