This week has kind of felt like a bridging week. Last week was a good one and next week is a training block, so I have been keen not to injure myself or overload myself in advance. That said I wanted to ride 300km+ and do my biggest week of swimming ever, I think last week holds the record, so anything more than 7.2km would do it.
On Monday I did a little cycling loop, just 36km. It was incredibly windy and I decided to target a Strava segment near me. I looked at what my best 5m power was – 376w, and went off at about that power for the 5 min climb. Even up a 4-7% gradient it felt easy with the wind on my back, I really flew up the climb. I was amazed to see later that I had taken the steepest segment in the middle, but not the whole climb segment, someone was a bit faster still! I knocked out a short brick after the cycle, just 5km but at a decent clip.
On Tuesday I went to Taubertbergsbad Freibad straight after work. It was empty again which was great, so I picked my lane and got going. I have kind of started doing a standard set, it goes 100 warm up crawl, 50 breast, 50 crawl, 50 back 50 crawl. A few 200,300,400m intervals all crawl up until I have done 1500m or so. Then 200m paddles with pull buoy, followed by 300m just pull buoy, repeated until I am done. I did that and swam 2700m total.
On Wednesday I got up before work to run, as I should have run on Tuesday evening but was too lazy. As I was alone I thought I could push the pace a bit so ran my 11.7km loop at 4:30/km pace. It didn't feel too hard, but I didn't wear my HR belt either, so I don't know my HR. After work I cycled a 62km loop. It was a standard loop to Alsheim and back around. I averaged 32km/h and 264w it was quite good, but nothing special.
Thursday was another swim day. Again at TBB freibad. This time the water temperature was only 20.5 degrees, which is a bit chilly for my liking. The lifeguard at the pool decided to give me a coaching session, which I really appreciated. Essentially he said that when I breathe I move my head too much. He also said that I should pull straighter and that I possibly breathe too early. I am trying to work on them but changing my breathing is hard! I did 2700m with longer pauses than normal to talk to the lifeguard. I had planned on doing 3km+, but it was still better to get tips.
On Friday I went for another 60km ride. I had moved my bars down 2cm by slamming the stem, which doesn't sound like much, but it feels like a lot!
I did a Alzey and back loop, through Gau-Odersheim then back over Elsheim. I was happy with my 33.4km/h average speed, and my power was down too as I wasn't really hammering it (248w NP). It was another good ride, I like the 2h rides, they are short enough that I don't need to plan much, but long enough to tick off a good few KM.
On Saturday I got up and ran quite early with Katja, just the normal 11.4km loop. It was quite slow but fine. After watching Stuttgart fluke staying in the Bundesliga I went for another shortish ride. It was very similar to Wednesday's ride, but in the other direction. It was fast again though at 33.6km/h. I was averaging 35km/h or so until I got to Laubenheim hill, it makes me think that in Wasserstadt I should be god for a fast time.
Finally, yesterday on Sunday I finished my 300km cycling for the week with a 75km ride in Hessen. I remembered Hessen's flat roads with nice cycle lanes. I had apparently forgotten that they have traffic lights every 500m instead of roundabouts. I must have caught every red light all day, I was getting really pissed off after a while! I wanted to ride between 70 and 90km, so when I got back home with 75km on the clock, I was happy enough. I still wanted to go swimming, so I cycled to Nieder-Olm pool. The biggest mistake of the week, I decided to cycle through the fields not knowing the fly ladened hell I was about to go through. I cycled head down, but could feel my head being peppered as I rode. My arms and legs were quickly becoming covered in little black flecks, it was just dreadful. after a few km it was over and I got to the pool. The water temperature is always higher at Nieder-Olm, 25.5degrees yesterday. I did my routine again and after 2500m decided another 500m couldn't hurt. I got to 3000m but still felt really good. I decided to leave it at that for now, but it looks good for being able to go 3km+ in the near future.
Running 28km (1013.2km YTD)
Cycling 317.7km (3304,6km YTD)
Swimming 8.4km (54,95km YTD)