Tokyo Witch Hunt: We're on iTunes!

Tokyo Witch Hunt Live! -  L-R Nina, Crash and Izzie

Izzie has confirmed that the Tokyo Witch Hunt album has hit the iTunes store. This is the ONLY time you will see me on an Apple-related website (so worth getting your cash out for the rarity aspect!)

You can find and buy my 79p effort , Girl Star, here.

The full album details can be found in the link below......

Tokyo Witch Hunt: CONFIRMED iTUNES DETAILS and other stores.: Hi Guys, We hope you had a  very sparkly Christmas and wish you a very prosperous New Year.  iTunes has now got it's act together and w...

Dashing and Splashing, Darling?

Come back with my presents! - Christmas Day 5km Park Run

The final time I was beaten by Pink Stick Insect

I have been stood staring in the mirror having an Alistair Darling pensive moment (pondering why I have gone grey haired early in life yet my eyebrows haven't).

Good news.

My blood tests came back fine but it could be months before I'm rid of whatever is gnawing away at my insides.

Calisthenics have been prescribed for my strain, plus more swimming.


Been focussing on improving my stroke in the pool as my strength is improving. Swim slow to swim fast. My nephew is a GB swimmer and he laughed at some photos of my technique so I'm going to start from scratch! I've been diving off the garden steps on to the patio to practice my starts. He's trying to convince me to change to the new "Sprint" block start that athletes do on the track. I prefer the grab start. We shall see.

Still got a leaking boiler and waiting on a new part. Oh, and the roof is still leaking too.

Xmas Eve in the Hollin Bush

3.40pm and the reason why X is feeling flat... A to B: Is X still on those anti-depressurants?

So this is Christmas?

Ok, so it's Christmas.

I haven't written a card or bought a present yet. My boiler has leaked from the loft in to the spare room. My bay window has sprung a leak too. I have no heating or hot water as I can't find an available plumber. If I need a part for the boiler, the trade store will be closed for Christmas. I am waiting on results for blood tests and I have to go back to see the doctor next week. I got soaked putting up sheeting on the bay window roof and I missed Park Run as a result.

Great!

Happy Christmas Everyone.

My iTunes recording - Girl Star

One of my compositions and recordings,"Girl Star", is being released this Monday, 17 December, via iTunes and other non-Apple monopolised web outlets.

Eclectic Electric by Tokyo Witch Hunt - available 17 Dec 2012

If you like a bit of dance, trance, glitching and synthed-up bass, then this is for you. Sensei Izzie provides the vocals and it is available as a Tokyo Witch Hunt individual track download or as part of the full "Eclectic Electric" album download.

Girl Star and the other 13 album tracks can be previewed here at the wwwTokyoWitchHunt.com website.

Please have a listen then buy!   

Cheers!

What's up Doc?

I’ve had an unscheduled trip to see my doctor.

Twice a year I have to go to see the practice nurse for routine blood pressure checks and usually everything is fine. However, although the blood pressure itself was fine, the nurse was concerned enough about my recent but ongoing health issues to refer me for a same-day appointment with the doctor. Without the graphic detail, let’s just say that these are “mens” issues that caused the “C” word to be mentioned. I’m quite philosophical about my health so I underwent a routine check today because I’ve had persistent symptoms that have been nagging for six weeks now. Rubber gloves off, the doctor was reasonably confident that there is nothing sinister at work and I am likely to suffering from a post-viral infection, plus, it looks like I have a strain of some sort down there. However, I have to go for blood tests and come back to see the doctor at Christmas for another check.

My doctor is a triathlete so he knows the score exactly when it comes to injuries in the relevant areas, the strain being a likely result of such activities.  Hopefully, the other problem is just a stubborn bug that is lingering inside me. The blood tests should put the main worry to rest.

Anyway, I’ve felt a lot better than I did when I first came down with my problems. My appetite is slightly improved and my weight hasn’t dropped any further. This has meant that I could take part in the Wombourne Aquathlon and the South Yorkshire Masters Swimming Meet at Ponds Forge in Sheffield. I actually won a heat at Ponds Forge (though my overall times were abysmal). I also did my first Park Run in a month last weekend too despite the icy conditions.

My winter is going to be spent building stamina, strength and endurance. 

Watch out for me in 2013!

50m  Breast stroke - South Yorkshire Masters

Winning the 50m Freestyle heat at Ponds Forge

Out of the pool into the icy cold air at the Wombourne Aquathlon

Crash and Burn

It has been a difficult couple of weeks.

I have been unwell and I don’t do illness as a rule. However, I have been knocked for six with this particular problem. I’ve lost half a stone in a week and although I’m on the mend I still feel weak.

The long and short of this is that my fitness has gone through the floor. I did an Aquathlon in Burntwood and my first swimming Masters event in Derby during my illness when I should really have pulled out of them. Not surprisingly, I bombed in both. I got a worst ever time for my 5k in the Aquathlon. The swimming was a disaster.

I am 2 weeks alcohol-free and not missing it in the slightest. The appetite is only just starting to return and the strength to do anything.

I have another Aquathlon this week. Maybe I shouldn’t be doing it but as I mentioned above, I don’t do illness.

Enough is Enough

Hand Paddling  - www.waterbloggedtriathlete.com

It's a busy time. I am juggling a hectic work schedule, studies and my own personal health agenda at the minute.

I will be taking leave of Tokyo Witch Hunt until the Spring after our next gig to free up some time. You can still keep up with all the news of what's happening though via Tokyo Witch Hunt's website here.

Following on from last blog posting, I thought rather than re-type my thoughts, I would share with you an (edited) email that I sent this afternoon. I'm going to bust my spleen at this rate.

P

Twice this week I have been asked not to use hand paddles in the pool on the grounds of health and safety.

The first time was in the "Splash" session when one pool attendant did not seem to have a problem with this. When the second attendant came on duty I was told that there were too many children in the pool for me to use them. I consider myself conscientious and considerate of other pool users. However, it would appear that health and safety is subjective as to who is on poolside duty and therefore, sadly, inconsistent. That should be more of a worry for you than my low risk activity.

The second time was today when I was in "Lane" session. This time I was in the "Fast", empty to lane to myself, yet I was told I was a risk to those in other adjacent lanes!

Frankly, this has gone beyond a joke and I am quite prepared to take this up with X management and beyond if necessary.

To set out the facts in perspective;

I have suffered kicks from other swimmers in adjacent lanes, locker keys worn on wrists scratching my face, jewelery catching me, balls on the head, legs deliberately pulled by other swimmers to name but a few issues that are to the detriment of my health and safety in the pool. I have been uncomplaining and all have gone unchallenged by pool staff. Nevertheless, I have just got on with what I intend to do in the pool, swim because that is pool life and always has been! Swimming is hazardous per se and short of the primary and voluntary risk we all take of turning up and drowning, I can live and put up with these things. That's what swimming involves and of course it should have it's fun element too and rightly so..........

.....When I first started coming back to S a couple of months ago, I told you that I compete in triathlons and masters swimming events. I'm a club member but my work times mean that I have to set my own schedule for training and therefore have to do it locally. However, as I set out in my feedback form which I handed in to G today,  the "serious" swimmer is being precluded from doing just that, serious swimming.

.....you know well that swimming has a serious side as well as a fun side. I am partial to both, but I refuse to be precluded from the serious element on an arbitrary and nonsensical argument of health and safety. As I have given in the examples above, there has been more of a danger to me from other "swimmers" at S than there is ever going to be from me to them. As far as the hand paddle argument is concerned, I am not the first to challenge this on the pretext of a health and safety issue. Indeed, it has gone as far as the Health and Safety Executive. 

Look at this link.http://www.hse.gov.uk/myth/myth-busting/2012/case053-swimmingpool.htm

You will see the total similarity, even so far as the suggested solution is concerned. ....If you can show me a recent Risk Assessment regarding the specific use of hand paddles carried out at S with recommended Control Measures resulting from it that predate my last two visit to S then I would be happy to see them.

The Duty Manager, J, at first said I could not use the hand paddles in my empty lane. When I questioned him on this, he relented and said I could continue and that the matter was under review for perhaps a special lane provision for those wanting to use them. This has obviously come to a head as a result of my challenge the first time around. However, I am not confident in the slightest that X/S will be able to justify a session or even a lane given over to someone using hand paddles as J discussed with me. How many paddle users are there other than myself? Few, if any. I'm not so selfish, nor do I expect any pool to meet the needs of just one person alone. Therefore, it would appear that I am flogging a dead horse as it stands. That said, and as I have mentioned above, I am quite prepared to make a lot of noise on this matter until a justifiable and rational policy is put in place with respect to "serious" swimmers. There are busier pools than S that do not prohibit hand paddles whatever the session.

I am not trying to be awkward. I am only looking for rationality and proportionality. I enjoy swimming at S and hope to continue to do so. Therefore, I will be back with my paddles, drag parachute and pull buoy next week and do not expect any more of this nonsense. There will be public ramifications otherwise because, as you will note from the tenor of this email, my frustration has boiled over.

Regards,

A

An Unhealthy and Unsafe Week

I'm typing whilst plugged in to a TENS machine attached to my hamstring and sniffling away with a cold.

I spent Halloween at my mothers. She'd done a good job of decorating the house with skeletons, skull candles and such like. It was rather a damp night so that would explain the lack of Trick or Treaters. Had a nice homemade stew.

On Friday, whilst I was having the van fitted with a new exhaust and ball joint arm, I wandered in to town. I bought  a pocket fm radio for 99p and sat listening to that whilst having a coffee and reading the Swimming Times. Interesting article in it about the Rother Valley Open Water weekend that I attended.

Yesterday I took part in the Virgin Active Indoor Triathlon. I'd suffered a bad cramp episode in my hamstring in the pool earlier in the week which had left me with a pulled muscle sensation. I was a little wary of going back to strenuous activity so soon after but nevertheless I headed off to Richard Branson's parlour of track suited women in makeup sat chatting whilst sipping lattes.

I hate gyms, especially private membership ones. I view them as posy palaces for Nikeheads and Diadora dolly birds that are too stupid to realise that you don't need a gym to get fit or be healthy. On the Tribesports website I am a proud member of the Get Fit Without Joining a Gym Tribe.

I did the 2.5k treadmill run in 12.44 followed by 10k on the bike spinning thingy in 18.30. I am rubbish on the bike and it didn't help that I damaged my hamstring further because the saddle was too low for my leg extension yet the console was too high for my reach. Being a now quasi-serious triathlete, things like saddle and handlebar height are important to me. The angle and degree of leg extension when pedalling is unique to each individual and paramount when determining maximum effort and power if not to cause injury. My leg is now paying the price for those stupid spinning machines.

To quite literally add further insult to injury, the swim leg took place last instead of first. It was a triathlon where all the events were in reverse order. This was because (and yes, this really is advertised on the Virgin Active website) "to avoid our nice dry clubs getting wet"!

I completed the 400m in a very steady 8.46 giving me an overall time of 40 mins. Out of the 3000 or so competitors I came 1600ish. Fairly pleased with that given that I was full of cold and one-legged in effort.

I went back to my usual pool this morning to do some strength work on my arms using hand paddles.I'd been using them for half an hour when the shift change life guard told me that because I was in the splash session and that there was too many children around I couldn't use them on grounds of health and safety.

I stomped/hobbled off back to the changing room ranting about being hit on the head by a beach ball and what about my health and safety and right to swim blah blah blah! Ordinarily I would have been in the lane swim session earlier in the morning but I was up late after marshalling at the community Guy Fawkes bonfire the night before. Yes, I volunteered and did my bit for the community and made sure that the kids had a safe and pleasant evening yet I was repaid with a health and safety lecture in the pool the following morning for using a swimming training aid.

Paradoxical in the extreme.

Feel For The Water! Advice & Tips to Improve Your Swimming.

Feel For The Water! Advice & Tips to Improve Your Swimming.

Farewell Nina

Tokyo Witch Hunt ….

Izzie sound checking pre- Barnsley Polish Club gig

Following a good gig at The Polish Club in Barnsley, Izzie and I said goodbye to Nina this week. Her tenure was short due to her workload but we wish her well for the future.  

Does anyone out there know someone who can sing backing vocals and share synth duties? Yes, that includes you!

Email: izzie@izzievoodoo.com

On stage with Tokyo Witch Hunt at the Barnsley Polish Club

Thanks to Mia for the above pic which is surprisingly in focus!

Peachy!….

I have neither gigged nor rehearsed with Sarah and Ant in about 18 months. It’s just been impossible to match diaries. However, we met up for a rehearsal session a few days ago and it was a nice change to play some of the old stuff sat down with just an acoustic guitar and keyboard. I must admit I wasn’t exactly enthused at the prospect after all this time but I did actually enjoy the morning.

Peachy! -Gigging 2^nd December in Coal Aston.

Training….

It’s been a tiring week and I adjusted my training schedule to avoid burning out. I did some interval training in the pool and still managed to equal last week’s personal best on the 5k Park Run. I’m a little nervous about pushing hard on the bike at the minute though because of the wet and frosty road conditions.

Next week, an indoor triathlon at a local gym. I hate treadmills (knee killers) and spinning (going nowhere). In fact I hate gyms full stop but  I will reserve judgement on the pool until I get there.

Should be warmer at least though!

Crash v The Pink Stick Insect

This week I played a gig at The Red House in Sheffield.

The night was a bit nostalgic for me because the venue is opposite my old primary school, St Vincent's. It's sad to see the buildings decayed and left to crumble by the diocese in what must be a prime site for business in the city. That aside, it was the first outing for us as the re-branded Eyes/Lips. We are now called Tokyo Witch Hunt. It's Izzie's band so I'm not going to question it!

Thanks to our good friend and fervent supporter of the local music, Derek, for the video above.
.............

More good results and progress on the physical activity front this week. Busted personal bests in both the pool (1 km) and in the Park Run ( mile, 3km and 5km).

I must thank the Pink Stick Insect who I have been keeping a close eye on for use as a pacemaker these past few weeks. I am always worried that because she is so thin that she will snap going around a bend on the course. She needs a slap up meal in my opinion and the fact she helped me go sub 25 mins for the first time deserves a chip butty. I've no idea who she is other than she can run fast and gives me something to chase each week.

Thank you Pink Stick Insect.

At The Milestone..

Overheard in the Milestone

Matt uses Alberto Balsalm and Nick’s wife has bought him a new toothbrush. It’s a medium fibre Colgate to stop him getting sore.

Joanne’s Hen Party in Manchester means buying expensive toiletries.

Wendy (Nick’s wife) has text Pam who is looking forward to it. She’s taking her credit card with her and is going to have a stash of crisps and nibbles in her room.

Pam is pissed off with Donna though. Something to do with Kerry it seems.

 .......  cue Eastenders drum beats......

The Milestone at Crystal Peaks

High Speed Crash

It’s been a good training week.

With a hiatus on races, I’d made a decision to concentrate mainly on my swimming over the next month. My ASA membership card had dropped through the letterbox and I received email confirmation of membership of Trafford Metro Swimming Club. This meant I could complete entry forms for upcoming Masters events, something that I’m really looking forward to competing in.

With the entry forms I have to submit my anticipated race times for each distance and stroke event that I intend to compete in. Having concentrated on stamina and endurance latterly, I haven’t done any real work on speed for months. Therefore, it was time to dig out the Speedo Aquacoach to find out how I’ve been getting along. The Aquacoach is worn like a wrist watch in the pool and measures, time, speed, stroke count, laps (lengths) and calories burnt. I took measurements over various distances using breast stroke and front crawl.

Speedo Aquacoach

 

Using my Finis Tempo Trainer to pace myself, I was very pleased with the improvement in my times. Bearing in mind I was using a slow in-water start as opposed to a dive start, the times were vastly improved compared to my last measurements about 6 months ago. In fact, I am now swimming faster than my competitive school days. I managed to smash my 100m breakstroke time by 10 secs. Either I am much fitter than I ever have been (probable) or the pools are getting shorter (less probable).

Finis Tempo Trainer

 After recording my measurements, I dug out the results of last year’s Etwall Masters meeting (Etwall will be my first Masters event next month) and noted that I would have come top five in most of my events, including a winning time for the 100m Breast stroke.

Seems I’m doing ok at the minute but no room for complacency.

Faster yet Slower!

In Solihull with the Olympic Torch

Extract from conversation last week…

Colleague to Me: X wants to know if she can remotely access our server to update software.

Me: No!

Colleague on telephone to software supplier: He says, “No!” He’s just a grump. Look him up on the internet.

Me to Colleague: Insubordinate!

…………

In the Hollin Bush….

How to clear an afternoon funeral wake for the Friday night regulars. Put music on, select Abba track, collect plates up.

 ……………….

I don’t know where the burst of energy came from, but I busted my personal

best on the latest 5km Park Run without really trying. When I looked at my time splits, I’d done the same for the mile and 3km in the same run. Very pleased with that. I’m really enjoying these Saturday mornings. Well organised and very friendly – and free! However, the next day it all came crashing down…

The Tudor Grange Aquathlon in Solihull was my first shot at the dual discipline event. An Olympic Legacy event, it was a 400m pool swim followed by 5km run. As usual, I arrived at the venue early to familiarise myself with the run and transition areas. Transition had been moved from the coach parking bays outside the Leisure Centre to the disabled parking bays. This made me quite angry seeing a load of able-bodied and mostly-fit athletes using it as a changing area because it was next to the pool exit. There must have been a reason for doing so I guess, but the less-able need closer access to the leisure centre for parking than we do. Anyway, back to the race.

I was numbered in the last wave of swimmers, the third last athlete to commence of the day. Unfortunately the two after me were like lightning and I exited the pool last. After quick transition to put on socks and running shoes I was off to join the others on the run.  I had one guy in my sight, about 200m in front and clawed my way up to him. I was just about to overtake him when he turned in to the finishing area which left me the last out on the course. He had been a lap in front of me having started earlier but he had been my motivation to run harder. Last out of the pool and last across the finishing line isn’t a good feeling but of course if you start one of the last of the day, the finish will probably be one of the last. It would all come down to my time splits to see if I would be bottom of the pile on the results board.

Fortunately I wasn’t.

9 mins dead for my swim was a really poor time. I can swim 400m nearly 2 mins faster in training. But my run saved me. Done in 27 mins 39 secs. Looking at the splits, I had manage to claw back a 2 mins deficit against some 7-minute swimmers and turn it in to a 2 mins lead over them on the run. I ended up 17^th  out of 21 very good competitors, mostly triathlon club members.

On analysis, I know I’ve not put as many lengths in to my swimming training as I should have lately. Fortunately, the vastly improved running fitness has compensated and reaped benefits. I have a month before my next competitive event, another aquathlon, to do some serious swimming miles against the clock.

Moss Valley Madness Run Video

Thanks to Laurence for sharing this.

Park Life?

I've had a self-enforced relaxing week. Three days off work were welcome after my triathlon. I correctly assumed that I would need the rest so booked some time off in advance.

Although I'd noticed the problem before last weekend, my right calf muscle has been niggling me. My after-event massage was excruciating so I resorted to the R-I-C-E principle - Rest, Ice, Compresssion, Elevation. It has helped.

Yesterday I did a 5km run at Concord Park. This was my first time at a Park Run event, a great initiative that takes place in Parks around the world every week. Its free to enter. You just have to turn up with your bar code that is allocated to you online. It's a very informal and relaxed race against the clock rather than the other runners. The competitive element does help though which enabled me to set a personal best of 26mins 55 secs. Hardly earth shattering but nice to know I'm improving my running slowly but surely.

Today was much harder, the aptly titled Moss Valley Madness 10km trail run. It was a killer. Valleys cut hillsides which in turn twist the tap on the lactate in the muscles. I was chased by four cows in a field and swallowed a fly. 1 hour 3 mins of pure hell. At least my Dad was there to cheer me on. He is a former cross country runner for the County. Unfortunately, there must have been some genetic mutation in my DNA as I don't seem to have inherited much from him when it comes to running over 5km. He told me about the time he entered the 12 miles Sheffield Star Walk once and was waved off by his parents. Now, Nannan and Grandad Crashbar will have been in their fifties at the time and I remember watching my Dad in that race, but it is amusing  to find out that he got to the finish of the 12 mile race at Owlerton Stadium on foot quicker than Nan and Grandad on the bus!

Because it was quite chilly this morning and because of my calf problem, I wore a longsleeved running top and compression tights for the first time in race. Both helped immensely though I was caked in mud all over by the time I reached the Hollin Bush for a well-earned beer.I was sat quietly with the bar to myself until I was joined by the pub football team en masse. The team must have either lost or all the players must be suffering from Tourettes because the language was appalling. I don't like bad language in public and I was nearly ready to tell them to shut the **** up until I realised there were 11 of them..

Next weekend, I've got my first Aquathlon event. A swim/run event in Solihull. Looking forward to this one.

I am a Triathlete!

Southwell  Last Minute Triathlon

After driving through a foggy and cold Sherwood Forest, I arrived at Southwell Leisure Centre to meet my nemesis, The Esendex Last Minute Triathlon.

After registration and collecting my race number and timing chip. I familiarised myself with the transition area and did a walk around. The first wave of swimmers were just setting off at 7.30am and were emerging out in to the cold at the rear of the pool complex to run in to transition.  I had a couple of hours to prepare for my wave at 9.56am so enjoyed a flask of hot coffee and a banana whilst keeping warm in the van.

I moved in to transition and checked my bike tyre pressures, stocked up my transition box with jelly babies (none of this expensive gel nonsense) and laid out my pre-talc’d kit of running shoes and socks plus my helmet. I threw in a few plasters and tools for good measure just in case. I racked the bike and went to watch some other competitors going through as they clambered on and off bikes between T1 (Swim-Bike) and T2 (Bike-Run).

It was quite reassuring to see that my 1980’s Raleigh Europa racing bike wasn’t quite the oldest, not far off though. Also, some of the mishaps that I dreaded happening to me happening to others. I will never forget the sight of a middle-aged lady running out of the pool in a bikini, putting on a rain mack and then climbing aboard a shopping bicycle ever! Nor, the elite-looking triathlete guy 3 metres across the bike mounting line getting off his bike, sitting on the floor and putting on his cleated bike shoes after giving up trying to do it whilst mounting his bike.

About half an hour before my start I did my stretching exercises and then I was called to the pool start. I had been allotted a lane to myself (maybe they had heard how frustrated I get sharing). I swam the 400m (16 lengths) steadily to avoid over exertion. I walked briskly out of the pool before the barefooted run in to transition about 30m away.  

Because I was wearing a trisuit, I didn’t have to mess about towelling off and putting shorts on. It was helmet on, socks on, shoes on, mouthful of jelly babies then off on the bike.

The bike course was an out and back 17.6k cycle to the village of Lowdham. I got overtaken by several others on the undulating course. My six gears made it hard going in places but I appreciated the cycling club that shouted encouragement up the hill telling me to “dig deep”. It was motivating and welcome encouragement.

The return leg was harder due to the head wind but I was pleased I didn’t have to get out of my saddle or stop even once before rolling back in to transition for the run up the infamous Southwell Slope for the 5k run.

It took me a while to find my running legs but I just took things at a steady pace.  It was 2 laps of the windy road course and I saw a few familiar faces going the other way. Soon it was all over and I was turning in to the finishing straight, my name booming over the tannoy as I raised my arms in personal victory towards the photographer as I crossed the line. I had done it, become a triathlete.

5 months ago I couldn’t run a mile without stopping. I needed to cross train to help my swimming endurance. Within six weeks I had completed a 5km race, and since then a 10km. I have done 2 open water 1 mile swimming races and have a new zest for my personal well-being.

I’m loving it.

Speedo Big Swim @ Rother Valley

100k miles up!

I took part in the Speedo Big Swim at Rother Valley Country Park over the weekend.  Arriving at the lake, my trusty van clocked 100,000 miles on the odometer.

The weather was glorious and the temperature was such that wet suits were optional. All bar one person wore one though, including me, for the mile swim around the main lake.

Nice day for a lake swim

Open water starts are always a bit of a rugby scrum so I took a position near the back of the pack. I only got hit by a couple of arms and feet this time.

Half way around I noticed a swimmer struggling. He turned on to his back (which is the open water swimming signal for, ‘Help!’). I got to him before the rescue boat and made sure that he was ok. The guy was alright, just out of breath and tired. I swam with him for a while until he composed himself and found his stride again.

I found this a tougher swim than the last. Lots of pond weed to wade through. I front crawled to the first buoy but my goggles had steamed up by then. I switched to breast stroke and removed my goggles for better visibility and for a breather.

I exited the water with the notorious jelly legs syndrome but still had to run up the slope to stop the clock on my chip timer. It’s a phenomenon associated with triathlon and I still haven’t mastered it. It’s a bit like jumping straight out of bed and going light headed and woozy when you stand up. My official photograph won’t exactly be an Ursula Andress moment, where she strides out of the sea all glamorous, on to the beach in the Dr No film.

My time was 32 mins 34secs, faster than my Dip in the Dales swim, but slower than I wanted to be, although I did lose time making sure someone wasn’t drowning. It should have been a sub-30 min swim.

I made my way to the bar at the lake side and ordered a beer. I saw a child with a fishing net and heard him say, ‘Look Mum! I’ve caught some tadpoles!’ 

Rother Valley Country Park - formerly an old coal mining site

Ah, the joys of open water swimming.

 .....................................

In other news, Izzie has changed the band name to Tokyo Witch Hunt, which being as this is my blog, I may refer to as Japanese Eyes/Lips when I feel like it.

Ok?

Next weekend is a busy one. Bomfest gig on Friday.

Then, the small matter of my first triathlon on Sunday morning.

Sub-hour 10k

Over the weekend I competed in my first 10k running race. The Bawtry trail run was in fact, by GPS calculations, 10.9k (6.81 miles).  Albeit a very warm 22 Celsius, the run was through cool forest land and was quite heavy and boggy underfoot in places. I managed to get blisters on the soles of each foot as a result. I didn’t pull up any trees with my final position but I did achieve a sub-1hour 10k by my calculations.  

I’m only 30 mins behind Mo Farrah now.

Next up, 1 mile open water lake swim at Rother Valley.

The Strange Case of the Disappearing Rectangular Hay Bale

The last throws of a Summer sun on harvested fields always evoke memories of offering up my tin of baked beans as a gift to the poor at the St. Vincent’s school harvest festival mass. That, and singing, “We plough the fields and scatter..”

I love harvest time imagery, especially seeing the bales of hay, set out as a collection of monoliths on a low sun bathed hillside on a September evening. But I’m troubled.

Whilst passing field after field, I have been seeing only round hay bales. What ever happened to the rectangular bales that we used to make dens out of as childen? Have aliens moved on from crop circle making to rectangular hay bale rustling?

Yes, I am right. I have just seen a lorry carrying a load of rectangular bales heading South on the M1 near Bolsover.  Where do they take them and what do they need them for?  Can we stop the alien invasion by cutting off their silage supply? Does this mean aliens are vegetarians?

Troubling times.

The Ups and Downs..

 

As much as this blog is my soapbox to express any of my opinions freely, I am self-moderating this particular posting. Not because I want to say anything that is offensive or such like, but because it may be misconstrued.

Eyes/Lips…

Our recent South Seas gig… the less said the better other than it frustrates me when you work hard in rehearsal, but once you hit the stage, the sound just doesn’t happen. I have my own thoughts on this and will share them with Izzie and Nina as to how we can overcome this issue to a large extent.

There was nothing wrong with our playing.  We did our best as usual.

My triathlon training…

Yesterday, I spent a day at Southwell preparing for my forthcoming triathlon there. Triathlon England had organised a novices day for triathlon rookies like myself. It was a great day and I got to meet likeminded individuals who had also pressed the “send” button on the entry form whilst perhaps having a beer at the time, like me.

I managed to fall off my bike twice when practicing T1 (transition from swimming to bike). My saddle is quite high. Have you ever tried running beside your bike 30 seconds out of a quarter mile swim (simulated butterfly arm strokes on the all-weather 5-a-side soccer pitch actually), then hopping on one pedal with your left leg whilst hurdling the bike with the other? Not normal but I did eventually get the hang of it. I didn’t jump the mounting line either unlike some amateur Olympic bronze medallist called Jonny.

There were five lanes in the pool, six swimmers to each making it rather claustrophobic. The lane ropes were over the marker lines on the bottom of the pool. This meant a few collisions with the rope and side of the pool because it was hard to judge a straight line of swimming, especially in a crowded lane.

Out on the rugby pitch we did some stretching exercises and cadence work before half walking, half jogging the run course. There is a steepish hill straight out of transition which will require some strength straight off the bike.

We didn’t get time for the bike run so on the way home I drove the ten mile course to familiarise myself with it. Quite undulating.

Memory of the day..…back in the debriefing room, a slide show. This picture of cyclist face down at side of crumpled bike in transition.

Happens to the best of us, mate.

An Indifferent Week

Some people think that if you play in band you make money out of gigging or selling CDs. Maybe once upon  time you could make a living from it, especially being a "club" act. I've always refused to sell-out to being a covers band member whilst playing to a bingo-winged audience for a living. This week my cage was well and truly rattled. Vivienne Holliday take a bow. You ruined my bank holiday weekend. I turned down a break on the coast with my mother for you.

Two months ago we were asked to play at the 1 in 12 bar in Bradford as part of the Delius150th anniversary event. TWO days ago, after Izzie doing all the chasing to track down confirmation of the booking, we were told the event was off. Had Izzie not have chased I am sure Ms Holliday would have happily allowed us to drive up the M1 and along the M62 to turn up on the night to closed doors. Those who were coming along to see us would have experienced the same problem too.

Bands take note - avoid any events promoted by Vivienne Holliday.

In my training, I have had a better week.

I have invested in a few items which have turned out to be fantastic resources. Firstly, I bought a tempo trainer. Basically this is a metronome that you wear under your swimming cap. It allows you to pace consistently for both speed and endurance. Superb piece of kit. Secondly, I'm using a swimming parachute. The best way I can describe it is a piece of material attached to a belt that trails behind you as you swim, creating a resistance that slows you down, and makes you work harder. Picture the space shuttle coming in to land and deploying the parachute to slow it down on the runway. Coupled with my pullbuoy set (a float that goes between your legs) my arms and shoulders have had a really good work out.

I had to say thank you to the pool attendant today too. The rather large and slow person in the fast lane obviously had trouble reading too. "Fast" lane does not mean "Fat" and snail pace lane. The attendant courteously requested the person to move out of the lane without the need for me to rant. My frustration had obviously been noted and acted upon. I am getting to like how this pool is run!

On the running front, I'm also using a metronome for pacing. Set at 180bpm, I ran in my fastest 3km ever today, and that was after my hard 1km workout in the pool. If I work on my cycling as efficiently tomorrow it will have been my most productive training week.

I Pressed the "Send" Button!

It is done.

I have registered for my first Triathlon.

Southwell 23^rd September

400m swim/17.6k bike/5k run

Unbelievable, Jeff!

As Chris Kamara would say, “Unbelievable, Jeff!”

I managed to find a local pool with lane swimming on a Sunday morning.

My Dad used to work at this particular pool and it was strange going back to swim there for the first time since a child.

The first thing that struck me was the helpfulness of the staff and the friendliness of the other swimmers, neither of which I have been used to of late. 8am on a Sunday morning must be before the stresses of the week kick-in for everyone.

I picked the “fast lane” and had it all to myself and managed a really good interval training session. I recorded some good (for me) times and did some strength work using my pullbuoy.

Later in the day, after a quick pilates session, I went for a run. I was aiming for a sub-60mins 10km but by the time I reached Rother Valley Country Park (7.6km) I was about 3 mins off pace target as the heavens opened. Rather than risk injury on a narrow slippery trail for the sake of another 10mins of running I called it a day and had a nice leisurely stroll home, albeit very wet.

Had a flapjack on the way back in Beighton village, well two actually. 59p each.

My Trafford Metro Swimming Club and ASA Membership forms are now completed. Once verified, they will enable me to compete in Masters Events and officially complete my return to competitive swimming after a 28 year hiatus when I won the Schools Under 15 Breast stroke Relay (which was the biggest trophy I ever lifted). I will try and find the newspaper clipping to post on here. I still remember being handed it again on prize giving night at Sheffield City Hall in front of hundreds of people with my shirt untucked at the back.

I’ve been looking at past masters events and the times of some of the swimmers. I could still podium for sprint events it seems for my age group. Must keep the training going in that case. Trafford Metro membership (as opposed to my local club) means I can have the benefits of membership and ASA registration without being tied to the rigid training sessions times of other clubs. I will be self-training in effect, something that has always suited me fine.

I can now be subject to random drug testing too.

I have let my cycling training slip as I prioritise for upcoming events. I have two 10km trail races in September which are my current focus. I must not let my cycling get left too far behind on the agenda. Please keep reminding me.

In the real world, a few things have saddened me this weekend, particularly the death of Winnie Johnson whilst being potentially so near to finding the body of her son, Keith Bennett, who suffered at the hands of Moors Murderers, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley; and, the incarceration of Pussy Riot members for expression of opinion in Russia.

Hopefully karma will have some say in these matters.

Eyes/Lips HQ News

(c) Chironart

Nina is back from 5 weeks of diving in Honduras. Makes you sick doesn’t it? It seems ages since we last gigged with her at the Classic Rock Bar in Doncaster. Welcome back Nina!

Izzie has been busy putting finishing touches to a new standalone single that we’ve been working on in Nina’s absence. Provisionally titled, “Girl Star”, it’s got a real thumping beat to it with vocoding/glitches galore plus heavily filtered synths. Very pleased with this collaboration. Busy but creative times.

“Searchlight” album is released 1st October on iTunes. You can preview the album tracks and download a free copy of the brilliant “Dry Heat” Crystal Mirage Mix here on our Reverbnation site too.

We’ve quite a few gigs coming up over the next few weeks so be sure to come along to at least one of them. Full details on our main Eyes/Lips website here.  

Izzie has started her own blog too!

Get Out Of My Way!

This week I headed back to the pool, though not my usual one.

I had a run-in with staff where I normally train. My frustration boiled over at their inability to manage other pool users. I refrain from using the term “swimmers” because little swimming was being done in the pool other than by me. I pointed those aggrieving me to the alternate pool with the play slide and told them they would be more suited to that. Failing that, to stay at home and sit in the bath and play with a rubber duck. I’d had enough.

My work hours don’t match when lane swimming is available and I have to do my serious training in amongst the general public splashers. I am a long way behind in my training target as a result. I am unable to measure my speed/distance times accurately (and therefore my progress) because I either have to stop or swim around people stood chatting/swimming side by side or just being a general nuisance.

I don’t selfishly expect a whole pool to myself but I do show respect for other users. I expect the same to reciprocate.

And in other news….

Izzie has been texting me nonsensically for the past hour. Now I have finally made sense of her excitement. She is adding vocals to a piece of music that I sent her which it appears is coming together quite well.

I had a bit of fun using text to speech synthesised backing vocals over some heavily filtered synth parts which I squashed the hell out of. Lots of delay (an Izzie trademark…trademark…trademark :) ).

I await the results from her.

For those of you that think I'm totally nuts for having an interest in open water swimming, have a look at this documentary, Wild Swimming, in which Alice Roberts follows in the spirit of "Waterlogged", the fabulous journal of Roger Deakin's dips.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00t9r28/Wild_Swimming/

Am I still nuts?

Weekend Musings

I went for an overdue haircut today. Even the person cutting my hair couldn't resist commenting, "It's been a while, hasn't it?" Yes, 3 months. I'm busy!

That trauma out of the way, I walked through Sheffield town centre (forgot to nosey at the newly gold painted Jessica Ennis mailbox) and bought a copy of Triathlon 220 magazine. I called in at the Brown Bear and in a step towards becoming an Iron Man one day I ordered a pint of stout (Samuel Smith) to get a shot of iron in me. £2.20.

Whilst reading the magazine I made a few decisions and set myself some targets for the next few months.

1. Swimming - get my 1500m down to around the 24 min mark, 100m to 1 min 28 secs, 5km to 1 hour 40mins.

2. Running - 5km sub 22mins, 10km sub 60mins.

3. Cycling - improve speed and work on gradients more

I've got Masters swimming events subject to my ASA  and Club membership being sorted pencilled in, plus a 10km Trail run next month to train for and possibly the Great Yorkshire Run (half marathon). My good muso friend, Lee, is considering being my training partner and we have agreed to have a go at an indoor Triathlon event in November. 15min blasts in the pool, treadmill and cycling machine which are very popular in the USA. .

The long term plan is to work towards a sprint triathlon next year and then Olympic distance at some point.

I need a few more Guinness first before I get to be an Iron Man.