whilst watching the Grand Prix this morning in the kitchen with the doors open to the beautiful sunshine I contemplated my calf injury. To my suprise I could feel no pain. A little poke here and there and it seemed 90% back to normal so as soon as Jenson was splahing the bubbles about I put the trainers on and went for a 4 mile run. Initailly the right ankle was sore but this was just stiffness. The calf was fine. 27 1/2 mins later I was back in the house and happy to to back training. Theres still plenty of stretching to be done and the achilles pain(rt side) I think is due to rubbing caused by the heel support/achilles cutaway. New Saucony trainers are on the way.
I'm now contemplating the racing strategy for this season. I'm still short of miles and time to train. I still have loads of Open University study to do and it gets in the way of training. But... its great to be back racing and this year will be the base for the next. Bring it on!
Sunday 24 May 2009
Thursday 21 May 2009
mini series tri disaster
you know when you're really looking forward to doing a race even though you know it's gonna hurt? Well the pain I have now is bloody different from the pain I was expecting.
On Monday night I ran with the BRAT's and after running to the session I covered about 13miles at a comfortable pace, chatting alll the way round about IMSA with Mark H. When i woke the next morning my right achilles was sore and my left shin. I put it down to running on tarmac and uneven surfaces.
I decided against the TT on Tuesday night as I had some bits to sort on the bikes as I was lending one to one of the novices for the mini tri the next day.
Wednesday was race day and I headed to BZN with a merry band of novice triathletes. I was still unsure about running but as the day went on and my achilles warmed up and I did some stretching I was hopeful but I would decide in T2.
The swim starts were altered so Brad, Westy, JC and myself could race together. Brad led the way in the pool followed by me, Westy and JC. I was pleased to be about 10m behind Brad and felt comfortable throughout the swim. Onto the bike I quickly overtook Brad and when on the main road got into a settled ride until a BMW overtook me then stopped by the parked car to allow an oncoming car to pass. With no room to get past I was halted in top gear. A heard a whoosh as Westy flew past. I quickly got back up to pace and chased Westy then overtook him only to be retaken about 5 mins later. He then started to pull away as I tried to limit the loss knowing my run was better than his. He probably had about 15-20 sec going into T2. This where the pain comes in..... as I got my feet out of the cycle shoes my left calf cramped with an intensity like I've never experienced. I racked the bike but could not bend my leg for fear of increasing the pain. And so my race ended in T2 trying to put on a run shoe with a straight leg. On the bright side I was saved from hurting my achilles any more. Well done to Westy who went on to post the fastest bike and win overall. And well done to my novice colleagues especially Amy who came 3rd.
A massage tonight did little to ease the pain. Anyone else ever had residual pain in the days following cramp?
On Monday night I ran with the BRAT's and after running to the session I covered about 13miles at a comfortable pace, chatting alll the way round about IMSA with Mark H. When i woke the next morning my right achilles was sore and my left shin. I put it down to running on tarmac and uneven surfaces.
I decided against the TT on Tuesday night as I had some bits to sort on the bikes as I was lending one to one of the novices for the mini tri the next day.
Wednesday was race day and I headed to BZN with a merry band of novice triathletes. I was still unsure about running but as the day went on and my achilles warmed up and I did some stretching I was hopeful but I would decide in T2.
The swim starts were altered so Brad, Westy, JC and myself could race together. Brad led the way in the pool followed by me, Westy and JC. I was pleased to be about 10m behind Brad and felt comfortable throughout the swim. Onto the bike I quickly overtook Brad and when on the main road got into a settled ride until a BMW overtook me then stopped by the parked car to allow an oncoming car to pass. With no room to get past I was halted in top gear. A heard a whoosh as Westy flew past. I quickly got back up to pace and chased Westy then overtook him only to be retaken about 5 mins later. He then started to pull away as I tried to limit the loss knowing my run was better than his. He probably had about 15-20 sec going into T2. This where the pain comes in..... as I got my feet out of the cycle shoes my left calf cramped with an intensity like I've never experienced. I racked the bike but could not bend my leg for fear of increasing the pain. And so my race ended in T2 trying to put on a run shoe with a straight leg. On the bright side I was saved from hurting my achilles any more. Well done to Westy who went on to post the fastest bike and win overall. And well done to my novice colleagues especially Amy who came 3rd.
A massage tonight did little to ease the pain. Anyone else ever had residual pain in the days following cramp?
Friday 15 May 2009
Feeling fresh and good to go!!!!
I have'nt really done much since returning from Cyprus as Ive been trying to catch up on my Open University Science degree that is breaking me!!!!! Its immunology at the minute and its complicated. I believe I should have been a pro athlete with not much brain power and my only stress was to when I will eat again or get my next nap. But I'm not and the OU is self inflicted and I just have to manage my time a bit better.
I did go for a wonderful massage last night though and my legs feel great and light again without lumps in my muscles. Ive also been sleeping a lot better which helps. It has been a busy month after all.
Today is all about studying but I'm planning on running over the weekend just to test my calves out again and I'm planning another 10tt on Tuesday then the mini tri on Wednesday.
have a great weekend!
I did go for a wonderful massage last night though and my legs feel great and light again without lumps in my muscles. Ive also been sleeping a lot better which helps. It has been a busy month after all.
Today is all about studying but I'm planning on running over the weekend just to test my calves out again and I'm planning another 10tt on Tuesday then the mini tri on Wednesday.
have a great weekend!
Tuesday 12 May 2009
10 mile TT bursts your lungs.
I have aquired this exotic beauty and tried it out tonight in the Warwickshire RC 10tt. It was windy and I felt the front end wobble a few times which was quite unnerving. I was told the course was worth a low 22 min but tonight with the wind I only managed a 23:49. and it hurt just as much as the TT the other week. The course is a two lap affair with a few turns and twists. The winning time was 22:30 by a rider who knocked out a 21:10 a few weeks ago. Sound promising. maybe i'll get under 22:30 sometime this year. I'm hoping to use this bike for the Brize Norton mini tri next week but it will need a little positional tweaking and I want to change the components from campag to shimano. I never liked campag!
Friday 8 May 2009
gears are over-rated for hills!
we come to the end of the training week in Cyprus and my legs are suitably thrashed and in much need of a massage. The weather has been variable to say the least with thunder storms and galeforce winds earlier and calm and sunny now we are leaving.
The week started well with a few 60 mile rides in the troodos foothills including one of my old favourites to Pachna(a 13km climb) followed by a further 6km of climbing to Loufou.
swimming was hit and miss with the wind and waves and the pool use limited to 2 sessions. I stopped running after about 3 days as my calf was tight still from the London marathon. It seems better now but I'm sure Hannah will find some lumps with her delicate massaging techniques!
Yesterday was one of my most enjoyable rides so far this year. Having spent nearly 6 years in Cyprus previously I had never ridden to Troodos or Olympus. Yesterday I did. westy had pointed out earlier in the week that my small ring looked larger than normal and so it was. A 42 tooth instead of a 39...gulp! It just means i'll have to be light on the cranks to avoid blowing.
As we set off with a slight tailwind Westy was spinning on the front of the peleton. It was strangely quiet as we contemplated the near 2000 metres of vertical ascent.
After about 8miles we start climbing out of Kantou towards Pano Kivides and aware of the next 30 miles to the gods I was on the granny ring 42/23. After the initial steepness it settles to a gradual gradient and I was able to drop onto the 21 sprocket. I used this most of the way up the mountain and proably only spent about 3km total on the 23. After lunch at Troodos we climeb the final few km to Olympus after Phil the Double set off on his own. It would be daft to get so close and not do it all climbing to the highest point in Cyprus. A total ride time of 3hrs 8min to Olympus (2hr 53min to Troodos).
I decided on top that I would big ring (53) he way to Akrotiri. Only once going back up to Kivides did it hurt a little. Top speed was 45.9 mph. Total ride time on the way back was 1hr 44min. total mileage 80miles.
So on the last day the bike is packed and read to face the UK weather again. Myself, Mike Doug, Westy went for a swim in the calmest I've ever seen the Med. Bliss. If only race days were like this.
The week started well with a few 60 mile rides in the troodos foothills including one of my old favourites to Pachna(a 13km climb) followed by a further 6km of climbing to Loufou.
swimming was hit and miss with the wind and waves and the pool use limited to 2 sessions. I stopped running after about 3 days as my calf was tight still from the London marathon. It seems better now but I'm sure Hannah will find some lumps with her delicate massaging techniques!
Yesterday was one of my most enjoyable rides so far this year. Having spent nearly 6 years in Cyprus previously I had never ridden to Troodos or Olympus. Yesterday I did. westy had pointed out earlier in the week that my small ring looked larger than normal and so it was. A 42 tooth instead of a 39...gulp! It just means i'll have to be light on the cranks to avoid blowing.
As we set off with a slight tailwind Westy was spinning on the front of the peleton. It was strangely quiet as we contemplated the near 2000 metres of vertical ascent.
After about 8miles we start climbing out of Kantou towards Pano Kivides and aware of the next 30 miles to the gods I was on the granny ring 42/23. After the initial steepness it settles to a gradual gradient and I was able to drop onto the 21 sprocket. I used this most of the way up the mountain and proably only spent about 3km total on the 23. After lunch at Troodos we climeb the final few km to Olympus after Phil the Double set off on his own. It would be daft to get so close and not do it all climbing to the highest point in Cyprus. A total ride time of 3hrs 8min to Olympus (2hr 53min to Troodos).
I decided on top that I would big ring (53) he way to Akrotiri. Only once going back up to Kivides did it hurt a little. Top speed was 45.9 mph. Total ride time on the way back was 1hr 44min. total mileage 80miles.
So on the last day the bike is packed and read to face the UK weather again. Myself, Mike Doug, Westy went for a swim in the calmest I've ever seen the Med. Bliss. If only race days were like this.
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