Getting the balance right

The lack of posting is not the result of lack of riding.  Quite the contrary, in fact.  The last few weeks I have managed to clock some excellent training hours, which is made even more satisfying as I have just come through a particularly stressful period at work.  To give you an idea, in the last 2 weeks I managed to log 20 hours of flex (or overtime if you are not APS minded).  This may not seem like a lot, but when you try to combine it with a 12-15h hour training load, it gets fairly hectic.  What has helped this time around was an understanding of my limitations.

Unfortunately, when the same ambition that drives you on the bike also drives you in the work place, this can lead to some major unbalancing- training goals aren’t met and often illness prevails.  A challenge was put to me to not over-achieve at work so that my cycling could flourish, but I am afraid I am just not wired that way.  I have had to come up with a different approach.

Earlier in the year I parted ways with Coach Brian and one of the key reasons for that was that I wasn’t able to get the balance right between work, life and bike (the holy trilogy).  Consequently all 3 aspects were suffering and I wasn’t getting the results I thought I deserved. Since I got back on the bike in August my focus has been on quality over quantity with my training, and trying to be a bit more realistic about how much time I have available for the “holy trilogy” and the most significant other of all, rest. 

From my experience over the years I have been able to take cherry pick all the bits that work for me and really focus my training to get the most out of the time I have available.  I am grateful for these different influences on my training; I have definitely learnt something from each of them.  I have picked the races that I want to focus on, with an emphasis on the ones that I enjoy and will challenge me, ie track racingJ.  

Most importantly, I have learnt to listen to my body.  I have learnt the difference between, I am exhausted from a long day at work and I am exhausted from 4 hard days in the saddle and can structure my training accordingly.  The greatest hindrances I have to my training from work are stress and lack of relaxation.  These have been the hardest to manage, but I am getting there with various levels of assistance.

Admittedly it can be a bit of a struggle to maintain motivation when there isn’t an external guiding force on your training, as there is only yourself to answer to.  But, that is where goal-setting and personal expectations really come into their own.  I am not ashamed to say that I have some pretty lofty goals at the moment.  They are challenging, but if I can retain the current momentum, they are definitely achievable.

What is obvious from this experience, there is a reason why most elite sports people don’t have traditional professional careers.  Getting the balance right takes a lot of energy.  Workplaces are full of unexpected surprises that can turn an easy day into a day from hell.  And, despite my repeated requests/threats, taking a nap under the desk after your 3 hours morning session, just isn’t accepted.

Murphy's Law, the Rule of 3 and Zen on a bicycle

Friday morning is usually a time for a chilled out ride with the Vikings Club crew, cruising around the streets of Canberra before finding ourselves back at the ANU for the obligatory coffee stop before work. 

Normally these rides go off without a hitch, but for me the Friday just gone was anything but smooth.

Prior to the bunch heading off I warned everyone about a rather large pothole that had formed on the road that goes past where I work.  This is the sort of pothole that would bring you out in the Northern Atlantic Ocean (see here) if you were to fall in it!

Of course, as Murphy would have it, I did fall in it!  It was not pretty and it sounded even worse.  Importantly I stayed upright, my bike kept moving forward and the expletives didn't need too much censoring.  And whilst it seemed that I may have punctured (no), or bent my rim (no that's not it either), the final diagnoses was that the brake cable had managed to come dislodged in the housing and jammed the brake on.  This, unfortunately, was not rectified until the Super Soigny came to my rescue, bearing my lunch, at the coffee shop.  There are some parts of Canberra that just aren't fun with only a front brake.

 As far as I was concerned at the time, the hole I was in might have been this big! 

(photo credit)

The rule of 3 applies to most things in cycling- punctures, crashes, dnf's, wins (well I'm not sure about the last two).  Friday's set of 3 was people in cars trying to kill me.  First was the crazy man trying to over take the bunch when we were about to turn and then there were 2 others in the space of 500m as I was getting to work.  Obviously these were no more than near misses 'cause I am hear telling you about it.  It is amazing how defensively you will ride after the first near miss of the day and how that increases after number 2.  On guard everyone!

 Amy Gillett Foundation

What actually made these things from the morning seem totally irrelevant occurred to me on my ride home after work.  Despite the adventure into the pothole, I was still upright and even more importantly I had the company of a fellow Viking for the ride back to the coffee shop.  I am sorry that the bunch got away M Larkin but thanks for cruising back in with me.  Avoiding being hit is always a plus (I have been up close and personal with a car and there are still scars) but it might also have raised the awareness of the people in the cars about bikes.  (The first guy maybe not so much, but you never know). 

As I cruised home late in the afternoon of an early spring day, I was reminded that being able to get out on a bike is one of the most enjoyable things that you can do.  And that, my friends, is probably the greatest reason why cyclists endure so much.

(Photo credit)