Is this a mad way to start?

I think it's about knowing your body and knowing when to strategically miss a session and when to push yourself out the door.

I've missed sessions out of sheer can't be botheredness, and it's never done me any harm.

HTFU is good for situations such as clipped in wibbles and swimming wibbles, but not smart to use it to push your body beyond. I learnt the hard way.

Ok, I really like the Brooks Ghost 4, popped their cherry this morning with 5.5. Think they may be my shoes of choice next weekend, depending on the terrain. I usually race in my fastwitch.

Ok, bumped into the people I exercise horses for today, (or should have done through the summer, if not for the sudden full time work). I can get up there and take K out in the week, they're so grateful because he's kicked shit out of E. The vet had to be called.

They're desperate for him to be taken out, and so grateful when I do. I'll be totally honest, as a teenager, young adult etc... I would ride any horse and throw myself down black runs skiing; now since the kids, not so.

Kali isn't bad when you're actually on him, but he's a strong boy with some neurotic-isms. I'm just a bit more aware now of how much it could hurt if I hit the deck, combined with it being a horse that doesn't belong to me. However, they trust me to take him out, so... I just have to trust in their belief that I can handle him, and I can.

That was kk admitting to being a little bit scared.

No, that was kk admitting that age dumbs you down to being a bit of a wuss.

Not got time to read the whole thread but I think this will be my next target.

I am a recovering alkie and went from zero to 50 miles in 18 months .   I have ran 8 marathons and a 35 and 50 mile ultra.   Next up is an Ironman,   Would you recommend doing a shorter one first?

Hello

I would say enter an IM, and in training fit in a few shorter ones, very good practice for transitions and eating/drinking.

You sound like you already have a good long distance base with the ultras under your belt.

Go for it!

Need to get a bike!   Cannot afford one to spring really tho.

Can you borrow one? Failing that are you a member of a gym?

Over the winter i could do a couple of spinning classes a week.

Also there is gym work you can do specifically targetting the biking muscle groups and core.

Is there?  lol

Click me!

Linky thing doesn't seem to work

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cycling-Anatomy-Sports-Shannon-Sovndal/dp/0736075879

Well I'm not running today, did half an hour of upper body weights and core this morning. D working lates so we've decided to do the 'Spy Themed Treasure Trail' I won; basically it's a set of clues that takes on a 2.5 mile walk around Exeter. The kids find out the answers and that provides a deactivation code to solve the trail.

Think we might learn a bit of Roman history while we're at it.

I surely get middle class slummy mummy brownie points for this little outing. It needs to be punctuated with coffee and ice cream stops.

The Trail was really good, it followed the old city wall of Exeter, 10yr old REALLY into it and finding the clues, J more interested in telling me why she loves Pez so much, and it was a long walk for her. Took us 2 hours, the thing is that there are some beautiful old hidden parts of Exeter, perfect territory for the homeless, so we did have to negotiate some pissed, high, fallen off the planet people. I just go up and talk to them like I'd talk to anyone, one guy found one of the clues for us and was really grateful for the company.

Low point was Cole getting assaulted by a very large lab x sexual predator; it pinned him down from behind, Cole yelped, but we managed to sort it. Of course then I had to have the conversation with the kids. I think they've gone a bit past (well E has) taking 'that dog was just cuddling Cole' as the reason, so I just said that the dog really liked Cole and wanted to be his boyfriend, to which I got the reply 'What, he wanted to make out?' followed by a load of giggles.

Question of the day which needs consideration: Is it possible to strangle a giraffe with your bare hands and how hard would it be to hang one?

Lovely 12 mile hilly run with Cole, felt strong at the end, so hopefully looking good for next weekend.

A guy in a van stopped me to chat about running, complete stranger but I now know his wife is doing the Great North run and he'd entered the Dart Disc. Further on in the middle of nowhere an old couple were walking up the road in full Paralympic Games maker kit. I just shouted out as I went past 'Congratulations on volunteering' to which I got hearty thanks.

Just another random country run

D was supposed to be working tomorrow but now he's been released from CC, so he's going to take me here for breckie...

Click

I just spontaneously went out on my bike, yes I know my bike! First time in months, did a couple of hours and was pleased with my speed generally.

Can tell I haven't ridden for months because my shoulders ache a bit now. Legs felt ok except obviously my quads have atrophied.

Where DO I get these nightmares from? Ok, this one started in Australia, I get that bit because as I was browsing in a shop yesterday I picked up The Lonely Planet guide to Sydney and looked at all the places I used to haunt.

So I dreamt I was back in Australia, follows... But then I ended up in a very corrupt airport in Russia and I'm not going to tell you what happened, it was hideous.

I've never been to Russia, I can't remember it being mentioned in my hearing recently at all.