Pso what???

In the blog yesterday I mentioned that I was heading out on the bike and that I hoped it wasn't going to be too rainy.

Well that didn't work out.

It might have only been patchy rain, but it seemed like I had a patch just follow me around. I started riding in blue(ish) skies but then road into rain after about 5 minutes. After that it seems like I never really rode out of it. There comes a moment when you are hiding under a bridge waiting for a front to pass when you realise that you are going to have to ride out into it.

Blech.

On the upside though, the ride was a real success in terms of what I was trying to achieve. The session included a number of intervals based on power and these went really well. I am not sure what the deal was, but the power numbers I was getting were a big jump up from what I have been doing. I know that Garmin Vector's can lose some accuracy depending on how they are installed, but even allowing for that, the numbers I was getting were good (for me). Plus it wasn't as if I was just rolling around and getting good power numbers, I was hurting by the end. My quads were sore, actual 'it feels like I have been lifting weights' sore, which isn't something I usually get. So I think at least some of what I saw was genuine.

Other than being caused by complete power meter malfunction (which it could have been) the only thing I can put this improvement down to is the time I have been spending on the trainer over the last few weeks. If this is the reason, then wow, where has that trainer been all my life. It really was that big a jump.

This morning I was down at the pool for the Friday Swim Smooth session. Was strange really, from word go I was feeling tired. I think some of it is a carry over from the swim on Wednesday, but I think some of it is also just because I have had a hard week. Despite that, the session went surprisingly well.

The main set was made up of 20 x 100m, broken up into 5 sets of 4. The sets start of with very little rest (turn arounds on 1:24) and then from there the rest gets longer (4 seconds more rest per set). The idea being that as the session progresses you get more fatigued, but you also get more rest and so you don't get any slower. If anything you are supposed to get faster. Last time we did this session I specifically remember fading away in the second half. We were getting heaps or rest, but I had nothing left to push with. This morning though, even though my arms felt heavy for most of the session, I was able to hold my times. I was very pleasantly surprised.

In other news, as I mentioned yesterday I had a visit to the physio today to see about my general groin area soreness. Anyway, turns out it is back related. I should have guessed really, most issues I have are back related. Anyway it is caused by tightness in my psoas (who even knew that was a muscle) which is causing the hip flexor and ab pain. Same old solution really, loosen off the back and the rest will follow. I have some other stretching to focus on, but really I need to stop slacking the back and core work. Recently I have been a bit guilty of falling into that old athlete trap of paying it less attention because it isn't hurting anymore. Not hurting directly anyway. Sneaky. At least I now have an idea of a solution, rather than before when I just had a vague idea of the problem. That is a step in the right direction.

On the bike in the morning for a long ride. This is the forecast for tomorrow.

Cloudy. Isolated showers, increasing around midday then easing during the evening.

I am not sure if that means it is likely to be raining or not. Yesterday's ride dampened any great enthusiasm I might have had for going out and riding in the rain for 4 hours. However, the alternative would be 4 hours on the trainer. Hmmmm, choices. Not all bad though, tomorrow morning's session is actually one that would suit the trainer pretty well if it came to that. I am just not sure whether my brain could cope with 4 hours though. Fingers crossed for not to much rain (none would be nice too).