The company that are organising this race ran a series of three races from Gatehouse last August.
I’m visiting my parents for a few days & had hoped to tap out the routes while I’m here but the snow has kind of scuppered that plan.
I thoroughly enjoyed the bit I managed to do, the forest roads seem much less claustrophobic than Clocaenog where I normally gravel.
I’ll be running 40 at the front & 38 on the back because that’s as big as I can fit, tubeless & I’ve ordered some 30mm backer rod to try out some ghetto tyre inserts.
Tough little jaunt around Wiltshire country lanes this morning. 10 mile race, mostly flat apart from mile 1 and a long drag through 7 & 8. By the end of mile 1 I was isolated, and it stayed that way for the remaining 9, apart from passing someone jogging the last mile home with an injury.
At no point did I really feel comfortable, while bike fitness may transfer to running, it seems I need some race pace running in my legs to get into a rhythm on race day, and that has been missing of late. And the total lack of company made it hard to push when the road trended up and into a headwind in the last third. 24th across the line, no-one within +/-30sec.
Maybe a half marathon in a few weeks, shall see how recovery goes from this one.
It’s deceptive, if you are cruising you should be able to dig in and maintain, but I was too near my limit, and the wind at that point just added to the effort.
Spoke briefly to the sub-60 pacer at the end, he made sure he has banked some time to still get home inside the hour. I had assumed as much by how quickly I lost sight of him!
If you want some advice on the Thames Path, ask away. I’ve ridden the entire length of it as well as the Ridgeway from Swindon down to the coast. I presume ‘train home’ would be from Swindon?
As per @JibberJim I could also come join for the day depending on route and dates.
I was only gonna go 37 Pathfinders as I thought it was mostly smooth ish gravel fireroads, or no? My other option of 47 Terravail Rutlands seem a bit overkill I’d have thought. But some local knowledge is always good!
tough going when you’re on your own.
