Time for the gym

Did you miss me? Sorry I ran out of time to post my blog before I went on holiday and I only got back on Sunday so this is a catch up.
Another good weeks training behind me with loads of running and a couple of swims.  Again it was a case of juggling schedules and with a 9.55 flight to Belfast, it was a 5.25am run for 16km.
The big difference this week was my gym work has started. Thursday night my coach showed me the routine I was to start including plyometrics - standing jumps onto boxes for explosive power.  My routine has been designed to build my core strength and to build the power in my legs and glutes. With 40,000 ft of ascent and the harder 40,000 ft of descent I really need to build my strength.
In Grand 2 Grand in 2017 my back suffered from day 1 carrying 25lbs.  My back pack will be lighter for the Tahoe 200 but I do not want a repeat of trying to block out that pain for the whole race again.
My amazing sports therapist Pamela has been working on my back and today she said the rest on holiday and not leaning over a laptop or driving had made a big difference!
I have just come back from a week in Tenerife where I got in 5 runs.  All early morning when it was 22-24 degrees and it took at least three runs to start to get acclimatised.  I did some hill work but the local mountains didn’t have any established tracks and were too dangerous with loose scree and cacti everywhere.  I did venture up one hill but the journey down was too dangerous so I stuck to the roads. My longest run was just over 13 miles.  I headed straight to breakfast with the family and then my son challenged me to a game of tennis! He thought as I hadn’t played in over 10 years and was slightly tired that he’d have a chance - think again young man!  He’s looking for a rematch but I’ve told him only after he’s run 13 miles first. By the end of the holiday my heart rate was behaving and my speed improving - result.
I also managed 3 gym sessions but there were some real “bears” in the gym hogging the weights for squatting and I didn’t want to mix it with them with the “diddy” weights I’d be using.  It was fantastic having quality time with the family and as my training was early in the morning, it didn’t interfere.
My first run on returning was today and I was delighted with my pace and heart rate so the over indulgence in food and wine don’t seem to have done me any harm - I needed to put a few pounds on anyway.  Tomorrow it’s 6.15am in the gym and 7am in the pool. The miles are building up again and soon I’ll be in the mountains- can’t wait but some decent weather would help.