New Year Resolution

I will post just my new year's resolutions for now (at has what has now become an annual event a small group of us have shared NYR's - this year I will keep them and ask for progress updates... and maybe post some details, if ok with them.)

Anyway mine are, summarised, as follows:

1. Finish Norseman 2009 (involves training regime which encompasses swimming and sorting logistics ASAP)
2. 'Work smart' (set goals at beginning of each month, week and day and achieve these AND achieving separation b/w work and home)
3. Healthy body, healthy mind (including eating balanced diet, cooking at least 2 x a week - one of these to be a new recipe - and reading a book every two weeks, and reading more work related literature)
4. Look after money
5. Write more (getting a book published would save me c £20 a year I pay to royzy for a bet made after Paris marathon 2004!)
6. Be less self consumed/ more embracing of others

Some broad headings above but I have given some thought to detail and have mapped out a weekly plan that accommodates the above. (yes I know, plans are the 'easy bit' for me!

In anticipation of starting 4 above I have spent a small fortune (£50+) on books and CDs today and I am now listening to the excellent Elbow CD, which won Mercury prize. (Admittedly I used to think the group were 'dull' and have consequently missed out on the opportunity to see them twice on their visits to Cornwall - maybe I should add another resolution 'be more open minded!)

Will be starting 2009 with a 10 mile run (and then start on my first new recipe - parsnip and apple soup).

Have now entered Endurance Life Cornish Coastal Marathon which is on 4 April - plan remains to have a 'tough' April event wise with this marathon followed by the North Cornwall Tor (19/4) and 3 peaks marathon (25/4).

Looking forward to 2009 (perhaps too much...)

Riding into 2009 with a focused mind

A few months ago I had asked myself why statue of Richard I was outside Houses of Perliament. Answer appears contained in the following quote on Wikipedia.

“The reputation of Richard ... has fluctuated wildly. The Victorians were divided. Many of them admired him as a crusader and man of God, erecting an heroic statue to him outside the Houses of Parliament; Stubbs, on the other hand, thought him ‘a bad son, a bad husband, a selfish ruler, and a vicious man’. Though born in Oxford, he spoke no English. During his ten years' reign, he was in England for no more than six months, and was totally absent for the last five years.”
—John Gillingham, Kings and Queens of Britain: Richard I[20]

I can now enter the new year with one less thing clogging up my mind...

Naked ladies and the runs: Christmas in Normanton

Managed to get some running in whilst away in Yorkshire for Christmas. My favourite was a 4 mile run in Huddersfield: some nice hills. I think I totalled 15.5 miles all told in 4 runs - whilst not that impressive I felt I kept the habit going which was good.

Went to watch Castleford Tigers in their boxing day friendly against Gateshead Thunder - I do enjoy watching Rugby League and this was a good game, which managed to hold my nephews attention for the first half at least. (Have pencilled in Wakefield Wildcats v Wigan Warriors for the day after 3 Peaks Marathon in April - assuming I can get in the marathon: entries open January 12).

Festive highlight was probably me trying to show off royzy's animation and ending up showing 3 generations of Julie's relative naked woman as drawn by royzy!

I was robbed!

Well not exactly...

Well in fact nothing like...

I was comprehensively beaten 6-0 by Si in the 'winner takes in all 2008 challenge'. It was our first game of squash of 2008 and our first since early 2007. I had given up because I was not winning anymore...

Si even won* one rally after dropping his racket and hitting the next shot with his bare hand. (* = I claimed a 'foul' and took the point: having said to royzy and lisa the night before that I was going to beat Si with my bare hand, if I could not find my squash racket, I did not want to end up having to report back that Si had won points without his!)

Cut down to size x 2

Getting changed after surfing, I had stopped, with pants at bottom of legs and towel securely round my waist, for two women to pass. One of the women was obviously (judging by attire) kitchen staff from Hotel in whose alley way we were getting changed. (I could, and did, envisage this lady with a meat cleaver.) I can not remember how the dialogue between me and her started, or why, but it featured the lines; 'do not worry I am not looking to cook it', 'who said I was going to share' and finished with 'nothing worth cooking there!' as she went back into the Hotel.

Quickly following this rather demeaning (and somewhat frightening exchange) I asked Si what he was doing on New Year's Day and reminded me that we had scheduled a fight on Fistral beach* against a 'boxer'. I pointed out that the fight was scheduled for 2 years ago and Si 'ran away up to Yorkshire to avoid the showdown'. I then did a little shadow boxing - only to be stopped in my tracks by Si's Taekwondo leg kick stopping just short of my nose...

(* on New Year's Day 3 years ago Si and I had decided to take up Taekwondo and boxing respectively and then meet up in a years time in a ring marked out on Fistral beach - suffice to say I have not taken up boxing and Si has now several grades advanced in Taekwondo!)

Compliment from (my surfing) Yoda

Went for my first surf* in almost a year this morning and really enjoyed myself - especially the first wave I caught.

Admittedly it was white water but I still felt pleased when I got to my feet reasonably quickly and smoothly and then was nicely balanced and managed to get some sideways movement.

Was even more pleased when about 3/4 later Si said he had seen me catch the wave and complimented me on some movement across the wave...

(*= still embarrassed to say I 'surf' and whilst it is true I have had a surf board for probably 3 years and up to until the beginning of this year I would go in sometimes Saturday and Sunday - it is also true to say I have not mastered any of the basics. Which I would stress is no fault of my Yoda, Si, rather an inability of the pupil. It is just as I have not been tasked with blowing up the Death Star; otherwise there would have been no need for 'Empire Strikes Back'...)

Signs

This mornings' cycle was a brief, sluggish affair - probably did 15 miles (max).

Felt morose from the start, even a little tearful whilst standing outside Blue Bar in Porthtowan (no particular reason).

Cycle was directionless (as a consequence of which I ended up in Porthtowan looking for a Origin coffee...) and unispired apart from a brief spell when cycling up my favourite hill (Blackwater) after seeing a number plate that looked like it kind of spelt 'JESUS'. This made me smile.

A wake up call? perceptions

At an internal meeting this week, the fact that I had been working some long hours and been in at weekends recently, was attributed by one of my bosses as simply resulting from 'the way I work' - the implication being I 'liked' to work the long hours.

I thought I 'needed' to do put the hours in to get 'important stuff' done so initially felt peeved and displayed some (mock) anger when I was relayed the comments; making assertions to the effect that 'you won't see me here past 5pm anymore!'

Suffice to say I was late leaving on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday... which 'meant' no run after cycling home and no swim on Friday (just typing this now makes me feel 'shame' after my convincing blog on Tuesday night.)

It looks like 2009 is going to be the year I have to challenge my perception of me and 'what I am about'.

A comparison to Patrick Viera

In an internal publication disseminated at work today I was compared to Patrick Viera.

The piece was drafted to 'commemorate' my retirement from 5-aside.

I was touched...

Swimming: an undertaking to myself

Today was another Tuesday where I took my swimming stuff into work and brought it home unused.

Make that....

Today was the last Tuesday where I took my swimming stuff into work and brought it home unused!

Regular swimming starts on Friday: I will go the pool on Tuesday's and Friday's.

Went for a short run on the beach this evening - still stiff from run at weekend so it was a bit laboured. The remnants of my running efforts were even more apparent in yesterday's cycle into work, which took me approaching an hour as opposed to norm of 3/4.

Feel good now...

the curious incident of the smell in the entertainment shop

Gave 'my all' today whilst out running with Anthony and felt great that I had at least make him work a little bit. In the end he eased away but he did say ' you are killing me' as we got to the 7 mile mark - which I took as a good sign...

Calf muscles tightened up as soon as I had finished and my walking cycle (to coin the digital animation phrase) was not the smoothest as I hobbled round town. Also felt a little feint whilst standing up in one shop and realised I had lost control of bowel muscles when I let a rather smelly bit of wind slip out in HMV. Julie did blame the smell on a couple of young ladies who moved away shortly after (Julie had assumed the move was as a result of their embarrassment) - I confessed (to Julie, not to the young ladies - I think they knew!)

So was it all worth out it - the aching calf muscles etc for those few words from Anthony?

Yes!

(P.S. 'The curious incident of the dog in the night time' is one of my favourite books: well worth reading)

Walk on by?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdXdWwE1YNI

By royzy... I am impressed. To see (and read) more of royzy's 'walk cycle' course work check out http://www.royzy.co.uk/2008/12/holy-briefs-batman-another-walk-cycle.html

I am on the start list for Norseman

Just looked at Norseman website and they have published the startlist. I am there.

Hopefully, I can use this as a springboard for a renewed focus on the event - may have been drifting a bit of late (evidenced by the fact I was checking out local boxing clubs* on the internet just now).

Tomorrow, I am running with Anthony. I am already regretting having done only one run since the last time I went running with Anthony... I am going to hurt!

Plan for next week:

• Monday - cycle
• Tuesday - swim
• Wednesday - cycle + run
• Thursday - cycle + run
• Friday - swim

The list above is so easy to write/ type... this week I AM going to DO.

(*= a blog for another day)

Congratulations to our 'A' team

Heartfelt congratulations to our 'A' team for bringing home the Professional Services 5-aside Cup trophy this week.

I had been hoping to get to watch 'finals night' on Tuesday but got detained at work. So missed the 3-1 quarter final win and the 1-0 victories in the semi-final and final. Well done to everyone, including Nick B (our B team captain) who played for the 'A' team on Tuesday night (and obviously brought with him the 'desire' that comes from playing in the 'lower leagues' in addition to his defensive quality).

A special well done to Richard who in addition to starring in a cup winning 'A' team got his exam results through on Friday and is now a qualified Chartered Accountant.

The team in full:

• Nick R
• Nick B
• Kevin
• Richard
• Shane

(I liked the picture of the Lego TV 'A' team so that's why it is shown - who knows in years to come they may immortalise our 'A' team in Lego!)

P.S. I was surprised more fuss was not about the Cup victory - I had played in a cup winning team I would have emails galore and a posting on our firm's website, at least...

Slow puncture and singing in the rain

My working week was (almost*) sandwiched between two contrasting cycling commutes:

• Monday night, when I had a slow puncture. I could not find the resolve to do the right thing and change the inner tube and instead put some more air in and limped home, ever anxious that it might go completely flat when I was going 'fast' and as a consequence I would fall off...


• Friday night, when in howling wind and driving rain I stormed home, enjoying the air - after 'angry day' at work: felt completely refreshed when I got home. (My mood was dampened somewhat this morning when I had to cycle in in the same wet through shorts and leggings that I wore yesterday...)

(* I say almost as my working week finished today: a report I needed to progress before next week. I am pleased to be busy though!)

Managed one run during the week, a nice little jog out on Wednesday evening. The beach was lite up by a full moon in clear night sky - beautiful.

Breaststroking round the Headland

I was all set to go for my first surf for a good 9-10 months this morning (ie I had with me my winter wetsuit) when I arrived at Si's. So we put a leash on my board and packed both boards into the car...

However, on inspection of sea at Fistral it was decided that there was insufficient swell - I was actually accused of a It's a Knockout 'playing my joker' moment by Si (ie he suspected that I had not really wanted to go for a surf and had gambled on there being no surf...) and further to illustrate his point he said he suspected that a large costumed person with overly large feet would appear up the steps from the beach as we spoke. They did not but it was a nice image.

So we decided to go for a swim - from the slipway off the North side of Fistral headland round to Fistral beach.

Water was cold but ok: Si had advised water temperature 12 degree; which is low end of anticipated water temperature in Norseman per Endurance Life website.

Distance was longer than expected - particularly the bit from Cribber area to the beach. (We were quite impressed with our efforts when we looked at where we had swum whilst eating breakfast at Lewinnick after).

My only disappointment was swimming more of the distance front crawl - went to ever dependable breast stroke for most of section from the Cribber area in. More self discipline (and a new pair of goggles - I lost the pair I wore this morning when they flicked back over my head into the sea whilst I was trying to adjust them, perhaps a little too aggressively) required for next time.

Nonetheless, a truly glorious morning...

Seminar and Somalia: a lesson in context

Why I am blogging about a seminar? Well it was the reason/ excuse for me not doing much exercise in the week just gone and it will useful to remind myself of a sequence of events/ emotions so that I can learn lessons hopefully.

1. Seminar was on Wednesday so that meant I had to take a car to work on Tuesday so that I could take equipment that I would need for next day and I also drove to the event on Wednesday - so no opportunity to cycle to and from work.


2. Was a tad apprehensive/ anxious about the event so spent Tuesday evening fretting about presentation (Note: Should have gone for a swim after work would have dispelled some of the aprehension)


3. Was 'down' about aspects of the event on Wednesday so did not feel enthused to do anything when I got home afterwards (Note: Should have gone for a run - would have felt more upbeat after; I always do)
   
4. Let certain aspects of event colour my feelings of event as a whole and was less than positive when I spoke to a very nice person at host venue (Note: be positive/ put any negative comments into context)


5. Snapped out of 'down' spell when watching footage of live in Somalia on Channel 4 news by local cameraman Abdullah Farah Duguf (Note: should always appreciate how lucky I am: put day into context before I wallow in self absorption).

P.S. On searching for the cameraman's name I found the Channel 4 award winning footage from Somalia which was referred to in the news article on Wednesday night. This can be accessed by clicking here. Be warned the video footage which can be accessed by following the link is extremely harrowing!

!!!!!!!!

I was corresponding with a lady at one of the bank's early in the week about someone from there attending a seminar I was co-organising. The email which contained the name of their delegate contained a phrase something along the lines of '...I believe you have played against him at football!!!!!!!!'

It was the gentleman I had 'squared up to' (in a less than convincing manner) in my last game.

Small world.

P.S. He is really nice chap.

Exorcising one little demon on the A3075

Superb bike ride this morning. Went from Perranporth to Devoran, then onto Bissoe (where we stopped for a lovely coffee), then onto Portreath, via Redruth and Illogan, before heading back on A3075.

Managed to stay on my bike - did almost career into the back of Stephen at one point, when he stopped surprisingly (for me) but did not lock brakes so all good. Definitely more nervous down hill in particular than I was a week ago (and I was not the most confident before my crash!) - so still some work to do that particular demon.

One demon I have gone some way to exorcising is my fear that I am lot lot slower than the Perranporth Posse - I was still not sure how much my deflated tyre contributed to me getting dropped by the peloton 2 weeks ago and when I started to get dropped by the group on the A3075 I thought 'oh dear'. However, I tried really hard and did manage to catch them back up - so feel a little more confident that I can improve my speed (not quite up to the Posse speed yet though...)

Decided I find United Downs quite picturesque.

And it seems all roads lead to Lanner: saw Tom to shout 'hello' to as we cycled past his house - which was nice.

Exercise and daemons

Not a good week on the exercise front - only 2 cycles on the credit side. Still, Saturday tomorrow so that means a 30 mile + cycle (hopefully I can stay on this Saturday). Showed off my knees to all at work who were even a little bit interested in my crash story and some who were not!

Hopefully, my limping and slow movements on Monday in particular were attributed to cycle fall - they were I confess more due to aches inflicted on calf muscle and upper thigh muscle by Sunday's run with Anthony...

Highlight of the week on the work front was a presenter at seminar describing solicitors as 'daemons' (as in Philip Pullman's Golden Compass) - not sure my friend (a solicitor) who had asked the lady to speak and may have thought he was being referred to as a 'demon' (as I did at the time) was as tickled by the description as I am now.

Anyway, more of the seminar in a blog tomorrow - as it was a major contributing factor to my dismal effort on the training front this week (that and my lazy/ work excuse daemon). For now though everything is good - listening to Kings of the Leon while Julie decorates the Christmas tree.