OK… so build week definitely lived up to its name! While in the last couple weeks of Base training I was being a wee bit lax in terms of sticking out some of the workouts, the jump in volume from what my body was used to and this past week was remarkable. Even taking into account the little bit of “moving things around” that was required to accommodate the vagaries of real life getting in the way.
Let’s break my week down, piece by piece. Let’s start with work. It went well… was uneventful but productive until the very end of the week when my immediate manager – a member of the leadership team – decided to resign. Nothing sinister. Just heading back to the industry from which he came. A good guy. I’m sure we’ll stay in touch… just requires some quick thinking around the office to decide what it is that we’re going to do to shift the work around so things get done.
At home, the boys are a going concern…. for some reason it seemed like forever since I have been able to spend any time with them. And to some degree this weekend was no better. Seems as they get older and have more activities the less time I end up spending with them… though at the same time I do get more opportunities for one-on-one time with them… which is nice in its own way. My bathroom renovations have been on hiatus – waiting for some dedicated time to focus… this coming weekend! I will get everything done — at least everything for which I have the materials! Still need to order the countertop and drawer unit. Will be nice when I have it done. I figure so long as its done by summer! (end of!!!)
And my training… well, still feeling strong and healthy! That’s the most important. No worries, no pains – at least nothing more than residual sore / tiredness. Swimming has been especially tough. Longer / harder sets. And more of them. Definitely going to be getting stronger if I can pull my way through the workouts!I can feel the workouts in my shoulders, chest and arms. the burn is nice… though at the time I could use a snorkel! Trying to suck in enough air while simultaneously churning through the water can sometimes be challenging! Scary as it is, its only a few more weeks until we end up starting the outdoor swims in Guelph Lake! BRRRR!!!!
The rides? Well…. longer is the word of the week! A few longer interval workout on the trainer during the week… then a nice long (3:45) ride on Saturday. The weather could have been a bit nicer… overcast and chilly… But otherwise the ride was great. 110 kms… rolling hills… and through the countryside north of Guelph — including a “warm-up” stop at a wee charming coffee shop in Fergus for a mocha and cookie (ok 2 cookies, but one was a day-old!). The wind was out in full force again — well actually it wasn’t terrible. But there was definitely a stretch through which I just had to grit my teeth and grind away! The biggest area I need some thought and concentration into is my on-bike nutrition. Given the temperature, I didn’t feel like drinking a tonne while riding — which in itself isn’t healthy cause I know I need to take in liquids! — but on top of that, I’m still not sure what volume of carbs I need to or can intake to make sure I don;t run out of energy before the race will be over. Will have to continue to practice — and hope that as the weather warms, I can do so in more realistic conditions to those I am bound to race in.
And as for running… well, it’s going well. I’m not as fast as in previous years. Speed work is going to be required to put some “fast” back in my pace. But, given the kinds of races I’m doing this year, my ability to go long is way more important than the need to go fast. So… I’m not too worried. Some speed will inevitably come along with the rest of the training I am doing.
So very looking for ward to a massage to work some of the volume out of this body of mine!
The rides are significantly longer too!
Build Phase Week 1 -Training (week ending 29/04/2012) –
- Hours training: 12 Hrs
- Swim distance: 7,200m
- Bike Distance: 162 kms
- Run Distance: 23.5 kms
- Weight (Sunday AM): 164 lbs
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