Back on the wagon after the recovery week, I had an easy start with just a swim on Tuesday morning. Stripping my stroke right back I worked through each element until I found why I was getting slower and slower.... finally I realised that I wasn't engaging my core and extending my reach. So now I know what it is can I fix it in time?
Dashing home from work and throwing (not literally) my bike in the back of the car I set off for Dover. My fabulous cousin had arranged a hotel room for me at the Best Western Spa - luxury - everyone else was in the Premier Inn next door, but I got down there far too late to socialise. The look on the receptionists face as I strolled through reception with the bike over my shoulder was priceless. He quickly offered to keep it in reception over night (not so much an offer but an instruction) which was firmly declined, my baby stays with me. As the chef held the door open to the stair case he asked if it would be given the bed... he clearly knows a cyclist!
Awake before the alarm I dragged my sorry carcass out of bed at 4:45am and set off for the ferry. 48 Kent Velo Girls (and Boys) set off for sunny Calais. As we put on our pink stripy jerseys complete with string of garlic around the neck plus baguette and vino in the back pockets someone pointed out that we looked like a group of pink convicts. We couldn't have picked better weather and the sun beat down on us and the views of the coast were sensational as we headed down to Wissant before turning inland.
Lunch was a splendid feast of bread, salad, ham, cheese plus lots of cake, shortbread, pringles and haribo. Lunchtastic :-) Next came a climb up the iconic Cassel cobbles which was tremendous fun (although it appears that I stopped very slightly short of the top of the Strava route... not that I'm competitive.....).
The ride leaders were moved around throughout the day and during the last section there was a slight mix up and I ended up with the fast group. In zone 5 within 10 minutes of setting up I really thought there was no chance of keeping up with them. Eventually I decided it was just panic setting in, and settled in with the group (although I have to admit to being tucked in nicely so I wasn't taking the strain) which was fortunately when we got to the 8 miles of the headwind from hell (thanks to those who took the front, Olly and Bee).
Overall we hit 105 miles (including the last bit into the port) a very good day in all. I even brought back a little souvenir... a pair of sun burnt knees. Whoops.
A little recovery day on Thursday (I couldn't face another 5am start) and I was back in the pool on Friday morning for a quick (or not quite so quick) 3km.
Just a 25 miles KVG ride on Saturday seemed ridiculously short (nice little jolly over to the Pilgrims Way) followed by a training free day on Sunday to go to Jo's beautiful wedding.
On Bank Holiday Monday I was up and out early for my first run, I'd love to say it was to avoid the heat but in reality it was just my body clock telling me it was Monday morning. Afterwards I headed over to Holborough lakes and did an assessment for my open water swim licence. It's much smaller than Laybourne Lake but the water quality is 10 times better. After flying around doing chores and supermarket shopping I popped out for the second run of the day and had to make an emergency stop in the Larkfield industrial estate (so no doubt someone's CCTV captured me peeing in a bush). A very successful week.
Less than 9 weeks to go!
Dashing home from work and throwing (not literally) my bike in the back of the car I set off for Dover. My fabulous cousin had arranged a hotel room for me at the Best Western Spa - luxury - everyone else was in the Premier Inn next door, but I got down there far too late to socialise. The look on the receptionists face as I strolled through reception with the bike over my shoulder was priceless. He quickly offered to keep it in reception over night (not so much an offer but an instruction) which was firmly declined, my baby stays with me. As the chef held the door open to the stair case he asked if it would be given the bed... he clearly knows a cyclist!
Awake before the alarm I dragged my sorry carcass out of bed at 4:45am and set off for the ferry. 48 Kent Velo Girls (and Boys) set off for sunny Calais. As we put on our pink stripy jerseys complete with string of garlic around the neck plus baguette and vino in the back pockets someone pointed out that we looked like a group of pink convicts. We couldn't have picked better weather and the sun beat down on us and the views of the coast were sensational as we headed down to Wissant before turning inland.
Lunch was a splendid feast of bread, salad, ham, cheese plus lots of cake, shortbread, pringles and haribo. Lunchtastic :-) Next came a climb up the iconic Cassel cobbles which was tremendous fun (although it appears that I stopped very slightly short of the top of the Strava route... not that I'm competitive.....).
The ride leaders were moved around throughout the day and during the last section there was a slight mix up and I ended up with the fast group. In zone 5 within 10 minutes of setting up I really thought there was no chance of keeping up with them. Eventually I decided it was just panic setting in, and settled in with the group (although I have to admit to being tucked in nicely so I wasn't taking the strain) which was fortunately when we got to the 8 miles of the headwind from hell (thanks to those who took the front, Olly and Bee).
Overall we hit 105 miles (including the last bit into the port) a very good day in all. I even brought back a little souvenir... a pair of sun burnt knees. Whoops.
A little recovery day on Thursday (I couldn't face another 5am start) and I was back in the pool on Friday morning for a quick (or not quite so quick) 3km.
Just a 25 miles KVG ride on Saturday seemed ridiculously short (nice little jolly over to the Pilgrims Way) followed by a training free day on Sunday to go to Jo's beautiful wedding.
On Bank Holiday Monday I was up and out early for my first run, I'd love to say it was to avoid the heat but in reality it was just my body clock telling me it was Monday morning. Afterwards I headed over to Holborough lakes and did an assessment for my open water swim licence. It's much smaller than Laybourne Lake but the water quality is 10 times better. After flying around doing chores and supermarket shopping I popped out for the second run of the day and had to make an emergency stop in the Larkfield industrial estate (so no doubt someone's CCTV captured me peeing in a bush). A very successful week.
Less than 9 weeks to go!
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