Rookie's diary part two

tunney · 01-07-2013 3:07pm #1

In 2003/2004 Triathlon Ireland was looking for a few newbies to the sport to keep a diary of their first season in the sport. I volunteered and kept a log of that rollercoaster year - a journey from largely sedentary and overweight to active triathlete. I find myself now in roughly the same starting position as a result of a long existing but undiagnosed medical condition - I've done pretty much feck all in three years and I've done nothing in two months. Its getting under control so I can hopefully return to some proper training and racing. I find keeping a log of training useful and I've never done anything else so here goes....... Rookie's Diary part two!

I've no grandiose goals, no mad targets, no nothing. I just want to get better and get back training - and the lifestyle and general quality of life that goes with it.

Only one race on the calendar this year I think, enough time to get well enough and do enough training to finish - Blacksod olympic distance. As long as my finish time starts with a 2 and not a 3 I will be happy.

c07 · 01-07-2013 3:25pm

Well done you getting back in the saddle. And massive big ups on your first race back to be an Olympic distance. Wow!
Best of luck with the training

tunney · 01-07-2013 9:58pm

Monday 1st July 2013
Weight: 13st 3.8
RHR: 66
HRV: 75

Entered my first, and probably only, race this year. My first olympic distance in probably five years - Blacksod. Myself and two friends @LCD and @jackyback are heading over to it.

Run
First day back in work after two weeks off. Meant to be moving offices but that was pushed out a week so got to do a 30 minute waddle along the sea front, love running around Clontarf. Future running routes (IFSC) won't be as pleasant.

Run hurt as only a run you do when you are grossly unfit and a few stone over weight can.
6.4km, 4:56 per km, 156bpm avg

http://app.strava.com/activities/64017334

Swim
I did this session last week, first swim in months. It was horrific - not the set, I love Rich's sets but the way I was in the water. 100s coming in 2:05-2:10 I felt like getting out and going hom after a few hundred meters last Thursdau but I reminded myself that the only way to improve is to persevere. So I did. Did the same set today and it was much better, still dog slow 1:50 - 1:55, which one 1:48. More importantly I had more of a feel for the water and most important of all is I enjoyed the whole session. Progress will take time.

2000m in 45 minutes

shotgunmcos · 01-07-2013 10:37pm

tunney wrote: »

Monday 1st July 2013

Run hurt as only a run you do when you are grossly unfit and a few stone over weight can.
6.4km, 4:56 per km, 156bpm avg

I hear ya. Feels like you have never run before

tunney · 03-07-2013 9:10am

Tuesday 2nd July 2013

Run
A bad night, was up until 4am with "digestive issues" (i.e. on the bog). Woke late for work as everyone had slept in. Debated not running today. "HTFU princess" came a voice in my head. Went out. If I thought yesterdays run was Hell this was Hell where all they played was Westlife music and only ate cucumbers. Wanted to walk at 20 minutes. Didn't, small victory. Needed a sit down afterwards, going to be a long long run back.

6.1km in 30 minutes, AHR 160bpm
http://app.strava.com/activities/64230115

El Director · 03-07-2013 9:46am

Wish you all the best Dave and I hope the health issue is manageable and improves soon. First step though is a diagnosis and at least you have that now! I might be seeing ye in Blacksod myself yet, as tough as HoTW IMO.

tunney · 03-07-2013 10:59am

I've got a few emails and the like saying "slow down, you're running to hard, take it easy" etc etc

Just to clarify for the next bit while I am recording sessions I am not concerned with HR, power or pace. I'm just running, riding and swimming - ignoring all metrics. Given how horrifically unfit I am metrics are pointless. In a few weeks I'll think about HR and then a good long bit after that I'll think about pace and power.

tunney · 04-07-2013 9:32am

Wednesday 3rd July 2013

Debated doing an extra run at lunch. Rule is that extra sessions, done easy, are allowed at any time as long as they do not interfere with the scheduled sessions. Swallowed my pride and accepted that three consecutive days running was beyond my present level of fitness and my weight. Got my hair cut instead

Turbo

Its been a long while since I sat on this. It meant an extra set up effort to get software and hardware working and then off I went with a session where the main set was a descending duration, increasing intensity set. Warm as fvck in the shed and I sweated buckets. So so so far back on biking, it may as well be year one. What I could hold for four minutes I used to be able to hour for four hours. In the bag though and onwards we go.

http://tpks.ws/gtka

tunney · 05-07-2013 3:47pm

Thursday 4th July 2013

Run

*SOB* *SOB* My last run along the sea front in Clontarf. Tomorrow we move to the IFSC (economic necessity to bed in with a sister company for a bit). Love running around here. Great showering/changing facilities too. City centre running and changing in a bog doesn't really do it for me. Bring on the baby wipes.

Anyways 45 minutes easy with a few pick ups. Tight legs and a pig of a wind made this an uncomfortable slow run.

Turbo

Big gear work. Love this. 5x minutes of bliss

nerraw1111 · 05-07-2013 5:08pm

There's a nice route from the IFSC, down the quays towards the O2, cross the east link and out over to Irishtown park. It's a much nicer run than Clontarf sea front in my opinion.

tunney · 07-07-2013 12:14pm

Friday 5th July 2013

A solid swim in the morning, only 2km but getting my feel for the water back bit by bit with every session.

Busy day in work and then heading up the country, had planned on running when I arrived but it was dark by the time we got there (delayed en route) and being the bog not safe to run at night.

Saturday 6th July 2013

Arrived last night and the kids woke when we stopped the car. When they saw their grandparents they went nuts and wanted to play with them. Which they did until midnight. Had a big party on later in the day so needed to get the little one to nap at least a little, meant driving around Cavan and Fermanagh for an hour and a half (he only slept 40 minutes) and then lying down with him for three hours to get him to sleep or he would be a demon later at the party. Time to go to the party before I knew the day was gone so no training. Had thought would be home early with the kids but they were happy out so a late late one.

tunney · 07-07-2013 12:15pm

nerraw1111 wrote: »

There's a nice route from the IFSC, down the quays towards the O2, cross the east link and out over to Irishtown park. It's a much nicer run than Clontarf sea front in my opinion.

Cheers, will try that out

tunney · 07-07-2013 4:39pm

Hello,

A good week. Monday-Friday all sessions hit (two swims, three runs, two turbos) nothing yesterday or today, hassle with Eoin yesterday and a hangover from hell today (big in-law family party last night) Weak excuse today I know and won't be making a habit of this!

Dave

tunney · 08-07-2013 12:39pm

Week ending 7th July 2013

My first week back training. Monday to Friday were good. Saturday and Sunday less so. It's a start. Low numbers but a start. 90km commuting too. On the plus side recovery wise from illness is flying. Getting there very quickly.

Swim dist: 4km
Swim time: 1:40
Bike dist: 28km
Bike time: 0:53
Run dist: 20km
Run time: 1:45
Total time: 4:10

tunney · 08-07-2013 3:12pm

Chatting the man with the tan today. He asked was I interested in DCM. Told him my weight. "Fvck me Dave I could roll you around the course."

Dory Dory · 08-07-2013 3:56pm

I say do DCM.

tunney · 08-07-2013 4:28pm

Dory Dory wrote: »

I say do DCM.

Will wait until I am running more before committing to anything!

Dory Dory · 08-07-2013 5:00pm

tunney wrote: »

Will wait until I am running more before committing to anything!

Fair enough. Plus, YOU have to WANT to do it...or at least have the right mindset and approach to HOW you want to do it. Just don't let weight be the reason (which I suspect you won't) because that is easily remedied...and besides I'm sure you wouldn't be the fattest lad out there on the day...unless, well, just how fat are you??

(seriously, was just thinking it might be fun and a good focus for you, that's all.)

tunney · 08-07-2013 5:17pm

Dory Dory wrote: »

Fair enough. Plus, YOU have to WANT to do it...or at least have the right mindset and approach to HOW you want to do it. Just don't let weight be the reason (which I suspect you won't) because that is easily remedied...and besides I'm sure you wouldn't be the fattest lad out there on the day...unless, well, just how fat are you??
(seriously, was just thinking it might be fun and a good focus for you, that's all.)

I'm seriously fat. 13st 3

10st 4 is racing weight

13st 3 is over weight for "a normal person". I'm fat and thats it. Do I want to do a marathon? Best case I am low 12st, too heavy to run well. Too heavy to enjoy running really.

If I got a good dose of the sh1ts and lost two stone in a month, then maybe.

tunney · 09-07-2013 9:46am

Monday 9th May 2013

Took Eoin for blood tests today so that was a traumatic experience. Also meant I couldn't try out the new suggested running route from the IFSC at lunch (thanks for that). A 50 minute sweat fest on the turbo late enough at night. Two fans on the go and sweated buckets. Loved it. Off to bed at 2300 for an early start for a swim. Eoin had other ideas. Screaming and needed someone with him to sleep. I volunteered for it. Three hours sleep so unlikely to swim on Tuesday. Just don't know what to do with him. Pick up put down, cry it out, controlled crying, gradual withdrawal - just don't know what to do with him now.

Kurt Godel · 09-07-2013 9:47am

tunney wrote: »

- just don't know what to do with him now.

"HTFU", I dare you;)

mloc123 · 09-07-2013 9:50am

tunney wrote: »

I'm seriously fat. 13st 3

10st 4 is racing weight

13st 3 is over weight for "a normal person". I'm fat and thats it. Do I want to do a marathon? Best case I am low 12st, too heavy to run well. Too heavy to enjoy running really.

If I got a good dose of the sh1ts and lost two stone in a month, then maybe.

Realistically you could get under 12st by DCM. It is 15 weeks away? 1-1.5lbs a week is doable.

tunney · 09-07-2013 9:50am

Kurt Godel wrote: »

"HTFU", I dare you;)

He has been told to do that.
He has been threatened with letting the neighbours babysit him.
He has been threatened with "for every five minutes you cry I kill a birdie"
He has been threatened with being put in a creche.

Seriously at wits end.

tunney · 09-07-2013 9:51am

mloc123 wrote: »

Realistically you could get under 12st by DCM. It is 15 weeks away? 1-1.5lbs a week is doable.

Yeah Man with a Tan was on again last night about it.

12st yes but thats still heavy for running, not going to rush into anything. #comeOnThe****s

Kurt Godel · 09-07-2013 9:54am

tunney wrote: »

Seriously at wits end.

You've tried diet etc? The only thing that worked for my restless daughter was timed laps of the back yard, followed by milk and cookie. Sorry if the joke was in poor taste; when they don't sleep you don't sleep, you have my sympathies.

tunney · 09-07-2013 9:57am

Kurt Godel wrote: »

You've tried diet etc? The only thing that worked for my restless daughter was timed laps of the back yard, followed by milk and cookie. Sorry if the joke was in poor taste; when they don't sleep you don't sleep, you have my sympathies.

He is a great eater. He eats his dinner and then some of mine. He is a calm and happy lad *until* he goes in the cot. Then...............

He is always on the go. Although I had thought of tying him to my bike and going for a cycle and letting him run himself to exhaustion.

woody1 · 09-07-2013 10:14am

"He is always on the go. Although I had thought of tying him to my bike and going for a cycle and letting him run himself to exhaustion"

in the same boat if its any helpsounds just like my 2 yr old..hyperactive.. having awful trouble getting him to settle at night time for the last 3 or 4 nights, had it for a while about 3 months ago and thought that we cracked it but its back now as bad as ever

tunney · 09-07-2013 10:31am

woody1 wrote: »

"He is always on the go. Although I had thought of tying him to my bike and going for a cycle and letting him run himself to exhaustion"

in the same boat if its any helpsounds just like my 2 yr old..hyperactive.. having awful trouble getting him to settle at night time for the last 3 or 4 nights, had it for a while about 3 months ago and thought that we cracked it but its back now as bad as ever

It does help to hear others are in the same boat to be honest.

I was lying with him last night to get him to sleep. He stopped crying after a while and then started breaking his hole laughing in his sleep...........

tunney · 09-07-2013 8:14pm

Tuesday 9th July 2013

Run

Longer than I should have gone for - both lunch time wise and fitness wise. Was just so lovely out I couldn't stop. A nice, albeit slow run. Liked the route from the IFSC but a little dissapointed with the quality of birds in bikinis on the beach.

I used to run the last part of this route a good bit. It was the route that on sunny days could make a Garmin fog. Today was sunny. Guess what? Fogged. Base2race - be seeing ya soon!

http://app.strava.com/activities/65848821

I cannot remember ever running this slow, ever, ever ever.
Avg pace 5:12
AHR: 173bpm

Thats walking pace for 10km heart rate

Turbo
Session called for 5 5 minute blocks of work. I had a good idea setting up the turbo that I wasn't going to finish this session. It was just too bad hot. Session was scheduled as 1:05 in total. Binned in at 25 minutes. Happy that I started despite everything. In hindsight I should have gone out on the road. Silly.

tunney · 10-07-2013 9:19am

Woke up this morning (shattered thanks Eoin) and went down for breakfast, sitting at the table Glenda asks "WHATS THAT ON YOUR THIGHS????" pointed at two patches of horrible cuts and abrasions. "Oh thats chubby chaffing - I'm too fat to run" "OH David, you need to sort yourself out"

ray o · 10-07-2013 10:46am

tunney wrote: »

Woke up this morning (shattered thanks Eoin) and went down for breakfast, sitting at the table Glenda asks "WHATS THAT ON YOUR THIGHS????" pointed at two patches of horrible cuts and abrasions. "Oh thats chubby chaffing - I'm too fat to run" "OH David, you need to sort yourself out"

You have got to be making this stuff up Dave....

Oh and I hear with the little fella. When it comes to sleeping with a 2 year old in our house all the rules go out the window. I realized very early with Luke that imposing set schedules only made for very frustrated parents. So some nights it's his bed, others its ours and sometimes he will drop off on the couch. I only have the one so I suppose I can get away with that approach.

tunney · 10-07-2013 10:52am

ray o wrote: »

You have got to be making this stuff up Dave....

Afraid not. Things got very bad for a while but thankfully the issues that affected the last few years are well on their way to be resolved so will get back to the old me soon!

ray o wrote: »

Oh and I hear with the little fella. When it comes to sleeping with a 2 year old in our house all the rules go out the window. I realized very early with Luke that imposing set schedules only made for very frustrated parents. So some nights it's his bed, others its ours and sometimes he will drop off on the couch. I only have the one so I suppose I can get away with that approach.

He is killing us.

RayCun · 10-07-2013 10:57am

tunney wrote: »

Woke up this morning (shattered thanks Eoin) and went down for breakfast, sitting at the table Glenda asks "WHATS THAT ON YOUR THIGHS????" pointed at two patches of horrible cuts and abrasions. "Oh thats chubby chaffing - I'm too fat to run" "OH David, you need to sort yourself out"

Bodyglide?

tunney · 10-07-2013 10:58am

RayCun wrote: »

Bodyglide?

Lose weight

But will have to do something short term

woody1 · 10-07-2013 11:19am

He is killing us.

our man still at it too, although at least when he eventually goes to sleep its for the night so id say you have it worse..latest hes gone down yet is 12 its like the sun is charging him up.. most kids tire out when their outside all day.. our guy seems to get more energetic...his brother is the opposite, wants to sleep, but the little guy is keeping him awake.. all kinds of fun..

tunney · 10-07-2013 11:28am

woody1 wrote: »

He is killing us.

our man still at it too, although at least when he eventually goes to sleep its for the night so id say you have it worse..latest hes gone down yet is 12 its like the sun is charging him up.. most kids tire out when their outside all day.. our guy seems to get more energetic...his brother is the opposite, wants to sleep, but the little guy is keeping him awake.. all kinds of fun..

Exactly our house.

They both play all day (Glenda gave up her job to look after them so I know they are on the go all day. No telly so its all learning and activity. They both get tired around 1730 after dinner. 20 minutes cartoons, then bath and bed. By 1815 he is fully recharged and just wants to play

Big sister (3.5) in bed at 1900 and sleeps until 0700-0830 (until she gets hungry) in the morning she will say "Eoin had a bad night last night" or similar.

If you come up with a solution please tell me!!!

mloc123 · 10-07-2013 11:49am

Bit of whisky on his gums before bed?

:pac:

tunney · 10-07-2013 12:34pm

I was joking with my wife about the weight I needed to loose. I joked "I nearly have to loose an Eoin (20 months) to get to race weigh". Then I worked it out. I have to loose four pounds more than this little girl weighs......

ray o · 10-07-2013 2:11pm

Echinaforce 3 for 2 in Boots at moment Dave. Time to stock up for winter.

kennyb3 · 10-07-2013 3:40pm

With twins (our first(s)) on the way, this makes for very worrying reading. It's a pity you can't 'bank' sleep.

tunney · 11-07-2013 9:39am

Wednesday 10th July 2013

I was shattered in the morning and didn't HTFU and just going swimming "I'll do it after work I said".

Into work, despite being 1km longer its working out faster to get to work in the new offices. Much more dangerous though because of more idiot bus drivers and incompetent drivers (and gobsh1te summer cyclists)

Run at lunch. Still very hot, still very fat, still very slow. Loved every minute of this run. Easy with pickups. Lost alot of leg speed but that will come back.

"I'll swim this evening" is a euphemism for "not a fvcking hope of swimming today". 1900 rolled around and it was my turn to tame the rascal. Only took until 2030 but by then the pool was going to be closing soon (Ben Dunne gym - great price but crap opening hours, pool isn't organised, whole thing could be cleaner but its 250 euro a year as opposed to 75 euro a month like Westwood (which to be honest was always cramped with four lanes in the mornings being used by fish who cannot swim of all things))

Anyways one foot wanted to kick myself for missing stuff. The other one didn't as it recognised that I am moving nicely along the run to returning to training. When I'm fully better it will get easier!

Kids nicked my turbo fans tonight (or rather I put them in their rooms). Whether it was the fans or not Eoin slept from 2030 to 0745 and Aoibhe from 1930 to 0730 - happy days (except for the knackers screaming and shouting at midnight. Oh the joys of living in a state that rewards laziness, stupidity and a lack of discipline. Reverse-Darwinism at its best.

tunney · 11-07-2013 10:45am

I thought of another goal for Blacksod. This could be the most challenging of them all. FIT IN MY WETSUIT. Sh1t.

Shell to Run · 11-07-2013 11:33am

tunney wrote: »

I thought of another goal for Blacksod. This could be the most challenging of them all. FIT IN MY WETSUIT. Sh1t.

Please do not get super thin.......your log is just way to funny when your fat.....sorry.

tunney · 11-07-2013 10:53pm

Thursday 11th July 2013

Plan for today was a lunch run and an evening interval session on the bike.

What actually happened was a lunch time meeting and then spent the evening cutting back trees with the neighbours on the road. My fans are being used by the kids so no chance of a turbo. Not doing an interval session in the dark - lights or no lights!

Not as planned at all but sometimes things need doing!

shotgunmcos · 11-07-2013 11:16pm

She is the head off you!

Seriously, let go of the past. If fat Tunney has to run and do a triathlon then let him. Good that you enjoyed Tuesdays run. Enough of the 10st4 sh!te talk! Agree with Shell to Run too

tunney · 12-07-2013 10:30am

shotgunmcos wrote: »

She is the head off you!

Seriously, let go of the past. If fat Tunney has to run and do a triathlon then let him. Good that you enjoyed Tuesdays run. Enough of the 10st4 sh!te talk! Agree with Shell to Run too

We talked a fair bit off boards about things and I fully accept alot of what was said. The Tunney of 2009 is gone and not coming back, to be honest I wouldn't want him back. I'm in a different place now - family (obviously) work and priorities. I'm happy where I am.

However the weight side - no that I cannot and will not accept. 12st is a healthy weight for 5 foot 10. 13st is an unhealthy weight, it is overweight. Never mind having to buy a new wardrobe it sets a horrible example to the kids and its going to cause healthy problems.

10st 4 might not happy but thats not the real goal - the real goal is a long term sustainable healthy weight.

tunney · 12-07-2013 10:39am

Off to bed last night. I was going to swim this morning and Glenda was going spinning. That was the plan.

Eoin instead got a temperature of 39.9 and was in agony all night.

Sleep came at 5am......

Poor little man, off to the doctors this morning.

TRR · 12-07-2013 10:56am

wow sounds like you are having no luck with your young lad. Went through the same myself and to be honest the only thing that worked was to leave him roaring etc. It's tough but after 3 nights it all worked out and we haven't looked back. Maybe you've already tried this! Regards the weight if you were well under 11 stone before you can be under 11 stone again. Diet and all that. Just put the cake down

c07 · 12-07-2013 5:52pm

tunney wrote: »

Off to bed last night. I was going to swim this morning and Glenda was going spinning. That was the plan.

Eoin instead got a temperature of 39.9 and was in agony all night.

Sleep came at 5am......

Poor little man, off to the doctors this morning.

Oh the poor pet. And poor you too!
I'm guessing teething (assuming he's a baby) or viral.
Hope he's better soon....

tunney · 15-07-2013 12:22pm

Okay so it appears I owe some apologies...............

Eoin was taken to the doctors on Friday. He had very very bad tonsilitis. Doctor was amazed that he was so happy and cheery "despite being so sick". He'd obviously been sick all week and he only wasn't himself at night.

Aoibhe came down with it over the weekend and an ear infection too.

Great craic.

Training for me didn't happen the last few days. No excuses I just didn't feel like it. A run or two but thats it.

tunney · 15-07-2013 12:23pm

Week ending 14/7/2013

Swim dist: 0m
Swim time: 00:00
Bike dist: 27km
Bike time: 1:14
Run dist: 28km
Run time: 2:26
Total time: 3:41

Rookie's diary part two

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