Life gets in the way

Following my run a week ago I had the best of intentions to have 2 more runs during the week to help build up my base fitness.  Sadly this didn't materialise as "life got in the way".. you know what I mean.  The important things such as work, I had a week full of very early starts and 2 days in London.  Many demands on the domestic front but you've got to make sure that everything is kept on a even balance at home.
My first training session of the week was yesterday!  8.30am at the gym with my Athelite Tri club pal Graeme who made sure I don't put too much weight on the machine, highly unlikely, and that I keep the correct form. Then I headed out for a 10km run.  The forecast hadn't predicted snow but this accompanied me in the first half of the run.  It was very cold and it brought back memories of training for the Marathon des Sables in when it was -5 degrees and the expected temperature in the desert was 45 degrees.  An experienced runner said it didn't matter if it was hot or cold what we were doing was preparing for extremes.  I kept reminding myself of this message as I pulled the sleeves of my jacket down to cover my fingers which had lost all sensation.  It was a slower run that my last one which is fine, especially as my heart rate had dropped to a more acceptable level.  Apparently the way to get faster is to train slower and I'm happy with that concept!
In the afternoon I went for a sports massage to ease the muscles in my legs and to loosen off my back.  This is never a pleasant experience but I know it's necessary.  I'm sure Grant secretly enjoys seeing me suffer but without his expert hands I'd don't think I'd make it through the season.
I'd been invited out for a social ride this morning.  Slow pace was guaranteed and the target was for  30 kms followed by cake and coffee!  I be lucky if I'd been on my bike more that 4 times since Ironman - I'm a fair weather cyclist.  So when I heard the wind battering against the window I wasn't for going outside.  However the group were determined so I made the effort.  Climbing up the hill to the meeting point left me out of breath and I was dreading what coming especially when I found out the route - over one of the largest climbs in the area (after a few months it won't seem like a climb)! And of course the wind howled making the conditions tricky especially when it was a cross wind, and the snow which felt like hail smacked us in the face.  Fortunately I had dressed for the occasion and it protected me from the elements.  This is the start of my cycling and afterwards as I sipped my hot chocolate and ate my bakewell tart I began to feel human again.  That was only dampened by the very short downhill cycle home followed by washing my bike which left me frozen again before I  headed for the shower.  This weekend has been bitterly cold but the training must go on.