Training this winter

I have dispensed with my training diary this year as most of last years entries seemed to be along the lines of "Unable to train due to going out/hungover/ill/injured"

I am taking a more relaxed approach this year and I think it is paying off :)

YouTube - Wife and Triathlete

Classic MAMIL! The computerised voice makes it all the better.

Yeah don't worry about it Mike. Ride a bit for now, wait for the track to open and then crank it up a bit.

Ive just got back from the gym (about an hour ago) and have suddenly got severe blurred vision. My left eye is like looking through a kalidascope and everything is bright. I was also pretty cold and sweaty. I did push myself pretty hard with an intervals session on a spin bike.

Has anyone experienced this before? Will I go blind? It doesnt seem to be getting any better!

You have a visual migraine.
I get about 2 a year.
They are rubbish but it will go in about an hour and then you will have a headache for the rest of the day.
You won't go blind :)
Migraine pills will help

low blood sugar? You have a recovery drink etc after exercise?

Sounds like your third eye chakra. You want to get get busy with some amethyst and lapis lazuli pronto.

It sounds like the visual aura stage of a migraine.

Best bet is to call NHS Direct or schedule an emergency appointment with your GP and to do this before DFP comes along offering homeopathic remedies.

Its startting to subside now. Bloody weird though, total tunnel vision, thought I was having a flash back!
Just ate a load of fruit and some sweet juice with salt. Seemed to help. Not got a headache yet, hoping it was more to do with low blood sugar.
How would a homeopathic recovery drink work? Get some protein, salts and sugar, dilute it till it disappears, shake it while tapping it with a stick? Then drink it, but make sure Iyou havent eaten or drunk anything for 8 hours before or it wont work.

You're forgetting the cost of said "remedy".

Do make sure you monitor this TT Tom, this does sound like a low blood sugar level side-effect, but keep tabs on it...

Yeah I will do, like I said I havent experienced it before. I had only eaten breakfast maybe 4 hours before the session, but i often train on an empty-ish stomach. I also hadnt had the best nights sleep last night.

My "monitor this" comment was pretty obvious, and i'm sure you would. I hope it didnt come across as anything else, but when it comes to visual distortions, they are worth taking seriously. You feeling better now?

I didnt take it as anything other than a concerned comment :)

I actually feel fine now. My wife has suffered from migraines in the past and she said it sounds exactly like that as well as Mike. So it could be either.

I have little time for training at the moment so trying to fit as much into my lunch break as possible, which means maybe pushing it a bit too much in little time, probably lack of warm down too.

Get some choc milk or similar down your neck no more than 20 mins after the workout; your body is screaming for carbs in that window just after exercise; milk rehydrates really well and the protein will help muscle repair. I have a pint of Nesquik ready in the fridge before every turbo session and chug it while the shower is warming up.

mmmm nesquik, good idea. I do try and eat as soon as possible after, but think a recovery drink would work quicker.

absolutely. Fluid empties into your bloodstream a lot quicker and replenishes your carb stores at a much quicker pace too.

I've been off the bike completely for over two weeks, trying to get rid of some pesky left knee pain that started before Christmas. Stupidly came back too soon a few weeks ago and aggravated it. I am now at the stage where it's getting better and I am desperate to ride again, but would hate to do so too soon. Very boring.

Also, it's so much easier to drink too much beer when not riding = feel fat and most likely slow.

^Get Bluerip00 to check it out

I did when it happened this time last year. I am pretty sure I know what it is and that rest is what's needed. But thanks.

Not specifically track related, but I'm noticing I have less flexibility than I used to. I tend to get tension and discomfort when riding in the same position I was comfortable in a year ago. Could I benefit from some specific gym exercises to strengthen my core? I've not used free weights before, only the upper body 'machines', cross trainer and rowing machine. Would those be enough or should I learn how to use free weights?

Do some stretching, surely?

forgot to mention, I do stretching after any longish ride

Article about free weight and body weight work for strength vs commercial gym's machine+core work based systems.
http://www.mensjournal.com/everything-you-know-about-fitness-is-a-lie