Karen writes: Friday's big ride
I was in a hurry to get out the door this morning. With a planned worse case scenario of 7 hours on the bike, and a run afterwards I wanted to get going. Cue...youngest daughter has a meltdown just before it is time to go, she doesn't want to use toothpaste. Older daughter has organised a sleepover in a tent at short notice for tonight, where is...sleeping bag, hairbrush, insect spray...
Out the door at last, a little late, but fortunately the day doesnt look like being hot, it's overcast, just a bit windy. 140km seems like such a long way to go when you are at the wrong end of the ride, but the bike is beautiful, it whispers along underneath me, no strange rattles, squeaks, creaks and pinking noises, and while the gear changing still isn't perfect, its not as bad as it was either. Amazing what a bit of expert attention can achieve.
One lap, feeling good but unenthusiastic. The big truck and trailer units are out on the backroads in force, they feel like they are going to suck you into their wheels as they charge past. A few drivers are very courteous, sometimes worryingly so, they go right over the other side of the road to give you room, others are just plain scary, I tense up as each truck goes past, just waiting for that trailer to follow, these can come very close. Second lap, eating well, the honey sandwiches are going down ok, the electrolyte drink doesn't seem to be upsetting me, seat getting a bit sore probably not helped by wearing a belt with the extra drink bottles in it adding extra weight. Third lap, run out of sandwiches and sick of sweet stuff. Getting tired, getting bored, getting blown about, getting worried thinking that this is only 140km, and on the day I will have 40 more cycling km to go, and that's after already swum nearly 4km, then still have a marathon to run.
Home, legs work fine pushing the bike up the hill which is a real sign of improvement. In the door, running shoes, hat, big drink and out the door for...hey, it was a really easy feeling 45 minute run. I could have kept going just plodding slowly away, got sensible though and headed for home, Sunday there is a 26km run planned.
Here is my new favorite recovery food. 1 x large dollop of vanilla yogurt, 1 x serve of banana flavoured sculpt protein drink powder, half a tin of fruit salad in juice. Mix together and it is like pudding. Who says recovery food has to taste nasty!
Out the door at last, a little late, but fortunately the day doesnt look like being hot, it's overcast, just a bit windy. 140km seems like such a long way to go when you are at the wrong end of the ride, but the bike is beautiful, it whispers along underneath me, no strange rattles, squeaks, creaks and pinking noises, and while the gear changing still isn't perfect, its not as bad as it was either. Amazing what a bit of expert attention can achieve.
One lap, feeling good but unenthusiastic. The big truck and trailer units are out on the backroads in force, they feel like they are going to suck you into their wheels as they charge past. A few drivers are very courteous, sometimes worryingly so, they go right over the other side of the road to give you room, others are just plain scary, I tense up as each truck goes past, just waiting for that trailer to follow, these can come very close. Second lap, eating well, the honey sandwiches are going down ok, the electrolyte drink doesn't seem to be upsetting me, seat getting a bit sore probably not helped by wearing a belt with the extra drink bottles in it adding extra weight. Third lap, run out of sandwiches and sick of sweet stuff. Getting tired, getting bored, getting blown about, getting worried thinking that this is only 140km, and on the day I will have 40 more cycling km to go, and that's after already swum nearly 4km, then still have a marathon to run.
Home, legs work fine pushing the bike up the hill which is a real sign of improvement. In the door, running shoes, hat, big drink and out the door for...hey, it was a really easy feeling 45 minute run. I could have kept going just plodding slowly away, got sensible though and headed for home, Sunday there is a 26km run planned.
Here is my new favorite recovery food. 1 x large dollop of vanilla yogurt, 1 x serve of banana flavoured sculpt protein drink powder, half a tin of fruit salad in juice. Mix together and it is like pudding. Who says recovery food has to taste nasty!
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