Cotswolds Weekend

10 June 2007

I did it! And I feel so chuffed with myself. 30 miles over relentlessly hilly terrain we ALL finished. Yes, I say all. I met up in Stow on the Wold with some other lovely ladies from Cycle India – Ann, Sarah, Jane, Steph, Lisa and Susanne. It was brilliant. They’re all so easy-going and it was great to hear their stories and triumphs. I hope some of their spirit has rubbed off on me.

The highlight, of course, was the cycle. This was my first medium-distance cycle and I was very anxious to know how my body and fitness would hold out. I can happily say that today I’ve no aches and pains other than the occasional twinge in my lower back (additional back-strengthening exercises are top of the list now!). It was extremely constructive learning what I could and couldn’t do – but the power of peers reigns! I also think it was useful to have been the only one who rented a bike there. Everybody else had their own bikes but it was impossible for me to get mine there on the train. I think this worked iny favour because it gave me the experience of adjusting to a different style of bike with different gears, etc. and, after all, this is what'll happen in India.

My most vivid memories are of one particular hill. I cycled quite a lot with Sarah over the first half of the course which was very hard. At one point I was really struggling but Sarah was still on her bike in front of me and I was determined not to get off until she did! Then, at the top corner, hurrah, she pulled in to a little gateway and I cheered and thanked God that she was taking a break. But NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! She had only pulled in to let a car past!! Argh! She’s still going … she’s pulled out again and continuing upwards. Bless her strength. It kept both of us going and yes, we both made it to the top. Pleased to say that I didn’t actually walk any of it. I had to get off and take a break a couple of times, but I didn’t move from the spot so technically I cycled the whole route. Am I chuffed? Very! Am I scared? VERY! To think that was only about half of what we’ll be doing on any one day – and then to do that again four more times on consecutive days? This is no walk in the park, ladies. The challenge is really on – and BOY! Is this going to be a challenge!

(Oh - and I have only one more thing to say: SMELLY KNICKERS! Eugh! Padded clingy cycling shorts ... cycling pants ... gel saddles ... need I say more?)

7 June 2007

Do not fear! I haven’t lost my mind completely – or my fitness. The bike’s been out and about this week and training’s not going too badly. Got a bit fed up with the gym, treadmill and boring stuff like that. Even running outside, which is lovely along the beach, etc. gets tedious on your own, so I’ve joined a couple of classes. What’s more, I’ve taken to cycling to them. Now, out to Mouslecomb on a Tuesday morning isn’t too bad – the hills are on the way back, unfortunately. Thursday going to karate, however, was something else! Not only did I not really know my way OR leave myself quite enough time, but the first wrong road I took headed steeply downhill and it wasn’t until I reached the bottom that I realised it was definitely not right, so I had to come up it again. Yuk! Serves me right, I suppose.

Anyway, I arrived – finally – at karate and was a complete mess. Dripping and dehydrated because true to form I’d left my water behind! Typical!

Still, both times it was worth it – good to be out on the bike and gaining confidence, good to be forced to go up the hills since I had a real goal at the other end – AND both classes (kickboxing and karate) are so fab for fitness that all in all I think it’s a pretty good regular routine.
The weekend will be the real test – my first middle-distance ride: 35 miles.