The Build Starts - 2024?

 Hello tumbleweed out there in retro Blog world 😵‍💫. It’s now nearly 3 weeks since I regrouped and accepted the fact that my race 2022 goals this season we’re just not going to happen. I’ve started the strength and conditioning work and reduced the cycling intensity. The running has reduced too, with just fast feet in the treadmill at the m moment, mixed in with the conditioning. I’m trying to git rid of the Achilles niggles! 

This new focus is quite enjoyable actually. The first few sessions made me realise how my lack of conditioning work may have impacted performance. I am woefully weak! I used to do a lot more strength work; so hopefully getting back to this type of training will make me more robust and slow the age related performance decline.  

I’m still on teeny weights and kettlebells at the moment.  Progression is slow - deliberately so cause I’m old! 

It was my 58th birthday in 2 Sep 22. The big 60 looms! I was fortunate to bag some more Le Col posh cycling gear:

Love these glasses. Expensive but quality  

Regrouping - Again 🥺

 Yup, yet another regrouping. This weekend should be the Box End Middle Distance Duathlon in Bedford. My last post set the scene for me to test the fitness by racing the low key Manchester Duathlon. I did compete in the race and actually didn’t do too badly. I finished 7th overall. The body held up and the Achilles weren’t too bad. But I was not firing on all cylinders. This race was short with the runs totalling 6k max. 

After the race I thought it would be ok to race at Bedford. But as the days ticked by my fitness is just not where it needs to be to race 10k/64k/10k. I risk aggravating the Achilles and feeling crappy mentally. So I have made the decision not to race and have a week of not doing much. Then I will start to build up very slowly focusing on strength and conditioning for a few months. Not sure what I will aim for next year yet. It feels like each passing year brings a new problem or injury that means I end up drifting along with no stand out performance at a decent level. 

I’ll think further on long term goals. 

Ride on