Training Log Archive: Leon

Anti-clockwise lap of Guernsey
Bizarre Filter signs caused some confusion.
Worked fairly hard for the most part, sadly couldn't see very far out to sea due to fog, which was threatening a cricket match in progress! First half was very flat, then there was a climb and we stayed high before dropping bike into St Peter Port. Lovely pace to things here, strange mix of French and English to everything really.

Gave it 15 mins before heading out for a run, felt very good straight away! Dropped down to the harbour and tried to run round the headland but a massive set of steps full of tourists ended that plan so I ran back up the hill and did 3 laps of the block the hotel was on at a fairly fast pace. A great afternoons work

Not much time for training today. Did cycle across London, but very slowly due to being weighed down with other peoples bags from last weekend, so hardly counts as anything.

Lovely run with Dave, Leon & Rod over Bradford GC, down the wooded valley at the bottom, up the bridleway to the edge of Burley Moor, past the reservoir and along Hawksworth way.
For me, the pace was an absolute amble, but it was nice and social.
Given my legs still feel battered from the weekend, this can be no bad thing.

From Interchange to start, then a bit further and doubled back

Bowling Park O, 3rd.
Messed up 6 as couldn't get through the 'white' but neither could anyone else it seems. Got through the messy (& smelly!) woods at the top end fine, then got very confused as to which parts of the cemetery were allowed and took a longer than necessary route. But the real balls up was a 90 degree error out of 17, quite inexplicable really.

Collecting Controls

Round Baildon taping control sites.
Legs felt terrible to start but OK by end.
Raining, as it has on 4 out of my 5 trips round now.

C • Rain 2

Quads in a vice
Calves like glue
Not Very Nice
But I came through

Overnight, a lot of talk of what we going to do today, the plan was most of Stage 2, from Ilkley onwards to Sheffield, and Martin, Andy and Paddy were booked on a train from Sheffield at 16:30. We decided to leave half an hour earlier at 8:30. No Matt or Simon today,clearly one day classic specialists. We were joined by Dave for the first 80 minutes before he turned for home after a good stint.
Anyway, I was vetoed straight away on going to Addingham and over to Silsden, so we went straight over to Keighley to pick up the route there. Out of Oxenhope was horrendous, straight into the wind all the way up, not nice. Down was fun though. Legs weren't feeling as bad as I thought they would but didn't push on just yet. Worked with the now recovered Martin all the way up Cragg Vale which got the heart rate up a bit but no trouble really. Ripponden bank hurt a bit, but we stopped for lunch in Elland at a cafe that was brilliant in comparison to yesterdays, recommended. Clearly Paddy was struggling and so he decided to get a train from Huddersfield to Sheffield. Martin joined him, though admitted in his own words this was lazy.
Myself and Andy were keen to get to Sheffield but we decided the best way would be the shortest route from Huddersfield, as we hoped to hit 200 for the weekend.
Up over the M62, ouch, down into Huddersfield, bye to the other two. Out of Huddersfield, endless red lights. Knew I would have to work hard to stick with Andy and so it proved. Upon seeing a sign 'Sheffield 26' and knowing it was 5 mins until their train left, his eyes lit up as we realised there was a small chance we may beat them to Sheffield station. Game on!
This chance looked less following the endless climbing up through Shepley, but I was pleased, I was feeling OK, and by working hard was able to stick near to Andy, if not just behind. Once past Penistone things flattened and the pace increased, but by digging deep, in some parts very deep, I coped and the downhills through Greno Woods and down to Hillsborough were much appreciated, esp. as it was now quite warm. Due to lights and traffic we were slowed a little into Sheffield but soon arrived at the station, sadly 4m short of 200 but I was happy enough with the weekend work, more than happy.
Outside M&S getting supplied, and the other two rolled up, their train had been delayed by 15 minutes, and we had arrived first.
Great stuff!
More leisurely cycling next weekend...

C • What's the plan next wkd, I... 2