Yawn, morning......sheeesh, 2016 is it?

Been a good while since I posted an update on what I am up to but all good things have to come to an end so here goes.

Why now? Well because racing is imminent, this Sunday no less, and I thought it best to get an update done before I have to tie it in with a race report. I've been doing quite a lot but don't have much to report in all honesty. The ankle injury I sustained during Ben Nevis Tri has pretty much run it's course as expected. Kept me away from running for just shy of 3 months (as I was told it would) and it has taken me another 3 months to rebuild to the point that I can race on it. Still requires daily treatment (and is expected to do so for up to 12 months) but it works and doesn't hurt.

​So back on the bike for December, lots of time on the turbo in UK, out to Spain just after new year to pick up the running and swimming along with getting out on some actual roads, and beautiful ones at that.

I've been on the hunt for a coach since the beginning of 2014 but have managed to be so consistently injured that it didn't seem like I was going to able to commit to a schedule. Training was all a bit ad hoc, and stop/go, which was far from ideal but all I could do. Anyway by the end of Jan I felt I was in place to get the most from a coach and after talking to many great coaches finally managed to find someone who fit my glass slipper, take a bow Jim Vance of Training Bible Coaching.

Anyway I was prepared to have my play book ripped up and it duly was and I've been getting used to a new way of doing things. More balance (read as more running and swimming, less biking) and less obviously periodised compared to my previous style of training. I'm enjoying it which is crucial and it appears to be working so I'm a happy chappy. 

So yes, racing. Starts Sunday (17/04) at the Triathlon Elche - Arenales 113, a middle distance tri not far from my base here in Spain. It is great not to be dismantling my bike to go in a bag or have to worry about airport security nabbing my CO2 inflators. Also it is campervan on the start line rather than race hotel, always my preference.

It is nice to be racing because I'm ready to rather than because I'm desperate to as was in 2015. It was great to get back to racing last year after the 2014 wipeout but I was basically in a permanent state of rehab. This meant very little pressure as I didn't expect anything from my races but also it was a real limit on performance. This year more pressure, more performance, I'll take that. Race calendar is coming together but along with this weekend expect to see me at the British middle distance champs, going by the name of Grafman (?) this year. the spectacular Oravaman in Slovakia and, of course, Alp d'Huez.

It is great to welcome on-board a couple of new partners for 2016. A1 Multipsport (short listed for 220 Triathlon online retailer on the year, check out their new site here) are my associated tri shop and Verve Cycling, makers of the brilliant InfoCrank, are my power meter sponsor, find out more about their products here. Also pleased to report that I've stepped up my relationship with Zone3 and will not only be using their wetsuits this year but also trisuits and accessories (although not this weekend it appears, thanks Spanish couriers!). I'd also like to thank my current partners for their continued support.

Now that wasn't so bad now was it? Thanks for reading and see you Monday for a race write up!

Ciao

​Ali