Tuesday Training (Gym - Muscle Build Session 21)

Tuesday saw me back in the Gym and a first test of the indoor capabilities of my new Garmin Forerunner 620.  Put quite simply, it doesnt work lol.

Warm Up 
 

2.5km Treadmill (pyramid starting at 11.5kph increasing by 0.5kph every 0.5km to 13.5kph) - see here for the Garmin connect dump 

(As you can see, the pace certainly doesnt register correctly.  I manually amended the run to 2.5km and the pace corrected but the pace distribution certainly wasnt right.  Reading the manual, it appears the first run is used as calibration so we'll have to see whether it improves.)

TRX

Crucifix (3sets x 10reps) 
Shoulder Press (3sets x 10reps) 
One Armed Press Ups (5sets x 10reps) 
Bicep Curl (3sets x 10reps) 
Tricep Curl (3sets x 10reps)
 
Abs

10 sets (10 SB one-footed sit ups + 10 SB Sit Twists)

No leg weights.

Cool Down

2.5km treadmill (fixed at 11.5kph) - see here for Garmin Connect dump

(Again, the pace distribution over the 2.5km looks all over the place.  Think I need to invest in a footpod!)

AVB gone

Going back to the end of November, I wrote about the weekend of sporting disaster, when Spurs were hammered 6-0 at Man City, see here for a refresher.

Spurs were hammered 5-0 at WHL by Liverpool yesterday.  That was the straw that finally broke the Camel's back.  THFC announced AVB was gone by mutual consent just after 11am this morning.

It wasnt a surprise.  I dont think any manager could survive two hammerings in quick succession like that.  As I predicted, another mauling at home and the deed would be done.

Part of me feels sorry for AVB.  He lost his best player in Bale, that would effect any team.  He's had to deal with a fairly serious injury list in the last 18 months since he took over (see Kaboul, see Sandro, see more recently Rose, Lennon, Kaboul again, Vertonghen, Chiriches etc).

The other part of me wants to slap him around the chops with a wet kipper.  The way he handled BAE and Adebayor has been laughable.  His persistence to play with a lone centre-forward when we've been struggling for goals defies belief.  His persistence to play with inverted wingers and not providing any service to our centre-forwards.

Should he have bene given more time?  A 5-0 hammering in your own back yard says no.

So what next for Levy and Spurs?

My initial reaction when the news was announced this morning would be that Technical Director and former Spurs midfielder Tim Sherwood would take the reigns temporarily until the club find a permanent successor.

Around 12:30pm today, ITK appeared from Ali Z, one of the more respected ITKers on COYS, who has confirmed links to the board...

After an afternoon of speculation, Spurs confirmed that Sherwood, Les Ferdinand and Chris Ramsay would be taking temporary charge of the team until a replacement has been identified.  No time scales have been given but with the World Cup only six months away, maybe a short-term option is best given who could be potentially available after the World Cup.  Names that come to mind include Capello, currently in charge of Russia and Tottenham's favourite German son, Jurgen Klinsmann, the USA manager.

The Spurs forums have been going ballistic today and understandibly so.  Various names have been banded about.  Hoddle.  Jol.  Both are available.  Capello was seen at WHL with Baldini on Sunday.  Gianfranco Zola resigned as Watford manager today.  Steve Clarke, one of Hoddle's friends is available after being sacked by WBA.  Could Hoddle and Clarke be the new Spurs dream team?

Of course, the pundits have been giving Spurs a good kick in too.

Jamie Redknapp is a very bitter man.  He was quickly attacking Levy and the way Levy runs the club.  Alan Sugar called it amateur.  (Yes, says the man who employed Christian Gross...now that was amateur!)

So here we go again.  A period of transition.  Again.  Ha, Spurs have had more transition periods than I've had hot dinners.  As my favourite Spurs blogger describes it...

"Never a boring second with Spurs. It's like having fantastic sex with your partner but every so often she pulls out a whip and destroys you."

Spurs go straight back into battle at WHL on Wednesday night against our East London neighbours West Ham in the League Cup Quarter Final.  Even at this stage of the season, one could consider this a must win game as its realistically our only chance of silverware this season, bearind in mind we are drawn against the arch enemy, the Woolwich Nomads in the 3rd round of the FA Cup in January.

After the shock 0-3 defeat to the claret & blue jellied eel munching wet spammers in October, we certainly owe them big time.

Thanks for some good memories Andre.  I'll never forget when we finally won at Old Trafford for what seemed like a lifetime or the 3-2 win against West Ham with you celebrating with Bale on the touchline after his stunning injury time winner.  I so wish it could have worked out.  I genuinely wanted it to.  You're a top bloke, a gentlemen in fact but sadly you werent the manager we needed.  I wish you all the best for the future. 

AVB in happier times at Spurs

 

Monday Training (10k run) and finally 1,000 miles not out...

After Friday lunchtime's 10k, I had Saturday and Sunday off as I had Izzy staying with me at the weekend.

Monday was my first chance to get back out on the road.  Having checked the stats, I was 997.2 miles for the year so the next decent length run was going to take me past the magic 1,000 mile barrier in a year for the first time.

I got totally drenched on the walk back from Welling station so it made sense to go pretty much straight out and get it over and done with.

Most of the roads were almost flooded. The trainers were ringing wet by the time I'd got back. Nothing exceptional in terms of time but it would good to get out again and finally smash the 1,000 mile target.

I really need to start learning to pace my runs properly. Start slowly, build up to normal pace in the middle and then blast the final 1-2 miles or so. In this example, I ran the last 2 miles quite quickly but there was a couple of lazy miles in the middle. I really need to start being more specific on my aims of what I'm trying to achieve.

Anyhow, onwards and upwards.  Here's the proof of the 1,000 mile target being broken :)

The Semi Quavers rock Trafalgar Square

Wow, just how good were the Semi Quavers, eh?

Izzy's choir were selected to sing at Trafalgar Square today. As Izzy was staying with me that weekend, I took her on the train to London and we met her Mum and Grandparents to watch the choir sing their hearts out for an hour.

Unfortunately, as the choir started their third song, a couple of Santa's waltzed into Trafalgar Square, equiped with a full PA system and started pumping out Michael Jackson about 150 yards away but it was so loud it seriously drowned out the Semi Quavers.

Without a second of hesitation I was almost running over to them and I accosted the pair of them straight away, telling them to cut the volume, show the little ones some bloody respect and to shove their PA system right up their ...

With some protest, I delayed them enough before the wardens turned up and moved them on.  Job done.

The choir sang beautifully all afternoon and I must admit I got a little choked up while I was watching them from the top of the steps outside the National Gallery.

Fabulous afternoon.

(In the video, Izzy's on the far right, with black hooded jacket, woolie hat and boots).

 

Izzy at Trafalgar Square

The Semi Quavers in front of the Christmas Tree

Thursday & Friday Training (early 10k run, 4 mile run warm up before the Gym, 10k run)

I've been fairly lazy on the updating of the blog this week, so apologies.  I just havent had enough hours in the days.

Tuesday was a no go because I went to watch Izzy's choir, the SemiQuavers, perform their christmas concert and it was bloody brilliant.

Wednesday was a Xmas do at lunchtime and by the time I got home all I wanted to do was put my feet up.

So, in true JB fashion, I went at it hard on Thursday & Friday.

Alarm went at 5.30am.  Out the door by 5.50am for a ploddy 10k.

It was ridiculously foggy and very slippy underfoot on the pavements but made it around ok. Got back in for 6.45am, just as my alarm usually goes off. Straight in the shower and then off to work. 

Then within 10 mins of being home from work, it was off for another 4 miles before hitting the Gym for my first workout in almost 2 weeks. 

Just the usual TRX circuit in the Gym then took the bus home to watch the Spurs.

Then as I've got Izzy this weekend, I went out and ran 10k on Friday lunchtime... 

It felt like a huge struggle today. Its normally just over 7 miles straight back to the office but I'd had enough by 2.5 miles, so I decided to call it a day on 10k. Straight into Sainsburys to pick up a Sandwich and a drink and took the slow miander back through the Royal London Hospital.

The observant amongst you will have noticed that the Friday lunchtime 10k was recorded on my new shiny Garmin Forerunner 620.  I'll write up something about it when I get a chance but I'm impressed by it already.

So looking forward to Izzy o'clock tonight.

If anyone is not doing anything on Sunday, Izzy's choir will be singing under the Christmas Tree at Trafalgar Square at 2pm on Sunday for an hour.  Come and see the SemiQuavers rock London.

Monday Training (Slow 10 mile run)

30% off Garmin's online store

If you're after a Garmin product this Christmas, check out the Garmin online store.

For the first 10,000 orders this Christmas, Garmin are offering 30% (yes THIRTY PER CENT) off with the code GARMIN30.

As a result, I've just ordered a new Forerunner 620 for a heavily discounted £251.99, rather than the RRP of £359.99.

You wont get a Garmin any cheaper but you'll need to be quick :)