The Winter Grind and a Little Bit of Sun

So the end of January 2015 has come around already, time really is flying by now, and less than 10 weeks to Ironman South Africa : gulp:. Since my last update, training has been going well if not a tad tedious grinding away the hours on the turbo, but when the roads and/or weather are not that great you just have to get on with it. Yes, I did a 4 hour and a 5 hour turbo session in the same week (got to make the most of the time off work, even if the weather is pants), I always think it is good mental training as well though. Ruth thought I was a nutter, then again she could well be right ;)

I had a couple of weeks off work over Christmas, perfect time to get some quality training in. This was the first year since I started TTing that I didn't race the Southborough and District New Year's Day 10 mile TT, this meant no throttling back on training to be fresh for the TT. I got in a very decent 23 hours of training in the Christmas week, even with all family stuff going on. I did manage to get out to the race to watch though, it was quite a pleasant feeling not hammering myself on a coldish windy New Year’s Day.

Talking of family stuff, this Christmas was quite chilled even with the training, Heather does Morris Dancing so this meant a couple of great afternoons frequenting local pubs to watch her dance, what better way to chill out on a cold winters day. Fun was had by all and it really is a good antidote to the rigors of training. In fact a lot of New Year's Day was spent in various pubs lol, unfortunately as I was driving very little alcohol was consumed.

I wasn't back at work for long before I was off to Tenerife to join up with Joe Skipper and Eleanor Haresign for a warm training camp. The thought of doing plenty of riding not sat on a turbo trainer was a very pleasing thought indeed, and a great way to get a great training load in. Just wish I had lots of work holidays, I think I would spend even more time away.

Eleanor and Joe

 

 Eleanor and I at the top of the Masca Climb

 

 

Tenerife was ace, training alongside Joe and Ele was a great learning experience, we had a great week with some real solid training, Joe and I even got around to a bit of an 8 hour+ ride taking in the hills around Masca and then finishing off with a 2 hour blast up Mount Teide, long and very tiring day. I must say a big thank you to both Joe and Ele for allowing me to share the training camp, I wish all the best to both of them in 2015.The downside was it ended far too quickly and all too soon it was back to a very chilly Blighty.

Mount Teide in the Distance

Still the show must go on, training load has been massive over the the last 3 to 4 weeks, but there is still 6 to 7 weeks of hard graft yet to come. Luckily for me there is another warm week away training, this time in Almeria at the beginning of March. That can't come around soon enough.

Must admit I am getting a little excited, and nervous about Ironman South Africa. I know I can only go out there and do my best, and fitness then will be higher than any point in 2014, but I just keep thinking of the things that could go wrong. I guess I will just have to make sure I minimise and stupid ones that I could make and leave the rest in the lap of the gods. I know what I am capable of, I just have to focus on that and believe it will all come together.

I will admit, that's what keeps me motivated especially at this time of the year, all this effort will be worth it.