feel the glub

Just 23 weeks until I go ferus. Things going pretty well still with the exception of a mechanical and a dirty great blister on the sole of my foot. The other tramps that i'm going to be going over with aren't training so much as me or if they are they're not admiting to it. Drago emotions about the event have manic depressive theme. Todays 6am 1hr15 run was thoroughly depressing but the gloating that i'll be doing in the drago office shortly will mean that the shitty morning will be forgotten about. Perhaps the key to drago smashing this thing is to have multiple coping strategies?

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2 down, 184 to go...

One hundred and eighty four days until Drago does battle in Zurich at the Swiss ironman. Prep so far has consisted of shifting the fat lump from under my shirt (well at least one of them - phnar phnar), have also managed to build up some regular runs and the occasional ride without any dire consequences. Drago has decided to scrimp on the costs for this event and has got his hands on a thirty week plan. If it all goes tits up in July all I can safely say that it had nothing to do with me. With that in mind I'm off now to tear the arse out of a Stella box set and skip tomorrows planned session. Care to join me?

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Here cometh...

Having established that I have the ability and inclination to post again allow me to set the scene. It's been over a year since the last post and in all honesty I've been very busy. Mrs Drago and I have moved house, I got made redundant, I got a new job, I did a lot of DIY and I also had a bit of a break from training. On top of that I just got enagaged, you see Mrs D and I weren't strictly legal according the big fella, not that we're legal now mind but at least we're making an effort.

The main reason for reviving the blog is that I've entered next year's Ironman Switzerland. It's roughly ten months away so lots of time to fuck things up, for now though all appears well. Weight is going down and I'm feeling fitter, having had some back issues last year I've spent quite a bit of time trying to address these by going to regular pilates and and circuit training classes. All good so far but like I said, still plenty of time to drop the F-Bomb (on top of myself).

Laters...

testing testing testing...

Well it's been over a year since the last post...

Learning to love...

2nd run of the week and 2nd run with blackheath yesterday evening. Having dressed especially Mrs Drago bottled it once we were sat in the car and ready for the off. The rain wasn't enough to put me off though and having ditched the weak and needy i was off on a solo mission. Last weeks episode had seen some suffering being dished out so i decided to even the score. This may have been partly caused by what i can only describe as goading by some of those present. What im calling goading was actually people asking whether i was ok as i waited for Mrs Drago to catch up. So, inspired by the some regular miles, my singleton running status and the fact that most people i was running with were 20-30 years my senior id decided to run with the front bunch, pushing the pace when possible.
Sounds easy but it's hard really, you've got to play it just right. Speed off into the distance on your own before you leave the carpark and 1 of 2 things can happen first is that you get dropped within 5 mins having spent your meagre load quicker then jakey spends their giro. 2nd is that you run off on your own, lost to the world and your compatriots suffering, where's the fun in that? No my friends i'm classier then that, i played the minnow in a small pond card perfectly (if i do say so myself). Started out nice and easy, reeling them, but i thought it rude to be leading. Imagine my joy when a young whipper snapper (aged 43) joined the front group and then continued to increase the pace! This was good because it meant i had someone to punish and also because, as they were a regular the others were more likely to chase and so inflict pain on themselves. It was then that we were side by side, slowly edging away from what was the leading micro group. I had some idea of the route but before too much distance was put between my SNBF (super new best friend) and the old boys i turned and asked that the route be confirmed. Enlightened with this knowledge, it was a case of GAME ON! Running side by side with SNBF up a pretty gentle gradient which i knew would last a while it was time to test the water. Gradually increasing the pace, turning the screw until you can hear your SNBFs breathing start to deepen, this is the time to keep turning! So thats exactly what i did, turning slowly, a barely noticable increase in pace, until, a small gap...
Thats when i have a dilemma, speed up or slow down? I think we know where this went. The only was is up, yeah baby!! And so that's how i spent the rest of the run, slowly trying to wring as much pain as possible from my unsuspecting SNBFs. It was awesome! By the time we got back to the finish i was soaking wet and my legs were covered in nettle stings. I'd pummelled the competition into submission and taken no prisoners. It was with no small sense of achievement that, back at the clubhouse, i thanked wally (63), arthur(61) and beryl (74) for their time and offered a few tips before jumping in the car for a shower... See you next week suckers!!!!

Normal service is resumed

Slighty fed up with the bike i've been out running. Started with a slightly pededtrian effort at the local park run and four weeks later i'm begining to feel a little bit more commfortable on my feet. I've been quite enjoying the transistion of my body as it gets used to what i'm now asking it to to do. Having become bored with jumping up and down on badminton courts Mrs Drago has joined decided to join the fun. I took her to the local running club last, was great to see her suffer...
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au revoir...

Its all over, we're on our way back to calais at the moment but what a great experience this has been. The tour was great, i had no concept of what a big deal it is. The crowds, the entourage, the caravan and the race. It's immense. Someone said yesterday that there were half a million spectators on the course watching yesterdays stage. It certainly seems believable from what we saw on the ride up to mont ventoux. Camper vans, tents and mental dutch fans lining what seemed like every meter of the 21 km that made the climb up. The large numbers of fans werent just for the last stage though, they were there for every one that we saw. All there early enough to avoid the road closures and to take their chances with what is the lottery of the caravan. Thanks to all of the companies who provided us all with enough clothes, water and food we were kept in good shape regardless of it being 30+ or wet with lightning.
Having had no plan other then to watch as many of the stages as possible and having made no arrangements for accomodation it might have been a bit of a disaster. In fact it was quite the opposite, the van was pretty easy to look after and camping consisted of driving it into a place where is would fit before either heading of to watch the tour or cooking up a meal, having a few beers and passing out. Water is available in almost all villages from a fountain and we had nothing but good experiences everywhere we went. Id thoroughly recommend visiting the tour to anyone, but if youre going to do it, make the effort and get yourself up a mountain. You wont be disappointed...



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check it out!

1k from the top of the summit of mont ventoux, this is how the tour should be done. Sounds like things are just about to get interesting, lets see what your made of wiggo!




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phew!

Blew out todays stage in favour of a hangover for breakfast and then a ride up mont ventoux in the afternoon. Was ridiculously hard, i think i was suffering a bit with dehydration cause i polished off 6 litres and still havent been for a piss yet. Did make it to the top though in the end before a nice descent back to the house weve got again for tonight. It was absolutely crackers on the slopes today, thousands of people and camper vans. Loads of messages on the road with loads more to come, im sure. The dutch and danish fans are mental, cheering absolutely everything up the hill. Will be a great atmosphere there tomorrow and looking forward to being a part of it. GO ON WIGGO!!!!!!




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eaten by a giant

31 degrees and halfway up mt ventoux... Ouch




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time for t?

Got to annecy last and have camped up at the last time check point for todays individual tt stage. Camp site is basically a field that someone has opened up for the tour, lots of other vans here and we've not been charged anything which is cool. We're also at the top of the climb so hoping that the riders are going slow enough for up to take some photos. Have defaced the road in preparation with some encouraging words for wiggins. Sadly, the roads are closed already so no cycling for me today. On the bright side, not many kids here so caravan should be pretty sweet today!




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meanwhile, back at the ranch...

A couple of hours in the wind and rain, a steady descent and we're back on dry land. The van is parked up next to a timber yard between the 1-2k mark. Glad to be showered and out of the wet. Is dry now with a sprinkling of occasional sunshine. Caravan has been through, slim pickings today though with a bunch of kids cleaning up. Sounds like wiggins is loosing time but hopefully he'll make it up over the last few k's...




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summer in france...

Ha ha :)




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allez allez allez!

Just got back from todays stage, was great fun. Left this morning on the bikes for a 25k ride straight up to todays 2nd summit. Arrived with plenty of time to spare and so stopped at rosier for a coffee or three before tackling the last 8k into a headwind. Dropped down the other side so we could see some real pain going on, none of this free wheeling fun stuff! Was a bit touch and in with the caravan and i had to show a couple of 9 year olds whos boss to make sure i got my full selection of shizzle. Race came through after and it seemed that they were there and then gone in a flash. Remembered to take pictures though so will show them off later. To be honest ive got no idea how todays stage finished, all i can say is that i thoroughly enjoyed it...









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getting proper!

Having seen a bit of the race yesterday we set out towards verbier to ride yesterdays finish and find some action. The climb up was steeper then id been led to believe but not too bad. Blaise suffered a little when a combination of sweat and sun cream effectively blinded him. This didnt deter mr t and i though as we went of and found the world champion alejandro ballan and the lampre and columbia teams. Got a couple of photos which are very slick. In van again now, driving through italy on way towards tomorrows finish doing a bit of a recce of the route. It looks pretty cruel, very hilly on what looks like a scorcher...




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martigny

Long distance lara to make it here today to see the race pass through with seconds to spare. Had a bit of a worry with the van brakes on the way down into town, they stink and werent really doing a great job of stopping us. When we finally came to a halt loads of smoke came pouring out. Anyway, all good now. Ive tried sending photos but they dont work. Will upload those later...









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bonjour

Currently about 2/3 of way to verbier, hoping to see some of the stage. Van is pretty cool but has one shit transformer aka bed that needs to be made before you can sleep in it. Lucky for me i didnt sleep in it yesterday but unlucky for me its my turn tonight.









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God bless you michel thomas

If it wasn't for your "revolutionary" teaching methods I would not be the cunning linguist that I am today. Je demande ta attention!

Je voudrais des biere
nous voudrais des biere
vous avez des biere
Je suis un mere encule - Michel, you never taught me this but I thank you anyway!

Essential French as you can see, but why, I hear you ask would a person need to know these phrases? Well, wonder no more 'cause I will reveal all, haw haw!! If you're reading this on the day it's ecrit then you will be reading it cinq journees before moi un ma trois amis partir pour Francais. Nous allons voir le tour de france.

An we go in style my friends for behold the beautiful transportation what we have arranged for ourselves...


It is right loverly or what what, yes yes? Bagsy bottom bunk my darh je lings cause hot air rises dunnit and three blokes all squirting royally is a lot of 'ot air, innit...

That's all for now but I hope to be able to update the blog whilst I is away on my vacances. Photo's an all! Must pack now, ta ta.