Getting on

So the last two days I've done two rides - yesterday 53Km and today 54Km. I 'm pleased that I've done them on two consecutive days. But now I'm coming down with the cold that started with John and then Jess had - sore throat to start with . This week end I'm away at a wedding and I'm looking forward to that. Earlier Ispoke to my son about some essential diet information such as fluid intake on a ride and carbohydrates.

The weather has been unsettled - switching between the cold, rain and wind with some sunny spells seeking to tempt you out. It means I've not been out on the bike since Sunday. Yes I know on the actual ride I won't be able to be so fussy - but for now I'm choosing not to be soaked. I'm anticipating an Indian summer the first two weeks of Sept for the ride! But I have been to the gym every day except Wed. I'm going out later today as the BBC on line forecast has the heavy rain having passed over by mid morning -then cloudy , sunny spells etc! So for now some breakfast and off we go.
Remember this blog is charting my progress as I prepare for a 1200K fund raising bike ride for St John's Hospice on the Wirral . If you'd like to know more - and maybe donate - click on the following: http://www.justgiving.com/destinationbergerac/

Keeping up with the gym

It's Friday - and I've been to the gym 3 times this week - Tues, Wed and today. I'm enjoying the routines , especially on the spin bike . Drinking between each exercise which has helped.Tomorrow I'm doing an off/on road 50 K ride to build up some road mileage. Meanwhile pause for thought with a favourite from the church mag:
Fred and Bill are a little hard of hearing.They are walking together down the street.
"Windy isn't it " , says Bill.
" No, it's Thursday," says Fred.
"So am I ," says Bill, " Let's go for a drink."

Yesterday ( Sunday) I was so-so-so tired. I know I was dehydrated so drank water during the day and was hungry. It wasn't til early evening that I felt OK and had energy to do something. Clearly work to be done to build up my strength so I can ride 70K day after day. Next time I will drink on the ride and take some choc with me. Today I went to the gym and did my routine and feel fine apart from a twinge in my left knee which has since settled. Earlier I read an email from my friend John in Canada with some thoughts from the philosophical school of ambiguity :

• Can an atheist get insurance against acts of God?
• I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman where the self help section was. She answered: " If I told you that, it would defeat the purpose".
• How is it possible to have a civil war?

The visit to the Hospice to talk with Helen in the fund raising team was useful. She gave me some tips and contacts. While there I walked around the hospice grounds and went inside to sit in the chapel before then walking around the whole Clatterbridge site. I happened to meet and chat with one of the nurses who'd been with us. First time I'd been back since Angie died.
I left and then at 4pm I went to the gym with our daughter and did the routine - all went Ok except one exercise which hurt my knee so I eased off on that one. Listen to your body! For a change I weighed myself - 82K , perfect at 5' 11". So I've set myself a goal to grow 3 inches ! Later I went to see the newly released Harry Potter with my daughter - she'd already seen it once with her friend. I enjoyed it very much such that I can't wait now for the next film to see how the battle with Valdemore develops. I emailed CTC about advice for planning the route. You need to be a member. Anybody able to speak about the benefits of CTC membership? I 'll need to give some thought to the route as it would be nice to be off road or at least quiet roads. So far I'm thinking of Birkenhead to Bristol following the welsh border and then down to Weymouth for the ferry. Any thoughts anyone?
Today as I said I went for my first bike ride in ages. I'm pleased. I did 50K in 3 hours. Admitedly much of it on the flat along the Wirral Way but a couple of hills getting there and back from Birkenhead. I had a helpful conversation with my eldest son David advising me on the road work. He likened it to marothon preparation and suggested 3 elements - speed work , fartlek runs and then distance - building up to something like 80% of the planned full daily distance. Seems good advice to me. It's great on a bike. You can take in the views, people smile at you, even got talking to one guy as we rode from West Kirby to Hoylake on the path alongside the railway line. Tomorrow ? I'm at church - always a good start to the week - and will probably work out doing some housework or gardening. Pause for thought: I phoned the ramblers' club today. The guy just went on and on

First entry

This is my first post , to see of it's working! The blog is charting my progress as I prepare for a 1200K fund raising bike ride for St John's Hospice on the Wirral . If you'd like to know more - and maybe donate - click on the following: http://www.justgiving.com/destinationbergerac/
I'm off shortly to St John's (2pm this afternoon) to talk with Helen from their fundrasing team - for ideas from them and to let them know what I'm doing . It was only 10 days or so ago whern I finally started to take seriously the planning. Since when I've spoke with Colin , one of the fitness instructors at Total Fitness. He's given me a set of exercises :warm ups, cardio vascular , weights and core strength training with stretches . I need to go at least 3 times a week. I went last Monday and am going late this afternoon! Need to build up my mileage on the road as well so I'm off for a 20 mile ride tomorrow, the first longish ride in over a year. Pause for thought: " I phoned the local gym and asked if they could teach me to do the splits. He asked :" How flexible are you ?" I said :" I can't make Tuesdays or Thursdays." Further thought. A guy went into a pet shop to buy an goldfish. The assistant asked him: " Do you want an aquarium?" The guy answered: " I don't care what star sign it is."