Whilst Trevor is pushing the boundaries of good taste I am contemplating joining a Tai-Chi class.
A few days ago, on another continent, I did a nice solid nine mile run. My run took me through some of the richer parts of New York and then into some of the less rich parts (where I certainly picked up the speed). It was a nice soothing run and the weather was beautiful. I only planned to do eight miles but ended up doing more as I got slightly lost. It did, however, give me a good opportunity to clear my head, and work off some of the Thanks Giving turkey.
Today, in a very barmy part of Asia, I was out for gentle run as the sun began to rise (jet lag is a terrible thing….). I did not try to push it, just let the feet work and the mind unwind. It was warm and calm and serene – everything Siberia probably will be (with the exception, that is, of the temperature).
As I came back towards the hotel I stopped to watch a Tai-Chi class in the park. There must have been about 30 elderly people going through some of the most fluid and serene motions I have seen for a long time. It was beautiful to watch and looked like a lot of fun. I wonder if I can ask them to join in tomorrow morning?
Sunday, March 4th, 2012, Philip and Trevor will be running across the frozen ice surface of the world’s largest, oldest and deepest lake, Lake Baikal in Siberia. It's generally considered one of the 10 toughest marathons in the world. Philip and Trevor are running in support of Iain Rennie Hospice at Home, a charity offering specialist and supportive care and advice for patients with cancer and other life threatening illnesses in their homes.
Monday, 28 November 2011
Trevor's Update
A week has passed since my last entry. A lot has happened since then, training has resumed and I feel much better for it. Head is in the right place now.
On Saturday just gone I took part in a charity Zumba class in aid of our charity, as you can see from the picture I took it very seriously, the things I will do to help raise money for the charity.
The class was very good and my thanks go to Sue who put the class on.
We will be looking to do another one in January as well, although I’m not sure of what I’ll have to wear to that one……
My mind has turned to more training now with Philip, who will be back in a weeks time. Training will be upped in intensity with a mixture of running and cross training, and some long circuit training session, I need to be able to push Phil to his limits and then beyond.
This marathon will be extremely tough on the mind and body so the next couple of months will be tough but fun as well
Regards
Trevor
On Saturday just gone I took part in a charity Zumba class in aid of our charity, as you can see from the picture I took it very seriously, the things I will do to help raise money for the charity.
The class was very good and my thanks go to Sue who put the class on.
We will be looking to do another one in January as well, although I’m not sure of what I’ll have to wear to that one……
My mind has turned to more training now with Philip, who will be back in a weeks time. Training will be upped in intensity with a mixture of running and cross training, and some long circuit training session, I need to be able to push Phil to his limits and then beyond.
This marathon will be extremely tough on the mind and body so the next couple of months will be tough but fun as well
Regards
Trevor
Saturday, 26 November 2011
Thanks Giving Turkey Trot
I really don’t understand Thanks Giving.
There seems to be a lot of hype and build up, not least, or so it seemed as I passed through The Twin Cities, the moss mobilisation of about ninety per cent of the population with multiple suitcases. However, the day itself, seemed to be a lot of sitting around watching James Bond films and waiting for the turkey to cook. Clearly, I need to investigate this further as I am obviously missing something.
However, I did learn an important lesson on Thanks Giving…that of humility.
I registered for the local Turkey Trot which was occurring for the 34th consecutive year. Though billed as a ‘run for fun’ (as American’s don’t get the concept of a Fun Run) it still looked like an interesting proposition. Six-thousand runners, a flat five mile course and a great opportunity to gently poke some fun at the locals. The distance was a little strange being not quite a 10km and not really a long run. I was too long for speed work and too short for slowness. So as I lined up on the starting line I had no real game plan other than to get the job jobbed and head back from turkey.
Being halfway towards the back I missed the singing of the National Anthem and the opening bars of Chariots of Fire but as soon as the gun fired I was off muscling my way through the crowds. It took some judicious use of shoulders and elbows to get away from the main pack and find some space and within about a quarter of a mile I had picked up some pace and was feeling good. The weather was perfect, the sky was blue and there was a lovely vibe about the race.
My first mile was really quick (7min 52) and I was feeling really great when three old ladies ran past me discussing how best to cook mash potatoes with marshmallows. I shook my head, checked my pace which was still sub 8 min miles and watched them zoom off into the distance.
After that I was really furious and pushed myself. Racing over 5 miles is very challenging for me as I had no idea of pace and so I just went for it. The first four miles were ok but the last mile was really beginning to hurt. I pushed myself as hard as I could and crossed the finishing line on 41mins 16 seconds, which I was mightily proud of.
Whilst I tried to catch my breath (and not throw up), my wife wandered over and asked how things went.
‘Oh, it was a great run,’ I told her through gulps of air, ‘I was like a lean, mean, English running machine…totally kick Johnny Foreigner’s butt out there today…’
‘Really?’ she replied, ‘then how come that guy pushing his baby stroller came in about three minutes ahead of you?’
Which kind of took the fun out of the day.
But I did get a nice t-shirt….so it wasn’t all bad…I think.
There seems to be a lot of hype and build up, not least, or so it seemed as I passed through The Twin Cities, the moss mobilisation of about ninety per cent of the population with multiple suitcases. However, the day itself, seemed to be a lot of sitting around watching James Bond films and waiting for the turkey to cook. Clearly, I need to investigate this further as I am obviously missing something.
However, I did learn an important lesson on Thanks Giving…that of humility.
I registered for the local Turkey Trot which was occurring for the 34th consecutive year. Though billed as a ‘run for fun’ (as American’s don’t get the concept of a Fun Run) it still looked like an interesting proposition. Six-thousand runners, a flat five mile course and a great opportunity to gently poke some fun at the locals. The distance was a little strange being not quite a 10km and not really a long run. I was too long for speed work and too short for slowness. So as I lined up on the starting line I had no real game plan other than to get the job jobbed and head back from turkey.
Being halfway towards the back I missed the singing of the National Anthem and the opening bars of Chariots of Fire but as soon as the gun fired I was off muscling my way through the crowds. It took some judicious use of shoulders and elbows to get away from the main pack and find some space and within about a quarter of a mile I had picked up some pace and was feeling good. The weather was perfect, the sky was blue and there was a lovely vibe about the race.
My first mile was really quick (7min 52) and I was feeling really great when three old ladies ran past me discussing how best to cook mash potatoes with marshmallows. I shook my head, checked my pace which was still sub 8 min miles and watched them zoom off into the distance.
After that I was really furious and pushed myself. Racing over 5 miles is very challenging for me as I had no idea of pace and so I just went for it. The first four miles were ok but the last mile was really beginning to hurt. I pushed myself as hard as I could and crossed the finishing line on 41mins 16 seconds, which I was mightily proud of.
Whilst I tried to catch my breath (and not throw up), my wife wandered over and asked how things went.
‘Oh, it was a great run,’ I told her through gulps of air, ‘I was like a lean, mean, English running machine…totally kick Johnny Foreigner’s butt out there today…’
‘Really?’ she replied, ‘then how come that guy pushing his baby stroller came in about three minutes ahead of you?’
Which kind of took the fun out of the day.
But I did get a nice t-shirt….so it wasn’t all bad…I think.
Monday, 21 November 2011
Training in the USA
My ice run was cancelled today when I realised that my hotel was on the edge of a highway and that running would have put my life at risk. The lake that I planned to run around had bizarrely vanished and been replaced with a Wallmart.
Instead I asked the hotel to find me a gym and after a few phone calls I had the keys to a local sweat-box that I could use whenever I wanted.
It took me a few attempts to drive there (and I apologise to the very pissed off truck driver for almost running him off the road) but once there I was pleased to see that there were quite a few people working out.
After warming up I loaded up the bar for squats and did my first warm-up set. As I put the bar down and took a deep, happy breath a young guy wandered over and tried to engage me in conversation…however, I don’t speak Middle America and he soon left me, clearly thinking that I was some kind of retard. Later, when I was doing front squats a young girl came over to ask about the exercise (or at least that is what I think she asked as I could not understand a word she was saying). She too soon wandered off and went to confer with the original guy. There was lots of shaking of heads and shrugging of shoulders which clearly led me to conclude that they considered me a dullard that didn’t even speak English.
Later on, after a most pleasing workout, I went to a local bar for dinner. This again was less than successful and it was only by employing a man from Kansas that I was able to order dinner and avoid expiring from hunger. Middle America, it seems, is not my cup of tea.
Instead I asked the hotel to find me a gym and after a few phone calls I had the keys to a local sweat-box that I could use whenever I wanted.
It took me a few attempts to drive there (and I apologise to the very pissed off truck driver for almost running him off the road) but once there I was pleased to see that there were quite a few people working out.
After warming up I loaded up the bar for squats and did my first warm-up set. As I put the bar down and took a deep, happy breath a young guy wandered over and tried to engage me in conversation…however, I don’t speak Middle America and he soon left me, clearly thinking that I was some kind of retard. Later, when I was doing front squats a young girl came over to ask about the exercise (or at least that is what I think she asked as I could not understand a word she was saying). She too soon wandered off and went to confer with the original guy. There was lots of shaking of heads and shrugging of shoulders which clearly led me to conclude that they considered me a dullard that didn’t even speak English.
Later on, after a most pleasing workout, I went to a local bar for dinner. This again was less than successful and it was only by employing a man from Kansas that I was able to order dinner and avoid expiring from hunger. Middle America, it seems, is not my cup of tea.
Trevor's Update
Even Personal Trainers Struggle (Sometimes)
An insight of how Personal Trainers struggle as well, the last 3 weeks have been tough for me personally. I spend all my days motivating clients and classes, making sure they eat correctly, train in the right manner and that they are mentally strong for their challenge.
This is a job I would not switch for anything, I love being able to help and share my knowledge, and to see client achieve their goals.
Occasionally the demons hit us Personal Trainers and this is what has happened to me the last 3 weeks, my training has been poor by standards, the odd session here and there. I have lost the mojo, I have forgotten that to keep my fitness is as important as anything else.
My focus went towards the 16hr UltraRow that Phil & I completed, an amazing distance was covered of 174K and then I need to recover afterwards as well, then I picked up a niggling cold, not bad enough not to work but annoying enough to stop my training, on top of all this I have been decorating at home and that became a focus and not my training.
As any of my clients know you need a kick up the backside occasionally and I got mine yesterday, I had my body measurements done, 4 cms off my chest, 1.5cms off my arms (BUGGER NOT GOOD)
Or words to that effect were uttered.
My mind is now switched on and the training back in gear as of today, 5 weeks to regain those losses.
Three and a Half months to the Baikal Ice Marathon, I need to be in the best possible shape I possibly can be and I need to get Phil in the best possible shape that he has ever been in……
Trevor
An insight of how Personal Trainers struggle as well, the last 3 weeks have been tough for me personally. I spend all my days motivating clients and classes, making sure they eat correctly, train in the right manner and that they are mentally strong for their challenge.
This is a job I would not switch for anything, I love being able to help and share my knowledge, and to see client achieve their goals.
Occasionally the demons hit us Personal Trainers and this is what has happened to me the last 3 weeks, my training has been poor by standards, the odd session here and there. I have lost the mojo, I have forgotten that to keep my fitness is as important as anything else.
My focus went towards the 16hr UltraRow that Phil & I completed, an amazing distance was covered of 174K and then I need to recover afterwards as well, then I picked up a niggling cold, not bad enough not to work but annoying enough to stop my training, on top of all this I have been decorating at home and that became a focus and not my training.
As any of my clients know you need a kick up the backside occasionally and I got mine yesterday, I had my body measurements done, 4 cms off my chest, 1.5cms off my arms (BUGGER NOT GOOD)
Or words to that effect were uttered.
My mind is now switched on and the training back in gear as of today, 5 weeks to regain those losses.
Three and a Half months to the Baikal Ice Marathon, I need to be in the best possible shape I possibly can be and I need to get Phil in the best possible shape that he has ever been in……
Trevor
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Run America
Training is now taking place on the other side of the pond…
Today, I was up reasonably early and running around Long Island. It was a beautiful, late autumn day (or fall as the locals like to say…) and I went out to stretch my legs a little bit. Not being overly familiar with the area I kept the distance reasonably short and worked on the pace. It was, all things being equal, a lovely way to start a Sunday and added another 5 miles to the total.
Later, feeling overly virtuous, I went shopping and bought three new pairs of running shoes. The slightly weakened dollar and some cheekiness on my part made the prices very attractive and I ended up paying the same price for three new pairs of shoes as I did for the last ones I bought in England – which did make me wonder why more Americans aren’t out there pounding the streets on a regular basis.
Tomorrow, I have the first ice run planned and then it’s back to New York for a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving, which at least will give me some kind of bragging rights.
Today, I was up reasonably early and running around Long Island. It was a beautiful, late autumn day (or fall as the locals like to say…) and I went out to stretch my legs a little bit. Not being overly familiar with the area I kept the distance reasonably short and worked on the pace. It was, all things being equal, a lovely way to start a Sunday and added another 5 miles to the total.
Later, feeling overly virtuous, I went shopping and bought three new pairs of running shoes. The slightly weakened dollar and some cheekiness on my part made the prices very attractive and I ended up paying the same price for three new pairs of shoes as I did for the last ones I bought in England – which did make me wonder why more Americans aren’t out there pounding the streets on a regular basis.
Tomorrow, I have the first ice run planned and then it’s back to New York for a Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving, which at least will give me some kind of bragging rights.
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Post Ultra Row
We completed our Ultrarow yesterday…
Firstly, we need to say thank you to the everyone who supported us, Clare and Kerri from Iain Rennie, Richard from the Fitness company, the local press and radio who covered the event, everyone who came by to say hello and encourage us and, most of all, our wifes – Jana and Katie, who suffer on a daily basis with our training.
The row itself was a fun, if somewhat demanding, day. I soon realised that the best way to deal with it was to go to my happy place and zone out. I sang songs to myself, tried to recall poems I had read and made mental list of things I need to do in the coming few weeks. The kilometres soon zipped by.
The day was broken down by small milestones – Ali bought us some jelly babies, I had a long hot shower, we ate some cake and we watched the daily ebb and flow in the gym.
When I finally got home, I had a long hot bath and then cuddled my son on the sofa. We both woke up around 2am and I had to wake my wife up to take him upstairs as I was so sore.
Today, my arms are a little sore and I am tired but I am ready for training again on Thursday
Firstly, we need to say thank you to the everyone who supported us, Clare and Kerri from Iain Rennie, Richard from the Fitness company, the local press and radio who covered the event, everyone who came by to say hello and encourage us and, most of all, our wifes – Jana and Katie, who suffer on a daily basis with our training.
The row itself was a fun, if somewhat demanding, day. I soon realised that the best way to deal with it was to go to my happy place and zone out. I sang songs to myself, tried to recall poems I had read and made mental list of things I need to do in the coming few weeks. The kilometres soon zipped by.
The day was broken down by small milestones – Ali bought us some jelly babies, I had a long hot shower, we ate some cake and we watched the daily ebb and flow in the gym.
When I finally got home, I had a long hot bath and then cuddled my son on the sofa. We both woke up around 2am and I had to wake my wife up to take him upstairs as I was so sore.
Today, my arms are a little sore and I am tired but I am ready for training again on Thursday
The next day
Day After the 16hr UltraRow.
Feeling very tired today, woke up ok but am going down hill very quick, packet of chocolate biscuits have not helped and I now feel worst than I did.
Back to the row, we did amazingly well with a total distance of 174.2k, which between the two of us s a very good effort.
Philip did amazingly well and was very consistent throughout, I was fine until about 21/2 hrs to go, when my right knee decided that enough was enough. This made rowing very difficult for me, in the end I put my right leg on a medicine ball to the side so that I could keep it straight but still go backwards and forwards, this helped and I was able to continue,
although stopping was never a question.
I have not added up the amount raised yet but would like to say thank you to everyone who had a guess on the sweep stake board, this money will make a Hugh difference for Iain Rennie Hospice.
Now to look forward to a double Zumba class on 26th November, lots of training for the marathon and then the marathon
Trevor
Feeling very tired today, woke up ok but am going down hill very quick, packet of chocolate biscuits have not helped and I now feel worst than I did.
Back to the row, we did amazingly well with a total distance of 174.2k, which between the two of us s a very good effort.
Philip did amazingly well and was very consistent throughout, I was fine until about 21/2 hrs to go, when my right knee decided that enough was enough. This made rowing very difficult for me, in the end I put my right leg on a medicine ball to the side so that I could keep it straight but still go backwards and forwards, this helped and I was able to continue,
although stopping was never a question.
I have not added up the amount raised yet but would like to say thank you to everyone who had a guess on the sweep stake board, this money will make a Hugh difference for Iain Rennie Hospice.
Now to look forward to a double Zumba class on 26th November, lots of training for the marathon and then the marathon
Trevor
Monday, 7 November 2011
Trevor says..
Nearly 7 hours in and now questioning why 16hr? Legs are getting heavy, calfskin are getting tight and as for my bum!!!!!!
But it's all for a great cause and will make many lives that little bit better during very tough times and that is what drives us on..
We have done amazingly well, at the moment up to 77,000m so not bad and still 9 hrs to go, although the pace will slow.
But it's all for a great cause and will make many lives that little bit better during very tough times and that is what drives us on..
We have done amazingly well, at the moment up to 77,000m so not bad and still 9 hrs to go, although the pace will slow.
Two Hours in
Two hours into the row and it is beginning to hurt.
We are both beginning to zone out a little and just go with the flow. The distance is stacking up impressively and are amused by the number of people who have come into the gym to work out and more or less ignored us (hello, folks, we are wearing red t-shirts and are in the middle of the gym…)
I am using the time to think about the big issues, such as what I can eat next, why my bum has gone numb and how many people we can bully into giving us money….whilst Trevor seems to be currently in a very happy place….and I can barely imagine what he is thinking about (probably getting me to do some burpees in the rest periods….)
Its fourteen hours to go some please come down and support us.
We are both beginning to zone out a little and just go with the flow. The distance is stacking up impressively and are amused by the number of people who have come into the gym to work out and more or less ignored us (hello, folks, we are wearing red t-shirts and are in the middle of the gym…)
I am using the time to think about the big issues, such as what I can eat next, why my bum has gone numb and how many people we can bully into giving us money….whilst Trevor seems to be currently in a very happy place….and I can barely imagine what he is thinking about (probably getting me to do some burpees in the rest periods….)
Its fourteen hours to go some please come down and support us.
Sunday, 6 November 2011
5th November
The next run.
After Philip s 14 miler last week, back to a more comfortable distance this
week, 8 miles, only because we have a 16 hour Ultra row on Monday in aid of our charity Iain Rennie Grove House Hospice Care, so certainly worth a shorter run.
We started off nice and steady and held this pace most of the time. Philip has taken notice of my moaning about running single file on country roads and stayed where he should be, a lot less dangerous.
The weather was kind, no wind and no rain this combination makes for
happy running.. Well certainly in my book, although I know the bad weather will come, then it's grit your teeth time and get on with it..
Back to today's run, everything is good and I managed to push Philip to a quick last mile of 8.08 which was very good..
Looking forward to the row on Monday and then next weeks run.....
Trevor
After Philip s 14 miler last week, back to a more comfortable distance this
week, 8 miles, only because we have a 16 hour Ultra row on Monday in aid of our charity Iain Rennie Grove House Hospice Care, so certainly worth a shorter run.
We started off nice and steady and held this pace most of the time. Philip has taken notice of my moaning about running single file on country roads and stayed where he should be, a lot less dangerous.
The weather was kind, no wind and no rain this combination makes for
happy running.. Well certainly in my book, although I know the bad weather will come, then it's grit your teeth time and get on with it..
Back to today's run, everything is good and I managed to push Philip to a quick last mile of 8.08 which was very good..
Looking forward to the row on Monday and then next weeks run.....
Trevor
Friday, 4 November 2011
Running Shoes
I have just had an email from a supplier of running shoes to the British Army…
When I explained what we were doing in Siberia the response was, ‘oh, that sounds tough…and we don’t think many people would undertake this….,’ which worried me a little as if a supplier to the British Army thinks that we are nuts it is probably time to check wills and life insurance policies.
However, they have made us a very kind and generous offer for shoes which we will be taking up and it is nice to think that the technology that has been field tested by our troops around the world will get put through its paces in Siberia.
When I explained what we were doing in Siberia the response was, ‘oh, that sounds tough…and we don’t think many people would undertake this….,’ which worried me a little as if a supplier to the British Army thinks that we are nuts it is probably time to check wills and life insurance policies.
However, they have made us a very kind and generous offer for shoes which we will be taking up and it is nice to think that the technology that has been field tested by our troops around the world will get put through its paces in Siberia.
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Curl like a girl
Another tough day…
Combining a 6 mile run with a chest and biceps work-out was never going to be a good idea but I just about survived and am already planning a ten-mile run for Saturday.
The run was particularly unpleasant. However, I did manage to do a very quick 6 miles (52 mins 22 seconds) and was then somewhat deflated by Trevor’s inability to comprehend that this was the second fastest I had ever run this distance. A long and complex discussion took place about the validity of claiming a PB against a 10km race….but which time I had the bar loaded up and was trying to bench press successfully.
I worked through the chest workout with gritted teeth and then threw myself into the bicep part of the workout. I hate biceps. Mine don’t seem to work and I curl like a girl. There is no slow build up of burn when I train biceps and it goes from ‘this is ok,’ to ‘oh, my god, I am gonna cry, this hurts so much,’ in a few reps. I have christened this day’s training as Not Leg Day. However, I made it to the end of the session ok and was soon back at home, sitting on the kitchen floor feeling like I had just had nine bells kicked out of me. It took me about an hour to take off my t-shirt but after some food and some water I was soon back to feeling just moderately sore and unhappy.
Combining a 6 mile run with a chest and biceps work-out was never going to be a good idea but I just about survived and am already planning a ten-mile run for Saturday.
The run was particularly unpleasant. However, I did manage to do a very quick 6 miles (52 mins 22 seconds) and was then somewhat deflated by Trevor’s inability to comprehend that this was the second fastest I had ever run this distance. A long and complex discussion took place about the validity of claiming a PB against a 10km race….but which time I had the bar loaded up and was trying to bench press successfully.
I worked through the chest workout with gritted teeth and then threw myself into the bicep part of the workout. I hate biceps. Mine don’t seem to work and I curl like a girl. There is no slow build up of burn when I train biceps and it goes from ‘this is ok,’ to ‘oh, my god, I am gonna cry, this hurts so much,’ in a few reps. I have christened this day’s training as Not Leg Day. However, I made it to the end of the session ok and was soon back at home, sitting on the kitchen floor feeling like I had just had nine bells kicked out of me. It took me about an hour to take off my t-shirt but after some food and some water I was soon back to feeling just moderately sore and unhappy.
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