After last Sunday's personal best half marathon and birthday beers, Monday was a self-induced recovery day. Still, Tuesday made up for it in terms of excitement and general pride. A quick 920 metres in the pool before work was followed up with a tour around the Olympic Park in the afternoon. Whilst they have a bit of work to do with the landscaping, all the venues are ready. When you think back to shots from Beijing and Delhi before the last Olympics and Commonwealth Games respectively, the build up has been pretty low key on incident, which is encouraging.
Personally, I don't care if the venues aren't as spectacular as Beijing as they have really thought about legacy: the sub-power station that will power the new post code, cleaned out the River Lea; they have created an impressively large new park and a few temporary buildings that will be replaced with schools, residential homes for the elderly and schools etc are examples of a future thriving new residential/commercial zone. The emotional/proud bit was once we left the Olympic Park and headed back to Stratford International for the 'Fit for London' Transport for London presentation and Q&A. It was great to see my Grandparents' old council flat still standing 'Batteries Not Included' style within the new and improved Stratford. If anyone criticises the Olympics they only need to look back at pictures, from as recent as 2005, to see the impact that the Olympics has had on a deprived area that had no investment and good publicity. They also need to realise the amount of pounds sterling that are going to flow into the UK for the Queens' Diamond Jubilee, Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to see what is going to keep the UK out of recession in 2012. Less said about the West Ham game in the evening the better...
Wednesday included a 45 minute spin class to get the power back in the legs and then Thursday and Friday were rest days to prepare for the weekend. With only three weeks to the Paris Marathon and nine to the 10k swim its all about the final fitness and speed push until I am into April and the events come thick and fast. I can really feel the change: I can feel the testosterone starting to pump; my beard is growing ready for battle; and it feels that everything is tingling now that I am close to achieving a few more goals.
Saturday was another 5k swim at the lido in London Fields, Hackney at a steady 1 hour 46 minutes. I have made the decision that this is my last training session at the lido for the year. Whilst the bikini clad babes were a welcome distraction, the Michael Phelps-Esq numpties has finally broken me. I was included in an LA-style 5 lane motorway at one point with two tumble turning idiots either side. From next weekend on I am going to find a lake in Essex to do some proper open water swimming and get fully prepared for the marathon of the swimming world in May. At the time I thought it was a leisurely swim and didn't take too much out of me. However later in the day after 2 hours spent in a soft ball centre with my nephew Jake, his friends from nursery and the kids of the Mums from my sister antenatal and I changed my mind. My biceps were shot to bits, my back was sore from twisting through small gaps and my bum was sore through using my extra gravity to get Jake down the bottom of the slide as quick as possible:
Sunday was another PB at the Brentwood Half-Marathon. I could get used to one every weekend... Not many catsuits in the field but a lot of peroxide and fake tan. A bit disappointed not to get under 1 hour 40 minutes but 1 hour 42 minutes has again proved I am in good form to have a great crack at my first goal of the year; sub-3 hour 30 minute marathon in Paris (although I won't wear orange to clash with my ginger beard...)
My sister is also proving to be an excellent long distance runner as she came home in an excellent 2 hours 15 minutes. I am very proud of my big Sister. She has gone from zero miles to 20 miles in seven months and I can't wait to see her on the big day on the 22nd April. I reckon I might cry like a big girl:
Big plug I know but I wouldn't be her kid brother if I didn't :-) Carol is raising money for Farleigh Hospice: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=CAROLSAWARD. Any money is appreciated for a fantastic cause that is one of the main Hospices in Essex which carries of palliative care and provides bereavement support for spouses and children. In all it is a fantastic cause...
Fundraising wise, my Communication Consultant, George Karolemeas, has again stepped up to the plate and got 15 people to buy £20 tickets to the European Football themed Wine and Cheese evening. With 8 wines and food from a selection (England, Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Croatia, Greece and Italy) of the representatives from Euro 2012 and a knock out tournament that will produce the winner before the real tournament does I am sure it will prove to be a fantastic event.
As with all of the following events, if you want to attend you can e-mail me on iandeane78@yahoo.co.uk:
Date
Event
- Sun 15th April: Paris Marathon Sweep Stake
- Tues 24th April: Five-a-side football tournament
- Sun 27th May: 10k swim at Dorney Lake , Eton
- Wed 20th June: Cheese and Wine evening, Broadway Complex, St James Park, London
- Tues 9th October: Pub Quiz, The Doggett’s Coat and Badge, Southbank, Blackfriars bridge, London
So, week total: total of 4 hours 43 minutes, including 5,920 metres of swimming, 45 minutes spinning and 13.1 miles of running.
Next week: hopefully the West Ham strikers will rediscover how to score (especially at the home to Reading); Ems gets back from Hong Kong (I never thought I would look forward to Weight Watchers food but its strange what a week of Garlic Bread, Napalentana Sauce and Tomato, Cheese and Bacon Tortelloni can do for you); my sister and I do the last 20 miles of the London Marathon so she knows the landmarks; I do another 5k swim; and more importantly I fly to HK to see wifey :-)
I have also been to the supermarket to buy a mixture of low carb and non-alcohol beers. Long shot but this is my time (yes, I have just watched the Goonies for the umpteenth time...) so lets try to eek out the final x%...
TTFN
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