294 days and counting

Standing in the queue in Sainsbury's today with my mask on, I was having a socially distanced discussion with a running pal.  He asked, "Have you any races booked for next year?"  Normally, remember those days, I would have listed a number of races building up to my "A race" but I only had the one - my "A Race" which is 294 days away.  He was the same and his race was even later than mine.  But we both agreed that we need to keep our race in mind with every single training session we complete.  They are all part, or should be, of a plan to reach your peak physical and mental condition on race day.
This week has been a good example with LOCKtober continuing - a club competition to encourage us all to keep training and perhaps do more of the discipline we don't normally do.  For me that's cycling and as the weather has turned from poor to crap, that cycling takes place on indoor on a turbo trainer.
We had to complete 3 runs of 30 mins which isn't really an effort for me but the forth run was an hour.  I haven't been running for that length of time and it showed.  On Saturday I had to work very hard to complete the run at a decent pace and was glad to have company or else it defiantly would have been slower - thanks Calum.  With a halloween half marathon in the dark coming up at the end of the month, I'll be increasing my distance. 
Today was a one hour Zwift session and this tested me to the limits....of my IT abilities.  The first and last time I'd tried to join a Zwift race I failed despite being ready!  This time by fluke I managed to join a race around London.  It's the first time I've done this and I enjoyed riding past Buckingham Palace and down many roads that I would normally be wandering around "suited and booted" for business.  It made me realise that I was missing London and the hussle and bussle - not something I thought I'd ever say.  The coffees or beers outside on a balmy day, the wonderful restaurants and the history and culture on every street corner.  One day I'll get back there and not take it so much for granted, although that's probably at least 6 months away.  But it did make the 1 hour session more interesting and I look forward to doing it again.
Keeping your training varied, interesting and consistent is important, even if your goal is 294 days away.  It will come round quick enough and even taking this approach I always feel, if only I had another couple of weeks to train before an event.  The way to prevent that feeling is to train hard now but not so hard you risk injury.  And a final thought.  When you're out there remember how lucky we are to be able to train.  Lift your head up and take in the changing colours, listen to the birds in the trees.  On Saturday we came across three small deers and had we not being looking up we would have missed that moment.  Life is full of moments so make sure you are present right here and now so you can enjoy them.  Stay safe and fit.