Rollin', junior hockey

New year. Foolin' around time is up. I've been focusing up to now exclusively on putting in run miles (or kilometres if you prefer - over 60 of them last week), with the exception of one swim in December. It's time now to roll back in (pardon the pun) the ride and the swim.

Santa was good enough to bring me a set of rollers this year, so I've put a couple of rides in on them already. It's definitely not the same as cranking it out on the mag trainer. A lot more concentration is required, which is a good thing. Lose your focus, and you'll end up like this. One definite benefit is better balance. I can feel it after only two rides. Another benefit is the improved ability to hold a straight line. Sounds simple, yes, but a road bike with clip-on aero bars is a little twitchy upfront. Less snaking around means a shorter line from point A to point B - another source of free speed. I've added a 12" floor fan, and I'm good to go.

For January, I'm targeting, to start, at least two rides and two swims per week. Sheesh. With five runs, (and one added core strength workout), that's ten workouts a week. In January. That might be hitting it a little hard this early in the season. We'll see. First swim of the new year is tomorrow morning.

Unrelated note #1: just finished the Harry Potter series (what is a trilogy with seven parts? A septilogy?) I highly, highly recommend it. True, the first couple of books are targeted at a younger audience, and to be honest I started reading this to "screen" it for the kids. Around part four, however, it takes a serious left-hand turn and gets a lot more adult. Couldn't put it down. No spoilers here - just my $0.02 recommendation.

Unrelated note #2: the juniors put up a gutty battle in winning a quarter-final at the WJHC today. Took the leash off Tavares (finally) and outlasted a tough Finland team. Hope they've got something left in the tank for the Americans next.

Peace.