Training-wise, the lack of snow and ice has meant that rides have continued almost right through winter (I've even made a long-awaited return to the bike in the past few weeks) but, as far as the tri-specific stuff is concerned, the main focus has been on our Monday night interval session which is super popular and well-attended, with 20 runners there last Monday. As the lighter nights roll in, we're hoping that number will go even higher.
As the most retentive of readers will remember, at the end of last year I was involved in the setting up of a triathlon and cycling club. I thought I'd use this post to give a bit of an update about ATAC (Amsterdam Triathlon and Cyling Club) as we're slowly but surely heading towards spring and, as such, the time when my role as Tri Director for ATAC starts to become more demanding. So far so very good, however. We didn't expect to gain too many members over winter but, helped somewhat by a extremely mild few months here in the Dam, the club has continued to grow and we now have 60+ fully paid-up members. Not bad at all. We've also recently had all the legal i's doted and t's crossed, so we're an official not-for-profit in the eyes of the Amsterdam Chamber of Commerce now too. Oh, and our new team cycling kit has just arrived too... and it looks pretty darn good.
Training-wise, the lack of snow and ice has meant that rides have continued almost right through winter (I've even made a long-awaited return to the bike in the past few weeks) but, as far as the tri-specific stuff is concerned, the main focus has been on our Monday night interval session which is super popular and well-attended, with 20 runners there last Monday. As the lighter nights roll in, we're hoping that number will go even higher. Nope, I'm not referring to a nice, chewy, wobbly bass-line that makes you get up and want to throw some shapes (or so I've heard...). The base period is the single least glamorous, least fun, most boring, most rubbish element of triathlon (or any endurance sport) training. Which is probably why I’ve never really done one properly before! Essentially, the idea is that, at the end of a season, you take some time off to rest and recover - and, if you live in northern Europe, generally hide indoors. Then you start your base period; a time for getting back into the swing of things; a time to not worry too much about things like pace or power; a time when you're supposed to just swim, bike and run for the fun of it to build up some fitness; a time when you generally feel like utter balls. Especially when you're a numbers-driven athlete as I can definitely be. So, let’s get straight to it. The more perceptive amongst you will have noticed something a little different going on. What’s that? No, I’m not wearing new glasses. Not a haircut either. Well, yes, actually I have lost a little weight, but that’s not it either… That’s right: I’ve gone and moved house! Or, more specifically, I’ve changed blog providers. To cut a long story short, the previous hosting company taught Dick Turpin all he knew about daylight robbery and took note of the fact that I had some decent traffic to try to charge me 6 times more than they did last year. I think not. So, I’ve jumped ship to the good HMS Weebly (try it, tickets are free!) and am trying to wrestle a year’s worth of blog posts back from Big Bad Dotcom Co. And what a fine looking boat she is too, don’t you think? So, that’s the explanation for the wallpaper around here looking a bit different; the reason that the couch has moved; why there’s now a bathroom where the bedroom used to be. But, other than that, I promise it’ll be business as usual as I blog the interesting and, well, not so interesting details of my tri life. Cheers for reading everyone. |
AuthorMatt. Brit in Amsterdam. Triathlete. Ultrarunner. AG30-35. Slightly in front of the middle of the pack. Slightly behind the front of the pack. Categories
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June 2015
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