I had intended to write this blog in early 2014, i.e. January at some point butI failed miserably probably due to the fact that despite having two weeks off I spent most of it trying to do home stuff and looking after the girls...
How was 2013:
Pros
Lost weight 98kgs by Aug for Ely (after I had identified my cushionoid syndrome)
Riding was improved - more consistent >200W output
Running was better when it worked
PB'd at Ely (although the bike was short I would have still PBd)
Cons
Gained weight at the end of 2012 (108kgs in Jan 2012)
Didn't run enough so when I did I was plagued with injuries
Good swim/bike at Ely killed by a poor run...
Races entered and cancelled
Swiming suffered
However I have managed to get some training in too, just not as much as I would like
Training has been pretty good. I have, in the most part, got in one swim and a couple of runs/rides per week. Most of the riding has been on the trusty turbo - as the nights are too dark and the roads too slippery... Currently I am critically reviewing what I need to sort on the TT bike before the Sierakow Middle Distance race (my first of the year...). It needs a strip and clean, but most things seem okay, however I need to revisit wheel choice, I am finding that I can flex the H3 rear on the turbo, I am seriously considering a disc, which means a limited choice as I run clinchers and would prefer an alu brake track, currently the Circo[check spelling] disc is looking good - will just have to see.
As for the running this has been equally split between on and off road running. The run at Sierakow is a trail run. I purchased a pair of Brooks PureGrit2s early on this year and decided to get off the asphalt - what a revalation! Off road running is hard! It is so much harder than road running, and I thought I was going to break something on my first outing, the mud was ankle deep and the paths slippery even with trail shoes.
As for the Brooks PG2s I have read a lot of mixed reviews on them. They are good - really comfy running, the grip is adequate on mud but I expect it to be superb on dry dirt track. The majority of criticism for it is around wet/mud grip...wet grip on asphalt is good but on deep mud it all goes a bit squirly, however I doubt Innov8 or Salomon shoes would have been better in the stuff on the trails over the past few weeks - spikes would be good!
Overall at the moment I would rate them a 7/10 for performance, and a 10/10 for fit, not surprising as the last is the same as my Brooks PureFlow2s which I love :-) Finally, on running, this week I managed an experience I had not tried before - snow running! I was in Espoo, just outside of Helsinki and I did a (sadly) short run in cold snowy conditions. The snow trail was lightly packed by skidoos and I had taken some Yaxtrax Pro snow grips for my trainers - they were amazing. All in all great fun, hard work, but fun. Plus the birds and animals are different there so it made for a really enjoyable run.
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