Weekly News Number 25

It Finally Feels Like Training Again

This week, proper speed sessions finally returned to both my running and cycling. And honestly, it felt really good.

When you've gone through a period where everything feels hard work, you learn to appreciate those days when your body finally starts responding again. You head out for a session, the legs come alive and you can actually feel your body adapting to the training again. That's exactly how this week felt. It's hard to describe, but after not having that feeling for a while, it reminds you why you love training so much.

I've also been back swimming with the squad more regularly. That means more conversations, plenty of friendly banter and people pushing each other in a positive way. Those daily interactions have probably done me just as much good as the training itself. When you see the same people every morning, you naturally get to know each other better.

For now, I'm still keeping the swim sessions a little easier. That allows me to enjoy training with the group without using too much energy, while making sure I can complete the planned quality sessions on the bike and during my runs. It's a balance that's working really well at the moment.

Winter here has also been quite different from what everyone promised me. Apparently it's supposed to be blue skies and sunshine every day. Instead, it has rained quite a bit and I've been caught out on the bike more than once. Luckily it's still around 20 degrees, so it's hardly a disaster. I'm still getting used to deciding what to wear each morning. One thing I definitely don't miss is freezing rides back home or spending hours on the indoor trainer. What I do miss, though, is seeing all the racing happening over in Europe.

Noosa River afther a rainy arvo

Coffee, Croissants and a Long Run

Away from training, there were plenty of good moments this week as well.

After Pilates, Emma showed me another café here in Noosa. By now, I honestly think we've visited almost every café in town. This one immediately caught my attention because I was convinced I'd just found the best almond croissant in Noosa.

The funny part is that I'd already ordered the croissant. Then I sat down, looked around and saw all these incredible breakfast burgers being served to other tables. So naturally, I ordered one of those as well. The croissant came home with me and became afternoon tea a few hours later.

And yes... after finally eating it, I can confirm that it's probably still the best almond croissant I've had here.

So if anyone ever comes to visit us in Noosa, I think I've now figured out exactly where to send them for the best coffee, the best burger and the best almond croissant.

On Sunday we met some friends at the same café. Instead of driving there, I turned it into my long run and took the scenic route through the national park.

It's become one of my favourite runs. The rolling hills, the views from Hell's Gates and the trail towards Main Beach never get old. Only the final section gets busy with tourists, but when you're running on your own it's easy enough to weave your way through the crowds.

Back at the café, I had one final job to do: make sure the almond croissant was really as good as I remembered.

The verdict?

Absolutely.

A Hot Ironman and Another Sunday in the Ocean

Later that afternoon I watched Ironman Frankfurt—or at least the shortened version of it.

Just watching made me feel hot. Racing after swimming in almost 30-degree water honestly doesn't look enjoyable. You start the bike already carrying a huge amount of heat, and once your core temperature climbs too high, there's very little you can do except slow down and try to cool yourself. Definitely not something you want during an Ironman.

Not long after the race started, I headed down to the beach for our regular Sunday ocean swim. Our little swim group waits until the turnaround point but not much longer. If you're late, you spend the rest of the swim chasing everyone down.

At the moment I'm making a real effort to stay right on someone's feet. That's where you learn the most about swimming in a group and moving efficiently through the water. On the way back everyone naturally picks the pace up a little, which makes it a perfect aerobic effort for me. I just have to make sure I don't lose the draft, because once a small gap opens, it usually becomes a big one very quickly.

Back on the beach we nearly always spend another ten or fifteen minutes chatting. Everyone shares a little about their week or something exciting they've been up to. Somehow those conversations have become just as much a part of Sunday as the swim itself.

The training itself still isn't anything spectacular. Kurt and I are simply trying to put together another consistent week. No hero workouts. Nothing that would attract thousands of likes on social media. Just showing up every day and getting the work done.

Right now, that feels exactly right.

I'm looking forward to every session coming up. I know fitness doesn't come back overnight, but with patience and consistency it always finds its way back.

To everyone racing Ironman Thun this weekend, I wish you an incredible race. Enjoy these final days of preparation, and most importantly, enjoy race day itself. In a few years you probably won't remember your exact pace or your power numbers.

But you'll always remember how you felt crossing that finish line.

So make sure you cross it with a smile.

Have fun.

Cyrill