Excuses, excuses, excuses ... and Happy Holidays!

OMG ... I really need to get down and do some proper training!!!

First work kept me from getting down to the required training; then I was tired and run down from the work and year past. Now it is the holidays, friends, workload and everyone's festive expectations ... aagghh ...

... DISCIPLINE? Where art thou? I really do not wish to alienate you ... and I need to keep you close for the months ahead ...

The only good thing is that i am putting on some much needed weight. I feel highly uncomfortable carrying the extra pounds about ... but much needed for my upcoming cold water swims.

So on this note of the Crazy Season and extra pounds we carry - I herewith wish you all a Happy Holiday, lot of fun, relaxation and way too much food.

Skipper found ... Perth here I come ...

The good news is that I have found a skipper for the Rottnest Channel Swim in February 2012!

This good news is coupled with even better news that I have found a training partner for my swim endeavours ... Myles is down to swim the English Channel in the exact same slot as myself (September 2012) - he is the same age as myself and also lives in Cape Town.

... Now just to get our acts together and actually get down to doing some proper training :-)

Myles put me in contact with his Rottnest skipper from last year - who was still available (after having mistakenly held a slot for a different Patrick) ... oh how nice life sometimes works out.

So Perth here I come ... Flights booked, qualifier swum, skipper found ... now for the training.

Rottnest Channel Swim Escort Boat ... anyone ...?

Well ... I have entered for the Rottnest Channel Swim in Perth in February 2012. A great 19.7km sea swim from Perth to Rottnest Island

I have swum my qualifying time.

I have accommodation. I can take leave from work. I can book my flight.

BUT ... I need an escort boat ... if anyone actually reads this blog of mine ... and has any connections in Perth of any sort ... Please find out if anyone can assist me next year for the swim on the weekend of 25 February.

I would be big time indebted to anyone who can actually help to organise this ... ;-)

A Rediculous Sunburn for 10km Swimming

Well training is progressing slowly - unfortunately still the endless travels! At least I have achieved my training goals for the last two weeks - that must be good. 14km in the water last week and 16km this week. Still nothing major when compared to previous training programs; but soon there will be some noticeable extra time to train.

I completed an enjoyable 10km fresh water, dam swim. Rather tedious procedure of swimming ten 1km loops. But brain numbing activities are vital to train the brain to cope with long, boring endeavors ... what on earth will I think about for 12 - 14 hours crossing the Channel ... ??? The actual swim went well. No thrilling speed freak activity, but an enjoyable 3h19 ... a good, steady 20 minutes per km.

Happy enough :-) Except for the ridiculous sunburn I have on my face, shoulders, back and speedo lines ...

Work, travel, friends ... when can I train ...?

Maybe it is the time of the year, maybe I take on too much.

One can't really do too much about work needs ... after all I do have to earn the money to be able to afford the beeeeg swim. Weekly cross-country travelling doesn't help - especially into remote, outlying areas with no swimming pools and poor routes for running - nor does the fatigue of the flying, driving and living out of a suitcase help the cause.

Then we also need to spend time with friends and time to just chill-out and unwind ...

... so when does one swim? aagghhh ...

Although this is time for base training and just getting in some good mileage (as well as some basic cross-training) one still gets a bit antsy when one doesn't complete the mileage intended. Even if one has been training for these endurance events for many years - one always feels guilty when ramping up the training and not meeting one's own expectations.

I keep having to remind myself the most important rule in endurance event training ... Do Not Play Catch-up!

If I miss a session or two it does not matter. Try change your program and lifestyle going forward to fit in the necessary training ... but do not cram in missing miles. There is a reason why we couldn't fit them in ... most of the time we were too busy and now can't afford to add extra (current/catch-up) mileage into our schedule ... and add to the chaos and time/energy depleting activities.

With ten months to go I will have more than enough time to swim :-)

FYI ... my current training routine involves ... four week training cycles; each one supplemented with 2 gym sessions and some running or cycling if time allows:

Week 1: 12km Swim

Week 2: 15km Swim

Week 3: 18km Swim

Week 4: 20km Swim

English Channel Training ...

Well, what does one do when one falls prey to a nasty bout of flu and bronchitis? I can honestly say i have never been hit that hard ... total lack of energy and more mucous than I care to see for quite a while ...

Well this was the perfect time to spend on a training plan for the next ten months ... September 2012 is around the corner and I have some serious training to put back.

Basically I plan to have a minor peak end of February 2012 - a good 20km swim of sorts. I am not too sure yet if I should head out to Perth for the 20km swim or do one of the local 25km fresh water events.

My basic plan looks as follows:

• October through January I plan to build a solid base - a good 15 to 20km of swimming every week, still ample cross training and twice weekly gym sessions
• End February a decent 20-25km event
• March and April 2012 is strength training - lots of gym and 18 - 25km per week
• May and June 2012 I will be focusing on speed work and maintaining the 18 - 25km of swimming per week
• July 2012 will be major volume - where I aim to put in 30km per week for the whole of July
• August taper and recover
• September 2012 ... the aim is for 12 hours of mental strength to carry off the swim

Zugspitze: 2200m climbing to 3000m

The Zugspitze is Germany's tallest mountain ... and most definitely one of the most amazing things i have ever done. Maybe not recommended 2 days after pushing hard in a marathon; but then I am not known to do things like this in any clever way.

The hike is varied, exciting and very beautiful - the tunnels, face cliff climbs, glacier, forest, scrambles ... all come together for one exciting trip. Seven and a half hours hiking and climbing ended up being quite a tough little day ... but worth every step and breath of the way.

And being in Munich end of September lent itself to a rapid replacement of carbs and fluids ... seeing the Oktoberfest was running at the same time ;-)

And obviously so important to put on the weight ...

And now to put on some weight ...

Berlin Marathon: 25 September 2011 ... what an awesome experience! 40 000 runners and over one million spectators. The weather was perfect (possibly a touch to warm) and the route was just a touch too long. For all of those (few) people reading this at some stage - and planning to go do a marathon or similar somewhere distant and special - remember to leave the sightseeing for AFTER the race.

It is not a good idea to race on tired legs :-) ... Amateur behavior ... but quite understandable for Berlin. It is such an amazing city!

The race went well ... I came in just under 4 hours. And very sore indeed! The 3h45 would have been nice, but that will have to wait for a further year or so ...

The real focus begins now - just over 11 months to go to the English Channel ... and a good 5 - 8 kg of extra weight I need to put on

Can anyone think of anything better in life ... the aim is to train hard AND put on ample weight ... oh how wonderful ...

Knysn Half Marathon 09 July

Once again a very nice Knysna Half Marathon :-) First real race (if one calls my pace a race) in a very long time. Although quite poorly organised logistically; the race was run in great weather and it was real good fun.

1h50 - feeling strong and enjoying the whole route. Nice prep for Berlin in just over two months time.

Some EPIC memories ...

ABSA Cape Epic 2011 - survived and completed

Now that was tough! Dr Evil, the route designer, should be renamed Prof. Stupid. The course was really insane; long, tough, way to rough, steep and challenging ... even the professionals thought it was a little too far out there.

But we made it :-)

The body is worse for wear. Stiffer, more painful, more exhausted than ever before ... but therefore the smile is all the bigger. A brilliantly put together experience - great services, really good organisation ... all in all just lekker.

I won't be back ... at least no time soon ... with the current prices and extreme routes. But if you have not done it yet - go on, give it a try!

English Channel Swim 2012 ... CONFIRMED

Well, isn't that just great ... I haven't even packed for one crazy event and my next one is confirmed.

I have received my confirmation for a slot to swim the English Channel in September 2012

7 - 14 September 2012

Slot 2

Pilot: Eddie

More on all that at a later stage ... those butterflies in my tummy are currently going into hyper-drive and i need to finish some serious work here for now.

Cape Epic MTB Race ... 2 Days 18 Hours to go ...

The training is done. The final shopping is done. The butterflies are going wild in my tummy. And I can't say I am being overly productive at work these last few days.

... the Tour de France of Mountain Biking is upon us once more ... and eventually my time to have some fun ... and a real sore backside.

8 days

707km

(mainly technical, steep and insane)

over 14 000m of climbing

tents, rain, countryside

Tons of FUN

22 years ... first puncture ...

Oh well, another Pick n Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tour has passed ... the one with perfect weather, a good seeding and the perfect chance for a good sub-three.

And ... the first one where i get a puncture ... grrr ;-) So statistically I am overjoyed it has taken so long before I have had one (actually only 2 punctures ever in road races in 24 years), but a pity the sub-3 wasn't in the bag. Still happy with a 3h07.

A good day out in the sun, on the road and having a great cycle ... and knowing i am fit for the Epic torture coming up in under two weeks.

CA2C Burger Weskusser MTB Ride

Disappointing and TOUGH!! ... this was ridiculous! Good training for the Epic, but just no fun on the day. Two day, very hot, good hills and lots of mileage.

Day one was supposed to be 106 km and ended up being 120km and I ran out of water for last 15km :-( Water stations poorly spaced out and not helped with 47 degrees Celsius and ... wait for it ... 15km of soft, soft sand to negotiate.

But at least real good preparation for ABSA Cape Epic ... three weeks to go ...

Argus Cycle Tour ... no. 22

Coming up soon is more mountain biking and my 22nd Argus Cycle Tour. The endless hours on the bike are starting to take their toll ... i reckon my grumpy demeanor is related to the training and stress from work and relationship issues ... why does this always seem to happen to endurance athlete enthusiasts ...?

First we still have to do the Cape Town to Sea mountain bike ride ... a nice weekend out of mainstream civilization and hopefully another Robben Island swim if everything goes well.

... and hold your breath and come back soon ... hopefully another crazy project to be announced soon ... i might dive into 18 months of swimming and endless cold water experiences ... ;-)

15 January ATTAKWAS Extreme MTB

Eish ... i have been quite slack here. Training hard for the ABSA Cape Epic MTB Ride end of March. The MTB version of the Tour de France ... eight days of torture coming up in under six weeks ... :-)

The Attakwas Extreme was really great. Really TOUGH! 121km and nearly 3000m climbing.An unbelievably beautiful route, but not considered South Africa's toughest single day MTB ride for nothing.

The image shows the relaxed, happy and clean image before the race ... 8.5 hours later was a lot different. Well worth an attempt for anyone who loves a good MTB ride.