A tale of exploration and of food deprivation

After a great day at university (having solved my methodological problems for my dissertation) i got home shoved a couple of tuna sandwiches in my mouth and got on my bike. I started the cycle expecting to do the normal (slightly boring) ride up the A6 and around either Shinning Cliff or Black Rocks pending my physical state. However, for some unknown reason i turned off the A6 unexpectedly, so i kept going and then decided to turn of this road until i found a footpath up onto the Chevin (a nice little ridge of a hill traveling alongside the A6).

After i came down of the Chevin i felt in the mood for more exploring so i tried numerous roads and paths but kept failing until i stumbled on a road i new from a 30k race i had done previously, so i sped off and up the grassy footpath beyond that. when i hit the next road the hunger pains kicked in, so i opened my Camel Back and ate a bar which made me more hungry so i ate another and another and another oooh and then my last one. So much for rationing!!

After my food binge i arrived at the woods and cycled around them taking some new routes in and didn’t even know existed. after an hour of playing on crags, jumps and pointy rocks i headed back to the A6. I cycled back along the Chevin and took the back route to my house reaching 36.5 mph which il aim to improve on next time :D.

Welcome to the ultramarathon club

Yeh thats right today i went on a little training run that turned into 52 km taking me just under 5 hours. I began by stuffing my camell back with bars, water and full waterproofs incase things got hairy.

so i set off at about 4pm and decided to run to Shinning Cliff about 16km away and then back, but i was enjoying it so much i decided to go all the way to Black Rocks and catch the train home. My journey to Black Rocks sore me getting chased by about 40 cows i was very very scared and ran very very fast. After which i took my 1st of two pit stops, at a farm shop a few miles from black rocks, i was in and out in 2 min and bought 2 pints of milk that was super creamy, i ran with the bottle munching some bars for a few miles till i reached the top of Black Rocks.

leaving black rocks it started to rain and got dark very quickly, i ran down the high peak trail to the A6, passing under a bridge in the dark i couldnt see a thing and for fear of falling i produced some impressive high knees.

from here on it got very boring and i had 14 miles of it, all road and i dont really like roads. tell you the truth the best bit about the roads was the uphill, where there was much less impact upon my joints. i stopped for my second time in Belper for some electrolytes courtesy of a Morrison's petrol station. i pushed hard gritting my teeth, my stride shortening with every step and my right knee decided it didnt like bending anymore and gave up about a mile from home.

well it certainly feels nice to be seated just worried im stuck here !!

40 miles of cycling for 6 km of running ??

For some unknown reason i decided to help DVO out, by being a controller at Carsington pastures next week. So yesterday i cycled 20 miles up their whilst blaring my motivational playlist on my ipod! On route i almost squashed a stoat that was playing chicken with me ... bit i won!!

It took me 1 hour and 40 min to get to their so i had a quick 30 min snooze in the sunshine on the hill side whilst i waited to meet the other controller and planner, we walked and jogged about for an hour or so. We said our goodbyes and parted.

The way home was an amazing cycle, i took a different more off road route that was slightly longer but so much more fun !! I reached 38 mph and averaged 18 mph making my journey home 20 mins quicker.

I got home and dont think i could have been any dirtier!! spent ages cleaning the bike today wish i could just pop it in the shower with me and apply some raddox haha !!