August 2007 Archives
The chap in the UK Nike+ advert (see YouTube) is "addicted" to running. For those of you who haven't seen the Nike+, see this post.
Now motivation to run has long been a problem for me. I don't really enjoy running yet, and it always feels soooo sllooooowwww (probably because I'm doing it wrong). Why plod along at 12kmph when I could be whizzing along on my bike at 40kmph instead? Goddamit people, I've got places to go! So I don't run as often as I should, and when I do run I tend to get bored pretty quickly. Normally boredom sets in after about the first 1km, which makes 5km more of an achievement that you might have thought!
As a geek who can't run far without getting bored and who has a need to learn how to run 10k for an Olympic distance triathlon next year, the answer seems obvious. I need something addictive. So an ipod nano and nike+ has been on my wish list for some time. But my wish list is quite long (and my pockets are not that deep), so I've sulkily coped with poor running motivation for some time. But it turns out I was wrong. I don't need to spend money to go faster.
Now motivation to run has long been a problem for me. I don't really enjoy running yet, and it always feels soooo sllooooowwww (probably because I'm doing it wrong). Why plod along at 12kmph when I could be whizzing along on my bike at 40kmph instead? Goddamit people, I've got places to go! So I don't run as often as I should, and when I do run I tend to get bored pretty quickly. Normally boredom sets in after about the first 1km, which makes 5km more of an achievement that you might have thought!
As a geek who can't run far without getting bored and who has a need to learn how to run 10k for an Olympic distance triathlon next year, the answer seems obvious. I need something addictive. So an ipod nano and nike+ has been on my wish list for some time. But my wish list is quite long (and my pockets are not that deep), so I've sulkily coped with poor running motivation for some time. But it turns out I was wrong. I don't need to spend money to go faster.
Continue reading Motivation without batteries.
My bike has been noisy for a while now. There's a very noticeable clanking sound when I pedal, but annoyingly only when I'm out on the road - not when it's on a workstand, so I've been thinking it must be something that takes some load: wheel bearings or the bottom bracket.
I've been using the noise as my excuse for going more slowly than Dan in everything. "If only I could have a silent bike", I imagine to myself, "I could go 5-10mph faster, and really whoop his ass." Sometimes I go further and start to think that perhaps I can use the noise as an excuse to spend £1300 on a nice new Focus Cayo Expert carbon bike from Wiggle.com. Surely carbon doesn't rattle, squeak or grind?!
How not to prepare for a bike ride
This morning I was preparing my bike for a 3-4 hour ride with Dave, and decided to do some 'tweaking'. I played around with the brakes a bit - my front brake calipers are still sticky so need replacing soon - and starting checking the gears. I noticed that my back hub was making quite a lot of noise - grindy, y'know? So I thought "I know, with only 1 hour to go before I'm due to set off, why not clean and grease my hub". Anyone who knows me - including myself - would know this was a bad idea. There's no way I can make even slight adjustments without loosening, losing or snapping something that's necessary for safe and speedy cycling. I normally like to give myself a few hours (and possibly a trip to the bike shop) before tinkering. On this occasion I threw caution to the wind, and went for it. Next stop broken bike!
I've been using the noise as my excuse for going more slowly than Dan in everything. "If only I could have a silent bike", I imagine to myself, "I could go 5-10mph faster, and really whoop his ass." Sometimes I go further and start to think that perhaps I can use the noise as an excuse to spend £1300 on a nice new Focus Cayo Expert carbon bike from Wiggle.com. Surely carbon doesn't rattle, squeak or grind?!
How not to prepare for a bike ride
This morning I was preparing my bike for a 3-4 hour ride with Dave, and decided to do some 'tweaking'. I played around with the brakes a bit - my front brake calipers are still sticky so need replacing soon - and starting checking the gears. I noticed that my back hub was making quite a lot of noise - grindy, y'know? So I thought "I know, with only 1 hour to go before I'm due to set off, why not clean and grease my hub". Anyone who knows me - including myself - would know this was a bad idea. There's no way I can make even slight adjustments without loosening, losing or snapping something that's necessary for safe and speedy cycling. I normally like to give myself a few hours (and possibly a trip to the bike shop) before tinkering. On this occasion I threw caution to the wind, and went for it. Next stop broken bike!
Continue reading Bike repair for idiots - rear hub.
I did the Eynsham Triathlon on Sunday. Only a sprint distance, and only a 200m swim at that, so not exactly an Ironman. But I have taken a couple of days off training and wondered whether I am just being lazy, or whether this is the right thing to do.
What time should I allow my body to recover and repair after a triathlon?
What time should I allow my body to recover and repair after a triathlon?
Continue reading Enough rest... get back to work!.
I did the Eynsham triathlon today. This is organised by Eynsham Road Runners but is held
in Woodstock. It's a 200m swim in Woodstock pool, 18km bike and 5km
run cross-country, and is a fantastic first triathlon if you're that
way inclined. In fact it was my first triathlon 1 year ago (ahhh, how
much I've done sine those heady days of youth).
Continue reading Eynsham triathlon.
Had my first "members-only" open water swim at Cassington with Oxford Tri today. It was fantastic. For any of you that is tempted by open water swimming but is worried, don't be. I've put up some novice tips on open water swimming here.
Since it was my first time, I was advised to stick in a group (actually, everyone does this anyway - it makes everyone feel safe and also means they can stop at the various bouys and have a natter). I tagged onto the back of a couple of ladies that looked like they were heading for an 'easy' route. They were kind enough to lead me round and we did a couple of laps of the lake - or about 1200m, which was good enough for me.
The Oxford Tri open water sessions are well organised and friendly, so if you are looking for your first open water swim (or if your experienced and just want to do more), I'd strongly recommend them. They're available only to members, but membership is so cheap and easy you might as well join!
Since it was my first time, I was advised to stick in a group (actually, everyone does this anyway - it makes everyone feel safe and also means they can stop at the various bouys and have a natter). I tagged onto the back of a couple of ladies that looked like they were heading for an 'easy' route. They were kind enough to lead me round and we did a couple of laps of the lake - or about 1200m, which was good enough for me.
The Oxford Tri open water sessions are well organised and friendly, so if you are looking for your first open water swim (or if your experienced and just want to do more), I'd strongly recommend them. They're available only to members, but membership is so cheap and easy you might as well join!
Not the most auspicious start to my rigorous training schedule for Windsor Triathlon next year...
Sophie made us some glorious macaroni cheese with a rocket, red pepper and seed salad last night. Sometimes the joy of her cooking is overwhelming - especially when I think I've been depriving yourself. I got so excited by the cheese, the pasta, the tangy mustardy bits that I just didn't want to stop. 
So I didn't stop.
After the second helping of pasta was finished, I moved onto chocolate. The chocolate was Green and Black's Almond chocolate, which is good on its own. It's even better with a nice red, and we chose a wine that we'd brought back from a recent trip to Barcelona - Torres Atrium.
Then after the first bottle I moved onto an Australian Shiraz.
Oh Dear God. It's important to let your hair down from time to time, and the odd
reward certainly motivates me, but I think I might have overdone it this time.
Perhaps I should add "self-control" to my training routine?
I'm currently capable of a Sprint distance, but I've "done that" now, so want to move up to Olympic next year. Robbie has suggested that Windsor is a good 10k, so I'm going to try that one out.
I have a lot to do before I can swim, cycle and run that far, so I thought I'd put my current training schedule up here, so you can tell me how inadequate it is! I'll find a way to track my progress as well...
I have a lot to do before I can swim, cycle and run that far, so I thought I'd put my current training schedule up here, so you can tell me how inadequate it is! I'll find a way to track my progress as well...
Hello,
My name is Nik, and I'm a man from Oxford (born Manchester) in the UK. Lovely to meet you. Why do I have a girl's name? Well, that's another story for another day.
I'm a wannabe athelete, with a specific slant toward tri-athletism in recent years. I started out with cycling over the past few years and then got "introduced" (read pressured, bullied) into trying out a triathlon by our friend Denise from Eynsham Roadrunners (ERR) in 2006.
Since then I've completed a few Triathlons:Newbury, Blenheim and ERR's Woodstock triathlon and have really enjoyed all of them (although Blenheim 2007 was pretty bloody hard work). I'm not very good at swimming, biking or running, but I am improving.
If you want to know more about me, you know where to go.
My wonderful wife has a nutrition-based blog at www.mostlyeating.com (which is also in many ways my food diary), so I've decided you all need to know what progress I'm making, both with my diet (thanks to my lovely), and my exercise effort (thanks to me). If you can't be bothered to read on, why are you still here?
My name is Nik, and I'm a man from Oxford (born Manchester) in the UK. Lovely to meet you. Why do I have a girl's name? Well, that's another story for another day.
I'm a wannabe athelete, with a specific slant toward tri-athletism in recent years. I started out with cycling over the past few years and then got "introduced" (read pressured, bullied) into trying out a triathlon by our friend Denise from Eynsham Roadrunners (ERR) in 2006.
Since then I've completed a few Triathlons:Newbury, Blenheim and ERR's Woodstock triathlon and have really enjoyed all of them (although Blenheim 2007 was pretty bloody hard work). I'm not very good at swimming, biking or running, but I am improving.
If you want to know more about me, you know where to go.
My wonderful wife has a nutrition-based blog at www.mostlyeating.com (which is also in many ways my food diary), so I've decided you all need to know what progress I'm making, both with my diet (thanks to my lovely), and my exercise effort (thanks to me). If you can't be bothered to read on, why are you still here?
