With just two weeks to go until the time with my online coach starts, I’m feeling excited! As instructed, I’ve downloaded an app called training peaks.

I’ve synced the app to seemingly everything apart from the kitchen sink. Ok I’ve not synced it to the toaster (yet). However, its now linked to fitness pal, Zwift, wahoo element, Garmin and Strava. This means that all my swims, runs, walks, bikes, gym sessions and what I’m eating are now all in one place. It includes both current training and history. Every silly decision I’ve ever made is there for the coach to look at. Eek!

He will see (as I have now indeed seen) that after recovering from my fall and stitches I went from 2 hours of exercise to 7 hours in a matter of three weeks. Oops! No wonder I ended up injured again. Why didn’t I notice this by just looking at my Garmin or Strava you might be asking? Good question and I don’t really have an answer. I do, however, hope that the additional stats on training peaks will help. The app provides you with another calculation called TSS.

Without getting too boring about it, it essentially measures relative intensity and frequency as well as duration. Thus you can look at a number on a page and think yikes the number has jumped from 200 to 300 since last week!

The problem is, I dont know by how much you can increase your TSS week on week without it being an issue. However, I assume the coach will watch this and coax me along in the right direction. That’s what I’m paying him for after all, and I’ll be able to concentrate on enjoying myself and not worrying about the numbers.

It’s been a great weekend. We’ve seen my family yesterday. Great to be able to meet up and have a proper catch up in person rather than over a skype call.

Yesterday evening we went out with “the kids” for curry and beer and then plonked ourselves down in front of the Champions League final. Unfortunately the game did not go as my husband and his daughter would of liked and my ears are still bleeding…….. all good fun though 😝.

Today I started the day with a beautiful bike ride in glorious weather. I went out on my own aiming for a shorter ride. My husband went off on a longer one on his own. Half way through we exchanged texts, met up and came back together. I underestimated the distance and timing though and got home 2 hours after setting off. It was great to be out again and I look forward to being able to go out more often with my husband now. I’m also looking forward to finding nice cafes for breakfast or a coffee and cake (like the old days).

This afternoon Ive painted the decking with stuff that smelt awful but looks really nice. Meanwhile my husband washed our cars (lord knows mine needed it). He once told me that they should put the I’m a celebrity get me out of here contestants in my car for ten minutes as their trial (no snakes needed).