Long Covid?

Another week ticked by and now 3 weeks until the middle distance Duathlon in Bedford. The Achilles niggles continue but I think I can get round the runs in the race - just not fast. But overall I can’t get rid of the fatigue I feel. Recovery from anything hard(ish) training takes an age. I’m having more complete days off training than ever before but it doesn’t seem to make a difference. I had a busy day riding yesterday ti coordinate car repairs etc. I ended up riding to Stafford and back plus a lunch time ride through town to drop keys off. I really enjoyed the rides in the sun on my Giant TCR but totally whacked at the end of the day. I do wonder if I still have Covid in my system. 

Today is an enforced rest day in the hope if completing a decent big session tomorrow. We’ll see how that goes. Thinking of some TT bike efforts thrown in within a 60 mile tempo ride. Then a run off the bike as efforts of increasing pace as time descends. I’ve done this before and it’s a good strength set. See how I feel and whether the Achilles can handle it. 

I also managed some outdoor yoga stretchy stuff whilst waiting for the car MOT - enjoyable but again, felt shoddy 😵‍💫

4 Weeks to Go - It’s Touch & Go!

 Yup, 4 weeks to go until the middle distance Duathlon at Box End, Bedford. ID like to say training has been going well. But I’d be lying. Both Achilles’ tendons are hurting, I’m tired out some days and ok other days. I want to salvage the season as it’s never really started. But tbh I’m starting to feel rather stale and in need of a break and a reset before building properly to next year.  Ut I can’t accept another year of nothingness. So I’m aiming to be on the start line on 4 Sep come what may. 

One thing I discovered was that the run course for the Duathlon is a trail/grass mix. It’s supposedly quite compacted and firm. But if it rains before the 4th it may be slippy and squidgy. This would be a disaster for the Nike and Hoka Carbon played road race trainers I’m planning to use. So, I’ve purchased some North Face trail shoes:

These actually have a carbon plated also but the tread is specific to trail running. First run review: pretty good actually. The are light and cushioned. They favour a midfoot strike and kind of force you into a roll to push off. But they seem good and definitely capable of racing off road and a mix of road too. I’ll make a call on the day. 

As for training, I’m consistent but not feeling strong. Not had many sharpening up VO2 sessions either. But a good chain gang club ride last Tuesday ended up as a real full gas effort at the end. I suppose I was strong enough once the legs decided to wake up. Today (Sunday) I rode outside Tempo TT bike for 55k and ran off too. The Canyon was a hit to ride and the simple feel good factor was worth the ride alone today. 

 I wanted 10 - 12k run but simply didn’t have the time. Plus the pesky Achilles were ok one minute and hurting the next. But I managed a 5k progression run in 22min. It just seems I’ve not done the specific build and key sessions for this race. Not sure if that’s reality; Covid really screwed me up, hurting me hard in June. This was exactly the worst time to wreck the racing aims. Oh well, but if a downer post today. Good job nobody actually reads this anymore 😂. 

On a positive note, I’m really liking the home training set up. Bikes stowed neatly, treadmill, smart trainer, and conditioning kettlebells etc all in place for a winter regroup and build!