Lance, the Cheater

Now I am sure! After reading a few books about the life of Lance, I know for certain, that he wasn't a nice guy!
Espcially in this book http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/books-and-dvd/books/cycling-reference-books/product/review-david-walsh-seven-deadly-sins-my-pursuit-of-lance-armstrong-12-46843/
it is very clear, that the guy was a bully and tiran in the group of riders. I don't understand how he always got away with it. Even before his cancer, he was using already all kind of stuff and none of people cared or wanted to find out. Of course it was a different kind of time and it seems that everybody was using a kind of blood doping, or using EPO.   Respect for the writer of this book(David Walsh).

Three at one day.

Yesterday it was finally time for our benchmark! We changed the date for this many times, but it's nice that we still did it.  At 7 o'clock we were all ready at the swimming pool. I am not a fan of mornings swim but it wasn't so bad. The water was surprisingly warmer then I thought and it was nice to swim in a broad lane. The whole 1,9 km I swam with the breaststroke, no problem with that. In 56 minutes was the job done :) Not especially tired or something just done the job. Next time I really hope that  I can do the same distance in free-style, that should go a lot faster then \o/ . At one o'clock we left for our 90 km road bike trip. It was rainy and wet and my brakes didn't work well, so it was a slow trip, more then 4 hours we were on our bicycles. We toke some breaks to have something to eat, but still it was a long long trip. Maybe in the top 5 of my longest trips during this year.
When we left for the half marathon, the knee of colleague started to give some resistance and after 6 km we had to stop running. It doesnot matter, my legs felt nice after the biketrip and that was the  most thing of the trip, the first kilometers of the running felt a little stange but after that no problem.
So I got really excited and when I am excited I do something :) . I plan to start at the Olympic distance at the triathlon of Kuopio! http://kuopiotriathlon.sporttisaitti.com/ . In fact I reserved ( and paid) already the hotel and the entry-fee :) . So this a good reason to enjoy the swimming course tomorrow! I guess the swimming is the part where I can improve myself the most.
Let's wait and see!
     

A new milestone

So tomorrow w'll finally have the benchmark, I wrote about. In the morning we go to swim the 1,9 km at the swimming pool. The target is to swim under the hour, that shouldn't be a problem because 1,5 km went in 41 minutes a few weeks ago. The riding at the bike will be in the afternoon and let's hope that we'll be home before the dark, I guess some 3,5 hour will go to that. For the half marathon I am not worried, that isn't a problem.  I didn't do any preparation because it is more for fun.It is anew milestone, never before I have swom more then 1,5 km and never before I have be praticing 3 different endurance sports on one day !

Also fun will be the swimming course, which starts next Sunday, I hope that I learn it quickly, so I can swim a lot in the spring to get some kind of routine.

Our bicycle project has now moved to the autumn of next year. So Ventoux has to wait for a while :)
A nice quote over the mount Ventoux: "The Ventoux is a god of Evil, to which sacrifices must be made. It never forgives weakness and extracts an unfair tribute of suffering."

To be honest, I think also about combining the climb of the Mont Ventoux with another mountain( Alpe d'huez? Col du Madeleine? Glandon?
I have no idea which mountains are in the same area as the Mont Ventoux, we'll find out :)

A good weekend!

This weekend we went to Vierumäki to spend some time in the sportsacademy. It was a sportive weekend. I have been swimming for 3 days in a row ( inside of course, 3 x 500 ,) and I've been boxing for 2 x 1,5 hour and there was also time for running. My legs feel good after the marathon, I am happy about that. Last thursday I was riding 50 km on my bike, so all kind off activities are going on. Lets hope I am not forcing anything. The most important thing is to staty fit untill the benchmark of 29 october, because at that time I should be rested and really to do the distances (1,9 swim, 90 riding, 21 running) wihtout driving myself to the limit.

The Man announced last week, that he is not going to make it to the Mont Ventoux in april, so we have to transfer this to next year autumn. It is not so bad idea, now we can train the whole spring and summer (!!) and we'll be in good sharp to ride upon the Mont Ventoux in september.

I found this site http://wattbike.com/fi/ and this is very interesting. If there is a place in Helsinki while I can try this thing, it will be very nice. I am not sure if the bike can simulate some climbing or something, but it seems like a good and professional alternative for bicycling in the winter. I heard that it makes a lot of noise, so buying one is not an option( also not because it cost a lot of money)

To remember!

Because I am still a newby in the world of bicycles, I looked into the parts of Shimano and trying to understand the hierarchy of the parts. Finally I found a nice table:

http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-797814.html

ROAD BIKE PARTS.
LEVEL 1 (entry level) 
SIS. 
SORA. 
SIS is not found on many road bikes now. However Sora is extremely popular. Many general commuting and entry level road bikes will be Sora equipped. Sora has STI levers and a very reliable gear and braking system, without being too pricey. Sora is a 8 speed group set and will come on bicyles ranged between $700-$1200.
LEVEL 2 
Tiagra. 
Tiagra is the first road group set that is 9 speed. Tiagra is used a lot by road cyclists that want the reliablity and smoothness of 9 speed without the price tag.
LEVEL 3 
105. 
This is a very commonly used component set a lot of top road bikes and training bikes will be equipped with 105 as it is exceptionally smooth in its changes and a very durable and reliable group set. 105 is also a 9 speed group set and its body predominantly made of alloy, thus making it very light. People who want good stuff that will last this is it.
LEVEL 4 
ULTEGRA. 
Once again used a lot for top end racing. Not often used for training bikes, however it is durable enough to do so. Very smooth and very light on its actions. This means changes with little effort.
LEVEL 5 
DURA ACE. 
The top of the line. Fairly expensive for the general rider.Dura Ace has been converted into a 10 speed system, with massive changes to the levers and crank sets, both so much smoother and lighter to use.

Nice to know!! 
The marathon went just ok, nothing to be proud off. I like to set some targets when I am running to measure my improvement.  Yesterday I started to look what to do next year and I am really looking into the olympic distance of the triathlon. It will be held next my house and early in the season: http://www.triforfun.fi/

Tomorrow a marathon...

So finally I'll run a full marathon tomorrow ( after 2 half marathons in the last month). The first marathon in 5 years, let's see how this goes. At this moment I've some pain in my right hamstring, but the pain should be away tomorrow (?). In a way I don't like to run a full marathon: It take two weeks to prepare( you have to taper and rest a lot, you have to be carefull not to caught a flue( quite a challenge while travelling in the metro two a day.. ;)) and after the marathon you have to rest for a week or so. So It disturbs the training for three weeks, that's quite a lot. It stresses a bit , but ok let's not complain!  End scenario's for tomorrow:

• Endtime > 4.00 , I'll be dissappointed, and a lot! How is this possibel anyway??
• Endtime 3.50 - 4.00 Mmhh, It was a experience but I'm not happy at all
• Endtime 3.40 - 3.50 Ok, it's fine.
• Endtime 3.35 - 3.40 Good run!
• Endtime 3.32 - 3.35 Very good run!
• Endtime < 3.32 perfect run!!!!!

Anyway..... the trip to the Mont Ventoux will be moved to autumn of 2014. It seems that The Man can get his leg in condition and will be not able to train on the bike anymore in this year. No problem of course, The Mont Ventoux will be existing for a long time and better to go there with some kilometers in your legs than in a bad condition. 

In November my swimmcourse will start and in december I'll think which sportsevents I'll attend in 2014. Maybe more cyclingraces and even some triathlon( basic distance).  I liked this sportsyear a lot because the combination of bicycling, running, boxing and swimming suits me and my legs well! 

Fingers crossed for tomorrow!! I'll be back

Autumn has come to town

It's was a nice autumn day, this day. I was plannng to run a long run, but unfortunately my legs started to stress too much, so I stopped after one hour. In the coming weekend I'll have a new try for a long run. Of course this blog goes over my trip to the Mont Ventoux, but it isnot yet certain, if we are going on the 30 of april to France. The Man has for a long time allready some legproblems and can't train at all and is desperately waiting for the snow. When it snows, he can start to ski and if he hasnot any problems while skiing then we can go in the spring 2014 to the Mont Ventoux. Wooww
Anyway.... I bought another card for another gym, so I have two places to go to ride on the bicycle when it's too  rainy outside. Also I signed up for a swimming course in November this year. A lot going on, but I have to stay healthy and at least try to run that marathon under 3.30 :)

P.S. The half marathon last summer went well. 1.33.35 was my time, I can live with that..

Finally on the bike

So today I went finally bicycling for the first time since the Tour de Helsinki. Of course I missed it, but I really concentrate on running these days. I hope that the snow isnot coming early this year, so I can train still after the Vantaan Marathon(13.10.2013). I thought a lot about how to train for the Ventoux trip. At this time I think that I'll start visiting the gym and cycle there. I hope that I can set the resistence on the same level as the precentage of the Ventoux, no idea if this is possible. Also I can watch a climb of  the Ventoux at the same time. Anyway this was a good sportweek: Some cycling, swimming, running, boxing. Keep on the good work,

Yesterday I saw a good Dutch documentary about the last Tour de France, I loved it!
http://nos.nl/video/548863-de-tour-van-bauke.html

Fear starts growing

The last week went mostly by running and boxing. I went for a night to Tallin and of course that disturbed my weekend trainings. Slowly I start to realize that it's not a small thing to climb the Ventoux in the beginning of May. I need to practice in the months March and April a lot!. One way to train can be by going to spinning hours or going to the gym and ride the bike there. I was looking for some hills to practice my climbing skills, but maybe I can use the hills in the Hakunilan sportspark( very close to my house). I have an old bicycle with a triple so I can start to practice with that.

I didnot run the coopertest, my legs were quite heavy after the TdH, so I didnot take any risk. Next sunday will be my first half marathon of this year..There is a little hill on the course, which we have to run at least 3 times, so that will have influence on the finishing time. Let'see how it goes :). This week there are even some bicycle trips in my mind  :)

The first time

So, yesterday the 140 km race was for me the first time of cycling such a long trip and also the first time to ride in the rain. :( And "almost" the first time for riding in a big group. I started in the group of 30 km/h, but soon after the start it started to rain and I lost the group. The first 35 km went very difficult: I couldn't find anyone with the same rythm and the rain made me very carefully. Only after the first stop I started to be more relax, partly also because the rain stopped.

It was still difficult to find the group with a suitable speed, I think I was pending between the 28 and 26 group or something. At 96 km I was passed by a group of riders and the first one said to me: Come on, drive alone. So I caught up with the group and I was already happy if I could stay at the group for at least 10 km. At the last stop( 116 km), the 26 km/h  group ( how did they get there??) was ready to go further and because I didn't have anything to do at the stop, I decided to go with this 26 km/h group. It was shameless easy to drive in that group, you could almost feel the speed in the group. A good way of relaxing and streching your legs already. My endtime was 5.21, netto time. Next year will be absolutely much better because this was the first time.

Things to remember:

• A lot of broken tyres, I have to exercise this before the next race
• If you have enough water, then there's no need to stop( except for a pee maybe)
• Choose your group and stay with the group

And I even found a picture from myself with my new bought raincoat :) 

Today I went running for a hour, strangely only my hamstrings are sore...

The day before..

While the thunder is in the air, it is time to prepare myself for the Tour de Helsinki by drinking a liter of sportsdrink :) .  It will be a raining day tomorrow with even some lighting, so I bought today a raincoat at Budgetsport and I went to get my number. I really hope that I get the spirit tomorrow, that's mean: Getting the feeling that I go to bicycle and not only ride along with the group( it will be 28 km/h). I will be carefull because I don't want to fall, not even get a flue... With a time under the 6 hours I am happy!!!

Late Thursday

Today I was running for 1,5 hour but that isn't so important ;)  I was looking at this site http://www.francebikerentals.com/ and seeing all those nice bicycles makes me really exited over the trip and the thought of going up the 21 km.

I also bought today the book,"which contains all the information you need" http://dekaleberg.nl/shop#/winkel/0/0/product/9200000011366567/product.html
The book is in Dutch and contains 312 pages with information, nice to read when I have time, or during my endless hours in the busses, trains and metros.It is a ebook, so in 5 minutes it was already on the laptop. I do love the internet!!!!! No so good news about the weather for sundays' 140 km ride, it seems that it will rain and quite a lot...maybe I have to buy quickly a rain coat, because that is still missing by this "niceweathercyclist". :)

Ruby Tuesday

Today I did some running( 7 km), just to see if my legs are ok. The good news is that they are. :)

Also today I received an invite for a benchmark puolimatka. The purpose is to do an half triathlon with no pressure, it is planned at the end of october, so let's see if it's possible to cycle, otherwise we can do that part in the gym.. Nice idea anyway. The program is

10:00 1,9km uintia omaan tahtiin Tikkurilan uimahallissa
12:00 Lounas @ Puistola
12:30 Javascript opiskelua
13:00 2*lentokentän ympäri + vähän lisää (90km)
17:00 Kevyt illallinen @ Puistola
17:30 Erä sakkia
18:00 3*toisen lentokentän ympäri + matkat sinne ja takaisin (21,1km)
20:30 Sauna + ruokaa + olutta
Also today I received an invite to enroll for the Finntriathlon. I have to think about that, because it is summertime then and also there is  a worldchampionship  football going on... I think I take a kind of triathlon closer in the neighborhood..

This movie The King of the Mont Ventoux was on the Finnish television but unfortunately I missed it, neither can I find it on the YLE site. A pity, but I'll keep on searching :)

Happy Sunday

Did I already mention that I also secretly preparing myself for a marathon/triathlon. Secretly because I have the feeling that if I say this loudly, then I will get an injury...Really...Anyway today running a long slow run: 30 km. It all went in 2.25, which is a very nice time for me, and I'm proud of this. Did I also mention that I also want to run up the Mon Ventoux? So we have planned the following days:

• Wednesday 31.04.2014 travel by airplane Helsinki - Paris. TGV Paris - Avignon
• Thursday 01.05.2014 travel to Carpentras. Getting the bike, first ride to get use to the bike
• Friday 02.05.2014 First attempt to get on the Mont Ventoux( By bike or running)
• Saturday 03.05.2014 Second attempt to get on the Mont Ventoux
• Sunday 04.05.2014 Back to Finland

By the way: Yesterday statistics:  78 km in 2.42  

There are some little hills in Immersby, so this pushes the time down. In this year, I'll try to ride 30 km in an hour, just alone. Let's see, tomorrow free day of training...

Someday I have to start!

Why not starting today with this blog? On this sunny saturday in august. Today I rode almost 80 km with my bike, I went to Immersby and rode the round till söderkulla two times. It went a lot faster than normally, because now I know that I just have to put on a big rear and start pomping. ;) . I was riding for a ten km in a group. Next week will be the Tour de Helsinki over 140 km, lets see how that goes...