Time to do some AT training.
This one seemed to catch the entire team out last week, myself included. It required a practice 5km warm up and then into 4 intervals.
AT intervals are tough because they are generally quite long as apposed to say 4×750’s which to be fair are a lot tougher but it’s over quick(er)!
Anyway this week I set a target of sub 1.40 and felt a bit nervous pottering around this morning. As the final half hour before training approached I felt lethargic and tired – the body’s response to try and protect to about what’s about to happen.
Sounds extreme for such a simple piece, I mean it’s not like I was about to crank out 4×750’s or 8×500’s or even a 2km TT. But I did know it would be tough and I wasn’t wrong.
Like I said the plan was 1.39 from stroke 1 and hold it for 4 set’s. No neg splitting , no tactics, no sprint finishes just solid all the way at a rate cap of 26-28.
So off we went. First was nice but in the break I did think how the hell am I going to do another 3 of them as the legs were biting. Ok 1 set at a time it is then.
After the second I thought it was time to reduce the target but set off on the third on pace. During the final rest period I thought there is no way I am letting this go.
A big positive to come out was the hr hit threshold and slightly beyond but then just sat – the pain remained the same through out with the stroke strong and long but as light as possible. LEGS LEGS LEGS!!! Plenty of power reserved in the back and arms ready to pounce.
Anyway it sounds more dramatic than it was. It was hard work but it was constant so happy. I guess that is what AT training is then.
End of the training week and another 130km in the bag.
