Kevin's Training Diary of 2024

I have had another decent fortnight, if you just read the numbers.  I am up on swimming. Closer than recently to my run totals despite missing a run on Sunday. Bit off on biking after missing a ride on Sunday. Did some mountain biking. Took part in two races. Did some yoga. Did some core. ... But basically it has been terrible.  One race I ran 'okay' but it is a midweek hill race and there is always login to be a limit on how fast that is. The other was meant to be a duathlon and I was so empty that I was outside 24 minutes for a flat 5k, and then didn't even go out on the bike or the second run. I should be in Portugal this coming week racing at the Euros. Even if I hadn't withdrawn due to the poor course designs, I would probably still not be racing as long as I am training and racing this poorly.  6 weeks out from the Scottish Aquathlon Championships and I have no idea how to fix this or get anywhere near the form that would be needed for a title defence. 3 weeks out...

Somehow in this fortnight I managed to DNF a Parkrun. I am not taking all the blame there though. I had planned an easy mid-pack run just to stretch out my legs the day before I did my first ever XC mountain bike race. Slioch came with me and he decided that if he couldn't be at the very front of the race he would rather go back to the car. Unfortunately I had left my jacket and the car keys back at the start line so we at least had to get back there to collect them, while he was having none of it. After nearly 10 minutes of the pair of us failing to reach a consensus, I decided that an executive decision would be required, and had to pick him up and carry him back round enough of the lap that I could get the keys. At which point he decided to enter full-Kipchoge mode and drag me back to the car at full race pace. I also did my first ever MTB XC race. It was technically beyond anything I have ridden before. I managed to puncture on the recce lap, and then had to run back to the sta...