Slowly slowly

Well, so far this year I have managed the grand total of three rides. The first was with Mikey and it was really grim weather and pretty uneventful.  Just over 10 miles were done before I called it a day.

The next ride was a lone pootle last Saturday.  I was really determined to get my weekly target last week so I set off on a little adventure. It was mild out but the wind was strong and even on the downhills I could barely manage much more than 10mph due to horrendous headwinds.  I took it really easy, knowing that I wanted to ride the following day with Mikey.  Another 10 miles completed with a shockingly low average speed of 10mph - 2mph under what I was doing a few months back - Ah well, its not like I'd tried too hard. Phewph!

The following day I was mortified to discover my legs were actually empty!  Despite taking it easy the day before, every pedal stroke was taking a huge effort today.  Grrr... how quickly I have become unfit again?  I had hoped to do a 15+ mile ride today but my broken legs and the nasty weather had other ideas.  No matter which was we turned we were hitting the wind at full force. It was awful, it must have been over 30mph. I kept trying to tuck in behind Mikey but it was impossible to stay there safely as he was sucking me along much faster than he was going.  On top of that on each hill we had to climb I was noticeably slower than usual. I just hope it was more due to the violent headwinds, more than my unfitness! Only 10 miles added to my total, meaning I was still short on my weekly total, but at least I was heading in the right direction.

I had planned to ride again sometime this week, but I just haven't found the motivation to do so which means yet again I will fall short on my target.  I am feeling really disheartened by my shock discovery of being back to square one.  I just hope that the weather starts to dramatically improve (or at least that the winds drop considerably) so I can get back on track before I find myself back where I was 2 years ago - overweight and very unfit!

Eeek! I am really hoping that it wont take too long to get me back to my previous fitness levels and beyond, I just need to find some motivation somewhere. Anyone got any to spare?

Happy New Year

Hi all.  Just wanted to wish everyone a happy New Year and all the best for 2012.

I guess it's also that time to do a monthly roundup, but I'm too scared - I've done practically nothing this month; life and ill health have just got in the way.

Eek! Do I have to? *sighs and wanders of to look at ride log*

Oh no, I knew it was bad.... but its worse than I expected.... Decembers grand total comes... drumroll please....

51.5miles. *Hangs head in shame*

Looking on the bright side things can only get better right? This damn infection that started at the beginning of the month surely will go soon.  Not content with making me have a week off the bike when I had the initial full blown cold, it then manifested itself into a nasty sore throat and cough, which has made breathing difficult to say the least. For the first time in a long time I am finding myself breathless at the top of the stairs. :-(

Anyway, today is the start of a New Year. If this year had been more successful I would have increased my target again but as things stand (and still not up to full health) I will make the sensible choice of leaving things as they are.

One thing all this ill health does show is just how much the cycling was keeping my asthma at bay. No sooner as I slowed down my body started to struggle with its fight against all those pesky germs I meet on a daily basis.

Ah well, with the New Year comes new hope (and at least I managed a more than I did last year - just) ;-)