Advancments in swimming and a huge olympic surprise.

The week has brought a few surprises on the gold challenge front.

It started with a swimming lesson in which we started to work on technical aspects of my swimming like "cutting" the water instead of slamming my arm into it!  It ended with attempts at tumble turns.  Essentially, all I had to do was roll into a ball, do a forward roll type move in the water and end up facing the way that I had just come from.  How I ended up sitting on the bottom of the pool I'm not sure!!!

Yesterday I had a PT session to work on my CV to try and shift the last Christmas leftover weight and start the foundation blocks for the tri in June. 

I wasn't however expecting what happened next.  I came back from the gym to an email from the Sea Cadet Fund Raising team (a lady called Harriet) offering me two tickets to the Gold Challenge Olympic Stadium Event in April.  So myself and Mrs L are off to the Olympic stadium............

All appears forgiven in the Lawrence household for me believing Mrs L when she said she "didn't want any thing" for valentines day.

I have found a new swimming style!

Firstly, apologise to those of you that do follow this (I know there is a few of you) for not updating my blog since the beginning of January.  I've fallen foul of the cold, dark mornings and the warmth of the duvet, so very little training has happened!

I have however, had another PT session, started circuit training again, continued the swimming and started running outside, so its not all bad! 

This morning was my next swimming session so at half past 9 I was at the swimming pool ready to go.  The progress made so far with the swimming has been fantastic, however this morning I proved that I still have a fair way to go before June when the triathlon is.  This mornings session started really well, with lengths of front crawl happening.  It was then that it was decided to teach me a "new drill".  This was called catch up and essentially I was told to swim normal front crawl, but only have one arm moving at a time, e.g the right arm does a complete stroke, touches the left hand stretched out in front of me, then the left arm does a stroke whilst the right arm stays straight out in front.  This sounds easy, and I should imagine that if you have co-ordination then it is in fact easy.  I have NO co-ordination, so this was highly amusing.  All I had to do was one 25 metre length like this.  I started and then halfway through managed to move my right arm, lean to my left and try to breath on my left side.  I don't know how I managed it, but I managed to twist my body round and find my self kicking whilst lying on my side, before then rotating through the water like a cork screw and ending up on my back looking at the end of the pool I had just left!!!!!  I am naming this the twister stroke!

New year resolution time.

So, the festive season has been, making it time to plan the new year and new years resolutions.  Apart from the personal resolutions (lose weight, make more time for family and friends etc)  I've also set some targets linked in with my gold challenge.

1/ To be able to swim 400 metres continuously front crawl (by 1st march 2012).
2/ I've got the judo, triathlon (3rd June) and cycling planned.  I need to plan my rowing and sailing parts as I want to finish this whole challenge with my triathlon. 

Today I had another swimming lesson.  This went okay, with the distance I'm going front crawl extending each time.  I did however nearly wipe out another swimmer when all I had to do was swim in a straight line.  Apparently, my straight line is more like a zig zag across the half of the pool we were using.  I've still got a long way to go before I' like a torpedo underwater, but at least I don't look like I'm drowning now when I try front crawl!

Challenge 5 - done!

  Today was session 3 of boxing.  Today's session was 45 minutes and involved learning another punch and putting everything I've learnt into practice in three 2 minutes rounds of sparring.

  6 minutes of sparring doesn't sound a lot, however it was really really tiring.  By the end of the third round I was a wreck but it was great fun and I'm glad I tried it and even more impressed that I didn't get a black eye as Mrs L feared.

  The rest of the week has involved a PT session on Sunday which incorporated a weights session on arms and shoulders and four 20 second full effort bursts on the rower with 10 seconds break between them.  Yesterday was a swimming session.
  Swimming, as this blog demonstrates, wont be my strong discipline in my triathlon, however its coming along nicely.  Its coming along that nicely that yesterday I was so proud of myself for managing to get my arms, legs and breathing coordinated I promptly forgot to take my head out the water and tried breathing underwater.  I can confirm that this is not possible and results in the swimmer drinking half the contents of the pool!  It was not nice!!!

   With these three activities this week my arms now ache, so I'm having a few days off from training before Christmas. 

  Moving forwards, I now have 5 challenges done, so I am halfway to the finish.  In the new year Judo starts at a local club, and between then and now I'm starting to train for my Triathlon properly, updates soon...............

Boxing part two - finally I get punched in the face and nose!

Tonight was part two of my boxing challenge, and we spent an hour training after work today.

We started off with a little recap of last weeks session, and surprisingly I remembered more then I thought I would.  We then moved on to ducking and weaving and sparring, before finishing with a core circuit again.  I had done okay during the session until, whilst we were sparring, the inevitable happened.  I was hit in the face.  Now I know its boxing, and that's one of the aims of boxing but I really didn't expect it to stun me quite so much.  All of a sudden I went to pieces (metaphorically) and forgot every block I had been taught and became almost a windmill of defence, with arms just swinging around!  I'm sure it didn't look as bad as it felt as it felt like a four year old trying to fight!  By the end of the evening I had been hot in the eye, the nose (several times) and the head.  On a positive note though, still no bruises!

At the end we done the core circuit.  Now last week my stomach hurt for around 5 days, so lets see if its stopped hurting in time for Sunday when I have a PT session!

Photos were taken and (most) weren't staged.  When you see the photos you will see the staged one or two!  Thank you to the trainer, Steve, and Billy for doing my photos.  There will hopefully be another session soon.

Boxing part one.

My aim was to have 5 of my challenges done by Christmas.  Due to the problems of getting some shooting arranged around my work and other commitments I decided to swap it, and some one in my office pointed out they could teach boxing.  Today was 1 1/2 hours of boxing.

Those that know me will know that my coordination leaves a lot to be desired.  When coordination was dished out I was still in the line for a coffee!  Today's session started with coordination.  It must have been quite amusing to see me shuffling across the floor, trying to master moving with out crossing my legs!  We then covered jabs, blocks and done some sparing.  I was only hit once by the trainer, but learnt to put a space between my face and gloves after being hit several times in the gloves that then bounced into my face!!!   We then finished with some circuit work.

Next session booked for next Wednesday. 

A months recovery and now for some planning

After my 1/2 marathon and the training surrounding that I decided to take a months rest from PT and gold challenge activities.  This has now come to an end so what better way to get motivated again then  to plan my next few activities.  With 4 done I have 6 to go. 

Boxing - with the limitations I have had with the shooting, I have decided to do boxing as a replacement.  This is going to hopefully be done during December, prior to Christmas.  Photos will be available!
Judo - Arrangements have been made, this is going to be done over a few evenings in January at a local club.
Triathlon - I have today booked on to the Arundel triathlon on the 3rd June 2012.  Supporters will be more then welcome.  Again, photos will be available!
Cycling - With the increase in training for the triathlon this section will be completed in my training. 

This will leave just sailing and rowing to plan and complete.  My aim is to finish this with the Triathlon in June.  Here goes.......

Its the day after and I hurt!

I've had quite a chill day today after yesterday's antics.  I'm still really happy with the time I got (2:43) which has been confirmed by the official race timings.  The whole day was really enjoyable, and even though I hurt so much today I really want to do another one.  I cant put into words the feeling as you go over the line after 13 miles, and people you had never even met before are applauding and encouraging you, as you then realise you've succeeded in something that you've had to work for and towards. 

However, I am glad I booked today off work, as it took me and Mrs L (who also done yesterday) 10 minutes to hobble down the stairs this morning.  The walk round town was just plain amusing!!!

Photos are on the slide show in the top right corner, and also down the side.   Bring on the Judo!!!!

Challenge 4 done - half marathon

Half marathon section of the gold challenge is completed.

I wanted to finish in under 4 hours, and I would be happy with 3:20.  So, I hear you ask, what time did you finish?  2 HOURS 43 MINUTES!!!!!   I didn't realise that there were so many hills in Barns Green.

I'm more then happy with this time, and really enjoyed it, although I have learned some valuable lessons for next year, when I want to do it again.

1. Take some food with you or some energy bars/gels.  I had no energy left at 9 miles.  Some gels would have dealt with that.

2. Make sure that your Ipod headphones wont fall out your ears as you run.  Very annoying

There was a very surreal moment, when I saw a sheep that had escaped from a field and was picked up like a handbag by the marshal, holding on to the back of its neck and back area.  The sheep was bleating and was very funny!

The sea cadet t'shirt seamed to go down very well, with lots of support and I'm happy I chose it.


Next on  the cards is judo.  I ache, so I'll update with more info and photos tomorrow.

Nerves are starting to show!!

I am now less then 17 hours away from the start of the half marathon.  I've packed my bag for tomorrow, unpacked it several times in a panic that I have forgotten something just to find I had everything in the first place.  I'm also now starting to regret not training a little bit more for it!

After a long decision making process I have packed my Sea cadets T-shirt to wear instead of my running vest, still not confident enough to wear the running vest as it kind of says I'm a runner, which is a lie at the moment!   Its 13 miles and I really want to get round the course in one piece in under 4 hours, but ideally under 3:20.  We shall see.

With Mrs L also running tomorrow I have had to employ the services of another official photographer, luckily my mum's willing to do this role so there will be photos Monday.

You wouldn't believe how nervous I'm now getting, so going to chill for the evening.  Think of me at 1100 tomorrow morning!