So here we are. After anticipating this trip for a long time we have spent our first week in Girona. It’s been an awesome week. The city is amazing, the coffee at la Fabrica is still good and the training has been going very well.
After worrying quite a bit about taking the bike with me on this trip (how will the case hold up?, will I be able to put it back together myself?, how does the electronic shifting survive? bla bla bla), I found on Monday that bike-wise everything was good to go. The front braking cable seems to be a bit loose at times, but that makes the downhills somewhat more exciting, right? (kidding mom, I mounted it again and now it is fine)
I put in some nice kilometers this week on swim, bike and especially run, but didn’t get to document a whole lot on pictures/film yet. I will sure pick this up in the coming days, but for now I found this short clip from Jan Frodeno (2x Ironman World Champion) showing the surroundings in which I’m training every day now. I thought it might be fun to share so you guys get a bit of an impression what it’s like to train here.
When I watched this clip at home, at first I didn’t quite understand what Frodeno means with ‘Girona is world famous for it’s biking, but personally I think the running is as good or even better’. I sure get it now. I discovered some amazing trails this week that really made it easy and fun to put in the km’s and the quality that is needed to get me running faster. With over 80km this week and a lot of intervals I think things are moving in the right direction. Seems like Frodo was right; this is runners paradise just as much as it is cycling heaven.
Next to my lessons in which I try to learn Spanish, I’m picking up Catalan as well. Thanks to the lady in the swimming pool reception for making me do so. Asking for opening hours, a month pass and accessibility of the (more quite) 25 meter pool has been a challenge, but we understand each other now. I think. Talking baby Spanish mixed with some English and a lot of waving with the hand works like a charm.
This week promises to be another big week with a lot of bike focus and hard swim/run sessions. Looking forward to get the work done, it feels awesome to get fitter and hammer up hills like a machine.
Adios, Adeu, de groeten!
Els says
Het is maar goed dat ik niet alles weet? Leuk om te lezen Kel x
Nico says
Lijkt me inderdaad heerlijk om daar te trainen. Nu al zin om volgende voorjaar zelf te gaan lopen en fietsen in Girona.
Peter says
Winners are always right!
Frank Rensen says
Leuk om te lezen Kelvin! Groeten daar!