Did Tuesday's hour run on the treadmill which sounds boring but which was fine with my new audiobook to keep me company (bought to meet book club deadline which I still managed not to meet or attend).
Wednesday ran at lunchtime with my friend Kate who'd done her first Sprint Tri at the weekend and has become yet another convert! That night was swimming with the tri cub which was great....apart from the Victorian backstroke in the warm down which you can keep!
Thursday after I'd missed book club and finished work, it was a late night turbo session (bet the neighbours are seriously beginning to hate me) and Friday night did long swim whilst most (sane) people were probably down the pub or on the sofa!
On Saturday morning I got up early for my long run. Was a chilly but beautiful, cloudless September morning and did about 11 miles in 1.5 hours.
And then, there was Sunday! We went over to Essex on Saturday and had a lovely dinner with Jona and Susan. Then the next morning, Jona, Chris, Alice, Paul and I headed off to the 'Autumn Leaves' cycling sportive (while Susan, bless her, stayed at home looking after the girls). All were slightly daunted by the 'challenging' description in the race details but weren't aware they were referring to the weather! Just getting into the car to get there I had 5 layers on and by the end, make that 7!
We started slightly later as Jona had forgotten his helmet and shoes (!) but set out in trepidation. The ride was spectacularly organised with signposts all the time but it was so windy and the showers kept coming as did the rolling hills! We reached the first feed station after 2.5 hours and began to realise it could be a long day! Plugged away until the next one at mile 63 and then the weather really set in. It was hammering with rain so much that you felt like you needed wipers on your glasses and every time I squeezed the brake, water poured out my gloves. Poor Paul got a puncture about about mile 70 so Jona, Alice and I pushed on desperate to get to the end (and a cup of tea) while Chris stayed to help.
Finally, 7.24 hours after starting we all finished together having clocked 94.2 miles. Was an amazing feeling as my longest previous ride EVER was 56 miles. Despite the elements, was nowhere near as bad as I'd feared and we had lots of laughs along the way. I'm so grateful that all of them turned out in that weather to help me conquer my first Century (almost) Ride which has given me so much confidence about my ability. Chris wins 'legend of the day' award though for riding the thing on a fixed wheel with panniers having not ridden properly since last Winter! Nutter. Photos to follow but awesome end to a great week.
Edited to say: so lovely when we got back to Jona and Susan's. Dora came up to us all calling us 'Ironman', even me! One day, baby.
I hope.
2 comments:
Ohhhh that made me cry!! One day very soon you will be an ironwoman!! I have no doubt! Well done lady on such an awesome ride!! Jo xx
Thanks Jo. Hopefully within 9 weeks!
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