With the weather as it is I've been forced into late night turbo training, usually starting at around 10pm. This is fine unless friends are coming round, in which case I'm usually absent for most of the evening, which a decade or so ago wouldn't have been a problem but things have changed.

I have no idea what has happened to my friends. I appreciate we are no longer 19, lord some of us are no longer 39, but why don't we stay over at each other houses any more. We used to crash rather than stay, on a sofa not a bed, in a flat not a house and think nothing of it. Now as an evening draws to a close, probably the right side of midnight and a bed in a perfectly nice spare room is offered, the answer is invariably no.

Why? because 'I really want my own bed'.

What is that about? What is so special about my friends' beds? Personally I'd rather have a bit to drink, carry on talking nonsense and sleep in the nearest bed and have a social breakfast.

If they had to train in the morning like me I'd understand. If it was because they are commiting to a winning season I could see it. But because they want their own bed?

Green tears

I watched Wild Swimming Adventures with Robson Green last night. I was intrigued to follow someone else attempting a feat of endurance for personal reasons as it was pretty close to what I am aiming to do. It was quite interesting, but he got emotional and cried almost every five minutes. Irritating to watch, but I couldn't help thinking I hope I don't break down in tears.

It is a long journey, something that Robson conveyed and it is only thanks to family support (at the very least accepting your absence) that it is possible. There is every chance I will cry at some point, because this is something I want to do, I'm being selfish and at some point I my emotions will surface.

Fortunately that is all a long way off. For now I'm concentrating on following the training plan to the letter. It is great to have the guess work removed from the training. I really believe every session is bringing me closer to the record. And having a whole month planned in advanced means I know what is coming up and I can be prepared for it. I can't cut corners, someone is now monitoring me.

Pat on the back.

I'm pretty proud of myself these last two weeks. With the coach I have upped my training considerably and yet despite work ( I slept in the office) and family commitments I have kept up everything prescriped. The big issue I have is that my surrounding area isn't really ideal for training. I live in South London and although there are hills, they all have pedestrian crossings or some such similar obstacle. Last night I powered up Herne Hill, imagining the bunch fragmenting behind me, only to have to hit the brakes as a group of people slighty worse for wear crossed in front of me. And if I ever see the the driver of that Morrision lorry, but that's another story.

I do have Richmond Park and I could get out to the Surrey hills, but I don't want my evening rides to be much over 2 hours as I do need some beauty sleep.

I have been using the turbo a lot. Harder than ever in fact. Knowing the coach is going to ask and what I data I have to send him means slacking off or making excuses isn't possible. All good stuff.

Coach

It's great having a coach. Just the thrill of speaking to someone intensely about your aims is fun. And they can't show any signs of boredom, in fact they have to offer advice. Brilliant.
I've been given my first months training plan, which pretty much trebles my weekly training hours and includes some core exercises using a Swiss ball (I'm yet to be convinced) and stretching (does anyone stretch). So far despite reservations I have stuck to the plan, what is the point in having a coach if you don't trust what he gives you.
His turbo sessions are harder than anything I've done before. Maybe because he is concentrating on lactate threshold, but also probably because I know he will judge me.