Day 45 - Back on the programme with an awesome bike ride

It started off with a sunny day.  By the time I reached Redmires Reservoirs I was plunging into thick cloud with that kind of lakeland feeling of watching the weather approach.

Onto the tops and I hoped I would pop out the other side.  I swung around the headland of Burbage then plunged down and down towards Hathersage, stopping to take a photo on the way.

On the basis of the view, I decided to head up Mam Nick and do more of a low ride around Edale.  I descended into Hathersage, where I saw Lynn and Darrell on the tandem and a pack of Sheffield Tri riders.  A lot of waving.

I felt hungry by the time I got through Hathersage so I bobbed into the Woodbine for lunch as I know I can lock the bike up and enjoyed quiche and scone with a very nice coffee.

I completely forgot about Edale when I left the caf so headed into Castelton and purposefully set about exploring a dead-end road I'd not used before... honest.  I was actually hoping to find a way onto the Mam Tor road but was disapointed by a gate so I took another photo.

I retraced my steps and settled for Winnats Pass.  Ass.

I tried to keep my calm, embarking on the climb, knowing that the last time I did this (I mean rode it all) I was on a tripple chain ring with a 1:1 ratio.

All was well up to the visitor centre, then I stood up for a bit and my hamstrings ached from working on my bike yesterday.  NOT good.

I sat down for a while as the gradient continued to steepen and tried to convince myself that if I'm sitting down there's still something left.

I got through the really steep bit by staring at a sheep as I hauled on the bars and hoped to high hopes that I wouldn't hear a popping sound in my hamstring.  Once the sheep moved out of view I stared at some bloke's wife walking down the road until the gradient eased and I could sit down again.

Thank you to whoever shouted, "go on Trep" as I fought to find my breath.

Once on the main roads I decided to head for the Derbyshire Dales instead of trawling back through Edale and facing that final kicker over to Mam Nick.  A kestrel sat ontop of a barn, its face turned away like a shy child so I couldn't recognise it as a bird until I was passing right by.  Beyond that, a house had a garden fence full of cats - 6 different ones - each with its own fence post to sit on.  I plunged into Perrydale & around Eldon Quarry, narrowly avoiding a man carrying a shotgun and wibbled my way over to Great Hucklow, Foolow and Eyam, taking the high valley-side road back into Grindleford and ride up past Froggat and the wedding venue to finish off the day.

Tempting as it was to go into Longshaw for another brew I deferred to going home in daylight as I didn't have a light.  Once I got to the city, though, I made my new way home, chosing the hilly rides over the hills of Sheffield instead of trawling through traffic on Eccleshall road.

82km & 1635m climbing.  I think that ticks a few boxes.

Days 42 - 44

Ugh.  Back to work.

It's all gone critical - timewise - and I'm not sure I can make it but I'm doing my best and I'm not sure that will be good enough for anyone.

I did manage an 800 m swim on Thurdsay.  An apparent token effort but I'd done a lot of swimming last week whilst the pool was in 50m mode permanently.

Friday was a day sitting in the car on my ass and talking and phoning and not a lot of excercise involved.

I got home, set about the task of using SAP to create a PO then went to bed at 11:30 pm after being grumpy at TSK.

He was very patient with me and left to go for a 200k this morning after bringing me a little kiss.

In the absence of motivation I have cleaned bikes and ordered some bits which is pretty constructive given the state they were in and what I'm going to do with them tomorrow & next week.

I'm going to be on the road but I intend to take ALL the toys with me.

Day 41 Addendum

Technically I should've biked yesterday & today should be a rest day - since I didn't feel like going out.

Spent the whole day being lazy making up for staying up late last night.

The lethargy just got worse as the rain came, the wind picked up and the sofa became more and more comfortable.  The light fell.

Finally I persuaded myself to go out for the prescribed 30 minute ride.  It can't be that hard... I mean not even as hard as going for a half hour run but it's really difficult to imagine a 30 minute bike ride.  I went.

Of course after 12 minutes I was having a great time.  I didn't care that it was raining.  I didn't care where I was going but I kept going up and west as long as I could and then thought about going home when I couldn't be bothered any more.

Eventually I turned down a byway and by nothing more than the beam of my bike light and luck, rode up some slippery flagstones alongside a ford and a brick wall before heading back into the city.

Met up with TSK for a beer and dinner.

Crackin' start to the new year.

2012 Review

Ended the year with a game

Phew!

That year is finally over.  Not that it was  distasteful year but it seemed to drag on a bit towards the end.

First of All - Day 38 - 40 or 40 days of ironman training prep

A fast km in the pool left me happy that I am swimming as fast as I was this time last year.  

This time of year is all about offsetting so I declared that the combo of my 21km MTB day in the Peak on Christmas Day and my impending cyclo-cross on sunday subtotalled the equivalent effort of a 40km bimble on peak roads plus a 30 minute easy ride with sprints.  I also declared that the 5 hours slog in the pissing rain with my parents more than made up for a 6 mile run.  I certainly deserve it!

That only left me with a 30 minute run to do on Christmas week so I set out to attack the run again.  I was a bit more careful with steep hills this time and managed to clock 28 minutes 59 seconds.  That did me.  I felt good this time though - not bad.

Day 39 was aforementioned 'cross race which more than made up its element of bike training as well as a sizeable portion of running training both up those cobbles and in the muddy puddles (lakes) of Todmorden park.

Day 40 was the official start to week -5 of my 20 week plan so the swim made it through on the Monday since it's closed today (1st Jan & day 41).  The pool was heaving but I held my own despite bony old lady doing breast stroke in the fast lane kicking me in the knee, elbow and ribs - way to go!  1600m in 34:27 - not bad considering the 'cross race yesterday which only really effected my effort level as I had to breath consistently every three strokes instead of 3 / 4 / 5.  I didn't have my watch with me so I'm hoping I did more lengths.  It always feels like I'm over-counting when I'm in but afterwards it often pans out that I'm not at all, I'm under-counting.

So Day 41 is the time to set Ironman training aside for a moment and look back on the year that was:

Part II - December Review

Swim: 6.3km 2.8kph.  Compares to last month:  7.4 km 2.5 kph. Compares to 2010: 4.85 km 2.6 kph
Bike: 420.9 km 17.9 kmph, 4852 m. Compares to last month: 305.04 km, 16.6 kph, 3833m el. Compares to 2010: 134.2 miles, 20.3 mph, 1142 m el.
Run: 25.8 miles, 5.4 mph, 923m el.  Compares to last month: 25.78 miles, 5.2 mph, 824m el. Compares to 2010: 45.36 miles, 7.9 mph, 1008m el.

Percentages complete: 66%
Week -9: 63%
Week -8: 71%
Week -7: 33%
Week -6: 95%

Time in zone: 4hrs 17min

Part III - 2012 Review

Swim: 30.72 km, 2.4 kph  A summer lost but a speed increase.

Bike: 4370 km, 15.4 kph, 57,900 m el. Further but also slower as I carry more about

Run: 346.38 km, 8 kph, 8608 m el. Again with the wedding excuses.

Which compares with 2011

Swim: 54.78 km, 2.3 kph

Bike: 3386.49 km, 19 kph, 40,547m el.

Run: 520.39km, 6.9 kph, 10,865 m el.  That'll be the Truncing.

And... since I've never done this before, 2010

Swim: 35.19 km, 2.2 kph

Bike: 3357.73 km, 16 kph, 37,752 m el.

Run: 440.03 km, 7.6 kph, 6,627 m el.

So using 2011 as a benchmark for the rest of the year as 2012 is nothing in-particular to aspire to unless you're planning a half-ironman and a wedding.

Day 36 Wet Day 37 Wobbly

I can't explain what pleasure I get from walking to the pool.

Further pleasure awaited me afterwards.  My Christmas sales shopping.  No work to go to, just shopping.

50m swimming.  No real attitudes to deal with.

1600m.  I have re-verified Day in the Lakes results and I am now swimming as fast as I was in June last year.

This bodes very well.

Day 37 and Payback.  A very slow run.  Granted I was going "straight up" but a day of sitting on the sofa without eating much took its toll.  Stupid Hippo.  Stomach cramp, lots of walking and a 42 minute 3.5 mile run.  I suppose I should take my 8.5 mile walk on Boxing day as my long run for the week... even if we did churn out a 35 minute mile.  Sad face.

My 2012 in Pictures

January

Half Ironman Training - gets off to a roaring Start despite icy weather in January 

 February

North West Passage - the most confusing Audax ever and mostly completed below 4 degrees C. We narrowly escape with our lives after riding down the M65 sliproad at 9pm and retreat to the pub to eat cheese and onion pie with beans.

 March

The Best Day at Work Ever - A safety stand-down day and 62km of bike riding over Emley Moor and Stannington 

April

Hell on the Hills Duathlon - my first (and possibly only) multisport event win 

May

A brilliant day out mountain biking in Wales with an old school friend. It was even more fun when I found all my gears. 

 June

The Olympics

A very wet "Day in the Lakes"

July

The Wedding Season Kicks off in Style - with a very busty affair in Sussex. I am reunited with family I haven't seen in 15 years and we get to swim in the sea & go mountain biking as part of the package.

A very memorable Hen Night involving Zorbing, drinking, feeling very ill, much tea and a mountain bike ride with Silver Lining propping me up.

August

Married Mr R & celebrated with a picnic on Burbage Moor, a paddle and an insane Celidh 

September

Our Honeymoon - and a trip to the beach goes down well with Trepid Explorer 

A Honeymoon filled with colour

Togetherness

My Dad gets an "Old Git" award at the 50th 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross 

October

TSK completes the Monsal Hill Climb and I have a very proud day out.
I tell one person about my ambitions for 2013. 

November 

The Concept of Ironman in 2013 Starts to Brew 

December 

The North of England 'cross Champs goes well and I commit myself to 6 months of ironman training by telling some people 

Christmas dinner with friends.

You can't please all of the people all of the time & today is not your day... Or, "Time to Start Saying No"

Day 33 I cycled to work.  I couldn't sleep on Sunday night - which is weird after venting my spleen to the internet, which usually helps.  I meant to get up early and go for a swim but instead, I slept in and failed to swim on the basis that they shut at 1pm on Christmas eve.

I did a fair old training ride with some efforts thrown in for good measure and a jot of hill climbing... but no running, no swimming, just a ride.

Day 34 was Christmas day and rather than doing the proverbial turkey we went out for a lovely ride with some friends into the peak district on the mountain bikes then had a restrained, though very tasty meal at home.  I would've felt quite smug except for the large volumes of alcohol consumed (for me)... but then still no swim or run.

Day 35 I had my arm twisted to go out for a walk with the folks.  They're not as sprightly as they used to be so definitely no run or swim today - though I probably could've swam faster around Ladybower reservoir... even today.  It's left me tired, soalked and achey and whilst I keep telling myself I've the rest of the week to catch up with some training that I've missed

So if you invite me anywhere over the next few weeks, do bear in mind that I might say no and don't be offended... and if I do happen to say yes just know that I might sod off for a run for a few hours or ask you to point me in the direction of the nearest pool.