Varied week

 What a week since my last post, weather has been pants but ! I did manage to run three times 2x5k and a short 2.5 mile run between showers. Leg feeling ok and pace seems to be about 11:30 pace but more interested in distance to build up my strength and endurance.

Friday saw me at the acupuncture therapist, for my next to last session, this time she used ‘moxa’ as well as normal pins, went well and it did take me a day before my aches from the session went 😂 I think the sessions have gone well, leg is still numb from knee down, but there is more strength and it’s not as irritating as it was, so I think there has been good progress, I can also now climb hills standing on my pedals, given it’s nearly a year, I am glad I can at least do this now, still have to be careful ! 

Saturday weather was much better, light winds, chilly (8 degs) it was long bike ride day in preparation for upcoming Audax 100 k in Wales and also the Grid Iron in the New Forest in two weeks. My buddy was Lisa BH, the route 60+ miles and 2000ft climbing, taking in High Ham from Pedwell side and a number of smaller climbs on the Burtle, Shapwick, Pedwell, High Ham, Muchelney, Kingsbury Episcopi, Hambridge, Isle Brewers, Rock, NCurry, then back over levels to Chedzoy, Woolavington, East Huntspill and home 64 miles and 2021 ft climbed. A stop to recover at the top of High ham for a snack before the lovely long descent down to Langport, cafe stop at the lovely NCurry community cafe for tea and cake, which were both ready for after 38 miles, weather was changeable with sunny intervals, a nice spin across the levels to Chedzoy with little or no wind( makes a change) before climbing over the Polden hills to Woolavington. A great days cycling with good company, nice to know that despite a lack of cycling miles this month we felt the 100 km Audax will be fine, even with a few more hills thrown in 😊 no photos ! But will make an effort to add to next instalment. Busy week ahead with, dog sitting, dentist and my final acupuncture appointment , oh! Forgot to mention last week was flue jab week too 😊

I am back 😊

 Well I can’t believe it was May last year when I last pit something on here, even then it was only about 4 words !

Lots happened since then, and of course a year older at 72, an age I thought was really old, but seemingly other than the usual aches and pains and cycling more slowly I still feel in my 40’s 

However, I put my back out last September moving some dog agility jumps, ‘anterolisthesis’ the X-ray says, bit like a slipped disc, after a very painful night and a 4 am trip to after hours surgery loads of codeine etc I have bed. Left with trapped nerve in my right leg, leaving my leg numb from  knee to ankle.

It was several weeks before I could walk and cycle, and it’s been a year to get some strength back into the leg, enabling me to be able to now climb hills on my bike, standing on the pedals. Running on the other hand has been hit much harder and I am just now able to run 5 km be it at 11:30 min mile !! I am at week 5 of acupuncture and Bowen therapy which seems to have made a difference although leg is still numb it does feel stronger. My running is focussing on building up the miles not the pace. Hopefully after Xmas I might be able to join back with the Harriers club runs and Park runs ( I have been marshalling once a month) .

Mrs B continues recovering from her Bowel cancer after over two years since she had the operation, thankfully it does seem to have been removed and not returning 🤞🤞

The weather this summer was brilliant early on in June, lots of cycling over 400 miles, unlike now where I am down to 30 -60 miles a week because the weather is so bad, I am supplementing this by trying to run my 5 km three times a week.

I have an Audax at Cardiff on the 30 th September and the Grid iron down in the New Forest on the 8 th October, both 100 km events , I really do need to get out a few times before the Cardiff ride ensuring I can do 100 km easily. 

We changed our campervan in March this year to a 2018 Leasure  Drive Vivante built on a VW. It’s a high top, has single beds if needed and an excellent on board loo! 

Going to make big efforts to update the blog weekly with my outings on the bike, on my feet and in our van.