Thursday 9 December 2010

What I've been doing!

I've been getting stuck into some good training recently, even with all the snow and cold weather. Since I started my winter training I've managed to put together a real solid block with plenty of swimming and running with only a small amount of biking. I've seen a steady improvement in both my swimming and running over the last few weeks, which I put down to improved strength in my swim and a bit of weight loss which has helped my run, not to mention the overall consistent training which is probably the most important part to see an improvement.
I've been really mixing the strokes up a lot in the swim and one of my key strength sessions in the week has been a session which consists of: 1000m w/up - 8 x 100 IM off 1.40 - 40 x 25 fly off 30sec - 1500 pull/band/pads - 400ez bk/fr - Not a massive session at 4700m but a solid strength session that I've really felt the benefit from. My run training has been going well, been getting in some solid long miles off road with some solid treadmill sessions that have really helped improved my leg speed. The bike training has been minimal at the minute, which hasn't been a bad thing with all the snow, but I will be stepping up the bike training over the Christmas period. One added session has been the Watt bike session that I am taking at The Bike Studio, above Lutterworth Cycle Centre in Lutterworth. These bikes are fantastic with all the info you get off them you can really track your progress from week to week. Been getting a good group of cyclists and fitness enthusiasts coming to the class.
No colds or infections yet! Thanks Elagen there for helping with that!
Until next time, be careful out there in the ice!

Thursday 2 December 2010

Training Update


Well I've been back training now for a few weeks and all is going OK. Apart from the one crash that I had on my bike! Well it just wouldn't be British if I didn't crash my bike at least every two months! I think I'm going to be getting some stabilizers form Santa this Christmas! All was OK though and I managed to pick myself up with just a little road rash. The funniest part was looking round and seeing my mate Rob Orr upside down in a hedge! Yea, sorry about taking you out there Rob but I blame our other training buddy, Tim Mcdowell, who was on the front and didn't tell us about the ice until we hit it! Shrewd move by Tim as he used it to his advantage and put the boot in and sprint away from us! We will retaliate Tim, just got to get my stabilizers first!
Whilst I'm on the subject of crashing, I went round to see my old mate Terry Vaughn last week who is recovering from a really nasty crash. He broke six ribs and broke his sternum, punctured a lung and then to top it off he caught pneumonia! With all those nasty injuries he still tried to ride his bike after as he had to get back to his car then managed to drive fifty miles home! But then spent two weeks in hospital. He is recovering and he's up and about walking and gardening.
The last couple of weeks I have started teaching a bike class at the www.bikestudio.co.uk on Wattbikes based at Lutterworth Cycle Centre. These bikes are awesome bits of kit and especially good this time of year when its freezing cold and snowing. So if you live in the Lutterworth area and want to improve your cycling with other like minded people then get yourselves booked in. I teach the Wednesday night classes where we focus on speed! The other classes are endurance based classes.
Well thats it for now, be safe out there!