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