I’m now almost a month into training it’s funny how the first couple of weeks back are in a lot of ways the hardest.

Re-establishing the routine and getting used to the early starts in the mornings again. Becoming organised and planning ahead to make sure I’ve the right gear with me for the days sessions.

It takes a couple of weeks for that stuff to be just a regular part of your day. Something that you do without really thinking about it. But that routine is now more or less set and the training is once again just a normal part of my day and week.

If you want to follow the numbers more closely I’m on Strava as Rob Cummins Wheelworx or click here and the magic of html will bring you straight there…

So far the it’s going really well. In fact I’m starting to reach the point where I should back off and recover for a couple of days. I should see the warning signs for this by now. But I never do (or maybe I just choose to ignore them…)

First I get a bump in fitness, training volume is up, I’m super motivated and then boom, I tip over the edge and I’m completely fucked. And usually for a couple of weeks.

I sometimes think I’ll never learn.

As usual Ais spotted the warning signs before I did. A string of sleepless nights, despite which I’m still ready to train twelve times a day if I’m allowed.

It’s like I’m reaching the peak of a training cycle or block. Fitness and motivation are both rising which lulls me into a sense of security. I think to myself that if I’m feeling this good then the next logical step is to completely trash myself with another bunch of hard sessions.

Once Ais points it out I can see it. And I know I should back off and let the body absorb the last months work, but I really don’t want to.

In my head that sounds like a petulant child stomping their feet and squealing “I don’t want to!!!!”

I’m seeing progress and I’m greedy for more. If that much training made me this fit can you imagine what would happen if I did twice as much?!? Holy fuck I could turn pro!

You can see why I shouldn’t be left in charge of myself… or be allowed make training or coaching decisions about my own program. I should not be in the driving seat of this bus.

Of course there’s also the fact that I’m just really enjoying the training. I don’t want to stop because I’m loving the swimming, biking and running.

But I know if I don’t take my foot off the gas I will blow up. In a few days I’ll be unable to drag my arse out of bed for the swims and won’t give a flying fuck about the two hour run that’s on the plan.

Ais suggested yesterday morning after my swim that instead of doing the three hour bike I’d also planned on doing before work that I take the morning off.

She also pointed out that Sunday’s run is the most important session of the weekend, not fannying around on the bike in the sun and drinking coffee. She didn’t quite put it like that but I knew that’s what she was thinking.

I also knew she was right, she invariably is. But the sun was shining and the late September morning stretched out luxuriously, taunting me with what will inevitably be one of the last short sleeve riding days of the year.

I somehow managed to not get on the bike and instead enjoyed a morning drinking coffee and writing.

But the willpower didn’t extend to this morning. And today I felt it. I was completely flat. The legs were empty, energy levels are on the floor. This morning I wasn’t driving the bus, I was underneath it.

A Robbo shaped splat flattened on the tarmac.

But the sun was shining again. I just couldn’t (didn’t really try) stop myself from going out. Admittedly it was only two degrees out but it was still a gorgeous autumn morning for riding.

So I compromised and just rode easy for a while and then went for coffee. I’ll probably be in the coffee shop longer than I was on the bike today.

Anyway you came here for training numbers not for me navel gazing and talking shite so let’s move on.

---

•Monday 24 1:45 (2)

Run 1:05 12k

5 x 1k hard off 100 jog recovery

Bike :40 15k not training so much as messing around on the bike.

• Energy 7/10
• Motivation 7/10
• Work —
• Sleep 9 hours, good.

---

•Tuesday 25 4:25 (2)

Swim 1:15 4000m

10 x 400.

Bike 3:10 78.5k 1000m elevation

• Energy 8/10 (swim) 5/10 (bike)
• Motivation 8/10
• Work —
• Sleep 8 hours. Good.

---

•Wednesday 26

Off training

• Energy low/tired
• Motivation 7/10
• Work 7 hours
• Sleep 7+ poor/broken

---

•Thursday 27 3:45 (3)

Swim 1:05 3000m

6 x 300 paddles, pull buoy and band

Bike 2:20 60k 1170m elevation

• S&C :20
• Push-ups 20,20,20,20
• Crunches 140
• Plank 2,2
• Side plank 4×1

• Energy 7/10
• Motivation 8/10
• Work 8 hours
• Sleep 5-6 hours. Very poor. Broken

---

•Friday 28 1:25 (2)

Swim 1:05 3200m easy.

• S&C :20
• Push-ups 20,20,20,20
• Crunches 140
• Plank 2,1,1
• Side plank 4×1

• Energy 6/10
• Motivation 8/10
• Work 8 hours
• Sleep 6 hours. Poor

---

•Saturday 29 1:20 (2)

Bike 1:05 25k

• S&C :15
• Push-ups 25,25,15,15
• Crunches 140

• Energy 4/10
• Motivation 7/10
• Work 7 hours
• Sleep 7.5 good

---

•Sunday 30 3:20 (2)

Run 2:00 20k easy.

Bike 1:20 38.5k hard hills

• Energy 8/10
• Motivation 9/10
• Work 2 hours
• Sleep 7+ hours. Good

• ---

• Total weekly hours / sessions 16:20 (13)
• Swim 3:25 10200 (3)
• Bike 8:55 217k (5)
• Run 3:05 32k (2)
• S&C :55 (3)