Flicking the bird!

First week back at work after the silly season marked a welcome return to some structure in the weekly training.  Whilst I haven’t swum this week, I have managed to bank the hours in the training plan for the bike and run. And enjoyed it too! Which is half the battle. Judging by some of the tweets out there from you guys, you also seem to be enjoying your training too. Let’s see if we’re still so buoyant come page 89 of Don Finks book! We may well be getting a little tetchy by that stage.

I started the week thinking that I’d stay off the grog for the month, have a real health kick, something which I once did but come Friday evening that clearly wasn’t going to happen. Didn’t go bonkers but a few glasses of vino aren’t going to harm the training. And a saint I am not. Hope I keep to the other New Years’ resolutions I set myself.       

The training alternated from bike to run and then Friday was my day off. There were a few challenging runs with the wind blowing force 10 but I’m loath to sign up to a gym and do it on a treadmill. Are you a man or a mouse! And the turbo set up at home has become my friend after a few years of hating each other with a passion.

Saturday was long bike time. Now, at this time of year I normally take the MTB out, even on the roads. Lock out the front shocks and with nobbly tyres it’s a fair workout. Wet, greasy roads are not a friend of mine since a wipe out 2 years ago when black ice resulted in me breaking not one elbow, but two. Difficult to do I know but I managed it. Did you know they only give you one sling and you get to choose which one! Anyway, I’m a tad tentative on the road bike in the winter since. However, I was feeling good for it yesterday and so dusted it down. Very please I did too. I think it might have to become the norm this year. Also, it’s been a while since I flicked the bird at a driver but had the greatest pleasure when one started beeping me and gesturing when he went past, pointing towards the cycle lane, clearly saying that I should be in it and not on his treasured road. Highway Code 63 sunshine!

Finished the week off with a nice easy 7 mile run this morning. Zone 2 and just ticking over. I much prefer the long runs like these to interval training Z3 –Z4. Never been a fan.

My Garmin Forerunner 405cx arrived too on Friday and set up was pretty easy. Well, after I’d initially set myself up as a 50 year old lady from Venezuela that is. The two sessions this weekend have been done using it and I’m sure will benefit the training. So, a good 70 miles in the bank this week.