Final Finalised Training Plan Finally

I've joined a gym for the first time in my life. It feels odd as it's not a midlife crisis and really it's just so I can use the pool but as a runner I've always been a bit of a 'the world is my gym' kinda guy. Now the gym is my gym.

I'll admit my main reason for joining was because they gave me a price I couldn't refuse (free) but to be able to pool swim on Tuesdays and sea swim at weekends...when it warms up, at least...is a real blessing.

My first swim was dreadful and felt like a waste of time. I couldn't put my face in the water and got tired after 15 short laps. I was told this is normal though and that buoyed me up (no pun intended) to go back today. I set myself a goal of 20 laps however possible and, as ever, they were slow laps.

On finishing I was offered a sauna or steam room by a young man who turned out to be an instructor, both of which I politely declined. He also told me it was perfectly normal and would get easier so now that I have a schedule I'm on board for swimming (again, no pun intended).

Sunday rides have been non-existent of late for theatrical reasons but after the show this Sunday my training plan is:

Tuesday swim, increasing lap numbers

Wednesday indoor bike, keeping to an hour of low resistance 

Friday short ride, maximum of twenty miles

Sunday long ride, increasing distance if possible

...with as many sea swims as I can. Arms and legs don't fail me now.

That Time I Nearly Died

I was fairly consistent over January apart from one weekend - what happened was the weather report suggested no wind on a Saturday so I swapped my ride from Friday to Saturday and the wind did the same so I hit the indoor bike instead. Keen not to make the same mistake I ventured into the wind last Friday, almost froze on the bike and scraped myself back home. This week I was treated to a calm, semi-warm ride and was counting my blessings before I came across some other people making the most of the good weather.

The first was on a busy roundabout at Penzance. I was crossing during a lull and encountered a guy who approached the junction at full speed and slammed his brakes on just in time to miss my front wheel. He should have been checking for cars anyway so had no excuse for pulling out like he did and almost had a human milkshake to explain to the children in his car.

Lo and behold, on my 28th mile, I came to an easily sighted junction that joined the road I was travelling on. One car crossed my road in front of me and one pulled out of the junction as both realised they had plenty of time to do so. Another car at the junction hesitated big time and went to pull out as I was almost in front of her, again slamming on her brakes just in time. 

What really struck me about both of these incidents is that I went to put my hand up to both which would have looked like an apology, however neither saw this because they both looked away as quickly as possible in embarrassment. I know this all sounds a bit preachy but I will admit, as a driver, cyclists can be annoying. They're slow, can be unpredictable and take time to pass on the road. That said, both of these drivers had to wait less than five seconds before I was out of the way and they could carry on. Five seconds! Is my life really worth less than that? Actually, don't answer that. It doesn't take much to allow cyclists a bit of courtesy, especially since they're possibly building up mileage and therefore knackered.

The good news is that I didn't die; this isn't some American Beauty style post with a big twist. Also, training is still going well.