Back on Track after Italy

I left Italy ten days ago. Where did that go? It never ceases to amaze me how time flies, but as I've been busy it's to be expected! In ten days I've managed to:

• run two, couch to 5K's training runs (total 8 kilometres)
• do five bike rides (total 145 miles)
• travel  to London and back
• lose the 2lbs in weight I put on in Italy
• shake off the chest infection I caught in Italy!!

Not too bad me-thinks. 

Anyway, I'm trying not to panic, there are only 5 weeks to go now, HELP!!! Actually, there are only four weeks left to train, because the fifth week will be a "tapering" week, where the bike rides I do will be gentle ones, just to keep the leg muscles turning over really. So, in the following four weeks I've got to build up to going out SIX days on the trot and doing 45 miles each day. That's what is required to get me up to approximately 75% of what I'll be doing on the actual LEJOG. 

I also want to do the "Mow Cop Killer mile", that's a ride that includes a 25% incline (see picture below), before I start LEJOG. Then I'll know that I can face anything Cornwall has to offer.

I'll keep you posted how it goes. I've managed 20% since coming back from Italy so feeling reasonably confident...?

Good news, bad news.

I'm  back from my one week holiday in Italy, exploring the Cinque Terre, (close to the Italian Riviera) with my two "girl" friends, Caroline and Linda. We were celebrating my 60th birthday - I know it's not till September, but this was the only time we could all get away. We started this custom of celebrating the "big-zero" birthdays ten years ago with my 50th. We've done all the 50th birthdays now - time to start the 60th birthdays.

I have good news and bad news....... let's start with the bad news -

The bad news is, I:

• have come back with a chest infection, (arrgh!!)
• didn't manage to complete my "couch25K" homework - meant to run for 20 minutes non-stop
• put on 2lbs in weight - (which actually is good news too, 'cos I thought I'd have put on at least 5 lbs)

The good news is:

• we had a fantastic time, despite the weather - it rained the first few days, (warm rain makes all the difference, haha!)
• we are still friends after a week away together - (testament to our 30 year friendship!)
• our apartment was beautiful (thank you "airb&b"!!)
• I ate what I wanted and didn't feel guilty! (Sea- food pasta, ice-cream, pastries, chocolate - now you understand why only gaining 2lbs in weight is amazing..)
• I did my "couch25K" homework; 2 runs. The first one I managed to run 15 minutes non-stop and the second I managed 18 minutes non-stop. Both times my left leg started hurting, lungs and heart were fine!! Obviously the chest infection hadn't taken hold.

Photos below: our lovely apartment

Linda and I reliving our childhood with liquorice pipes!! Awesome sweet shop..

Live begins at...... Caroline, me and Linda on our way to Portofino - home to the stars - on our own private.....ferry (yes! sorry, it was the ferry!!)

It's Tuesday, it's 5pm so it's G&T time!!

You are never too old to enjoy Italian ice-cream!

Happy, happy days.

God only knows..

I've been stressed a little bit this week - I've been panicking about the sponsorship target to raise £5000 for the two charities... That's

• 5000 people at a £1 each - I don't know five thousand people
• 1000 people at £5 each - I don't know a thousand people either
• 250 people at £20 each - I probably do know 250 people, but some of them not that well, that they'll sponsor me for £20!

SO, you can see why I've been "stressing" - and then I mentioned this to a lady I know, who is a committed Christian, and who goes to my church. Do you know what she replied? She said "God knows where the money will come from." I felt so humbled, I have prayed to God about every part of this "venture" - except this bit, the sponsorship, and of course, she is so right - God does know where the money will come from. So, I've stopped "stressing" and I've started praying instead - and I ask you do the same. Amen.

Hill Climbing today

The weather was glorious up here today - lovely sunshine, great day for training. I decided to go and try Toot Hill "to exhaustion", like I did with Rich a couple of weeks ago. I felt sure I'd get further today, but, got more or less, to the same spot!! A third of the way up. 

The worst bit of this climb is about 500 yards long @ 25% followed by a nasty corner reaching 33%.  

The problem is because I am cycling so slowly I have to take one foot out of my cleats 'cos I'm scared stiff I'm going to fall over - so inevitably I lose power and then again 'cos I'm pedalling so slowly I wobble - which is what happened today, I wobbled a bit too close to the verge and lost it, had to stop. Still got a way to go before I manage the whole thing.

The picture doesn't really show the gradient that well - but shows the nice sunny sky!!

Then went on to do two more climbs, one average 16% the other average, 14% - so pleased with that!! However, I lost a bit of data on my Garmin - I was so busy trying to take pictures of the lambs (sooo cute!) that I forgot to restart the timer!! Never mind, it was worth it. I love seeing the lambs in the fields, aaahhh!

The story so far - 16 weeks of training

This is a screen shot from "Strava" - 16 weeks training since 1st January; note the total miles - 1423 - I have already cycled Lands End to John O'Groats! So a week off in Italy, should be OK??!!

52 WEEKS

159 hOURS OF CYCLING; 

22 hrs - January;   49 hrs - February

42 hrs - March;   45 hrs - april

1,423.7 MILES

88 EPISODES OF TRAINING

Don't PANIC!!

I'm beginning to panic a bit. I haven't been out on my bike for 4 days, diet has gone out the window and I haven't written my blog for 6 days - what is going on?

Basically - we've had visitors (Geoff's daughter and boyfriend) for the weekend - hence the diet; although to be fair that was on the way out during our trip to Cornwall and hasn't really recovered.

As far as not going out on the bike - I have been running instead. I am doing the "Couch to 5km" training with Macclesfield Harriers. We have to run 3 times a week - I've only managed twice a week so far; so it's not as if I've done nothing?! 

Went out sprint training on the bike, with Rich today and felt good in my legs - so maybe the change has done me good! We managed to do 25 miles altogether in just over 2 hours. There we go! That's better, I'm not doing so badly after all, phew!!

This time next week I'll be in Italy with my 2 very good friends, Linda and Caroline. We are having an early celebration of my 60th birthday! One whole week in Italy, Cinque Terre, near Pisa. Can't wait, lovely sea-food pasta, lovely weather, lovely company and LOVELY Prosecco!! Mustn't undo all my good work. I can't do any cycling, but I intend to do my running training. When I get back, I'll have 7 weeks to the start of LEJOG; that will be the time to panic!!