Wednesday 7 July 2010

Down and give me fifty

Since finishing my teaching course and postponing my Ironman, I have felt a little rudderless with my fitness.  The Chiltern 100 and Dartmoor Classic were welcome diversions and I do have the Nottingham marathon to build towards but I am struggling to keep any focus.

I did set some goals for breaking some running PBs but to be honest, I was clutching at straws.  Other than a sub4 marathon, breaking PBs has never been a good motivator for me.

So in an effort to shake things up, I went along to a British Military Fitness session today on Clapham Common.  They let you do a free session to see if you like it or not.

The session is built around the military basic fitness program.  Its lots of running mixed in with a drill which can include press-ups, sit-ups, tuck jumps, squats, squat-thrusts, the hateful burpee (squat-thrusts followed by a jump) and the impossible bastardo (burpee with a press-up).  The make it interesting by adding in games or competition which makes you work harder.

This is most of what we did.  I can't remember the exact order:
  • Run warm-up
  • Stretch warm-up
  • Sprints
  • Races (sprints combined with exercise like press-ups)
  • Shuttle runs (tree and back, two trees and back etc.)
  • Indian runs (train of people, back person sprints to front)
  • Arm-in-arm running
  • 5 man lift (4 people carry one person, switch each leg)
  • Cool down
It was non stop apart from a 3 minute water stop.  When you finished an activity, you always ran on the spot or had an exercise to do.

The atmosphere was really nice with some nice chatting and encouragement.  The two instructors looked built and scary but were so nice and encouraging.

As for my performance, I did OK.  Running was fine but my ability with the exercises did vary.  I cannot do sit-ups!!!

I'm pretty sure I'll sign-up.  For £48 a month, you can go to as many sessions as you want and its only a 3 month contract so I'll give it a go.  Maybe it will reinvigorate my training.

No talking at the back.

I am now a teacher. Yes, 9 months of seriously hard work has come to an end and I now have my Qualified Teacher Status.

We had a big party last Friday and I think I'm still hung over. I have a job at my local primary school teaching a reception class and whilst I officially start in September, I'm going in for the last two weeks of term just to get even more experience.

Its all a bit of a come down after all the hard work but I am very excited about getting my own class and finding out what kind of teacher I will become.

So I now have 8 weeks (with 2 weeks working 9-4) to get some sleep and maybe revitalise my stalled running and riding training.

Dartmoor Classic


A couple of weeks ago, I did the Dartmoor Classic down in Devon. 106 hilly miles on and off Dartmoor.

It was at this race last year that I had my first crash, gouging a hole in my knee and elbow and costing me £500 of bike repairs. This time I managed to get around in one piece.

I am a city person.  I love London and never want to leave but I do love Devon and especially Dartmoor.  I love the stark beauty and expansive views.  I also love hills for running and cycling and there are a lot to choose from on Dartmoor.

It was a very hot day and I was worried about water.  There is one feed stop in Princetown that you go past twice but the organisers had put on more water on the course at several pubs.  Very sensible.

I knew the course from last year and from many trips to Devon to see my Dad who lives in Moretonhampstead and my mum who is in Yealmpton.  It is up and down all through the 106 miles but the biggest climbs come when you go on and off the moor.  You do this for the first time pretty soon after the start on the way to Hemsworthy.  It is long and steepish and gets the heart racing but when you get to the top, the views are amazing.


I was on my own this year and never really hooked up with a group but that was fine by me.  I just enjoyed the weather and the scenery and had a great time.  I hit 51 mph the decent into Tavistock which was fun.  I've lost a bit of my descending bottle since last years crash and it is good to let myself go from time to time.

I was not trying to break any records but I was trying to get silver (sub 7:05) so I made sure the two feed stops at Princetown were short and I pressed on where ever possible.  I did stop for a while at one water stop.  I didn't want to take the risk of dehydrating so I stopped at a scout hut and queued for 10 minutes for water.  This proved to be my undoing......I missed silver by 7 minutes.

At round 90 miles, you come off the moor for the last time and its about 3 miles down hill into Moretonhampstead where my Dad was sat outside his house.  That 3 miles and then seeing my Dad is such a great feeling.  Then its another uphill before a 10 mile stretch, mostly downhill, to the finish.

I finished in 7:12 so didn't get silver but not to worry.  I was in the top 280 our of 750 so not many got gold and silver.  I still got my bronze coin, a musette bag and a granite trophy.  I love the Fred Whitton and I had a great time at the Etape last year but I think this is my favourite ride.

On the train home to London, I got chatting to a guy with his bike who had done some crazy 100 mile night ride over Exmoor with just regular bike lights.  There is always someone who does something harder or longer or hillier or stupider than you :-)

Thursday 1 July 2010

L2B Video

L2B

Last weekend, my daughter made me feel very proud.  I wanted to do the London to Brighton charity cycle ride with her and after months of cajoling, she finally agreed.

As it came to the day, the most we had managed to do in training was about 10 miles.  She wasn't overly keen and I got the impression that if I told her she didn't have to do it, she would be delighted.  But it was on fathers day and she really didn't want to let me down.  But I was worried.

We were up at 5:20am to get to Clapham Common for our 6am start.  Adele was excited, the weather was good and I was positive we could get through the 54 miles.  My biggest concern was how Adele would handle her bike in the large crowds.

0-20 miles
I needn't have worried about her bike skills.  She was controlled and careful.  The biggest risk were the fast cyclists coming by on the right and her drifting out so I covered her back, especially on down hills.

We stopped for a drink and cake at mile 20 where we got ginger sponge, bread pudding and tea from the local scout troop.  Fabulous.  We were aiming for a 10 mph average and we were 11.5 at this stage so well ahead.

20-40 miles
The weather was bright but chilly and I never really warmed up during the entire race.  It was boiling the previous day so I guess it was better being slightly cold than scorching hot.  A few hills slowed our progress but Adele did tremendously well up the hills only walking once. She just plodded on, chatting a little and watching her computer as the miles ticked by.

40-50 miles
She was tired by this stage and the looming "mountain" of The Beacon was really worrying her.  We stopped at the bottom of the hill and she had a lie down and some caffeine sweets.  We started up the hill but the number of cyclists caused Adele to struggle to keep moving.  She did well to get up about a quarter but then stopped and walked the rest.  I cycled up and had great fun blasting past a lot of people on my crappy bike.

50-54 miles
From the top of Ditchling Beacon, it was pretty much down hill all the way to Brighton.  The down hill section was very long and fast.  Adele was nervous about speed and only let her bike get to 34 mph but that was fast enough.

The final mile into Brighton saw Adele's smile get broader and broader as she realised the enormity of her achievement.  I'm so glad I filmed her as it will be a listing testament to a great day.  I'm very proud and thought she was brilliant.  Well done Adele.