Day Zero

Recently I signed up for the 20 Week Challenge as I have deluded myself over the past few years that the cycling I do (almost daily) was enough to keep me fit, healthy and be the key to long and happy life. 

Sadly, it's not that easy. It never is.  Yes, I commute by bike the 6.5km each way to work and back most days, and enjoy riding through the hills, but I have always known I was not the fastest person out there.  My diet is OK, not fantastic, but as a Type I diabetic, it should be better than it is. My motivation is poor, almost non-existent.

Over the last few years I have competed (well, participated) in the Run 79 Lake Tekapo MTB Pursuit which is long, hard and challenging. With my current 'training' regime of riding to work and back, I have not managed to achieve much improvement in the times and placings.

Year	Place	Of	Time	% of field in front of me
2006	213th	220	7:19:27	97%
2007	165th	169	6:26:36	97%
2008	138th	149	6:23:40	92%
2009	103rd	122	6:40:15	84%

Yes, seriously, after knocking about an hour off my time from the first year, I have basically stayed at the same level for the past 3 years, despite feeling better, fitter and stronger. What I have been feeling most likely is deluded.

Compound this repeat disappointment with a foray into the blokes triathlon series held at the end of last year and the discovery that compared to many others my age, I suck quite a lot, I have decided to do something about it. 

Really actually this time.

No, this time I mean it.

With Tracey as my personal trainer for the upcoming 20 weeks, I intend to achieve a set of goals I didn't realise I was so poor at.

1. Learn to run OK, so I understand how to put one foot in front of the other at speed, but seeing as how I spend all my time sitting at my desk or riding my bike, my shins explode with pain after less than a kilometre of running, or even brisk walking sometimes. This can be cured by doing more than riding around all the time.
2. Cardio increases Having spent 20 years (or more) sucking on cigarettes, my lungs are not my best asset. This becomes horribly apparent when riding up a hill, or swimming, or running, or any cardio activity. Gasping, panting, red faced and looking like a heart attack victim is so unattractive. It would be great to have my lungs and legs at the same level, but I'd settle for being able to run/ride up Rapaki Track and/or Kennedys Bush without being a wreck at the top.
3. Lose the gut I have a wobbly tummy. I have managed to convince myself in the past it's there as protection for the injections I have to give myself 4 times a day, but in reality, it's pies, ice cream, biscuits, cake and other stuff I shouldn't be shoving in my face to start with. While I'm not expecting a rippling 6-pack, I would like to reduce the overhang and maybe achieve a flat tummy. If I get a 6-pack, I'll be even happier, but I'm not putting money on it, there's quite a bit of lard to remove first!
4. Knock some real time off Tekapo This year the Lake Tekapo race is run just before the end of the 20 week challenge, so is a good benchmark on my fitness improvements. While actual finishing times are dictated by weather conditions on the day (it was gently snowing/hailing at the river head crossing in 2009!) my mental condition and place in the pack will be a better indication of improvement. I know I can go faster, I just need to actually do it!
5. Make my upper body strong(er) Tracey did a test on me last year. My legs are strong, no problems there, so long as you don't want flexibility as well, but my upper body strength was absent. A failure. Very poor indeed. Again, I blame the bike. Don't ask me to do push-ups as you may not recover from the laughter. But, this is something I can improve and intend to achieve an above-average result by the end of the 20 weeks. 
6. Weight/Fat I'm tall (198cm, 6'6") but also carry a bit of extra weight (mainly in the gut). While weight itself is of no real issue to me (it's last on this list after all!) my fat content is pretty high, sitting at a touch over 27%. So, lets get the fat content down towards 20% and the weight down to about 100KG (currently 110KG)

So, the stage is set. I have done my 20 weeks entry so now there's nothing to do but achieve the goals I have set myself. I know it won't be easy, and will initially be less fun than the potato chip diet, but having seen the transformation Tracey has achieved on herself, I have confidence that I will also be transformed. Maybe not into a lean, mean, body building machine, but that's not my goal. I want health, fitness and fun. 

So, now you have been subjected to this ramble, why would you ever want to come back again? Frankly, I have no idea. Maybe to laugh at my pain and suffering, maybe to see how I'm getting on, maybe as motivation for yourself. This blog is for me a way to keep myself honest. If I can update this as often as possible, then it's a guide for me as to how I'm progressing, and a reminder that I do have goals, and I can achieve them.

Day 1 is Feb 8th 2010. That will be my weigh-in, measure-up and first crack at some non-cycling exercises. Wish me luck.

inspirational gut-shot photo (apologies if you were eating when you saw that)