Back to it - again

Ahhhh, a training program. Back into the sweet grind of it. There is something nice about knowing what you need to be doing and when you need to be doing it.

This morning was my first session back on the program since Putrajaya. Don't get me wrong I love having a bit of a break, it helps you recharge both physically and mentally. But after a while I tend to get a bit stir crazy. I guess that is a good way of knowing that you are ready to be training again.

This morning it was back on the bike for a power test. We do these periodically to check how things are going in terms of power outputs. It helps rejig training and race plans etc.

I think ideally it would be great to be able to do these tests on a velodrome, but I don't have one easily accessible where I am, so I use a good controlled stretch of road along the river foreshore, about 15km from my house, instead. The road is about 5km end to end, very light on traffic, pretty flat, more or less perfect for doing a TT. The ride there and home gives a good warm up/warm down too. Using a road like this does mean having to brake and turn at each end, which isn't ideal, but the course works so well in every other aspect that I have been using it as my TT spot for a while now. So do about half the tri squads in Perth is should be said.

The only problem that you can have doing this sort of testing in Perth is the wind. Perth can be very windy, and whilst I try to keep my overall TT wind neutral by spending equal time going both into and with the wind, it is far from ideal. No such problems today though with almost no wind blowing early this morning. In fact I would go so far as to say that if I could have planned weather in which to do a TT session, I would have chosen this morning's weather. Cool (about 13 degrees), no rain (after 4 days of drizzle), combined with the lack of wind, it was perfect.

Doing a TT did mean putting the Cervelo P5 back into race mode, with race wheels, TT helmet etc. It seems like I only just put all this stuff away, which I guess I did. The only compromise I made (in the name of avoiding hypothermia) was not wearing a Tri Suit. Everything else was race day set up.

Always a strange feeling riding through the streets of Perth in full race kit, disc wheel humming away. It is very nice riding quickly with so little effort, but you certainly get a few strange looks. I am pretty sure I had at least one guy killing himself to make sure he passed 'the idiot in all the race kit'. I can't blame him really, I probably would have done the same thing.

All up the TT went well, showing improvements in the areas that you want them. Higher average speed, lower heart rate etc than the last time I did one. All steps in the right direction. Comparing power figures requires a bit more interpretation though, since they seem to be a little more inconsistent. Possibly not surprising given the recent trouble I have had with my Vectors. On the whole I think the power figures also line up well, but it isn't as cut and try and the other metrics. I am calling the session a win though.

Nothing for this afternoon and then out for a nice long run in the morning. See how the body reacts to that one.