Derbyshire Training

I knew this before, but a couple of days in Derbyshire have just proved it :
 I'm rubbish at going up hills.

There are lots of excuses (ridden a lot this week, wrong gearing, etc) but it is quite a realisation. I exploded on anything steeper than about 1:7 As the gradient rose, my speed slowed and my heart-rate went through the roof. I need to be a lot stronger for the Etape.

2 days in Derbyshire has proved "useful", but sole destroying.

1st TNT done.

95 Days to go.

Last night was my first time trial of the season. A bit of a rush in preparation, so not much warm up, but made it to the start, without forgetting anything essential.

Decided to ride a considered race. Keep the heart rate to around 150 - 155. Seemed to work OK. Outward leg had a bit of a tail wind, and speed was good. After the turn I tried to push rate up a little, but computer (Sports Track Phone app) showed HR as 152..... push a bit harder..... still 152.   Harder ...... still 152. Closer look showed the phone had locked up !?! A bit annoying, but nothing to worry about. not had it happen before. Think it may be at the same time as I got a text message from Jo.

Also had phone strapped between tri bars in a ipod arm band thing. That worked surprisingly well too. Thought it may wobble too much or flap in the wind, but was fine.

Came home with a 27:25. Pretty good for me, and about a minute faster than I had expected beforehand. Good start to the season.

Teenage Cancer Trust

If I'm going to do this, then it would seem a waste not to do it for charity. When Jo ran the London Marathon last year, it felt almost compulsory for the “fun runners” to get sponsored (why else would you do it !?!). Jo Ran for Macmillan Nurses, obviously a cause close to our hearts and raised around £900. I'm not sure if people look upon the Etape in the same way, for some "proper" cyclists this would be one of many similar events. For me this is very definitely a one-off, and a challenge big enough for me to think that sponsorship is appropriate. Just because I ride a couple of 10 mile time-trials (and I’m not very good at them!) doesn’t mean this is going to be easy.

After much deliberation, I have finally picked the charity. There are obviously lot to choose from that have played a part in our lives over the last couple of years, with cancer, strokes and heart problems all up there. In the end I have picked the Teenage Cancer Trust. There is something most upsetting with the idea that kids get cancer too. For those at the age where they understand what is happening to them it must be doubly difficult and scary beyond words. And for parents the feelings must be all consuming. The sense of helplessness as you stand by knowing that there is nothing you can do to fix it. I just can’t contemplate how I would feel if it were Fin or Josh.
In those dark hours when I bitch and moan about work, or money, or training, or not having a shiny new bike, there will always be the voice in the back of my head that tells me it all means nothing. I am healthy. I have 2 healthy boys.     Shut up and get on with it.

99 bottles of beer on the wall... 99 bottles of beer....

99 days to go. and they are ticking off fast.

I need to get some big miles in over the next 8 weeks, but looking at the calendar I can see the next few weekends getting lost in the tangle of family life. Fin's birthday party next Saturday. Nuneaton mini-rugby festival on Sunday. Rugby tour the folloing weekend. then we are into easter, school holidays and the like.

At least the weather is getting warmer and my rugby has come to the end of the season. ( Apart from the possibility of a mid-week Vets' cup, and Pup's cup ) So should be able to get a bit more training in while I'm not feeling so battered!