Easy runch for me today in the sunshine with a mate. Having a good catch up on the Devon Coast to Coast event that he put on over the weekend.
Including the story of the guy that arrived at a CP in the dark, left when it was light and obvs hadn’t been paying attention. Saw a Two Moors Way sign and started following it without thinking. One of the guys working the event asked my mate ‘why is number xxx heading South?!’
Obviously didn’t recognise where he’d just come from and made it 3km south of the cp, when he was already barely scraping cut offs. Needless to say he didn’t make it.
Just over 1 hour bike up to then on the top radar road, and it was bloody freezing, reckon wind chill made it about -5.
Regretted shorts and fingerless gloves. Not having a buff for froz and snotty nose nor beanie under helmet. I was cold, maybe just maybe one day I may human up. Or perhaps resigned to the fact that my ancestors maybe came the Roman route (warm and sunny) and not the Nordic route (blooming tepid).
As I write this it’s blue sky and sunshine again - sets about 2130, but why o why is it always evenings only grrrrr.
Had to get the sleeper from Glasgow to London last night. Got my customary 3 hours sleep, hate that thing.
Was recommended going to the pool at St Pancras so got 1600m of work in and a shower so that was nice. Was surprised at how quiet it was. About 7:45 I was the only one in my lane.
I fulfilled a lifelong ambition today (I may be slightly exaggerating) and ran up to the top of Brent Knoll. @FatPom will know it well.
I’ve driven past it up and down the M5 for 20 odd years and always wanted to run up it. Now I have!
Run was about 50% grim pavement next to a busy main road, 30% nice country lanes and 20% trails. So not a bad run from work to be fair, and a good way to start the day. Topped off with a bacon butty in the canteen
Know it very well mate, ridden bits of it a few times. How long did it take you?
When I drive to Mum’s there is a hill I always look at and fancy running/walking up. It’s right opposite Longleat on what would be the northern side I guess. Looks like it might be a MX track. So many years I’ve just driven past, should really stop there one day!
I mean the roads surrounding it. It’s a regular swoosh around on our Kew Stoke jaunts. We always seem to approach from a different angle. Our mate ‘Rob’ has special short cuts that rarely work out. He uses the metric of ‘Rob miles’ which usually means ‘5 miles to the cafe’ is never less than 12.
45 mins cycling followed by 15 mins sauna “training”
Trying to begin acclimation process for Western States and the very dry heat of the canyons
Within a minute of sitting down another fella gets in and pours around a litre of water and menthol onto the heating element - remind him that this is a sauna not a steam room ffs
Just over 1 hour bike bigger gear usual radar station climb although beforehand cycled halfway down Mennock pass to where some temp traffic lights are, then uphill from there.
There’s no bloomin’ way I’m going thru said lights only to cycle back up a 1 in 10 through them that clearly are only set for the acceleration of Ferrari … I don’t want other motorists to think that I’m a light jumpin’ tool by the time they change and I’m still climbing through them. An observation and a moan
I like to feel like a space cadet by the end of my session!