Monday training session turned into mid-ride Race…….

OK, so I did it, Aching from Saturday and Sundays ride, I managed to drag myself for a post work ride at 5pm on the dot yesterday…….  However mistakes were made and I ended up climbing a hill that i will do well to avoid in the near future. It was made worse by the fact that shortly after I had turned the corner onto the climb at Meltham, that I looked behind me to see what all getting fitter cyclist dread!!!!! another cyclist aprox 100m behind. You have one choice and one choice only try and beat the bugger to the top. It was hot, it was humid and it was painful…. But it was also worth it. I got the to the top of this very long climb 15 minutes later with my nemisis still around 100m behind me.

I waited for him over the top and it turns out he also new what he had to do, Try and Catch me!!!! So we both ended up with an extra part to the training ride we did not expect. We rode together for the next 5 miles or so adn then parted over the Holmfirth road as i had a long descent back to sea level……

I woke up this monring feeling a little sore but massivly satisfied that the midweek training is in full swing. The High5 Xtreme Berry was welcome and so will be a big bowl of porridge this morning as I feel like the bug is back and a Run or Swim is on the cards tonight. I have a long working weekend at The ECSS in Liverpool so training may be difficult. Excuse the typo’s remember its pre-porridge!

SB

Training session link below.

http://connect.garmin.com:80/activity/embed/96959323

The Road Back to Fitness….

Ok, so it has been 1 month since I have been “Back on the Bike”….. If you have been keeping up with my twitter you would know I have been riding with the Wheelguru racing team in Saddleworth, Lancashire. After getting dropped on the first ride out with the guys as they climbed the  Horse and Jockey towards Marsden, Yorkshire, I started to feel the heart beat out of my chest so I though it was time and a good idea to get a few mid week rides and runs in.

The route we use is a great little 40′ish miler with lots of good Lancashire and Yorkshire hills….. Thankfully there is a great little cafe on route called the Vanilla Bean a great little find in Slaithwait, Yorkshire, the coffee and cakes are superb.

Anyway you know what its like first few rides are painful and the lactic acid seems to gather the minute the pace increase by 1-2mph or gradient increases 1-2degrees…. well this has been me for the last 4 weeks.

I got the usual first puncture last Sunday but fortunately it was slow and got me the final 2 miles home without issue.

Todays ride was very wet and misty at the top of the climbs, however the legs felt ok and I managed to haul myself up “nont” with the first group and even managed a big final effort to get to the Cafe ready for the first wave of orders, otherwise you do have a little wait and always end up rushing the cake before the boys are off again. Its that usual situation where the faster guys wait until you get there and then as soon as you do… they are off again.

Listening to the guys talking about racing is getting me excited already, I have missed the events and pushing the body during a race, it is great feeling when the legs are strong and you feel you can match any man in the peleton. It has been a few years since I have had that feeling, and I know it is still going to be a while until I feel like that again. However it is happening and the process has begun.

I will keep updating on progress but the stats from my Garmin and Tanita Body composition monitor are all going in the right direction.

one thing to say before I go…. Check out the Vanilla Bean Cafe in Slaithwait…. Great Americano, and almond slice;-)

SB

Worth a Follow – Mark Buckingham (Triathlete)

Take a look at the twitter and web-site of my good friend Mark Buckingham, myself and Mark worked together selling Timex Ironman, shotz and Tanita Body composition products for a few years. If there is something I have been tought by Mark is how dedicated an athelte should be and that persaverance pays.

 The times I was dragged out straight after work for an interval session around the industrial estate, the times we have had to drive straight past a fast food joint, these were all indications that being a dedicated absolute professional athlete is not just about a natural physical ability, but its about applying yourself for years, not missing a training session and adapting to stay injury free and consistant. Mark is now part of the Tri Gold programme and has dedicating his time to becoming a full time professional triathlete.

Mark has a background in track running and has represented his country in 5k and Steeplechase events. Whilst being injured Mark discovered he was also a good cyclist(much to my frustration), and has now turned hs attention to the sport.

Forgot to mention Mark is also now the newly crowned British Elite Duathlon Champion. Not bad! not bad at all!!

Take a look at his website. www.markbuckingham.com

SB2011

What are you made of!

New article posted on www.run247.com check it out.

Would you like to know not just your weight, but also your hydration levels, the precentage of lean muscle mass and fat and much much more?

Striving for athletic perfection and optimal performance is a complicated process, balancing weight, segmental muscle-build, nutrition, training intensity, optimum body fat for endurance and of course pre and post training hydration levels….

Run247 article

Happy reading

SB

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somewhere in the wilds!

This is the new site and Blog area, more content will be coming soon in the mean time you can follow my twitter: