After a reasonably light weights session around midday today (full squats, 3 x 10 @ 100kg, some bench strength work and 3 x 10 @ 100kg deadlifts to finish, so no real strength efforts, mainly hypertrophy) and feeling some achillies twinges during the squats if I wasn't very careful to keep my feet flat, and a distinct limp while walking, I wasn't expecting anything much at Spin tonight.  But, I managed to push out two 10s efforts above 1300 watts, including another PB.  1347 watts.  Still a long way to go before anything really worth getting excited about, but it was a pleasant surprise.  I only seem to get achillies pain when walking or climbing or descending stairs, on the bike with rigid shoes I don't notice any effects, and if I keep my feet flat on the ground no pain there either.

Nath and I are running half the spin session each, so we both get a sprint set in and the enduros get their full 90 minutes of pleasure.  We had a couple of enduros who switched over to the sprint group for some strength work, and while no-one chundered, it was close ... We might not train for very long, but it is intense and I think (and you know who you are if you're reading this!) it was a surprise to see just how hard a solid sprint session can be.  We do some high strength/power work, then a short high intensity endurance set of sprints and finish off with lactate work.  I almost brought up my lunch at the end of the second lactate effort .. urghhh

On the 'new gear' front, I've just ordered a set of Adidas "Ironwork II" lifting shoes from an interesting chap on ebay.  They're not cheap, $200 a pair, but they should be a lot more stable than runners when doing heavy lifting. The key thing about them is the firm sole, I think it's wood.  No 'squish' in them so when you lift your feet stay firmly planted.  I've read some recommendations to lift in bare feet, but the Power House isn't really set up for barefoot training and something in me likes the idea of token protection from dropped weights etc.

Tomorrow night is the first Blackburn club meeting with the new committee.  I'm catering for it if all goes well and it should be interesting.  Some of the club members aren't too happy about the roster for helping at races.  I hope the club sticks to its guns and makes sure it's enforced.  We have carrots, but also need sticks.

In other news, Tom Bonnen has reportedly tested positive for cocaine in an out of competition test.  Not good.  It's not something the UCI will sanction him for, but if it's true it's a shame.

On the good news front, Anna Meares will have a big contingent of aboc'ers cheering her on to do her best to qualify for Beijing at Vodafone on Thursday night. Her diary entry on Cyclingnews is a good one. Well worth a read.