Heading Back to the Hills...

...It's been years. Okay, not quite, as I marshalled (poorly) at December's Blorenge race. This will be the first time I've "competed" in an event. I'm quite looking forward to a bit of random hill walking at Cwmdu East....

Took it easy on the treadmill today after a slightly more effortuitous - now, I definitely made that word up - jog/walk yesterday in the forest.

So Unfit

God, I am so unfit. It's all been a bit hit and miss of late. I found the weeks and weeks of pants weather really demotivating. Now we've hit a spell of better stuff I'm hoping to find some motivation. Base fitness is through the floor. With lockdown loosening I'm looking to get back to the mountains, but I'm worried it'll kill me. I've decided to fit in a few hillier walks before I attempt next week's Cwmdu East MapCrawl

Been a Bit of a Gap...

 ...in posting. Although to be fair the last week or two has been a little easier on the training front as well due to feeling a bit jaded. Sleep has been a bit disturbed for no particular reason. Managing to get back on in it now though which will hopefully continue... and I'm hoping we will finally see the end of the crap weather and the start of something more decent. 

Trending Upwards

The upper body work continues, five sessions this week. I also managed to fit in a couple of stages of the Tout of Watopia on the bike and one on two feet. The running sadly took a step backwards over the last couple of weeks, missing several runs but things are getting back on track and today's interval session was solid. Onwards...

The Upper Body Work Outs Are Going Well

But the running has been a bit lacking. Although I was a bit more intense today, with a solid interval session of nine 500m intervals. Not eyeballs out - obvs - but still pretty decent. Had a couple of good rides. Hoping to continue the progress over the weekend.

Sadly, It's Been Another Lighter Week

Last week was a bit of a lighter week. Was feeling a bit bloaty and that makes running uncomfortable. I did manage some continued upper body workout with the VR kit. I'm really enjoying my 20–30 minute workouts, it's both fun and hard work at the same time. At some point I intend to add some resistance to the mix to take it up a notch.

Today kicked off this years Tour of Watopia for both cycling and running. Five stages in each discipline to be completed by the end of April. I started things off with the longer bike ride. Hopefully I'll fit in stage one for the running tomorrow or Wednesday and of course there will be more upper body workouts to try and help reduce the flabby bits.

Back to It...

After a somewhat reduced week's training last week things are back going forward - ehh?! Ran a decent set of eight 500m reps yesterday and today was Duathlon number five of the series. It was a slightly less flat route than normal and my average power was a little down on my first two rides, but I made up for it on the run with my best effort so far - which isn't exactly saying much. Still, happy to have improved that a little bit. Probably a rest day tomorrow or something very gentle.

A Slightly Off Week

But finally, back to full capacity. Had a very long work day on Tuesday, through the night to Wednesday and then, after a couple of hours off, a full day's training on Wednesday via the teams - had to put my hands up to having nodded off for a few minutes in the final hour, before being woken by my colleagues. That, I have to say, left me discombobulated for the following few days. It was only really by yesterday that I was feeling back to 'normal'. Definitely getting too old for that shit.....

Normal training should resume Monday. The main target for the week is Wednesday's Duathlon. Beyond that I've yet to fill in the schedule. There will definitely be continued use of my new 'toy' - ooh, matron - to add some upper body work to my routine. VR boxing - and by god is it hard work. Twenty minutes and my arms and shoulders are gone. Hopefully, I will see the benefit from a regular workout and be able to increase the duration over time.

Seven Becomes More...

So I somewhat did mi'self with my over exuberance. It has taken me a couple of days for my hamstring to recover. Still not completely settled but no longer causing me pain enough to stop me heading back unto the breach. I took it cautiously though, for 5k number three. My pace wasn't too far off that from the first two, only 30s off Monday's effort. All being well I'll be back on it tomorrow for number four...

Six Becomes Seven...

So the ambitious plan to run five 5k's and a Duathlon in six days is looking like it's going to be at least seven days on account that my left hamstring is a little f*(%ed. Okay, I'm exaggerating but it was sore enough that I could only limp walk the run element of tonight's Duathlon. The bike was about the same as last which was surprising as I could feel the hamstring throughout. Tomorrow is definietly a rest day and then we'll see.....

11s

...Faster than yesterday's 5k. I was surprised how little fatigue I felt but then again it was only 5k. Back in the day a 5k was a sprint. These days it's more like an ultra. I have a feeling tomorrow's Duathlon is going to be more telling though...

Hard Week Ahead...

Probably being a bit ambitious but I'm trying to run five 5k's in five days for the Zwift Run the Worlds event - except it's going to be six days as there's the duathlon on Wednesday, so I'll be completing the fifth on Saturday instead. Still, probably being a bit optimistic for completing it in the six days but it's a good target to aim for. Luckily, there are plenty of makeup days the following week in case things go south...

Tonight's 5k was my quickest for a while. I forced myself to work hard and I was happy to see the finish.

That Competitive Feeling...

 ... I obviously wasn't but the old racing juices were definitely flowing in tonight's Zwift Duathlon League race number 1 of 6. A time-trial format bike / treadmill duathlon with points scored based on the distance achieved in 35 minutes on the bike followed by 15 minutes on the treadmill with a ten minute transition in-between.

I felt I paced it about right on the bike. I didn't hold back but didn't go all out although I was motivatted through the second half to chase down some 20-30 riders without going ballistic. As soon as the time was up I was immediately off the bike and onto the the treadmill. Talk about jelly legs....... I spent the transition at a gentle walk but the legs didn't feel like they were attached to my body. Once underway my legs started to feel better and I increased the pace throughout and overtook a number of runners but 15 minutes isn't long and it was over before I knew it.

So that's the marker set for next week's race, although the bike route will be different so it won't be directly comparable, the treadmill section will be. Hopefully I can go a bit quicker...

Tough End to an Easier Week

So it was a bit of easier week on the grounds that I was saving myself for today's Zwift session. I completed the final stages of the Tour de Zwift for two wheels and two feet with slightly easier effort levels than normal as today I had to make up for the Stage 3 bike ride I was missing. I was not looking forward to it and feel pretty knackered for having completed it but complete it I did. It's the first time I've completed the Hors catégorie La Reine KOM - and at two minutes under two hours, I was only 1 hour and 9 minutes slower than Romain Bardet's Strava KOM time!!! I need a little more practice....