Calf injury status – not fully recovered but somewhat improved. I took my focus off fixing my calves for a while in the summer, the constant hope for improvement with minimal success and nobody being able to really tell me what the problem is became too much of a head wrecker. Playing in the Alps for a couple of months was much better for my mental state of mind and can be easily justified as great technical training but to be honest, despite the nice photos I would swap it all in an instant to be back racing again.
The mid-sole cleat set up has helped, it took a while for my muscles to adapt (the quads and hamstrings have to work a lot more than normal) but I can now ride for longer without my calves shutting down. Living in Compressport calf compression sleeves has helped to reduce recovery time a lot too. Now that the weather has turned towards winter and snow is already covering the higher trails my brain is dying to get into winter training mode but first I’m on an all out mission to get fully fit.
Compex electrotherapy
A month completely off bikes (killer!), twice a week massages/dry needling and I’m currently sitting here plugged into a Compex electro-therapy machine with my legs pulsating spontaneously. Yoga, gym strength work and swimming are keeping me sane and will hopefully be beneficial on the bike later in the year. Whatever happens, enough messing around I’m racing next year, back to xc is first choice but if the calves aren’t yet perfect then I’m working on plan B…