Training Log Archive: Thumper

LOTS more baby and house chores- 3 more pints and a bit of chocolate- still not rested enough- but have a nice belly to aid my resistance training

LOTS of house and baby chores- very productive- then 3 pints sit a cycling friend as we
Plan out assault next season

More resting. A meal out tonight was supported by the most impressive surprise fuddle/baby shower ever at work today- ate lots of v. naughty cake and party food.

Weight training on the bike will be fun next week!

Tonight was all about prosecco. Boiler bust so in front of a fire.

Continuing to feel that this is a great week to have off. Bit worried about the rest week belly, particularly as I'm not exactly holding back!

You spend ages wanting a rest. Then it arrives and you're bored shitless and desperate to get out and train. Luckily the weather is pony and I'm not missing much!

So far I'm a night out, a fry up and a tub of haagen daz down. A wise person once told me that "to get fit, one must first become..unfit."

Game on.

I write this half way into a bottle of Leffe Royale, a patient bought me it after a recent booze trip to Belgium (the home of cyclocross). I told her I would save it until I get into the top 20 in a cross race, in honour of its origin. I thought it was safe for a year!

Still umming and raring about whether to try and make the Nationals- looking outside and feeling broken/hungover- I certainly cant be arsed doing any training today.

Will have a think about the nationals- the Northerns was poorly attended by the club, so at this stage i dont feel I'd be missing out...

WOW. I'm sure those who ran today will have similar stories, but today's race was EPIC. I did a pracice lap before the vets and ladies race- my bike was caked form head to to-clearly a two bike race- and this was substantiated when every man and his dog had acquired a new bike of some kind!

The sun was shining for the vets race, but the temperature was dropping and the wind was getting up.

We line up for our race at 2.30. The whistle went and, I shit you not, the moment we set off thunder and lightening went crazy- the adrenaline was flying! We rounded the first corner and the most painful hail dropped down on us!

I took a steady start, this wasn't to be a fast race and was blatantly going to be a slog. The previous races had churned it up a treat and the extra rain meant that the entire course was a quagmire.

I took the decision not to bother riding certain sections as running would be quicker (but more fatiguing. This worked a treat and by lap 3 I was in 12 (!)

I felt great but was in pieces on the running sections (where everyone else had ground to a walk) but this was my best chance. I picked many off jsut after the most severe section.

The runaway leader was Dave Fletcher who often uses our league for training, he is one of 2 picked for the worlds next week. A few of the club supporters came racing over to me saying Dave! Slow down, let him lap you and you keep this position! You wont have to do another lap!

Fuck that. Not getting lapped by the leader is a badge of honour and there was aone guy who I felt I could catch (plus I could eat more this evening) so I went for it and came 4 seconds away from 9th place. But 10th place is something I didnt think I would achieve this season and Im delighted!

Its most probably down to the running sections- however I m not exactly running myself so i'm happy.

Incidentally- there was some thing wrong with the bike- the bearings had completely ceased and the only thing the wheel was moving on was the axle...so grr for last week as some big points went begging!

Season over. Sad times, its been a blast

C • Finishing with a bang 2

Very stressful day at work- one of those flushed cheeks all day and adrenaline come down head-ache days.

So I'm off for a pint (an reading y new book entitled commando dad) and cant be arsed training

Luckily (or sadly) there was something wrong with my nike- something they are struggling to fix.

2 things to be exact- bearings in the rear wheel and a problem with the jockey wheels on my rear mech.

Called in on the way home to see if it will be ready for Saturday- they also said there is a delay fixing my road bike due to rust. Dont get why all my stuff rusts so easily, I try to be so meticulous with my cleaning!

Training has been reduced this week due to tiredness-but am also getting home late and having to put extra work in due extra pressures with a student at work. 3 more weeks of that- a rest period is looking progressively more appealing!

Back sore after the run last night. Feet sore after turbo.

Did 30mins of single leg drills and tababta

Hmmmmm.

The conundrum continues. Thought I had solved my problem with the dragging bike my cleaning the jockey wheels well. I decided to use my best bike ton cycle to work to try it out. I was rewarded with a knackering ride where any muddy or slightly inclined sections sent my heart rate soaring into the 160s.

I genuinely felt as though the rear wheel as dragging or the rear mechanism of the drive train was dragging- but when i had a look at it at work it seemed fine..

Work to bike shop for an inspection

Took the bike in to the shop- he wasn't happy with how muddy it was (i offered to take it home and clean it but he couldn't commit to getting it fixed in time for Saturdays race.)

He made me feel like a bike hypochondriac. Perhaps I am as I couldn't see anything wrong either.

However, my training has been a lot less than it could have been on the days I have trained. When I have felt tired I have backed off, perhaps even too much.

On the other bike I haven't felt like this however... So the potential reasons are: 1- Overtrained 2-Undertrained 3-Coming down with something 4-Bike has a rusted section 5-I am imagining it because I had a bad race/ sunday ride and cant take it.

We shall see...


Anyway- with no contingency plan I took my mouldy shoes which I keep in the bike shed at work and ran home from the bike shop with a very heavy rucksack wh all my bike tools, cycle shoes and helmet- and was pleasantly surprised with my average pace when i checked! I thought it would have been 8.30 milling!

Incidentally, no pain...

Very token effort.
Set the alarm for 6.20, but just couldn't get out of bed. Theres tired and theres too tired.
Tonight we have NCT breast feeding class 7-930. Dont ask me why, I know how to take a breast.

This is all I could manage and it was an effort mentally as I couldnt be arsed and physically as I feel a bit wiped. Ready to rest.

Did a few leg drills and an 80% tabata block

C • how was the class?? 2

Oh dear...

Another rest day. Had to be in work very early to continue the stressful "project" I have inherited for the next 6 weeks. Then home late, with shopping and house chores. So no training today.

Legs goosed and pretty knackered myself anyways.


Had another look at the bike- ridiculous clump of dride mud/grass on one jockey wheel- working a dream now (money saved, but...)grrr!

Lovely to get out with Andy T and Sprotty- But was painful throughout. Despite cleaning the bike down something didnt feel right, the drive chain was jsut too stiff and laborious. A 2 hour ride in the peak should result in an average HR of 135- although we hit froggatt hard we were chuntering or going downhill yet I was struggling.

Another trip to the bike shop beckons..
Legs goosed after and 5 hours of NCT beckoned....

So, is it the bike or am I goosed? Need to decide whether ot rest next week or not- but really wanna do the national. On Tues I will do a make or break run- if theres any pain its rest after Sat.

The scene:
Entering round 14 I am in my cyclocross peak in terms of skill and race tactics. I've worked my way through the field from 40s/50s to pushing top 20 each race.

Im in10th in the league and in a dog fight for 9th with a club mate who I have recently just started edging. I'm listening to my body and had a great month of training in December. Theres two races left to get the 9th spot. And I'll tell you what, I could not fucking wait for this race!

Id spent a hundred pounds getting the bike fixed and it was working a dream. I assessed the course- 2 horrible technical areas but the rest was hilly, muddy but not technical. The start was uphill (which means not scary) and tailored for me. Things could not be better.

I warmed up and was flabbergasted at how hard the course felt. Av HR was 155. I played a few mind games and uncovered that everyone else felt the same on the warm up. Fabulous.

The battlefield:
3..2..1 The siren went. Holy shit I was straight past my usual rivals, this is bonkers! Riding aggressively I was flying working my way through to the top 12 and holding back, I felt AMAZING! Through the gloopy mud, everyone else fell off or went backwards. Low gear, fast cadence, don't fight the bike, go where it takes you.

I was doing everything right- this could be my moment! Then BOOM! The wheels fell off. Suddenly every revolution of the pedals felt excruciating. I was really struggling, going backwards quickly. I couldn't do anything about it, other than drop into easier gears. Before long I was in just about the easiest gear, 2 bolsover riders came past. Decent riders, but I'd been beating them.

FUCK! Ah, I wanted to drop out, "please puncture, please puncture" I went past the pits, Sam, the kid who looks after my bike shouted me in. No mate. I looked down at the bike, no reason to get cleaned up its barely got any mud on it. Keep going, ur having a mare, dont even try and look big time by swapping bikes.

I had a look. Pete Steed (9th/10th place rival) was miles back. Oh well, its all about the league, hold him off. More and more people came past. I had nothing. I was knackered and making mistakes on the technical bits. Bollocks. I could see Pete, closing in. Please dont beat me. Then...it happened. I was too busy looking for Pete to get in the right gear for a steep ascent, in the mud I lost traction and couldn't get up. Off I came in full view of the cameraman.

Pete sailed past...."Smash it Pete!" I fraudulently exclaimed. Do I drop out? No. Dont be disrespectful. Also, its cost £15 (as good a reason as any never to drop out) But more importantly we were going to the Jenkins for tea and I wanted to eat and drink a lot.

So I finished. And felt like utter shit. Have I over trained? Was the 2 races plus the Yorkshires in 7 days too much? They would either bring me on a lot or ruin me. Have I backed off too much and relied on summer miles too much?

Possibly all of the above. But between me and you...I was a total fuckwit by not going into the pits. I cleaned my bike down straight after the race. The rear derailleur was jam packed with mud and grass, rendering it almost static. Every revolution of the crank was causing the chain to have to punch through thick mud and grass.

AHHHHHH! So frustrated! My legs are in bits now too. But another valuable lesson learned. You have two bikes. Use them! Before deciding your body is having a bad day. Also, if the bike isn't caked in mud, it doesn't mean your drive train isn't!

Hope it doesnt sound like I'm making excuses- in fact it could quite easily be that I'm ready for a rest- but the mud on the derailleur was something else. So it makes sense. We shall see.

Incidentally- it appears I have conceded my league place to Pete :(

Warm up

Hmmmm.....
....This one doesn't come under the heading of "listening to my body", more "giving in to my inner chimp."

Another stressful day at work, which is going to be the case for the next 4 weeks. After this I had to leg it to look round a nursery (exciting but tiring), then leg it to the bike shop to pick up my bike.

This was a kick in the nuts as it cost £100- which was part of my new, better turbo trainer fund. However, this did provide an answer as to why I felt SO shit on my ride to and from work on Wednesday- the bottom bracket had almost solidified, causing my cranks to be ridiculously stiff. Phew! No cold, just a knackered bike.

Anyway I write this having just got off the turbo- I just couldn't be arsed tonight and although I rested yesterday, its near the end of the season and i couldn't see what I would get out of 30 mins.

By writing this I am trying to justify it and make it ok. It isn't. I'm being lazy. I hate being lazy. But still, Ive just changed into my comfy pants. Im having a beer. That turbo ain't getting not'tin tonight.

Damn you chimp. I don't know what to call you. Its either Donkey Kong or Clyde (The Orangutang from Every Which Way But Loose).

I feel KO'd, in honour of Clyde's fighting spirit, I shall name my inner chimp "Clyde"

Tonight Clyde wins..until tomorrow...

http://tinyurl.com/q4ygqle

C • right turn Clyde.... 1

Planned 60 mins off road to enjoy my day off but woke up feeling shattered, felt laboured on the way home last night and suspected a cold. That hasnt materialised.

Im thinking it is just the cumulative effects of a long season which started on July 5th and was designed to see a peak on 5th Jan. Miraculously I did peak in the period. First time I've got it right!

Think its probably due to the fact that I am listening to my body much more. With that in mind I took today off. 2 more races left to try and crack the top 10 overall standing in the league and try to leap frog a team mate to become 2nd overall Bolsover rider.

Be interesting to see what is left in me.

My conundrum now is whether to keep ticking over and try to run the National or take a break and start some base miles for the summer. I know what my heart says..

C • NATIONAL NATIONAL NATIONAL 1

Being pretty lazy on my commutes at the moment.
Couldn't get out of bed yet again but ultimately enjoyed the saunter in.

Up until the point where I (in my standard, overly pleasant so as to be an ambassador for cyclists-voice) said excuse me to some guy walking is dog on the canal. I had my light on but pointing to the floor.

He turn round, looked straight at me and reached to his head, turning on the most ridiculously bright light and aimed it directly in my face. The adrenaline bubbled into overdrive and I gave him "the stare" something I keep in my back pocket from my rugby days.

He wont mess with me again

HFW
Very sluggish. Legs feel suprisingly good from yesterdays session- but I felt knackered all the way home.
Spent the whole ride day dreaming about delivering a spinning session to people for some reason.


On a separate note- do Abbeydale brewery sell bottles? Had 2 pints of moonshine last night and they were majestic...

Taken a few days off this week to get some rest and to sort out the nursery.

Unfortunately someone rang in sick at the weekend so I had to cover, then I got tasked with being clinical educator for a student AND a junior physio AND having to do a training session tomorrow.

Not complaining as I love my job, but the timing is a bit cack, with too much to do in one day today.

As such, a planned lovely session in the park (2hours+) was relegated to a more time efficient turbo blast. I do feel like it was worth it though.
Experimenting with cleat position on the road shoes- first attempt caused a niggle- hopefully the new position is better.

Session 5 sets of 3mins/2mins,4min tabata 20 sec efforts)/2mins

IW

HFW

Called into work then NCT class straight after- got home feeling like I'd been hit by a bus, so frustratingly took a day off

Well...that was a disaster. Planned to run to and from work. Legs felt like they'd finally recovered. After 2 miles it was apparent the getting to work would be a struggle, getting home would be a disaster.

Turned around and hobbled home, hamstrings and hip flexors absolutely screaming.

I spent the week feeling guilty that I had wasted money on cycling and had finally started to come out of the problems that led to me not running. I was thinking about putting a bit of running together for the nationals and getting back into it.

This was a timely reminder that its not my decision to make..back to the cycling

C • second run back... 6

Good session, paced it about right, bit concerned I wasnt getting my heart rate high enough but last set was a struggle.


2(5mins/60s,60s/60s)/60s

Level 5 3 brom smallest rear cog in big ring

Need a power meter, darent spend the money

Rest day- thought I had planned this well with bad weather and my weekend plans considered, this has been turned upside down as i now have to work at the weekend lol

Hammies still sore, hoping this helps them settle so I can run into work tomorrow

Canal fit to burst

HFW then turbo session

Session of 10x60s/60s

Was grimacing in the session, in hindsight feel like I was a whimp

IW- cant remember it-was half asleep and struggled to get up to do it

Hammys still sore

HFW- Slow

Reasons:

Chased by two dogs
Saw one arrest in the middle of the road
Lots of traffic lights
Still knackered
Crashed on a dismount as foot didnt clip out

Planned to try a run tomorrow, but might hold out for the frosty mornings coming up- be safer than biking

Couldnt be arsed, but need to shift the rest day belly


Legs (particularly hamstrings) still sore

HFW then straight on the turbo for 8 x 3mins/90s

Level 5 big ring 2nd from smallest cog

Worked hard but didnt kill myself

Hoped to try another run tomorrow but think I'll have to give it another day at least

IW
Legs are currently in tatters. Back is tight and abs are shot! However, I remain optimistic that this is predominantly down to the lack of running in the past 12 months and not so much related to my problems- i will find out when the DOMS subsides

Mounts/dismounts sections were agony- particularly the first one where i had forgotten about how tight everything is

HFW- tired

Really rather sore today and struggling to walk. Was planning a 2 1/2 hour off road ride but we had friends over last night and by the time they'd gone it was pissing it down after 3 though races in 7 days I'm not going to feel too guilty about a further rest day.

Back on the horse (bike) tomorrow

Well.. It turns out I did it. Was still deliberating this morning-but looked out of the window and figured running would be more fun than a miserable rainy cycle.

So we headed up the M1 for 1hr 45 journey, with me in a bad mood, as I was fully expecting to turn up and drop out. On arrival it was as though I'd never stopped running, great to be back in the Hallamshire tent- I was blown away with Lightwater valley as a venue, it was perfect in every way.

On warming up my back immediately twinged so I kept it short- just jogging about a bit to cheer on the women.

I didnt bother with strides, I just stood about laughing an joking. An alien frame of mind for me at the Yorkshires! As the gun went I stuck to my plan of feeling my way in, it felt comfortably hard. I was surprised at the pace as I expected everyone to fly off and me to be left at the back with the fat bald blokes.

As it happened I found myself with Phil Hoole. I decided to see how long I could stick with him for, at this point we were in about 40th place- I expected him to start his move after the first small lap. He didn't, and I gradually eased away from him.

For the next 2 big laps I continued to work my way through the field, really enjoying myself and relieved that so far no major pains had appeared. In fact I felt relatively competitive and ready to give it a big last lap. On some corners I was able to see the front of the race and to see Andy Heyes racing away with it. I felt like screaming for him, but managed to avoid looking like an embarrassing dad. Besides, its probably not as important to him as it is to me! I was very happy for him.

As we began our final lap I noticed that no juniors had finished. I immediately panicked as I thought I had mis-counted laps. My legs had really begun to tie up and I definitely didn't have 2 more laps in me- this was purely and simply down to lack of running in them over the past 12 months.

1/4 way in we passed Phil Townsend the Leeds AC coach, he shouted to Tom Edwards "thats Hallamshire's Dave Archer, GET HIM!!", "no fucking chance" I thought so I started to wind it up. I saw Keith and just about managed to ask how many laps were left- "this is your last one!" From there I went for it and managed to reel in one place without losing any.

Overall the team finished a very pleasing 3rd, Andy a fantastic 1st and I came 21st. My second best ever finish at the Yorkshires. THAT, is how much of a hoodoo I have with this chuffing race. My private goal was to prove how much of a hoodoo I have with it and achieve my best ever placing today, however I thought this was unrealistic and expected to finish much further down.

I now have very positive memory of the Yorkshires and I'm really glad I took a risk and did it.

Very token warming up

C • Lovely stuff 6

Felt tired and just couldn't be arsed today, so decided to rest. I will be running tomorrow. But with great apprehension. Running XC off 1 run a week is daft. Oh well.

C • Good luck 3

With "Operation get home and dry and fed" yesterday being priority no.1 I didnt get chance to clean the bikes- that became priority number 1 today.

It was either run today and rest tomorrow, or vice versa. As it stands, my back is hurting and so its rest today and bike tomorrow.

Kind of regretting my emotional Facebook update abut the Yorkshires now as I dont wanna do it and make things worse! But I do want to do it and say farewell...


Decisions..

Wow.

Tried to get some interest for this generated in the club as I saw an advert for it in October and it looked mint. This was the inaugural running of the Ripley Castle Cx and they pulled out all the stops to make a fantastic occasion.

They constructed a scaffolding flyover which we raced under an over, we raced around the cobbled courtyard of the castle, it was a total quagmire with muddy cambers, steps and a huge tree with many protruding roots which we circled around in the woods. This section was sponsored by Cateye and many brances had been fitted with flashing cateye lights creating a quality atmosphere- enhanced by a thumping PA system on each end of the course smashing out big tunes.

I was mildly hungover (but got away with murder) only one person took up the journey from the club a chap who only jsut qualifies as a Vet and so who I have never raced against- he does very well in the vets category and I think he was keen to see how he faired in the sernior race and folks at the club were interested how we faired against one another.

It turns out we were very evenly matched and enjoyed a great ding dong, i seemed to be stronger on the hard CV sections particularly the sec ions in glopy mud and into head winds- he was much braver on the down hills. But alas, I actually put in a strong technical performance and was rewarded with 21st overall in a good field (the first 17 were from semi-pro and pro teams.

So all in all I am delighted- and it was an amazing event that i hope to do again