Inspired by a smiling Legend

The commute...it's ON! To be completely honest it wasn't as bad as I was thinking it would be. Since the last time I did it (last year!!) I've moved house and added an extra 3 miles each way. Coupled with the complete and utter lack of biking, it was enough to worry me. I was OK and in fact as I was rushed in the morning it had to be swift and I got back in just over the hour which is good going for a 21 mile hilly ride!

So, running is becoming regular again, as is swimming and now the biking has found a place!

I've also, possibly, found a new swim venue which is very local...I may have to swim a la stealth as I can't seem to find out who to ask to get permission? It's used by a local fishing club but I don't think they own 'The great pond of stubbing'? I decided to check it out as part of a new run which takes in the 'pond' a bit of woodland running and, more importantly for Celtman training, a massive bloody hill!

This run felt really good, not the hill obviously, but after a grumpy start I settled into it and genuinely loved running through virgin territory. Maybe the run was a swift one as I needed to be somewhere later that day...

After a quick shower, Beth (my 11 year old daughter) and Bodhi (3 year old son) all jumped in the car and headed down to Bridgtown Bikes for a book signing with non other than CHRISSIE WELLINGTON!!

For those of you who don't know, Chrissie is 4 times world

Ironman Champion. The last one fo which was wonin a phenominal fashion only months after recovering from a bike crash. She's british, she's a champion and she's someone we should be massively proud of!

We managed to meet up with a few folks from BCTTT whilst down there so it was a great chance to meet up with friends (even though one of them reminded me that I'm entered into a duathlon on 1st April! I'd completely forgotten about it! lol!!) Beth seemed to be genuinely star struck and it was good to see that Chrissie is a brilliant role model for her - exactly why I went down!

We did manage to get a good photo as well!

The problem with that level of inspiration is that you tend to then go off and do something stupid. So not only had I done a good run this morning, buoyed up by the inspiration of the Wellington smile I headed back, grabbed the bike and did the commute again for my night shift!

Run, 21 mile commute, night shift and then 21 mile ride home....not a brilliant idea. It was the longest ride home yet!

My legs still hurt.

missed the boat but back on track!

A few months ago I made a decision to do something daft but something I'd wanted to do ever since a winter expedition across Canada when I was 16 - I bought some cross country skis! My thinking was this, last year we got shed loads of snow and I almost bought them then but didn't give in to the stupidity (which really isn't like me at all!!) so this year I wasn't going to wuss out again!

Just before Christmas I managed to get some skis and boots fairly cheaply but once everything arrived it became apparent that I had the wrong boots or the wrong bindings...either way they didn't match - DOH! After a few weeks of hectic searching for cheap enough bindings I finally found a pair......in France.

I paid and waited....and waited....and waited.....it snowed....I waited....snow melted....I waited and long story short after about 2 months of e-mailing back and forth the bindings came to the UK, went back to France, before finally arriving a few days ago about a day too late!

I Missed the boat....bugger

But it's not all negative, last night saw another swim session with MAD and I felt my technique was improved even though the majority of the session was leg work. By the end of the session my thighs were burning but it felt good and I didn't even get a beating from the wife for heading out for a swim session on Valentine's night! (The 3 course meal the night before may have helped?)

This morning I decided to stick in a quick run before work and although my legs felt tired the fact I was a bit late leaving the house meant that I couldn't hang around on the run.



All in all I was happy with this pace, tired legs and a section across a boggy playing field weren't perfect for me to keep a good pace but sheer fear of being late for work kept me going!

Tomorrow, I aim to leave early and try a commute from Chesterfield to derby....wish me luck!

Lethargy and Lazy Legs

A while back I went out for a ride with a few lads from BCTTT and long story short, my batteries fell out! so much so that I figured 'something must be wrong'....well duh! Not riding a bike for over 6 months will do that to ya. Feckin' eedjit.

With that experience, obviously I jumped back on the bike, did what was required, got my game face back on and brought back my bike fitness...........not......exactly.

Since then, I haven't even sat on the saddle. Like I say, Feckin Eedjit!!!!

Today though, today, was different. Today was the day I manned up got the bike out and went for a little ride. I decided on a 20 miler heading to Chesterfield then out and across to Beeley moor and back again. It has a hilly start but the finish isn't too bad so hopefully it'd be an alright choice to 'ease' myself back into things.

After dragging, and I mean DRAGGING myself out I was treated to a steady wind but lovely sun and even blue(ish) skies! Which was all the better because some bugger had definitely swapped my legs for those of a 12 year old X-box expert! Those Hills out of Chesterfield hurt!!

Today was more of a psychological hurdle more than anything and I'm hoping that my bike fitness is just 'hidden' and getting myself out a few more times will get me back into the swing of things and something will just 'click'



I logged the ride on Endo and to be honest it doesn't look as bad as it felt but I think that's down to a faster second half! The first half, like I say, HURT! lol!

Hopefully this is the catalyst to me getting out more, and more regular! If I can keep the mental strength then I may try the commute to Derby again as this gives me 45 miles in the saddle everytime I do it. That's what I need now, time in the saddle.

'Train' when ya can - secret of champions!

One of the hardest things for anyone training for events like Celtman is trying to do it around family life and other commitments. With 4 of the li'l buggers in my house this becomes a real issue to work around.

Luckily Claire's happy to help so Friday saw her taking them all in the car along to the gym whilst I decided to brave the snow and head over there on my MTB.



Actually not too bad a ride all in all, and as I said a quick 3 mile TT fitted in around kiddywinks! ;o)

The swim turned out to be almost as productive managing to sneak in 3 sets of 200m FC, focusing on technique rather than speed etc....man I need to deal with my technique! It was quite funny though, Claire in the pool dealing with 4 kids, me swimming a 200m set and then a WWF style tag team change over! That means recovery between sets was fairly long but full of handstands in the pool, catching kids jumping in with their waterwings on and splashing various little ones! It was also quite good in that I could give a little 'coaching' to my 16 year old who was trying to swim. He's got potential, just needs to fine tune his technique.

Bike route was replicated on the way back complete with the obligatory waving, beeping horns and raspberries blown out of windows from the family car as they whizzed on back for an early hot cup of tea to leave me pedaling!

All in all, not a massive session but positive in that I could fit in a bit of something whilst still being Dad.

Fame! and post Flu Floundering

The organisers of Celtman have decided to do a daily post of 'Athlete of the day' on their facebook page and as I was due to be one of the said 'Athletes' I decided that as well as providing a photo I would also contribute the following 'Bio'....

Mick Wyldbore-Wood, Chesterfield, England. Team: BCTTT

Age on race Day: 38

Achievements to date: School Conkers Champion 1985-87
Best Dancer, Butlins Prestatyn 1988
25m swim badge 2012 (awaiting sewing onto trunks by Mum)
Most lovable rogue, Liverpool probation service 1995

Reason for entering: After becoming a member of the eccentric online triathlon club (BCTTT.com) I found myself signing up for and completing my first ever 70.3 at Antwerp in 2011 all in the name of charity. I decided to up the challenge, continue the stupidity, and sign up for Celtman! Partly because, having been an Outdoor Instructor for years and leading expeditions around the world, I have a love of the mountains and partly because of an inherently damaged self preservation gene.
Either way I'm now signed up to raise as much money as possible for little Beatrice (for more info please visit http://www.getbeatricemobile.org/) or just head straight to www.justgiving.com/Celtman and donate!
I'm going to try and log my journey to the start line with my blog http://theceltman.blogspot.com/. I can only apologise in advance to all you nutritionally balanced, training program following, hardcore type athletes....there's a cuckoo in the nest. He's at the back looking fat and flustered.

You may hear him muttering various unrepeatable phrases all centered around the question of why. Please ignore him, carry on with your business....he may be some time - just ensure he gets a pint when he finishes.

I thought it was apt ;o)

I also thought that I should get my ass training and, maybe prematurely as the Man flu is still lingering, I went along to MAD swimming session. It's only 45 mins on a Tues so I thought that would be a bit gentler. Well that was a load of tosh! 'Warm up' was 2 lots of 400m front call with 15 sec rest between sets....FFS!

I needn't have worried though because after this 'warm up' we just did 3 lots of 100m Breast stroke legs with floats followed by 4 lots of 25m max effort sprints. Funny thing is though, my technique feels MUCH better during the 25m max efforts than it does during the much slower 400m sets? Possibly just down to a lack of fitness but I suspect it's got much more to do with my breathing, think I get hypoxic on longer sets?

Keeping it going!

So, it seems that I've now been kicked with....MAN FLU! I kid you not, it was touch and go at one point. I picked out what to be buried in. But never fear, I overcame, I conquered!

and while I was, I decided to do something positive at least!

So...I joined Matlock and District Swimming club (MAD swimming club...brilliant! lol!) who do a 'pre-masters' group - brilliant! I'll be going there at least twice a week and maybe three depending on life.

and secondly, I finally got off my ass and started up the Justgiving page. If you fancy sponsoring me feel free to head on over to www.justgiving.com/Celtman and give give give!!!!

Who knows, with this kind of impetus I may actually train!!