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Showing posts with label Tapering. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tapering. Show all posts

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Possible Flight Change...

Tapering for the big race did not feel as good last year. I was sick 2 weeks out last year. Pretty sick I believe. this time I was slightly ill but still managed to train. And with better health during the taper, I spent quality and quantity time with the family. With the kids school vacation, it made all things even sweeter.


I received 2 emails over the course of last week. Quantas changed my flight times for both trips. Today, I received a call, requesting that they put me on a different flight with different flight times. As I understood it, they have changed it to a smaller plane and somehow have to shift the passengers around. The only alternative I gave them was an earlier departure but I have yet to confirm with them. I suspect that this was a precautionary measure after the Quantas series of events recently - the A380, the technical problems. Not sure what the outcome is going to be like yet.


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Did a big swim yesterday. Not quite close to my PB for the 3.8km swim, but a 1:11:37. Suffered from some shoulder ache today. Could be the swim, or my 1st session of yoga last night. And the yoga? An interesting session. Most of the positions I had done before - the stretches, lunge, tree, rest, etc. Pretty basic but good.


Did a 50km bike and 10km run this morning. Weather was not too hot on the bike but heated on the run. Somehow my legs havent been feeling quite fresh. Perhaps it was the week's sessions? Kept both disciplines to ironman pace. Run was manageable and finished it on the hour.


Somehow I have a problem with people whom I dont know drafting me - maybe I am just being a selfish ass. Last week I had a clown who drafted when I was riding at 30kph? Today I had another fella drafting me at 34kph. If I were riding with friends, that would not have been a problem? Or perhaps have the courtesy to ask? I am not sure if there is such a practice? In any case, I chose to drop them by hitting above 45kph. I think they got my point. Of course, my legs burned and HR monitor went crazy. Good training for myself still?


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Brought my kids to watch Rapunzel: The Tangled Tale in 3D. This is my 1st 3D movie at the cinemas. And seriously, I am not too sure what fanfare is about? It is really not a big deal? Or maybe the cartoon just was not that well done? I saw a 3D movie at Tokyo Disneyland that surpassed this quality. I think I will pass on the technology for a while. So in the mean time, I will take advantage of the relatively low cost LED/LCD televisions in the market, and the declining prices of Blu-Ray movies.


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Thereafter I caught "I Am Sam" on HBO. An old movie starring Sean Penn and Michelle Pfeiffer.  I remember watching it in the past but could not remember much of the movie. A touching film with top class acting by Penn. And without a doubt, a GREEEEAAAAAAT looking Pfeiffer.


And yes, my wife was sobbing away. Natural reaction from her with tear jerking movies like these.


And to all doing the Standard Chartered Marathon on 5th December? GOD SPEED!

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Week 1 to IMWA: Taper Week

I AM BACK! Yup, the lethargy was gone by the time I started on my run just now. Not before I had my sleep in the afternoon though...


For the past 2 days, my sessions saw elevated heart rates. Today's run saw the usual HR for the pace I was running. Did 3 sets of 6km, 1st at 5:29/km, 2nd at 6:09/km and the last at 5:18/km. Had a very slow 3km as warm up - really crawling. In between sets were 500m walk while the last warm down was a 1.5km walk.


It sure felt good to be back again. It had been 1 week of rubbish feeling.


Am I ready to face IMWA? Err... Not quite sure. But I have done my best for the most part of the year and with Coach's guide, I should live to see another year...


This is the last week before race week. Following Thursday I will be gone with my family, down south for my second ironman attempt. And 3rd time to Perth in 3 years. And yes, it will be likely that next year will have to be Cairns. It is time to change to a new place for a holiday.


Planning ahead, A races next year will be AVIVA Singapore 70.3, Challenge Cairns and if still around, Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon.


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Noticed a hole on the tri suit that I planned to race with. Scouted around and decided on a 2XU. Not much of a choice, it will have to do for now. This week will try it on to see how it functions. If not good, I will bear with the hole on the old suit...






Wonder who sells Rocket Science 20BPM in Singapore. Always liked a white tri suit but it sure is hard to find in Singapore. Will scout and ask around again when I have the time. In the mean time, anything goes...