A week of normal, settling and overwhelming. How can it be all? This week was officially O-Week for the University of Otago, from balancing college events, uni presentations, more events and raves every night there is definitely no consistency or normality around that. Slowly but surely I have been getting more comfortable in my hall which itself has hosted more activities than any other which makes it feel like a welcoming community, though I am still yet to find a like minded individual athlete and health wise.
One exciting thing for this week which complemented the overwhelming it the normality in my training, with no random extra race I was able to complete a standard training week. With my long run and long bike ride, and no shortened taper days.
My run I was nervous was going to be a shock after 2 weekends with no long run but it was surprisingly good, just with some heavy head wind on the way back, but I sure would prefer that then having to run inside any day, especially for 2 hours.
I’m currently writing this in my 2.5 hour bike ride to help get stuff done and make time pass, with still 1.5 hours to complete, riding inside definitely gets the sweat working harder than outside that’s for sure.
Exciting news to me at-least is I finally set up my Volt v2 indoor trainer after have it sit in my car for 2 weeks waiting to move into my permanent hall, after many random videos and hands covered in chain oil grease I got the bike together and gave it a go straight after and it was like riding perfectly, no loud noise, screeching, ruining my tires, or having the unstable risk of my bike slipping out of the connections and falling mid ride, I’m so grateful I was able to add this device to my training gear it most definitely will level up my training and make it easier to access training when I can get out on the roads, or am honestly just want to stay inside.
Next week study starts and I’m excited for even more consistency and finding my new normal while still reaching for my goals in my training. Although I’ve been focused on training I’ve still managed to have fun at the same time and even had some great training sessions this week like hill sprints where I started feeling shit but pushed through to feeling strong. I managed to sleep when I could and knew when I needed to rest and not take it too far, I got to participate in all the dress up themes including the well known toga night! And going out to watch the highlanders first home game against the blues which they won.
– Jessica Bray