02 Sunday Feb 2014
Posted in David's Posts
So end of another week, this week needed a little more planning regarding the balance between, Family, work and training.
People think that Triathlons are made up of 3 disciplines, well it’s not true the reality is that its made up of the Swim, Bike, Run, Family, Work, Nutrition its all about finding the balance. Lets have another go this week.
01 Saturday Feb 2014
Posted in Tony
31 Friday Jan 2014
Posted in Tony
So as we say goodbye to January we have just the three months and a little bit of tapering until the big day.
However things are well underway….the group seems to have split in two with the oldies putting in the km’s and the younger members of the team going for the high intensity approach. I have reviewed this approach and have decided that with two knackered knees and a shoulder if I attempted a high intensity approach to my training I would line up in May missing vital parts of my body as they would have dropped off and this would then make the event even tougher……
We have seen Peter get pissed off with British rail and start training twice a day, David is now cycling quicker than the British cycling team, Andy has begun to realise taking on the Russell’s is perhaps a little dangerous, and an apology was almost evident in his last message and Dan, well all I can say is his desk at work must have eaten him…..having secured a massive deal he is having to deliver it, well that’s is in between drinking with his mate Robbie who is visiting.
So with just six week to go before we take on the Brownlees in Abu Dhabi training will have to sharpen up…and some good news, while the team have been training, admin has been working hard as well and has arranged for Dan and I to meet both Alistair and Jonny before the race in AD…..should be good and who knows we might even get them involved.
The fund raising stuff also needs to begin and we are meeting this coming week to see how we can encourage you all to part with your money, so any ideas please let us know.
And finally it’s very important to know that all the money we raise goes to Headcase, and I mean ALL….in addition over 98.2p (£1.05 with giftaid) in the pound then finds it’s way to the research programme, Colin Spiers who set up and runs Headcase takes nothing from the money at all, that is a true charity…..isn’t it ?
28 Tuesday Jan 2014
Posted in Uncategorized
Tags
Peter: New training routine today. Running this morning – 6K in the time I had, felt OK actually – then work – then on the bike tonight when I get home, maybe I’m doing too much but time will tell. I must fit in a days work .. Who cares it’s for a great cause
26 Sunday Jan 2014
Posted in Tony
The weather has been absolutely dire, over 100 flood warnings in the UK, and that would be added to by the sweat produced by Team Russell and their hard work clocking up kilometres put in on bike, in the pool, on the treadmill (and in the buggie!)
Not quite sure how deep the sympathy pot will be for a pretty poultry training figures for the week Mr Russell senior.
17 Friday Jan 2014
Posted in Editor's Posts
Andy only took up endurance racing 2 years ago, Tony has been racing for… well probably longer than Andy has been alive! David is 8 years younger than Tony and 6 younger than Peter. (So if Dan cycles in an easterly direction how tall will Peter be at 4pm)
Only Dan and Tony have done the full Ironman thus far, but Andy has completed the cycled length of France and David across the UK. There are a fair smattering of pre existing conditions the Health Insurance Industry would probably decline to cover but drive and commitment is palpable.
So how have they progressed over the last 4 years at the Sprint distance:
750m swim, 20km cycle and 5k run.
However this is the shorter of the distances normally undertaken. For the uninitiated there is the Olympic distance which is basically double the distances, then the Long Course of half Ironman 70.3 and the big mamma The Ironman.
Combine the fact that different courses will generate different times due to conditions and course difficulty. So the first comparison would not reflect the stamina and endurance required for the longer distances. Here the experience of preparation, tapering, training balance of endurance and core strength will be influencing factors. SO cross comparison is not really clear cut.
Then again we have little in the way of statistics to work on above distance this except for Tony:
So we need a more scientific way of evaluating the likely outcome of the Team Russell podium.
Football! Well I am told it is the answer to everything… so lets see.
On the current Premier League results:
Dan would head the premiership of the four with strong performance in all three disciplines, David in Second feeling the away part of the game impacting his performance and Tony third with lack of direction during training from ever changing Managers and Peter feeling sick as a parrot.
but the season is only half played,
So more science is needed… last year. This would have seen David top the league with Tony in his wake but keeping his lead after a strong swim leg over Dan, and Peter feeling sick as a parrot.
It could be that this science has some merit, after all if we were talking about 2010/11 Then we would have seen Tony the experienced (fanatical) competitor steeling the lead with David on his heals with barely a whisker between them and Dan chasing, and with Peter feeling sick as a parrot.
But there is respite for the most interesting season 2011/12 and here we see David, Dan and Peter whipping the experience with youthful exuberance, and Tony left for dust.
So what will it be? Training hard work, preparation, nutrition, kit and conditions or the “science” of football?
26 Wednesday Jun 2013
26 Wednesday Jun 2013
Well well well, now that the dust has settled and the aches and pains have begun to subside, I guess it’s time to reflect on the past 7 Months. The first email went on the 13th November and went like this….
TONY “I’m so close to entering a Ironman”
DAN “I think I’m gonna do it. I think I have to be there if you’re gonna do it and watching just wont be enough, Having said that, I am actually leaning towards Nice. I know the bike is harder but the times last year are a lot quicker….. It works better for me date wise as well.
The run course is flat as a pancake as well…..”
TONY “OK so …… Is that a date ? If we do it we should do sponsorship and I would like to do it for Colin ?”
DAN “I think if I don’t do it now I will just wish I had sooooo………………IT’S A DATE! (heart racing right now) And yes, 100% should be done for Colin”
TONY “God ….. So is mine and my stomach has just churned !! “
Editor “what is it with these ‘….’ , is it hereditary too”
This exchange was followed by a string of further emails with language that’s not for public consumption thereafter it was set in stone, we had agreed to do an IRONMAN!. Research then helped decide on Nice and on the 17th November I told Colin we were going to do it and raise money for Headcase.
The journey had begun, however even before the blog and Justgiving sites were up things had become challenging, courtesy of Chelsea football club !
As we have said this was all about raising awareness and of course cash for Headcase and of course Colin’s plight. The money and ideas came rolling in and we were well and truly on our way.
The training became all consuming and Dan and I were constantly scaring each other with articles we had read about this challenge, but it was ok as it was months away ! My first visit to Dubai was not good as I had to drop out of the Abu Dhabi tri, which incidentally the same guy who won in Nice won there too, and Dan did brill. Second trip we really did work hard and we could sense we were getting there.
In the meantime the money and efforts of you all was really amazing and the support and donations came rolling in along with some very moving messages for Colin, but the most amazing contributions were from Colin himself and latterly Helen, when ever a ‘Colin blog’ went up the visits to the site doubled in the day and sometimes trebled.
The months began to slip by and the big day came ever closer, but there was also continuous fund raising activity which was really inspiring and ensured total focus. And then bang its done and its over, but what a great day, just one of the best. But the fight goes on, at the time of writing we are just over £32,500 with gift aid, but I would still like to see the magical £30k appear without gift aid. But a job well done, THANKS.
So it would be remiss not to say a few thank you’s.
Firstly Kirstin who in the roll of ‘Admin’ a term that started as a bit of a wind up but seems to have stuck, seriously what can I say, well the whole thing wouldn’t have been such a success without you, I guess being bossy helps, but you never let up and for that I thank you.
To our on the ground supporters amazing, I think their voices have now recovered. In addition Dan and I have been overwhelmed with the messages of support, it really did make a difference on those last few strides.To all our donators, not sure there is such a word, but you have been brilliant.
But most of all, thank you Colin, Helen and your family for allowing us to invade your lives at a time of total devastation; your openness, honesty and humour have been amazing and your continued drive to raise awareness and cash for Headcase is a tremendous demonstration of wanting to help others when it would be easy to disappear into your shell. Even when we went to see Colin on Monday when we flew back he was still talking about the charity and donations, unbelievable !
So while this chapter comes to a close another inevitably opens, the boys are doing the three peaks challenge in a couple of weeks and I’m sure we will think of something else mental to do in due course, but with the London Tri in five weeks its back to the gym. A million thanks to you all from Dan and me for making it bearable and actually fun, and my thoughts, as I know everyone’s are, are with Colin and Helen. TTFN
24 Monday Jun 2013
23 Sunday Jun 2013
Posted in Blog, Dan, Editor's Posts, Tony
Tags
Dan Russell, headcase, ironman, Nice 2013, Tony Russell, triathlon
Probably tucked up in bed, at least those in Blighty. Whilst the support crew are up and at ’em at 4am, fumbling for the light switch and the tooth brush to be bright and breezy for when the guys are ready to leave. Bring on the coffee and don’t tell them we may well grab a few 40 winks after they head off up into the mountains!
Headcase Ironman 