Nice Project Manager

Come to the conclusion that my swimming instructor is a sadist - very nice sadist, but a sadist all the same. Got in the pool 3 lengths warm up, then the horror 24 lengths. No problem I hear people say well here's the catch the session was

4 lengths front crawl
4 lengths front crawl kicking only
4 lengths breaststroke
4 lengths breastroke kicking only
4 lengths backstroke
4 lengths backstroke kicking only

I can't do front crawl and as much at the start, so I was asked if I wanted to move down a group which I said "Yes Please!!" to.

One of the things that has been putting me off cycling to work is carrying a laptop on my back. So I nicely asked the Project Manager if the company would be willing to buy laptop pannier bags for me and another chap. Expected to be told no. Response was actaully "
A reasonable request, give me a day or two to talk to finance to figure out how to cover the expense and I will get back to you"

Well he did - The purchasing lady has been told I've to get a "good spec" laptop pannier from our regular suppliers. I feel an Ortlieb pannier coming on.....

Anyway off on Holiday at the weekend for all of half term, so catch you later.

How Much!!

My clothes seem to be shrinking in the wash, this is affecting trousers in particular. They seem to have gotten awfully tight of late. I had to admit defeat and weigh myself this morning, a whooping 13st 11lbs. This wouldn't be too bad if I was 6ft tall, but I'm only 5ft 7 and the ideal weight for that height is about 11st 7.

Ok There is a lot of debate about what "Ideal" actually means but being 2 st over the ideal is not the best of ideas.

A bit of history about me

About 9 years ago I weighed the best part of 15 stone, yes thats 15 stone! I struggled to get into a pair of size 36 in waist trousers. I actually resorted to buting a pair of 38" once. At this point I said no more.
I started reducing the amount I ate, walked a couple of stops to catch the bus, started cycling to work and weight came pouring off me. I was sent to work somewhere that meant I had to stay in a hotel for 10 weeks. It was at this point that I decided to start running, just a mile or 2 in the morning, but I was determined not to put the weight back on.
I then changed jobs cycled to work and ran most lunchtimes with a very competitive running partner I even managed to crack sub 40 for a 10K and was able to fit comfortable into a size 32 trousers.
Now I drive to work, haven't run in over 2 weeks and need to buy some size 36" trousers. I need to fight the fight again but I'm 9 years older and I currently don't have the same mental strength as I had then. This is going to be tough

Take a sabbitical or not.

This was meant to be posted last week, but blogger went offline before I could actually post it!!!

"Wandered into some friends blogs and they have all started taking sabbaticals. In the same way I feel the same I feel as if I've got nothing interesting to say - did I ever have anything interesting to say I ask myself?
Of course given my recent problems some people may be a bit worried about this. I can assure you that things are going well My own Doc is happy with my progress, though she did increase my dose slightly to try and deal with the remenants of broken sleep. I take it as a good sign that she doesn't want to see me for another 4 weeks. Work is good still taking it easy and no pressure.
Been cycling to work couple of days a week, not really started running again - too much like hard work. I am however going to sign up for Adult swimming improver lessons at the local pool. I can swim but not fast and certainly not elegantly. I would like to swim at a reasonable pace and enjoy it as a workout.
And that is about that run out of things to say. Of course if anyone wants to drop me a note please do so"

OK the update

Attended my first swimming lesson. It was the hardest I have had to work since speedwork, fortunately it was only for half and hour. I was the slowest in the class by some distance, but not because of effort, just stroke inefficency. The only way to improve is to keep on going is suppose.

Bought a new (to us) car, 206 estate, utility car really. Easier and cheaper than the tank that is the VW Sharan. Pick it up on Tuesday and say goodbye to our 12 year old metro

Thin Controller moved up into Cubs and immediately went on camp for 2 nights with BigW. Came back a very happy but tired controller.

Oh Pix if your reading you won't want to read this bit. Thin Controller took his model railway to his last night of Beavers to show it off as part of one of his badges. The Beaver colony spent the whole session playing with it and Thin Controller absolutely loved showing it off.

Anyway time for me to go. Got work to go to and I need a rest after swimming

New Desk New Start?

Sunday's discomfort has all but gone even managed to ride into work on Tuesday and Wednesday. Haven't been running for a while, but I don't want to do to much when I getting back into work, the cycling should help get the fitness back.

Work seems to be going well. I don't feel under any pressure at all. I'm still just bouncing through the day. Phoned up one of my work colleagues in the USA a chap I have a lot of contact with. He was genuinely pleased to hear my voice.

Been given a new desk in the office, moved out from my quiet - too quiet - little corner into the middle of the System Architecture Group, which I'm the main Software Person for. An altogether more lively environment. I like that need a bit of a buzz to get going, and I can now get involved in discussions more freely. Makes me feel more involved and useful.

Oh even got my Laptop - which I'm typing up this entry on from the comfort of the sofa, connected via the house wireless oh I'm being geeky now ;-)

Isle of Wight Randonee

Rode the entire round the island route yesterday and it was tough.

Day started off earlish 7AM, bit of breakfast then cycled down to the ferry, to meet up with a friend at 8:30. The ferry terminal was somewhat crowded with cyclists of all shapes and sizes. On the island we formed a stream of cyclists to the first checkpoint (Wotton), the roads where going to be busy!

Ride to the 2nd checkpoint (Bembridge) was a bit slow - saving ourselves for the hills to come and picking our way through cycling traffic. Got our cards stamped and had some very nice flapjack things prepared by my riding partners wife, before we were off again.

Ride to to Checkpoint 3 at Alverstoke was uneventful apart from the road going up in places, quick stamp of the cards and on our way to Whitwell. My riding partner had used some computer software to analysis the route and this is were he thought most of the hills were, never mind its a fairly short section. There were hills nothing majorly big just non-stop up and down, no flat sections to recover on. I was beginning to suffer at this stage it was lunch time and I was hungry. Checkpoint 4 was a stamping only station no food to be had, but fortunately we passed a grocers that was opened and a nice big Beef Salad Baguette, followed by a banana made me feel a lot happier. I'm glad I did

The section from Whitwell to Yarmouth was to be the longest and I thought the flatest imagine my surprise when greeted with a large hill. Oh well climb up it. I was nearly at the top when I heard a cyclist in front of me go "Oh No it keeps on going up round the corner", my response is unrepeatable. Of course the good thing about going up on a bike means you can go do the other side REALLY fast and this descent was fun!!!!! Manged a just under 37 mph going down (OK I wimped and applied the brakes at some points) tootled along beside the sea for while then I look up ahead. " Is that a road I see on that cliff ahead - it is. Is that cyclist I see on it - it is, umm that's a big climb - it isn't its 2 climbs with a sharp descent in the middle" Oh joy.

Its at this point I'm really struggling, I'm finding myself being careless when checking for traffic and the likes but I struggle on. I can't remember much more about the rest of the ride apart from more painful hills, but I managed to hang on in there. I was very glad to get back to the start and get my certificate. I was so exhausted I was worried I was going to be able to make it home from the ferry. Luckily a large coffee, mars bar, flap jack and 30 mins sit down gave me enough energy to do it.

By the time I cycled to and from the ferry terminals I had covered 86 miles in 7:20:48 of saddle time. To say I'm tired and a little stiff is an understatement and its nearly 24 hrs since I got home.

The route was the clockwise way round the all island cycle route - the anticlockwise route is tougher as the hills a tend to be steeper and the really up and down stuff is at the end of the ride. Its due to be the anti-clockwise way next year. If anyone is interested I recommend it for a good, but tough day with some great scenery. Look here for more info

I may give it a go but perhaps with a little more training in the bank.....