Week 4 training log

Back on it after some time away with a cold. A busy week though so hard to fit things in, next week promises to be the same.
I was able to up the run distance this week which is a good positive.

Week 3 Training log

Week 3 has been a frustrating week. Came down with a cold at the end of the last week and haven't been able to shake it.
A poor swim on D15, had trouble breathing due to my head been full of yucky stuff.
thought after the run on D17 that maybe I was getting over it but now it seems it just made things worse.
Hoping for a better week next week, taking a few extra days off. Got some catching up to do after that.

Week 2 training log

Things You would rather not see on a training ride, No;1

This little beauty brings you out of the Gwaun valley near Fishguard.
Fortunately I was going down it today but it's one for the must do list.

Week 1 Training Log

D1, First run since April and it was pouring with rain, ( good for the soul)

D2, Intended to do a 60 mile ride today. I broke a spoke at 22 miles so limped the bike home and put it on the turbo trainer to complete 40 miles.

D4, Early morning very wet run again. beat the previous time though.
The target was 1500 mts for this afternoons swim but had to cut it short as the pool was closing early. pleased with the time though.

The Merlin ride July 3rd 2011

July 3rd was a beautiful day for a 70 mile bike ride. The sun was beating down and the Black mountains provided the most spectacular views as we crested the summit. For me however the day didn't go quite as planned. It turned out to be a very high tempo sportive, I was comfortable with the speed and managed to stick close to some groups of very good riders.
Once we got to Black Mountain things started to fracture and groups were split up all over the place. A fantastic climb of around 9 miles lead to a similar decent with switch backs and everything. By now most riders were riding alone, myself included. As we approached Llandovery I was trying to catch a rider about 100 yards in front, he eventually disappeared into the distance. I continued on my own for around 10 miles not seeing another soul, either in front or behind.I eventually caught site of the rider I was chasing, he was coming back towards me.
It turns out that he was thinking the same as I was begining to think. Had we taken a wrong turn?
We continued together for another 5 miles convinced that we couldn't possibly both missed the same sign, but missed it we did. We rang race HQ and after they had stopped laughing they told us that we had indeed gone about 20 miles off course and they would send a land rover to pick us up and drop us at the feed station with 18 miles to go.
So in the end a 70 mile ride turned into a 90 mile ride, I must thank Gareth for his company during those lost miles and also the race officials in the Landy who could have just said, "Tough". Cheers guys.
The 70 miles I completed in exactly  4 hours, which is good time, unfortunately I wasn't at the finish.
Total hours in the saddle,  5.5. Tough day, good fun though.       www.merlincycletours.co.uk