Cannock Chase debased!

A rather leisurely week on the training front but had managed to use my bikes on few occasions with no knee pain to report. Took a trip to a sports physiotherapist who wanted £48 for a first appointment and £38 thereafter for further appointments. Felt I had rested my knee for a while (10 days with no training at all) and was in no current pain, so kept the phone no. and felt I would 'test' my knee by gently cycling and only contact said therapist if pain came back. Taken advice from my sister (and folk on the DA forum) too, and am now taking cod liver oil and glucosamine on a daily basis.

My first cycle was a short, mostly off road, trip with Ron. We followed familiar routes of ours but discovered new trails too. Knee was fine throughout, but came off once (no damage) and punctured towards the end. I enjoyed these new trials so much, figured I would repeat the route the following day but alas. my bike had punctured again. In view of this puncture menace, took out my road bike and cycled a variation of 'Ron's 1 hour loop'. The final cycle of the week was at Cannock Chase. Had originally planned to complete a 200k audax but in view of limited training and knee problems decided to give this a miss. Cannock, however, was awesome. Ron and I met up with Stu (at last!) and cycled the new purpose built trails, following the appropriately named 'Monkey Trail'. This Monkey trail is like an 'add on' to the 'Follow the Dog' trail and is considered to be more technically demanding and challenging. It had bigger climbs, fast technical descents and some optional 'black graded lines'. Only Ron would attempt these black graded lines (I question his mental health at times) which included riding along a slim up rooted tree elevated at some height with a big drop off at the end and a rocky, almost vertical descent. What I was doing, cycling a trail that was 'intended for experienced and technically competent' riders is also questionable!
Did not run or swim again this week and should really start that up again soon. I have my first (and most probably last) triathlon coming up soon and this will prove interesting with my limited training. I did, however, play badminton for possibly the first time ever. This was fun too. Went with 3 friends from work, namely Roxy, Zalika and Adrian. We played 3 games (doubles) changing partners each time. I won 1 and lost 2. Would like to play this again.

Weekly totals: Cycled 45 miles (4 hours and 43 mins); Played badminton for 1 hour.

De-railed

Horrible week on the training front. I did not run, cycle or swim. Grr!

Saw my local GP who advised that I rest for aproximately 3 weeks. He seems to think that I have damaged my ligament. Am not overly happy with his advice.

Weekly totals: Nil.

Nuisance knee

Has been a while since this blog was last updated. This was for 2 main reasons, the first because blogspot.com was playing up and secondly because my knee has proved menace. Had reluctantly agreed with certain peers to stay away (and rest) from my bike for a whole week until I at least visit my GP. Will be interesting to see what said doctor has to say.

Managed four short trips before my knee started to play up. One trip consisted of cycling to work and then another returning home (via the Rea Valley cycle route). The other 2 training sessions followed the Deer route, the second of which being a reverse way round.

Also joined 'Audax UK' which is basically a long distance cyclists' association. Hope my knee recovers soon so that I am able to participate in the Droitwich - Towcester audax on 24th April. Have vague plans of entering an audax event in the Forest of Dean with my mountain bike too.

Weekly totals: Cycled 73 miles.

Newbury and my knees

Am posting my weekly totals today because have already decided that Easter Sunday is going to be a day of rest. If only that were true, a menace on-call shift at work awaits. Am not planning on any further exercise this week as my knees are quite painfull.

Swam at Kingslesy pool during the week. Have not swam here for a while and to be fair, prefer Hewell Road pool as it is bigger and less congested. Found my swim pretty hard going.

Started the week with a good cycle with John and Ron. We cycled in the rain (though John and I had taken precautions) up to Ullenhall and back following country lanes. Did a back to back cycle towards end of the week to Newbury to train and visit my sister (Jane) and family. Was a mostly horrible wet and windy day. The wind was against me for most of the start, but I was still able to break the 30 mph speed limit into Broom! Battled and defeated the menace Fish Hill. This hill has only a 10% gradient, but even so, it's tough and relatively lengthy. The hail beat so hard at times it was stinging my face on impact. Really need to invest in some fleece lined gloves too - my poor fingers were frozen and had that 'pins and needles' feeling. Reached Wantage and 'had to' go onto the A34 for a short spell, as I was unsure how else to reach Newbury. The A34 is a cyclists nightmare - it is busy and quite exposed. If the weather itself doesn't shunt your bike to the side, the big lorries and speeding cars will. Was able to come off the A34 and follow a Newbury cycle path. This cycle path added further miles and was quite menace as it had far too many stop and starts, particularly around roundabouts and when cycling straight, oncoming traffic was to the left which just felt quite odd. Still, found my way into Newbury. (Went and saw 'How to train your dragon' that night. I have omitted Chris's comments). The cycle back home the following day was equally as wet and windy, but the wind was not a head wind this time. Much faster trip back home, so fast in fact that I reached a top speed of 46.3 mph down one hill and broke the 30 mph speed limit in Wantage! Early into the ride back home was experiencing knee pain. Stopped at local garage and purchased ibuprofen. The ibuprofen helped but my knee continues to hurt. Am a wee bit concerned about my knee as it continued to hurt following day, hence my decision to rest a few days. Have always said 'no' at the thought of a 'professional bike fit', but if this knee pain persists, then, well, who knows...

Ran just once this week. Ran the extended Studley triangle route. Feel like running some more, but painfull knees has put pay to that.

Weekly totals: Swam for 40 mins; Cycled 187 miles; Ran for 40 mins.

Try, try, tri

Fairly pleased with my training efforts this week. Managed to swim, cycle and run. Training is so much easier when one has a few days off from work.

Swam at Hewell Road swimming pool. It felt good to be back in the water after so many weeks away. I expected the swim to be much harder than it really was. Suprising myself, I swam continously for duration of session.

Managed 4 cycling training sessions this week. The first was a 'Deer variation' route with Ron and John. The second was with Ron and we followed my 'naughty woods - Coughton' route. Third run took me to Evans bike shop where Scotty had her first service. Cycled back home via the Rea Valley cycle route and Arrow Valley lake. The fourth session was quite sneaky and un-planned, Ron and I cycled the 'Deer variation' route in reverse.

Ran just one training session this week. The run was the 'extended Studley triangle'. Need to focus a little more on my running really.

In addition to the above training sessions, I also competed in my second duathlon - the Tri Live duathlon at the NEC. Was pleased on the whole, particularly with my cycling. Think I should continue to put effort into my training of all 3 disciplines (run, bike and swim) as I have my first triathlon event coming up in may. My next event is another 200k audax.

Weekly totals: Swam for 45 mins; Cycled 81 miles; Ran 1 hour and 26 mins.

Tri Live Duathlon

Today I competed in a new and unique event - the Tri Live Duathlon. This run-bike-run duathlon was considered to be a good forerunner for my first planned triathlon event later this year, as I experienced two thirds of the triathlon challenge but kept perfectly dry! The running parts of this duathlon looped around the lake and grounds of the NEC. The cycle part headed out of the NEC onto a quiet dual carriageway. Both courses were relatively flat and fast.

Before the race began, each competitor was given their race numbers. My number was 231. These race numbers had to be pinned to front and back of my jersey, and securely attached to bike and bike helmet. Once attached I was able to take my bike into the transition area. The transition area was awesome - it was indoors and relieved my fears of getting wet cycling shoes should the heavens open. Once bike was racked, I just had to wait for my start time. Each competitor started 20 seconds apart.

At 12:16:40 I was off for the first part of the duathlon - a 2.5k run. The weather was nice as I ran (mainly on a tarmac footpath). The stewards and marshals were all shouting words of encouragement which was nice. The only real menace was dodging random folk walking around the lake area and feeling slightly perplexed as 2 guys who started after me swiftly overtook me... Once this run was completed, I filtered through to the cycle transition area and collected my bike ready for the cycle section of the race.

In this transition area, I remembered to place my bike at the end of the rack so I would have no problem locating it. This was a good plan and I was able to change into my cycling gear (shoes and helmet, had ran with gloves and buff on already) relatively quickly. Took my bike to the cycle mount line and I was off for the cycle section of the race. My cycling is way better than my running - I caught up and passed a great number of cyclists during this 20k (in 6 laps) cycle section. Only 1 other cyclist passed me. The course wasn't very interesting really, no hills and no wonderfull scenery. On the contrary, it was just road, that had way too many right turns for my likeing and I had to count each of the 6 laps myself (which is quite daunting when one is going super zoomy). Strong head winds at times but this section seemed to complete quickly. (I wish this race had 2 bike sections and only 1 run). Back into the transition area and a quick change back into my running shoes. Gupled down a cup of Gatorade isotonic sports drink and I was off running again, this time a 5k run (2 laps of run I did earlier). This was hard going. The sun was shining bright, my legs didn't want to work but the shouts and cheers from the marshals pushed me on. 1 guy overtook me here, during the second lap and a marshal shouted 'overtake him 231', so I gave it my all and caught this guy, overtook him and sprinted to the finish. The finish took me through an inflatable finish gantry and back indoors to lots of cheering and shouting. Woohoo, job done!

I was pleased with my results overall. A total of 119 participants took part, 36 women and 83 men. The results were split into male and female categories. I came 39th out of 83, with a total time of 1 hour, 14 mins and 11 seconds.

Results: Run 1 (2.5k) 13:28; Bike (20k) 32:50; Run 2 (5k) 27:53. Total 1:14:11

Aches and cakes

This week focused solely on my cycling. Two training sessions on my mountain bike and another completed audax. My audax total is now up to three and I have medals for 100k, 150k and 200k distances respectively.Hope to get some swimming in next week and running must be a priority too. Saturday next will be my second duathlon event, the 'Tri Live duathlon' at the NEC. Right now, however, I ache and am in need of some cake.

Weekly totals: Cycled a distance of 140 miles; punctured once.

Over the Malverns 159k Randonee

Over the Malverns 159k Randonee AKA 'the Malvern menace'! This was probably the toughest audax that I had completed to date.

Early start to the day with my dad picking me up at 6 a.m (swear I told him 7 ..). Got to the start at the Castle pub in Droitwich and the heavens opened. Maybe the weather put a few folk off, as only about 20 cyclists gathered at the start. One such cyclist was 'Eddy Merckx', an old boy that Ron and I chatted with on my first audax. Was a bit un-organised for this event, had forgotten my buff, my tyre levers and a pen. Got equipped with my brevet card, took a pen from the organisers wife and at 8.30 a.m we were off.

The first menace of the day happened almost straight away - the directions we had led us to a closed road (and closed foot path). We formed a big pack, and all cycled as a group following the organiser for the first 3k or so until we could follow our own printed directions. After passing signs for Elmbridge and Cutnall green I reached the first info control. These info controls were a first for me. One would have to stop, refer to Brevet card, and answer (ie write, using pen I had acquired) said question on card as proof of passage. Such questions were like 'what is the speed limit here? or, what is the distance to the next junction? etc). The roads were awfull - many pot holes, lots of mud and the rain it did pour! Cycled past Doverdale, Dunhampton, Holtfleet and into Martley where the next info control was. Stopped here to eat banana and prepare for a big climb ahead.

This climb was tough. This climb took us up and over 'Ankerdine Hill', which has a 17% gradient (ok, so I went the easier way around, but even so...). Caught breath and cycled through Suckley following signs to Great Malvern. Fast descent into Evesbatch and, oh no, sss - pop! I puncured. My super ulta-gator, 'tough as boots', 'puncture resistant' tyre had blown it's tube. It took me ages to get this bloomin' tyre off and just as long to get it back on. I had forgotten tyre levers too, but after a good 20 mins at least one (well, 2 in fact) 'good samaritan' cyclist stopped and helped me out. I had now gone from being towards the front, to being at the back.

Zipped past next info control and was starting to feel good again as I was passing lots of cyclists that had zoomed past me earlier. The hills were in my favour and once past a 14% descent I had pretty much gained my original place before the puncture. Cycled through Mathon and the rain was pouring real hard. Completely soaked through to the skin, but was ok because at least I was warm. Once in Great Malvern town centre, further menace happened. A car started reversing at a junction nearly squishing me and then a buss tried to do the same. The next control was awesome, it was a coffee shop called 'Rebecca's Lodge'. Treated myself to a full english here and washed it down with a couple of cups of tea.

Left coffee shop and cycled into the rain and wind again passing Welland and cycling through Castle Morton Common. This common was tough, as the wind was blowing at us from one direction, the rain beating down from another and random cattle crossing the road ahead of us when they pleased. Visibility was poor but the big hills of Malvern we were passing could be seen. Continued into Newent and stopped at next control and ate much needed chocolate bar.

The next leg was pretty straight forward and took us to 2 further info controls near Upton. A fellow cyclist was 'out here' as he had hit a pot hole which had tore his tyre and buckled his rim. Made an unofficial stop here too, at a bakery, to eat a apple doughnut and hot cross bun.

From Upton continued past Earls Croome (where another cyclist was nearly victim to mad dog) and into Wadborough. I noticed the guy in front make a wrong turn (the same guy who helped me with my puncture) so retuned favours and put him back on track. Like cattle earlier, chickens were now crossing the road as they pleased. Passed through White Ladies Aston and stopped at last info control.

Bike was beginning to play up here. Well, to be fair, had played up all day. The tyre punctured after 30 miles, the cycle computer stopped after 40 miles and now the front gear shifter wasn't shifting. Not to worry, not far to go. Short climb to a rail crossing where we had to dismount bikes and get through a small gate and avoid any on coming high speed trains. Then followed signs to Droitwich and finished at control, the Castle pub. Woohoo, job done! Felt tired and achey, particularly sore knees. Did not hallucinate like last time though. Handed in my brevet card and eagery await my 150k medal. Treated myself here with a big double burger and chips and chatted with fellow cyclists about the days adventure.

Cycled a distance of 159k (about 100 miles) in 8 hours and 40 mins (including stops).

Audax addict

Cycled 2 training sessions this week. Both cycles were on Scotty, which felt good because she had not been ridden at all last week. Now that spring is in bloom, the ground had hardened and allowed for some good old off road action. The first ride was with Ron and I took him on my 'naughty woods' ride into Alcester and back via the off road section to Coughton Ford. Poor Ron punctured again! The second ride was a solo effort that loosely followed the 'Ron's 1 hour loop' ride but added a wooded section near Sambourne and finished with a sting!
No other training had taken place, but I guess it matters little because it would appear that I have a new addiction. An audax addiction. I have signed up for the 'Over the Malverns 159 k Randonee' which is set to take place on saturday next. This event goes '... over the Malvern Hills to Great Malvern via some hilly Worcestershire lanes ... the route returns via the Severn Plain and Upton-on-Severn before the final stretch through some interesting Worcestershire lanes'. This is going to be my first solo effort audax but I have just over 12 hours to complete the ride.

John Wayne

A good week in the end. Not much in the way of training sessions, but another amazing audax under my belt. This cycling thing is becoming addictive. Plans of LEJOG 2010 are coming together with provisional start date set for 28th August. Am also toying with the idea of a 400km audax in 2011 (the Peak Audax Llanfair 400) where the ride begins in Poynton and we'd have 26 hours and 40 mins to cycle to Holyhead and back. I wonder if I could convince the likes of Ron, John, Stu, and our associated friends and the LEJOG 2009 boys to take part ...

Weekly totals: Did not swim; Cycled 152 miles; Ran for 1 hour and 15 mins; Did not skip.

Cheltenham Flyer

Today was the day of the much anticipated 203 km audax in Bishop's Cleeve - the Cheltenham Flyer! A long, mass participation cycling event. The event had to be cycled within a speed range of 15 - 30 kph and had a total climb of 2,000 metres.

Early start (around 6.30 a.m) to the day. Ron kindly picked me up and we made our way to the 'Zurich' building carpark in Cheltenham. Once here we prepared our steads, got equipped with our brevet cards and joined 83 other cyclists ready for the start. Once the clock struck 8 a.m we were off.

Disaster struck almost straight away. Ron and I started off towards the back of the main group, but over the course of the first 3 miles we had slowly edged our way towards the front. Was nice to pass all the other cyclists and do a bit of cycle spotting. There were 4 females, one guy had the same bike as me (go Team Focus!), a couple were riding a tandem and there was the usual mix of ages. But once towars the front - pop! - sss - Ron punctured. This was soon fixed (Ron carried spare tubes and I carried gas pump) but sure enough we were both at the back again. Place names kept me amused, we passed Bishop's Cleeve, Gretton, Greet and Didbrook and made our way to the first checkpoint. The checkpoint consisted of 2 old men who would sign and stamp our brevet cards and congratulate us.

The next leg involved quite a steep hill as we headed towars Bourton-on-the-Water and we started passing cyclists again. Felt great to get to the top and we were awarded with a fast descent. Lightning struck twice - pop! - sss - Ron had punctured again. This was a real menace, but soon fixed again and off we went passing Clapton and Sherborne and making it to the next checkpoint.

Next part of trip was playing catch up, which we did succesfully. We caught a couple of cyclists up around Bibury and cycled together to the next control - Greasy Joe's cafe. Greasy Joe's cafe was awesome. I treated myself to a cyclists breakfast and consumed 2 sausages, 1 egg, 3 rashers of bacon, 2 toast and a plate of chips and beans, all washed down with a mug of tea. Delicious!

From the cafe we cycled as part of a bigger group. This was great because I had a break from navigating for a while. We cycled past places named Ewen, Poole Keynes and Minety. Ron and I were doing well and feeling on form so we left this group behind and relied on my navigational skills to get us to the next control. This was a bad idea. I took us staright past the control at Bushton village hall and made us climb a really steep (1 in 6) and very long hill. After reaching the summit of this hill, the error was noticed and we retraced the route back to said control. This easily added a good 20 mins to our time. Things were put right at the control as we were treated to tea, cake and a banana.

More humourous place names were spotted as we continued the route, passing Compton Bassett, Heddington and Lacock. During one descent I reached speeds of over 40 mph and Ron was faster still, competing with motorised traffic! Continued past Notton, Biddeton, West Yatton, Yatton Keynall, Upper Castle Coombe, The Gibb, Littleton Drew, Acton Turville and finally reached the control at Badminton village hall.

This control was a very welcome stop. Had completed about 75% of route now and once off my bike I could feel I was whacked. I started to hallucinate a little and see stars. My senses returned after consuming more cake, 2 bowls of peaches in syrup, a banana and 2 cups of tea.

The final part of the journey was spent alongside various other cyclists that Ron and I would use to light our way to the end. The sun set shortly after 6 pm and we were not equipped with decent lighting. We passed Luckington, Tetbury, Cherrington, Winstone and Elkstone. A dark and quite fearsome descent took us down Bubb's hill through Prestbury to Southam and then Woodmancote and finally to the finish at a village hall. Woohoo, job done! After spending 9 hours and 20 mins on bike saddle I treated myself to futher flan and tea. Got brevet card signed for final time and now I eagerly await my 200 km audax medal to arrive in the post.

Cycled a distance of 130.42 miles at an average speed of 13.9 mph and a max speed of 40.5 mph.

A further 2 miles had to be cycled to get back to the car at the Zurich building. To refuel, Ron and I paid a quick visit to the Lark in Studley. Much needed alcoholol, chicken nuggets, onion rings and curly fries were consumed as we reflected on the days achievements.