Shock and Thaw!

Got a bit of shock the other day when I stepped on to the new scales we got for Christmas...since my last weight check, which was just before my leg op, I was 72 kg. This was a couple of kg's heavier than I was during the summer, but nothing too drastic. However, due to not training for 2 months and still eating like I was, then top that up with my weak will power over the Christmas period and I had 'ballooned' to 77 kg!!! Not good! Since that sobering revelation I have got back into eating better and because my training levels are increasing the weight is coming down. Yesterday I weighed in at 75 kg's - not a massive drop but I don't need to loose it too quickly, just as long as I'm back down to my 'racing weight' of 70kg by the summer then I'll be happy.

Well, almost half way through January and I still haven't managed to get my bike on to the roads! I know a lot of you are also suffering in the snow and ice and like all of you I am getting really sick of my turbo! The end of these arctic conditions does seem to be in sight now (well, in North Yorkshire anyway) so hopefully I can get some winter gear on and hit the hills without being met with a road an 'Ice Road Trucker' would be scared of!

Definitely a turbo day!

I struggle to get proper time in on the turbo, especially any kind of endurance ride. The max I have done on the turbo so far has been about 2 hours. I find that turbo riding is harder. I feel as tired after a couple of hours on the turbo as I do after 4 on the roads! Is this just me?

My running endurance is improving - did 90 minutes steady recently without any problems. I am still just training by 'feel' at the moment, just getting the endurance levels up.

Swimming wise , I'm concentrating on drills and aerobic endurance. The pool is quite busy lately with all the 'New Year resolution' swimmers! I don't mind when it's busy as long as the slower swimmers give way at the turns and keep close to the lane ropes to allow faster swimmers to pass without annoying on coming swimmers when overtaking them. Rant over.

This years base period I'm experimenting with doing a lot more weights and core work than I've done before. This is an area I've only 'dabbled' with previously, opting to get 'serious' miles in rather than spend time in a gym. Hopefully this will result in more power on the bike come the summer and maybe a greater resistance to lower leg injuries(?!)

I need to go and finalise my 2010 race plan...decisions, decisions... Train well and pray for rain!

It's All About the Snow, Ice and Chocolate!

Belated Merry Christmas to you all, hope Santa was kind!

Since my last post my training levels, in all 3 disciplines, have increased steadily. I'm now training without any hindrance or repercussions from my operation, which is encouraging to say the least. I'm now just conscious of pushing too hard, too soon and picking up any 'over use' niggles and tweaks.

I've still not settled in to any kind of set training plan yet, I'm just training by how I feel and trying to edge up the mileage to the levels I can realistically call 'base miles'! This has not been easy on the bike with all this flipping snow and ice around. All this time off work and the weather conditions are keeping me off the roads...typical! I find it hard work putting in long rides on the turbo. My turbo is set up in the garage and while it's still freezing, it's the boredom factor that is my worst enemy! But watching a DVD helps, and I've found that '300' is the best for a long ride! I've also been doing my 'strength workout' cycling DVD which was a present from Santa and it's a real quad buster! I've also managed to get a bit of weight training and core strength work in at the gym.

Running wise, I'm up to runs of over an hour around the frozen fields and lanes, and a bit of long intervals on the treadmill from time to time, and now that my local pool has reopened after an unreasonably long festive break (how very dare they!) I can now crack on with more drills work in the wet stuff.

After this week I'll start a more regimented training plan for the remainder of the winter which will be centered around building more bike strength ready for a summer of lovely weather and enjoyable racing...well that's the plan anyway.

Until then I need to find some will power from somewhere to stop me from eating my own weight in chocolate every day!!

Train smart. Enjoy the rest of the year!

Leaps and Bounds!

My recovery seems to have turned a corner and I'm coming along in leaps and bounds!! Since my last post I have not only managed a 2 hour bike ride - actually on the roads...not only have I been swimming...but more miraculous than all that is the fact that, last night, in the gym, I actually ran for 20 minutes! Hallelujah!!!

My 'run' started as a brisk walk at about 6kph. I increased the pace to a very slow jog after about 5 mins, and by 15 minutes I was up to a mind blowing 10 kph! Yes it was slow but it felt fantastic to be running again. I felt as though I could have gone on for longer, or even ran a bit faster but I was remarkably sensible and decided to quit while I was ahead! (for once!)

Today, I am feeling a little sore but in a good way, if that makes sense?! One or two of my scars feel a little 'tight' but other than that it's mainly a bit of DOMS really, which is just natures way of letting you know you are working hard enough!!

So now that I have managed to get back to all 3 disciplines, it's just a matter of increasing the mileages steadily. The biking should be fine, as should the swimming, but I know I need to be hyper careful with the running. So I haven't set any running goals - I've just got to listen to my legs and rest properly after each momentous run!

Things are definitely looking up! Enjoy your base miles!