Update: 22 weeks to go...

Weight: 14-6.6. (Target 14-7.0).  Loss: 1.2 lbs.
Wk23 Training: Hours: 6:30  (Target 7:00).  Bike: 0km.  TSS: 468.

Almost done with Jan 30/30 still going strong. Got my 30 mins in everyday this week. However, I may fall at the last. I have family commitments on Tuesday (31st) and as I have already used my wildcard I have no leeway.  And bfore you start, no, the prospect of a 30min turbo before work does not appeal.

Weight...
It was always going to be a difficult week. I was away for the weekend for the wife's birthday, so the challenge was always going to be to limit the amount of over indulgence (eating by me, shopping by her!). It seems to have worked ok as I have lost 1.2 lbs, not quite what I would have hoped for but not too bad and much better than a flat week (or even putting on a few pounds)and I am still ahead of target.

Training...
A lighter week in terms of both training hours and load. Reasons for this are twofold. (i) Away at weekend meant less training time & all rides were on static bikes. (ii) Have come down with a stinking cold. Wary about 'training through it' so bailed on a planned 90 minute turbo session yesterday evening - I had already done 45mins in gym in the morning - and did my tax return instead...

The year of the Turbo...
My turbo had its 5th birthday in January; however it has led a sheltered life, spending the first four either under the spare bed or on loan to friends with greater will-power than me. I reckons that I'd done less than 3hrs total on the turbo in 5 years. Yet now I have got over the fear and accessorised, I have been well and truly won over; This year I have 'happily' been putting in multi sessions a week of up to 1.5hrs. This is making a big difference to my training and removing all excuses for not riding (late, dark, wet, cold, icy, etc).

Golden Cheetah Weekly Summary 29-Jan-12

Next week...
After a quieter week I am going to start this week... quietly.  A couple of rest days coming up, and then will pick it up later in the week, hopefully including some long rides at the weekend. Maybe even cold free?

Update: 23 weeks to go...

Weight: 14-7.8. (Target 14-10.0). Loss: 2.4 lbs.
Wk24 Training: Hours: 9:53  (Target 7:00). Bike: 151.1km. TSS: 913.

Weight...
Lost 2.4 pounds - another solid week - and steady progression towards my target.  I would have been disappointed with much less given that (with the exception of a Saturday night illicit Thai takeaway) I kept my diet under control; and put in 10hrs of aerobic endeavour. I am now 2.6 lbs under target with just two more weeks until the target loss drops to a more achievable 2lbs/wk.

Training...
Quite a big week for me at this time of year.  And with my 30/30 in January wildcard used last week  I trained every day including some solid sessions after work.  On Saturday I wasn't feeling it so kept it pretty steady.  Sunday was another story, the 'slightly faster than club pace' out towards Gatwick looked like an opportunity for a good ride on some new roads.  The problem was that this turned out to be 4+hrs of hanging on, interspersed with some dropping off the back whenever the road uphill (my watts may be rising & my weight falling, but my watts/kg is still woeful).   Some 4.5hrs ride time covering 115km make this my longest ride since Irinman Florida in November 2010!  Which might explain why I feel stiff/sore this morning.

Golden Cheetah Weekly Summary 22-Jan-12

Next Week...
Going to be a tough week to hit my targeted numbers this week  I am away at the weekend (the wife's birthday, definately a non-negotiable...) so will have to get some extra turbo time in during the week. Furthermore, going away means eating in restaurants where it is much harder not to increase the calorific intake (Would you like to supersize that sir?).

Timmelsjoch (2,509m)

Here is a preview of the roof of the 2012 Schwalbe-Tour-Transalp, the climb on Stage 2 from Sölden to the summit of the Timmelsjoch on the Austrian-Italian border, as tackled by Garmin-Barracuda's Christophe Le Mével:

Update: 24 weeks to go...

Weight: 14-10.2. (Target 14-13.0). Loss: 2.2 lbs.
Wk24 Training: Hours: 8:07  (Target 7:00).  Bike: 125.9km.  TSS: 555.

Weight...
Lost two (point two) pounds; Not quite what I had hoped or targeted (-3 lbs) but good none the less. Three pounds per week is really quite an ask and it was set to take into account that I felt there were some easy initial pounds to lose (hence the 6.6 last week).  Anyhow, I am still 2.8 lbs under target; and if I can eek that out over the next three January weigh-ins to arrive at the start of Feb still on track (where the targeted loss drops to -2 lbs) then I will be 'pleased as punch'. (i.e. next 3 weeks at 2.2lbs would get me to 14-3.6).

Training...
30/30 is still in play - I had to take my wildcard on Thursday after a hectic day at work - but managed to clock 30+ minutes every other day (and without another wildcard will have to ride daily for the next 2.5 weeks!).  The rest of the week's training was pretty solid, even including two rides on the *road* over the weekend.  Nice to be off a static bike and get out there, but had to be somewhat cautious of potentially icy conditions given the close to zero  temperatures that we have had of late.

Next week...
Plan is for more of the same.  Target is 7+hrs of training and to lose three pounds. Current thinking is approx 4hrs Mon-Fri, 1.5 hrs Sat & 3hrs Sun.

Update: 25 Weeks to go...

Weight: 14-12.4.  (Target 15-2.0).  Loss: 6.4 lbs.
Wk25 Training: Hours: 8:50  (Target 7:00).  Bike: 123.9km.  TSS: 833.

I can tend to be a little all-or-nothing; which can be good, can be bad.  What it does mean is that this year I need to get my ducks in a row to ensure that this is an All year and not a Nothing year (like 2008).  To that end I decided to kick the year off with 30/30 - 30 minutes cycling per day for 30 days in January (one free pass).  And to accompany all that training there will be a big focus on my diet to ensure that the two together lead to increase fitness & decreased fatness.

Weight...
Result.  6.4 pounds loss represents a great week.  I have bannished the extra few pounds from Chrirstmas and have made a start in the quest to get down to a reasonable climbing weight.  The focus this week was good old fashioned calories in versus calories out.  Ate sensibly (albeit minimally where possible) and put plenty of effort into my training.  Good to shift a few extra pounds early on and get moving in the right direction - primarily to boost early motivation, but also because the later pounds will be harder to shift.


Training...
So, how has the 30/30 gone.  Great.  I hit the 30 minutes every day and did 8+ hours for the week.  A good start to the year:

Sunday's longer ride was a hilly club run into the Surrey Hills.  Hmmm.  Reality Check.  Off the back of the main group on all of the main climbs (six !).  Now Surrey has nothing that is a patch on the Dolomites, so this is indicative of what needs to be done.  Lots.  I hope need to be riding the club run middle-of the-pack in a months time, comfortable on the front in two and graduating to one of the training runs in three.  Gonna take a lot of hard work; on the road, in spin classes and on my turbo.

Challenge 2012

I like a challenge.  It gives me focus, I like the process of preparing for it, usually enjoy partaking in the event and certainly relish the feeling of completing the challenge. In 2007 it was the Etape; 2008 the Marmotte (#fail); 2009 the Marmotte (again); and in 2010 the Marmotte (yes, again) and Ironman Florida (swimming and running??).

Last year I decided to take some time out and let the rest of life had a go.  This year I am back on the challenge trail.  Having decided to stick to cycling - which I enjoy more than the swimming & running malarkey - I had to decide on an event.

While on my break, I was inspired by last year's Haute Route through the Alps from Geneva to Nice.  I liked the idea of a multi-day event and that lead me to the Schwalbe-Tour-Transalp.  Seven stages over seven days through the alps of Germany, Austria & Italy to the shores of Lake Garda.  800km, 17 mountain passes and 19,000 metres off climbing.  Now that sounds like a challenge.