The plan was to meet up for an hour. The day looked promising. The sun shone all morning and it was looking good for our 2pm rendevous to take on the Carnock Epic course....
I got up early and jumped onto the treadmill - it's great having one in the house cos you can run in whatever you fancy - today it was my boxers. Not got the physique of a greek olympic athlete....yet! So with my interval session done I headed off to the office knowing that I'd get out later on the bike. Intervals are where you alternate between fast and steady pace to raise your heart rate and increase performance.
As I mentioned it was muggy and warm - good news. The bad news came at about 1:30 - rain - not just any old rain but heavy downpours of the stuff. Bit a mixed summer so far. I wonder what has happened to the promised scorcher! So I called the bigman and suggested that we delay. I suppose I wimped out, a pathetic effort from one who is aiming to take on the Cape epic next year.
No wimping for the bigman - he stormed out on the knockhill loop in the rain. The weather is no barrier to a man on a mission. Given the sheer quality of the downfall including some lovely thunder and lightning (Although that may have been the big(mad)man blasting through Carnock in Back to the Future stylie!) I was stunned he set off. Mind you, he's so fit he probably was able to dodge the rain!
Tomorrow's a new opportunity and I plan another run - a steady tempo session and a spin set on the bike.
The back wheel has been delivered to the shop for a new (aero dynamic) spoke and I ordered a new Shimano compact chainset for the Trek. I don't think it will make a huge difference but it might make me think I'm better on the hills....
I finally weighed myself post holiday and I'm under 14 st and given the number of cakes I ate in Brittany some sort of miracle has occurred! Croissants must be a weight loss aid after all.....
Showing posts with label south africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label south africa. Show all posts
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Monday, 29 June 2009
In the land of the midnight sun.....
Work has taken me oop north - so far north I'm just about as far as you can go in mainland UK.
I drove up this morning passing many of the sights we passed on our last epic trip form Lands End to John O Groats non stop. The last outing was in September and rightfully has a blog of it's own. Six of us took on the challenge to cycle non stop from Lands End to JoG. The team included wingman, the fit one, duracell, Junior down from Aberdeenshire, another friend from Dunfermline and of course the bigman.
We were split into 2's and rode 4 hours on at a time. It was a cracking trip completed in 62 hours. The odd thing was today's drive brought back a load of great memories. I remembered the exact spot the bigman got the first and only puncture of the trip and the memorable climb up Berrydale Braes, the last really big one of the journey. It was a fab time (except for the sleep deprivation and mixed food!).
On arrival it was straight into a meeting which lasted 6 hours - I felt remarkably fresh and decided to go out for a wee run. A mini heatwave has hit Thurso and at 7pm when I went out running the temperature was still over 20 deg. I plodded out of town and headed up the hill. I felt good running, as I've mentioned it probably is my first love and the miles passed easily.
The run in itself was unremarkable other than the stunning beauty and joy that you get running in isolation on roads where no cars seem to exist. It was fab.
Tomorrow's another full day but if I get a chance I might run again - I brought plenty of kit!
So I lie in on my bed watching the sun slip down out of the window - I've always wanted to come this far north at this time of the year. It's been worth it!
PS It's dark at Wimbledon!
I drove up this morning passing many of the sights we passed on our last epic trip form Lands End to John O Groats non stop. The last outing was in September and rightfully has a blog of it's own. Six of us took on the challenge to cycle non stop from Lands End to JoG. The team included wingman, the fit one, duracell, Junior down from Aberdeenshire, another friend from Dunfermline and of course the bigman.
We were split into 2's and rode 4 hours on at a time. It was a cracking trip completed in 62 hours. The odd thing was today's drive brought back a load of great memories. I remembered the exact spot the bigman got the first and only puncture of the trip and the memorable climb up Berrydale Braes, the last really big one of the journey. It was a fab time (except for the sleep deprivation and mixed food!).
On arrival it was straight into a meeting which lasted 6 hours - I felt remarkably fresh and decided to go out for a wee run. A mini heatwave has hit Thurso and at 7pm when I went out running the temperature was still over 20 deg. I plodded out of town and headed up the hill. I felt good running, as I've mentioned it probably is my first love and the miles passed easily.
The run in itself was unremarkable other than the stunning beauty and joy that you get running in isolation on roads where no cars seem to exist. It was fab.
Tomorrow's another full day but if I get a chance I might run again - I brought plenty of kit!
So I lie in on my bed watching the sun slip down out of the window - I've always wanted to come this far north at this time of the year. It's been worth it!
PS It's dark at Wimbledon!
Monday, 8 June 2009
Gillespie Wheelers....
At the fabulous Loch Leven's Larder yesterday......
The rogue's gallery, from the left - the new wheeler, Fit One, Santiago and the Bigman.
Saturday, 6 June 2009
It's not about the bike ....it's about the bat....
I didn't make it out today with the warriors as I was busy on family duty which in the end turned out to be vastly more exiting than the trip round the cold and miserable forth.
The Iron son is still at school and plays for the school cricket 11. They were playing at some ridiculous time which resulted in an early start and long drive into Edinburgh. The game started in the spring sun that seemed to have avoid Fife and after 20 overs the opposition racked up a reasonable 93 runs. Not quite T 20 world cup stuff that's going on doon south but a respectable score that would have had the England batting line up challenged!
Iron son's team headed out to bat. The wickets started tumbling 3 for 3 - a bad start. The wickets continued to tumble, 17 for 7 - a really bad start. Iron son is a bowler, he keeps a good line and length and is keeps the opposition batsmen on there toes and he can bat a bit as well.
Out to the crease batting number 9, hardly a ball faced and the score was 20 for 8 wickets. Realising the game was disappearing away from them faster than Andrew Symonds jumping on a plane back to Australia after a few beers without team orders, he thought 'have a go'. After the he hit his first 4, a wag from the opposition shouted 'that will be your last' - it wasn't. Steeled by the opposition sledging he knocked another 4, then a 6 and then another 4. The runs started flowing from both ends of the wicket as the game turned on it's head. He was eventually out for a glorious 29 that steadied the ship. That left the last pair at the crease - the opposition quite shocked by the onslaught were bowling all over the place, a memorable chuck for 5 runs thrown in and with a tremendous thump the ball was smashed over the boundary for a superb win.
The freedom with which they played was a lesson not to go in and give up when things are not going your way but to stick in and fight back.
Nothing to do with biking, training but a nice sports story which made my day. I'm going to remember this when I labouring up the hills in South Africa. Never give up!
Also I'm one proud dad and I know the iron son will hold his head high in school on Monday!
Back on the bike tomorrow - here's hoping it warms up!!
The Iron son is still at school and plays for the school cricket 11. They were playing at some ridiculous time which resulted in an early start and long drive into Edinburgh. The game started in the spring sun that seemed to have avoid Fife and after 20 overs the opposition racked up a reasonable 93 runs. Not quite T 20 world cup stuff that's going on doon south but a respectable score that would have had the England batting line up challenged!
Iron son's team headed out to bat. The wickets started tumbling 3 for 3 - a bad start. The wickets continued to tumble, 17 for 7 - a really bad start. Iron son is a bowler, he keeps a good line and length and is keeps the opposition batsmen on there toes and he can bat a bit as well.
Out to the crease batting number 9, hardly a ball faced and the score was 20 for 8 wickets. Realising the game was disappearing away from them faster than Andrew Symonds jumping on a plane back to Australia after a few beers without team orders, he thought 'have a go'. After the he hit his first 4, a wag from the opposition shouted 'that will be your last' - it wasn't. Steeled by the opposition sledging he knocked another 4, then a 6 and then another 4. The runs started flowing from both ends of the wicket as the game turned on it's head. He was eventually out for a glorious 29 that steadied the ship. That left the last pair at the crease - the opposition quite shocked by the onslaught were bowling all over the place, a memorable chuck for 5 runs thrown in and with a tremendous thump the ball was smashed over the boundary for a superb win.
The freedom with which they played was a lesson not to go in and give up when things are not going your way but to stick in and fight back.
Nothing to do with biking, training but a nice sports story which made my day. I'm going to remember this when I labouring up the hills in South Africa. Never give up!
Also I'm one proud dad and I know the iron son will hold his head high in school on Monday!
Back on the bike tomorrow - here's hoping it warms up!!
Wednesday, 3 June 2009
Float like a butterfly.....
I decided that since I was going out by myself I would set myself a circuit so I can see if I'm getting any faster as I train. So I set out on what I'll called the Saline Circuit today full of hope and expectation.
The bike was my friend, the elements were not. A nagging cold wind off the east blasted through the Lycra like it wasn't there and it felt cold even though my temperature gauge was reading 15 degrees.
I pushed hard up the hill to Saline and turned west towards Clackmannan. I was flying. At the bottom of the hill I flashed past a policeman with his radar gun secretly hoping I be stopped for speeding - sadly I wasn't going fast enough and slipped under the radar. The gentle ups and downs of the roads at the bottom of the Ochils didn't slow me down and I was pleased that I was able to push on hard. Sometimes it can be hard to motivate yourself go keep pushing when alone on the bike and I think the though of setting a time gave me a reason to keep going.
I was thinking about weight, diet at this point in the ride but decided not to start the blog with the Brigit Jones Diary start of such and such a date, weight, food, drink etc etc - some details are not worth keeping. The latest start of the famed diet (or lifestyle change as we like to call it!) has lasted, well almost 72 hours......
I turned onto the the Kinross to Alloa road and then quickly off towards Clackmannan. On to the cycle path and into the wind. The cycle path is a long uphill to Dunfermline populated by bikers, runners and dog walkers. I was only held up a couple of times on the first section. At one point I passed an old couple out on what looked like new Raleigh Shoppers, the Madone of the pensioner shopping bike! I though that one day when I reach that age I'd like to be like them - out on the bikes for a run and enjoying the cycle path. Bikers are a fab community from Chris Hoy, Lance Armstrong to beginners out on the stabilisers - always a hello and smile. I don't know Chris Hoy or Lance Armstrong and I'm not sure what they would do if I went passed them but I like to think we are all the same under the skin!
It was about 6 miles from home when I encountered Mohamed Ali Bee - he floated like a butterfly and then, as predicted by the great boxer, stung like a bee. The pain was instant and I now sport a nice red bump on my chest were the bee got me. It was the first time I've every been stung and it's quite painful.
Anyway, mere bee stings don't deter a man on a mission. So after a wobble it was back on full steam. The end of the bike track is never a great site for me as it leaves me the nasty wee climb back up to the village. I pounded on the pedals and reached home in 61.10 - a new record. Well any distance never timed previously is awarded the accolade of a new record.
The target is set for the future and the one hour barrier is up for grabs.
I managed to unclip out of the wrong pedal and fell onto the pavement after I'd stopped the bike today - donkey! I was so embarrassed as 3 cars stopped to check I was ok and have a good laugh!
A good day's training today as I also managed a 4 mile run first thing this morning.
One last thing - my handlebar tape started coming loose. The flapping of the tape must have slowed me down a little
.....
The bike was my friend, the elements were not. A nagging cold wind off the east blasted through the Lycra like it wasn't there and it felt cold even though my temperature gauge was reading 15 degrees.
I pushed hard up the hill to Saline and turned west towards Clackmannan. I was flying. At the bottom of the hill I flashed past a policeman with his radar gun secretly hoping I be stopped for speeding - sadly I wasn't going fast enough and slipped under the radar. The gentle ups and downs of the roads at the bottom of the Ochils didn't slow me down and I was pleased that I was able to push on hard. Sometimes it can be hard to motivate yourself go keep pushing when alone on the bike and I think the though of setting a time gave me a reason to keep going.
I was thinking about weight, diet at this point in the ride but decided not to start the blog with the Brigit Jones Diary start of such and such a date, weight, food, drink etc etc - some details are not worth keeping. The latest start of the famed diet (or lifestyle change as we like to call it!) has lasted, well almost 72 hours......
I turned onto the the Kinross to Alloa road and then quickly off towards Clackmannan. On to the cycle path and into the wind. The cycle path is a long uphill to Dunfermline populated by bikers, runners and dog walkers. I was only held up a couple of times on the first section. At one point I passed an old couple out on what looked like new Raleigh Shoppers, the Madone of the pensioner shopping bike! I though that one day when I reach that age I'd like to be like them - out on the bikes for a run and enjoying the cycle path. Bikers are a fab community from Chris Hoy, Lance Armstrong to beginners out on the stabilisers - always a hello and smile. I don't know Chris Hoy or Lance Armstrong and I'm not sure what they would do if I went passed them but I like to think we are all the same under the skin!
It was about 6 miles from home when I encountered Mohamed Ali Bee - he floated like a butterfly and then, as predicted by the great boxer, stung like a bee. The pain was instant and I now sport a nice red bump on my chest were the bee got me. It was the first time I've every been stung and it's quite painful.
Anyway, mere bee stings don't deter a man on a mission. So after a wobble it was back on full steam. The end of the bike track is never a great site for me as it leaves me the nasty wee climb back up to the village. I pounded on the pedals and reached home in 61.10 - a new record. Well any distance never timed previously is awarded the accolade of a new record.
The target is set for the future and the one hour barrier is up for grabs.
I managed to unclip out of the wrong pedal and fell onto the pavement after I'd stopped the bike today - donkey! I was so embarrassed as 3 cars stopped to check I was ok and have a good laugh!
A good day's training today as I also managed a 4 mile run first thing this morning.
One last thing - my handlebar tape started coming loose. The flapping of the tape must have slowed me down a little
.....
Thursday, 28 May 2009
The diet starts once more....
Well a mixed day of training.
Good day - 4 mile run, easy pace and no ankle pain
Bad day - Cheese and tomato toastie with CHIPS (these were not ordinary chips, they were fabulous chips!)
Good day - 30 mile bike on the Culross Circuit with the bigman, easy pace, leg loosener prior to Skye
So the diet lasted 24 hours before the pull of chips won me over - zero tolerance!
The bigman chose to use today to build muscle by doing every climb seated. He's an awesome climber and is looking good for Saturday. We swallowed quite a bit of added protein today - the flies on the cycle path were out in force - I certainly didn't need much tea when I got home! It was a much more gentle pace than yesterday's thigh busting thrash. We were even able to chat!
We popped in to Hardies Bike Shop in Cairneyhill - the bigman has ordered his wee cog for alpine ascents later in the year. You get great advice and we were able to chat through the relative benefits of 29 inch wheels on the mountain bike - doesn't sound gripping conversation but he had the bigman and I facinated at the option.
I got home to wee note posted under a plant pot at the door from my wife to say she was in the pub and to come and get her on return. I thought great a pub tea! Good call! Then I noticed a daisy chain at the door, her friends car still in the drive and my phone buzzed - 121 - missed calls x 10 - oops - I'd locked her out. She'd borrowed a tenner from her piano teacher to buy a drink, cancelled her piano lesson until tomorrow and killed an hour and a half in the pub. Not normally a problem but when you wearing your training kit and have just been out training for 90 minutes.....
She's a forgiving woman fortunately!
So light tea to make up for the chips, a bit of work and getting packed for the trip to Skye and my day is almost done. Another cracking day!
Hopefully we'll be able to post an update from Saucy Mary's tomorrow evening.
Good day - 4 mile run, easy pace and no ankle pain
Bad day - Cheese and tomato toastie with CHIPS (these were not ordinary chips, they were fabulous chips!)
Good day - 30 mile bike on the Culross Circuit with the bigman, easy pace, leg loosener prior to Skye
So the diet lasted 24 hours before the pull of chips won me over - zero tolerance!
The bigman chose to use today to build muscle by doing every climb seated. He's an awesome climber and is looking good for Saturday. We swallowed quite a bit of added protein today - the flies on the cycle path were out in force - I certainly didn't need much tea when I got home! It was a much more gentle pace than yesterday's thigh busting thrash. We were even able to chat!
We popped in to Hardies Bike Shop in Cairneyhill - the bigman has ordered his wee cog for alpine ascents later in the year. You get great advice and we were able to chat through the relative benefits of 29 inch wheels on the mountain bike - doesn't sound gripping conversation but he had the bigman and I facinated at the option.
I got home to wee note posted under a plant pot at the door from my wife to say she was in the pub and to come and get her on return. I thought great a pub tea! Good call! Then I noticed a daisy chain at the door, her friends car still in the drive and my phone buzzed - 121 - missed calls x 10 - oops - I'd locked her out. She'd borrowed a tenner from her piano teacher to buy a drink, cancelled her piano lesson until tomorrow and killed an hour and a half in the pub. Not normally a problem but when you wearing your training kit and have just been out training for 90 minutes.....
She's a forgiving woman fortunately!
So light tea to make up for the chips, a bit of work and getting packed for the trip to Skye and my day is almost done. Another cracking day!
Hopefully we'll be able to post an update from Saucy Mary's tomorrow evening.
Sunday, 24 May 2009
Waist of space......
Well an exciting day - Newcastle relegated, England win against West Indies and I buy a pair of 32" waist jeans.
In reality, I don't really care about the other events but to be wearing a pair of 32" jeans is a major achievement. They may be loose fitting and may equate to other brands 34" but i don't care - as of today I'm a 32". Now I know also that some guys wear a 32" jeans that are really a 38" or 40", you know the type buttoned just above the top of the legs, gut hanging over the top of the folded over waist line. Well, mine are not like that - even the girl in the shop suggested I was a 32" - I liked her and though she was great at her job!
The last time I was a 32" labour was in power, sadly Blair or Brown wasn't the PM and you have to go back to the leadership of Callaghan for me to be in a pair of 32's. However, I've been out for dinner with my inlaws and the 32" may not fit any longer! So for one day and one day only I might have been a 32". The chocolate banoffie pie was worth the sacrifice!
No biking for me today but another cross training run bagged. I've just remembered a great story of a run a few years ago when on a summers day similar to today I was plodding up through the next village to ours called Oakley. On my right I spotted a group of youngsters sitting on the roof of a derelict building. As I approached, they shouted 'hello', I waved back encouraged by the support. Next thing I heard was another of the lads shouting 'run fat' now I was expecting the next words to be 'boy run' and it would have been if the wag sitting beside him hadn't added 'old' to make the heckle 'run fat...old....boy run' - even I laughed. The neds are switched on in these parts!
I retire to bed shortly a (fat) happy man.....wearing my 32" jeans.
After all, it might be a dream......
In reality, I don't really care about the other events but to be wearing a pair of 32" jeans is a major achievement. They may be loose fitting and may equate to other brands 34" but i don't care - as of today I'm a 32". Now I know also that some guys wear a 32" jeans that are really a 38" or 40", you know the type buttoned just above the top of the legs, gut hanging over the top of the folded over waist line. Well, mine are not like that - even the girl in the shop suggested I was a 32" - I liked her and though she was great at her job!
The last time I was a 32" labour was in power, sadly Blair or Brown wasn't the PM and you have to go back to the leadership of Callaghan for me to be in a pair of 32's. However, I've been out for dinner with my inlaws and the 32" may not fit any longer! So for one day and one day only I might have been a 32". The chocolate banoffie pie was worth the sacrifice!
No biking for me today but another cross training run bagged. I've just remembered a great story of a run a few years ago when on a summers day similar to today I was plodding up through the next village to ours called Oakley. On my right I spotted a group of youngsters sitting on the roof of a derelict building. As I approached, they shouted 'hello', I waved back encouraged by the support. Next thing I heard was another of the lads shouting 'run fat' now I was expecting the next words to be 'boy run' and it would have been if the wag sitting beside him hadn't added 'old' to make the heckle 'run fat...old....boy run' - even I laughed. The neds are switched on in these parts!
I retire to bed shortly a (fat) happy man.....wearing my 32" jeans.
After all, it might be a dream......
Saturday, 11 April 2009
Brokebike Mountain (biking).....
Well, having started the year with a focus on the road bike, I decided today was the day to drag out my hardtail (mountain bike with front suspension but no rear suspension). I bought my bike from the Edinburgh Bike Co-op place about 9 months ago and so far I seem to have fallen off it every time I've ridden it. I've broken a hand and badly bruised ribs from previous excursions.
So I quickly checked it, pumped the tyres, pedalled it round the garden, packed it in the car and set off to meet my pal Neil for some genteel biking along the Fife coast. Briefly, in the car I remember my last venture out on the mtb and the memory made me slightly judder as last time out I broke the chain. Rather spectacularly just after Christmas and in the depths of the Yorkshire Moors, if I remember correctly. A quick call to speed dial 001 sorted that as Danielle and my brother in law, Jaff, came to the rescue. I picked up another chain and fixed the problem but hadn't really ridden the bike since. Today was the day.....
It was a cracker, about 12 deg and sun shining as we set off from Inverkeithing Station. The clunking from my back cog was slightly un-nerving but I kept thinking, I can fix when we stop next....
The clunking got progressively worse and worse. No choice we had to stop. We both peered at the mechanical horse through a vacuum of shared bike intellect and poked various bits as if the poking would provide the miracle cure. Sadly, it turns out neither of us had the magic touch but it did cure the clunking. The clunking definitely had stopped, only to be replaced by a grinding. If it was a horror movie, the bad guy was about step out from behind the shower curtain, because the bike gave an oil curdling scream and stopped.
My co-biker, Neil, asked if he could have a quick go to aid diagnosis. Like a skilled surgeon with a blunt scalpel he jumped on my bike and pedalled off. The bike screamed and passed out - bits pulled off in many directions and my rear gear changer thingy (now lying at an odd angle) snapped from the frame. Neil rushed off for an ambulance while I nursed the patient back up to the road. Where were we? How would Neil find us? Questions raced through the red mist of my mind.
I wandered up through walkers and bikers pointing and deriding my bike and shame faced we found the local police station. The police station was very helpful, it was shut. Despite this set back, it held the key of an old black and white map which, with a quick call from Neil, led to my ultimate rescue. Although his car was making noises that I could only imagine my clunking bike would have been proud of.
The shop was great. They asked which clown had fitted the chain. I lied and said it was a bike shop, but I know the truth. It was me. I suspect they knew it was me as well. The link that I had used to join the chain when fitting had broken because it was badly fitted causing the chain to catch the derailleur and break it off the frame. He fixed it all for the cost of the parts which was fantastic. He also fixed all of the other dodgy things I done to it in the 9 months of my possession.
So my 2 hour bike trip turned in to 30 minutes with 4 hours to fix the bike!
Back on to the road bike tomorrow with Derek and Stuart. Home ground, safe territory and a bike I haven't touched!
So I quickly checked it, pumped the tyres, pedalled it round the garden, packed it in the car and set off to meet my pal Neil for some genteel biking along the Fife coast. Briefly, in the car I remember my last venture out on the mtb and the memory made me slightly judder as last time out I broke the chain. Rather spectacularly just after Christmas and in the depths of the Yorkshire Moors, if I remember correctly. A quick call to speed dial 001 sorted that as Danielle and my brother in law, Jaff, came to the rescue. I picked up another chain and fixed the problem but hadn't really ridden the bike since. Today was the day.....
It was a cracker, about 12 deg and sun shining as we set off from Inverkeithing Station. The clunking from my back cog was slightly un-nerving but I kept thinking, I can fix when we stop next....
The clunking got progressively worse and worse. No choice we had to stop. We both peered at the mechanical horse through a vacuum of shared bike intellect and poked various bits as if the poking would provide the miracle cure. Sadly, it turns out neither of us had the magic touch but it did cure the clunking. The clunking definitely had stopped, only to be replaced by a grinding. If it was a horror movie, the bad guy was about step out from behind the shower curtain, because the bike gave an oil curdling scream and stopped.
My co-biker, Neil, asked if he could have a quick go to aid diagnosis. Like a skilled surgeon with a blunt scalpel he jumped on my bike and pedalled off. The bike screamed and passed out - bits pulled off in many directions and my rear gear changer thingy (now lying at an odd angle) snapped from the frame. Neil rushed off for an ambulance while I nursed the patient back up to the road. Where were we? How would Neil find us? Questions raced through the red mist of my mind.
I wandered up through walkers and bikers pointing and deriding my bike and shame faced we found the local police station. The police station was very helpful, it was shut. Despite this set back, it held the key of an old black and white map which, with a quick call from Neil, led to my ultimate rescue. Although his car was making noises that I could only imagine my clunking bike would have been proud of.
The shop was great. They asked which clown had fitted the chain. I lied and said it was a bike shop, but I know the truth. It was me. I suspect they knew it was me as well. The link that I had used to join the chain when fitting had broken because it was badly fitted causing the chain to catch the derailleur and break it off the frame. He fixed it all for the cost of the parts which was fantastic. He also fixed all of the other dodgy things I done to it in the 9 months of my possession.
So my 2 hour bike trip turned in to 30 minutes with 4 hours to fix the bike!
Back on to the road bike tomorrow with Derek and Stuart. Home ground, safe territory and a bike I haven't touched!
Friday, 3 April 2009
I've had better training weeks.....
It's Friday night and I've not been on my bike since Saturday when we did a windy 50 miles - back out tomorrow with a couple of pals.
Off to a conference next week so hopefully the gym will have a decent spin bike so I can do some 'sufferfest' podcast sessions. Great podcast that gets the legs working, heart rate up and plays some great music - I love it.
We're thinking about supporting a charity as we both feel that this is a massive challenge. We hope some of our friends and colleagues may feel that they would like to support our charity and feel part of the trip. We'll pay all our expenses and so anything we do raise will go directly to benefit our selected charity. So which charity?
I can't believe that I'm so excited about a race that is still12 months away!
John
Off to a conference next week so hopefully the gym will have a decent spin bike so I can do some 'sufferfest' podcast sessions. Great podcast that gets the legs working, heart rate up and plays some great music - I love it.
We're thinking about supporting a charity as we both feel that this is a massive challenge. We hope some of our friends and colleagues may feel that they would like to support our charity and feel part of the trip. We'll pay all our expenses and so anything we do raise will go directly to benefit our selected charity. So which charity?
I can't believe that I'm so excited about a race that is still12 months away!
John
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
We're in....
I asked Derek if he would be interested in joining me to take part in Cape Epic about a week or so ago and after a little thought, agreement on our objectives in taking part and maybe the removal of his common sense gene he agreed.
The next challenge was getting in to the race. It is limited to 600 places which up until this year have been allocated by lottery. They changed the rules for 2010 to allow 100 places to be sold last Sunday night at midnight. I was tasked with trying to get a place.
Now I'm not the best at computer stuff and a slow typist at the best of times so I enlisted the help of my wife Danielle to help - she is super fast which turned out to be a real benefit. We sat watching the computer clock until it finally clicked on to 11pm our time and the finger frenzy began. Initially nothing happened, the website seemed to be struggling with the traffic but we persevered and after what felt like hours, about 10 seconds, the link appeared. We clicked on it, filled out the form and pressed send....
We were in! Danielle and I were jumping round the room. I called Derek. I think the realisation of what we are taking home hit home at that moment. This is going to be the challenge of a lifetime.
Later on we discovered that the 100 places sold out in 100 seconds and 300 people were on the site at exactly midnight South Africa time. So we were absolutely delighted to grab a spot.
We thought that we would set up a blog that would keep friends and family informed as to our progress and give us both the chance to post about the training and experience that we are undertaking.
Welcome to our journey......
The next challenge was getting in to the race. It is limited to 600 places which up until this year have been allocated by lottery. They changed the rules for 2010 to allow 100 places to be sold last Sunday night at midnight. I was tasked with trying to get a place.
Now I'm not the best at computer stuff and a slow typist at the best of times so I enlisted the help of my wife Danielle to help - she is super fast which turned out to be a real benefit. We sat watching the computer clock until it finally clicked on to 11pm our time and the finger frenzy began. Initially nothing happened, the website seemed to be struggling with the traffic but we persevered and after what felt like hours, about 10 seconds, the link appeared. We clicked on it, filled out the form and pressed send....
We were in! Danielle and I were jumping round the room. I called Derek. I think the realisation of what we are taking home hit home at that moment. This is going to be the challenge of a lifetime.
Later on we discovered that the 100 places sold out in 100 seconds and 300 people were on the site at exactly midnight South Africa time. So we were absolutely delighted to grab a spot.
We thought that we would set up a blog that would keep friends and family informed as to our progress and give us both the chance to post about the training and experience that we are undertaking.
Welcome to our journey......
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