O! to work a 4-day week

Since the last post, I did an hour run on Thurs which felt good and neck held out no problem and then Friday treated myself to a day's holiday. Have got a full-on conference next week followed by a weekend at a wedding so I imagine that the week is going to lack training volume/quality and is also going to be pretty tiring. I wanted to make sure that I had a long ride under my belt before all that so, as Chris was off, we set off for the notorious zig zag of Box Hill, home of a race called the 'Ballbuster' (enough said). The ride out there was nice (apart from the A24 to Dorking where we were holding our own with juggernauts). At the bottom of Box Hill, Chris had to leave me as he was meeting someone for lunch.


Now, the first time I climbed Box Hill on a bike, I literally couldn't keep the pedals turning and Jona not only cycled himself up there but he alternated between giving me and then Alice a helping hand - literally pushing us, our weary legs and our bikes up. We both conquered it eventually after several attempts but it'd been about 4 years since I'd tried and I found myself alone with either a climb to the top or a return to the A24. It was an easy decision. I won't lie, no danger of being called up for the Tour anytime soon but I got there. The tradition is to have a cup of tea and a cake at the top but the lady was busy and the weather looked ominous so I cracked on. Here was the view though.


So from recording the lowest cycling speed in the training programme yet (6mph), it was into the driving rain and off to the Epsoms Downs to record the fastest (32.2mph!!!!).

All in all a good morning out. 52 miles in 4 hours which gives me a slow predicted bike time in Austria (8.5 hours) but every revolution yesterday was taking me nearer to being able to complete the distance which is more than I once would have dared to hope for with cycling.

Back home, quick shower, excruciating massage with Tom and then off to spend the rest of the day with Dora and Chris eating cakes, buying Dora more shoes and then back, quick change and out to a dinner at Twickenham. What a day! Wish I could do it every Friday.....