Iliyra

Epilogue 2009

After a definite gap, I'm starting this blog up again, for no other reason than a desire to keep a journal about some of the things I've done, and to (hopefully) keep me focused on some of the things I'm planning on doing over the next 12 months.

So it's currently the end of August, and here in the UK you'd be forgiven for thinking the Autumn was already here, with and with the nights already drawing in, I'm trying not to think too much about winter training sessions on the bike - having to reluctantly drag myself out into the darkness, wearing long tights, several layers and making sure I'm lit up like a damn Christmas tree.

Okay, so I still have a little while before the winter sets in. Only a few weeks ago I completed this years Etape du Tour basking (or dying) in temperatures of up to 40 degrees C on the slopes of the legendary Mt Ventoux. This was the most epic climb I've ever done on a bike, and definitely the toughest - as the many heat exhaustion casualties strewn along the 22km climb would testify.

Whilst on the subject of the Etape - I have to talk it up a little (in case anyone happens to be reading this, perhaps wondering if they should enter). This years stage from Montélimar to Bedouin was, by far, the most exciting, most epic and the most scenic, bike event I've ever been fortunate enough to take part in.

Riding 170km on closed roads, racing 9000+ other riders, through stunning French scenery is something well worth experiencing if you're in anyway enthusiastic about bike racing. If the stage is right (it's different every year), and the weather good - it's truly an awesome experience.



So where do I go from here? Well, a week spent in France, doing some superb rides made a hell of difference to my fitness (along with some weight-loss due to the entree-sized portions served by the hotel). After a tough year in terms of work-load and persistent knee injuries, I'd got to that point in the year where, I guess, my fitness is at it's peak - which is a great feeling, although something I've never been able to hold on to for long. Historically, as soon as the 'big event' or 'A-race' of the year is finished, I loose motivation all too easily and before I know it weeks have elapsed since my last training session.

This pattern is something I'm more than just keen to break over the coming autumn and winter months - I have to break it if I want to push myself out of this plateau I seem to have occupied over the past couple of years.

So the over the coming weeks, I'll be trying to decide on next year's target events (at this stage, Ironman France or the Alpe d'Huez Triathlon are favourites) along with attempting a first for me: A structured approach to training!