Training Log Archive: Slynall

First ride out on the tandem fully loaded up. About 185kg total weight, those poor brakes! Left at 3.15pm, to miss the rain which we did thankfully. Planned route from home to Lacock through Minety, Brinkworth and Chippenham 28.5miles... after 2 wrong turns this turned out to be 34.2miles. Oops. Highlights were reaching a locked gate in Wiltshire collage and a lorry driver helping us lift the bike over the gate. Me getting stung by a Jasper under the helmet strap, meeting Herman the German on his Indian Roadmaster bike and the lovely couple who averted a crisis by opening our bottle of Barolo lovingly carried to go with the ragu pasta!

Sudbury Joggers Wednesday night session with Adam Mumford 25min out 25min back - aim to be back to the start bang on 50mins. Adam is currently running around 35mi/week (44yrs old) so clearly quicker than I am, although to my advantage he is marathon training for an event in October. Adam says to me in work "going for 7min miles all the way tonight, you in?" my immediate reaction is "yes, great plan" followed by an almost as immediate "that will be tough actually". Turns out I was right - 6:49min/mi for 50mins is tough, especially considering there is a long drag of a hill about 2.5miles into the route. I felt strong in the first half, pushing in front of Adam at times towards the top of the hill. Felt good going down the hill for obvious reasons, but really struggled in the last 1.5mi. Adam's endurance really showed, he stayed strong and dragged me to the finish line. Tough.

Went out with the best intentions to take it easy tonight, keep the HR and effort in the all day order, ended up riding a couple of sections at 10mi TT pace and the rest above all day pace for sure. Gutted I missed the KOM from Bures to Assington. I was ahead by about 10s according to strava before I had to stop behind a lorry that God a bit wedged into a small gap crawling through. He did let me past as soon as he was clear, but I had lost 30s by this point so only good enough for 10th overall. Happy with my form today, going well. Fuelling my desire for faster expensive things though....

C • Here he is look! 2

Staying at the Stoke by Nayland golf and spa, with a renewed enthusiastic approach again to a blog. Reading and reminiscing over port on the terrace in Tavira has brought this back. Let's see how long it lasts I suppose! Tonight, I ran quite hard for 4miles post work, pre going for dinner with Vicci and Dave. Rather hilly route out the back of the golf course along roads no wider than 1 car covered in gravel. Nothing major, just up and down fairly sharply a number of times. Not sure Stava elevation is fair, but hey. Enjoyed it and felt quite good when I heard "see Jim I want to run like that" as I passed this couple barely trotting. Meal with Vic 1921 Angel hill Bury was outstanding food.