Tuesday 21 July 2015

Devon Delight and a run

Tuesday 21st July
Well Sunday's weather was the opposite to the forecast of rain, it turned out thankfully to be hot/warm and dry, but windy.
I arrived at the start to the Devon Delight 110k Audax cycle challenge from Newton Abbot in Devon.
http://www.devondelight.org
There were quite a few entries and had to que to get my 'Brevet card' , after a quick cup of coffee it was off,following the cycle route for a short time out of NA before a big climb up to Ashcombe, I found myself (strangely) leading the pack up the hill, with no one coming past until we started the steep descent towards Dawlish and Dawlish Warren. We entered the town before turning off to join the coast, a lovely ride taking in Powderham castle and the Ex estuary. We met the outskirts of Exeter before turning towards the Airport and through a 'horrible' new housing estate. We soon left this behind as we went through Clyst St John and other villages with unusual names. The lanes were very hot and very loose in places, lots of potholes. We eventually reached Stoke Cannon where there was a good spread of Quiche, cakes etc. I had ridden most of the way with several people from Torbay CTC, who seemed to spend time trying to drop me, only to look back and see I was still there.

After some food it was off again, the route description said ' over the hills' to the Teign Valley, and it was!! Very up and down through very narrow lanes, before popping out on to the valley road and approximately 10 miles to go. The descent was pleasant, but not as much downhill as I remember!
The ride past the quarries on the new road was tedious, and seemed to go on for ever.
I finally finished in 4h 50 mins and 108 km completed, I was tired and hot, the free cream tea at the end was hard as all I wanted was a cuppa!!
Monday afternoon I decided it was time to run again, so headed up to do my Neroche Forest run, 6miles, it was very hot despite a small rain shower, I purposely tried to just jog along, to ensure I did my 6 miles, I admit towards the end I was finding it hard, cardiovascular, no problem, but my legs didn't like it, my Hamstrings were sore in the evening, it took me 1h 18 mins not a good time when I normally look at 1h 3mins.

Tuesday I cycled over to Langport to meet for coffee and cake at the Riverside cafe, 12 members were there, had a natter before breaking up to go our separate ways. I decided as it was nice I would do my Athelney route on the way home as the weather was nice, not realising that he strong wind would be against me most of the way home, I did 42 miles by the time I got home. Time for some lunch and then rest before my spin class at 5pm!!!
Think I will be tired tonight!!

Friday 17 July 2015

Post holiday post

Friday 17th July

We came back from 2 weeks in the Lakes and Dales last Sunday, I need to write about it in my blog, but! Never seem to have the time to sit down, sort photos and write an interesting story behind the holiday!!
So this is an 'interim post'
This week has seem me do a 25 Mile ride on Monday with a good average speed of 16mph, with a very hard spin session on Tuesday, extremely hot, I did struggle.
I then joined the Blackmore Vale CTC on Thursday for a 'further and faster' ride from Yeovil to Burnham on Sea, there were 10 of us, but! I cheated and joined the group at High Ham, so instead of the 77miles intended, I only did around 45miles. The weather was mainly good and it was lovely across the levels, superb coffee and cake at Westhay, a good day out.
I then went to spinning in the evening and felt the day ride didn't have such a negative effect as I thought, in fact I seemed to go better!! But still very hot.
Sunday will see me on the start line of the Devon Delight 107 km audax from Newton Abbot, a great route up to Stoke Cannon, via Dawlish,  Exeter, and returning down the Teign valley.
I must get my holiday story sorted next week!! I have no more BikeBility till late September so lots of time to run and cycle!!