189. Leading from the back

Well, it had to happen eventually - today, I finished dead last in a sportive.

I was still within the time limit, but I was really very slow... In my defence, I was 164th of 164 finishers - not a huge pool to finish behind. Still, behind I most definitely was.

This was partly due to my becoming fed up during a long stage of repetitive climbs, and walking the last few. I don't mind a few steep climbs, but relentless steep climb, short descent, steep climb, short descent, steep climb... Dull. It has to be said also that perhaps 2 sportives in one month might have been a bit much.

Still, I did get to the end, escorted by marshals (who were at the back to make sure everyone finished) and greeted on the finish line by name by everyone. Between being identified as firmly last and finishing, my details (name, the fact that I was doing this as part of the Proclaimers Challenge, the fact that once I had finished I would only have 13.1 miles to go to get to the 500 miles target) had been shared with all of the organisers. Finishing last therefore became rather more like me being the Queen sweeping in for a fleeting visit. Arrive, be acclaimed by all by name, be escorted around and given free food and drink, depart.

As ever, I did feel quite lucky to get to the finish. Not, this time, due to distance and time constraints (hey, if I can do 110+ miles then just under 70 should be a doddle... Surely...). More to do with sheep (do not trust sheep, they are cunning and evil and lurk around blind corners on fast descents to freak you out) and tractors (I shan't discuss that - beyond saying that I really do need to improve my descending skills just in case there are any other tractors lurking round corners on very steep descents) and descents (a 17% incline just is not safe on a bike. It just isn't. Boris gets carried away and "braking" is a very relative term...). Still, got there in the end.

Onward (just a little bit more)!!

:o)

Today's stats:
Cycling - 110 km, 7 hours 24 mins 41 secs [includes stopping at feed stations...]

Yesterday's stats:
Bodybalance - 1 hour [wobble and stretch]

16th September's stats:
RPM - 45 mins [still training for those hills]

14th September's stats:
RPM - 45 mins [there have to be better things to do at 7am...]

12th September's stats:
Bodybalance - 1 hour [ohm...]
Walking - 2.24 miles, 37 mins [there...]
Walking - 1.09 miles, 18 mins [back again, via the cinema...]
Walking - 1.09 miles, 18 mins [cinema to home!]

188. Good Grief...

Well, thanks to the kind people who organised the "Pedal for Scotland" Big Belter I did finish today's 110-mile sportive. Much to my surprise - I expected to be swept up, but I was obviously close enough to the "must finish by" time to be allowed to continue - at least until I reached Edinburgh and discovered that they had removed the signs directing you to the finish and so took a little added-extra detour... Just what you want after 10 - 11 hours in the saddle.

I'm going with the official time (below) not least as my Garmin lost all power at the 87 mile point (yet another major event without data - I'm cursed to never know exactly how I did in the main events!!). Although as the timing mat was about 5 miles from the start line, and the second one either 5 or 8 miles from the finish at Murrayfield (depending on who you believe), and given I went a bit "off route" right at the end... I have no idea how many miles I did in the time below or in total. Lots, though. Lots and lots.

At about the 40 mile mark I'd had enough - there were lots of hills, and when there weren't I kept trying to fall asleep - and I suspected I was slow enough that I might get swept up, which would have made me happy. Ditto at the 50 mile mark - although I was rather offended when the woman at lunch (just after that) introduced myself and my fellow back-markers to the driver of the broom wagon! Was expecting (and hoping) to be swept up at the 60 and 70n mile marks... By the time I'd slogged my way to 80 miles, I figured that the sweeping would not be happening and the Proclaimers Challenge was back on! Underscored by the fact that the final feed station was still open (it was supposed to close at 4pm and I must have been later than that - but can't tell as that was when the Garmin switched off....). Thereafter it was the usual slog, slog, slog until someone says stop.

Better cyclists than I took advantage of the broom wagon (they were much faster on the straights) - better cyclists than I gave up due to the hills (lot so walking spotted). I only walked uphill once - it was a horrid hill, and I sort of came to a stop half-way up. Man driving past consoled me with "It really is a nasty climb" - yessiree, and not my first or last today...

More later - desperately need some sleep. 4am wake-up call was not fun. And given I left the "start" line at around 7am, and reached the "finish" line at around 6:45pm... Today has been loooooooong.

Still, over 400 miles completed now - nearly there!!

;oD

Today's stats:
Cycling - 110 miles, 10 hours 23 mins 55 secs [includes stopping at feed stations...]

187. The power of pasta

I ate a rather large amount of pasta today. Which sadly is now sitting in a rather large lump in my stomach... But that's some carbs duly loaded. What more could I possibly need before I go off ascending hills on a bike...?

Am off to bed in preparation for the ridiculously early start tomorrow. And for the ridiculously long and hilly ride thereafter. This time tomorrow I shall be a shattered wreck (always good to have something to look forward to!), but whether I will be shattered and happy, or shattered and distraught remains to be seen...

Well, distraught might be a bit strong. Disappointed, but at the same time relieved that it's all over and earlier than expected might be closer to the mark... Still, I shall aim for happy. Generally in that direction at least...

:o)

Today's stats:
Bodybalance - 1 hr [balance, balance, eeek!]

Yesterday's stats:
RPM - 45 mins [zone-shaming, hill climbing, continue]

186. Training zombie style

Yesterday I had to get up at 5:40 am. Today I had to get up at 5:15 am. Since yesterday morning I have travelled north - south west - north west - east. I just about remembered what my house looked like as I whirled in this evening...

With enough time to escort Boris to the shop to be serviced (he's got a big weekend ahead of him, and how would I know if he's up for it?), before I dashed off to do a 5k run.

Noting that my warn-up for said run was a 2 mile up-hill slog to the start, followed by a 2 mile downhill meander home again. I'm not sure that this was an efficient energy-conservation strategy, but there are times when I just want to walk places as transport becomes a big issue (can I park? How do I get there? Is there a bus? How often? How long does it take? Would a train be faster? When does it leave? On and on and on...).

This week is actually not a great one for the non-morning person. I may possibly get a relatively long lie tomorrow (7 am start time!) but the rest of the week it's all early, early, early...

I will be very happy when next Monday appears - providing I have survived Sunday successfully, of course...

:o)

Today's stats:
Walking - 2.32 miles, 37 mins [hurry, hurry, places to be]
Walking - 2.28 miles, 38 mins [staggering back home again]