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Christmas Time

Wow! I never thought that snow could be such a pain in the ass! Usually it is very exciting because it means a Snow day at school, but as I'm no longer at school, that can't happen. It just makes me feel guilty. I haven't made it easy by being in Scotland though (family Christmas). It was -8 on the car thermometer today. All it means is a lot of turbo training! I won't expand too much, as I am sure everyone knows how bad these things are, even with a TV, radio and ipod to entertain you. At least there is some consolation that everyone else has it the same. It seems to be the only topic on Facebook at the moment.

My training was going really good a few weeks ago. I hooked up with my new Coach, Nic Tilling, did a power test, and got a perfectly crafted training plan complete with power ranges and everything. Then my power meter broke, and the weather got bad. From then it has been an uphill struggle (excuse the pun). Hopefully it will all be kick-started by a training camp in Lanzarote I have booked from 10th Jan to 21st. I am heading out with Joe Perrett and Pete Dibben which should be a blast. I shouldn't really moan about my training. Pete has had 2 broken elbows this winter and a bad flu. It should be a morale boost attacking him on the climbs!

I have gained weight this winter! I am 72/73 kg now (188cm), which I think should benefit me. It is a confusing topic when racing in Britain. Given that it is relatively flat, how much difference does weight really make? My new team mate Ian Wilkinson proves that big men can certainly challenge on every terrain in Britain. The trouble is that every cyclist wants to be ripped and have a good VO2 max score. Does the increased weight give you any increased sprint power, endurance, or resistance against the cold? I have decided to try and maintain the weight but convert fat to muscle through normal training. I am lucky to have an extreme metabolism so its not hard.

I think my knee is FINALLY coming to a resolution. I came home from a interval session a few weeks ago in a very depressed state due to my knee (felt the same as september). All the way home I couldn't stop thinking I had made a massive mistake and thinking I should be at University, and thinking about where I had saved my personal statement on the laptop. Luckily my mum was at home when I got back, and insisted I saw a knee doctor who was a friend of hers. This didn't fill me with confidence as I have seen too many physios and chiros to count. Apparently he sees 40 new knees every week! He immediately diagnosed Illiotibial band syndrome- which is apparently what most cyclists have when they get knee pain. The inflammation of the band was aggravating my patella and causing the uncomfortable feeling. This made me sick that no one had picked up on this. I immediately got some exercises from an ex-arsenal physio and my knee's are tracking around 2 cm further away from the top tube! I have to essentially re-learn my pedaling technique with my knees further out.

I have been listening to my motivational CD a lot recently. I think there is something wrong with me sometimes. I am getting a free couple of years to go and race bikes around the world, but I keep getting moments where I question what am I doing and whether I should be at University or in a job. Its not my family, they are very supportive, but the idea that 'living at home when over 18 is bad' seems to be engrained in my head. I keep on comparing myself to experienced pros and their training etc. but I need to stop it! Hopefully by sticking at it for 2 years will teach me to relax and mellow, enjoy the lifestyle more, and stop being so self-critical. It should be fun!

Hope everyone has a happy new year!

p.s. sorry for the lack of pics , but not much happening this time of year!

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