Getting better

12 k on ski. No tips, and a smoother stroke. 1:21. Faulco ride with Luke. Solid effort on the hills. 3:41 for the Mac road climb is 20sec of late April, but thoroughly respectable. Good day, most tired I've been since early May. W

Close to the end for Clive

Visited travel agent today. Holiday for 2013 ready to be booked up now.>>>>>> I read Clive James' interview with BBC4 today. It ain't good, to the point where the combination of leukemia and emphysema is likely to prevent him from ever being able to get back to Oz. Love an expat who still sounds like he comes from Kogarah rather than a mystery island in the mid-Atlantic,and Unreliable Memoirs remains my favorite ever read.>>>>>> Rest day Tuesday following a nasty head ache day, and 10k on the ski today. A few close calls but no spills. I don't think my balance has improved much, but I have at least become relaxed enogh not to worry about rolling. No speed, but a comfortable and very njoyable late afternoon paddle.

A little house husband

Two weeks of house husband coming. Awesome stuff. Decided to trim all the trees and get rid of the woody weeds today. Who'd have though a privet would look so much like a seedling Jacaranda. Anyway, chain sawed it off - right at the base - gawd a chain saw is a fun peace of kit. Mrs J is suggesting I should use the time off to do more cycling rather than killing her plants, but I've got the bug now, and can't wait to have a go at "stuff" inside the house tomorrow. Really like the idea of ripping out the kitchen an rebuilding it myself - how hard can it be. May have to be a surprise for Mez, as she is resisting the idea.... Strongly. >>>>>>> Took in an post-lunch Faulco via the service roads. Still a favorite, especially in winter when climbing doesn't leave you drowned in sweat and gasping super-heated air. All the training intensity of over boiled pasta mind you, but still a brilliant way to spend 2 hours.

Soleus strain

The stiff soleus that I had yesterday packed it in during warm up for the duathlon today. Ice and rest and surf ski practice. No pain from cycling so will use the running hiatus to get some balance and bike miles going.

Last day on the job

Last day at The 7 today. Nice enough send off, and I'll miss a goodly few of them. It's probably a shame that you can't take the best of the folks you work with around the place with you. But like everywhere there were a couple who made you wonder, and wonder, and"."..........??. Personally I wouldn't entrust the Westlink chief engineer with a project to redesign Freddy the Fish's tank ornaments, less alone a f}#%ing traffic interchange. Nice enough chap, don't get me wrong, but g-a-w-d! there are origami rosettes that are better decision makers. 12 easy k this morning before work. Achilles a bit rough, but a calf massage and some Difflam Gel will probably get me through is one. Winter Solstace Festival and a duatlon in the afternoon tomorrow. Promises to be a good one. Need to get back on the sensible eating plan NOW.

Here Comes the Fat Controller

12k in 52:58 = 4:24. 4:14 for 11k if I take out the Santuary Drive climb. Run with Luke, best tempo I've held for donkeys. Still had a goodly sum left as well - damn freaking happy with that. Apple and raspberry crumble with vanilla bean ice cream to celebrate. A bit sore, so will stay easy for the rest of the week for conservation's sake. Hopefully 35k solid bike in the morning and 20 easy bike at lunch tomorrow. Blackmores in under 90 - Look out Thomas, here comes the Fat Controller.

Stayed out of the water for the first time

Surf ski stayed upright on the weekend for the first time, but I am still hopelessly slow and unstable – 42:38 for 6k is around 8.4kph, and entry level appears to be about 10kph. Not even sure that I was that much faster than last week’s 45:16 if you adjust for the swim component. 

To make 10kph in 8 weeks will require an average improvement of just over 2% per week, which would seem optimistic – though I am (rather obviously) at the beginner end of the learning curve.

Mt Portal run on Sunday with Ads and Luke. Always a nice run but highlighted a whole world of general weakness in my lower body, and was quite sore yesterday, including a bit of roughness around the Achilles. Took a rest day Monday and a gym session this morning in an attempt to straighten things out. Will get Brett over this week which always helps.

Progress still happening.

A good weekend ahead:

Ø  Winter Magic Festival Saturday morning

Ø  Club duathlon Saturday afternoon

Ø  Ski paddle Sunday morning

Ø  RJ Taekwondo gradings midday

Ø  Sunday afternoon Faulco ride – depending on the effort level is always either good training OR a good way to close a winter weekend – but never both.