This week brings the beginning of spring...the days begin to warm and maggies begin to stamp their authority on unsuspecting cyclist.
Finding a balance between home, work and training up to this point in time has been an interesting challenge, however, the focus has returned. The consistency has returned through an improved commitment to the training, and to be honest I am enjoying the challenges the training brings at the moment.
The enjoyment has come from a number of success over the past couple of weeks of training:
- Northlakes 10km Fun Run - This was a PB for me (42:21), one that has not been broken for 10 years and was broken by a 'cool' 50seconds. The course was a not a flat one and from about 6km was quite hilly. A good 4:15 average for the 10 km's was very positive the Heart was thumping and was working hard particularly up the hills. Still looking for a bit more strength out of those legs....but it was a great race.......a success!
- Tuesday night at swimming was a 3.8km set with the main set of 15 x 100m which was hard work but was able to keep between 1m32s-1m34s for the 15 x 100m. Was really happy with this session. The swimming was coming back!!
- Thursday night was another 3.5km set.....plenty of swimming under the belt this week. Before this session I spent 10-15min running up and down the stair at the pool and found it was a great warm-up.....IT GOT my LEG moving..in the pool....(un-heard of!!!) the kick has been more consistent in the pool of late. The other positive element to the session was starting the session with an elevated heart rated.
- TODAY.....a different man....who would have thought a couple of weeks ago I would have run 16km before a race, then to come out and smash 10km in round 43min then run a further 9km to get home....a grand total of 35k for the day. Then into the ice bath...well geeze...I think that was more painful then the 35k I ran today....it was cold. The run is coming together.
It is now 5 weeks out from Gold Coast Half Ironman and things have begun to fall into place.
If it is to be...it's up to me!!
This is going to be my personal training philosophy for the next 5 weeks and beyond. For me to achieve my goal for GCHIM it is up to me....not to look back but to look forward to the next 5 weeks of training and to fire up to focus on the task at hand.
This morning saw 'another' new start. I managed to get back on the bike for a 'substaintial' ride. An aerobic Redcliffe loop with some old training companions. A great morning for a ride. The weather and bike were perfect; however, the same could not be said for the engine. It still needs some serious work.
 |
| Ride Stats: 8-8-10 |
Challenge 1
20km TT (Bike)
The first challenge for the day was to get up and complete a 20 km TT on the bike. This was good opportunity to give myself a good kick start back into the training. See if those competitive juices trigger something in my training mind. In saying that it was going to HURT! With a positive mind set I knew I could give it a good go!
It was a brisk morning at the track and the conditions were ideal. No wind!
The warm up was the ride to the track. But after cycling for a while now I have come to realise that I am better off keeping the legs turning over before such a training session.....a cold engine is slow to start! I continued round the track until we were ready to start.
The goal....not sure really....to give it a good solid attempt of getting round that PB mark of 30m50s.
One of the thing I was really conscious of was going out too hard.....which I was able to control reasonably well this time. It took a couple of laps before I got the HR up and I began to cycle in a comfortable (hurting comfortable that is) rhythm.
The new TT bike was so good...very smooth and great to handle, but I found myself at some stages particularly up the slight incline really "man handling' the bike, but I think this will get better a I become more familiar with the bike and get a better fit done.
At the halfway point I was at 15min and thought I could be on target here for a PB but then my realistic voice said to me 'it does get tougher in the second half of the TT' so be realistic here!!!
In the end I complete the TT in about 31m50sec which I was happy with and thought it was a good bench mark to begin my truncated preparation for Gold Coast HIM.
Challenge 2
6km Cross Country (Run)
In the afternoon it was off for a 6km cross country run. This was going to be tough. The legs were a little heavy from the morning but it was time to harden up.
3 x 2km laps, over a undulating course. This again was about not going out too hard, but I still believe this happened. Eventually I got into a rhythm and settled in for a run that hurt a hell of a lot but 'no pain, no gain'
There were a few little pincher's which really hurt in the second half of the race but I took them in my stride.
A good race, served it's purpose.....got me a little more motivated!
