Update from Fiona
The first week in Perth was the start of a recovery week so it was a good chance to check out the local roads, stock up on food and do a few sessions in the Veledrome just rolling around to get used to it. The gym at the Vines resort is quite different so it was good to have the time to get used to the gear and change things around to suit my training. I had to do a big shop at the local supermarket too, food prices are going up here just like at home, but it’s great to be able to cook for myself and keep a familar diet like at home.
The first weekend I spent a day with some relatives, they took me to the local Chocolate Factory for lunch, mmmmmmm, very nice, I have limited myself to 2 pieces per day untill it’s all gone.
After the first week it was into some hard training, Monday morning was 90mins of Gym and stretches, then track at 1pm, the track had been cleaned over the weekend with a new product, it was very slippery and I lost my nerve, you kinda do when your back wheel is slipping out from under you so the session was cut short.
Tuesday was a road ride in the morning that included 2 x 15 minutes efforts within an hour to get the legs really spinning, mid day it was back to the track for 7 x 3min efforts hard out in a 49” x 13” gear ( 101” in trackie terms ) with a 5 minute recovery in between, coach says “ take a bucket” I didn’t need it but the legs were definately wasted. Nothing a good leg rub couldn’t fix, perfect thing for Steve to do after I picked him up form the airport. Unfortunately i got us lost so it ended up a later night than I expected.
Wednesday morning it was back into the gym, the legs feeling a wee bit worse than the fresh legs I had on monday, but I coped well and really enjoyed my recovery ride later in the afternoon.
Thursday afternoon it was back to the track to practice some standing starts in different gearing after some time trial work in the morning on the road, the mornings have been very cold this week, between 3-6 degrees, hard on the lungs. We have to wrap up warm inside the veledrome to as there is no insulation, and we have to watching for leaky roof syndrome when it’s raining.
Friday Perth was expecting the worst storm in years and they got it, not quite up to NZ standards, but it was still a goodie. Good day to do the gym indoors and recovery ride on the ERG while watching the tour.
The weather had cleared on Saturday but it was cold, I didn’t venture out untill 11am to wait for a bit of warmth before completing 3x 20 minute hard Time trial efforts, I found a flat long motorway to complete this on, by the 3rd 20 minute effort I was done, it was a real struggle to keep my heart rate up. Once I was finished I felt a good Mochachino was in oder so off to the Chocolate factory, it just happens to be down the road. teehe,. athletes have to have treats too.
Until next time
Fi
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