Great expectations

What a difference a week can make.........
I had previously drafted an update that dwelt on my poor diet and how depressed I had been with recent performances when training (even though I had only just tentatively started back). Only four days after the initial draft and my morose thoughts have lifted, causing me to delete in total my previous depressive ramblings and place more positive words in there place.

Have started to ride too and from work, its only a 14 mile round trip but with the longer lighter days I am hoping to take detours and extend this figure. I have had a couple of soakings already but as another Celtic Tri member mentioned last week, I cant predict what the weather will be like on the fateful day so I might as well train in all weathers to ensure that all bases are covered.

Last ride out was with two club members, Anthony and Hayley, after only 9 miles I felt totally smashed! Its really evident that I need to work on my power to weight ratio as every incline I had to work really hard in order to keep up with them. Subsequenly I decided not to climb over the major hill on the planned route and opted to do an undulating 30 mile TT. Not pleased with my lack of 'oomph' but pleased with the 17.9mph average speed.

My running is slowly getting there, been struggling to do 3 mile but my last run the day before yesterday was quite comfortable(ish). Going to do this run twice more and then start, if I am ready, to add distance on. Plan is to run at least 4 times a week, three short efforts followed by one long one.

At long last my wound is now healed enough to go swimming, even surprised myself by giving it an extra couple of days to ensure it was OK. It felt so good to be back in the pool this morning for my return swim, it was only 1400meters (Zoggs Predator goggles are the biz! Will review them properly after a couple more swims) and wanted to go further but as I plan do to quite a bit of swimming this week, did not want to trash  muscles that had not been used for a while.

So this is it, four weeks more recuperation than I thought but I am now able to do everything I had been doing prior to the operation, just not as quick or as long. Challenge is now not to go out there and do too much too soon while managing my personal expectations and continuing to push myself.