Kate Carmichael - Back on the training wagon, and happy to be here...

2013 was tough.  It was the first year that I had stuck to a training plan, and I followed it religiously for 6 months, never missing a session, or a HR zone.  I was pretty driven and pretty tired.  But, the hard work paid off.  I did well at races.  My focus was on endurance events and I felt strong for these and recovered well.

In August, while I was in the states taking part in a MTB stage race, my mum was taken seriously ill and I came home.  In September she lost her fight against cancer.  It’s fair to say that I was devastated.

For some time, I lacked enthusiasm for anything. Getting out on my bike, something I’d always loved, seemed to make me sadder.  I took to running – it was about the only thing that seemed to lift me some days.

Gradually, with gentle encouragement from friends, I started to get back out on the bike, and the enthusiasm returned.  If it hadn’t been for a good friend making plans to meet and ride then it might have taken me a lot longer to get back out there.

In January, just as I was looking at the year ahead and wondering whether I had it in me to get back into training and racing, I heard from XCRacer that I had been selected for the XCRacer/Scimitar team.  The timing was perfect.  To be part of such a great team and to be doing something a bit different this year was just the motivation I needed to get back on track with my biking.

So, I booked a week of road riding in Spain with Vamos Cycling to get some miles in and after a great week with them in glorious sunshine last week, my training plan has started in earnest this week.  

Having worked with him last year, I’m going to be working with Karl at DeZeiner fitness again this year.  I tell Karl what my commitments are from week to week, and once a week he sends me a plan.  When you’re busy, having someone else think about your sessions, and plan what you are going to do when is ideal.  Having someone else telling me how hard I should be going is good for me too.  Much as I’d like to find out what I need to do and put a plan together myself, I just don’t have the time.   

I’m looking forward to having some structure back in what I’m doing and a bit of variation in my sessions.  I’ll be biking, indoor and out, road and MTB, running a bit, doing some strength training and practicing Ashtanga yoga.  I’ll also be making sure I get out on my bike with friends, and get some skills practice in – two areas which suffered last year with my strict adherence to the plan. 

My first race is on 23 March - the Whinlatter Challenge, a 37 mile race in the Lake District.  Plenty of time to get some good training hours in before then!

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