Almost May Already

The year seems to be flying by. With no racing due to the COVID-19 lockdown and working from home, everything feels a bit odd. People are finding ways to continue their sporting endeavours via virtual applications. Though many still train outside, I am only running round Lyme Valley Park, which is literally outside my door. All bike training is on the smart trainer - how chuffed am I that I invested in this bit of kit! A month in to the Zwift experience and I feel that I am training better than I have for a long time. Being at home all the time certainly held too. The only real downside is the lack of track sessions. I’d built up a decent track session base over the winter and wanted to build more speed during spring and summer. But I have to accept that my running is not in a bad place to build for the London Duathlon in September - please don’t be cancelled! Yeasterday I completed my 4th virtual 10 mile TT on Zwift. This series is organised by British Cycling and NTC are using it as a club virtual league based on fastest 5 races out of 8 events. Yesterday was my quickest time at 23:12. The course was flat and I certainly managed a more controlled ride. This also increased my power output and Zwift calculated a new FTP if 260W

I’ve ever been that into recording Watts etc but I know that 260W is vastly improved on the last couple of years. At the Tean TT back in 2017 I struggled to hold 240W. In 2015 I know I used 240W as my 70.3 bike power level. So I look to be getting close to 2015 bike fitness. I’d be happy with that! Yesterday I also ran off the bike to test the legs after a flat out bike effort. I started iff steady, aiming to build the pace over 5k. First K was ok at 4:18. Increasing the pace felt good and I finished in 20:05. Not bad really. So build endurance and the top off some more speed every now and then - technical training eh?! Roll in September. . .