Wet, wet, wet

I don't think my dislike of swimming has ever been a secret but with an ironman on the horizon there's no getting away from it. I'm going to have to do some swim training.

I am quite lucky working in the media as my employer lays on a bus to go to the local swimming baths every Tues and Thursday lunchtime. Usually there's no way I can spare the time but bizarrely the arrival of Optrafair and the Optician Awards has cleared my diary.

I found myself struggling for the (whole) half hour. Not with my won swimming but going slow enough not to be crashing into people. I must be getting faster or my work colleagues are tragically slow. Sadly it's the latter.

The giving starts here

The Optician Ironman Team is officially in training and is seeking support from the profession and the industry.
Vision Aid Overseas is the recipient of the money the team raises and money can now be pledged at:
www.justgiving.com/opticianironman09

Ouch -- Mr Bump on a fixed

It's great being able to get back on the bike and to enjoy commuting to work now that the weather has cheered up. My route has always been determined by traffic and road surfaces so I was a bit shocked yesterday to find my favoured route had become the subject of traffic calming.
You might have thought cyclists would like traffic calming, it's supposed to slow cars down after all, but no.

Mums on their mobile phones in the BMW X5 aren't any more likely to slow down for a speed bump than they are for a cyclist. They don't.
Hitting a speed table that's still under contrauction on a fixed a 25mph is a shock. Bump --Ouch.

Time for a new route.

The sun is shining

Decided to do some stress training over the weekend. After a stint demolishing sheds and gardening on saturday I was looking forward to a leisurely evening.
It all started well. John Williams guitar recital for son No 2 in Guildford. On arrival home at 11 it all kicked off. No1 had gone out to a 'party' but by 11.15 was on his way, unconscious, to hospital in an ambulance.
After drips and much poking about they finally let him out at 3.00am. I had promised son No2 a cycle so we set off up Leith Hill at 07.30 back over Ranmore.

As I was feeling good Idecided to add a tiredness run on and did a hot 10km. Not bad but wow, I felt it.

The sun is shining

The enormity of the task

What a fantastic morning. This has been the best ride since my coldius horriblus and I really emnjoyed getting out there. It was only a 12miler on the fixed to work but I promised myself that I would take things easy and avoid illness.

I came accross this ride around the South Downs yesterday . It has a huge elevation profile, about 9,000ft over ten hills. I thought wow that looks tough them realised an ironman will be this after a 4km swim and before a marathon.

This would make a great milestone so I had better get those miles in.

Small objects of desire

It's official. I have become a glasses geek.

One of the great things about Triathlon is the kit and one of the great things about being the editor of Optician is that you get to try out loads of new frames, lenses, contact lenses, goggles etc.

In the bike shop I can lust over carbon aero bars and Brooks saddles and in eyewear just look at that cut-away and fixing.

One of the biggest elements of triathlon in my opinion is self preservation. Nowhere is that more important than when it comes to your eyes.

Wearing no eyewear means poor vision and no protection.

Ordinary glasses = no wind/physical protection or sun protection.

Contact lenses = ditto + danger of losing one, swimming??

Wraparounds = physical and wind protection but if its tinted what about night time? If its not tinted what about those sunny days?

Wraparounds with Transitions lenses = everything. Okay, it's got a little extra weight and might not go as dark as you needs on a really sunny day but for all round commuting/training a real winner.

Still steams up on a cold morning, but let's face it what doesn't.

Of course there's always Orthokeratology and plano T6, my other favourite combo. I have an Oakley Half Jacket glazed with plano T6 (but one of the lenses keeps falling out) which works a treat and is much lighter. Ahh but it doesn't have that screw.

Back in the saddle

After more weeks being sick than I care to mention I am back in the saddle and raring to go. Started off the training with a gentle couple of hours going up Box Hill with the boys on Sunday.

The Optician Ironman Team jungle drums have started to beat so I am expected oodles of advice to start rolling in.

Optician ironman Team rides again

After much girliness on my part and suffering the indignity of having to go on the waiting list I am in for the UK full Ironman. This means the Optician Ironman Team lives again and I will begin to chart its progress to the big event in August.

At the moment the team is just Fiona Molloy and Chris Bennett but if you are a triathloning optician why not send me an email.