A Nice Surprise

Well, how lovely. I nipped out on the bike this afternoon for a scheduled 50 mile ride and ended up tagging an extra ten on the end. I started feeling the fatigue and the ol' 'bike seat' feeling towards the end which gave me a taste of what's to come, however I'm not sure how much suffering is healthy in the run up to the ride.

Next weekend I'm away on the Friday so will record a total of zero miles. It's not great timing but I've been consistent up to now and after that weekend I'll be tapering so I'm not concerned by any means. It does mean I may have done my last big ride though. I've got everything I should need already attached to the bike, although there may well be something that I've forgotten and just have to go without. There's nothing like that "I forgot my shoes!" dilemma just before a big run.

I am still swimming but will try to put in a big swim before the ride just to boost my confidence. Injuries are always a worry but swimming is fairly low impact so must be good for me. It must be. Surely.

Almost Up To Speed

Last week I decided to tinker with my training a little and added a quick, 3.5 mile route into my week to be done as often as possible. I've managed two weeks of two sessions which doesn't sound like much, however the plan is to go hell for leather and blast it out, giving my muscles a good overload and keeping me cycling as close to every day as possible.

With two sessions under my belt this week I nipped out for a planned 50 mile ride on Friday which went better than ever. I have been looking at fuelling and am using cereal bars as they're longer lasting than gels and I rarely need a quick boost that gels provide. Also they're disgusting; if I'm eating I want it to taste good. I found that half a bar every ten miles has added to my pace but I was still low on energy so I may try a bar every ten miles to see what that does. I won't take on nine bars for the 100 miler - that's insane - but regular fuelling is working so I will start out with one every ten miles and drop off, maybe planning not to take any on in the last forty. I'm thinking onto the page here. Where was I?

So I got back from the 50 and put my feet up, finding on Saturday that I was in good shape for a bit of sea training. I couldn't go swimming as I went last Thursday and the top of my wetsuit rubbed a layer of skin off the bottom of my neck so I went bodyboarding on a completely flat sea instead. The Thursday swim was great, I think I made a quarter of a mile or so going against the tide and have more confidence in the water but I've ordered a rash vest to stop me chopping my head off in the Serpentine after it's gradually worn away the rest of my neck. Saturday over, I decided on 30 for Sunday rather than my usual 20 because I was feeling good about riding.

I've just made it back from a 35 mile ride since I was still feeling good after my initial 30 and wanted to make this week the first that I've ever ridden 100 miles - granted I indoor-biked on Wednesday but, since it's an hour, the minimum I've put in is around 12 miles and with the two 3.5s, a 50 and a 35 I have exceeded three digits. 

This post isn't just a pat on the back for a job well done (I have so much further to go) - it's a reminder that training isn't just about putting in the miles and building muscles but to find the pitfalls of long distances and adjusting gear to fit the conditions. I've never had a problem with my wetsuit rubbing before yet I look like I've tried to fall sleep on a giant angle grinder. Likewise I may have to angle my handlebars towards me despite having done hundreds of miles this year since I'm only just noticing they're a bit droopy. Blagging a distance is fine but achieving a distance is better for you. Lesson ends.