That 'DOH!!!!' Moment. . . .

Happened to me on Friday! I was on leave but the logistics of commuting to work via bike and running meant that I had a bike left at work. So, I ran into work early
(8.3 Miles)to collect my bike. I would then spin back home.

Doh!!! I forgot my padlock key. So, I ran back home another 8.3 miles. I was feeling pretty shabby, to be honest, but I had to 'Man Up' as young Frank would say! 2 miles from home a pesky terrier shot out of a bush and proceeded to bite me on the lower calf! I couldn't believe it. The critter pierced the skin too so I need to be mindful of infection.

Saturday was a better day because I got to ride with the BAD Tri group ride. I ended up being beasted by a very nice chap called 'Northern John' (I think that was his name?). He was certainly a very strong bike rider and he ripped my legs off in a very nice way! Really enjoyed it and got around 44 miles don, which is the longest ride for ages for me.

Tired today after those 2 sessions.

Train well!

Moving Again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep. You heard it right! The powers that be are moving me to a job that will give me more promotion prospects. I know, I have only moved in here on 31 Jan! However, the move here was a job department move and not a new posting into a new job. The timing of this new move is not good - to put it mildly - but I must go. It would be easier to move so soon if I hated here in Bristol but it is actually quite a cool place.

Where will I be moving to now? On 31 March I move back to Wyton!!!!!!! Ahhhhhh!!!!! I will actually be working in Cambridge. Having only just handed my previous married quarter at Wyton back, I now have to apply for another one at the same location. It's a crazy time for sure!

No doubt my training will be totally disrupted again. But hey, look on the positive side! I may be able to use the 'too many house moves' excuse to explain poor form for most of the summer races.

Looking forward to new challenges 8-)

I'm Back!

Long time, no Blog! But back now and on-line at home too. This is my first week at work and I have to get across Bristol to get to my hot desk! Diving is a complete mare! So, it's a 10 mile commute on my bike each way. No matter how easy I try and ride, the hills take their toll! The ride is laden with traffic but there are some nice bits too. I ride over Clifton Suspension Bridge each day and the view is cool (it's more like howling icy wind at the moment!).

After the chaos of moving house, I am finding it hard to get back into the routine I had previously. Commuting to work make things different but it's the fatigue from moving that I am finding tough to shake off. I wonder if I can use this excuse during the race season?!

The area here is actually great terrain for training. I live a 10 min jog from Ashton Court estate, which is awesome for running. There seems to be a huge amount of serious cyclists everywhere. I may venture out with BAD Tri this weekend. Also, I have Sam Wright and Frank here to train with. Carl Rice (decent runner) is also here so I hope to get dragged round.

Good to be back. Not long until race season. . . . EEKKKKKKKKKKKK!

Moving Chaos

Movng house. No training. Utterly pooped. Lack of sleep. Bring back normality please. . . . If there is such a thing!

On Track

Well, the aches and pain seem to be holding up to full blown training. I am building the run miles up slowly, but no fast stuff. . . apart from the 3k run TT on the track last night. It was dark and gloomy, and I was the only person at the track - just a couple of security lights to illuminate the way ahead. I was not expecting much because I have not done any faster paced running for months. I did 10:30, which, although not fast, is better than I thought I would do. Back to the easy running now (once the aches and pain have disappeared from my legs!).

I am now receiving some secret assistance with my training. See how I trickled that tantalising piece of info out 8-) More will become clear if/when the race season commences.

Now, however, it is all hands to the deck to move house to Bristol. I will be off line for a while. Why do Sky need so long prior to cutting off and re-installing their broadband?

Catch you later.

Ramping it Up

Training has ramped up a level now. I have started to try and build some power on the bike. After 3 months of aerobic cycling, and a period of strength work, I decided I needed to shock the body a bit. The turbo session below did just that. I worked on speed, rather than power, as I know that aerobically, I am around 21.5mph. A good session and my legs knew they had been worked. The shorter intervals should get me to feel how that speed feels like again. In the coming months, as I complete longer intervals at this speed/effort, the real pain-fest will commence!

20 Min progressive warm up
5 min as 30 sec work to 27mph, 30 sec spin.
5 min RI at 18mph
5 min as 15 sec to 27mph, 15 sec spin.
5 min RI at 18mph
5 min as 1 min to 27mph, 30 sec spin.
Straight into 7:30 4% hill simulation out of saddle.
Cool down
1 hour 5 mins

The weather has prevented any road riding; hence I have still not completed any long rides. Some reverse periodisation should sort that! Here is a pic to remind us that the sun does shine in the UK and there may yet be a time when we can ride our bikes outside - with shorts on too!!

I still have some niggles but I am now building my running up with some slow and steady running. OK, every now and then I get carried away and stick in a faster run, but the long term aim is to build some run miles.

Swimming is going well (for me) and I have some fresh focuses to work on, thanks to some very good advice from an extremely knowledgeable helper – maybe more on that later!

On the Move and Goggle Eye!

Wow! Can't believe that it is nearly time for me to move to Bristol 8-( Not that happy about moving because the associated stress and tiredness plays havoc with training. I take over my new house on 25 Jan and I move between 27 - 29 Jan. . . . Yuk! Using my normal weird logic, I have been beasting myself in training recently so I can take the time off training to move house and let my fitness drift back to 'normal' winter levels. Does that make sense? I normally confuse myself, so it probably doesn't!

Swimming has been going well and I am doing far more than I normally do. Will I be faster in 2010? Maybe! As for my glute/hamstring problems, they are still there but it has been nearly 4 weeks since I decided to train properly and just put up with the niggles. They are no worse, so I will continue to train.

I need to get some pics back into this Blog but my phone camera has packed up. that was may normal method of uploading stuff to the Blog so I am stuck for now.

Does anyone else suffer from goggle eyes? I know Paul Fullalove does because he looks like me! I take my goggles off after the session and the ring marks where the seal was remain all day! I look like I have not slept for a week - huge bags under my eyes! It's a good job I am already ugly. . . though not as ugly as Roy 'Catalogue Man' Brunning 8-)