In more ways than 1 ! I know I've been real slack and haven't posted for a while, it's due to a few things (work) and the other major thing - THE BIKE.
This pic was taken on my first 'spin' back on the bike on 14th July, 3 months after the accident. Since then things have progressed slowly from 15 minute light spins to full 3 hour cruises with the Rapido training crew with itermittent bursts of speed and pulls on the front which are now increasing in duration. My best ride to date was over the Cup weekend where usual training pals Gary, Rob and Phelpsy came out to play on a beautiful mild, calm Saturday morning ride to Mordialloc and back. Average speed was 33.2km/h with the HR at a very pleasing 142 bpm average. I'm happy with that HR as running is still STRICTLY off the cards and relative fitness is hard to come by. Again my Dr's seem to be giving me mixed messages with my running, but as guru Quinny keeps telling me, it's just around the corner.
As for the guru - John Quinn, the man is a marvel. Everything he does and lays out in front of me is 100% measured, and as happened at last Friday's session when I was a bit sore in the groin, his contingency plans are also meticulously planned. The ongoing strengthening and core work he has me doing is not only getting me back to where I was, but I believe it will make me a stronger athlete once I have fully recovered.
This is pretty much the condition I was in when I started with Quinny, and now I believe I have the strongest core I've ever had. When my Femur has fully recovered I will be able to train and race a lot harder, there's a few races in a couple of years time that I have set aside as 'A' races where I seriously want to challenge my Ironman PB. Watch this space.
Until that time I will stick with my measured return but with a few extras thrown in. One extra is I'll be racing (swim leg only for me!)at the Shepparton 1/2 Ironman in the teams event with a few of my neighbours and top mates, Anthony Grech and his young fella Patrick. We're called the 'Rough Diamonds' due the fact that I'm coming back off a big crash, and just after I asked Anthony to 'do Shep' he crashed his brand new (yes, only done a few laps) carbon fibre track bike and broke his collarbone, this happened 6 weeks out from Shep. He's back on the bike now and riding well so he'll get through the 90km's no doubt. His young fella Patrick will do the run for us and he'll anchor us really well. He's run the City to Surf in well under an hour so that should translate into a good 1/2 marathon time for him.
I'm also going to head up to the Canberra 1/2 IM for another teams event. I'll keep you all posted on that, I'm hoping Canberra turns the weather on for that one as the last 2 I've done there has been shocking.
I'll leave it there, it's getting late and I'll be up early to take on the Rapido boys so I have to be pretty sharp.
Until then Train hard, train smart.
Matty
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