New Year: Time to Train!

November & December '09 saw witness to the longest break I have taken off the bike since... well, I started racing and riding back in 2006. While the rest was primarily due to old injuries popping up to remind me of their ever-present existence, I finally got time to mentally recoup from a particularly strange year and start out in 2010 with a fresh head and fresh legs.

My first real year of racing I was on the top page of the Iron Man Competition; I probably raced at least once if not twice a week for months. It was insane (and insanely expensive!). Last year didn't go that way, mostly for other reasons, but I look forward to a year where I can focus on racing with team mates and having fun.

I have been slow to return to group riding, due to some insane idea I harbor that not riding much for two months will cause me to revert to having absolutely no bike fitness whatsoever.

I think my saving grace has been the morning Solid Core Training classes with Jeff; I have been taking them since August, and the difference they make in over all strength is just amazing. I finally went on a whopping two long rides last weekend, both about 2.5 hours, and nothing was sore. Not my back, not my shoulders, none of those places that usually scream at you when you haven't been doing those longer rides (or any rides for that matter). I actually did a lot of climbing in the West Hills and felt great the whole time. Guess I don't have any more excuses.

Right now my focus is simply on getting fit enough for our team's Santa Barbara training camp that is coming up way too soon!