Wednesday 5 December 2018

Brean Down Santa challenge

Wednesday 5th December
Last Sunday saw myself, daughter and her boyfriend driving the few miles  to Brean Down, the lump of rock that is the extension of the Mendips. It was the Brean Down Santa challenge, I had only entered the 5 k but daughters boyfriend was down for the 10k. I decided that from sea level one circuit up and down would be enough, rather than the two required for the 10 k. There was a cold damp wind blowing off the sea as we collected numbers and Santa suits ! There were soon nearly two hundred other souls lining up for the run dressed as Santa!!  We were soon off and I was surprised how near the front of the field I was! As we hit the first hill probably about 25% I managed to run about three quarters of the climb, amazing thinking about my lack of hill preparation, although I did run up the down a couple of weeks ago. We came out to work our way up to the summit trig point, running into a head wind which contained some very chilly rain, but!! We were protected from the elements by our Santa suits, we then descended down a step muddy track to the old fort at the end of the down, I was still feeling good, my off road shoes giving good grip compared with those with road shoes,sliding their way down!! We then headed back along the service road climbing and descending steadily throughout, before the final 25% tarmac road descent on green slime surface, I felt I had a bit left so put in some effort to the line, worth it as I came 10 th out of 88 and 1st in the over sixties( there was 5 of us) there was no over 65 category.! Just over 32 minutes, very pleased with my efforts,nice medal and hot coffee and cake from the NT cafe whilst we waited for daughter boyfriend, he came in 2 nd place in  the 10 k in 50 minutes, fantastic achievement, we were well pleased to wait for the presentation to see him get his trophy! Great event lovely run, cold and damp, but! Who cares.managed to download a few photos








Tuesday 20 November 2018

November

Wednesday 21st November

Virtually a month since my last post, the speed of days passing seems to increase, I can’t believe it’s nearly 6 months since we moved to a new house in a new town in a different part of the county!
The weather has been up and down since the last post, freezing cold easterly winds followed by spells of warmish weather? So sorting clothing for running or cycling has become a challenge, usually making the wrong choice! And being too hot and sweaty, particularly cycling, but also running along the beach with a chilly breeze off the sea.
My exercise regime seems to have settled into a routine, though very much governed by the weather, I don’t do cycling in the wet!! 
I have finally managed to join a yoga class, which I really enjoy, and surprise myself each week, the tutor is very good, and helpful as she is a cyclist and runner, it will be interesting to see how much it impacts on my running and cycling, I think it does help my Plantar Faciitis which is good.
I have also joined the local running club and run with them on Tuesday evenings and circuit train with them on Thursday evenings, which is usually a hard session, so the ‘billy no mates’ when running with them is improving! So currently I try to run three times a week, but! I seem to be stuck at a maximum  10 k distance?? Which is not good for training for the Grizzly next March! But will try to pick up the distance after Christmas. 
I am entered in a 5 k Christmas run over Brean Down next week, dressed in a Santa costume! Which will be interesting!!
Cycling my weekly mileage seems to be around 100 miles over three days, I get out with a couple of local lads on Wednesday each week, the mileage around 40 but the average speed usually high around 15.5 to 16 mph! Across the levels, there is usually a head wind home, living on the west coast! The roads across the levels are really nice, quiet roads, with stunning views across the rivers, streams( Rhynes)  and moors, wild life is abundant, herons, swans, egrets, etc.  So I am now getting used to where places are and the distances between them, I have several routes I call ‘bread and butter’ routes I know I can cycle in a certain time, helpful for shorter days.

Sunsets on this coast are beautiful I will try and post pictures if I can!

Thursday 25 October 2018

BOS Bug, a run on Exmoor and some beautiful sunsets

Thursday 25th October

The Grid Iron was a none starter, my bug seemed to have taken hold and not letting go, aching limbs and no energy, but! The weather was foul, according to feedback, so I guess it’s a good job I didn’t go  after being ill. Ironically, the Monday the day after, I suddenly felt as though it had all lifted and felt fine again!! So commiserated with a run , I even did a 55 mile cycle ride on the Wednesday and felt fine, I was booked in to the ‘Exmoor Stumble ‘ a 10 k run across Exmoor, with 1000 ft of ascent , it was a beautiful day, quite warm, big field, the uphill parts had a few narrow single track bits, and got stuck behind slower runners or walkers! I felt quite good and was looking to regain my over 65 title from two years ago! It was a very fast 3 miles down hill, 7 minute miles over rough forest paths. 1hr 4mins! 61st out of 107, sadly I was 4 minutes behind the fastest over 65, quite pleased really as I hadn’t prepared for it and not run up a hill since April!
Then!! This week, went running with the local running club on Tuesday evening( still Billy no mates think I might have to give it up as a bad job, very unfriendly😕) I met with the local Brent Knoll Velo lads for a ride on the Wednesday morning but after about 18 miles I started to feel unwell, we stopped for coffee at Wookey, I didn’t have cake!! Before deciding to head for home, joined with one of the others who is still recovering from Prostate Cancer, but!! The 15 miles home into the headwind over the levels was the hardest ride I have done 😕 even the bridge over the railway was a struggle, I took to my bed when I got home, and stayed there till this morning, not eating anything since last night, however, it seems to have gone again, it was the same symptoms as before, but it’s lifted( again) all very odd.
So October has/is being a strange month37 Miles Run but only 164 cycled, the two weeks off in the middle affected this. I hope for better next month.The photos are a mish mash, the Flying Scotsman! Swans , Brean Down across the River Axe from the cycle track to Uphill from Berrow, enjoy 😊

















Saturday 6 October 2018

September

Sunday 7th October 2018

The year rolls on, autumn has arrived, we have had to have the heating on twice! With temps down to 8.5 degrees! I have also had my yearly flu jab , which is ironic as I sit here typing with a horrendous cold, aching limbs, tired........  so no outdoor activity since last Wednesday.

I managed to run 70 miles in September all very flat usually along the beach, I manage park run most weeks and finally got under 26 mins at Burnham-On-Sea last week!! If only by 8 seconds 😀
I finally got the results from the Portishead coastal race and I came 71st out of 158 who finished, so pleased with that. I have got my entry for the Grizzly next March, so a bit of time to prepare, I am trying to remain positive about being on the start line properly prepared. In a moment of madness I entered the Exmoor stumble which is in two weeks, sadly this weeks illness might mean a DNS!
I am persevering with the local running club, I have now run with them three times, but! In my opinion still not very friendly, very cliquey!! I will miss this week because of my cold and it’s the local half marathon today, I should be helping but! Not in a fit state to hang around on a street corner for hours!

Cycling, 355 miles in September which was down on the previous month, but still good, my feet ascended though is limited as I still haven’t really explored the Mendips and most other riding is on the levels, for example I rode with Brent Knoll Velo on Wednesday last week and we did 55 miles with only 800 ft of climbing, but! We usually have a head wind coming back to Burnham and the average speed is always around 16 mph!! Which is approximately 3 mph faster than rides I did around Chard when it was common for 2000 ft of climbing on a 15 mile ride!


Next Sunday is the Grid Iron, an Audax in the New Forest, a lovely event, well organised 69 miles, I should be ok with that, the people I am riding with are not fast riders! I am hoping to make it a weekend in the van as it’s a few months since I have slept in it!

Still not managed any holiday this year, with the weather deteriorating now it probably won’t be until next spring, unless we get a call to go and look after Grandchildren, speaking of which the twins were brought down by dad for the day  last week , we had a lovely time on the beach followed by ice cream and a roundabout ride! Grand daughter spent the day with her mum.

It will be a couple of days before I get out again, reluctantly as I try to make sure I am recovered .

Friday 21 September 2018

Moving on!

21st September 2018

It seems to get longer between posts! I note my last one was early August! When!! We still had summer, days were long, dry and sunny, that’s now changed and we are on our second storm of the autumn, today being particularly windy, not conducive to cycling or even running, especially as we now live on the coast. I have gone from over 100 miles a week cycling to 18 this week, quite depressing, even running I am down to short 5 km runs, but!! I did run with the local running club on Tuesday, even though my welcome was less than warm, I will give it another go again this week. On top of all this , the good old Plantar Faciitis is still there, nagging away when I think it’s gone😕

Since the last post I have managed to cycle ‘Sandra’s 100’ a ride in aid of Macmillan, I actually did 102 miles, I have been out regularly 40-60 miles 3 or 4 times a week, however not many hills as it’s so flat on the levels, I am finding my way round now in the triangle of Brent Knoll, Glastonbury tor and Crook Peak. The wind is always an issue as it’s always west on the return ride, making it hard work. My next cycle event is the ‘Grid Iron ‘ Audax in the New Forest in October.

Running wise, I did a personal best on the Burnham Parkrun of 26 mins 3 secs, not my fastest yet though. Only managing short runs of around 3-4 miles and no hill work, which made my entry for the ‘Portishead Coastal 10 k’ worrying! I did three 10 k runs in the week leading up to the event and I have to say the hills on the course were manageable, I still don’t know my position but did manage 59 mins 33sec so pleased with that. I have entered the Grizzly again, as I am assured a place, but at this moment I don’t think I will be anywhere near hill fit for it, even though it’s next March! I am trying to decide whether to go for the Exmoor Stumble in a few weeks!

I have had tests for Prostate Cancer and pleased to say I am clear, only an enlarged prostate to worry about!
I think I have about caught up with my activities, vanwise we haven’t been away yet!! Not sure now we will manage it before winter, a new kitten in the house and daughter starting a new job, along with living at the seaside, seems to be getting in the way, but! A trip to the lakes would be nice😀

Sunsets round here have been spectacular see the following photos

 Burnham on Sea
Classic low lighthouse again

Wednesday 8 August 2018

Hot weather continues

8th August 2018
The last few weeks the weather has been astonishing, hot and dry, each time you go out running, cycling or just a walk into town a hat and sunglasses rather than brollies, raincoats ........... shorts and a tee being the daily wear.

Cycling I am still discovering the area of the Somerset levels with a small group of local cyclists. I was introduced to the Mendips on the first day of August, 60.2 miles and 2917 ft of climbing, it was a lovely ride, climbing past Crook Peak, the ‘mountain’ next to the M5, it was a really nice road that runs parallel to M5, but!! The peace and tranquility of a lovely valley spoilt by the noise of the motorway. We dropped over to Banwell and headed down the valley to Churchill and beyond, before climbing once again round Butcombe( of beer fame, locally) through the lovely named village of ‘Thrubwell Nesbitt’ before round the top of Chew Valley lakes, beautiful views across the lakes before a welcome coffee stop at the ‘stables ‘ tea rooms . Refreshed with cake it was then the daunting thought of climbing back over the Mendips to home! It was a long climb, choice at the top, Cheddar Gorge or other, heading towards Priddy, past the Mendip Transmitter mast before a very long steep descent down to Draycott, it was then back to the flat country back through Wedmore, and back to Brent Knoll, a tiring ride, we both said ‘our legs ache’!

I now seem to have dropped into a regular evening run with my daughter, only short 3-5 miles, but in this heat plenty, it usually means a beach run which is lovely and fresh.

Cycling, I seem to be averaging about 80-120 miles a week, as miles around the levels is easy to do, I meet with the BKVelo on Wednesday, this week we headed over to the back of Wells, another lovely area, including a few hills, only 700 ft over the 50 miles, but! A stiff headwind was in our face back across the levels from Glastonbury!!

Weather is set to change this week, I hope it holds out till after Sunday when I should be riding the Yeovil CC ‘Sandra’s 100’ ride!

 A few photos locally, our low lighthouse, the local icon

 The display in Apex park Burnham-on-Sea, the local park run route

Sunday 29 July 2018

A post at last

29 th July 2018
Well I am back! It’s been nearly two months since my last post. A combination of laptop problems, moving house, not using my camper, less cycling and running and little of interest to post.

The laptop problems still exist which means no photos( haven’t sorted how to post photos on iPad) we are settling down to our new house and new town by the sea, Burnham-on-Sea is also on the Somerset levels, we are only 5 metres above sea level, this is after being in Chard which was the highest town in Somerset!so we are getting used to no hills, but, Brean Down, Brent Knoll and the Mendips are on our doorstep all beautiful places.

I have resumed running and cycling, and July I cycled 513 miles and ran 41 miles! Which I am pleased with, running usually involves a run along the beach, which is lovely, and with my daughter who is currently back at home, the maximum distance is 10k and height climbed only 10-15 ft! We do the local Park run some weeks which is a lovely route through the park and along the river bank, but still haven’t got under 26 mins!! So my target is to get that down ! I don’t have any other running  events planned.

Cycling has been good, the weather has been stunning!  But very hot! I did ride the Devon Delight Audax, 106km round Newton Abbot and the edge of Dartmoor, it was a very hot dry day. I have done several longer rides as well, a very hard ride over to Dorchester from Chard via West Bay, a hard, hot 72 miles.

Cycling Burnham-on-Sea has meant easy fast miles, I can do a 50 mile ride and only climb 100 ft! I am still trying to familiarise myself with the area, although I have managed to be guided by a couple of local riders, I have noticed my average speed has gone up, most rides now average 15 mph.

There are jobs to do around the new house, but the consistent hot  dry weather over the last eight weeks has meant it’s easier and more pleasant to sit in the garden, cycling and running is hard in the heat, but lots of liquid is needed to avoid dehydration. We have been too busy to go away in the van, and now it’s children school holiday time there is no chance, so we are looking at a September break.

Well that’s my posting back again, I need to sort photos! Or my laptop, look at events I might enter, and find some hills to run up.
The weather has broken, but promises to return to hot dry weather, we will see !!!

Saturday 19 May 2018

Better weather!

Sunday 20th May
What a strange time of late! Weather and house moving!  The weather has been up and down since the last post. We have had hot dry weather and cold windy weather!! Making clothing choices for running and cycling difficult.
Over the past month I have managed to run and cycle, including a couple of Park Runs at Burnham on Sea, a lovely route by the park,river and sea! 26 mins still not a PB but also done a couple with my daughter 29 mins her PB.
This week saw the wobbly cycling over to Dorchester via West Bay and Hardys monument, lunch in Poundbury ( Prince Charles Toy Town) , unfortunately we picked the only day of the week it rained! So a wet ride home, but we did do 72 miles, my furthest ride this year.

We are still busy packing up for a house move, a step closer this week with moving planned for first week in June! Fingers crossed!!

So running and cycling still on hold but trying to keep fit, as soon as we have moved I hope I can get back into it and enter some events. I am also hoping the less activity is giving my Plantar Faciitis a chance to correct itself, but! It still nags away.
I can’t believe it’s a year since I was packing to cycle from The Channel at Carne to the Mediterranean only seems a few weeks ago.

Campervan time is minimal, only one very cold weekend in Cheltenham visiting Grandchildren ! Again when we have moved we need to get away for a nice holiday, away from boxes!

Monday 23 April 2018

weather improvement, mojo improvement

23rd April
The last week summer arrived meaning our Wednesday wobble was a hot one! enabling a good ride over the levels to Westhay and 'Sweets' cafe a well known cafe used by cyclists, it was a very windy return ride with headwinds all the way.it was a good week cycling wise with over 150 miles cycled. The same week my daughter and I ran the Burnham on Sea Park run, a lovely run on a chilly morning!! but she got a personal best under 30 minutes. I am running several times a week, 3-5 miles,but i did manage a 9 mile run. PF still nags in the background but the insoles definitely help, providing I weer them all the time.

The last month has had us in turmoil, clearing out lofts, garages and sorting things out for when we eventually get to move house, its been six weeks now and we hope to hear something soon!!!

Cycling and running my miles are down, weather and house buying and selling getting in the way,

March 2017  running 95 miles and cycling 194miles
March 2018 running 56 miles and cycling 170 miles

April 2017 running 42 miles running and cycling 576 miles
April 2018 running 44 miles running and cycling 306 miles

My motivation has improved especially when out with a group, I just hope the weather stays 'improved' I have not entered any cycling or running events, as I am unsure about when we will move!!

Monday 26 March 2018

lots happening, but not running cycling, walking or using the campervan!

26th March 2018

Well over a month since my last posting! due to a number of reasons the main one being laziness !
some things that have happened since my last post


  • sold our house and had to find somewhere to live on the coast - we are heading for the Somerset Coast!

  • the Grizzly was reduced to the 10 mile Cub run with safety concerns about the 20 mile full run in the heavy snow !

  • didnt make it to the event as couldnt get out of the lane because of deep snow! our second lot in a month.

  • first snow of the year was on my birthday March the 1st! first time I have ever known it.

  • Planter Faciitis still nags away even with my £250 insoles!

  • new road trainers to improve, still waiting to see!

  • not a lot of running, short runs with my daughter, which is really nice to have someone to run with.

  • Not  lot of cycling because of poor weather and an injury where I put a hole in my head!!

  • Had a very wet walk on Dartmoor with my 86 year old friend, we cut it short as it was so wet and we couldn't see anything due to the heavy mist the next day was sunny!

  • trying to clear the house out, with several trips to the dump and the charity shops.
Perhaps my next post will be more postive and I can get back to running and cycling before we move house.

Wednesday 14 February 2018

Grim weather continues.

14th February 2018

After the euphoria of the last post, it has now changed once again to despair! Having only cycled 31miles last week and none this week so far [pouring down and gales this morning so no Wobble].

Running,  I did manage a couple of 10 mile runs round the lanes, one went well and one I really suffered and struggled with the last couple of miles, But! I did a good 10 k run and felt really good and set a good pace, but the miles are just not being increased, the Grizzly looks increasingly likely that I will pull out, rather than struggle round the 20 miles, lack of training miles. Decision time next week to sell my place or not! The PF is not improving either when running, seems OK with normal walking and the insoles in my normal everyday shoes, but, having them in my running shoes does reduce the pain after but, its still there! And is quite painful. So disappointed with them. I have done a couple of short 3-4 mile runs with my daughter, which was nice to have company and chat.

So not feeling great at the moment, the weather is really getting me down, can’t seem to motivate myself to get out. This morning the weather is atrocious once again and I couldn’t face another wet ride on my bike. Running off road would be a mud fest and cant motivate myself with that either.
We did have a wander down to Lyme Regis on Monday or Wimbledon-on-Sea as we call it, this was a nice day, cold sunny and dry, but heaving with people, all smashing hell out of the rocks to get their fossils!!!! I think half terms are when the second home owners all descend.


Our house is no nearer getting sold, another time waster last week, who hadn’t even got theirs on the market, it was a cold wet day so I suppose it was something to do!

Saturday 3 February 2018

At last!!

2nd February 2018

Wednesday Wobble in the last two weeks has been wet! The day after the last post[23rd] the forecast was for a wet day , but clearing later so four of us met up at mid day, it was drizzling a little after heavy rain in the morning,  but we were optimistic it would clear! As we set off the roads were running wet and by the time we were 10miles out the rain had set in again once again! We headed over Muchelney and back towards Kingsbury Episcopi and their community café, we were welcomed as even though we were dripping wet! business in the wet weather had been poor, by the time we had finished our cake and tea, the weather had cleared to patchy blue sky, but very windy, a good 35 miles covered and a very dirty bike!

Since the last post I have managed to run 42 miles and cycle 107 miles, the highlight of running was my Seaton Hole/Branscombe run on a beautiful sunny frosty morning, I parked at Seaton Hole and walked to the top of the first hill before running down into Beer and then up to Beer head, off road the ground was very wet and muddy, going down Seaside was a slide!!! The woods above Branscombe now coming to life with the wild garlic and bluebells starting to sprout. Dropping down to the Fountains, down to the seashore once again, beach or undercliff??? I decided on undercliff, it was very slippery and muddy, up the stairway to heaven, and over the Beer, the final climb and descent not too bad and I felt pleased with my efforts, 8.8 miles, a good morning out.
The Wobble the next day over to East Coker and the ‘Goose Slade Farm’ tea rooms was a wet ride, pouring rain descending from the Cheddington ridge and down through Halstock made riding a hazardous affair! But as the previous week, by the time tea, cake and toast were eaten and helmets put back on, it had stopped raining and was clearing up making the ride home much more pleasant, 41 miles covered.

Thursday was a rest day, after my morning stint with the readers at the school and the weather once again conspired against me.

Friday was quite a nice day and I had to decide on run or cycle, I decided to run and did a good 10 miles around town, having to turn back on one of the lanes because of flood water.  My Plantar Faciitis after each run seems to nag after sitting for a time, but, I picked up my new Orthotic insoles on Thursday , I have only had them in my day shoes and I intend to give them a go in my running shoes once I am used to them, they do feel odd at the moment, I hope they work.

Saturday I did Park run, [my 6th] but, the weather once again pouring with rain as I drove to Seaton, I had sorted my clothing, waterproof, hat, gloves etc. by the time we set off the rain had almost stopped. I kept up a good pace 8:20 minute miles , but with half a mile to go I started to slow, and I finished 63rd out of 135 with 26:22 minutes for the 5k a bit disappointing as I am less than a minute off my personal best! If I hadn’t faded I would have beaten it, it was a good morning out, and a test of my fitness, and a good speed training run.

January I ran 53 miles compared with 98 last year and cycled 221 compared with 247 last year, so mileage is down for the month, but the weather has been poor, I have had a nasty cold for several weeks [ Mrs IanB still has a nasty throat infection] , I also did a quick decorate of the downstairs hall to brighten it up as we still haven’t sold the house! so I am hoping I still have the miles in for the Grizzly in six weeks and the Exmoor run on the 4th March.

The weather this winter has been very wet and windy, but at least no ice or snow, my bike has had a real hammering from the filthy roads, not to mention the hedge cuttings that the farmers don’t clear up and off road running has been very wet and muddy.

I have made a good start to February and am optimistic at getting the miles in for running and cycling, I am also hopeful for my new insoles.

Tuesday 23 January 2018

Wet weather, another heavy cold and an offroad run

23rd January 2018


Last Friday was the last time I was able to get out and do a few miles on the bike, since then  the rain hasn’t stopped! Saturday was a brief respite in the afternoon, so I was able to dash out and do 6 miles round town just as it was getting dusk, one of the down sides of these late afternoon runs is that my route takes me past the local reservoir, which I sometimes run round [no dogs allowed!!] and late afternoon is when all the dog walkers come out with the stupid extending leads that means by the time the dog has lunged for you its too late to pull it back in, I do try to give all dog walkers a wide berth, risking life and limb sometimes by running on the road !! not to mention those that don’t pick up the mess, so you have to keep an eye where you are putting your feet. Anyway, Saturday was quite mild, but damp, I found the 6 miles hard work once again, my PF in my foot reminding me every so often that it was there!! But! At least I got out.

Sunday was a very wet day , heavy rain all day so no outdoor activities, which I find hard to stay in all day, however, I could have gone out in the rain and got soaked, which brings me onto the next point, my heavy cold has returned with vengeance, I had a sore throat on Sunday, Monday [yesterday] I was sneezing all day, and felt dreadful, I was hoping to get out and ride or run, but! My mind wouldn’t let me, so another wasted day.

 views from Neroche  looking over Taunton Vale towards the Quantock hills, showing how low the cloud was

Tuesday [today] we had another viewing on our house, another timewaster we think! So had to make ourselves scarce, Mrs B had the hairdressers so after a wet start to the day  and the weather had cleared up I forced myself to get out and run , the cloud was low and it seemed at times as though it would rain again, but it held off whilst I did a 6 mile route over Neroche once again, it was very,very muddy and my feet were soon wet! I decided to take it very steady as I was suffering from my cold, I was alright until about 4.5 miles then realised that my legs had no energy, and I was feeling quite ill! I struggled on back to the car, feeling I had overdone it!!!! But pleased I had a 6 mile off road run in the bag, I just don’t see how I will be able to run 10 miles in a months’ time or 19 miles on March the 18th!!! My PF was also giving me some pain, so am looking forward to the miracle cure of my expensive orthotic insole.

On another point the ‘spine’ race has just ended where the runners do the Pennine way in winter, I really don’t know how they do it, non-stop, the weather was atrocious, but the still manage it in about 6 days, that’s over 250 miles, huge respect for them!!!

I would settle just to get rid on my cold once and for all [ the third this winter] and build up my running and cycling, I am way behind last years miles for both and this time last year I was running 12 miles over the Quantocks, this year I would be lucky to walk it! I must stay optimistic, the days are very grey and wet at the moment, we could do with some bright sunny dry days.

Its wobble day tomorrow, the weather forecast once again is for heavy rain, I think at this rate I will have to get the paint out for a bit of DIY to tidy up the house as it doesn’t seem to be attracting buyers!

Not a very positive post, I must make an effort to be positive ! all this negativity is not good.

Friday 19 January 2018

feast and famine week for running and cycling

19th January

After a really good week of running 21 miles and cycling 58 miles I was feeling I was getting into a good regime to build up to the Grizzly. Sadly it didnt last and this week including today I have not run for a week and I have only cycled 32 miles [today]. The weather has been very poor last week end, and a visit to Gloucester for eldest 39th birth day on Sunday  put paid to any weekend miles. Monday wasa complete wash out again with heavy rain and winds and also a trip to the podietrist!!!

I must say muddy roads along with hedge cuttings made the going heavy and the head wind didnt help. I renewed the chain, cassette, rear deraillur and the chainrings as well as rear brake blocks. I was shocked how badly worn the whole transmission was. I fitted stronglight chainrings instead of Campagnolo as they were much cheaper, but! as with all Campag I had to make a little alteration to make them fit! it all seems to work ok, the indexing is a little out and I think I need to shorten my chain by a link or so. I am pleased this is done, except today, the muddy wet roads have made it all a mess once again!!! I am also getting through brake blocks! riding in groups means you are always braking, especially down steep long hills. I also changed the rear tyre as it was looking decidedly worn, I had a partly worn one so was able to save a few pounds! so over £100 worth of kit fitted! hope thats the last for a while, alhough the winter roads are taking their toll.

Monday we also had a call to look after grandchildren as one of them was sick , so we drove up to Gloucester on Tuesday morning at 5:30 am for an early start. we then had two nights camped in 'Briersfield' campsite after looking after the twins in the day. the first night was chilly, but lovely and warm in the van, the heater being very effective, My new TV ariel also seems to work very well we can now get all channels not just 3 !!!! the second night was galeforce winds, a bit of van rocking, but nothing to worry about. the van was very comfortable and warm, we were very pleased with it over the two days.

My trip to the Podietrist was an expensive do! as it was suggested I have orthotic shoe insoles as she suggested this would correct the issue, I was also told to continue with my exercises. I was a little disappointed as she didnt tell me more and encourage me to run etc, she just said I could carry on running and the orthotic inserts would help, so I now await the arrival of my £325 insoles [£250 + scan consultancy etc]

So now we are back I hope to create a routine once again cycle 3 times a week between 60 and a 100 miles and run 3 times a week two times 7 miles and a longer 10 -12 miler by the end of the month.

I will only continue to look to do my Exmoor run on the 4th March and the Grizzly on the 18th if my PF improves and I can get the miles in, I am over 100 miles down on cycling for January last year and 60 + miles down on running, I am not sure why, except for weather!

One final point! spring is coming I saw my first snowdrop today! a solitary one in a hedge bottom on my cycle ride over the levels , wonderful to see!!!

Tuesday 9 January 2018

Happy New Year

Happy New Year !
Since my last post of 2017 I have finally got rid of the nasty bug I picked up before Christmas.  I started the year well  with 19 miles run and 90 miles cycled, including a lovely ride over to Ottery St Mary, visiting Branscombe and Honiton on the way round, 40 miles covered and some big hills both up and down , a good lunch in the ‘peek a boo’ café in Honiton, weather was good for a change with bright sunshine.

I also did the Seaton Park run last Saturday with my daughter who achieved a PB with 31 minutes. My Planter Faciitis is still niggling in the background and is somewhat painful after the event. I have now decided to visit a podiatrist in Axminster who may be able to advise me on the best course of action to address it, or at least sort me out some orthotics, I fear however that the advice will be to stop running again, I have now entered the 10 mile ‘Exmoor Run’ in early March a good off road run round Symondsbath two weeks before the Grizzly. 

I do need to order some new road running shoes as my new ones are clearly too big, so hope to pass to my son, they just don’t feel right, but can I justify new shoes after having to spend over a hundred pounds on my bike! I have also signed up for the Trail Running Magazine #1000 which you challenge to run 1000 miles over the year, I did enter last year but the several months off in the middle for France and my injury meant I only covered less than 600 miles, but! I hope this year if more successful !!

The weather continues to be changeable warm then freezing with the roads now being very wet, muddy and full of pot holes. After cleaning my bike last weekend I was shocked at the state of the transmission, I have now ordered a new rear derailleur, cassette, chain and two new chain rings, all badly worn and likely to let me down, I also had to change the rear tyre as it was in a poor state, the winter this year is taking a toll on my equipment as its wet each time I go out, roll on spring!!

We have managed a couple of visits to the coast for coffee in the van over the past couple of weeks, keeping the van aired and running, I am looking forward to getting out for a few days sometime.


We have not had any more viewings on our house, up for sale since October last, we hope the spring will bring more interest.

Finally , I start my fifth year of my blog, going since 2014, last year I only managed less than 50 posts unlike my first year when I did 69! many thanks to anyone who reads this, I don't have any followers but notice I have views from all over the world. I still see this as a personal diary, and it is nice to check back previous years what I did when, what the weather was like and how I was going in my training etc.