Been away!

Away from the blog that is. Plenty of daily rolling and icing and the calf muscle is back in action. Noted to self though, must take more care with regular maintenance sessions. Back on the feet with a couple of tester runs with no issues. I did manage to work with no problems on the C2, the turbo and the pool. I have though held off of running to work. Wed 25th was a club night interval session. I pushed hard and the leg held up, tapering that week for race at the weekend. The 19th saw the first round of the Wellingborough series at Irchester Park, 3 x 5k (3 x 3.1 mile laps for our US friends) laps over a forest terrain with a mix of mud, mud, dirt trail, some mud and gravel paths. Did I mention the mud! However I posted 71mins and 31 seconds, well pleased. Wed last week saw a club run night posting a good effort over the fast lap. followed that up with a 40 minute circuit class. Today (26th) I decided on a lay in so missed my swim set, turned up for the cycle though. We started in overcast skies, by 3 miles the cold rain was hammering down, we called it short, completed 12.4 miles.
Things in the main are going well, need to make up my mind where my first sprint (C) race will be and where my Standard (A) race will be.

Sunday, Lazy Day?

What a change in the weather this morning. Firstly I overslept, missed the swim set, not good. I got myself up and kitted out for cycling (no running, leg still mending) went to the door and, frost and ice. Sensible idea, stay in.

I started straight away on the Sufferfest Wretched however at the end I questioned myself on exactly how hard I did work. To be honest I could have had more resistance on the climbs and worked that heart rate up a bit. Then on to a 10k on the Concept2. 5k moderate and then the last 5k I powered the first 500m (sub 2:00) and eased back on the next 500m. Really enjoyed that.

Settled into the day on the settee I'm afraid. I prepped up swim set for Monday evenings session, whilst in the background the TV played Pacific Rim (loved it), Red2 (loved it), The Lone Ranger (OMG what a mistake) and finished the day with Man of Steel (ok).

So a lazy Sunday to finish my extended Christmas and New Year break. Work beckons Monday.

Exciting Saturday!

Well the day started with an hour of Sufferfest, a turbo session. Angels in fact, a challenging, demanding, leg burning hill workout. It amazes me how easily just sitting and pedalling in the kitchen can be so, so much bloody hard work. Then straight on to the Concept 2 for an easy(ish) 5k. This was the first one since I pulled my calf muscle and to be honest at 21:13:1 wasn't to shabby.

The day got better. Off to town for a spot of retail therapy; Poundland, Wilkinsons and Tesco and I'm all set for a return to work clean shaven and smelling nice! A visit to my brother (aged 49). His hobby is making Lego models. Models I had no idea existed, a Sopwith Camel, Tower Bridge, the worlds largest container ship and a small town of intricately modelled and filled buildings from cinema to restaurant. Next time I am looking for a Lego gift for a child it just won't be the same.

Then off to the swimming pool where I managed a cool non stop 1050 mrs in 23 minutes and then spent 20 minutes playing with Cameron (aged 5) who had finished his swimming lesson.

A Saturday filled with the thrills of training, the comfort of family, the cut and thrust of the highstreet and the pleasure of a child playing. Sunday could be so boring!

New Year, New Start.

So here we are 3 days into the New Year. I've started 2014 fitter, leaner, stronger and injured! Yep after 12 months of good, real good progress in the fitness stakes I find myself unable to run. On the second of January I thought I would get my backside out of bed and bimble off on a steady 5 - 6 mile jog. Nothing to strenuous, a bimble. 9 minute per mile pace, one and three quarter mile in the calf muscle starts to tighten, This old fool did nothing, plodded on, after all these years of reading I ignored everything and 36 hours later I will miss the Saturday cross country/hill training (gutted), Sunday off the bike, if I am sensible I wont run for at least a week.

Thankfully I can still swim and ride my bike. Today I was a managed a swim set and and hour on the turbo trainer. Since I started training seriously I have been very lucky with regard to injury. However in the short space of time since Thursday morning I have felt something is strange, not because I haven't run but because of the thought of enforced time off, no choice. My sympathies go out to all those athletes out there who are forced out for long periods of time with real injuries.