First month

As the past month has gone... well, it's been good, it's been hard and I've been crook.  The trifecta really.

Building up again to an average of 12-15 hours per week was feeling ok on the body.  I was tired, but was holding up.  A couple of things surprised me when I started.  Pain would start to set in and then the body would remember.... oh ya, I know how to do this, and that was that, I got into the zone and got the job done.

Last weekend though, I pushed a bit too hard, got sick, and ended up with a fever of 103 for 3 days.  On top of that, I cut my foot while cleaning and it got infected and am now on antibiotics for at least a week until it clears up. On top of no training for 5 days, the doctor said no swimming, or running for another 5 days.  I managed to convince him to let me hop on the wind trainer.  You really know you're a training junkie when you haven't trained for 2 days and you start going stir-crazy.  Wind trainer it will have to be then.

I can feel the difference this campaign too.  In previous campaigns, at this point it was about getting in the miles so the body was ready for the last 12 weeks of hell.  This time around, the intensity is up early and one can only assume, will get harder.  I want to improve, and this focused intensity is what I'm going to need.

So... back onto the wind trainer before I go nuts.

Rich

2 weeks and colour blind

It's amazing how even after a year off training, the body looks within and finds what it used to do.  As I'm now 18 weeks out, I keep getting surprised on how well I've been doing at some sessions.  Once the arms or legs go numb, the body thinks... ok, I've been there, I know what to do, and I've been able to do well.

To be honest, it's the feeling of being tired most of the day that is the hardest to overcome.  Maybe it's because I'm a few years older, but I'd like to think that means I'm wiser.... Oh wait, that's the feeling of Ironman training.... (see I remember).

I'm trying a few different things this time around that I hope will assist me in my journey to the start line and the potential 'perfect race'.  One of the biggest things is trying to run at a fixed heart rate.  I'm working on (it's been hard thus far) to try and keep my longer and my easier runs at a heart rate of 145 or less.  I've heard a few people talking about this and also done some research and even though I may be running a bit slower at the lower heart rate the speed will come.  If I can keep a lower heart rate, when I actually get to the run, I can run smart and hopefully better.

The kilos have started to come off, but still have some more to go.  No speed in the pool yet, but hopefully it shows up again one day.  The bike seems not too bad at the moment, but I know there's a better engine in there somewhere.  And then there's the run.... the one thing that feels ok, but still no speed as of yet..... Oh well, it'll show up.

Earlier this week though I got some encouragement... September 2014.  The world championships will be in my home town of Edmonton.  The moment I read that, I told the coach, this is on the hit list.  It's a focus point for me now.  Yes I have an Ironman to tend to, but hell, I have to do what I can to try and get back there to race.  The only thing will be.... red and white, or green and gold.....  I'm leaning hard to red and white, but it's going to be tough.... Tough, I can do tough.

So, there it is, I've just about done 2 weeks, 18 to go, a focus and some determination to keep me going.

Time for a glass of antioxidants and bed for this old fart.  Until then, good luck to all my mates racing Hell of the West this weekend and also up on the Sunshine Coast in the Gatorade series.

Rich