Saturday 19 May 2012

Pedalling with Polarcherry

Its been a while since I posted but I'm happy to report that things have been going OK. I have been cycling, but not as much as I'd like, but that's mainly due to the fact that I am still enjoying running so there are less days to get a ride in but mainly my legs are well and truly feeling fatigued.

At the start of the month, I only managed a couple of short rides and they were pretty painful on the old thighs. My thighs have never really been much of a problem on the bike - except for on the steepest hills - so I know that it was just probably because I was working new muscles - muscles which have never been used before.

The following week was a great week. Starting with a meet of my old blogger friend Adele who was visiting Cornwall with her husband Rik. We met them at a local village to ours (about 3 miles away), but unfortunately the meeting point was at the top of a steep hill. It is only 0.3miles long but has on average grade of 7.7%.  I was slow up it as I didn't want to be completely dead when we met at the top, but it was still soddin' hard. (Amazingly after getting home I found that I had actually achieved a Strava Queen of The Mountains).

After quick introductions we set off on our adventure. The first few roads were OK as they are my local roads and I know them well, but then we headed over towards St Ives. I also know these roads. The last (and only other) time I'd ridden them  was 2 years ago when I did the Audax.  Back then I suffered badly so as I was riding all I could think off was about how last time I had struggled.  I kinda out-psyched myself at times, but as we were with two new friends it offered a nice distraction.  That is until we got on the up-and-down-and-relentless Coast road.  Now I was shattered and the brutal head winds weren't helping. Thankfully despite me having to stop on a number of occasions we finally got to a pub for a drink and some chips. Mmm!

It was then time to get back on the bikes. With a change of direction, the wind was now with us and with Rik heading up the chain gang we all enjoyed a fast ride back in his slipstream.

The ride back was great fun, apart from a sudden cramp in my right quad. Ouch! I've never had such a bad cramp whilst riding. I actually had to get off and walk for a while. Which comically, when I got home I found again, despite my walking I had got a Queen of the Mountain.  Being one of the only few female riders in Cornwall can be quite useful. ;)

When we were back to their car, Adele offered us a lift home and despite the lingering cramp pains and complete fatigue I declined. I think everyone was quite surprised by this refusal but I just wanted to make this the longest ride of the year... with just three more miles I would make it to 30miles. It was stupid I know, but my stubbornness kicked in. I had to do it!

That week I actually managed to reach that long neglected 50mile weekly total but I started to pay for it as my legs are feeling the strain. So much so, that this week I have given myself a week off the bike. I am still running though. We are on Run 15 now. There is a definite improvement in my running ability and stamina and even the shape of my legs but I just needed a little respite. So the bikes have been having a little rest. Not for too long though!