We're Off!!

I don’t seem to be capable of updating this Blog often enough! But I want to keep it going as it contains some ‘history’! Catch up time. I am now based in the Staffordshire area, after returning from the horrible place where all Serviceman go at one time or another to do ‘their bit’ for Queen and country. I couldn’t do much specific training out there but I did complete a good bit of conditioning and spinning. So i was in ok shape. As ever, I was eager to get back to some decent training ready for the 2013 season. After missing the entire 2012 race season (apart from the early season cross country) I was perhaps too eager! Hence I picked up a few injuries since I returned at the end of August. The most annoying, and lingering, problem is my hip/ITB. This had wiped out all hope of any running. It still isn’t great but with physio and a gradual run build programme I am now up to 40 mins running. I am doing an intensive physio routine and also some gym circuits. Add to this around 150 miles a week biking on very hilly routes, I have actually bagged 2 months of good base training. If I can stay healthy I reckon I can get in shape for 2013. The long term plan remains an attack on the 2014 duathlon season, when I move into the very veteran age group! I would still love to bag an international Age Group medal – let’s see where this goes! As for 2013, I will race lots to get the edge back; however, the emphasis will be on bike/run. So triathlons for fun and duathlons for serious business. Also, bring on the bike TTs again! Shooting for a 1:55 50 mile TT but I would need a decent day for that, not to mention hitting 55 min again for a 25 mile TT. Nice to be back!

Life Out There. . . .

Struth! It has been so long since I entered a post here. life has been so hectic and, what with internet problems at home, moving house, new job. . . . . Well, you get the picture. Anyway more detailed update to follow!

Getting Back in the Groove (ish)

Time has slipped by again. I am finding it difficult to findthe time to make entries on this Blog. However, I am determined to keep this record of my sport chugging along. My post-deployment leave has finished and I am back at work in my new job at TSW Stafford. the job looks good and there is a good bike commute on offer. I tested the ride a few times last week and it is going to be a very hard winter, me thinks! The hills are constant and quite draining - well I did live in Cambridgshire previously! So last week I did a full week of training, including 3 runs. However, my achilles' are not good and I struggled to put together any decent runs. I was tired by the weekend too and I seriously need to build back the training volume slowly! I just know that I will go and load up the training volume and intensity at the same time! Last Thursday the Tour of Britain was passing through my area. I managed to ride to the start (met Roy B) to soak up the atmosphere. Then, I rode back home to collect my girls to go and watch the race climb the Okemoor hill (my new training hill). Then, we hot-fgooted it to the finish to watch the race end in Stoke. We had a great day and both my girls were well happy to see Twiggo and Cav in the flesh - very close- up too.

I drafted the top paragraphs last week. What was I saying about getting back to training volumes slowly to avoid injury? Poop; I am crocked. Both achilles tendons are giving me grief and now my ITB on my left side is quite bad. Stairs are a struggle at the moment! I guess I just need to rest up, stretch and work the achilles. This is all very frustrating, particularly after the wiped out 2012 race season due to my detachment with work. I had hoped to race at Carsington Duathlon in october - no chance of that now. I am off now, before I complain any further!

Back in Business - Sort of!

I am back in blighty after my 4 months in multi-sport exile! I am not in great shape but certainly reasonable enough to start building the trainig up. The only problem is that I have 2 dodgy Achilles Tendons now! I did the least training volume over a 4 month period that I can remember; yet my achilles' are the worst they have been. At the moment I am on leave and training every other day - nice and easy. I have bike serviceability issues; hence, although I have spent 4 months unable to ride outside, I am still hindered! I have ventured out on the TT bike to test the ride to my new job at Stafford. The ride (bimble) took 1:05. So that should be a tidy regular ride over a very hilly route. I suppose it would feel quite hard in mid-winter. But in August it felt fine! As for running, I run, tend to my poorly Achilles'; then run again when I am able! Let's see if the rehab work can clear this stuff up like it did a couple of years ago.

Still Alive - Just!

Hello Bloggers out there who still check in to this Blog - not many, I fear! Well, training is ticking over but this summer has to be the worst triathlon season for me since I started the sport. It has been extremely difficult to see others race. However, the weather has looked so bad back in the UK, I doubt if I would have enjoyed racing anyway! Only about a month to push now! Trainin is still conditioning, spinning, rowing and treadmill. My achilles is giving me problems, which I am not happy about. Can't wait to jump on a real bike and start buildingf back up for 2013! Check in and say hi if you can - it's lonely here!

Triathletes in Isolation

Well, I cannot believe that it is almost a month since I blogged. Time seems to be going fast here in some ways; but slow in other ways. Keeping true, as always, to the fact that this is a training Blog, I will leave out the associated issues of being in this place. As far as training goes, I continue to tick over. We still cannot run outside and cycling is done only on the spinning bikes. No swimming possible. So, the cross training theme continues. The Ergo Rower sessions are increasing. It's strange; I am happy to row for 45 mins but really struggle to run on the treadmill for 30 mins! I like the numbers attached to rowing - there is an aim; a target; a comparison. the spinning bike does not give you this. I think I like the rower because it is similar to bike time trialling. It is a challenge against the clock and only you can do anything about getting faster. I am improving on the rower, but will never be fast. I like the 5k distance - I do not have the power to go well over 2k. My target remains sub 19 mins for 5k. Currently, I am at 19:10.9. I am careful not to go for a time every session. I am mixing up the training as I would for running; some easy long, some short hard. The spinning is sufficient to keep the bike legs I reckon but I rarely do more than an hour in one chunk. I am doing conditioing work twice a week. I am certainly getting stronger and I really hope that I will feel the benefits of this work when I come to race again. the problem I face is age! I will be 48 in a couple of months and, having missed the entire 2012 season, the seeds of doubt are nagging at me saying that I will be slow and past it next year. Time will tell. One thing that interests me is seeing how daz Sharpe goes this year. He is receiving coaching for the first time. It will be interesting to see if doing something different in training will reap different race results - hope so! My thoughts are turning to training differently to try and maintain some sort of progress - or may be age fade performance reduction! Maybe I will plan my training 2 days at a time instead on one! That would be a change!! Happy racing everyone. Rootin' for you all from this hot and dusty most yuk place that I have ever been to. . . . . . But still smiling!

Is This What's Called Cross Training?

Time is slipping by - not quick enough, in my book - here in the land of dust, heat and crazy mulit-national traffic gridlock! Work is busy but I am managing to get some training completed. I feel utterly out of shape and a complete OAP who is 'past it'! Basically, I do spinning, treadmill running and conditioning when I can squeeze it in. Also, recently, I have been doing some Ergo Concep 2 rowing. Man! I am a numpty on this machine! My 2k time is 7:37 - and that killed me! I had no idea what is a decent time and my form was, apparently, not good! After a quick look on the internet, it was clear that 7:37 is not good, even for a lightweight! Now a lightweight in the rowing world is 75kg. Now that seems more like a heavy weight to me! They should do a super lightweight! i reckon I must be around 65kg? Rowing sure suits the big strong guys, with long levers. Not sure That I would ever be a decent rower but the exercise is meant to compliment cycling; hence I may try and do some specific rowing training and aim to gett nearer to 7:00. At least cycling rewards a decent strength to weight ratio! Mind you, even that goes out the window when doing a spinning class! Must dash; got heaps to do! Best wishes to everyone managing to enjoy a race season!!