I've been totally useless when it comes to blogging so far. My main problem being that I've only blogged when I think I have a statement to make rather than just making it a diary. So today I've decided to relaunch my blog, with the firm intention of trying to make it a daily event to write something, even on days when I don't train. Let's see how long that lasts!

So, the reason for the restart: I noticed on the C2 site today (Sunday) that my entry for BIRC has been received, so my race debut is scheduled for exactly eight weeks time. Gulp! My recent(ish) 6:44.5 (at probably 95% effort and 90% health) should however give me reasonable grounds for optimism that I can break 6:40 (which I've put as my expected time) on the day, and maybe even get close to my 6:36.3 PB.

No erging today. My 10 x 5000m yesterday was quite enough for the weekend, and while I felt okay and could have erged, my biceps and quads were a little sore, and I'd a dull ache on the inside of my left knee (old injury - dodgy ligament - hard sessions tend to have this effect).

One thing I thought I should do is analyse my strengths and weaknesses as an erger, as they stand at the moment:

Positives:
1. Excellent CV fitness. If the metres I did in the last year have given me anything, then this is it. Sub 1:57 FM and 1:52 HM paces show that.

Negatives:
1. Poor upper body strength. It's embarrassing just how few press-ups I can do. I hate doing weights, especially in the gym. This is something I'm going to need to work on at some point, both weights and high DF, low SPM erg sessions, but probably not before BIRC.
2. No organised training regime. I just do whatever I feel like (or what I can manage given the time constraints available) once I get to the gym, without either being aware of what kind of training I should be doing, or worrying about it overmuch.
3. Minimal technical knowledge. I've only received specific erging coaching once in my life (from Thomas W-P) and never really read anything on it. I've only just started reading the C2 forums on this subject.
4. A liking for too much alcohol. I know it affects performance, both short and long-term, but I like a glass of wine or three. So to try and shame myself into drinking less, I'm going to record in the blog how much I drink as well as what training I do.

Hmm... lots of negatives there, and not many positives.

Metres: 0
Alcohol: 8 (2 bottles of San Miguel during the rugby, 1/2 bottle of Wolf Blass yellow label Chardonnay with dinner)