Wyatts Race Around Ireland training Blog

My 2010 cycling season will finish in September with Europe's toughest endurance race.......The Race Around Ireland!

Starting on September 12th, 1350 miles to be completed in no more than 132 hours (5 and a half days) non stop!

The clock starts at the beginning and only stops when you finish. There are no stages and no overnight hotel stays.

The race has three objectives for me -

1. To officially finish the event
2. To raise money for Cancer Research UK
3. Qualify for the 2011 RAAM (Race Across America)

You can sponsor me by clicking here .

Training Week 20 : W/C 29.3.10

This was the week I was to do my biggest single training ride, to date, ever!

On Good Friday last year I did the same journey, Colchester, Essex to Wakefield, Yorkshire. 200 miles in 19 hours.
The aim this year was to do the same A to B journey on the same day but a longer route at 220 miles with a view to taking 2 hours off of last years time.
As usual the best laid plans go to waste!

The aim was to leave around Midnight on Good Friday and go through the night, but my GPS couldn't find a route! It could a few days before but was messing me around and I wasn't prepared to leave till I had one!
Fast forward to 1.30am and I got the route down into stages.
What the GPS didn't tell me is what going to take me quite literally around ALL the houses within each stage!
Anyway I got going and cracked on through the night nervously watching out for potholes through the darkness.
After visiting nearly all of mid and North Essex I moved into Haverhill and Bury St Edmunds and onto Newmarket as day started to break.
By early morning I'd made it into Wisbeach, Cambs having already covered over 100 miles.
Then the GPS started messing me around again, giving me really long journey times. At the 102 mile stage it told me I had 80 miles to go!
So I started working from memory as I headed towards Lincoln trying to keep the total distance as close to 220 miles as I could.
As I got near Lincoln I realised I'd need to head up the A1 for a few miles.
At this point I was going well, doing good speeds and felt fine.

Then the rain started........and wouldn't stop! I was drenched as I got near Doncaster, head to foot!
As I came off the A1 the GPS ran of battery after just over 15 hours on the road. Then just a few minutes later l got a puncture, and had no spare!
As the rain lashed down I decided to carry on......very slowly!
I had 30 miles to go all over the hills of South & West Yorkshire!
It was a slow, tough grind, with a flat front tyre moving very slowly. My thighs were really starting to feel it!
As tough as it was I managed to finish just before 8pm.

I'd ridden 238 miles (30 on a flat tyre) and managed it nearly an hour quicker than the 200 from last year, so it was a good effort.
There are some photos and videos on the page from the day.

I'm toying with doing it again later in the summer but we'll see how that pans out.
I've spent a few days since letting my body recover with a view to turbo training for the next couple of weeks ahead of The Brian Robinson Challenge at the end of April.......

Training week 19: W/C 22.3.10

Well the big news of the week is that the three bikes finally have names.

The all black one (my eldest) is Lucy, the silver training bike is Madison, and my plush black & silver event bike is Dakota. And yes I do now refer to them by name!

I did a couple of training sessions on the turbo trainer this week ahead of a really tough sportive on Sunday, The Cheshire Cat. This event takes in Mow Cop which is featured on You Tube (just google image search Mow Cop and you'll get the idea of how steep it is!) and is an absolute beast.

About a mile and a half which ramps up to a 25% gradient near the end. This was a hill I was rather wary of. Clearly one not for the faint hearted as it had paramedics stationed on the hill! The hill itself came 16 miles into a 100 mile event and as I started the ascent I made sure my breathing was completely controlled and that my gears were right. I felt fine as the steep nasty part approached and I realised if I carried on as I was then I could end up going backwards as it became so steep.
As it ramped up sharply I did what seemed to be the logical thing to do......I dug in and sped up!

I felt strong and in control and before I knew it the hill was over......and it was onto the next one, and there were plenty of climbs in that first 40 miles before it levelled off to more bearable levels! It was a great event and I was pleased to get my medal for climbing Mow Cop without stopping or touching down. The whole thing was done in 7 hours 23 minutes which was good for me and better than planned.

Now it's off to Scotland for a bit of rest and then a 220 mile training ride on Good Friday........

Training week 18: W/C 15.3.10

What a difference a few days make!

The most productive week of the 18 so far.

Monday and Tuesday I started on a 4 week training programme using the turbo trainer. Naturally they're pretty intense (when isn't a turbo training session of any kind?!) I'll have to adapt the programme to fit in with the events over the coming month as they're coming pretty quick of late.

Wednesday I did my solo north Essex tour for the Heart charity Have A Heart. It involved doing 110 miles in just over seven hours visiting over 50 towns,villages and suburbs in the North Essex area whilst raising a few hundred quid for a great cause.
The ride itself was quick I felt great, quick and I recovered quickly.

I needed to as on Sunday March 21st I did my first sportive of the season. A VERY hilly course around the Yorkshire Dales.
80 miles featuring 8000 feet of climbing, and most of the day spent over 1000 feet above sea level with some big steep climbs.

Again strong, swift and fully focused. I got round in just over 6 hours 15 mins with one five minute stop (yet not one toilet break!!) No cramps, no strains and no issues taking me into the next ten days of training.

I can honestly say I'm in good shape, my fitness levels are getting higher and are slowly being matched by my speed, strength and recovery rate.

Sunday 28th is The Cheshire Cat Sportive out of Crew. More savage climbs including the beast that is Mow Cop, of which I will get my medal for climbing that hill without stopping. Five days after that it's the biggest training ride ever for me. Essex to Yorkshire, and a longer course than last years at 220 miles to be done in hopefully 18 hours-ish!

Onwards........................
x

Training week 17: W/C 8.3.10

It's been about 4 months since I started training back in mid November on the turbo trainer and I've got just under six months to go. I'd say I'm doing OK, without really pulling up any trees! I'm certainly in better shape than a year ago, and even 4 months ago but ready for an ultra marathon of 1350 miles in 5 days??? Probably not.

This week quite simply has to be and will be the last week where I don't get things done from a training point of view.
If I'm completely honest, if I was a footballer I'd be one of these players that hated pre-season training, didn't enjoyed training generally......but enjoyed the occasion of the game and could go out and play well!

Because actual events/ races etc have been sparodic through the winter and with the awful weather of December / January and February it's really tempered my motivation and desire to do anything.

What have I done this week?. Physically nothing! Not good enough.

But I do know it's from one extreme to another, as I now have an intensive 4 week training plan to follow and there are some huge events coming up (both in distance and hill gradient)

Week 18 will see the start of serious training and big events all mixed together, so without dwelling too much on what I haven't done I'm going to focus on a very intense rest of March and April.

Time to onwards, swiftly, aboard my puncture proof tyres!

Training Week 16: W/C 1.3.10

Another week down and another week nearer Ireland. This week I finally got back out on the road and in conditions that didn't involve rain! In fact I went to the other extreme and completely forgot all my winter clothing this week, so had a 26 mile ride out to the coast, in shorts, short sleeve top, no gloves and no winter headband! It was nice weather......but not that nice!

It felt good to get some miles in the legs as I really feel I havent done as much as I need to the last few weeks, but I'm getting there and certainly in much better shape than a year ago. After the ride I confirmed my entry into the Evans Go Ride event in Leeds on March 21st. The next three and a half weeks are going to be manic events and ride wise!

Sunday I entered the Yorkshire Road Club's 65 mile Reliability which started in Tadcaster just outside Leeds. This was my final reliability of the season as they traditionally only run from January to March. To qualify you had to finish within 4 hours 30 mins. To qualify in the fast group you had to finish within 4 hours. I figured I'd give the fast time a bash and hoped I could hang onto some groups all the way round.

I actually started with everyone this time (unlike at the last event) and stayed near the front of the main group in a decent sized peloton for fifteen minutes. Fast speeds. Low effort!

Then after fifteen minutes the peloton decided that was enough of the warm up and off they went............all of them!
Hero to zero in just two minutes! I felt like going home there and then as it seemed everyone had passed me and I thought I was bang last!

I battled on and once I left my warm up phase (after about 30 minutes) I felt strong and fluent in the bitterly cold (and icy) early spring sunshine. It was a good course which had a few tasty climbs into lovely villages around the halfway point.
Two and a half hours in and for me I was going like a train. I'd spent most of that time cycling solo but was still averaging over 18mph.

It all changed for the last hour and twenty mniutes as my legs faded and grew very heavy, to the point that as I stepped up for some light climbs I could feel the early "nips" of cramp so sat down and lowered the gears.

The last hour was tough and as I my average speed dropped, so did my chance of finishing in the fast group! It was close. I finished in 4 hours 4 minutes.

If a couple of junction lights hadn't been red, if I hadn't had to slow down or/and stop for missed turns and map reading sessions blah blah I could well have creeped inside 4 hours, but in truth I wasn't good enough this time or consistent enough with my efforts.

Maybe I'm being hard on myself (I am only in my second season ever as any kind of cyclist) but in retrospect 65 miles without a feed stop or toilet break, in freezing cold and icy conditions at a 16 mph average isn't so bad after all.

Need to look at my fluid and food intake in the day(s) leading up to an event. Really should have taken a lot more water on board the day before as opposed to caffeine based drinks. Also MUST get at least a pint of an electrolytes drink inside me and a banana or two down an hour before the start.

If I get the early rumblings of cramp in Cheshire on the 28th...... it'll be over! Over before I get near that main beast of a hill!

We move on. Next up.....The North Essex Tour on Wednesday March 17th 2010

Please sponsor me (click this link to donate ), I'm aiming to raise £150, so every penny counts!

Training Week 15: W/C 22.3.10

I knew there would be weeks like this, but it doesn't make it any easier just because you know they might come. It's been a frustrating few days and also de-motivating.

Add in the fact I've not felt 100% for weeks, throw in the awful weather and finish with a broken heart monitor and it's been really hard to get anything going. Aside from a 12 mile blast at the weekend in the pouring rain....thats been it! 12 paltry miles! I could do with riding a couple of hundred a week.....not this!

The weather meant I wanted to switch to the turbo trianer, but with no heart monitor for another few days I would just be pedalling away without really monitoring myself. I have done a bit of upper body gym work but thats it.

I need to get going again and soon! Four big events this month taking in Essex, Cheshire and Yorkshire and I need to try and be right for them.

I'm hopeful my spirits will lift when the weather finally does.

Not a great 7-10 days of late.

Things will be better soon...............

Training Week 14. W/C 15.2.10

Finally all three bikes are in my possession and rather lovely! Now to name them all!

The weather just does not get any better! Had a hilly 30 odd mile training this week in bitter cold and pouring rain.
I think it might be time to go back to the turbo trainer for a bit!

I was scheduled to do a 100km reliability ride this past Sunday, but when I got up 4 inches of snow had fallen, so that put paid to that!

I really want to do more miles but its tricky with this weather, and thats not making excuses or trying to be lazy but its hard to ride well when you cant feel your hands and feet!

Looking a bit ahead I've got another 50 mile Relaibility ride in a couple of weeks, then it's onto The Cheshire Cat Sportive at the end of March where I'll take on my biggest hill to date, then a week later its a 200 mile ride from Essex to Yorkshire in one day.

Now please let me have some decent weather..................

Training Week 13. W/C 8.2.10

Finally the first of the two new bikes is with me, all dressed up and ready to go!

It's an ideal training bike, but my first ride wasn't ideal. The saddle was too low and the computer holder was upside down, so it was hard effort as my legs were too high and I couldn't read my stats as I had a 20 mile blast over the weekend. The weather has been lousy and it's difficult turbo training when you don't have a heart monitor! You end up just turning your legs with no guide of how hard you're going.

I've started doing some other fitness exercises to get me a bit trimmer and stronger which will work alongside all the cycling work thats ongoing. No event this week. The next being a 100KM Reliability ride in Leeds on Feb 21st.

I was planning on riding the Etape Du Dales in the spring. It's a tough one.....but it sold out! In light of the fact I missed out on the Fred Whitton challenge in Cumbria this year I quickly entered an alternative event a few weeks later that is almost as difficult. The Cumbrian Killer. Some rather horrendous hills on that!

I'll have a review of the 2010 calendar over the next couple of weeks and look at getting some more confirmations in place, as a lot of the bigger spring and summer sportives sell out very quickly!

I also need to start looking at some time trial races from April to August.

I intend to protect two personal records of mine this year.
1. I've never had a puncture (either on a practice ride, event or race)
2. I've never had a DNF in any event (Did not Finish)

As of early February I'm still over 15 stone. Im quite pleased to have a solid mass for endurance riding but won't be too disappointed if I drop half a stone or so in the coming months.
I also worked out that I now ride about 2 mph faster on average now than I did just over a year ago, so I'm certainly going in the right direction

The third bike will be with me in the next few days and the quota will be filled. Then to name all three of name

The charity page is now up - www.justgiving.com/wyattwendels34

Training Week 12 : W/C 1.2.10

Well I'm certainly off the turbo trainer for the time being. Judging by how cold it is I could well be back on it again soon!

This damn cough / cold is getting me down as I know it's restricting my ability! I've had it since a few days before Christmas!!!!

Both new bikes are being put together so will have the quota of 3 up and running within a week.

So another Sunday and my second reliability ride of the year. 50 miles around the hills of West & North Yorkshire. Last week it was sunny but totally frozen and well below freezing. This week is was miserable, cloudy with frozen fog thrown in for good measure!

The ride itself was a tough one. I was at the start early enough, but the main group decided to start ten minutes early!
Marvellous! So I couldn't hang onto the main group and didn't actually know where I was going which didn't help! So plenty of time lost stopping to read a map!

Whilst I felt strong and pretty fit, doing 53 miles in 3 hours 27 mins is far from ideal! I need to get faster! My endurance and mind set are pretty good, but need to get my average speed up.

I'm now starting to think about putting the team and equipment list together for September, and I have now finally got the charity page sorted out!

As previously mentioned I will be riding for Cancer Research UK, and if I can raise a few thousand for them between now and the autumn, then great. Here is the link to the charity page and there is a seperate section with access to the page on the main group page here - http://www.justgiving.com/WyattWendels34

Here's to some weekend riding in the cold and my next event on Feb 14th.

Training week 11: W/C 25..1.10

This was the week I finally decided to get back on the road for the first time in over three months. I was looking at doing a 50 mile Reliability ride on Sunday 31st so needed to make sure I was road ready a few days before.

At the start of the week I took my new second bike in to be customized (tyres, pedals etc) When that’s done I'll swap it with the third one to have the same thing done. So on Thursday I detached the bike from the turbo trainer and went on my first ride of 2010. A 43 mile affair taking in Essex and Suffolk. It was all going well until my gear cable snapped 14 miles from home, leaving just 3 gears to work with on a busy single carriage A road! Still despite the hiccup I felt strong and healthy (despite still suffering from a longstanding cold!)

Fast forward 72 hours to Sunday, and with a fixed brake cable I did the Seacroft Wheelers 50 mile Reliability Ride first thing on Sunday morning up in Leeds. Despite the sun being out it was absolutely bitter! About -1 to start and a scorching 1 degree at the end! I've never ridden in such cold! Again I felt strong and comfortable, but I wasn't happy with my finish time at all!
It was tough as the group split near straight away, so I couldn't hang onto anyone(s) for any sustained amount of time, bar the first 8 miles or so.

Throw in the cold and ice and yet more gear problems and I did well enough to average 15 mph, even with all the stops to read the map! I did 51 miles in 3 hours 24 minutes. I was hoping for 25 minutes less! I need to eat more whilst out (I only took 2 gels during the ride) as I felt pretty leg weary for the final 2 miles!

Still very early days and many more events to go, starting with another 50 mile reliability ride on Sunday 7th Feb, again in Yorkshire, and again around the West and North parts. The aim next time is too hang onto a group for longer, ride a bike where all the gears function and try and finish beneath 3 hours!

Training week 10: W/C 18.1.10

Well the week ended better than it begun!

Felt flat and de-energised Monday but good enough the next day to finally attempt this 20 minute heart and fitness test to get my new heart stats (it involves sprinting flat out on a turbo trainer for 20 mins and then recording your heart rate). Having never really sprinted and having no barometer to measure against, and also having no one there, I knew it could be tough to pace myself and to know how I was during the ride itself.

All I knew was that I had to go beyond comfortable and right to the edge (sounds like a film review!). I started fine and felt good, but what I didn't realise is that I had gone off too fast and was never going to be able to maintain that level of pace! By the 9th minute I was gone! Lungs shot, breathing all over the place and light headedness all around!

Totally frustrated I stopped and launched my cycling shoes across the room! I think they made it all the way across, I was so exhausted they might have just made it halfway! I collapsed on a towel on the floor and lay there for 10 minutes! I thought about trying again but that probably wasn't the best idea and decided to live to fight another day!

I spoke to my un-official trainer (but the closest I'll get to one for the time being) and he advised to watch my breathing from the first second and drop the pace off a bit. 24 hours later I had another go and heeeded the advice. After a VERY tough 20 minutes I finished it, with jelly legs and more sweat than I'd ever seen! Cue another ten minute lay down on THAT towel!

Early next week I'll have a new training plan and start work on that on the turbo, but I'll also finally get back on the road for the first time over 3 months. I'll probably do a 43 mile circuit around North Essex and Sudbury, just to get me road ready, ahead of my first event of the year. The Seacroft Wheelers 50 Mile Reliability Ride on January 31st in Yorkshire.

Heart are launching their charity "Have A Heart" next month and they will be raising money for Starlight, the childrens charity.
In March, we at the radio station will be doing different events to raise money and awareness. I have agreed in principal to ride a one day solo "North Essex" tour, where I'll visit as many towns and villages in the area as possible picking up funds and hopefully raising a few quid. I'll plan the route in the next month but I'm thinking 70-90 miles for the overall total give or take a few.

In other charity news I've decided to do The Race Around Ireland for Cancer Research UK. This will also tie in nicely with all the Race For Life work the radio station does throughout the year (the charity launched it's Essex events this past week)
I'll have more details in the next couple of weeks

The two new bikes finally arrived from Specialized this week, all packaged up in boxes that weigh less than most shopping bags! Next week I'll have them put together and customised (I'm not talking Pimp my ride here! just different tyres, drinks cages, pedals, GPS holders etc etc)

Anyway this has been a bit of a long one, next week will be quieter I think!

Training Week 9: W/C 11.1.10

What a frustrating week! No Energy and just felt washed out for just about all of it! Whether it's the after effects of a cold or virus I don't know, but I've just not been with it all week. I want to get on with my heart rate test (a 20 minute sprint) but I'm in no shape to, so hopefully will give it a go early next week. Even though I've only turbo trained this past couple of months I'm actually starting to want to get out on the road again!

My first ride on a real road will probably be the Seacroft Wheelers Reliability ride in Leeds on January 31st. I'll probably do another of theirs two weeks later in North Yorkshire then look at my own teams reliability ride on Feb 21st in Essex (all TBC at this point). After that It's The Cheshire Cat ride on March 28th (confirmed), then a big solo effort in Arpil when for the second year in a row I'll do Essex to Yorkshire in one day. This time though I'll carry a lot less and try and take around 4 or 5 hours off of last years time. Big ask I know but I SHOULD be in a lot better shape.

Across the spring into the summer I'm looking into events in Cumbria, Wales & Yorkshire as well as time trials in Essex across the spring and summer. For now I need to get my health back to 100% and seriously get my fitness levels up! Slightly deflated this week to say the least!

Training Week 8: W/C 4.1.10

Well whatever cold or virus or I had just before Christmas has reared it's ugly head again. I'm totally wiped out!

I made myself do a full, no concessions, turbo session at the start of the week and I didn't feel too bad doing it but so drained and flat feeling that evening.

The same day I was speaking to a friend who is helping devise my training plan for the coming months, someone a lot more experienced and fitter than me. He told me to stop training as I could well damage my immune system and slow down the "get well process" which although deeply frustrating I know is the right advice.

I have zero energy and just want to sleep all the time, mind you all the snow doesn't encourage a great deal of enthusiasm!
Even a snowball fight seems too much like hard work! So training has stopped for at least the next few days. I need to be up on the fitness stakes as I have to push myself on a long sprint to record heart levels for the next phase of my training, so I need to be ready. Hopefully next week!

In event news I discovered a series of West Yorkshire based reliability rides I can do in late January, early February.
I was looking at the possibility of some Essex reliability rides, and the Kent Killer event in late January, but weather permitting I'll go to Yorkshire instead. The hills are always fun!

Most of my clothes and bits from Specialized turned up this week. Just the bikes to come in the next few weeks.
I literally need to get a wardrobe just for the cycling gear now!

Should be able to announce the charity I'm racing for, hopefully next week.

Stay safe in the snow

Training week 7: W/C 28.12.09

Well despite it being Christmas I didn't just pig out and do nothing. In fact I only had one JD & Coke all week. That was my one drink all year! Mind you that was probably more to do with the cold that laid me low for a few days. It didn't make for a very productive training week, but I did at least get one turbo session in.

I also entered The Dragon Ride on June 6th. For those that don't know it's one of the most famous one day cycling events in the UK. 112 miles through the south of Wales with some utterly nasty long, long hills. So far I'm down for that and The Cheshire Cat event on March 28th.

I'm looking into a couple of time trial events in Suffolk and Essex in late January / early February. I'm also going to enter the lottery for The Fred Whitton Challenge which takes place in May. It literally is a lottery! You enter by post and they let you know by mid January if you made it or not. It's one of the events that truly threatens my claim that "There isn't a hill in the UK that will put me down!" If I don't make the event I'll enter a similar one around the same time with some 25% hills in Cumbria early spring.

That’s about it for this week.

I'll get more ideas of upcoming events and races in the first couple of weeks of January

Training week 6 : W/C 21.12.09

Well despite being the week of Christmas itself I did manage to get some training in, and have done a couple of turbo sessions.

The plan is to make sure there are always at least two a week, and I want to make sure I maintain this over the last week of December and start of January as this is usually the time we eat more and do less!

Over the next ten days I'll look at some Reliability Time trials and sportives that open the registering in the first few days of the year so I can plan towards some events in the first half of the year.

The equipment from Specialized should arrive mid January.

Training Week 5 W/C 14.12.09

Well there was always going to be a few weeks like this over the 10 month period, I just didn't think it would be this one!

I knew I was having a busy week with work and other commitments but still figured I'd get 2 turbo sessions in during the course of the week. Sadly I managed 0! I did plenty of walking, several miles a day with the car off the road for a few days, but I just couldn't muster the proper time or energy to train! I can safely say it wasn't laziness or lack of motivation. When they become the reasons then I'm in serious trouble!

I did finalise my equipment order from Specialized going into 2010. It's become quite an inventory! A couple of bikes, several pairs of shoes, wardrobe full of clothes and some on bike equipment too, so by the middle of January I should be fully stocked for the year ahead!

There will be training the week leading up to Xmas I can guarantee that!

Training: Week 4 W/C 7.12.09

More sessions on the turbo trainer this week (still no plans to go out on the road on a bike in the traditional sense!). All sessions still between 65 and 75 minutes and with more sweat than I care to lose! Filmed my first video blog this week too and that will go up over this weekend.

I'll be interested to see what what my body fat count is in a couple of months. I think it's around 14-15% now which is pretty good. 12-13 would be nice. I think my weight will stay around 15 stone (about 97 KG or around 205 Llbs). My legs are starting to change shape in a good way! Thunder thighs await!!!

In the new year I'll re-start work on my upper body in the gym. Nothing to heavy going but just retaining and gaining a little more strength, although I'm hardly a lightweight weakling now but the gains will help with my endurance and overall strength.

This week I secured a Specialized endorsement. It means the company will provide the equipment I need for 2010 at hugely reduced prices than you'd get on the high street. In short I'll be saving over four figures for what I'll be investing in.

I think I'll be riding for a cancer charity in Ireland, but am just thinking over which one. Hoping to finalise this before Christmas and then start the fundraising options at the turn of the year.

Training: Week 3 W/C 30.11

This week slightly stepped up the turbo sessions of which there were another three. Mixing them up so I'm focusing on work rate, speed and endurance at seperate times. Still sweat like never before, but can burn over 1100 calories in just 1 hour!

Think I may have narrowed the charities down to two or three so hopefully I can make a decision on one next week.

Talking to Specialized this week about an endorsement or semi endorsement deal (bikes, clothing and general equipment). They've made an offer......but I think they can do better. In fact I know they can! Talking to them again hopefully next week.

Looking into the possibility of a couple of winter Reliability rides in Essex and Suffolk early next year. (Time trials you ride a set distance as quick as you can.

Reliability rides you ride a set distance within a pre determined time ie. 50 miles in 2 hours 30 minutes or you're disqualified). Can't say I have a great deal of motivation to ride the roads in winter. I'd rather train indoors till the early spring!

Training : Week 2 W/C 23.11

With the help of a VCR team mate and truly great time triallist, I got my first training programme together. (huge thanks to one Darren Frostick). I now have a focus and plan so I'm actually targeting areas to improve ie, speed, fitness, stamina and endurance.

To help with this I invested in a heart rate monitor wristwatch (in addition to the one I have on the bike computer). With this I know exactly how hard I need to work when I'm not doing enough etc etc. Three one hour plus turbo sessions this week, and I know I'm already making good progress. No plans to actually ride a bike on the road in a traditional way till January at the earliest.

Looking at a few charities, to ride the event for as well, this week and will hopefully confirm one before Xmas, so can start fundraising all through next year.

Spoke to Stewart Wilson this week (former RAAM Rider and participant in this years Race Around Ireland). He's acting as a consultant for want of a better phrase and will help with training and preparations for the event. It's been a useful week
Hopefully riding together in December.

Training Week 1 W/C 16.11.09

The start of the very long road to Ireland began this week.

Having previously had several weeks away from the bike I wanted to get myself on the road to proper fitness.....without actually leaving the house on the cold wet days and nights.

I finally invested in a turbo trainer (a bit of kit that allows me to connect my bike to it and ride without actually leaving the house, kind of like a customised exercise bike). This week I set it up and did a couple of 30 and 45 minute training rides just getting used to using it!

I've never sweat so much in my life! They are seriously intense. For week 2 I need to come up with a training schedule and plan so I'm not just riding for the sake of it with no direction.

My first event of 2010 was also confirmed this week. The Cheshire Cat sportive on Sunday March 28th 2010. A tough and very hilly 100 mile event in.....well Cheshire! There will be no cats riding! There will be probably be earlier events or/and races before that, but this is the first confirmed one.