A poor week!!

So I went for a little leg stretcher on Tuesday, then my 'Man Cold' became worse, and to top it all on Wednesday night I had to pay a visit to my now regular haunt on the Norfolk and Norwich A & E Department, courtesy of chlorine granules in the eye!! It was not a pleasant experience and worrying at the time! But all on the mend now and full vision restored, so just need to get rid of the 'Man Cold' and hope that I will be fit for next week and '100 miles'.......I think the start of my cold hindered the 50+ miles training I did last weekend, and made me feel like crap....that is the excuse I am using anyway!! No excuses next week just pedal power!

Leg stretcher

Just over 12 miles this morning, to help stretch the legs after the 50 + miles from Sunday. I felt good, though the legs were a little heavy, but it did help to loosen them up. It was actually quite refreshing having a ride in the rain!! Honest!  

Not long now until the 100 mile!!!

A big one!!!

So a saturday night out with some friends, and one son who decided not to sleep, then up at 5.30am. Today was the day to see how 50 miles felt!!

I met Christian and Stefan at 6.15 and we set out for a ride on a beautiful morning. The sun was out and perfect weather conditions. I had plenty of energy food and drink, but the down side to not having a decent cycling top to carry things in meant I wore a thin base layer and my waterproof with the rear pocket, carrying energy bar and extra drink. After a few miles it became apparent that it was too hot for the waterproof but as it was carrying my extra drink i could only unzip it.

Stefan set a good pace, and I suddenly realised my fitness was not brilliant yet. He is like a "Fell Runner" as another friend once described him! I struggled to keep up with his cadence up hills, Christian seemed to manage ok. I hope that part of my excuses for not being able to keep up were... bad cough, a night out, and a waterproof jacket in heat! hopefully they work as a good excuse....well they do for me, Stefan and Christian may just say I was slow full stop.

I felt really fine for about 2 hours, so about 25 miles, but then I moved into new fitness territory and distance which was unknown to me. I think the initial pace made me suffer, but some of the scenerey is really beautiful and it takes your mind off the tiredness. Then for the last hour and a half I really needed to go for the old No.2, but thought it wise to hold on until I got home instead of using a convenient field!.....this just meant stomach cramps for the last hour, which was not a wise  move. Then I began to get cramp in my right leg / knee so I started to think...."am I going to make 100 miles in two weeks??

By the time I got home after 4 hours and 53 miles I was totally 'done', and glad to find the toilet!!I sat in the hot tub afterwards and hoped this would help me recover, but for most of the day I felt exhausted, and going for a walk with my family, then digging in the garden was such an effort. But the experience was an eye opener and made me understand in more reality what a challenge I have set myself for next year, never mind the Norwich 100 miles in 2 weeks. I understand now how serious I need to be in my training on the bike and putting the hours in on the saddle, also my diet, i.e. cutting out junk food and sweets, and my alcohol consumption.....these all need to be reviewed if I am going to make 500 miles in 5 days, not forgetting the 3 peaks!!!  

Friday Feeling

It was a beautiful morning and a 6am start, managed 20 miles this morning and a little gym work, but I have to say that the legs felt it, so hopefully I will be ok come sunday. I am planning a 50 mile ride with Christian. I have a route in my head but no doubt I will get lost through the back roads somewhere!! it is part of the fun!!

Return from Holiday

Well!!!Its been a while but now back from holiday and return to training tomorrow.....only 2 weeks to the Norwich 100 mile....oh poo!! wish I had not indulged with eating and drinking so much now!!! It is so hard to get back into it when you have done very little for so long.

Can't wait though!!

North Wales Training

Sunday 3rd May - In North Wales, at sunny Llandudno, except it is slightly on the windy side!! I got the bike out and went for a ride up some so called proper hills, which we don't have in Norfolk allegedly. Although I think by now I know better.
I went to Llandudno on the bike and down the promenade, then around the Great Orme, this was quite difficult considering I was going up hill and into a strong headwind. The best bit was going past the half way point and then Marine Drive where I was hitting 35mph + for about a mile!!! Great fun, worth the climb. Just glad I had disc brakes. I then carried on round to Deganwy and Llandudno Junction before deciding to give myself another big climb up a place called Bryn Pydew......this was a bit of a hill, believe me!! Finally a nice down hill bit to Glanwydden then finish back at my mum and dads, covering 15 miles....only! but a great number of climbs, which made life interesting.

Tuesday 5th May - This time, despite pre planning...... and actually planning on going to Betws-Y-Coed on a round trip, I actually ended up going to Rhyl on the coastal cycle path....partly due to real ale indulgence with my friend Wigz the previous night. But it was very refreshing with the sea breeze. Going to Rhyl was a piece of cake because the wind was behind me, but it was another story coming home....'headwind central'.....but managed 25 miles none the less, and it was fun. Just need to play catch up with Christian now and at some point soon get a 50 mile ride under my belt! I am planning on a walk up the mountains tomorrow with Wigz depending on the bloody weather, Then I'll try and get another ride before going back home to the flats of Norfolk.