Downhill biking at 173kph - Oh yeah babe...

(Courtesy of Crazyjourneys.com)

Simon says: - You just gotta want to do this...I do anyway!!!!

Amazing dance-climb fusion

(Courtsy of Crazyjourneys.com)

Simon says: - Very cool and having done a little bit of wallclimbing I know how incredibly difficult this must be - superfit, supertoned, superstrong. Excellent stuff.

James Cracknell vs Chris Hoy: The Street Race

(Courtesy of crazyjourneys.com)



Simon says: -

Chris Hoy now Sir Chris Hoy has won 4 Olympic Gold Medals in track cycling, 3 of them in Beijing 2008.

James Cracknell (worth looking on Wikipedia) he has two Olympic Gold Medals for rowing, is an adventurer, rows across the Atlantic amongst many other amazing feats but also ran the 2006 London Marathon in 3hrs00mins10secs (3:00:10) Amazing. A well entertaining TV presenter too.

Welsh police unveil new police car

(Courtesy of Rucku.com and dedicated to Sam and Mike Williams but shhhsh, don't mention the rugby)

Ironman Training Totals - W/e 14 Feb 2010

My training totals for last week: -

Total Time: - 28:14:48hrs

Swim: - 6:41:41hrs - 18.26km
Bike: - 12:17:46hrs - 424km
Run: - 6:45:21hrs - 81.08km
Core-work & Stretching - 2:30hrs - 315 press-ups, 2625 crunches

Scores on the doors: -
Workouts - 21/23 (only missed 2 extra core/stretching sessions that I added to the plan)
Eating - 7.3/10 (An improvement but still poor.)
Sleep - 5.7/10 (An improvement but still poor.)
Comments: -

Another quality week and the last of the really heavy training. I start tapering now although the number of sessions don't reduce nor does the intensity. It's just the volume that lessens and even that only by about 20% in week 1 of taper and about 50% in week 2.

My lungs are pretty much back to normal (not quite 100% yet) but I have noticed that my feet are getting painful around the outside top - clearly this is an overuse issue and ice has to be the answer plus the taper (I hope so anyway).

Eating and sleeping still a long way from being where they should be - I really struggle with these and it's totally down to race induced stress and lack of discipline.

My weight is now at 70kg (37kg or 81lbs lighter than in 2000) but I was targeting 67kg so I will likely hit 69kg maybe 68kg but the extra weight and poor sleep may prove to be my undoing - the weather/heat will be head and shoulders the biggest factor though. Couldn't have really asked for better training, provided I don't screw up my diet over the next two weeks I can be very happy with where I'm at and will have no regrets whatever the outcome.

Gong Xi Fa Chai

Gong Xi Fa Chai to all my Chinese friends - here's to wishing you a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year.

Personal Ironman Photography Team - Ironman Malaysia

Many of you will all have heard that Shazly and team will be covering Ironman Malaysia again this year.

For a modest fee you can have the Snap-Attack team single you out and get shots of you not only throughout the race but in the build up and post race celebrations.

Contact Shazly at Snap-Attack.com

SUCK IT UP!

My buddy Johan in South Africa. On the turbo training for Ironman South Africa. Suck it up Johan, Suck it up, just a few more minutes...

What RUNNER+ say about Nike Lunarglide+

(Courtesy of runnerplus.com)

Simon says: - It seems like others agree with me about the Lunarglide+.

The new Nike LunarGlide+ running shoes are the definition of versatility. I was very pleasantly surprised with the feel and comfort of the shoe itself. The orange and black pattern design offers style without sacrifice as Nike has struck a winner with the new LunarGlide+.

The initial feedback has to be given to the shoes incredible versatility. I once thought it impossible to create a shoe that does everything. The LunarGlide is certainly the closest to this achievement. It is hard to believe a shoe can be designed for the underpronator, overpronator, high and low arched, and neutral arched runners in a single design. Nike assessed all different kinds of runners and created a shoe that adapts to anyone. This point cannot be overstressed because of the lack of knowledge in the “shoe fitting” area. We have all heard the claims that this shoe offers this and that shoe offers that. How many times have you been to the store and bought a shoe that just did not work out in the comfort department? Obviously, aches and pains lead to compensation in different joints, muscles, and tendons sometimes leading to serious injury; not to mention the extra energy expended. I personally overpronate with a high arch, and the LunarGlides adapted to my feet extremely quickly. After the first kilometer, I felt like I had put on hundreds already. I also felt the shoe was built perfectly for my feet. The amazing thing is it is built for any type of runner with any type of foot!

The cushioning is perfect for any surface. The Nike FlyWire technology provides superior cushioning without adding weight. The foam had a natural bounce to it thanks to the Nike Lunarlite foam, comparable to the New Balance Zip’s without the bulkiness. The cushioning was not on an Asiacs Gel type level either, which allows you to feel the surface and is much easier on the knees. I used three different terrains on three different runs to access the versatility of the shoe on different surfaces. I ran with them on a treadmill, through a nature path, and on the blacktop. The shoe provided my feet with the same feeling after each run.

Click HERE for full article

Dan Martin - This guy rocks

(Courtesy of Chantal)

On the 8th of May 2010, Dan will embark on his biggest journey to date, as he attempts a Global Triathlon – swimming, cycling and running around the world. This will include a grueling 5700km swim, as Dan attempts to become the first man in history to swim the Atlantic. Check out the video below (only 1min39sec).

The Global Triathlon from Daniel Martin on Vimeo.

Simon says: - SPEECHLESS

Click

Where's Teddy gone?

(retweeted by @donna_de via Twitter)

Simon says: - Very cool, I want to live in a country where this happens - NOTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!

Never give up...

Simon says: - This was my company's daily quote today on the Employee Zone. I thought it rather apt with Ironman Malaysia and Ironman China coming up. Hope it helps some through a tough patch.

"When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."

Harriet Beecher Stowe, Novelist

What makes a triathlete? - By Bryan Payne

Extracted from a post by Bryan Payne on his blog site Training Payne (well worth following/RSS Feed)

"Near the end of my run, I was thinking that "I love being a Triathlete". Being a triathlete means you're a serious athlete, regardless of your age or finishing times. Just finishing a triathlon, does not make one a triathlete, it's only the starting point on the way to being a triathlete.

What makes one a triathlete is when you become passionate about the sport. Something about the sport speaks to your soul, it feels like a natural fit to your personality and at some point you commit to regular training. Becoming a triathlete is really when you make that lifestyle choice."



Simon says: - I particularly like the bit "Something about the sport speaks to your soul, it feels like a natural fit to your personality..."

Mr Arrogant or Mr Just Being Honest?

Courtesy of Mohan the Great)


Simon says: - Personally I love him, I love his arrogance (and arrogance it is) because a lot of the time he backs it up with results. As for being the fittest man in the world - I think he should look first to Dean Karnazes (Author of Ultramarathon Man, a book everyone MUST read before EVERY Ironman they do). Macca, you add great colour and spectacle to our sport, keep it up dude, not many mouthy Aussies pull it off and still get respect.

CLICK ON ARTICLE TO ENLARGE

"OH BUGGER" moments

(Courtesy of Dave Clenton)

Have you ever had one of those moments just as something awful has happened (or clearly is about to happen) and you've thought "OH BUGGER!". Well, chances are that whatever it was, it wasn't as bad as these guys: -

(I debated with myself about whether to publish the last picture as I think some would consider it a crime against humanity. You decide!)

CLICK ON PICTURES TO ENLARGE

Ironman Training Totals - W/e 7 Feb 2010

My training totals for last week: -

Total Time: - 27:24:22hrs

Swim: - 6:25:16hrs - 17.86km
Bike: - 12:58:13hrs - 432km
Run: - 6:30:53hrs - 80.85km
Core-work & Stretching - 1:30hrs - 135 press-ups, 1125 crunches

Scores on the doors: -
Workouts - 19/23 (only missed extra sessions that I added to the plan - 4 core-work sessions)
Eating - 6.0/10 (This is getting worse and could reflect growing subconscious stress as the race draws near - I need to be vigilant and not let this get out of control otherwise this will be a race breaker.)
Sleep - 5.0/10 (Still erratic and poor discipline - this could be a race breaker too so must get on top of it.)

Comments: -
All in all an excellent week with loads of run PBs which is a very good sign at this stage of the game, although come race day it'll be singularly down to the weather and more specifically the heat.

I had some tough days in the saddle this week which I think simply reflect the combined fatigue load - I assume that this is how the plan is supposed to work, build up until almost physical (and mental) breakdown (pretty much daily at this stage of the plan - I've be following it in two stages since the end of August). The structure of the plan and when the sessions are executed give the body enough recovery for the next session and ultimately is encouraged to recover quicker and quicker and also simply get used to the huge work load.

The downside to this is you never know when you will have a good session or a fatigue riddled doggy one. The bike times have suffered this week but the runs greatly improved with the swims pretty good.

I still have some lung issues; when I was really suffering during the long ride and long run I was yakking up greenies again - I hope that this is just residue from the chest infection and a sign that the lungs are recovered but clearing out the last of the gunk - I have a sore throat too so I have to be very vigilant on this.

Eating and sleeping MUST be improved this week and the last 3 weeks for that matter. I have the last mega week this week and really want to execute EVERY session with quality (including the extra ones I've added) plus score perfect 10's for eating and sleeping.

Then two weeks taper (although you may not recognise them as much of a taper - this training plan is brutal!) followed by Ironman Malaysia then two weeks "recovery" and then Ironman China. Should be an interesting roller coaster ride.

Clean can be funny

(Courtesy of Shilpa)

One day, a man came home and was greeted by his wife dressed in a very Sexy nightie.

'Tie me up,' she purred, 'and you can do anything you want.'

So he tied her up and went golfing. [Simon says: - My personal favourite - I'm still chuckling as you read this]

*****************************************

A woman came home, screeching her car into the driveway, and ran into the house.
She slammed the door and shouted at the top of her lungs, 'Honey, pack your bags. I won the lottery!'

The husband said, 'Oh my God! What should I pack, beach stuff or mountain stuff?'
'Doesn't matter,' she said. 'Just get out.'

*****************************************

Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right, and the other is a husband. [Simon says: - Any of you married blokes want to argue this point?]

*****************************************

A Polish immigrant went to the DMV to apply for a driver's license.
First, of course, he had to take an eye sight test.
The optician showed him a card with the letters

'C Z W I X N O S T A C Z.'
'Can you read this?' the optician asked.
'Read it?' the Polish guy replied, 'I know the guy.'

*****************************************

Mother Superior called all the nuns together and said to them, 'I must tell you all something. We have a case of gonorrhea in the convent.'
'Thank God,' said an elderly nun at the back.. 'I'm so tired of chardonay.'

*****************************************

A wife was making a breakfast of fried eggs for her husband.
Suddenly, her husband burst into the kitchen.

'Careful,' he said, 'CAREFUL! Put in some more butter! Oh my gosh! You're cooking too many at once. TOO MANY! Turn them! TURN THEM NOW! We need more butter. Oh my gosh! WHERE are we going to get MORE BUTTER? They're going to STICK! Careful. CAREFUL! I said be CAREFUL! You NEVER listen to me when you're cooking! Never! Turn them! Hurry up! Are you CRAZY? Have you LOST your mind? Don't forget to salt them. You know you always forget to salt them. Use the salt. USE THE SALT! THE SALT!'
The wife stared at him.

'What in the world is wrong with you? You think I don't know how to fry a couple of eggs?'

The husband calmly replied, 'I just wanted to show you what it feels like when I'm driving.'[Simon says: - Welcome to my world]
*****************************************

Fifty-one years ago, Herman James, a North Carolina mountain man, was drafted by the Army.

On his first day in basic training, the Army issued him a comb.

That afternoon the Army barber sheared off all his hair.

On his second day, the Army issued Herman a toothbrush.

That afternoon the Army dentist yanked seven of his teeth.

On the third day, the Army issued him a jock strap.

The Army has been looking for Herman for 51 years.

*****************************************

Rocky the Mouse

(Courtesy of Mohan the Great)

How to dump your girlfriend Australian style

(Courtesy of Sam)

Warning: - It's Australian so there is "colourful" language involved.

Nike Lunarglide+ - Verdict

I have religiously worn these shoes for several months now alternating them with my beloved Asics. However, the Nike Lunarglide+ have been my long-run shoes of choice and I've notched up 800km in them now and they are officially dead.

So what did I think? First of all you have to put my thoughts into perspective, I started running in about 1982 and wore waffle bottomed Nikes. I just couldn't understand why anyone was daft enough to run in anything other than these clearly superior shoes.

I was a committed Nike fan for years and years even after I kept buying Nikes that just didn't seem to be working for me, year after year after year. In the end though I couldn't ignore the simple fact that Nike had lost its way so I started trying every shoe under the sun, Brooks, Mizuno, Asics to name but a few. I eventually fell in love with Asics and especially the DS Trainer for racing (I still don't think you can beat that as a racing shoe for all distances). I even flirted with Nikes from time to time but was always disappointed.

So when Nike asked me to review these shoes I knew I'd be objective but I wasn't sure they'd appreciate my comments as I didn't hold out much hope. So to my conclusion: -

Style: - Black and orange, pretty funky but not for everyone - as for me I loved the alternative look and tend to wear lots of black so I'm giving them 9/10 for style.

Durability: - I NEVER wear shoes past 800km but few ever get close to that because the outsole always wears out on the outside edge and ball of the foot area. Once the outsole goes then you are making contact with the ground with the much softer midsole. This results in rapid wear but more importantly reducing the stability of the shoe. I wonder sometimes if manufacturers make the outsole a little soft so the shoe wears out quicker???!!! Maybe I'm just cynical! The Nike Lunarglide+ outsole was awesome and made it to 700k before the outsole had worn significantly.

The midsole is a little more difficult to gauge as it can be compressed and worn out without you even realising it. It's usually only when you get a new pair of shoes and feel like your on springs that you realise your previous shoes had no life left in them. A telltale sign is creasing in the midsole. I'm pleased to say that the Nikes still feel full of life and there is no creasing.

The upper, usually these have leather or plastic support bands on them that can become brittle and start ripping. With the Lunarglides they have a sort of cloth material to create the stability and I suspect this also helps keep the weight down. I note that along the edge of one of these bands a tear has slowly appeared during the last 100k or so but has not affected performance at all. So my overall verdict for durability is 9/10.

Comfort: - These shoes feel very "squishy" and are like walking on foam (not an unpleasant feeling as I wrote previously). This may have been a negative if they hadn't been the most stable shoes I've ever worn. They do seem to get a little hotter than most runners possibly due to their colour or tightly knitted material but this is a minor issue. These shoes have to be the MOST COMFORTABLE SHOES I'VE EVER WORN!. 10/10.

Stability: - Runners World classes these as stability shoes. I'm a supinator so I need neutral/cushioned shoes in theory whereas stability shoes and in particularly the Lunarglides are touted as being perfect for over-pronators. Can it be that these runners fulfill the cliche "One size fits all"? Maybe not one size but I reckon they would suit just about any running gait. I have never been so injury free or aches and pains free. 10/10.

Performance: - I have to say that I wouldn't race in these shoes given the choice as I feel that my Asics DS Trainers return a lot more oomph to each stride. Having said that the Asics take their toll because of that. Whereas the Lunarglides get you home not feeling too beaten up. I read one magazine review that stated that due to their lightweight that it wasn't recommended to run more than 10k in these shoes - I say twoddle to that. I reckon these shoes get better the LONGER you run in them. They would always be my shoe of choice for long training. Yes they are very light but incredibly well cushioned. 8/10.

So would I recommend these shoes? When I embarked on this journey I was worried how I'd write honestly as I'd received a free pair of shoes to review that I didn't hold out much hope for. Basically, I resigned myself to the fact that it would be polite criticism rather than a brutal tirade. I have however found the job to be very easy and I've been very pleasantly surprised.

So would I recommend them? Let's put it this way, I have a long run to do on Sunday, the shoes I was given have expired so I'm prompted to write this final review before popping out to BUY MYSELF a new pair. I think that probably says it all does it not?

Possibly the most comfortable, lightweight, forgiving & hard wearing running shoes I've ever owned. Also not as expensive as Asics either!!! No NIKE are not paying me to write this but I suspect if you buy a pair you will be very pleased.