Tips and bits and bobs and start of the real training

Right so heres a tip if you cycle like i do and are 25km from your car when you get a second flat and have no more spares. (1) CARRY MORE SPARES (2) CARRY YOUR CELLPHONE AND PHONE YOUR SIBLING TO FETCH YOU!!! I got 3 punctures all told this last week and can now officially change a tyre faster than an F1 pit crew! Also i have invested in gel filled tubes! The Snake is in for a service and will be ready to go for tomorrows training. I have completed the "Prep" session of the program and moved onto "BASE 1" this morning with a sprint swim session>>>>>im alive There is a lovely little note on the training program that says "find a nice hill that takes about 5 minutes to climb and get to know it intimately!!!" OMG I have aquired a pair of Pearl Izumi insulated winter gloves as winter is upon us and i would like to avoid frostbite at all costs..............(I hate the cold) Tomorrow will be my first "BRICK" session...........yes i had to google what this meant, ride for 90min then go swimming for 30 min straight after!

My Current Gear List

Hey so as i go along i'll be updating my gear list, let me be the first to say that this sport is ridonkulously expensive! so if you want to get into it and arent flush do a purchase plan, buy second hand etc etc Watch Nike Plus with GPS: This Magnificent watch has really helped me with my running and cycling! it monitors everything on your run so you can really push harder and the webpage shows your routes run thanks to the TomTom GPS!!! Its great but limited when it comes to swimming. i linked the nike account to endomondo and i can now differentiate the trainings between cycling and running as the nike website only measures "running" so its awesome when the watch reads that i have done a 60km "RUN" in 2h10min hehehe Running Shoes : New Balance 759 Cycling Axis A90 Mountain Bike with Shimano Cleat Pedals Axis AR50 Road Bike with Shimano Cleat Pedals(mountain bike pedals) Bell Helmet Olympic Mpuntain Bike Riding shoes Pearl Izumi Winter Insulated Riding Gloves **NOTE** at present i am using the mountain bike shoes and pedals on the race bike as they do the same job, albeit that the are heavier but also that at the moment i dont have moola to buy racing bike shoes and pedals Profile Design T1+ Aero Bars ISM Prologue Saddle.....(IF YOU CAN AFFORD ONE GET IT!!!! ITS SO COMFY IN AERO POSITION!!!!) First Ascent Cycle Shorts Mr Price Long Leg Cycle Pants(Surprisingly very comfy) Camelbak - Donated by my brother....thanks greg **NOTE** various bits and bobs from chain cleaner to lube to saddle bag, puncture kit and spare tubes etc etc etc etc can set you back quite alot quite quickly without you even realizing) Giant Control Tower Pump with pressure Gauge!!! u have to get one! makes life so much easier!!! * Thanks Gill* Bike rack for the car....Greg found one at a thrift store for literally nothing! Thanks Again Swimming Speedo Half length swimming shorts(i refuse to wear a banana hammock!!) Latex Swimming Cap 2XU T:3 Wetsuit 2XU Trisuit Mr Price Goggles(Also work really well!! for a cheapy ) So what you can see from all this is that i dont have a monster budget to buy gear but i am very happy with all my gears performance so far!!!

4 Weeks Catch up

Yes Yes im playing catch up on this blog!!! Well this is my plan and some of you will say im nuts, others will disown me(please dont) and some of you might just give me a high 5!! 4 weeks ago i started a 20 week training program for half ironman, and so far its going well! once i have finished this program i will be taking a short rest then start a full ironman program that will take me up to Ironman 70.3 The idea is to be superfit and own it! I did the Powerade Easter Cycle Challenge 2 sundays back and completed the 60km course in 2h10min! a fine effort if i do say so myself. Since the prelude i have invested in a racing bike, my "Snake". She is an Axis AR50 with carbon fibre forks and an alloy frame and so i have discovered on the longer rides, a bloody uncomfortable saddle which will be getting replaced this coming month. So a short summary of where i was to where i am: Running: Start - couldnt run 2.5km without thinking i was going to die. Now - Running 60min at about 6min/km no stress!!! Swimming: Start - hahaha 10 laps of the 25m pool was death Now - between 1.5km to 2.5km per session Riding: Start - my start was literally 5km Now - doing 60km races! and not coming last So all said and done, ive gone from 120kg to 107kg since i started my journey!

Quick Catch Up....prelude to THE JOURNEY

Right so to get you up to speed on my Journey to Ironman 70.3 South Africa! I was 120kg, smoked 30 a day and lived in the passed about my fitness where i was once 93kg lean! About a month before my 29th Birthday i made the decision to Quit Smoking! (and i am still smoke free and loving it). Then i saved some money and got my "Beast", my entry level mountain bike that i use to potter around Northern Farms in Jhb, suddenly without realizing it i was getting fitter and loving life again! No more slob on the couch syndrome! So i made a promise and a challenge to myself that come hell or high water i would enter the Ironman 70.3 South Africa in Buffalo City! Why you ask? Simple answer....because i know i can!!! So keep following this blog as i post weekly my training progress, tips i come across and anything else i find useful or funny!!!