Outside the Asylum

Mixed feelings, but overall, things are good

There’s been a few developments. First, the simple one, swimming. First session with the swim squad tonight. I meet the minimum requirements now. I’m not too slow to be in the slower group. Also, I’m not the slowest which is very nice to discover.  The 1-on-1 sessions with the coach have helped a great deal. Swimming is actually enjoyable now. Before i knew it, a whole hour had passed, and I’d swum 2km. It wasn’t torture. This is a new thing for me

The other development is around the problems I’ve had with running for quite a long time now.  If I run more than a couple of kms i start to get pains in my right knee and hip.  I thought it was due to neglect, insufficient stretching and massage. After switching to training with STG, and being very disciplined with stretching, i started to wonder if something else might be the problem.  I went to see a sports chiropractor in the city near work. Thank god I did. As it turns out, years of neglect before i started exercising in 2008, have resulted in my spine being in pretty poor shape. All the pain associated with running is due to my hips being rotated and tilted (left forward and down, right back and up). So i fork out the dosh, get my back sorted out, and lay off the running for a while.

Tip: strengthen your legs with lunges

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Run training

Another track session this evening; 2km warm up. active stretching. then five 800m runs, with 1min rest in-between. The  goal being to keep a consistent lap time of 2:05 – 2:15.  It’s harder than it sounds.  First 400, i was close, then the 2nd 400 was too slow. The next 800 was better, almost bang on. later, as i felt the fatigue coming on, i put in a bit more effort to try to maintain the pace. However i overcooked it and did a 2min flat 400. The second last 800, the first lap was ok, but then i let the pace drop to come in at 4:30. The last 800 was good, about 4:20.

After that, to end, a ~1km cool down then proper stretching. I rugged up before i got cold. Once I got home, hot shower, then a good go with the physio-roller.  pressing out the knots in my leg muscles, particularly my quads, ITB and TFL.

My heart rate wasn’t that high during the session, ~170bpm or so. It was actually the condition of my legs that limited me.  I’ve done not nearly enough to look after them.  Proper maintenance of your muscles is SO important I’m discovering. It gets more and more important as you aim for more and more endurance. This is the stand out biggest change since starting with STG.

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Trying to do too much

I may start blogging more often now. I don’t like blogs where people blather on about stuff that isn’t interesting to the general public. So I didn’t post often. I’d think, “will anybody really care about this?” and then usually not write an entry (except for at the start when it was a new toy).

Now that I’m starting to get into Triathlon training more seriously, I thought the ups and downs of my journey might be of interest. What does a normal person go through in the attempt to train to be able to do an endurance triathlon? Yea, that could be of interest to people. So, i’ll see if i can maintain regular updates.

So, to my update. I received my training plan from the coach at STG last night.

• Monday: Swim training in the pool. ~1 hr
• Tuesday: Morning ride training. ~1 hr
• Wednesday: Run training at the track. ~1 hr
• Thursday: Morning ride training. ~1 hr. Evening swim training. ~1 hr
• Friday: “recovery” longer run. 45mins-1hr.
• Saturday: “brick” training, cycling then running. ~2 hrs

WHOA!

I did a swimming technique session last night(mon). Swam and rode the day before(Sun). Swimming technique session the day before that(Sat). I tried to get up and do the ride training session this morning, but I’ve hit my limits already. Sore upper body muscles and really tired. That and it was raining.  So, my first “failure” of sorts.

I’ve started eating more as the coach recommended. That’s helped with recovery, but as I’ve not done much swimming at all for a very long time, it’s really exhausted me. The upside is that the coach is telling me my swim technique is improving.  Amazingly my kick is perfect, which is just a fluke. My arms however need a lot of work.  The stroke correction over two lessons has reduced my 100m time by ten seconds. amazing.

So today i make sure i drink lots of water and eat right.  tonight, lots of stretching and using the physio-roller. Then hopefully i’ll be good for tomorrow night’s track running session.

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Two transitions, career and sport/fitness

Almost two months ago, I started a new job. I left Verizon Business at the end of last year. It was a good two years there, i learned a lot. Verizon do a lot of things right, but they have their faults too, mostly due to their massive size. In short, Australia is not important to Verizon. On the other hand, Australia IS important to Telstra. My new role is the first proper Unified/Network/Utility Computing and Security solution architect in Telstra Enterprise and Govt. The Hosting product portfolio was not important until now, and thus was allowed to languish. With all the recent hype around Cloud Computing and the trend back to consolidation in the datacenter, the product set is being revamped. Interesting times ahead. Lots to be fixed, but there’s a lot of effort going into it. I’m along for the ride, to see where this takes me.

The other big change is in my fitness and sport training. I’ve been with Vision Personal Training for a bit over a year now. Huge progress has been made, but in recent months it’s tapered off. I finally figured out the problem, I’ve outgrown them (plus they’ve changed to be more weight-loss oriented). I did a lot of research and spoke to friends that are triathletes. I settled on STG. I’ve got a qualified tri-coach now, and have started on a program with him. STG also provides a squad to train with, which is really good for motivation. Obsession with counting carbs, protein and fat is out. the “go hard or go home” mentality too. In with more logical and customized coaching. No more “don’t be lazy! just do it!”. Now it’s “ok, why are you tired/sore? what did you do/eat/etc?”

I’ve got some big events coming up this year and next. Kinda exciting and scary at the same time. a month ago i wouldn’t have thought i could reach those goals. now, with the new training and coaching program, i reckon i’ll do it!

note: not going to jinx myself by saying what I’m aiming for. I was planning to do the half marathon in May, the old personal trainer was pushing me hard. I was trying to keep to a training plan, but kept hitting injury obstacles. I wasn’t confident. The new coach; “forget that, you wont be ready”. Dude is hardcore, but fair, and logical, and experienced….

I’m stoked. Life is good.

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Cycling update

It’s been a crazy few months, well, more like several, or more maybe. One job ending, the next starting (detail saved for another post at another time) plus the Christmas and New Year silly season. Chaos!

I’m back into training, slowly ramping it up. Trying to do triathlons, even short sprint ones was a bit too ambitious. I completed one, but it smashed me. So I’m concentrating on cycling for now, which is my favorite of the 3 sports.

I’ve started riding to work, its 11km one way, lots of hills. Work has decent showers and change rooms, which makes it easy.  So, I’ve caught the cycling bug big time. I’m buying upgrades for the cannondale bad boy and visiting bike shops.  I was gawking at TT/Tri bikes and pondering what bike to get next. I was thinking to get a TT/Tri bike as I’m still wanting to do triathlons.  I do pretty much all my riding alone, so I didn’t think there would be any downsides.  I saw Cervelos, Felts, Cannondales, Quintana Roos, Kuotas and Argon 18s. I’d narrowed them all down to the Felt B2.  Then i started hearing some good advice; going from flat bar road bike to TT/Tri bike is nuts, it’s a huge difference in posture.  The final straw was a Cervelo S2 SRAM Red on sale at Cheeky Monkey, with the offer to take it for a test ride.  What a sweet sweet ride! It blew me away. I’m just good enough to appreciate the bike. I could see that going straight to a TT/Tri bike really was crazy. This was more than enough speed.  So i bought it. 2009 model, big discount.

Then it rained and rained, which pissed me off no end. I finally got to Centennial Park on the weekend and did some laps.  Can’t wait to ride again this Saturday.

Note: this isn’t my bike, but it’s the same except for the wheels.

Update 13th of Mar: More laps of Centennial park. 8 laps this time. next time, 10.

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Christmas Dinner

A while back we got lucky and managed to score four bottles of the ultra-rare and amazingly good Clonakilla 2007 Shiraz-Viognier. The first one got opened on Christmas day. We had it with my favorite pasta recipe from Sean Moran of Sean’s Panaroma; orecchiette pasta, pancetta, fresh peas, pecorino, basil, cream etc.

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Sprint Triathlon series

Did my first sprint triathlon not long ago. It was hard, but not the way I expected. The early morning was very hard; out of bed at 3:30am! At the event by 5am! But I was glad later, by the time i finished just after 9am, it was getting close to 30degC.

Sprint Tri = 750m swim, 20km ride, 5m run. The swim was the hardest, as i should have expected as i’ve not done any real swimming training at all. The run was my best,  again, as i should have expected as i’ve been working on my running all year. The next event of the series of four is on the 17th of Jan. I’m trying to do as much swimming as i can before then.

I bought a wetsuit before the event and I’m so glad I did. I love it, it makes you feel like you’re swimming downhill. You slip through the water with less drag too. I went too hard (despite trying not too), conked out after about 100-150m and did breaststroke for the rest of the way. This smashed me, drinking and breathing in loads of salt water didn’t help either. My transition took ages as i fought off nausea from the salt water. My bike leg was slow, but by the time i got to the run I was ok. I cranked out a respectable 26min 5km.

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Japan vs. Australia

Our Pavlova

and their Pavlova

I remember them more like this

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Japan

I was in Japan recently for a holiday. This time it was longer than usual, 3 weeks. Chika went ahead of me and stayed an extra week too.  We traveled around together; 2 weeks in Osaka and 1 week in Tokyo. This was my first proper trip to Tokyo.  I love it!! I’d very happily live there.  Hopefully my career will take me there in the future.

I dusted the camera gear off and took it with me. I mainly focused photographing all the food we ate. For me Japan is food paradise.

I bought a new lens in Tokyo, the Canon EF-S 17 – 55 mm F2.8 IS.  This is a sensational lens for pics indoors without flash. Perfect for food pics

This time i was introduced to properly good Izakaya(s). Also, we visited Tsukiji markets in Tokyo.  Check out the pics in the gallery (also linked at the top of this page).

Here’s a sample

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Dining at Quay

We are starting to form a bit of a tradition by going to Quay every year for a particular special occasion. Tonight was particularly good. Last time the wine we picked wasn’t ideal, but this time it was sensational.  Highlights for me were the wine and the lamb main. “Oh-my-god!” awesome.

We had;

White – BURGUNDY – CÔTE DE BEAUNE
Puligny-Montrachet
1er Cru Champs Canet
Carillon
2006

——————
Chika:
Poached Western Australian marron,
seaweed jelly, cucumber, fennel, lime crème fraiche

Daniel:
Mud crab congee, hand shelled mud crab, Chinese inspired split rice porridge

–
Both of us:
Gently poached partridge breast,
bitter chocolate black pudding and walnut crumbs,
truffle custard, fresh palm hearts, white borage buds

–
Chika:
Bass Groper, parsley crust,
slow braise of baby abalone, periwinkles,  sea scallop, winter melon, hasuimo,
green tea and seaweed consomme

Daniel:
24 hour slow cooked milk fed Suffolk lamb,
sheep’s milk fromage, heirloom baby carrots, Arbequina olives, capers,
nasturtiums and rosemary flowers

–

Both of us:
Eight texture chocolate cake
featuring Amedei ‘Chuao’ Chocolate

Chika:
Dessert Wine
2007 Jurançon Uroulat Charles Hours, South West France
Daniel:
Cognac
Tesseron lot 53 XO Perfection Grande Champagne

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