Training blog - The Pyrenees - page 1

Day one:  Saturday 10 March 2007

Bike.  Well, the start of another few month's sustained effort to become conditioned to take on six mountain passes in one day.

Before starting preparations, I weighed myself and got a bit of a shock!  The scales showed "217lbs", which means I'm a full 34lbs over what I'll be when I arrive in France.  Given that at the time of writing this entry, the left side of my face is severely swollen due to gum problems, so this may have contributed to this reading!

So first of all, I need to train in the fat burning zone; anywhere between 60 to 80% of my maximum heart rate.  I'm glad to report I also have a heart rate monitor (HRM) on my winter training/commuter/wet weather bike.

Armed with this equipment (which I didn't have last year), I set out in standard tracksuit bottoms, T-shirt and baggy sweater into a strong headwind.  I set my HRM to bleep if I cycled less than 65% of my maximum heart rate or more than 85% and found it difficault to stop the unit from sounding whilst battling against the direct wind.

I covered 34.1 miles at an average speed of 15.3 mph.  Given the un-aerodynamic clothing I was wearing, the undeveloped cycling specific muscles plus the extra weight on me, I was very happy to be back on the bike after a winter in front of the biscuit tin and the average speed was not a bad effort.  Before I can do any aerobic efficiency training (ie. sprint and climbing intervals), I need to shed most of the excess weight first.

Day two:  Sunday 11 March 2007

Rest day.

Day three:  Monday 12 March 2007

Gym.  Last week I went to Lakenham Sports and Leisure Centre to review my training plan as far as weights are concerned and was given a list of 22 different exercises to do; significantly more than last year!  Perhaps my instructor Nigel was having an off day at the time!

Anyway, I have updated the list of exercises I will be doing over the next couple of months under training methods.

Today I started with the most beneficial exercise; the leg press.  Compared to last year, I started at 150kg instead of 100 and also aim to do 12 reps per set, something I achieved today with relative ease.  Another target for me is to only have 30 to 60 seconds break between sets.

I was advised to raise the upright rowing bar to just below collar bone level as opposed to chin height.  I managed the lift the weight of the bar, collars plus 5kg disk on either side (3 sets of 10 reps). 

A new exercise came next; the rear crucifix raise, where I managed three sets of 10 reps at a weight of 5 kg per arm.  It was a struggle, as this is the very first time I have attempted this workout.  I then moved over to a familiar machine; the leg extension aparatus, where I started at 60kg, again this was at a much higher starting weight than last year's effort for the French Alps.  By the end of the third set, my quadriceps were predictably burning.

Rather than using a ball, I am now doing "Superman" raises on my knees; apparently a little more difficault.  I did two sets of 20 reps on alternate sides.  Next came oblique ab crunches, again a never attempted before workout.  I managed two sets of 25 reps here.

I attempted lying tricep extensions next, using a curl bar plus two 5kg disks (one each side).  My right elbow (the one which I broke in February 2006) immediately didn't like it.  After consultation with Lee, an instructor on duty today, I was advised to do tricep pulldowns, where I managed one full set of 20 reps, followed by a second set of 15 and a third of 10 reps.

With a weight setting of 155lbs on the inner thigh squeeze aparatus, I performed one full set of 20 reps plus the second set of 15 reps before my legs couldn't take any more.  I finished today's session with two sets of 20 dorsal raises.

Just to conclude today's entry, in the next few weeks, I will be posting some more pictures in the photo gallery of the new exercises, so that anyone following my training can see what each particular effort entails.

Day four:  Tuesday 13 March 2007

Bike.  Following yesterday's jaunt to the gym, I decided to test my legs for fatigue; I last visited the gym about three months ago.

My legs were screaming in pain, especially in the inner thigh region but I must visit as many places as possible to raise as much money as possible for the Hospice.

I covered approximately 33 miles today and on the outward journey of 13.5 miles into a headwind, I averaged 13.5 mph.  However, on the return, my HRM suffered numerous instances of interference from my front light; a Light and Motion Vega.  Thus is was very difficault to give an average speed for the whole distance or to give an accurate total distance.

At the time of writing this entry, I am finding it difficault to move my legs much at all.  Maybe a good night's sleep is what the doctor ordered.

Day five: Wednesday 14 March 2007

Rest day.

Day six: Thursday 15 March 2007

Rest day.

Day seven: Friday 16 March 2007

Rest day.

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