Full Contact Swimming, A&E, and a New Punishment

Whoa Whoa!

Alright! Chill out! I know you've been worried, I should have called, I'm sorry. It's been three weeks since my last blog which breaks my promise of a blog every week. So, as we are all aware, this calls for punishment.

As it happens I am unable to train this week after injuring my right foot during the Blandford Bridges 10k. Considering that less than a month ago I could run less than 5k, I was happy with my time of 53min 09sec. Although the constant pounding of the hard ground through my old trainers knocked my foot black and blue! It resulted in my wife and I spending four or five hours in A&E to ensure nothing was broken. Luckily it was nothing more than tissue damage and I'm a big woos.

"Shut up and get with the punishment!"

Alright, calm down! My point is that I'm able to do little more than sit and flinch occasionally so technically I'm already being punished. However, doctors advised to rest it for 10 to 14 days. Naturally the doctors were exaggerating and I am sure that 7 days rest is more than enough for my super foot!

Therefore, from Sunday 4th of July I am going to go training for at least an hour every day for six days. To keep the punishment relevant to the crime I will also blog every day to keep you up to date with exactly what happens.

Having run this idea passed some of my friends I have received criticism that rather than being a punishment this is almost an award to me. Whilst it is true that I love to train and push myself hard, I am always conscious of taking tactical rest days to ensure that I can apply 110% to each session. By the end of six days training without a rest day I will be physically and emotionally *"%$£^!

Let me explain:

Sunday and Tuesday will be swimming with the Cardiff Triathlon club who, as nice as they are, can only be described as nutters! Not only do they all have lumps and bumps that would make an armadillo proud, but they practice what I like to call 'Full Contact Swimming'. To simulate an open water race random people are selected to act as 'disruptor's'. The disruptor's job is to effect everyone else by grabbing their legs, pulling on their shoulders, literally swimming over the top of them and generally 'disrupting'. They continue to disrupt through the session whilst the coach screams commands for sprint laps, head high swimming, endurance 1500m strides etc etc. Add to this the 10 mile round trip on my bike and I'm ready to sleep well.

Monday and Thursday will involve three hours of karate. With the worlds looming ahead, and a grading with Chief Instructor Dave Hazard in September, the intensity of training has been 'up-ed' significantly. It is becoming a frequent site for people to faint or drop out on the verge of being sick (awesome!), and lets not forget Sensei Banfields love of hitting me!

Wednesday and Friday require something to fill my lack of running whilst I save for new shoes. Hmmmmmm... Oh, Wait! I normally cycle 10miles and run up to six miles... So.... By Joves, I think I've got it! A 16 mile cycle!!! (Dear God what am I saying!?). Yes, yes that's it, it's perfect, it's beautifully simplistic! IT'S PAIN ON WHEELS!
Let us not forget that I am still incredibly junior at this whole 'blogging' phenomenomenom, and struggle to put each blog together in less than an hour. That's excluding my food and training diaries that I still keep. Ooh! That's something I will add to my blogs from my next blog on Sunday. Of course, it is my lists of food and drink that keep you coming back for more really!

Sweet, so I'm all set for a week of pain and misery and you're all set for some amusing reads.

Don't forget the little fellow below:

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The Pain Issue

Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! My Moo!!!

It's true, Friday was supposed to be blog night. A promise was broken, how can you ever forgive me?

Well hopefully looking at some pictures of me in serious pain will help:

Oh, no. Wait. Before I can allow you to take pleasure in my suffering I must make something clear. I have trained seriously as a Kick boxer and Karateka for over six years now. I have taken part in multiple endurance events and won world championships. Sensei Banfield began training in Shotokan Karate as a boy and is possibly the most competent martial artist I have had the pleasure to meet. I would never repeat this exercise with anyone else, and would deam any imitation of it as foolish.

"What did you do?" I hear you ask,

Well, I requested Sensei Banfield hit me with intent to hurt me whilst someone took photos:

An Ushiro Mawashi Geri (Hook Kick), caught me sweet on the lower jaw, rattling my head enough to show stars!







Shotei Uchi (Pal Heel Strike), a technique used to stun your opponent, creating the time for a lethal blow. Imagine being slapped by mum after telling her she has put on weight. Now make her a body builder!






This requires no explanation, and was the worst by far! It was a good ten seconds before I could breath easy again, and it still hurts to touch now!








Mawashi Geri (Round House Kick), caught me crack on the ear causing it to ring for the reminder of the night.









Another Mawashi Geri (Round House Kick), but this time to the back of the head. The optics live in the back of the head.





Taken today after a six mile run and one mile cycle. As some of you are aware this is twice the distance I have been running so far. It hurt, it hurt real bad!









As you can see training has been particularly painful recently, and none of it is without reason. My goal is to travel with my club to the World Championships in October and bring back some silver wear. In order to get there we have to raise over £2,500 and so I am also training for a triathlon this summer to help raise some sponsorship.
Therefore I would be most grateful for any money you are able to sponsor myself and the club using the below pay pal button. I assure you that all money goes straight to the club bank account, and thanks to a very generous business sponsor will be doubled upon completion.

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Check this fight for an incredible winning jumping-spinning-round house kick!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vultyaox7ey

So, Punishment Sucks!!!

OK, Who's idea was this whole 'Nothing but cereal and water'!?

I've done well with sticking to my punishment and really have eaten nothing but Dorset Cereal (150g for breakfast, 115g for lunch and 75g for dinner) and drunk only water. There have been no sneaky crumbs or wee tipples of squash when no one is looking.

What I hadn't predicted at the beginning of the week was the effect this would have on my body. I'm bloated and lethargic but still focused on my main goal, training. So this evening once I was home from work I put my kit on and set off on a three mile run to be followed by a ten mile cycle. Certainly nothing I am not capable of. However, after only one mile I was not feeling well, not well at all!

My mouth had quickly dried out and become sticky, the first sign of dehydration. Everything went down hill from there. By the time I hit one-and-a-half-miles my chest was getting tight and my breath restricted. Then at two miles my right calf began to cramp, oh Jove's did it cramp good!!! The gods of cramp had taken one look at my poor calf and sent their mightiest warriors to stab at it with their Blades of Glory!!!

Suffice to say it was a miserable, painful, run. Well that's not entirely true.

Despite the early discomfort, minor dizzy spells and demon cramp I managed a fair time of 26min 42sec. Also, and most importantly, I managed to grit my teeth and keep running without stopping.

This mental power over the body can prove essential when a fight is not going your way. You've taken some nasty blows, you're a point down with thirty seconds to go and all you want to do is crawl into a ball and cry for mum. However, Mum isn't there and if you crawl into a ball that bloke ain't going to stop hitting or kicking you! All you can do is force yourself to keep pushing, to keep looking for that one opening, that gap that will end it all: