AI schedule followed

stats of the week: run 32 km, cycled 34 km, gym 1.5 h

I asked ChatGPT to create a training plan for my build up to Copenhagen. It suggested a sensible schedule with four sessions a week, increasing the weekly long run by 2 km each week until reaching 20 km on the weekend before the race. I managed to stick to the plan this week, completing a 12 km long run, my longest since May.

Another parkrun on Saturday saw me finish in 29:20. My pace is usually a little quicker than the plan suggests for a 2:10 half marathon, but I would be perfectly happy with a finishing time of 2:15.

By the way, C completed this week's 5K parkrun with an age graded score of 71%, even better than last time.

Tour de France on my roads

stats of the week: run 28 km, cycled 39 km, gym 3 h

Watching Stage 7 of the Tour de France Femmes was great fun. I watched it twice, once live and then again on replay. Seeing the peloton racing along the roads where I trained this summer motivated me to do it all again this autumn.

The women climbed up to Chalet Reynard at more than twice the power I could manage. While I was able to put out 150 watts at around 6 km/h, they were producing 350 watts and riding at almost 20 km/h. Impressive!

This week I was able to increase my mileage, although at a cautiously slow pace. With six weeks to go until Copenhagen, I now need to build up to longer distances than the 7 km I have become accustomed to sticking to.

Watching, not cycling

Stats of the week: run 10 km, cycled 62 km, gym 4.5 h

The neurologist I consulted maintains that the nerve is still healing. "You might not notice it, but the healing process is still ongoing," he said. I very much hope that one day I will notice the difference.

The area on the inside of my knee remains numb and feels tight. However, running feels better than anything else, and I spontaneously took part in the local parkrun, which was celebrating its 200th event.

I set off a little too quickly, with the third kilometre turning out to be my fastest, and paid the price later by having to slow down. Even so, I was pleased to finish in exactly 28:00.

The parkrun results gave me an age grading of 65.4%. I was surprised to see that C.'s time of 33:05 corresponded to an age grading of 69.5% – considerably better than mine!

The Tour de France Femmes got underway on Saturday, and I have been watching it on television with a touch of sadness. My decision is final. I will not be driving down to the south of France, nor will I be taking part in Thursday's L'Étape.

Deep down, I know I wouldn't make it to the finish. With temperatures of around 35°C forecast, the challenge would be even greater.