This blog malarkey seems to be turning into a monthly occasion so I’ll keep it going like this unless something pressing comes up that I want to rant about!
There isn’t a particular theme to this month’s ramblings but I’m sure as it progresses I’ll start putting the world to rights. Suzy always gives me “that look” when I start going off like Victor Meldrew (If you know you know) at the TV like some kind of demented being hoping the news or show presenters can somehow hear me as I’m starting raise my voice and on occasion point at the TV expecting it to listen to my sensible reasoning as to why they are so stupid!
There does seem to be a theme with current news – on one hand it’s why doesn’t the government allow relaxing of the lockdown rules because the economy is suffering and then later in the day it’s about people that have died because of the lockdown rules weren’t being enforced. It’s a lose/lose scenario for any politician at the moment and I doubt any public servant loves their job regardless of which political persuasion they are. The “we could’ve done better” cries aren’t heard anymore as it’s clear no-one has been here before, there is no template until now, and we are all learning as we move forward. It’s also clear that other countries are in the same mess and it is only now becoming clear they have also had their own issues. Something our media failed to report on (or just didn’t because it didn’t suit their narrative) earlier on. Now we can see the light at the end of the tunnel the “fear factor” is diminishing and the media can’t play that tune anymore so they’re playing the “don’t travel fear factor” instead. I was speaking to an ex-journalist a few months back and he quite clearly remember his first day at work at a major tabloid in London where he was told to find news that shocks and appalls people and also subject matter that divides opinion. He was more of a journalist with a conscience, writing about stories that mattered to people and secrets that the public should know as opposed to being swept under the carpet – in short this didn’t sell as many newspapers so he soon became distanced and left the industry. That’s media for you – if you truly believe everything they say then you would definitely be too afraid to do anything – a pretty sad existence.
Closer to home I think we’re all just getting used to what we can & can’t do, the “roadmap” is great but I’m sure things just won’t be the same anymore and social distancing in one form or another will remain. I’m ok with things as I focus on my daily routine including work and training. On the other hand Suzy craves that social interaction, I can’t blame her to be honest as she’s been cooped up with me for over a year! My coping mechanism is clearly my training and zoning out from the outside world by either watching TV, sports or reading the books I’ve become used to each evening. I try not to reflect on things too long as they become quite over-powering and associated thoughts and feelings are hard to ignore. The dangers of lockdown? Not really – the dangers of becoming bored and looking inwardly for answers – most definitely. Most people haven’t dealt with their inner demons and have the outside world to keep them occupied or distracted. Having a bloody good look at themselves is the last thing they’d want to do if truth be told. This forced “stay at home” situation has put people into a box so-to-speak and these thoughts or mental health issues have materialised as a consequence. It shouldn’t be ignored but conversely it shouldn’t be labelled as new thing just because of lockdown. Mental Health has always been there, just very well hidden.
I could harp on about my own thoughts now but it’d be like ripping off a scab and I’d be sat here at the end of writing this blog wanting answers I know I’ll never get! So I’ll stop now….
A the present time all International races I was supposed to do up until last summer have been deferred or postponed. Roth was a simple but difficult decision to take to 2022 as it was too close to my debut GB event at Almere in September. Now The Championships in Samorin where I’m the bike part of the relay team is now scheduled for Bank Holiday in August instead of late May so it looks that UK races are the only option until then.
Nottingham Outlaw Half was always on the agenda, this was scheduled for the 16th May, one day before the roadmap allowed hotel accommodation so this was postponed with no immediate future date set. My knee-jerk reaction was to go for Holkham Outlaw Half instead on the 4th July (Roth’s original date) so I booked it up within about 15 minutes of receiving the email from Outlaw about Nottingham. A week passed and they emailed again with news this is now on the 20th June – some two weeks before Holkham so it’s now clear I’m doing two Half Iron distance events in the space of two weeks! I guess with another 5 weeks training before Nottingham now I might be able to go a little quicker AND the water will be a little warmer too – always the positives!
In the interests of going quicker I’ve also toyed with the idea of going to another UK Half in August that is pan-flat which might give me that sub-5hr half I was hunting for back in 2019. This is currently TBC but you never know!
Then hopefully the international stuff might kick back in – The Championships, The Worlds and then Challenge Pageura in Majorca for a bit of fun at the end of the year followed by a week in Majorca not particularly worrying about anything.
This is always highly dependent on us being allowed to travel, part of those requirements maybe a vaccination passport – that’s a tricky subject at the moment as I’m still waiting to have my first jab. Suzy’s had her first a few weeks ago, assuming the same logic as we both have breathing issues (Asthma, chest infections, hospitalised at times) you would think that I would’ve had mine sooner. She’s 10 years younger than me too so it just doesn’t make sense – it all boils down to my local GP surgery being fairly useless when it comes to making the right calls. After complaining, being ignored and then complaining higher up I’ve been told my time will come very soon – but that was several weeks back! It does take me back to when I had a “health check” at my surgery when my new appointed GP didn’t even know I’ve had Asthma pretty much since birth. I had to point out on the screen what she missed – tenuous I know but I think the same mistake has been made this time round.
Anyway – still waiting…!
Training has taken a turn for the better…
Swimming – our first swim session on Tuesday night. An organised Beccles Traithlon Club session at The Beccles Lido – outdoor pools were allowed from 29th March. The only thing I could think of before getting in was not drowning and being embarrassingly saved by the lifeguards. First length in – “this isn’t so bad” I thought to myself, “I haven’t lost that much fitness”/ 10 lengths later I was like a beached whale splashing about with not much movement at all. I think it’s safe to say I’m going to need a lot more sessions to get back on track – next one is tomorrow at 2pm. Hopefully I can move my arms above my head before then as DOMS has definitely set in since that first session.
Biking – things were a bit rocky a few months back mentally about this discipline. I was really struggling with an issue which I’m not going to go into on this blog as it seems ridiculous but suffice to say it affected me quite a lot. Almost to the point where I thought about giving up the sport I love. I’ve since had a new injection of “mojo” on the bike with some voice of reason being repeated to me day after day – it’s helping but it’s going to be a long road to recovery. I’ve been watching a lot of GCN+ race coverage recently of the Belgian/Flandrian Monuments so that always helps. The weather is getting warmer, even the legs came out yesterday as it was warm enough! Getting rid of the the winter wheels with the sticky tyres and putting on some quick hoops always helps with the struggle too – the speeds have gone up 2kph so that always feels good when looking back at the data. Four hour rides are the norm at the moment – all of them solo. Mainly due to being “billy no mates” and having anxiety about socialising and meeting up accidentally with those trolls who almost wrecked my love for the sport. Group rides start again this weekend so I’ll either jump with both feet into it again or continue on my own.
Running has been a steady progression. If I could choose one word that came out of the last few months’ running it would be “cadence”. I used to be a plodder with a cadence quite low – it took some comprehensive explanations for me to understand that there is less muscle damage when you run faster. I don’t mean pace I mean leg speed. I must admit I wasn’t a believer but trying to avoid that “confirmation bias” I’ve read so much about in my books I decided to give it an honest go. In all fairness, like anything new, it was difficult. Trying to get my breathing under control was the hard part but once that was in check the focused 5min cadence drills became the norm and now I’m running half marathons each Saturday morning without barely looking at my watch for cadence. The km split times are starting to reduce too – it’s clear I’m not going to break any records here but in my own personal standards they’re breakthrough moments in a time where I haven’t even looked at a speed or tempo run session yet.
There are a few Kettlebells session thrown in here & there but nothing of note, in reality I’m just waiting for the gym to re-open om the 12th April so I can get back to my old regime early in the morning twice a week to help avoid injuries that have reared their ugly head as I’m getting older!
All in all the future’s bright – lots to look forwards to. Lot’s of maybes but we can only deal with the cards we’ve been dealt with. As Sagan would say (my current book) – Why so serious?
