Monday, May 23, 2016

Questions and No Answers.

Wanting to train is the biggest strain on brain. Not even a rhyme I intended but still better that talking about cycling.

I wonder why I decided to undertake this challenge. What am I proving? What am I hoping to learn? Not sure I know the answer to any of the above. There is of course those few minutes, hours of euphoria on completing such a task assuming one is completed. Then again one might wonder, why do I only start the dear diary shit when I'm not feeling good and therefore have more time to moan. I also seem to wonder alot.
It's wonderful.

So on previous point had I written this last Saturday week on completion of 105k with more climbing that expected, with a faster average than expected and with less effort than expected possibly I'd be more positive. But I didn't as I was too busy wallowing in self praise and enjoyment. Who has time to write then?

A great day in the mountains where realistically I didn't struggle until 93k in. The first 67k were a dream including a successful Sally gap climb, a previous nemesis of mine, before a quick pit stop and back to the Wicklow gap, the hills of Hollywood and home. Averaging a more than impressive (in my book) 26kpm really helps the successful feeling of the day. Never mind the sun shining and a tad of tan it was the perfect cycling day. Not many days you're hoping for a breeze on the Wicklow gap. Not a breath of air as a old man once said.

So done and dusted after a brief spin Monday to loosen out, back seriously in the saddle for a swift 30 at 30 on Wednesday felt good but not fast enough. But when ever is one happy with ones achievements. Is striving for more a curse or a blessing. Either way I've 200k to complete in 3 weeks now so that sorta talk is off the table.

We've decided to be positive. Not a decision you can force your mind to take but sure we'll try. I don't feel very positive and saying you are going to be positive is one thing. Achieving and beating the mind monkeys is another step. Music, podcasts conversation, distraction in all and any way are welcome but inside ones head is another place. And noone can talk you out of that.

Training is a drag. Talking myself out of training isn't. The plan for sunday was a 100 plus up the gaps to test what I built last week. But I got up and didn't go. Many excuses. The main one when you get to this level of training is always family. Which is more important. Spending quality time or achieving a task that means nothing. Yes I'll be fitter but how does that enrich my son's life. I'm not sure on all or any of the answers but I've committed now. So eventually Sunday I got out and once you are out its never as bad as you expect. The average improves, the motivation to improve it grows as does the search for new interesting roads and routes and then 62k under the belt ya get home and wonder could you have done more. Course ya could. You always can. Bar injury the body can always be pushed. And can always be pushed more by someone else. The internal turnoff switch always saves some reserve. I assume a built in fight or flight saving. The battery never dies.

So the week in future is high gear turbo hour today, off tomorrow, 30k wed, 64k hills thurs and a 30k spin to bring in the weekend away. Far away from the bike.

Then we're down to the final two weeks. Training. Eating. Thinking. Recovering. Planning. Thinking. Thinking. And let's face it probably more thinking.

It probably doesn't help but it's always on your mind.

To succeed one needs to win the battle inside.

A tune for tonight...
Pet Shop Boys....Always On My Mind.

Monday, May 9, 2016

Hill Skills and other ridiculous outings

Another week over and they seem to be going by so much faster.

205k all in for last week as well as a testing game of soccer and a 4.15am 5k walk makes it a pretty successful week in my book. Is it enough - well we'll just have to wait and see.

Definately taking in more hills and trying different approaches to hills in how to save energy and also how to ride more powerfully. As usual strong Internet reading training, yeah it's a thing was the basis for this and also plenty of practice last night and on Friday last.

Very enjoyable 66k spin last night taking in 3 large climbs but the legs felt fresh and it was worth the effort. Apart from a wrong turn on the way home and 2 horrible hail showers mental strength was good and I was dry by the time I got home. The hills succumbed to my relentless pedal power and dogged determination not to give up. Well that's how I imagine it would sound like if I ever make the papers.
An Irishman Abroad podcast featuring Bressie wiped out  the first 40k and tunes for the homeward stretch ensured spirits, and averages remained high including a King of Mountain segment. Even though not on a very hard section. But still better than everyone else so I'm taking it.
Possibly messed up my nutrition before/after and wasn't feeling great last night post but much better today and at least I know that's something I need to focus on for the longer day.
Good hill sprints Friday evening and although a tough session it still felt great to pass people out on the climbs. Struggled on the way home with a sugar low. Definitely need to focus more on my food intake around cycles. Generally the rest of the time I'm eating well so only minor adjustments.

This week won't be a big one. Working towards a 100k sportif on saturday with many large climbs. Not sure who I'll be out with if anyone so potential for long stretches of mental strength necessary to get me true the dark miles.
This will be the longest I've done all year but also I've cycled this before with less training so hopefully a case of mind over matter.

A famous guy once said cycling for more than 2 hours is a waste of time, literally a waste of time, especially with a demanding family life to work around. So we decided after 2 hours or 60 odd kms it's just about a strong mind and a sore arse. Then again what's cycling without a sore arse. 

So plan for the week, including working six days, rest, work, soccer, 50k flat, rest, the big one.

Weather expectations crappy for the end of the week so the enjoyable, warm, shorts and jersey, easy drying spin of yesterday may just be a memory.

A song for tonight, it's gotta be the song that powered me home last night...

Take it away The Police - Roxanne.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

The beginning I suppose...

I've been considering a blog for some time now in relation to my continued efforts to train for the Wicklow200, w200 in six weeks time. While training (loosely) since January and now six wks from the event it probably a good idea to chalk some of this down in case I ever decide again to be silly and unnecessary.

Generally the thoughts of blogging come on lonely painful rides when a few minutes distraction from the wind, the rain or just the cycling come as a welcome break. Today I decided to focus on the two efforts while on the turbo mainly to distract from my sweating levels. It's a spin day anyway so I deserve a rest right?

I've been cycling for a few years now generally starting in early January building to a 400km round trip charity spin to Galway near the end of march and flirting with some light training before another 50/100k sportif in the hills of Wicklow in may. The next time I generally think about the bike it's October, I've missed the summer being too busy doing everything else and sure it's too cold to cycle then. Until January.

This year was different. April was my most riding month clicking up over 460km and May has started well with a quick 30, a windy 80 and a casual sweaty blogging 25. Ish. Onwards and upwards as they say although the mental demons are knocking at the door, a story for another day.

We started cycling in January, that's me and my most regular cycling partner and general cycling expert. A long cold first day out covering a massive 27k at 21kph. I wasn't sure cycling was for me anymore. Another early retirement from the season? I forget which came first, the cycling or the w200 idea. The chicken or the egg. The egg or the chicken.

So that was January, a day a week, 5 months to train, how hard could it be? How much life could it take over? Ask my wife, she's tired of cycling speak, the clothes, the gear, the bikes, the knowledge of the ever continuous Internet, and of course the heart rate zones and how interesting they all are to me. Not her. But I tell her anyway. 
And I haven't even started on lactate thresholds. What an exciting one way chat that will be as she holds her ears and rocks back and forward.

So hopefully I'll keep more focused with this than the slow training weeks. In short it'll be catchup from the months gone by, things I should have done, things I shouldn't have done, the mental strengths (and weaknesses) and exciting performance updates as we get closer to that day in June. It'll be brilliant.

And if no one ever reads this at least I'll know to skip the blog next time and just listen to the music.

A song for today?
Let's go with Pixies - Monkey Gone To Heaven.