They think it's all over... it is now :)

In an effort to sort out the few final bits and bobs before 'proper' training starts tomorrow we've decided to utilise our Sunday evening hours a little more efficiently this week and write a joint blog entry...

We've only got one thing to say this week anyway.... thank god that's over! Regular readers of our ramblings will know that in order to remove all traces of fatigue from a long hard pb'd filled season, and at the same time relax mentally before what are certain to be the most challenging six months of our life, we decided to kick back and do pretty much no training for four weeks. Now most of you won't believe this but if there's one thing we're not addicted to (well maybe H is a little bit) it's exercise, and before you think we've gone completely mad let us explain that statement...

We are addicted to the feeling of achievement that crossing a finish line in a new pb gives us, we are addicted to starting each day as if it were our last, we are addicted to challenging ourselves to see if Adidas are in fact correct and 'Impossible is Nothing', we are addicted to spending endless hours together in pursuit of a common goal, we are addicted to following in the footsteps of those who inspire us... it just so happens that our current method of feeding all those addictions is training and competing in triathlon.

Sometimes however, you have to step backwards to step forwards and as such yesterday provided our first sensible training session since the Great North Run four weeks ago. So how's it been? Not good! We have done a little bit but only about 3-4 hours a week and nothing even close to remotely challenging, the only time we got out of breath was on a 20 second 'flying lap' round the Manchester Velodrome a few weeks ago and the only pain we went through was when Tom tripped over the ball just after running out of talent during a 5-a-side game. Other than that we've eaten like our life depended on it, stayed up / got up late, and oddly enough seemed shorter on time than when we were training... perhaps we might never know what happened to the 20+ hours per week we expected to be spending at will???

Anyway, the bottom line... was it fun? did it feel good? are we now refreshed and full of energy? and did we get all those things done that we'd put off since this time last year? No, no, no and no!

However...

Are we glad we did it? will we be stronger through winter? are we less likely to get injured/ill? and have we created a todo list to get all those things done at the same time as training? Yes, yes, yes and yes!

Yesterday morning we did a 75 minute fairly easy yet hilly run and in the evening we did a two hour steady turbo session. This morning our mate Ady came round and joined us for a four and a quarter hour ride during which Tom spent most of the time fighting the urge to get off and walk on the hills due to empty legs and burning lungs! It's amazing how quickly your conditioning can disappear and it's hard to believe that only last month we pb'd at the Great North... but conditioning fluctuates so much more than true fitness, which will still be there we just can't find it, and as long as we can push through the next couple of weeks we should be flying come Crimbo :)

Anyway, it's good to be back :)

Today's picture? Two great British champions... although some people out there doubt Paula's motivation when it comes to Team GB, her lack of Olympic medals I think are more likely down to her wanting them so much more than anything else which unfortunately can lead to pushing the training that bit too hard and arriving at the moment she's waited four years for somewhat cooked! As was the case following Athens its great to see her back on form and representing us across the pond. Talking of American adventures today also so Lewis Hamilton snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with a couple of laps to go before brilliantly swapping said defeat for the preferred option of victory with only a corner or so to go. There are two great lessons to learn from these great performances... both summed up rather well by this quote from a book which Helen recently read (apologies if we posted this previously)...

"Rule number one - try for every ball. Rule number two - if you can't reach the ball see rule number one"
- Seven Habits of Highly Effective Athletes

See you in seven,

T & H