Alistair Brownlee is enjoying training
Every time I come back to writing a Garmin blog, my mood is improving and I have a lot more to writeabout. Looking back over the last few it has been a slow progression. From having to fill blank pages withwords about building an underwater treadmill, which was great to fill the void, but not what I love. Towatching my brother go to track sessions, while I did 15 minute jogs around golf courses. Now I am reallyback into the swing of it. Over the last month I have been doing what I would consider 'proper training'.Still a lot of hours (solid Sunday ride: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/188311700), but some realintensity.
The part of it I really enjoy isn't just the fact I get to run as fast I can in circles, ride up and down the samestretch of road every Thursday night battling with other cyclists or even taking a few elbows of the otherguys in my lane on swim drafting sessions. The part I think every athlete loves the most is the feelingafterwards, on an evening when you are well and truly fff...ried! Knowing that you have spent all day doingwhat you love, with no limitations. It is a totally different fatigue and one that comes with nothing butsatisfaction. Since the prior few weeks had been going well, I decided to have a run out at the GE BlenheimTriathlon. I don't particularly ever feel like I need a race to get fully fit, but it does help and it's all thesmall things you forget about when you haven't raced in so long. Making sure your elastic laces are lacedup properly, putting elastic bands on everything, tattooing numbers to yourself and laying out your rackingarea. I had to remind myself of this so much that me and Jonny ended up having to run down to the swimstart in fear of missing it!The race went as well as it could of done for me. I swam well, me and Jonny rode very strongly together,I felt pushed, but definitely not in any trouble on the run. The biggest thing about the weekend for me wasthe reception we got. I must of signed about 1000 autographs and been in as many pictures! We had to beushered into a separate room just so we can grab some dinner!
From this point onwards I feel I can relax. I'm now doing what I am used to. All of the media commitmentsare calming down so that me and Jonny can prepare properly. From now on it is train, race sleep and eat!Although it sounds boring, I love this time of year. Roll on Kitzbuhel.