To be honest, I’m probably in a much better position than most when it comes to fitting training time in with family duties. I’m extremely lucky in that I no longer need to work, so I can fit in what I do around school pick ups. Having said that, there is always stuff to do, particularly over the past couple of years as our house is having to be rebuilt. Not because we have had some grand design, but because of the muppet builder who built it so most of my time has been spent dealing with the comedian Insurance Company and Contractors they appointed.

Anyway, I get more of an issue training when the kids are off. This half term has been difficult as the ones at primary school had one week, and the older ones had a different one so it gave us a 2 week half term. There was a little bit of an overlap so we went off to Abersoch for a few days. I’ve been going there for over 20 years now. On a good Summer day, you would never know you were in the UK. We all just chill over there, whether its going for a walk, messing on the beach, whatever, its just a great place.

For me, its probably my favourite running place. I get up early, and try and sneak out for a run on the beach. There’s just something special about running on a beach, next to the sea and I try to make the most of it. Weather wasn’t too good this weekend, and as its only a week before next weeks half marathon, I thought I’d get one last biggish run in. Sneaked out into the lounge where I’d left my bits and thought I’d head out once I’d got changed quickly. It was then that I realised just how much shit I had to get ready to go out. Running pants to stop any chaffing, tights to keep warm, shorts over them, heart rate monitor on, skin top over that, running shirt over that, socks on, shoes on, headphones through my shirt sleeve, ipod shuffle attached, garmin on and attached to satellites. Now I’m dressed, fill the camelback with water, pop a couple of tablets in, attach to my back, get the straw in the right place, get a couple of gels in the pocket and I’m ready, got a sweat up just getting myself together!!

It was worth it though. Like I said, something special about running along the beach and you’re the only one there. Its the only place I run with headphones in as I like to know whats happening round me with the traffic, but here, there’s just me. I had a proper moment listening to an old favourite song of mine, Stargazer by Rainbow. Its also nice to run and listen to the waves crashing in, particularly this weekend as they were crashing in quite a lot!!

Thoroughly enjoyed my run, and if you enjoy it, you either stay out longer, or run faster, or maybe even do both. I stayed out longer, as I’m not overly quick and it just set me up nicely for the day, and as it was my last big run before next weekend, didn’t push it too much.

Back home now. Will do a couple of turbo sessions this week to keep the legs going but nothing too much so they’re fresh ish for Sunday.

I’ve been quite lucky with training injuries, I think the worst think I have ever had was shin splints which I developed about 2 weeks before I did my first half marathon. It was painful but I was carrying four stone more than I am now at the time, so could put it down to that. Other than that, I’ve had nothing else, until this morning.

I did my usual hours training with my PT and because I was going to pick up my youngest from her nursery, I stayed at the gym and did a run. Nothing daft, just a hour or so and I did a nice, gentle 12 km. Just plugged in the Ipod and off I went listening to some Parkway Drive to relieve the boredom.

Felt pretty good doing it, no aches or pains and could have gone on but I needed to be at the nursery so hopped off the treadmill and wandered to the changing rooms. As I walked past a mirror, I noticed something on my shirt so stopped and looked. To my horror, there were two large blood stains down my shirt, starting where my nipples were. If any of you have ever had joggers nipple, trust me, it hurts!! Especially when you first get in the shower, think I gave quite a yelp when the water hit them the first time. Wouldn’t mind but I had protectors on as they rubbed a little the other week so I thought best safe. Trouble is, they fell off and created the mess that my shirt is in the picture!!

I’m sat here typing this with no top on, not a pleasant thought I know but I don’t want anything rubbing on them. They’re throbbing like mad at the mo, could hang a pair of coat hangars on them. Hopefully the pain will go away in a bit but for now, it aint good.

Take care.

Must admit, prior to doing any of this kind of running and triathlons, I used to get a few colds and coughs and quite a few aches and pains, but it didn’t really bother me. Now, I start to get more and more paranoid about it and whether its going to stop me from doing any training.

Since I entered the Cheshire Half, everyone has come down with something in our house. The worst has been my 2 year old daughter who I’ve had to have at the doctors twice. The first time, I phoned them up late afternoon and asked if they could see her the following day. Bit of a silence and then a no, we’re full tomorrow, how about the following day? Do we have to book illnesses in advance now??!! To give them some credit, the receptionist asked the age of my daughter and how far away from the surgery I was. As I’m 2 minutes away she said they’d squeeze her in, but I had to be there in 5 minutes, so all sorted in the end.

As she’s started nursery 3 mornings a week, she has started coming home with all sorts of little coughs and sniffles, though this was a particularly bad sore throat. So bad, she hardly ate for 3 days and getting her to drink was a problem. The medicine soon sorted her out, but not before my wife and her older sister caught it. May as well have put a big red cross on the door there were that many germs floating around here.

Whenever anyone gets ill in our house, the first thing I do is pop some Echinacea pills. They’re easily available at all the health food type shops, and they’re supposed to boost your immune system. I’ve got to say that since I’ve done this, it always seems to work and I tend not to catch anything. The one time I happened not to have any in, I came down with what everyone else had, so I have to say they seem to work, for me at least.

Also make sure I have plenty of water and vitamin C. I’m no expert at any of this, so I can only say what works for me, but with this half marathon coming up, I’ve just checked and I’m well stocked up.

Didn’t have the best preparation for this. Was out on the Friday night at the Arena watching Paramore and then Saturday night out at a charity do for Genesis Breast Cancer. Both quite late nights, particularly the Genesis do but water at both so didn’t feel too bad.

My swim wasn’t due til 10.55 so didn’t need to get up too early. Did this one in May, so knew the course, and also knew that the car park filled up quite quickly, so got down quite early and managed one of the last few spaces in the car park by the leisure centre. Got myself checked in and went off to rack the bike in transition. Once I was happy and checked everything about 4 times, went off to get changed.

The swim starts with a 10 minute briefing by the pool about the whole course. All pretty much common sense but a nice reminder of what to look for. The swim is done in the leisure centre pool. Five lanes with five swimmers in each, going off at ten second intervals, and if you need to overtake, just tap the swimmer in front on the foot and they let you through at the next turn. I’m not the quickest swimmer, more endurance but managed to get past all the ones in front of me and got out about 40 seconds quicker than last time so pretty happy with that.

Round to transition, just a small jog across the path and grass and onto the cricket pitch where transition was. Still not got this nailed. Wanted to put my cycling top on over the tri suit as it had my spare inner tube and CO2 canister in its pocket. Didnt dry myself properly on my arms so struggled to get it on and got in a flap faffing about. Forgot to put my Garmin off my wrist and onto the bike and didn’t remember until I was on the bike. Still, guess its one of those things you only do once.

The bike is my weakest part, need a lot more practice on it. Set off and felt really comfortable. There was about four riders in front of me and soon got past them which gave me more confidence. Was pleasantly surprised how comfy and more importantly how quick I was so just cracked on. Got to the top of the hill just before the airport tunnel and charged down it, which showed how confident I felt. Halfway down, it all went pear shaped. Didnt see a big pot hole, and went straight into it. Was a right bang but kept upright. Then a couple of seconds later, had that sinking feeling as everything went wobbly and had abit of a battle to stay on. Fortunately, managed to pull into a bus stop and stay on.

Checked the front, and was completely flat. There was a rider on the other side of the road who had seen what happened so he came over to check I was ok. This was to be my first ever change, but luckily my help was a bit more experienced, so soon back on the way. Big big thanks for the help!!

The roundabout was about 50 yards up, but as soon as I got to it, it didn’t feel right. Pulled up again and the back was flat!!! Had used my one spare so that was me done. Gutted.

Started the long walk back up the hill. Warned a few about the pot hole as they flew past but everyone seemed to miss it ok. After about 20 mins, a guy stopped and offered me a lift. Turns out he was an ex triathlete so knew what I was up to and took pity on me, so big thanks for that.

Got back to the start and had the walk of shame to the timing desk to tell them I was a DNF. Really gutted about it, but nothing I could do. Guess I need two spares next time!!

Back from holiday and still no t’interweb at the rented house we’re living in, hence the lack of updates. Been in here nearly 5 months and had no outside line in all that time, so no phone, t’interweb or email. Couple that with my mobile dying this week,bay as well have been living in a cave. Anyway, back on topic.

Not sure how long the Ironman buzz lasts, I’m still buzzing from just getting an entry, god knows what it’ll be like on the actual race day. Before that, there’s going to be quite a lot of pain with the training, in fact that pain has already started. Went out on the bike last weekend, and didn’t even get off the driveway before I fell off. In my defence, it’s quite a long driveway!! Those bloody clippless pedals, I just can’t get used to them, particularly my left foot, and guess which way I went??!! Fortunately, my left hip took most of the impact. It’s a little demoralising lying on the path on a Sunday morning, still clipped into the bike that is lying on top of you. A little bit of wriggling and a lot of swearing soon sorted that. Anyway, went back inside and set the bike up on the turbo!! Spent quite a while last week on that, generally when my wife was watching soaps or X Factor, but even that didn’t go to plan, managed to get a flat!!

You might be thinking why start now? It’s another 10 months to IMUK. Firstly, I really need to practice on the bike, it’s my big weakness of the 3. And secondly, I have the South Manchester sprint at the end of Seotember. It’s the same route as the Wilmslow tri that I popped my tri cherry with earlier this year so I know the course, it’s nice and local and it gives me a time to go up against.

Did it in 1.48 in May. Was just happy to finish that, this time I’d like to try and knock 10 minutes off that time. I might not have done as much tri specific training as I’d have liked but looking at my times, I can knock a bit off the transitions as they were a bit of a faff,and I’m sure I can do the same on the bike which is the big chunk. I do have another incentive to get round quicker. Need to get home and get changed so I can get to the football as its the Manchester derby that afternoon!!

Sat on holiday in Portugal for the past few days, thinking about what’s going on with my house and not alot else.

Quick mess on some of the forum’s that I visit regularly, and it appears the registration for Ironman UK is being launched today. Didnt really give it much thought, I want to do an IM, but not next year, I’ll keep to my sprints and half marathons, and maybe chuck in a full marathon just to say I’ve done one and possibly a half IM.

Read some posts on tritalk, and followed some links to a load of triathlon blogs. Looks like I could actually do an IM next year with some work. I’m reasonably fit, can do half marathons ok, not particularly quick but I’m south of 2 hours now and have started doing sprint tri’s but can I really be bothered?

Anyway, midday is the start of registration. By 20 past I’m £400 down and have my registration for my first IM. Why? Cant really give a definite answer, I think I just want to cross the line in July next year and hear those words “Malcolm. you’re an Ironman”. If you dont understand, then maybe this isnt for you.

So there it is, as the title says, in at the deep end. But twice? The second in at the deep end is what you’re reading now. Never done anything like this but thought, why not, could be fun. Just hope I keep it up.

Come back in the next weeks/months and see how I’m getting on.