Well, Ive been rather slack on here of late, The truth being, because I have been rather slack in general of late! I pretty much took all of xmas and new year off of training and on eating, Gained a little weight, lost a little fitness, Although, Had a great time doing so.
With the new year in, the plan was to kick start straight back into action as of the 2nd of jan, that didn’t quite go to plan. after having over 2 weeks completely off training, for some reason I decided to go straight back in to a 10km X-Country race, the Somerley 10km. Then tick over with some solid training in the week and then hit Milborne 10mile road race on the Sunday. Not my wisest plan but a plan none-the-less. A plan that didn’t go to plan…
Monday 2nd Jan- Somerley 10km- A good honest 10km race, All off road around the grounds of Somerley estate. 2 laps with one hill on each lap. Lots of familiar faces there which led to me chatting away half way down the starting chute when the race started. Already playing catch up from the get-go. Went out a little too fast trying to catch the front pack, running along the grass at the side of the track due to the sheer volume of people i had started behind. Eventually found some space and settled in to a rhythm. picking people off up the hills, getting picked off on the way back down them. Duelling with a lady who turned out to be first woman and at half way was told I was sat in 9th and also, Not to get ‘chicked’. Very uneventful second 5km trying to stay up with the rapid chick. eventually in the final 1km I picked up the pace and she didn’t respond leading me to 7th place with 39.10. Not my fastest by any stretch but considering I was heavy, undertrained, underprepared and out of ‘race practice’ I was really happy with it, If i had started in a better position It would have save me a good 30-45 seconds and therefore giving me something in the mid 38′s and also 5th position.
Tuesday- Day off, Legs trashed!
Wednesday- Run with the running club, Again we broke away for a more specific session, Just me and Justin, hit out 7 miles around 7/mile so happy enough with that
Thursday- Easy run with Client. 5 miles very easy. Spin in the evening.
Friday- Day off, once again
Saturday- Slack, Day off
Sunday-Milborne 10- I was fully planning to take this one nice and easy just to get some mileage back in the legs- Once again a plan that failed, Within the first mile I found myself at the front of a group with a runner who was running too fast for my liking, yet I didn’t want him to think I couldn’t hack the pace so I stuck on him. The milborne course is a hilly one and the first real hill is at 3 miles with a smaller kick at 2.5 miles. It soon became apparent to me that the runner I was with couldn’t run hills as I briefly dropped him on the small hill, By the time we made the first big climb I was into a rhythm, Stuck with my pace and pushed on up the hill alone, The last I saw of him until the end. At the top I was alone, No runners I could see ahead, And wasn’t looking behind. Eventually got caught my 2 Little down harriers, Ran with them, Same thing as the last, They couldn’t run uphill so I dropped them at every rise, Unfortunately, I cant run downhill so they would always catch me on the other side! The last hill is at 7-8 miles and with that out of the way, the pace was upped, alot. We started our push on to the finish way faster than I had wanted but went with it anyway. Got dropped by one of the harriers and dropped the other, Stayed in these positions to the end. 63.18 and 23rd place, Again, Happy with it considering… Also was a Dorset road race league race so all of the best boys were there. Was won by Steve Way in 52.24, 15 secs or so off course record, Not too bad considering he had already run 104 miles in the previous 6 days including 28 miles in 2.59 on the Tuesday, freak 
Total Times- Weak But expected given the intensity and aching muscles!
Swim- 0 hour
Bike- 50 mins
Run- 3.35 hours/ 28 miles
S&C- 0 hours
So on to the new week I Had to start getting some swim and bike back in, this was helped by Masters swimming restarting after the holidays as well…
Monday- 50 minute recovery ride on the turbo after 10 miler day before, Masters swimming, 1 hour
Tuesday- Good off road run 6.5 miles 50 mins S&C Set in the gym using TRX RIP trainer, Kettlebells and Steelbells. Very tough, Very sore!
Wednesday- Spin Class at lunch, Good to have the guys back and working hard, 8.5 mile hard run, Mostly off road and very lumpy.1.05 hours. Had very limited time so was pleased with the run afterwards, Spent the evening babysitting and playing just dance on the wii, not as much fun when you can barely walk on stiff legs, Thanks S&C!
Thursday- Easy run with client in the morning, 4 miles. 1 hour bike, first time actually out on the roads for a month, Nice to be back out but man is it cold! Hard Spin class in the evening. 2km in the pool after work, only had 45 mins so swam in sets of 200m with a very short recovery in between.
Friday- Day Off
Saturday- Parkrun in the morning, steady run with a friend, 22 mins ish, Followed by a further 7.5 miles in the evening running alongside sister who was riding her horse. just under 11 miles for the day
Sunday- Was supposed to be meeting the boy Andy Sloan but overslept, Bad boy, so just hit out 2 hours by myself on the bike
Total Times- getting better but not quite on it
Swim- 1.45 hour/ 4.4kms
Bike- 5.30 hours
Run- 4 hours/ 30 miles
S&C- 45 mins
Total of 12 hours for the week
Happy to get back to some sort of volume, Hopefully get up to 15 hours or so by the end of next week, Starting to lean up again and feel a bit fitter, Trying to book a week away with some of the guys to get some solid work in before the first test at Dambuster duathlon to hopefully get my name down for the world duathlon champs.
More of the same this coming week, consistency is the key…
