Winter Training

I had an ok run today - only 4 km and I had to walk some of it, but at least I ran. I only did one other run this past week and even that was only because Blackfonzie was taunting me (thank you Dan, you got me up off my butt.)

Erik and I also had a great ride today but boy was it cold out! I was bundled up in base layer, tights, long-sleeved warm jersey, short-sleeved regular jersey, my wind breaker, plus full finger gloves and my head band. I felt pretty comfy but I was really wishing I had toe covers because my feet were frozen when I got home. It was a gorgeous sunny day but only about 6 C (42 F). Erik and I headed out to East Kelowna where we could ride thru the orchards, do some hills, and see the fall colour which is in full swing now. Then we rode downtown and rode along the boardwalk as we usually do on Sundays lately. A nice 50 km ride in about 2 1/2 hours.

Training in General

I have been continuing with my apathtic ways these past few weeks. Anyone who looks at my training log can see I'm not doing much. I continue to be tired and over-worked and have a tough time finding time and energy to do any training. Not only that, with no specific goal in mind, it's hard to get back on track. I've been doing a lot of thinking about the best way in which to maintain my fitness this winter, at least until the end of January when I will start training more seriously again. I'd love the hear any thoughts, advice, or encouragement.

Swim - with my eye surgery looming in only another 10 days, I won't be swimming for at least a month. Once I can get back in the pool, it's easy enough to plan my workouts because I am still such a newbie swimmer. I will try to swim 2-3 times a week and focus on endurance with a little bit of speed work thrown in for good measure. I'd like to take a few lessons again or maybe work with a coach so that I can improve my form as well.

Run - I'm still struggling with various aches and pains with my running so I think that just getting out there and running 5 km, 3 times a week will be all I can handle. Once the pains are gone, I will try to extend my long runs again.

Bike - This is the area that confuses me. I just don't know what to work on. My cycling is my strength and I would really like to see some gains this winter. And yet because I've only been doing easy riding once a week for the past 6 weeks, I feel like I've lost some of my bike fitness. I have the trainer set up in the basement now and I plan to do some drills again this winter - spin ups and one-legged drills to focus on even "round" pedaling - but I'm really not sure what else to do. How long should I ride, and in what heart rate zone? Help? Any suggestions?

General Fitness - well, I still have a lot of "wishes." I would like to do more yoga, more strength stuff in the off season, more core work, situps, pushups, yadda yadda. I need to get a plan and start doing it.