Outside the box

Yesterday was a ride full of interesting little events! 

First I popped on my new saddle from Aprire Bicycles - Prologo Kappa DEA! Love it! 

The only problem with getting something new is that it seems to take a little getting used to. For me it seemed I was sitting so wrong on my bike. Maybe it was because I'd got a men's saddle before so I sat differently? Who knows but my god was I uncomfortable for the first 15 miles. 

My legs felt like absolute death too, oh and my lungs were burning. Probably because I'd ran a half marathon on Sunday and they were both screaming for some down time. Oh well. 

I always go for little rides with Matt, he's a good chap! And is happy with me stopping now and then to fiddle with my new bits! Yesterday was no different. After about 15 miles I'd had enough, I wasn't getting any more comfortable - back was hurting (lower back) and my legs felt like they were giving anything out. We stopped and checked my seat height, apparently if you sit on the saddle, have the pedal at the lowest point and see if you can put your heel on it it's a good measure for seat height! Who knew!! 

Ok so I couldn't event get my heel on the pedals smug gearing my seat was way too high! I took it down half a cm, still couldn't reach!! Bloomin eck it must have been way too high - hence back pain! Moved it down a bit more, and it seemed to sit well. 

Off we went - my god did that feel weird, I felt really squished up then. But after a short while I got used to it and my back pain went. 

Lucky for me, the new saddle was a dream to sit on! Less pressure on the 'front' for the ladies reading this! I also felt for the first time that I was actually sitting on my sit bones (the boney bit in your butt) and not... You know where! 

Check out the saddle 

Ok so that picture was taken when... Yes I got a puncture! We were at about 20 miles in. Going really nicely in the evening summer sun! Downhill, about 28mph, BANG! I could feel air rushing round my ankles and I went down the hill. Back wheel started to wobble... Great! Puncture! 

We stopped, had a look at the wheel.. Well that would explain the air I could feel - check out the slice in my tyre! 

A good cm in there! Must have been a bit of flint or something. 

So after taking the tyre off one side, pulled the tube out, checked the tube and there was a lovely 0.5cm whole! We fiddled with the new tube getting it back in, now both dripping with sweat after stopping! Fiddling with my new little pump, and I suddenly thought back to the last time I had a split in a tyre. When we pumped up my tube last time, it went bang pretty much straight away as the tube popped out the hole and pinched. Last time someone had an old bit of tyre they'd kept in their bag and we used that as what they referred to as a 'boot'!! 

GENIUS! 

I thought, well I don't have a tyre spare, I don't have a cut up tyre, I can't fill it with grass to relieve the pressure around the hole. So... What about tearing the old tube up (with my teeth) and putting a bit inside the tyre between the tyre and the new tube to barrier it. 

Pumped up the tyre - not too high - about 50psi. 

Somehow this little gem of an idea got me home - 8 miles (ish) at still a decent rate. And still got my sweat on! 

30 miles in the bag. Now get me a Thai! 

How close is close

This weekend I had the pleasure of riding with Aprire Bicycles down in Richmond Park - London. 

It was a great experience, not only to meet the team and check out the bikes of a British Engineered bike company, but go for a ride and learn the ways of riding 'close'! 

 

Over the past year I've been picking up bits of information on how to 'race', but with few local riders about to help me practically learn the ways, it was great to get out down South. In events that I have done (triathlons and Sportives) it's always quite unnerving because you don't know how other competitors ride & sometimes they can be unpredictable which makes passing quite problematic!! 

We started off heading over to Richmond Park. Phil had set me up on one of the new Aprire Celeste road bikes - super light! Check their range out here : www.aprirebicycles.co.uk @aprirebicycles 

Once we got to Richmond Park, chatting away and before I new it we were riding side by side and handlebars nearly touching! Strangely though I didn't feel nervous about being knocked off, maybe it was because I knew that Phil is a good rider with lots of experience.

He explained that in a race, I would likely be riding at this distance for most of it. Then he ride closer and our hands / bars tapped *panic*! But it was ok! I guess it's that unknowing, if you've never ridden close, you assume as soon as someone touched your bike you'll immediately push off and crash! 

It's definitely something I need to practice as we weren't exactly going super fast but after a few laps and flowing conversation, riding close became 'normal'. It definitely pays to have someone experienced riding with you though to:

1) put you at ease that they're not going to do anything stupid and

2) explain what is going on, how to avoid incident & remain strong in a pack. 

My goal is to get to a point where I can ride balanced at that distance and come off the bars. To be able to comfortably take off a jacket without stopping, and chat relaxed on a ride at pace and with the occasionally touching of bars. 

Watch this space (small space 😆) 

Recap

Whoa that has been a weird few weeks... In summary I've raced my first sea triathlon Olympic distance down in Portsmouth which was AWESOME. And I've had a week off of doing nothing really other than preparing for my new job that started this week. 

Portsmouth was hard. The sea swim took more out of me than I anticipated. I finished in 49 minutes which felt like a day. Running up the pebble beach and then along to transition was a fair way too. 

I was looking forward to the bike leg but once clipped in I just felt awful. My stomach was churning, I felt tired and dehydrated. For the first time ever I was looking forward to getting OFF my bike.  I couldn't tell if it was a new tri suit (club one) that was making me so uncomfortable. I just wanted off.

On the run, I tried 3 times to find a toilet which I knew was eating into my time but I just needed to pee! I knew I wouldn't finish if I didn't find a loo and finally after several deviations and a chat to the water marshals I found them. The next 7km went quicker. I found my stride, got passed by an older lady who I then stuck on the heels of. 3km to go and I decided to go past her & just run my socks off. Crossing the line with a 10km PB of 58 minutes I was chuffed. 

It was an Olympic PB so also happy with that. However my plan of doing Cambridge triathlon has been scuppered due to the cancellation as the water is below standard - containing Wiles disease. So now I'm on the hunt for my final Olympic tri and currently looking at Hever Castle. Although it really is pricey! 

The last TT, PB & league winner

Wednesday was a sad day :( the last club time trial of 2014 - except the Hill Climb which I can race as I'm conveniently on a hen do 😆 

I had over the last two weeks or so suddenly got this insane competitive urge. I sat and trawled through the club records online (although they only go back to 2011) to find out what the records were for the women's times on all our courses. Making a list of course, time and rider, I found that I am about a minute off or just under. 

Having made adjustments to the bike mentioned in my last post, I wasn't 100% confident in getting a good time at the time trial. But hey ho, last one and only 5 miles. Give it a bash :) 

Unfortunately with nights drawing in the TT start times get earlier. Even leaving work earlier I was still rushed to get there. Banana shoved in my mouth & a swift journey over to Fordham. Join the queue to sign on. Quite a lot of riders tonight!! 

I think I did about 3 miles warm up (not enough) but I didn't want to risk musing my time. 

Number 23 tonight. In my mind I was thinking about the records. The last time I did Fordham I did 14.04. The record is 12.38. Whoosh!!

However knowing at the start line that there were traffic lights on the course, chances of people getting PB's were slim. Few female riders too that night. 

Off I go and I swear, but even a mile down the road and my legs were feeling like lead. Click to a lighter gear just to rotate them faster (increase cadence I think it's called). 

Turn the corner, I got a good line. Look down at my Garmin, 28mph! Major confidence boost. Kick on Rusty. 

2.5miles down, think I was averaging 22-23 mph at that point. But knowing the headwind was on the way back there was little chance of me improving that. 

Nearing the lights, Rory (who had passed me at about 3 miles) was in my sight. He was slowing for the lights, I pressed on and timed it perfectly, I went through green, looked left and they had just turned amber. Perfect! Now crack on! 

4miles, ish 12min something. Not going to get there in 30 seconds! But try and get as close as I can. I see Matt who went off before me. I gain on him & we cross the line at the same time. 

13.05. HAPPY DAYS! It's not the curse record, but that's the long term goal. It's a good 59second PB! 

I'm now beginning to wonder what the possibilities are if I stop / slow down triathlon and focus on cycling!! 

To top it off, I have secured my place at the top of the women's league in our club time trials (although few members took part). But I guess, you can only race against those that rock up on the day and as long as I push myself to beat my own times, I'm happy. 

Riding positions... FRUSTRATING

So last night I went out for a ride with my cycling bud having altered my position on my bike as recommended by various people. 

OUCH! 

Basically, I'm new to all this so I don't really know how I should be positoned so take advice from wherever I can get it really, in the hope that it may improve my riding and get the most out of my thunder thighs. 

So I flipped my stem (turned it upside down) which lowers my handlebars. However by doing this they are then further away from me making me reach more. 

I have also been told that my seat could go up a touch. I do this. Half a centre meter. 

With my reach increased, I figure that I should just move my seat forward as I often find myself sitting on the nose of the saddle which is really uncomfortable (especially being a female)! It's a men's saddle so is already pretty uncomfortable. 

Honestly, that was the most uncomfortable 19 miles of my life. My back started to hurt at the bottom. I felt I wasn't pushing hard at all. I felt twitching as I couldn't hold the bars where I used to. 

Frustrated. 

I've got an Olympic tri on Sunday in Portsmouth and now I'm horrified that I'm going to be in great pain over a mere 26 miles. 

Damn! 

But I huess on a plus it was nice to get out and chase the sun over some hills with good conversation... Oh and I got to wear my new Wiggle Honda kit :) 

Silver lining. 

National Club Relay Champs - triathlon

God I love this event! 

It was my first experience of triathlon last year after I was roped into a team despite admitting that I couldn't swim last year. But this year, with my few sprints and Olympic distance under my belt I was feeling positive about my performance in the team. This year I felt less like I was letting the team down (although no one ever said that) and more like I was contributing well. 

The 3 Newmarket teams were all picked at random by the guy organising our club entries. All the teams are mixed 2 men 2 female but it varied on what order I. Either female, male, female, male or reverse. I was to be no. 4 in my team. Eek! The pressure of trying to have a good final run was onnnn. 

Some of us camped the night before which was a good laugh, a few beers to help me go to sleep. 

Up at 5.30am and coffee!! The others turned up bright-eyed and bushy tailed & team captains went to sign on. 

Race time!!

Over to the grandstand and we all got ready. This year they have us number tattoos! That was fun - no one knew what to do but we figured it out eventually! 

All no. 1's got their red hats on and went down to the start. No.2's got their white hats on and made their way to holding pen where they were to wait for No.1's to finish the swim. It's absolute carnage trying to find your next swimmer after you come out of the VERY VERY cold regatta lake and face a wall of neoprene clad, swim hat & goggle wearing crazy people all shouting and waving to their team mates! 

As the relays are full of mixed teams of varying ability, it is not uncommon for the field to thin out. I was waiting for our blue hat chap to come out and I think there were only about 15 other swimmers left with me. 

Into the lake! The part I fear most. Oh god it's cold. I breast stoke for a bit to calm my breathing and put my face in. Last year I didn't even out my head under so this time I had to. I made it to the first buoy switching between a few strokes front crawl but mainly breast stroke. Round the bend I got on it. Head down and just breath. Next bend and it's the home straight. I saw another yellow hat breast stroking and I knew I could take her. I picked up my speed and just concentrated. Past her. Then saw a chap to my right. Going about the same speed. I was NOT goin to let him overtake me. What a rush. Last 50m to go and I was kicking like a mad woman. Out, rushed run to our no. 1 to hand over the band! Off he goes!! Ugh time to defrost! 

Back at the grandstand where our teams were congregating we all discussed how bloody cold the lake was. The other lady in my team, our no. 2 was unhappy with the swim. I tried to reassure her it was fine and it's all just a bit of fun (if you can call it that). But genuinely, it's friendly competition between our club as they are all made up of differing abilities. 

What's great is that you get to watch most of your team in their sections, what's not so great is that you get cold between each of your sections. But that's the fun of it. 

Our no. 1 had a blinding race! Great swim, great bike and great run! No. 2&3 had areas they weren't happy with but enjoyed it overall! I was happy with the bike leg, putting in a 24.40. Our team was pretty much tied between 091 the third Newmarket team. 090 was long gone! No. 4 of 091 overtook me halfway round the final lap of the bike so I knew it was going to be close with just a few seconds between us. 

The run! I waited with out no.3 and 091's no. 4 in the pen whilst we waited for our no. 2 to finish her run. In she came and off he went! I knew I had about 23-4 min to warm up / get ready! I see him coming round. Whip off my hoody and get ready. Our other team 092's last runner was with me, it was to be a neck and neck between us on the run. Luckily for me, our no. 3 was faster on the run than theirs so it gave me a 2 min head start. Knowing he was chasing me kept me running that bit faster. 

A lady came to over take me but then stuck with me and we helped each other round. The final leg back was brutal wind! Stomping along eating the ground up we stuck in. We got to the big blow up beer and I had a boost. I picked up the pace and I wanted to over take the other elder lady who had taken me half way round. I knew I could do it. Checking behind earlier on I knew 091 won't catch me. I shouted to my running buddy thank you!! And started sprinting! With about 15 meters to go I overtook the woman & crossed the finish line! 

What a great feeling! 

It's so great doing the relays with the club as it's great for team bonding and also to get new members involved in triathlon at an easier pace as you do get a big time gap between each of your disciplines. I loved it last year but this year was awesome knowing I could do the swim & the run better. And last weeks issue with the chap at time trialling seemed to reduce which was good. 

The Newmarket team times: 

090 - 04.07.04 

092 - 04.20.19 

091 - 04.22.29 

Happy 😆 then beer! 

Highs, lows.. finding the middle ground

What a week. After Sunday's triumph I was feeling the greatest natural high I've ever experienced. I was so happy to have done the Ely Monster Olympic. Goal 1 - check.

Taking Monday off (work) we - Kerry and I went for a swim which basically just turned out to be a giggling fit whilst aqua jogging it's the weirdest thing but apparently great for flushing out the legs, bobbing around in the deep end with a float under your arms trying to "jog". We did a few lengths after 30 min of "jogging" and lazed around the rest of the day with coffee, cake and engraving our finisher medals.

Tuesday was a true day off :)

Wednesday I was supposed to get up and swim, but I will still happy with Sunday that I thought well, just relax as it was the TT that night. I have been battling with this cold / chest infection trying to stave it off. Dosing up on Echinacea drops in hot water with lemon, manuka honey and ginger. And also trying this breathe deep Yogi Tea. Tastes NICE!

TT time. I drove to the Red Lodge TT not feeling 100% still. Getting out of the car I wasn't really feeling it. I had forgotten my Garmin (safety vice) and my chest was feeling tight. Paid my money then began to contemplate if I really wanted to do it. The voice in the back of my head was saying, don't bother just watch but my new found competitiveness was saying, well if you want to do well in the Club League you should probably give it a go and at least get a time to get points. I told myself, ok just go round, you don't have any idea on speed or time so just enjoy riding the bike as you've not done much this week. Just turn your legs over.

I did a quick (pointless) warm up and turned up to the start line. The usual countdown began. I was pushed off and I was suddenly partially energized.

It was actually quite lovely not having a speed to look at. Just feeling my legs go round, and trying to breath normally (with lots of grossness coming out my nose)...yum!

I ended up passing two riders mid way round the course, Richard was riding his first ever TT so it was great to see him. This one was my first one last year too. Then the other rider I couldn't name. I think I passed a few more just before the finish line but it's all a bit of a blur.

Cooled down I went over to the time keepers to check my time... 22.57... WHAT. NO WAY. THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.... THAT'S WRONG. No  they kept telling me it's right, you did a cracking ride. Cue peak of natural high... (oh how it wasn't to last). Going back to the group, I was quietly telling a few people, just trying to contain myself. I should have guessed it wasn't right as there is NO WAY I can beat Mick. NO WAY. The Club Chairman even said to me quietly, I think you broke the course record. Then emailed me later that night saying he couldn't find a faster time. He seemed convinced that the timings were right.

The next 15 hours or so (I'm useless at maths) were incredible. I felt amazing. Then about 11 o'clock at work the next day, after lots of comments on my time, the post went up on facebook. The dreaded post. One of the time-keepers admitted that there had been a muck up on the timings. No. 21 wasn't there so everyone from 22 on-wards should have had a 1 min delay but didn't. So we all needed a 1 min adding on to our times. WHAT!!!! I was crushed. Honestly, I could have cried. I questioned why the other time-keeper who was posting on the facebook thread didn't mention it sooner as he would / should have known about the time change issue. The reply which really upset me Yeah I did - I just wanted to see who thought their shit really don't stink!! SERIOUSLY? Now I don't know if I'm just a bit sensitive, but that seems a tad out of order.

That little episode has enlightened me to the negative realms of friendly club competition. Trying to rise above it, I simply posted that I was still happy with a 7 second PB especially feeling like crap and having done my triathlon at the weekend. The problem now I guess is that when this chap time-keeps again, am I going to fear that he's out to get me. I have to keep reminding myself, I have only owned a bike for a year, and I have only been actively trying to do well in time trials for the past few months. But I am dreaming, I want to race, I want to do well, and I will try my hardest! If I don't try now and take the opportunity, when will I?

So the week has gone from massive high, to even greater high, to crashing lows. But I have learnt from it. Now it's all about going forward, going to this weekend where we have the National Club Relay Champs at Nottingham which was my first ever experience of triathlon last year so I have to get a PB on this one. Downside, said chap is in my team. Then next week is the last Fordham 5 mile TT. I checked out the club records for that one, 12.38. I am not going to do that this year, not on my current bike. But that's next years target.

On a another plus from the TT - Nigel got some awesome photos of me so I'm happy with that :)

My first Olympic Triathlon...

So about November time last year I drunkenly (terrible I know) agreed to enter the Monster Olympic Triathlon over at Ely. 

I had gone and supported several Newmarket Tri club members doing it in 2013 and was captivated by the whole event. It was a beautiful sunny day... 

Anyway. So I signed up. Paid. Sobered up. Panicked! When I say panicked... I mean, the words what the hell have I just done went through my head. Yes I'd had a go at the Club Relays (my first taste of what triathlon is all about) and yes I had a bash at St Neots Sprint Tri. But now I had just entered a 1.5km swim (up river), a 44km bike ride (fenland winds) AND a 12km hilly run. My running was pretty bad, my swimming was pretty non-existent and well I just love to be on my bike. 

Over the past 9-10 months I have been up and down with training. Barely did anything over winter with swim / run. Did my first 10k on NYE and sustained a knee injury as I had very poor preparation (none). I got a few more 10k's under my feet over the months in 2014. The bike was going well anyway and I began to pick up my swim. 

Then it all went a bit wrong. About April time I (the joys of being female) had an abnormal smear come back. (Men you can skip this part). My life felt like it had just fallen apart. So I was booked into hospital to have a biopsy. That came back bad. About 3-4 weeks later I had to go and basically have the pre-cancerous cells burnt off. So that was about 6 weeks of no swimming so far. End of that week or there abouts I bought my new bike (pick me up). Friday took it out for a ride.. Saturday was in waitrose and to put a long story short I was rushed to hospital with haemorrhaging. So basically I wasn't then allowed to swim for another 5 weeks. Joy. Training - out the window. 

Ok I've digressed a little here.. 

Once able to train again I began getting stronger and fitter. Swimming was hard. But perseverance pays off. 

Race day. To be honest. I did feel prepared (as best I could) but I was still nervous. The run up to Sunday I had trapped nerves in my back, tension headaches, I'd handed in my notice at my work as I'd had interviews for other jobs. I was plate spinning and not knowing what or when one was going to drop. 

4am Sunday 17th August. Yeh that time made me feel a tad nauseous. 

Rock up in Ely. I had been given so much advice about what I should take round with me. I'd bought a new tri suit the day before (I don't recommend doing this - bad move)! I'd also bought some of those funky stretchy coil laces - I so recommend doing this, but again, not the day before!! 

Once registered I racked my bike on 416. Laying my stuff out on my bright green towel (so I can spot it in a daze). 

Socks rolled so I can try and get them on quickly for the run. Helmet up so I can just stick it on my head and go. Cycling shoes open and ready to slip my feet into. And race belt loaded with gels. My plan was to come out of the swim, race belt on, shoes on, helmet on, bike off and go. 

Walking down to the start (a good 15 min walk in). We watch the elites and 1st wave go in. Then it was the 2nd wave for the middle distance, Kerry was in this one. I wait for her to go in then walk back up the river to my entrance - shorter distance. 

Just before we are about to go in (after the briefing) I hear my dad. He made it! This just made me feel so emotional. He's never come to watch me except once for May bumps in the rowing phase. 

Me and Maxine struggle in to the river, sinking into the mud on the bed. Gross!!!! Freezing cold!! 

We end up separating as I wanted to be at the back. 30seconds. I say to the guys next to me please don't bash me / hit me / drown me!! We joke. But I'm secretly hoping I don't get hit. I got kicked in the face at feltwell and it just sum ruined my swim and that was only half the distance. 

Off we go. Keeping calm I just get into a rhythm. Knowing my dad is walking along the side was so calming. It was cold, by I was pushing on. 

Every now and then I'd breaststroke a bit to catch my breath. I hear my dad shout support. 

My goggle were starting to irritate me. Joys of having dry skin that you moisturise.. I think that was irritating my eyes. I had about 500m to go, turn around the buoy and back downstream to the exit. 

I come out, slightly off balance is an understatement. Slow (trying to be quick) jog to transition barefoot across the concrete.

 Thinking - plan! Hat, shows, gloves, race belt & shoes. GO! 

Off I go, freezing my butt off! Light gearing trying to warm the legs up. Get into my stroke and I'm off... Until it starts pissing it down! Brrrr in only a tri suit, it was bloody windy and bloody cold! Fens are not your friend on a light bike in the rain. I stayed upright but I was struggling. Wearing a new tri suit, well let's just say I think I need a new female specific saddle. Ouch! 

44km down, overtaken lots of people (big grin), back into transition. Socks on. Trainers on. Glasses on - yes I know it was raining but I hate rain in my eyes. Grab my bottle and go. 12km. I've not run that far yet except the Cambridge half marathon.. 1 lap - see dad! 

Pick me up. Then I see Clare on the run and she shouts positives. Pick me up. I'm smiling most of the way round! 

Quite a few of the guys I overtook on the bike then overtook me on the run. I didn't mind. I shared a giggle with a chap having calf issues.. I felt his pain but carried on. 

I spot one of my friends husbands in front of me. I'd past him on the bike and he snuck past me on the run. I keep him in sight. On the 1st lap about half way, I see Maxine (well she passes me) and grabs my hand and drags me (jokingly) along for a minute / 15feet! It was a great spirit raiser and I think the spectators had a giggle! Off she goes and I pick up my speed. 

2nd lap. Still keeping the chap in my sight. Up the hill and just as we enter the market square I take him, just eating up the concrete beneath my feet. I think the caffeine gels just kicked in! I was flying. Bounding along. Past the cathedral. Round the bend. Down the hill. Turn left onto the home straight. I was basically sprinting. I crossed the road to where the finish was last year... What!! Where's the finish I shouted. Round the corner up the hill. Crap! 

Quick check to see where the chap was. Nowhere to be seen. Phew! 

Cross the road, and up through the gardens, sharp left and I'm FINISHED!!! 

I have never felt so alive and such achievement. 

It was so special to have my dad there. Although I could barely talk, my mouth was like I was drunk! He just cuddled me (I was sweaty & gross)! With my medal around my neck I was a finisher! 

I came 2nd in my age category and 10th lady overall. 

Very happy 😃

I owe a massive thanks to everyone in my club. But especially to Clare for run training, Julian & Emma for swim training. And Kerry for incredible support in helping me / getting me out training! Kerry also completed her first middle distance at the same event. 

We are both winners! 

Learning when to say no

This past week has been hell. I've been so frustrated. 

After the positive 100miles (despite suffering from a sore knee from running) my week rapidly went downhill. 

Normally if I suffer from pains I just zone out and try to ignore them, try to push through. I've heard various people lately that I need to look after my body and sort the pains out otherwise they get worse. 

I hadn't don't it. And now I'm paying for it. I've been getting trapped nerves in my back and neck along with a painful knee and thigh. I think I had been putting it down to just not being fit enough to cope with the training I have been doing. But in reality I'm realising that I need to get those sports massages, the ones that you always put off.

I booked an appointment for Monday night. Asking her to look at my leg. She works on my IT band, the thing that holds most of your muscles in your legs together apparently. Mine was originally painful. As she pushed her hand up from the outside of my knee up to my hip... OUCH! She said it can be caused by tight hamstrings (back of thigh) or tight quads (front thigh).. Testing my hamstrings, they were ok. But bloomin eck my quads were... Ouch! 

Big lumps of knots :( 

She then moves on to my calf of my left leg. Equally as painful. This is NOT fun. But I know that it's doing me good. 

She works on my shoulders a bit. They're so tight, especially up by my neck. Probably from the swimming and TT position. But also maybe I lift my shoulders up when I run as I often feel I am struggling for air.. Joys of asthma. 

I go back Thursday to see her again as I'm still all painful. She works on both legs this time and then does some more on my back. 

I try to swim the next morning. I feel awful. I I was weak, my arms weren't working, my neck was stiff and sharp. The nerve was still caught, or something was just bloomin tender. After 25 min I stop, it's not worth it. 

That was the hardest part. Learning when to say no. 

No, stop training. 

Rest. 

Come back stronger.

I came home from work late that afternoon. Doctors. I'd spent the whole day barely being able to move. 

My head was thumping, my neck sharply painful, my mouth feeling funny and my eyes hurting. 

I cried at work. The fear of my first Olympic triathlon, which I've been tirelessly training for, hoping that my emergency hospital visit earlier this year hadn't set me back too much, the dear of ot being a total disaster. 

With a week to go I just began to panic and emotions just took over. I was seeing all my hard work coming to a pathetic end & not being able to do the race. 

Doc says it may be a tension headache. So gives me some strong pain killers to relax my neck and back and relieve my headache. 

I book an appt with the osteopath for the next morning in the hope she will be able to straighten me out bone / spine wise. My hips are wonky and I was standing all in a wonk she said. After several movements I begin to feel less tense. Cracks coming from my back mentally made me feel that pressure was dispersing. 

I have not been one to see a sports therapist in the past, or an osteopath but with the fear of not being able to race next week looming over my head, I want to be in a position where I can at least finish it. In one piece. 

I haven't done any training for about 4 days now, literally nothing. And actually it's been refreshing. I've slept loads. I've eaten well. 

And most importantly, I've learnt when to say no. I'm not going to improve my fitness by training when I'm in pain. I'm not going to be a better swimmer by training with a pain in my neck, runner with pain in my knee.

I'm learning to play the long game. I've got lots of events still this year which I want to complete so missing one day (or four) to allow me to complete my goals for this year is much more important. 

It's been mentally tough as I'm still worried I haven't done enough, but I'm not going to reduce my 10k race time in a week.. I don't want to go into the race tired. 

I'm saying no. 

WHOAAA that was hard...

Last night's TT. OH MY GOD!

I took a half day from work in an attempt to get some swimming done in the afternoon.. best laid plans and all that. 5.30pm clocked.. oh crap I need to get going.

6pm cycle over to Red Lodge for the time-trial. It's about 9 miles there so at an average pace of about 18.3mph I got there in good time for a crucial natter. Chatting is becoming a bit of a problem for me I think.. Maybe one day I will focus on the ride. Paid up, got my number 23 and Bob comes over with a shiny skinsuit, different to the one he lent me last week. This one is a club one with longsleeves and MUCH tighter, very tight on the thighs - a standard problem of mine.

Elegantly (or not), I got changed in the back of Andrew's blacked out truck. Praying no one would open the door. Number pinned on.. more nattering. Quick photo with Bob - my kit man!

I was a bit worried about pushing it as my knees had been feeling terrible all day after last nights 6.5mile run with Kerry. I was scared to over do it and then ruin myself just before Ely Triathlon next weekend.

Right, 7pm time to spin the legs a little bit again to get the blood flowing after the ride over. I'd raised my seat a little last night and it seemed to feel more comfortable in the TT position, but I still desperately need a woman specific saddle - OUCH. The problems of buying a men's bike.

Over to the start line (more nattering). 22 was off, I started my Garmin, rolled up to the start line. 30 seconds to go, Mark held my seat, I clipped in. He joked I was like a "coiled spring ready to explode". That calmed my nerves as I felt the excitement wave over me. 5 seconds. Go.

Off I push up to the roundabout, and on, and on, and on. The wind was pretty brutal, I was blowing around quite a bit. Shuffling around on my seat trying to get comfortable. My mind stressing about my legs and also the competition of trying to get my best time.

I'm out by Isleham now, it's open fen land so the wind just cuts across. I change up and down my gears to try not to stress my legs and keep the mental strength going. I feel better when my legs are going faster, even though my speed hasn't really changed from going down a gear. Mentally it helps me. Then I push a harder gear for a bit.

I spot someone in the distance and it's like a switch flipped. I was on one.. pushing harder. I want to catch them. I close in.. only to find that it's not a fellow TT racer. DAMN! Well at least I would have pushed harder over that time.

Through Chippenham and out towards La Hogue (they do the BEST CAKE!) Zipping round the S bend trying not to break, I see another rider. I see the yellow number. As I close in I see it's Bobbie, the new lady that came tonight. Number 20. That means I've closed the gap 3 minutes.

Stay focussed.. don't get over excited I was trying to tell myself. I pass her and say "well done" and get my head back in the game again. Pushing up the last hill and my quads are burning. In fact my whole legs are burning. My lungs felt like they were going to implode.

Last stretch, 1 mile to go. Pushing down hill I clock 28.6mph. I'm frustrated as I just can't push to 30mph. There was nothing left.

I see the timekeepers. Change up another gear and just grind the last few hundred meters.

FINISHED!

Cool down, back to the start. Resume nattering. Mark comes back with the timesheet. I knew I had a PB but wanted to see whether Mel had smashed me again.

I look down, I look up at Mel. I've beaten her for the first time this year. I got 24.04, Mel got 24.25 how on earth that happened I don't know. But we have a good exchange of congrats. She's a great rider and I have been trying to catch her for weeks. We joke it's because she is too relaxed from her holiday and I'm too pent up from not having been away this year (except Paris of course).

A quick catch up with Bobbie, she went the wrong way on the course. It's easily done if it's your first time so next time she will fly!

Home time. A very, very slow ride home. My legs just weren't working - which I think is a good thing. I pushed hard tonight.

And it paid off.

The 100mile club

Yesterday was just awesome! 

With all the training Kerry has helped me with, I wanted to return the favour and help her complete her first 100mile. 

After posting up in the club Facebook group, it wasn't long before there were a number of takers to join the ride. And two others who also wanted to ride their furthest distance and join the 100 mile club. 

Matt already had got a route with some hills which was about 80miles. He's great at route planning and navigating, and also staying up the front so we don't all get lost. 

Starting out from the Newmarket leisure centre we headed off at 11am after Kerry finished work (the rest of us had a lay in!) 

Out towards Dullingham & Six Mile Bottom, I was 'on one'. Thrashing up the short steep climbs and getting 'aero' on the downhills. I think on one I got to about 38mph which was fun - and I wasn't even really pushing it! Just wanted to try and get a few QOMs (strava geek) before the miles started getting high. 

With Kerry reminding me that if this were an ironman, I'd have to do a marathon after so don't over do it! Noted coach! 

Over to Shelford and we picked up Lee on route. It was great to get him out too as he helped me get my PB on the Park Run the day before. 

With 10 of us riding it was a nice group, good speed and great chat. Over towards a small place called Bridgefoot and we stopped to fill up on water at the garage. It was such a hot day!! Something like 28 degrees someone said. We lost Bob & Alex as they needed to get back. 

I've become queen of cycling selfies (or some everyone tells me so I made sure I got one of everyone going up one of the small climbs (I cannot for the life of me remember where). 

LUNCH! We stopped in a lovely little cafe called Mocha in Saffron Walden. Great thing about leisurely Sunday rides is that there's no hurry to eat and get riding again. It was lovely to just have a natter together over a ciabatta and wild berry smoothie... Oh and quite a few cappuccinos (standard). 

We got going again heading back towards Newmarket. We got to Great Bradley and said Cheerio to Matt and Mark as they too needed to get back. Then there was just the four of us. Me and the three who've never done a 100 miles before. Anyone knows who's ridden with me, I'm not the most decisive or directional so we had to make a quick route to make sure we got to 100miles by the time we got back. 

Taking us more north round the right of Newmarket we got as far as Great Saxham and headed back via Barrow.

BANG! Andrew had a blow out. Checking his tyre and a big slice in it! Helping him change his tube, don't pump it up too hard so the new tube didn't pinch in the whole of the wall. Steady 12 miles back to Newmarket. 

We went slightly off course to make sure Andrew got home safe. Stopping at his for what Baron described as 'the best Coca-Cola I've ever had'!! 

Andrew had definitely done his 100 though as he cycled to Newmarket Leisure Centre which was 5.5miles. And that's all the remaining 3 of us needed to do to hit the big 100. 

Coming zooming down Duchess Drive I hit 100. Whoop. As Kerry didn't start hers until NLC, we made sure we all ride together until she hit it too. Just outside Premier Inn & wahayyy! Baron & Kerry both reached the furthest they've ever cycled. 

It was so great to have experienced it with them. I'm so proud of the three, and everyone in the club who came along in support. It was only my 2nd 100 so I'm happy too. Managed to bag a few QOMs on the efforts I did. 

What a great weekend! Oh and even crisper cycling lines ;)