Always thought living at the highest point in Kent (Ide Hill) had its advantages. For instance, global warming, no worries, sea won't reach us! [Although, just in case, Sarah insisted that we install Air Source Heat Pumps to do our small bit to keep sea levels down.]
Today though I discovered that I was born in East Anglia for a reason - it's flat! It turns out that if you live on the highest point in Kent then a "cycle circuit" involves 15 minutes down hill wheeling and 45 minutes hard, hard pedalling back up the hill to where you started!
Now I don't know much about bikes...but I quickly worked out how those gear things worked. My thumb was working overtime to get to the easiest gear...and my feet whirled around - but I have to admit that I was overtaken by a runner, jogging up the hill into Sevenoaks.
But I made it. All the way around and home - without stopping or any walking. My only hope is that all this exercise will (a) make me fitter; and (b) make me lighter...so that eventually it will get easier. If I haven't died by then of a cardiac arrest!
Saturday 5 December 2009
Monday 30 November 2009
Can't get out of bed...training must have started (by Julian)
So this is it. Mike - hereafter referred to as "Our Great Leader" - has sent around the Training Plan and I must face up to it. Following a tough session at TriClub on Sunday (96 lengths), Monday follows quickly afterwards with weights and a 20 minute run on the treadmill. Tuesday knackered so take "day off" (only allowed 2 of these per week with 5 scheduled exercises). Wednesday have dinner so also "day off". Uh oh down to no days off now. Thursday have late Partner Meeting and so also "day off" (now in negative territory). Friday - forgot about Sevenoaks Switching On of Lights and date with Sarah to see "An Education".
So to summarise: 1 exercise done. 4 days off. 2 days left to complete 3 exercises. So Saturday morning is for run. Saturday afternoon buy bike and ride home (nearly in dark by time I get up the final hill). Sunday is swim day - but Arsenal are at home to Chelsea so 6 hours lost (and I mean lost since Arsenal get wiped out by Drogba!). BUT I STILL DO IT - 80 lengths, timed for TriClub!
So week 1: Runs x 2; Cycle x1; Swim x1...so a little short (a "spinning" class). But not too bad!
Saturday 28 November 2009
Oh not again (by Sarah)
When the idea of the Arch to Arc challenge came up several months ago and Julian was asked to consider joining the team, I thought ‘Here we go again – another one of Julian’s mad schemes’. I should be used to them by now. It is, after all, not the first time. Amongst other things Julian has run 2 marathons, swum solo across the channel and again as a relay, and learnt to fly (aeroplanes – he’s not quite that mad). All this alongside working very long hours in a relatively stressful job. Now Julian would say that the later is precisely WHY he has to take part in ‘mad schemes’ to contrast his work as well as ‘to get fit’ as he is not a natural athlete.
It is because we have been through it all before, that I had quite severe reservations about Julian taking part in what will be the most gruelling of challenges so far. We have four children aged 5 to 16 and I knew that the training schedule, by its nature 3 times as time consuming as the channel relay alone, would mean that we would be seeing even less of him. We had several discussions about the pros and cons of Julian taking part and in the end Julian said that he would not do it if I did not want him too. Of course, I would have to live with the consequences if I said no (a sulky husband) but ultimately giving me the opt out option was a very good strategy on his part, since whenever I feel negative about the project, I remind myself that I could have said no.
Now, other than my husband’s general mood, there were other reasons why I wanted to support Julian in the Arch to Arc, not least of which are the good causes for which the team are raising money namely 1) replacing the ancient and dilapidated scout hut to benefit dozens of children in the area currently and, no doubt, many more in the future and 2) The Spinal Injuries Charity. Secondly, for the sake of his health, Julian needed a motivation to get fit – although you could say (and I have) that this is a fairly extreme motivation. Thirdly I liked the idea of being part of a team again. No, that is not a typo, I did mean me, personally.
During the 2006 Relay Channel swim training, all the 5 swimmers and their spouses developed a strong sense of team. Regardless of whether they were to be involved on the day (Liz and I did accompany the swimmers on the boat, but the other spouses stayed to look after the children) I think everyone felt they were a part of the team, with all attending the monthly planning meetings, which took the form of a dinner hosted in the houses of the five swimmers in rotation. These were great fun as well as useful teambuilding and planning sessions. Furthermore spouses and children all came down to Dover at various points to see the swimmers in mind numbingly cold action. With some understanding of what was going in to the venture, the spouses were happier on other occasions to be left looking after children or other aspects of family life.
It is because we have been through it all before, that I had quite severe reservations about Julian taking part in what will be the most gruelling of challenges so far. We have four children aged 5 to 16 and I knew that the training schedule, by its nature 3 times as time consuming as the channel relay alone, would mean that we would be seeing even less of him. We had several discussions about the pros and cons of Julian taking part and in the end Julian said that he would not do it if I did not want him too. Of course, I would have to live with the consequences if I said no (a sulky husband) but ultimately giving me the opt out option was a very good strategy on his part, since whenever I feel negative about the project, I remind myself that I could have said no.
Now, other than my husband’s general mood, there were other reasons why I wanted to support Julian in the Arch to Arc, not least of which are the good causes for which the team are raising money namely 1) replacing the ancient and dilapidated scout hut to benefit dozens of children in the area currently and, no doubt, many more in the future and 2) The Spinal Injuries Charity. Secondly, for the sake of his health, Julian needed a motivation to get fit – although you could say (and I have) that this is a fairly extreme motivation. Thirdly I liked the idea of being part of a team again. No, that is not a typo, I did mean me, personally.
During the 2006 Relay Channel swim training, all the 5 swimmers and their spouses developed a strong sense of team. Regardless of whether they were to be involved on the day (Liz and I did accompany the swimmers on the boat, but the other spouses stayed to look after the children) I think everyone felt they were a part of the team, with all attending the monthly planning meetings, which took the form of a dinner hosted in the houses of the five swimmers in rotation. These were great fun as well as useful teambuilding and planning sessions. Furthermore spouses and children all came down to Dover at various points to see the swimmers in mind numbingly cold action. With some understanding of what was going in to the venture, the spouses were happier on other occasions to be left looking after children or other aspects of family life.
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