Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Recovering...
From Christmas, training, work, Christmas functions, too much food, too much alcohol – you name it…
Mon: 2.95km at swim squad tonight. More than made up for my laziness last weekend I think. What a way to start a recovery week ;-)
Tue: rest
Wed: strength session in the gym at work at 6am followed by the last of my Christmas shopping :-) I was supposed to do a bike session in the afternoon but a family drama put an end to that.
Thu: for a change in scenery, R & I headed down to the Regatta Centre for the tri club's weekly open water swim. 1.5km in my new wetsuit; I'm in love :-)
Fri: rest (Christmas Day)
Sat: thanks to the rain I did my 90mins ride on the trainer staring at the garage wall. Thankfully I had some podcasts on the iPod to keep me company. Approx. 37km. AvC86
Sun: (more unscheduled) rest
I am on holidays this week – I can’t remember the last time I was on holidays from work & actually stayed home – so I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the training & living the life of a professional athlete for the next week; eat, sleep, train, read :-)
MTD:
Swim – 18.05km
Bike – 180.1km
Mon: 2.95km at swim squad tonight. More than made up for my laziness last weekend I think. What a way to start a recovery week ;-)
Tue: rest
Wed: strength session in the gym at work at 6am followed by the last of my Christmas shopping :-) I was supposed to do a bike session in the afternoon but a family drama put an end to that.
Thu: for a change in scenery, R & I headed down to the Regatta Centre for the tri club's weekly open water swim. 1.5km in my new wetsuit; I'm in love :-)
Fri: rest (Christmas Day)
Sat: thanks to the rain I did my 90mins ride on the trainer staring at the garage wall. Thankfully I had some podcasts on the iPod to keep me company. Approx. 37km. AvC86
Sun: (more unscheduled) rest
I am on holidays this week – I can’t remember the last time I was on holidays from work & actually stayed home – so I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the training & living the life of a professional athlete for the next week; eat, sleep, train, read :-)
MTD:
Swim – 18.05km
Bike – 180.1km
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Restless....
I was very restless, particularly early in the week, due to a combination of frustration at my work, study & business situation as well as a return of my mojo. I certainly was inspired by watching the Canberra HIM last weekend; I sat down this week & started working on an outline of my race calendar for 2010. I haven't done that in years. Not only because I have been injured in recent years (or have had my focus on other things, eg climbing) but due to the frustration I have felt so many times as a result of planning a season but then not being able to achieve any of it due to injury. I'm almost too scared to think about it lest I jinx myself... Fingers crossed.
Mon: swim squad & again I have no idea of the distance because I loose count & forget what we did. So let's just go with 2.5km. 800m with paddles & 800m kick. Ouchy.
Tue: rest
Wed: strength session in the gym at work before work, focusing particularly on my pilates exercises. Then in the evening, I headed back to the Regatta Centre for the last night of the cycling program run by the Penrith Cycling Club. Started the night by spending about 40mins doing bunch rides around the Regatta Centre & then headed into one of the rooms for some nibblies & soft drinks, to re-cap what we had covered & to speak about the races conducted by the club. It looks like the program will continue in late January with a view to getting us up to the point of being able to join bunch races. 20.3k
Thu: 2.5km swim at the pool at work during lunch. A really god session; I felt like I was moving well through the water :-)
Fri: 30mins pilates
Yet despite my restlessness after last weekend’s race, I managed to brush both Saturday’s swim & Sunday’s ride :-) Late nights on both Friday night (CR drinks in the city) and Saturday night (dinner at Chez Lulu & WTR) meant that sleep was a much greater priority than training. I can’t remember the last time I did that; it must have been months (if not years) ago. Nice way to start an (extended) recovery week :-)
In other news, we picked up our wedding photos from our photographer on Saturday. It’s going to take a while before I can cull down the 850+ photos to a ‘highlights reel’…
MTD:
Swim - 13.6k
Bike - 143.1k
Mon: swim squad & again I have no idea of the distance because I loose count & forget what we did. So let's just go with 2.5km. 800m with paddles & 800m kick. Ouchy.
Tue: rest
Wed: strength session in the gym at work before work, focusing particularly on my pilates exercises. Then in the evening, I headed back to the Regatta Centre for the last night of the cycling program run by the Penrith Cycling Club. Started the night by spending about 40mins doing bunch rides around the Regatta Centre & then headed into one of the rooms for some nibblies & soft drinks, to re-cap what we had covered & to speak about the races conducted by the club. It looks like the program will continue in late January with a view to getting us up to the point of being able to join bunch races. 20.3k
Thu: 2.5km swim at the pool at work during lunch. A really god session; I felt like I was moving well through the water :-)
Fri: 30mins pilates
Yet despite my restlessness after last weekend’s race, I managed to brush both Saturday’s swim & Sunday’s ride :-) Late nights on both Friday night (CR drinks in the city) and Saturday night (dinner at Chez Lulu & WTR) meant that sleep was a much greater priority than training. I can’t remember the last time I did that; it must have been months (if not years) ago. Nice way to start an (extended) recovery week :-)
In other news, we picked up our wedding photos from our photographer on Saturday. It’s going to take a while before I can cull down the 850+ photos to a ‘highlights reel’…
MTD:
Swim - 13.6k
Bike - 143.1k
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The taming of the mojo...
Bro, it's completely natural to be attracted to a bike ;-) And in answer to your question TA, I'm actually the last in the household to get a roadie. Roslyn got one for her birthday earlier this year.
Catching up from last week-
Mon: about 2.5km at swim squad including lots of drills. I felt really flat in the water for the first 30mins but improved over the course of the session. The absence of B+ seems to be reflected in decreased numbers again; we were down to 8 tonight. A few very helpful tips from tonight's coach I think has uncovered (hopefully) the reason for my dodgy catch on my LHS. Time will tell.
Tue: rest
Wed: strength + core session in the gym before work. Then after work it was off to the cycling program run by the Penrith Cycling Club with the newest love of my life ;-) A carbon bike (that fits its rider properly) is a joy to ride :-) The program covered a lot of ground: 15km TT around the Regatta Centre with a large bunch (+ 1 x duck which was very lucky to make it out alive) & then lots of skills work; slalom riding through cones (first slow, then as fast as possible, then using only one hand, with another rider along side, then with your hand resting of your buddy's shoulder - which scares me), a relay race which basically involved 4 x 60m sprints off a standing start & a few other odd things. I am really enjoying the program & although it is due to finish next week, it looks like it may continue through the rest of summer. 19.4k.
Thu: 2.4km swim at lunch. Hard session due to a combination of DOMS from yesterday's strength session & a slight lack of fuel.
Fri: 30mins pilates. Thankfully I resisted the temptation to ask the question that every physio must dread; "when do you think it's likely that I can start running again?" I want to know but at the same time, I don't want to know...I must have my mojo back if I'm even thinking about asking...
Sat: busy, busy day in Canberra which started with a 1.53 ride out from Gordon in the south of the city towards Tidbinbilla on my (still as yet unnamed) bike. I had 2 hours easy w/ 2 x 5min @ race pace on the program. Thankfully it was a beautiful ride as it turned out to be neither easy nor at race pace. R had given me directions to head in & had mentioned that there was one big climb at the 7km mark. He forgot to tell me about the ones that followed -
Very pleased with my bike. I couldn't have believed the difference that a carbon bike makes but it was certainly noticeable, particularly on the hills. Unfortunately the better bike still can't make up for my lack of ability to climb. But at least now I'll be a tad more comfortable trying. Finished with 40.2km. Av.21.3k/h.
Later in the afternoon we caught up over a meal with Strewth, Ewen & CJ (*waves*)
Sun: rest - if getting up at 4.15am, cheering, watching, eating bacon & egg rolls, drinking coffee, working on a bike aid station for 2 hours in the hot sun at the Canberra HIM & then driving home from the southern side of Canberra whilst your hubby sleeps in the passenger seat can be considered rest ;-) Seriously I had a great day cheering on R & my good friend Rach as they both blitzed the course in very difficult (hot) conditions. Bring on Port Mac in March :-)
MTD:
Swim - 8.6km
Bike - 122.8km
Catching up from last week-
Mon: about 2.5km at swim squad including lots of drills. I felt really flat in the water for the first 30mins but improved over the course of the session. The absence of B+ seems to be reflected in decreased numbers again; we were down to 8 tonight. A few very helpful tips from tonight's coach I think has uncovered (hopefully) the reason for my dodgy catch on my LHS. Time will tell.
Tue: rest
Wed: strength + core session in the gym before work. Then after work it was off to the cycling program run by the Penrith Cycling Club with the newest love of my life ;-) A carbon bike (that fits its rider properly) is a joy to ride :-) The program covered a lot of ground: 15km TT around the Regatta Centre with a large bunch (+ 1 x duck which was very lucky to make it out alive) & then lots of skills work; slalom riding through cones (first slow, then as fast as possible, then using only one hand, with another rider along side, then with your hand resting of your buddy's shoulder - which scares me), a relay race which basically involved 4 x 60m sprints off a standing start & a few other odd things. I am really enjoying the program & although it is due to finish next week, it looks like it may continue through the rest of summer. 19.4k.
Thu: 2.4km swim at lunch. Hard session due to a combination of DOMS from yesterday's strength session & a slight lack of fuel.
Fri: 30mins pilates. Thankfully I resisted the temptation to ask the question that every physio must dread; "when do you think it's likely that I can start running again?" I want to know but at the same time, I don't want to know...I must have my mojo back if I'm even thinking about asking...
Sat: busy, busy day in Canberra which started with a 1.53 ride out from Gordon in the south of the city towards Tidbinbilla on my (still as yet unnamed) bike. I had 2 hours easy w/ 2 x 5min @ race pace on the program. Thankfully it was a beautiful ride as it turned out to be neither easy nor at race pace. R had given me directions to head in & had mentioned that there was one big climb at the 7km mark. He forgot to tell me about the ones that followed -
Very pleased with my bike. I couldn't have believed the difference that a carbon bike makes but it was certainly noticeable, particularly on the hills. Unfortunately the better bike still can't make up for my lack of ability to climb. But at least now I'll be a tad more comfortable trying. Finished with 40.2km. Av.21.3k/h.
Later in the afternoon we caught up over a meal with Strewth, Ewen & CJ (*waves*)
Sun: rest - if getting up at 4.15am, cheering, watching, eating bacon & egg rolls, drinking coffee, working on a bike aid station for 2 hours in the hot sun at the Canberra HIM & then driving home from the southern side of Canberra whilst your hubby sleeps in the passenger seat can be considered rest ;-) Seriously I had a great day cheering on R & my good friend Rach as they both blitzed the course in very difficult (hot) conditions. Bring on Port Mac in March :-)
MTD:
Swim - 8.6km
Bike - 122.8km
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Let me introduce you...
...to the newest addition to my family :-)
Picked her up this afternoon, just in time to take her to the Penrith Cycling Club program tonight. She looks even hotter in the flesh (so to speak). She is however, as yet, unnamed. All suggestions welcomed!
Picked her up this afternoon, just in time to take her to the Penrith Cycling Club program tonight. She looks even hotter in the flesh (so to speak). She is however, as yet, unnamed. All suggestions welcomed!
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Flying high
I started the week on a post race high - I'd almost forgotten what it felt like! Who am I kidding - I had forgotten what it was like. I was on such a high after the race that I even started checking the tri calendar for the rest of the season. However I'm so far off running again that I can't bring myself to think about races that involve running yet....
Mon: about 1.9km at swim squad. Our usual squad of 20-24 dwindled to 9 tonight no doubt due to Sunday's race. More talking than swimming tonight which was exactly what I needed. The body pulled up fine after the race though I was a bit sleepy-tired today.
Tues: rest
Wed: strength + core strength session in the gym before work.
Then after work, it was back to the Regatta Centre for the next installment of the women's cycling program conducted by the Penrith Cycling Club. Started by practising last weeks skills (riding in bunches, leaning over to pick up traffic cones whilst riding etc). Then we did some skills with the bike whilst standing including several 60min sprints off a rolling start. A 5km 2-woman team TT around the Regatta Centre followed so we could experience the advantage that riding in an echelon gives (and as an example of the difference it makes, my partner & I rode 1min 15sec faster than my sole effort around the Regatta Centre last week). And then we finished the session with a bunch ride around the Regatta Centre (trying to) stay on the wheel of the person in front; that takes real steadiness, confidence & trust, none of which I have (yet)....15.8k
Thu: a hard 1.9km swim (incl 1.2k @ 80% PE) in mid-afternoon. I actually skipped a Xmas drinks function to do this swim. Someone take my temperature; I must be sick ;-)
Fri: my first pilates session with my physio/pilates instructor. It was supposed to be 30mins but turned into 50mins. I have oh so much work to do. I seem to waiver between being full of hope & being depressed at the amount of work required depending on the time of day…
Sat: after a sleep-in, I headed to the pool mid-morning for a 1.8km swim which started with 1.2km @ race pace. Straight up with no warm up. Intended to simulate a race situation as (let's be honest) I never warm up. Ouchy.
Sun: well, it was supposed to be an easy 2hr ride until (a) I bumped into my (6 x IM) Uncle Kel just as I was about to start & ended up riding the first 20mins with him (!); and (b) headed for the Greendale Road loop for something different. Greendale is hilly and the road surface is dead making it a tough ride; and (c) I managed what I like to refer to as a 'lying dismount' - ie I was unable to get my foot out while stopping suddenly at an intersection.
Still I got my 2hr ride done. The sore knee & hand are an added bonus ;-) 47.46k. 2:01:34. Av. 23.4k/h
Monday’s session brought November to a close; what a month it has been (in more ways than one) -
Swim: 9.3km
Bike: 148.7km
In other news, I have officially been awarded my Certificate III in Fitness :-) I had finished all the coursework before the wedding so I've had a few weeks off. But it's time to get started on Certificate IV now - there goes all my spare time...
MTD:
Swim: 3.7km
Bike: 63.2k
Mon: about 1.9km at swim squad. Our usual squad of 20-24 dwindled to 9 tonight no doubt due to Sunday's race. More talking than swimming tonight which was exactly what I needed. The body pulled up fine after the race though I was a bit sleepy-tired today.
Tues: rest
Wed: strength + core strength session in the gym before work.
Then after work, it was back to the Regatta Centre for the next installment of the women's cycling program conducted by the Penrith Cycling Club. Started by practising last weeks skills (riding in bunches, leaning over to pick up traffic cones whilst riding etc). Then we did some skills with the bike whilst standing including several 60min sprints off a rolling start. A 5km 2-woman team TT around the Regatta Centre followed so we could experience the advantage that riding in an echelon gives (and as an example of the difference it makes, my partner & I rode 1min 15sec faster than my sole effort around the Regatta Centre last week). And then we finished the session with a bunch ride around the Regatta Centre (trying to) stay on the wheel of the person in front; that takes real steadiness, confidence & trust, none of which I have (yet)....15.8k
Thu: a hard 1.9km swim (incl 1.2k @ 80% PE) in mid-afternoon. I actually skipped a Xmas drinks function to do this swim. Someone take my temperature; I must be sick ;-)
Fri: my first pilates session with my physio/pilates instructor. It was supposed to be 30mins but turned into 50mins. I have oh so much work to do. I seem to waiver between being full of hope & being depressed at the amount of work required depending on the time of day…
Sat: after a sleep-in, I headed to the pool mid-morning for a 1.8km swim which started with 1.2km @ race pace. Straight up with no warm up. Intended to simulate a race situation as (let's be honest) I never warm up. Ouchy.
Sun: well, it was supposed to be an easy 2hr ride until (a) I bumped into my (6 x IM) Uncle Kel just as I was about to start & ended up riding the first 20mins with him (!); and (b) headed for the Greendale Road loop for something different. Greendale is hilly and the road surface is dead making it a tough ride; and (c) I managed what I like to refer to as a 'lying dismount' - ie I was unable to get my foot out while stopping suddenly at an intersection.
Still I got my 2hr ride done. The sore knee & hand are an added bonus ;-) 47.46k. 2:01:34. Av. 23.4k/h
Monday’s session brought November to a close; what a month it has been (in more ways than one) -
Swim: 9.3km
Bike: 148.7km
In other news, I have officially been awarded my Certificate III in Fitness :-) I had finished all the coursework before the wedding so I've had a few weeks off. But it's time to get started on Certificate IV now - there goes all my spare time...
MTD:
Swim: 3.7km
Bike: 63.2k
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