Really what I needed was another kick start to get me back on track and luckily I had a trip to Lanzarote planned at the beginning of March. My coach was helping out on Liz and Martin Yelling's camp and I went along and joined in with some of their sessions. Some of my training buddies from Team MK were there at the same time so there was always a great group of people to train with. We did some solid sessions on the bike, some great swims and I started to run again. It was slow and easy but at least I was back on my feet with fingers crossed that my foot would hold up... And it did. It felt so good to be running again!
I decided to stay for a second week at the Trisports Lanzarote villa. I felt like I had moved in to luxury accommodation and was spoilt rotten for the week by Debs and Daz. Their offer to stay another week was very tempting but work was calling so I had to return. There was a great group of guys training out there, they were really easy going and it was really refreshing to train with a new group of people. I trained hard but this week it was much easier to relax and chill out which definitely made a lot of difference to my recovery. By the end of my trip I was feeling much stronger and fitter and for the first time in a while I felt really excited about the thought of racing!
I love training hard, pushing myself and hurting myself and I'm beginning to learn that if I want to do that I need to rest and recover properly and include some easy sessions. When I train want to go hard all the time which leaves me feeling tired and means that when it comes to a hard session I am too tired to put the quality in that is needed. I'm now learning that easy sessions are not a waste of time and that I don't need to test myself and hurt myself in every session.
After living the pro life out in Lanza it was definitely a shock to be back but I'm pleased that I'm feeling better, I'm running again and I'm getting back on track. Not long now till my first triathlon of the season. Tristar Mallorca 111 next month :)
A special thanks to Debs and Daz for looking after me at their villa (with a 25m pool!) check out www.trisportslanza.com