Kicking it up a notch

Spring is attempting to sneak it's way past winter and get a strong hold on the weather. It's trying it's best, but winter's beer belly is being a bully and not relinquishing it's hold just yet. Yet, spring did make a bit of an appearance this week and allowed the first outdoors ride of the season (not including England). The first ride of the season always results in a mandatory bike clean and some muddy, grit ridden bike clothes. It's the best part. No matter what, the smile won't leave the faces of those who venture out on this unrivaled day of the year. You may be soaked. You may be covered in grit and sand. your bike may well be completely sanded from back wheel to front. However, you keep on smiling and riding. It's infectious, at least until 20 inches of snow falls on Friday!

The training has suddenly ratcheted it up a notch. Two-a-days have smashed back on to the scene, reminding me how long it takes to get back to full race fitness. The schedule begins to get tighter and the inventiveness needs to be all that more, well, inventive.

The foot is almost back to normal. Managed one run and the ankle didn't seem to cry out too much. Although, as is common with the multitude of ankle injuries I have experienced in my life, the other muscles around the ankle tend to become a little cranky as a result. Induced by the warmer climate of Oklahoma, a run shall be the order of the day tomorrow. Can't pass up the chance of lapping up the warm rays of the south. Shall take it easy though. No need to send my ankle/foot back to the drawing board.

It's amazing that the first race of the season is sliding it's way up the forefront ever so quickly. June 7th is only a couple of months away. The first race of the year, Liberty Half Iron distance taking the honours. The excited feel of the butterflies in the stomach the morning of the race beckoning each athlete towards the month of June. Time to start having a look at the course and trying to look at what won't help an athlete like me just trying to hold on, but it's nice to imagine it would. I'll study the twists and turns, only to forget it all as soon as I emerge from the water! Here's hoping the nutrition is a little more dialed in this time around.


Here's to Spring!!!


Good luck to us all!

England "Training Camp"

Depending on your definition of the term 'Training Camp', this past week was spent 'training' in the Chiltern Hills of England. The very same roads that constituted portions of last September iron distance race, Challenge Henley.

The last 12 days have constituted the longest stretch of training spent purely on the road - 7 days bouncing around the dynamic weathered USA, then 5 days in the gloriously predictable British weather.  During these 12 days, amongst others, swim training has been achieved in a salt water pool in Green Bay, Wisconsin, 2 hour bike training on a spin bike in Washington DC and running and biking in the English countryside. A truly dynamic set of training environments.

It was a bit rag tag, but almost 90% of the training plan was accomplished. Not bad considering it was road training the whole way. It will be nice to get back on "my boy blue" and play with the great ssoftware that is Trainer Road. That said, however, it was a good confidence booster for the weeks to come, languishing in foreign pools and on foreign roads.

The foot has been behaving like a cranky old man. Complaining in the morning, during the first steps of the day. Gradually warming up as the day progresses, only to ache all over the next day. The running has been reduced, continually being replaced with extra bikes and swims. If this doesn't sort itself out soon, then perhaps further steps in rehab would be a wise move.

As you can see, it was hard to resist getting out the door during my time in the countryside.  Having grown up on the roads, the familiarity is magnetic and drives me outside, either on foot or on my Dad's trusty steed of a mountain bike. As much as I grumbled about having to ride a mountain bike at first, it truly has won me over on the bumpy wet roads that make up the area of my youth.

Said Trusty steed 

The run around the roads that brought you some Hollywood productions was too much to resist, albeit a little ill advised, as my right foot realized the next morning. Worth every minute though!

 Band of Brothers Jetlag run

Lonely Spin: Two Hours of spin psychological torture!

It was great to return after every ride or run to some wonderful home cooked food and the relaxation of a spring break holiday, walking to the local pub as much as possible for some "recovery juice". Just the job. Lovely!

The first base weeks are almost behind me. The cycle will reset itself and step it up soon. Better get the foot in shape before then. Nice to be home for a handful of days before heading back out for some more road training. Enjoy the pics..

Good luck to us all!

Cleaning the Trusty Steed after a muddy ride.

The hill that caused me so much pain in September

Hills everywhere!

Recovery Beer!

One month in...

It's been a week of adaptation. Temptation got the better of me last Monday. The call for a super sub came in around lunchtime. Home unexpectedly, I found myself irresistible to the urge of playing footie (soccer) for the local English pub. Four hours later the game was on and the team were running around the synthetic grass field like a bunch of overgrown children. Here's the thing about that very fact. Brain says "yay, I'm 18 again and can run with abandon". Body rebuts, "you must be joking. This will hurt tomorrow". And so, the body was shown to be right and I struggled with my right foot for the last 8 days.

This slight foot injury set me back a touch. However, early in the training season, it wasn't the end of the world. Training was adapted to reduce running and add biking workouts, with some elliptical thrown in for good ole fashion mental torture. The foot remains tender, but the long run last weekend was only an hour and was completed with minimal discomfort.  My ankles have always been a touch temperamental as a result of many years of youth football 5 days a week, playing on dodgy surfaces, quite often frozen. Therefore, to be a bit sore for a period after my one not-so-triumphant game a year is to be expected.

The opportunity to train in the glorious University of Minnesota pool was seized in the week. Anytime they open it up to the public is a chance anyone should jump at. Such a nice pool and a great chance to text your long course abilities. In addition to the joys of swimming at the U, Mother Nature decided to melt some snow this week, revealing the forever forgotten grass and show some encouraging signs of the forthcoming spring that will project me out of the basement and in to the wild. For now though, the basement remains and trainer road is till my best friend.

Off to back to the Motherland this week with a chance to do some training on the roads I grew up on and enjoy the countryside isolation. Better watch out for those potholes!

Good luck to us all!

The basement setup. Always need some entertainment!

Hopping in for a quick swim at the University of Minnesota. Wife on standby taking pictures!

Stuffed in a dark hallway in Texas to complete a 90 minute spin!

Two weeks in to the new season

It was cold. It was windy. It was wet. Never thought I would be so happy to see weather that is so often associated with my motherland of England. You know you've been in the frozen tundra too long when you are excited to run outside in 30 degree (F) temperatures with the rain pouring down. That is how I ended the first two weeks of the training season. It was just a short run, with threats of death from erratic Tenessee drivers and early morning drizzle. Fortunately, I survived and was thrilled to be able to run outside for the very first time.

The first two weeks have progressed well, only missing one or two workouts and generally completing them as advertised. The first weeks are always enjoyable. Rarely too taxing and quite forgiving, soon to be replaced by more dominating schedules. For now, I'll take it! 

It was good to be back in my old training pool. The place when I began this long distance journey with my first half ironman training plan. The pool where I share early morning workouts with the "grey brigade" wondering why anyone would want to swim that much. The pool has been upgraded after threat of closure. It such a good place to train. Quiet and forgiving. I look forward to many hours in that water. 

Strength is still an important element. My Rowing class is still testing me every week, but now I have additional work to do, which is a welcome change to the monotony of the "road gym."

Soon will be my first recovery week and I won't have the chance to complain. Bring it on. I wonder if I will still be this enthusiastic next month??

Good luck to us all!

The mighty "grey brigade" pool

A little Star Wars with my bike ride.