Kevin's Training Diary of 2024

With only two days on from the last weekly review there isn't a huge change change to my final numbers but here they are mapped against the targets I set this time last year. As an up-front guide to what you might expect. I coloured the entire rest of this post red and worked backwards rather than my normal tactic of colouring line by line. The three that have gone green were almost accidental. I have managed to get selected for 5 International races next year, mainly on technicalities. If I had been in the selectors chair I probably would not have picked me.  I have some sort of low-level illness that I am still struggling to get a diagnosis on, and my available time to train is being impacted by coaching, work, and general life.  Anyway,... Green - Did make it.  Red - Didn't make it. Orange - Needs explaining. Targets by numbers Represent GBR age-group at multiple international events.  - Didn't even go. Qualify for the GBR Age-group team for a 2025 European and a ...

I swam the first 5 days in a row, before getting an effective 2 week break from the pool due to closures for Xmas and New Year. Technically beating my target for the fortnight as I had put the closed pool in when I wrote my targets at the start of the year.  I did almost nothing on any bike. A couple of easy days on the turbo at the start of the fortnight and then nothing at all.  I have managed my two biggest run weeks of the year. Going out every day and averaging over 5 miles a day means I racked up more miles in these two weeks than in any other 3 week period this year. That probably wasn't particularly smart, but it has at least reminded me that I can probably run more as long as I can find the time. I also put in three Parkruns in the middle of this heavy block. They weren't anything like where they should be on the clock, but at least they are heading in the right direction.   With two days left I need 6 more miles to pass my 2022 total. That seems like some sort o...

I am trundling towards Xmas with no real impetus and even less motivation.  Even being confirmed for 5 International races next year hasn't really prompted me to change anything. I have time off work for the next 3 weeks so will likely binge on time but without any real aims in place.  More importantly, hopefully, is a trip to the hospital on the 23rd to try and get to the bottom of my health problems.  Actuals, (T arget) -  Swim 4.0  miles / 6,400  m. (6.6 miles). Bike 48.1 miles. (84.0 miles).   MTB 6.3 miles. (21.0 miles). Run 45.7  miles. (42.0  miles).  0 short core,  0   short light weights   and  0  stretching / rollering session.  0   mins of yoga.   Cumulative Actual, (Cumulative Target), [Cumulative Stretch] - S 113.3 , (134.0 ),   [140.7] , B 1,726.8, (1,821) ,   [1,912] ,     MTB 417.3, (455.3),   [478.0], R 966.3, (1011.9),   [1,062.5] . Core    ...

The weather decided to become 'wintery' early this year and that has had a bit of an impact on this block. Most of the first week was snow and ice.  My year has been a mess and coming to December I need to re-evaluate and start planning for 2025. So my plan for the rest of this year is to try and get to 1,000 run miles. That just requires ~ 20 miles / week, but is dependent on the weather. Ideally I will get closer to 1,050 and that would at least be within 5% of what I had planned for this year.  The bike I am in limbo in terms of targets. 1,678 is too far from any round number that I could do to the end of the year. I could maybe get my mtb number to a round 500 if the weather stays nice and I was to commit to going outside more.  Swimming, because I have been coaching the Uni, I missed my biggest session of the week through the whole of Q4, so I am way short. No matter what I do this will be the 5th longest year I have done. I can't get anywhere near my 144 mile target...

Another strange fortnight. With the travel and funeral to attend it was always going to be a bit difficult to fit training in, but somehow I managed to put in a marathon run week and didn't turn a single pedal stroke. Then the second week I just ran out of willpower for the year and struggled to do anything for most of the week.  Knowing that I am not going to get anywhere near any of my annual targets has undercut my willpower to keep training as my hip starts to deteriorate more significantly.  I phoned the hospital to chase up my annual review and they tell me I was taken off the list so have been put back on it and might have to wait 5-6 months for an appointment. Meanwhile I did at least get an appointment for my general health and exhaustion issues, the day before Xmas.  Actuals, (T arget) -  Swim 4.5  miles / 7,200  m. (6.6 miles). Bike 16.5 miles. (84.0 miles).   MTB 5.5 miles. (21.0 miles). Run 35.3  miles. (42.0  miles).  0 sho...