Ok, so it’s been a while since I wrote my last blog – and it’s safe to say there’s been quite alot happen in the past few weeks/months so best I play catch up as best I can.
The last blog was whilst I was still out in Mallorca, the Hashtag Mallorca Gang came out and we once again had an amazing time together, they were subjected to (by Suzy) a few extra bonus climbs which they had never done before and although there might’ve been some expletives during the bike rides they were eventually quite thankful that Suzy had pushed them a little further this time round.
We once again had our little trip to Planet Cycling in Alaro and the cake & coffee was as amazing as ever. My training partner, Toby, this year wasn’t recuperating from a broken foot as he was last year so was at full strength, I on the other hand was a bit fatigued from 312 and the several big rides I had already ridden – suffice to say I was under a little bit of pressure to keep it a pretty fast ride each day and that was my downfall…looking back.
We rode three 100+ mile rides in successive days and included quite a few of the big climbs on the island in those days so fatigue was through the floor. Adding to this the weather had turned a bit bad so rain & cold were not the best to ride in. Little did I realise it but my health was starting to suffer with the extra mileage each day and the extra effort with Toby.
In reality I should’ve noted it when we climbed Sa Calobra and I was about 5 minutes off my normal times. But the Mallorcan roads beckoned and I just soldiered through…
The Hashtag Gang left and Suzy & I were there for a few more days before we returned to the UK. During these few days I was coughing and my breathing was quite laboured. Nonetheless I carried on going out and doing my rides although it’s safe to say these were getting slower & slower. For a couple of nights another Hashtag athlete – Matt came out to spend some time with us and we rode together for a few days and the weather once again turned and that I think was the straw that broke the camels’ back – I was officially ill.
The last 3 days in Mallorca I didn’t ride – unheard of really when we stay there but I was so unwell I stayed in our hotel room resting and trying to relax but my condition didn’t get any better as a result. Upon returning to the UK I went straight to my GP for some help – she instantly put me on Antibiotics and Steroids because of my Asthma. This was a 5-day course so I was hoping to be in a semi-good shape for the following weekend at Nottingham Half Aquabike that weekend.
The eternal optimist in me packed my kit on the Friday ready for racing on the Sunday but after my Openers session on the Saturday it was clear that I wasn’t going to start because I could barely breathe. I think realistically I could just take it easy and get through the race but the swim would possibly give me pneumonia and the bike wouldn’t be the bike leg I would be happy with so DNS it was.
We were booked to go there anyway as there were other Hashtag athletes competing so all was not lost but it was a very bittersweet day to say the least. I try not to think about it too much but you can’t help the “what if” thoughts running through your head when you least expect it.
That following Monday I went back to the GP’s with the hope id get stronger more effective medication but it was confirmed my chest infection was clear, the meds given had done their job and I was just in the malaise post-infection brings so I just had to sit it out & wait. Not optimal.
In a more positive note, just before this race weekend I went down to Oxford to get an update on my operation recovery from the specialist and it was good news. The corrective surgery had been a success, I was given the green light to carry on with training and only if I wanted to I was given the all-clear to have a go at running again…. “What”? In the past 5 years I have come to terms with the fact I can’t run again and now the surgeon who I trust implicitly with my health says I can run again? This is now a turn in events that I did not expect and I think if I do attempt to run it will be when no-one is watching and on my own terms. I really do think even if I can run I won’t be up to the standard I would expect of myself so Aquabike might be here to stay and the jogging bit might be just for recreation – like Park Running with friends perhaps? Anyway – good news on the whole.
Back to training. It’s clear that my form, despite the chest infection at the worst possible time, has stagnated in recent months and I feel that I’m throwing alot more volume at myself to somehow get faster and better. Suzy reminded me that this sin’t what I would prescribe my athletes – I would be more “SMART” in my approach when working out their schedules and perhaps I should look at having a coach of my own to tell me what to do instead of cherry picking the sessions I like and avoiding the ones I don’t like – although they are probably the ones which would benefit me the most! After quite a bit of deliberation I’m willing to take a chance and go all-in on a fresh set of eyes. I contacted a good friend who I trust in sourcing a coach for my abilities and we are now in the very early stages of working together to come to some sort of race fitness heading towards Holkham, Banyoles Europeans, Outlaw Full and Almere on the horizon.
A few weeks of 3k swim sets which are longer than my usual 2.2k, and added into it the lack of a pull buoy which I’ve come to use as a bit of a crux in my swim sessions. Added into the mix some new S&C sessions alongside some pretty tasty bike rides which range from 2-5hrs and I feel like I’m already moving in the right direction.
I’ve been absent from the local racing scene in recent weeks so I thought I’d enter a 25 mile TT last weekend, just to get a test of where my progress actually is. It was on a flat course so suited my ability to hit one single power number from start to finish – keeping the chain tight as the saying goes.
But…the night before I was struck down with food poisoning – a grumbling stomach at 10pm and then very frequent visits to the toilet from midnight until 8am on the Sunday morning with zero stomach contents at the end to be sick on meant I was very empty and had to DNS yet again!
I feel like a bit of a fraud to be honest – I know my coach reaction to any of my athletes would be along the lines of “if you’re ill you’re ill” but I can’t help but feeling I’m letting the side down and this time last year I was already firing on all cylinders and had some really good results under my belt, whereas this year it’s been full of stops, starts and DNS’s. I’ve apologised to my new coach and he’s yet to respond to that message. I don’t know – maybe this weekend at local triathlon it’ll all come back together and I’ll put in a great performance but right here right now I’m not feeling the best about where I am and where I had expected myself to be.
It’s all a bit of a doom and gloom blog really and although this serves a purpose in me trying to vent my frustrations perhaps this serves as some kind of help to those in the same situation…
As the famous quote said “This too shall pass” and I have to believe this.
Onwards!!!!!