Well it had to happen! and happen it did, after a slight calf muscle pull developed,
I carried on training and even raced a running cross-country event(which I did enjoy), and then got run-down, and picked up a nasty cold/flu. Luckily it was not one that progressed to an infection, but it did stop me dead in my tracks from training.
Although not welcome, I suppose it came at the best time possible, what with the snowy, icy, wintry conditions, Christmas and holiday time combined,I could just not go on the bike anyway, so have had to rest up, and only just ease myself back into light sessions on the treadmill and turbo trainer.
Santa was kind to me and now I am equipped with a Garmin gps and a nice new shiny triple chain set which I will fit when time permits, and then I can start tackling longer hills as the weather improves and the hill training done over the winter is put into practice, as I search out new routes wide and far away.
I will be mixing up the training for the next fortnight as personal circumstance dictate this but hopefully as the weather improves soon, then I can get my focus back onto the bike with new aplomb.
Monday 28 December 2009
Monday 7 December 2009
Training still on track.
Well, a little bit more time has passed and the training has remained constant, with the sessions feeling easier as I have grown stronger.
I have tried to steer away from competition, of any sort, as the strain of high intensity effort, is too draining, physically, to be able to maintain my endurance on the longer sessions that I am doing.
I am doing 6 sessions on the hard weeks and 5 sessions on the easier weeks, with a drop in distance to allow the body to recover.
The six sessions comprise the following elements, which I have identified as being crucial to any successful attempt on the TOURMALET:
2 recovery cross training type sessions, made up of 4mile run, 15min rowing and a short weights and stretching element to ease out the muscles.
Running club, speed work type session doing 400m, 800m, 1000m, or 1mile reps, done with appropriate recoveries in-between.
Cycle turbo trainer session done to boost climbing strength and endurance.
A long slow run, preferably off-road in a cross country type setting.
A long slow cycle ride, done at a very leisurely pace, concentrating on distance and technique rather than speed or going to off hard.
Hopefully this routine will cover the basic needs of endurance build-up, and also gaining the additional skills that will be needed come the big day.
The improvements are coming but it is still a long way off and a lot of work has still to be completed in the days, weeks and months ahead.
I have tried to steer away from competition, of any sort, as the strain of high intensity effort, is too draining, physically, to be able to maintain my endurance on the longer sessions that I am doing.
I am doing 6 sessions on the hard weeks and 5 sessions on the easier weeks, with a drop in distance to allow the body to recover.
The six sessions comprise the following elements, which I have identified as being crucial to any successful attempt on the TOURMALET:
2 recovery cross training type sessions, made up of 4mile run, 15min rowing and a short weights and stretching element to ease out the muscles.
Running club, speed work type session doing 400m, 800m, 1000m, or 1mile reps, done with appropriate recoveries in-between.
Cycle turbo trainer session done to boost climbing strength and endurance.
A long slow run, preferably off-road in a cross country type setting.
A long slow cycle ride, done at a very leisurely pace, concentrating on distance and technique rather than speed or going to off hard.
Hopefully this routine will cover the basic needs of endurance build-up, and also gaining the additional skills that will be needed come the big day.
The improvements are coming but it is still a long way off and a lot of work has still to be completed in the days, weeks and months ahead.
Friday 20 November 2009
improvements starting to show?
A bit of time has now gone by and after more training sessions, things are starting to pay off.
The purpose at the moment is to increase my base level, with 3 harder weeks followed by an easier week, the training will be all geared with slow endurance type work, and general hill climbing work done on the turbo, a long slow run, but a running club night is still kept in there for variety.
My weight is another area that I looked at and a diet modifacation has seen my weight drop slightly and I am currently 75.9kg, but there is room to see a drop there hopefully into the 69 kg region?
My running times over 5k have improved by a minute and over 5miles it is a minute and a half, and I do feel stronger in my performances.
So things are going well, although I do appreciate that it will not always be as good as this, and there will be weeks where things go pear shaped as well!
The purpose at the moment is to increase my base level, with 3 harder weeks followed by an easier week, the training will be all geared with slow endurance type work, and general hill climbing work done on the turbo, a long slow run, but a running club night is still kept in there for variety.
My weight is another area that I looked at and a diet modifacation has seen my weight drop slightly and I am currently 75.9kg, but there is room to see a drop there hopefully into the 69 kg region?
My running times over 5k have improved by a minute and over 5miles it is a minute and a half, and I do feel stronger in my performances.
So things are going well, although I do appreciate that it will not always be as good as this, and there will be weeks where things go pear shaped as well!
Wednesday 11 November 2009
Saturday 7 November 2009
Introduction-part 2
So to carry on with some background information,
Age-45
Status-Married
Children-One (nearly left home)
Work-yes to fund cycling?
Place of residence-the flat fenlands
A sport background of recreational jogger, untill 2004 when I joined a running club and tried to loose weight and improve my overall fitness level, from impending couch potatoe, to elite athlete?
From a 5 hour plus marathon time, it now looks like 3:30hour is a realistic target with my running and after 8 marathons my endurance level has improved.
Cycling was brought about by age, and increasing amounts of injuries so I looked for a non-impact sport to supplement my running, and found a new love for cycling.
A friend sold me a nice bike secondhand, (thank you Ben,) Last summer, and off I went, literally, falling off at every junction after going down the clip-in pedal/shoe route.
But I stuck with it and was frightened, excited, pleased, knackered, amongst a host of other emotions as I learnt what riding a racing bike actually meant.
After watching last years, and this years, tour de france, and doing a local club summer sportive, I was hooked and vowed to take on the challenge of the l`etape du tour myself.
A very long way to go I know, and 68 miles is my furthest distance cycled so far, and 228metres stands as my highest climb, so you can see that I have a mountain to climb ahead of me, Literally, but heh! this is what it is all about is`nt it.
So there you have it, who I am, and what I am aiming to do, I will post weekly and give you updates of how things have gone, what improvements are made, rides completed, problems that arise, and there will be lots of those, but watch this space, and lets see what happens.
Age-45
Status-Married
Children-One (nearly left home)
Work-yes to fund cycling?
Place of residence-the flat fenlands
A sport background of recreational jogger, untill 2004 when I joined a running club and tried to loose weight and improve my overall fitness level, from impending couch potatoe, to elite athlete?
From a 5 hour plus marathon time, it now looks like 3:30hour is a realistic target with my running and after 8 marathons my endurance level has improved.
Cycling was brought about by age, and increasing amounts of injuries so I looked for a non-impact sport to supplement my running, and found a new love for cycling.
A friend sold me a nice bike secondhand, (thank you Ben,) Last summer, and off I went, literally, falling off at every junction after going down the clip-in pedal/shoe route.
But I stuck with it and was frightened, excited, pleased, knackered, amongst a host of other emotions as I learnt what riding a racing bike actually meant.
After watching last years, and this years, tour de france, and doing a local club summer sportive, I was hooked and vowed to take on the challenge of the l`etape du tour myself.
A very long way to go I know, and 68 miles is my furthest distance cycled so far, and 228metres stands as my highest climb, so you can see that I have a mountain to climb ahead of me, Literally, but heh! this is what it is all about is`nt it.
So there you have it, who I am, and what I am aiming to do, I will post weekly and give you updates of how things have gone, what improvements are made, rides completed, problems that arise, and there will be lots of those, but watch this space, and lets see what happens.
Tuesday 3 November 2009
INTRODUCTION - 3 NOVEMBER 2009
Hi my name is Shaun and this the first of hopefully many, episodes of my individual journey, as I set out to take on the challenge, known as LE ETAPE DU TOUR 2010.
A cycle race over a stage of the TOUR DE FRANCE 2010, through the mountains, that the pro`s will also ride a few days later, over 100 miles in length and 2000metres high, this will be a challenge unlike I have ever attempted.
I am a million miles away from that level of ability, at the moment, but I hope to be on the top of the Tourmalet on the 18th july after achieving this goal.
I will try to keep you posted along the way, and will explain where I am starting from over the next few days.
So untill then?
A cycle race over a stage of the TOUR DE FRANCE 2010, through the mountains, that the pro`s will also ride a few days later, over 100 miles in length and 2000metres high, this will be a challenge unlike I have ever attempted.
I am a million miles away from that level of ability, at the moment, but I hope to be on the top of the Tourmalet on the 18th july after achieving this goal.
I will try to keep you posted along the way, and will explain where I am starting from over the next few days.
So untill then?
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