10 miles (Easy pace)

Today's run was a lot better. I knew I needed to run a lot longer than usual. Not having run since Thursday. I had planned to run yesterday but time had got away and it was also Isaacs (my son) 12th birthday.
My last run had made me quite miserable. I felt that I was not running for pleasure. I was just putting up the numbers, running the miles for the sake of it. This is not what I am about. I have never followed a training plan before. Now, three weeks into it, I can comfortably say that training plans are not for me. Not strict ones anyway. I think I need to allow myself the flexibility to move sessions around. For instance today should have been interval, but I really could not be dealing with that today. I just wanted to run. So, the 10 mile easy run which I should be doing later in the week, I moved to today..... and it was awesome.

Headed up Valley road and called in at Northgate Sports centre for some water. It was hot today, but I had chosen not to take water with me. My plan was to stop at Sports centres or even then Hospital if I needed to drink.
I continued down heath road to St Augustines, through Kings Way, Rands Way and along Nacton road. Then making my way back along the waterfront and home. 10.6 miles done.

My pacing felt fine. I could have gone on for another 5 miles. I feel that the 4 days away from running did me a lot of good. mentally and physically. I'm not sure which session I'll do tomorrow if any. My first though is to ride my bike. It's been too long.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/546233074# 

Off plan week

This week has been terrible. My training plan has gone to pot. I am getting the miles in, which I suppose is what counts. But the structure has disappeared. 

Part of the problem is that at the weekend I over indulged in alcohol and had very little sleep. The after effect of this has been ongoing. Tiredness and physical exhaustion.

 My working week has altered slightly too. My days of have been sacrificed so I could assist a lad on work experience with me. It's not been hard work, but not having the time at home to chill and recharge has made a difference to my mojo.

I feel like i'm playing "catch up" 

2 years on!

Post by Brian Powlett.

Day 7 of training plan.

I'll just start of by saying that I have deliberately moved my training updates to this blog. So by clicking on the link you have chosen to pay an interest in how my training is going. I like to post on Facebook/Twitter. I am not showing off or massaging my ego. This acts as a training diary for me to record where I am at right now. I've chosen to share it.

 I like running, cycling and triathlon.

You can read it or ignore it. If you rather I just reshared stuff from Buzzfeed or viral videos from youtube etc then i'm the wrong friend. I have a lot of friends who have a common interest in my chosen sport. Also I know some people have been inspired by some of the stuff I've posted about. Anyway, you get my point.... Thank you, Love ya! xxxx BJP

For the first time EVER! I have started and maintained a training plan. I have been running and cycling for around 5 years now, but have never committed to a plan. I have decided that I would give the Jaffa 12 week plan a go, in the build up to Ipswich half marathon. So far so good.

Today I was scheduled for 5 mile easy running. I still struggle to know what my paces are. My slow pace is ridiculously slow when compared to my race pace. I knew I wanted to be around the 10 minute miling. I also made sure the route I was running was quite flat. Yesterday, my 7 mile "Easy" run included park run and the run up to the park was a steady incline. Then the run afterward up to my work includes quite steep sections. All in all, I was struggling with my knees at work. I was not sure how they would feel today. But they were fine. A little sore at the start thats all. Garmin Data here.

Tomorrow is 12 x 400 meter intervals. But I have an appointment with the Physio in the morning to assess my knee pain. See what happens tomorrow.

Thanks for reading.

Day 1 of of Training plan.

Today is day 1 of #Ipswich half marathon 12 week training plan. #PB4BP I don't think I'll be able to make the Jaffa track session tonight. So I'll probably head to a park later. 1 mile warm up, 6x 800m of 2 min recoveries (need to check that with my coach @tomwake) 1 mile cool down. Followed by 2 pints of Heineken.

Return the joy please Doc.

This evening I will be going to see a psychologist for CBT. CBT is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. I am having this treatment because, it would seem that since being knocked off my bicycle in July 2012, I have developed some anxieties when it comes to riding my road bike.
My anxiety does not extend to all cycling. For instance, I can ride my single-speed bike and hybrid bike without many issues. It just tends to be around riding at speed, namely, training rides. My original psychological report suggested that I had a "Specific Phobia". More to do with an environment as opposed to an action. 
In the very few times I have been out for a ride, I have found myself being overly cautious and apprehensive when approaching junctions and busy roads. Even the quiet roads I find myself processing what may or may not happen. Is that car reversing out on to the road? Has that driver seen me? These thoughts are on a permanent loop in my mind. Thus taking away the joy I used to get from cycling. As the year has gone on, I find myself making more excuses to not go out for a ride. Lying to myself like a politician. "Well! It's not that I don't want to ride, its just in the current climate I dont think its advisable!"
Prior to the accident, many a Sunday morning would come and I would head out to the coast and back before work. Me time. Ride time. 
I don't usually cycle in groups or with a club. Thats just the way I am. I love the freedom of being able to go where I wanted and being able to stop or sprint when I wanted. I just want those joys back!

I'll update this after my visit to the Doctor. Stay tuned.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome?

Last night I went to my regular Ipswich Jaffa running club track session. It was a 3 kilometer time trial. I was quite happy I managed to knock out 12 minute and twenty something second. But toward the end of that session my knee started to feel quite aggravated. Coupled with Achilles Tendonitis and a major lack of fitness.
 Anyway this morning I hit the google machine and managed to find some information about what is going on under my knees bone.
Turns out it is something called Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome. Soreness when sitting for long time. Can flare up with overexertion. I have added links to the articles which  I read.

I am still going to visit my doctor to check my self diagnosis is correct.

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Patellofemoral-Pain.htm

http://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00007256-199928040-00003


http://saveyourself.ca/tutorials/patellofemoral-pain-syndrome.php

When I used to love you.

I have made the decision to change my focus. Over the last 4 years my goal was to get in shape to complete a full Ironman Triathlon (2.4mile swim 112mile Ride 26.2mile run). Through 2010-2012 I had competed in a few triathlons, Duathlons, running and cycling races. All with varying results and mostly fun!
During the summer of 2012 while in training for the Vitruvian Triathlon (Half distance Ironman) I was hit by a car while I was out cycling. Although thankful for being alive, I have been left scarred, scared, battered, bruised and injured.
I had initially deferred my Vitruvian Tri place to this year (2013), but i'm now realising that the lack of training rides and runs are leaving me way behind schedule to be able to compete competitively this year. I feel, if possible, I will defer again until 2014.
I have fixed up my road bike since the accident. New forks, gear mech, brakes etc. But I have not been able to enjoy riding it like I used to. The collision with the Citroen Saxo put an end to all that. I ride a single-speed bike for my daily commute to work. This is normally a steady roll to and from work. I enjoy this most of the time but I am suffering with anxiety on the roads of Ipswich. Sometimes finding myself being over cautious at EVERY junction. I am finding most cycling far too stressful

So, what now.

                                                   I run.....

I have fallen back in love with running. Barring injury, I am feeling this is where it's at for me. I have recently started Parkrun 5k races which are awesome. I feel 5k is my distance. My current PB is 22.30. Would love to get this to 19.59 before 2014 starts. I have entered the ballot for the Virgin Money London Marathon 2014. I have been unlucky in the ballot 4 years now. Surely this is my time.
The other thing is my weight. Since starting at the Greyhound my weight has gone up. Need to sort that shit out and fast. Snacking on chips and bread is my weakness. I'm currently rocking around 13st7lb. Want to get to 12st7lb by this time next year. With focus on healthier eating.

So that's it really. Going to forget about the bike training for now. Just swimming and running for health and fun. Not forgetting the gym sessions too.

I think this song sums up how I fell about Triathlon and cycling training.

Think im gonna knock #cycling #triathlon on the head. Really enjoying my running at the moment and the other stuff stresses me out.
— Brian Powlett(@Brix2tri) May 21, 2013

Tattoo I have been wanting to get.

perfer et obdura; dolor hic tibi proderit olim | Flickr - Photo Sharing!