Sunday 30 November 2008

Missed Targets

I should be feeling better about my training after this week but I'm not. I was in the gym Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as well as on the turbo trainer on Tuesday night. I also went to the gym on Saturday and Sunday which makes for nearly 10 hours of exercise.

However, whilst I made my goals for running and completed-sessions this month, I missed my cycling goals. It turns out I am a bit of a fair weather rider. Its partly because I haven't got all the correct winter gear like overshoes and a good jacket but partly because its no fun cycling in the wet and cold. I can stay on the bike all day when the weather is OK but add wind and/or cold and its miserable.

Running is OK in bad weather. You warm up quickly, you don't really need any specialist gear, your temperature stays constant and within minutes of getting home, you can strip off, chuck everything in the washing machine and jump in the bath. Cycling, on the other hand, is a pain. I'm hot up the climbs and cold on the descents. I feel like I'm carrying too much stuff and then you have a 30 minute job when you get back to clean the crud off your bike.

OK, its not quite as bad as all that but still, I can see myself swapping a ride for a run more than once over the winter. I wonder how this will affect my cycling ability come next February.

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