Back into training mode - mostly.

There have been a few hiccups in the last week, and public holidays (Easter) disrupt the routines and sometimes make it harder, rather than easier to train. I don't really have more time to train on holidays, so that advantage is gone!

The weight training is going well, and I am sort of regretting not getting back into it sooner. I have done weight training pretty regularly since I was around 15 and until I moved to Auckland (bit over 5 years ago). I was not really training seriously at any point since moving up here, and just was not a priority. I knew it was going to be a shock to the system, and started out very conservatively. However, I was still surprised at how much strength I had lost. But the strength is improving rapidly, with last week being the first session in 3 weeks where there has not been an improvement (in either weight or reps done), and then the following session was a gain as well. I have started with a basic set of exercises, mostly focused on the legs, and when I feel I have started to plateau out a little, then I will mix the sessions up a little. So while I have sore muscles much of the time - the ITB has settle settle down, and I am actually feeling gains in the other training too. Now I just need to stretch more so I don't end up with muscles even shorter than they currently are!

The total mileage goal for swimming in a month was a good one - as it has been quite motivating. It has got me out of bed when I really did not feel like getting out of bed at least once, and I have finished a couple of swim sessions that I would have got out early previously (when the others in the lane leave it can be difficult not to follow suit!). I have missed a couple of swims (having to work at squad time), and realized that swimming in "public" lanes is fraught with danger (mainly slower swimmers not liking faster swimmers in the fast lane!). I should make the 40km for the month, although I will miss two swims next week (Easter Monday and working on another early morning). I will have to work out a not-squad time to swim, so that when I can't make squad sessions, I can actually get a useful swim in without tearing my hair out with breaststrokers in the fast lane...

The running is going well. Have made a couple of runs over 1hr30min, although might struggle with the total time goal - that has to be next week! I think the weights are definitely helping keep the niggles at bay. I did miss a couple of runs, due to not being able to walk after getting a little too enthusiastic with the calf raises!

The bike is on the very low priority list at the moment, and not too worried there. I thought I would take the bike intervals a little easier last week, but as it turned out the power output was not really that far off my best 5min in the last year or so. Perhaps another result from the weights... I have had a powertap for over 2 years now, and I am sure it value will come to the forefront in the middle of the year and onward. If I had a power meter when I raced as a pro, I am sure my results would have been significantly different. I was like the missing link when I first started using it. There are downsides, but once you sort out what you should be doing, and actually do that - it is a fantastic tool! For those that like numbers - when I was in pretty good shape, I did a 40km bike TT and a 10km run TT as part of a study at The university (in the lab!). I managed to average just under 400watts for the 40km TT, and at bike class this week my best 5 minute power output was just over 370 watts.

Overall things are going well. Not perfect, but I am getting into a routine, and meeting goals!