Training and Autumn bugs

 Nothing like calling a complete halt to training when you get a bug - be that the common cold, flu or covid virus… last year we managed to get one virus swiftly followed by another vicious beast… hopefully that won’t repeat itself because both of us were pretty rotten for the best part of 8 weeks!!…. This year was a quick dose of covid - for me it went like this

Thurs evening …  tickly throat -> streaming nose (I’ve never ever woken up with one leaking nostril before - it was gross) -> temperature -> full on cold like symptoms -> sore throat -> productive cough (this was now Sunday) -> all the above plus upset tummy (this was Monday when I decided to do a covid test)…and I felt absolutely exhausted… by the next weekend feeling much more spritely. All the cold symptoms more or less gone just a feeling of queasiness and quite a bit of dizziness and ears remained stuffed up. Also pretty tired out.. I definitely couldn’t even think of exercise last week. Although did attempt some yoga come the end of the week but literally ended up on my arse as I tipped over in downward dog 🤣 🐶 … how I managed that I don’t know but as I said still a bit dizzy! At least I was close to the ground and bounced into the soft side of the sofa bed.

So I’m now on a return to exercise protocol - mindful that I don’t want a repeat of last autumn!! I also need to start dosing myself up on asthma preventer as typically post any kind of virus my asthma flares up and so getting ahead of that is a good prevention measure!

All of this has meant it’s been 2 weeks since I ran or biked and I don’t even remember if or when I last swam… getting my October stats excuse in early 👀😂

At least October was more or less prep month - although I have been kind of following my plan from 2014, whilst not being rigorously sticking to it, it’s provided a schedule of sorts so taken the thinking out of the equation. It’s much easier training when you have a plan (even if it’s an outline one) to follow.

Having said that my plan for this week involves easy bike and a run walk to see how my body reacts. I can hear my Mum and Dad’s advice in my brain telling me to take it easy - and this time I will heed their advice… only because it’s the right advice post virus (not because “you’re not getting any younger” which is also true although part of me refuses to believe it). 

Onwards!!

A Welcome Back to Winter Riding?

Return to organised tri club riding happens every Autumn. TVT club rides were something I used to be consistent with, and which I have been very much less so since I have been on my tribatical... So much so I've become known as the "Lessor Spotted", like a rare animal seldom seen in the wild with a group of other similar beasts.

Anyway.... the first winter club ride was organised and set for Saturday the 10th October... a new booking system was put in place and obviously I missed the email and the deadline so was disappointed to see the rider groups were full last Wednesday .. sad times.. Nevertheless I added myself to the waiting list and low and behold more slots opened up.... No excuse then - a return to winter ride for TVT and me ... 🤨

I got my kit out Friday night and checked through the bike (reducing the risk of either things going wrong with the equipment or other kit malfunction delaying my departure... thus reducing the risk of a no show excuse and increasing the chance of me getting off my arse and making the meet time)

I woke up in plenty of time for a harty breakfast and a bit of procrastination before leaving on time and even arriving early (well, early for me - I got in a good 5mins before the 9am bell chimed on the village green)... 

As we gathered the biggest talking point was had we chosen the right layering system for the days weather!... It was 9 with a real feel of 7, possible rain... it was a quandary I can tell you!

What a fine gathering - Image curtesy of Liz - I'm lessor spotted at the back

My final decision was an underarmour summer long sleeved top with my TVT winter jacket... bib shorts and leg warmers... mostly I was ok but definitely in danger of overheating (the zip was hald down for the climbs and almost up for the most part)

Split into three groups we all headed out in different directions - the group I was in headed out West before looping back, slightly south of our start and then stopping off at a local coffee shop in Arborfield where we were looking to meet up with the other rides. Particular nice for me as that meant I could finish the club ride there as it wasn't too far from home.. so need need to get back to the start only to ride back.

The ride itself was fab, we had a mixed group where I was most definitely the weakest rider and was put through my paces - just about holding the wheel on the first uphill I definitely was pushing it. Managed to remember to drink my water and eat a bar during the ride, then was so excited/ relieved to be near the end I pretty much missed the break as the team really pushed on up the last mile towards the coffee shop! I definitely got dropped then but somehow (i think they slowed either for me or a roundabout), I managed to get back on for the last little bit... phewy

The club ride (including my home to start leg) came in 58.5km at an average speed of 26kph.... not bad and probably my fastest group ride since I did my ironman in 2016... I got over the 60k mark with my short poodle back home... and it only just started raining as I got to my doorstep...  so all in all I was super pleased with the efforts and being out with the clubt.. happy days!. .. but boy was I totally knackered after!! Whilst I didn't get a coffee and cake at the stop I went home and decided a cake was in order so went to my even more local cafe and rescued a couple of slices!

Sunday was then declared a rest day with just a bit of much needed yoga and a loving Sunday Roast put on by my parents!

September Stats

 Ok ok .. nearly a week late so let's keep it brief...

I'll get my excuses in early and say we did go on a lovely walking holiday for a week in Scotland during the month. It was EVERYTHING I dreamed of... amazing weather, great food, lovely beer. We had amazing walks!

The only vague plan I followed was the final bits of my Windsor 10k program

.. both of these facts are somewhat poor excuses for some of the low's and no's.... 50p justification fine Dory

Sport	Count	KM	Minutes
Swim	2	4.0	115.88
Bike	0	0	0
Run	7	52.68	359.81
Strength	0	-	0
Yoga	8	-	264.13
Walk	23	132.89	2774.83

Obviously this month I won't be doing so much walking, my aim is to get a more balanced portfolio of swim, bike and run.. I want to make sure I keep up with the yoga - as that helps the knee and injury prevention, mostly I use yoga for stretching). I also want to get back into my strength training as this for sure has helped me get back in to shape and able to do the more aerobic/ anaerobic stuff I love to do.

I've already done 2 swims and more metres in the first week of October, and also got on my bike twice this week as well as 1 yoga sessions.... so not a bad start. 

One race is in the diary for a standard distance triathlon in May, I'm eyeballing a potential half marathon in March but I want to see how my body responds to more distance first. I'm not sure going beyond the 10k will work or not.

Onwards and upwards - welcome Autumn my old frienemy.