Winter 2006/2007 shaping up nicely

Last week was my first 'structured' training week of the winter. I actually ended up doing less training than in recent weeks, but established a lovely pattern for me to get used to...

Mon: circuits
Tue: track
Wed: terrain run/orienteering
Thu: long/terrain intervals
Fri: steady run/cycling
Sat/Sun: long run/competitions/orienteering.

(By the way, this is me in action at the Compass Sport Cup - I'm often complimented on my fence-jumping ability)

Anyway, it's not exactly anything wildly unorthodox and as long as I stick at it and fill it out with plenty of extra miles on harder weeks, it should hopefully see me fitter and faster next year. The main difference to recent winters is the introduction of measurement (I guess this is what is known as an example of a key word). Track training and monthly time trials in Sheffield or on the squad course will provide this and it'll be interesting to see if it helps.

The only reason for any doubt as to why it might not help is that, right now, I seem to be fitter (faster?) now than ever before. This is on the back of 2/3 months of `what do I feel like doing today?' training and a grand total of 4 interval sessions since July. I surprised myself in the 2nd running (my 1st) of the GB Squad Time Trial where I set a decent time and was 2nd to Jamie Stevenson WORLD CHAMPION. Results here.

But I can definitely improve in the tough stuff as shown at the Twin Peaks where I was easily beaten by Oli Johnson on both days. Results here.

I've discovered that I can get away with doing a mountain marathon (my report now exists here) the week before a time trial, but I still can't get away with a heavy night out before an orienteering event (as my time of 30mins for 3.8km at Loxley Common on Saturday showed).

What's the point of this posting? I dunno. Maybe it's that while I'm sure structured and finely analysed training does work wonders (indeed, this evening, Sheffield's orienteers are getting together to plan what we can do as a group this winter) so does enjoying training. So I'm gonna try and do both.