200 miles in 1 weekend

I have just had the most amazing weekend. With the kids spending the weekend with their dad, I decided to embark upon the journey of cycling to the Lakes to visit some friends. The route was Newcastle to just beyond Bowness in Windermere, going via Hexham then Allendale so I could join up with the C2C route till Penrith. From Penrith it was on to Ulswater then up and over Kirkstone Pass and down into Windermere.

Good Friday started with severe smog warnings, not really the best start as visibility was poor.

The sun trying to break through

However a couple of hours into the ride it lifted, and turned into the most fantastic day. Getting to Hartside proved more challenging than I thought. I think I cycled through four valley's. The worse climb of the day had to be at Nenthead. It is the steepest thing I have ever climbed, I thought my legs would never forgive me. After that it was up again to Hartside then down into Penrith and on to Ulswater which was just breath taking.

Along the shore of Ulswater I met up with a friend Jason and we cycled the last 20 miles together. I was very grateful for his company as we had another climb to tackle Kirkstone Pass. That climb to proved to be really quite unpleasant.

Almost the top of Kirkstone Pass

Overall I cycled approx 115 miles and climbed 5950 feet.

That night and the next day my legs felt great which was very reassuring. Also during my stay I had a very pleasant little drive around the Lakes in this rather special car. It was amazing!!

Easter Sunday it was time to cycle home. I slightly cheated and started my journey from the top of Kirkstone Pass. I also slightly changed my route back, so I could avoid Nenthead (I really don't like that hill). Coming back I cycled 86.12 miles in 5 hours and 10 mins and climbed 4617 feet. Again the weather was fantastic and the views were sensational.

Arriving into Northumberland

Upon arriving back I decided to test my legs out running, so I went out for a very gentle jog. The first 10 minutes was horrendous. However after this my body seemed to adjust and it did become easier, so 3 1/2 miles later I arrived home feeling like I could of done more. That has to be a good sign!!

Sunny afternoons, ummmmm!!!!!

 WOW it's only 4 weeks to go now till my first race, yeeha can't wait.

Training this week has been constant and strong, which is good since the kids have now broken up for Easter. So training for the next two weeks will be sporadical.

I have managed three 8 to 9 mile runs and a couple of swim / turbo sessions. Overall I am pretty happy with my progress. From now on I am going to start upping the distance gradually with one of the runs. Also running I have started in the practice of swallowing / gagging  on sports gels. They really are quite revolting, its the consistency of them but I suppose needs must.

Got back to yoga this week, ouch!! My hamstrings are so tight, I just can't seem to do enough stretching at the moment, there really isn't enough hours in the day for everything.

This weekend I got my cycling partner back, yeah! We managed a respectable 65 miles which is great since she is still recovering. However the hills proved to be a bit of a sore issue for her. So on the last leg of the ride to avoid a mammoth hill we took the more scenic route back into town, which had us weaving round fishermen, dodging pedestrians and at one point almost colliding with a horse and cart.

But eventually this route brings you out along Newcastle quayside. It proved to be the perfect afternoon to be on the quayside, the sun was out and everyone was smiling. I think I will leave it up to the pictures I took to finish this blog off.

ummmmm!!!!

What a come back!!

Wow what an awesome week training I have had, after last weeks effort of nearly zero training.

I began training again on Tuesday, as I was still feeling a little fatigued from the weekend on Monday. Also I have decided it is time to double up on some of my sessions. So I commenced the day with a 50 minute time trial, followed by some weights. That evening it was Tri club, which Phil had us doing relay sprints, what a laugh! It was during tri club that it was drawn to my attention I should be doing a lot more running, approx 4 runs a week, with my long bike ride at the weekend. So with that in mind I have juggled my training programme a bit.

Wednesday I got out for an hours run with a new running partner Laura, then I hit the pool for a while. Thursday morning I managed a 30 minute time trail followed by loads of stretching. That evening I squeezed in another hours run.

Friday night it was yet another hours run, followed by a quick change so I could go and meet the netball girls who were all out for the night, and then I went on to a friends 40th.

Saturday I was up and away on my bike by 8.30am and what a journey I had. I didn't need  to be back in town till 5pm so with this is mind I decided to go exploring some new routes. My usual bike partner Lisa is having to take it easy at the moment so she escorted me 10 miles out of town, then we said our goodbyes and she headed home. Off I went, not really knowing where I should go.

Here are some of the roads I found, they were amazing.

Northumberland National Park

 My journey took me to Elsdon, which has a well known cafe that is a favourite for many cyclists in the North East. So a quick drink  later and a chat to some other cyclists, I left with some new directions for an alternative route back to Newcastle.

Ummmmm!! I possibly wasn't paying enough attention to these directions as alarm bells started to ring when I came upon this small sign on the side of a building;

I really didn't want to go to Scotland. However not one to entirely doubt myself I rode on further hoping for the left hand turn I so badly needed to bring me back round. After another 10km I bottled it and turned around. I am very pleased that I did as I had actually missed the turn and I would of ended up in Scotland.


Back on track I got myself to Billingham. It was from here I reckon I took the hardest route possible home, and 120/130km into my ride I was greeted with this hill climb. For those of you who know the area I was at Chollerford about to go up that hill, owwwww!!!

It doesn't look that bad in this photo but believe me it was punishing, especially being by myself. Eventually I got back to the gym car park where I had set off from this morning, exhausted but very happy.

Below are my stats from the ride there was a small technical problem with my phone on one section, you will see the gap on the map, its approx another 25km to add on. Also I think it may have got my top speed slightly wrong, but if it is right, damn I am quick!!!!

Route: Solo ride 

Activity: Cycle
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/c21e/a683/4bf5/2d9a/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20110409-0829.kml
Started: 9 Apr 2011 08:29:25
Ride Time: 5:48:49
Stopped Time: 1:27:27
Distance: 135.39 km
Average: 23.29 km/hr
Fastest Speed: 391.31 km/hr.......243.15mph
Climb: 1260 meters
Calories: 0
Official Route: No

OH WHAT A WEEK!!!!

There are few words on training this week due to the most amazing wedding and mental hen night that took place. However I did mange a decent bike session outside and a run before the celebrations started mid week. The rest of the week I was consumed with trying to organise the most laid back bride ever, I can honestly say I was more stressed than she was.

So this week I will just share with you a few photo's from the special occasions:

THE BRIDE TO BE

HAVING A LITTLE DRINK

 

 

 

LOOKING HOT

PLAYING A LITTLE TUNE

THE GROOM WITH HIS SISTER

I RECKON JAMBO (yoga teacher) WILL BE PROUD

THE MARRIED COUPLE

 So I am now itching to get back to my training. The weather has been amazing recently so hopefully that will continue. I currently have a new itinerary from the coach and I need to start putting in some block training sessions biking and running. I have really enjoyed my few days off, but it is now time to start notching up my distances and my training sessions, yikes!!!