Hi blog followers and a very Merry Christmas to you all. I hope you had a relaxing day with family and friends and didn’t indulge to much. A shorter blog this week as we all enjoy the festive season.
So for this weeks training, I noticed Coach Ray had left running out of the programme, as he wanted to give my calf a chance to heal. As such, I took the opportunity to report myself to the Army Medical Centre and have that annoying last toenail looked at from the Ultra-Marathon 50 Km Trail Run that I did in October. The Doc took one looked at it, just as I glanced down as he ripped it off from my toe… “job done” he said! A bit of throbbing for the rest of the day, but I was glad to be rid of it. But the job wasn’t over, the Nurse popped in and said “I’ve been looking at your vaccination records and due another jab”, bugger. So whilst there, there was a bit more pain and suffering!
To top it off, I had a session with my Sports Masseuse who gave my legs the once over after the 3 Half Ironman events over 3 consecutive weekends, which I certainly felt the discomfort but felt a whole lot better afterwards. Then the Physio wanted to see me twice during the week and dry needled my calf, on my second visit he said he probably wouldn’t need to dry needle, just massage the calf area, once he got into it, he changed his mind and more dry needles to send me hobbling away on my last day of work… a Christmas Treat!
Coach Ray’s training was excellent though with his expertise, I was surprised how fatigued I still felt on the bike rides, but the swims were nice and refreshing, and now back into training as Coach Ray’s next focus is to get me through the 2 Ironman distance events over 2 weeks, being Challenge Ironman in Wanaka on 18 Feb 17 followed by Ironman New Zealand in Taupo on 4 Mar 17, all in the name of the 3+2+1=Charity.
This brings me to this weeks photo’s. Last weeks photo’s were my favourites from the Swim on Day 1 of Ultraman Australia 2016, with this weeks photo’s being from the 140 Km Cycle, which is the 2nd part of Day One. My Support Crew taking care of me during transition from the Swim to get on the bike; followed by Coach Ray and Scott Cordwell meeting me at the finish line whilst Derrick McMillan was away taking care of business (TCB) with the support vehicle (after they had spent the day leap frogging me providing me with nutrition etc); congratulating a fellow competitor after we came in about the same time from the cycle; and then the dreaded ice bath… Photo’s courtesy of Barry Alsop of Eyes Wide Open Images, Official Photographer for Ultraman Australia 2016.
Take care team, enjoy the festivities and try not to over indulge. Regards John Humphries (Aka UltraHumps, Aka Humps)!