Time to get back into it.

seany15

So, I've decided that I should make myself accountable for getting a good winter in.

A bit of background, I got a bike on the B2W scheme about 4 years ago. I used it a few times for going to work (at a 63km commute, I couldn't do it every day). The bike sat up barely used for about 2 years, then in 2012, I decided I'd do the Leinster Loop 130. And then I was hooked.

I've since joined (set up??) a club in the town, and took up racing in 2013 just entering the local club league. 2013 was a fairly good year, I was totally off the pace for the first half of the year, and didn't finish a race with the bunch until the 5th round. But started to get a bit better, getting a few top 20s and came 11th in the TT round. A terrible winter followed, 6 weeks off the bike with a back injury, then another 4 with a serious chest infection I couldn't shake.

I decided I'd try open racing, sure why not. In Feb I had a woeful outing in the Ned Flanagan, was ridden off inside 15km. Put in a big few weeks on the road/turbo trainer and 5 weeks later managed a decent ride around in the Lucan GP. It got better from there really, had a few top 10s in the Local League, won a few primes, and also picked up a win in the June version of the Ned Flanagan in Kildare, albeit a dead heat (I'm still claiming the win). Finished 9th overall in the club league, then had intended to have a go at the Laragh Classic, but work commitments seriously hampered training, and wound up off the bike for almost 6 weeks.

So here I am. Went out last Sunday with the guys from the club. Managed to get around 45km in before i started to feel like I'd need to start getting back for home. http://www.strava.com/activities/208059571 I forgot to set the Bryton off at the start [rolls eyes]. I suffered for the last 15km back home.

So the road begins here. Goals for this year are to get a good winter in, Mrs Seany is due baby no. 2 in January, so I expect a few missed sessions around then. I hope to try some track racing this year, and depending on finances, a bit of mountain biking too.

Sorry for the long post. Hopefully I'll keep going cause of this.

seany15

Well, what a disaster the last few weeks have turned out to be. With a three year old, a pregnant wife and new job getting out had been a lot harder than I've thought. I've managed to take the bike to work one day since my last post. And that's pretty much it.

http://app.strava.com/activities/215440641

That said, today I did manage to build up the winter bike and give it a bit of a service, so I should be able to go between it and the turbo once I get the motivation.......

seany15

In the last most I mentioned that training had been a disaster. This has definitely held through to today. But I have started to move it the right direction (the right direction being moving anywhere). Last Wednesday I got out for a solo spin in what could only be described as appalling conditions. It was windy and wet. I've never been much of a fan of the wind, but I was at least out, and while it was my first spin this year on the winter bike, I was starting to see why I fell in love with the bike.

http://www.strava.com/activities/219957910

So at least I can say I've made a start. I suppose that being out on the bike is not just good for fitness. It's fairly therapeutic for the mind too. I was happy to be back. The winter bike needs a bit of adjusting, had a bit of lower back discomfort but nothing a decent stretch didn't cure.

Today I was able to get out with one of the guys from the club. We have for a few years been the only real 'Winter Warriors' at the club, and it was nice to get out with some company. Today it was foggy and cold, but we persevered. I broke for home and wound up with a solid 65km in the legs, with a substantial bit of looking at the road pointing up. It was definitely a tough spin, I haven't had as much climbing in one day since perhaps the Leinster Loop.

http://www.strava.com/activities/219957918

One thing I'm definitely missing is my HRM. Once again, the strap off the Bryton broke. Once payday arrives there will be another one coming from Wiggle.

Already I am seeing shades of my last two winters here, but I'm really determined to put in a hard few weeks now before Christmas. If the body holds up I will add in an extra spin during the week, and I've always been a bit of a fan of using Shaun T's insanity DVDs, have used them to drop some weight and build up the core and will be starting those again from Monday. The hardest thing to follow will definitely be the nutrition plan, as I'm not great at eating healthy, and I dunno if I can stick to 1600 calories a day. :pac::pac::pac:

seany15

A quick update - for the first time since August I made good on a threat of actually doing some training. As I mentioned above I have used "Insanity" DVDs in the past. But today, as I was chasing the three year old around whilst trying to keep (32 weeks pregnant) Mrs. Seany from stressing over anything, I quickly realized that, well, I ain't got that kinda time.

So instead of writing it off as another promise to myself broken, I did some internet scouting. Turns out that my good buddy Shaun T does a Quick workout series - T25. I figure I can give it 25 minutes a day. Should be easy enough.

WRONG!! There are no breaks. None. It's 25 mins of nothing but graft, focus and probably pain, but I can report back on that tomorrow. It was an intense workout. I've probably already shed weight in sweat alone. Bonus is that I'm now 15 minutes out since I finished up, and feel like I could do anything really, be it the bike or a 12 hour shift in work. It didn't even feel like 25 minutes. The first 5 were torture, getting my body used to doing, well, any kind of intense movement. But the next 15 were ok. You just keep going at it, use the modifiers when you need to, then plug away at it again.

I will admit that the final 5 minutes were possibly the longest of my life. I wanted to give it up, grab a towel and go to bed and cry into it.

But best of all, the pressure I had previously felt in my back when doing these high intensity workouts was next to none. I reckon I could still do with a cursory trip to the physical therapist or chiro to have a check over things, but that can hold for a bit.

In more cycling related news, new HRM strap on the way from wiggle, along with a new pair of dhb roubaix bibs, cause I can't bear paying for postage. Especially not when I can get new shorts for only an extra fiver!!!

Edited to Add: so much for a quick update.........

seany15

It seems I'm always starting these little "blog posts" with some form of self deprecating statement about why I haven't been training, and I know I should do more yadda yadda yadda...........

But after giving the T25 a few days, I started to feel a lot better in myself. In just a couple of days I was noticing a difference in my body - in fact the weight was really starting to come off (probably even more if I followed the nutrition plan, but two fingers to that, I LOVE food!!)

Anyway, back at the cycling ranch, after submitting my name for addition to "The Wimp List" last weekend, cause it was a bit cold for me and I was feeling a bit of a cold coming on, I managed to get out for a solo spin yesterday. My first day back out with a HRM too, so have a much better idea of where I am. And the answer to that is, well to be completely honest, in the sh*tter. went for one of the local climbs, and was the driver of the struggle bus the whole way up. But got up. Slowly. I did try to get in some power intervals in parts, but could feel the legs deadening after any expansive period of exertion. I had a few shot bloks with me, but really didn't want yo use them unless I was going to bonk altogether.

But that's going to be how it goes, it was the same last year, and I'll just have to convince myself that next year deciding to take time off the bike, no matter how tired I'm feeling just isn't worth it.

No matter. I shall persevere. I also dusted off the turbo this evening. And probably bit off a big chunk off more than I could chew, but took a chance on a sufferefest video - blender. I had to cut out early, because I was set up in the living area of the apartment and "her indoors" wanted to watch the toy show. But frankly, I felt good, felt strong. Started to feel like I could get a feel for interval training again. I plan to take tomorrow off, then take the bike to work on sunday. That's about 50km to work, so it'll be circa 100km round trip.

I'll bring a bit of grub for the way. Maybe a gel for the way back just in case - 12 hour shifts are long after all.