Accepting good advice

It was so hard to let go of the routine of training in the beginning, but now 5 weeks later, I am glad I did. Back into training this week and so looking forward to it. Bit of a shame to be missing some of the early summer criteriums, but that's life, and there's so much more racing ahead that I realise it doesn't really matter in the long term.

As usual, Joe Friel has some timely advice... and I am now really happy I took advantage of my rest period. (and I know Craig B will be nodding his head saying "I told you so" about now too). Without Cameron's guidance I would have definitely gone deep into the overtraining zone.

"You may be feeling a bit guilty about not working out seriously during your downtime. It is understandable because it can be hard to let go of hard-earned fitness. My clients often feel that way. In fact, one of them got carried away with his uncoached transition period and managed to create his second-highest fitness of the year in four-weeks! I've given him a hard time about this because my concern is that he'll wind up mentally and physically wasted and not be able to focus on challenging workouts and high performance when it counts next season. This client is unfortunately on his way to being a 'Christmas Star' - an athlete who performs great during December but fades as the next season comes around. He's made it more difficult - not less - to be in top form on that race day." - Joe Friel

Down time

On strict instructions from my coach Cam, I have just had two weeks "off", and have another few weeks of very 'light' bike rides until I am allowed back into full training again.

Some say it is best to have a rest when you are close to peak form, and not once you are fatigued and over-trained, but can I just say that these 2 weeks have been really difficult!

Maybe it was good that in the second week off, I came down with a terrible flu and did not feel tempted to go out 'secretly' on my bike?
Anyway, the few times I have been out, it has been nice to slow things down and take notice of stuff other than heart rate and time!... I have started to notice the blue sky and bay again, and the flowering Jacarandas.

I should appreciate it while it lasts before I go back to efforts and intensity once more, and back into racing.

"Grande" rides

So this week has been another one of some grand 'epic' rides...
Sunday was another long 6 hour+ adventure over Beechmont and Mt Tamborine...
If you could get through the painful climbs, the views at the top were magnificent.

Fortunately we had a tailwind all the way home, and Cam didn't mind sitting on the front most of the way back!

I was happy to see that the women's Cervelo Test Team had a grand finish in the Giro Donne stage race on Sunday...

One of my favorite riders Emma Pooley (above) may not have retained the pink jersey, but it was one of her team mates (Claudia Hausler) who won overall.

Meanwhile, this guy (below) is doing pretty darn well at the TDF!