Winter Training Starts

Week 46 was a relatively tough one. Coach will be breaking me in gently over the next few with some preparation weeks, so tried some new interval sessions including some over/unders.

Both Malin and I have been feeling pretty tired, bit of winter blues, and a bit of Albert waking more often than normal for a feed. The joys of parenthood, feels like we are walking around in a permanent daze some days!

Been back on Zwift last week for the first time this winter. Two extra free months were available through my Strava premium account up until December. Will definitely be continuing with it a little longer this year, as I only trialled it and then used my first 2 months Strava last year. I've been impressed with how quickly a session on the trainer can go by now, and the fact that you can program intervals so quickly and easily before doing a session. Highly recommend trying if you've not done so already.

Friday night saw me drafted into a team for the Frosta Multisport 'Late Night Orup' night race near Höör. Riding with three super strong lads from the club (Staffanstorps CK); David Larsson, Erik Olsson and Anton Barfalk. David started, and took us all by surprise by coming round in just over 25mins on the first lap. I stood waiting in the exchange zone while he was just past the timing mat shouting for me, but we didn't see each other in the darkness! I then rode my two laps back-to-back, not planning to go out again if I didn't need to. The course was super muddy, and the first couple of k's were pretty boggy and draggy. Rode a steady pace enjoying sliding around, then handed over to Anton, who also put in a storming lap. Next up was Erik, who came round within 3 seconds of Anton's lap time! These guys are good! The timing would have been near perfect for the 4 hours, had it not have been for a double puncture and a brave long run back to the exchange for David. Massively impressed by all three lads, showing mature heads on young, fast shoulders.

Late Night Orup - It was all too much for some

Great ride on Sunday this week too. 2 1/2 hours on the MTB from home, up to the Billebjer, then onto the Skrylle lap. Tried to find the new section, but couldn't see it. Left the course and headed over to Torna Hällestad, then down to Dalby Stenbrott, Dalby, then home via the fishing lakes. Tried to keep a good pace, and Rob had included a few short sprints which is always fun when on the MTB riding singletrack. Any excuse to go fast and have fun! I was actually surprised how dry it was for the most part. We've had a lot of rain lately, then the snow which melted after a week.

A week with hopefully no rain on it's way now, so we'll see how the trails dry out. Keen on an MTB ride in Genarp some time this week, the tracks always dry out so quickly there. So if you get a crisp morning near to zero degrees C, you get some beautifully flowing trails.

See you out there!