May hasn't been the greatest month for my bicycle mileage as my running has really taken its toll on my legs as they are in pretty much a permanent state of fatigue. Also, as the running programme calls for three runs a week there isn't as much time to ride. (I tried running and riding on the same day but it was just a bit too much on my legs at this stage.) So long gone are the weeks where I ride 4-5 days a week....
But before you all scream for me to stop running I should add that running does have its advantages. I definitely have more strength and stamina (on the bike too) and there has been quite a noticeable effect on my body shape - as my thighs are hips are becoming less flabby. Yay!
Anyway, here are my ride stats for the month. With only 7 rides under my belt for May I achieved 118.08 miles and an average speed of 11.6 mph. I am pretty happy with that as I did take over a week off the bike and this months wind has been pretty hellish.
As for the running count.... in May we did 13 runs. The majority of these were with my Mum but three were with Mikey who made me run a little faster (my Mum was away). We are still at the early stages of the Couch to 5k programme, but we have moved successfully onto the 3rd stage, which involves 90secs and 3mins intervals. Our running so far has covered 34.32 miles, but I guess only a third of this would probably be actual running miles. Hopefully as we progress through the programme the walking will get less and less.
In other news May saw the wonderful arrival of a new pair of pink lenses for my Radars which are pretty awesome and a few days ago Mikey purchased a Garmin Forerunner, which I can use for my Running - which seems much more accurate than the Edge. :-)
Sunday, 3 June 2012
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!
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!
Monday, 30 April 2012
April Round-Up
This month has been quite a different one, with the introduction of running to my regime.
My cycling has suffered a little but as much as having sore legs from running the weather has also been a major player in hindering my bicycle mileage.
Despite this I managed 11 rides and covered just shy of 148miles.
The longest rides were during the Easter weekend with a 22.1miler on Good Friday and 20.09 miles on Easter Monday. There has also been a tough 15 mile session on the Turbo (as it was too wet and windy outside) as well as the shortest of road rides. (The shortest in a very long time.) It was windy! Far too windy! I was on my way to meet Mikey from work but ended up turning back as in the first few miles I'd been nearly blown off three times. I got back home frustrated and with only 4.64 miles on the clock.
April also saw my introduction to Strava and Garmin-Connect, which has helped re-motivate me and encourage me to get out there and do something.
So, as well as the rides, I have been running. So far, me and my Mum have managed to do 8 runs! I use the term "run" very loosely as it is quite a slow jog. As part of the Couch to 5k plan we did 4 runs at Level 1 which is alternate 60 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking - eight times (for 20 minutes). The first few attempts were easy-ish but sadly then we met a wall as my Mums dizziness reared its ugly head and she needed to stop and sit on the floor - before she fainted!
Despite not completely conquering the first stage we decided to move up to stage 2 which involves alternate 90 seconds of running with 2 minutes of walking - a total of 6 interval runs. Despite the longer runs, it would give us more recovery time. Surprisingly I found this stage much easier than I expected. Even more shockingly the last two runs have involved some extra running. Today because our final run was interrupted when passing Mums colleague who wanted to chat - so then to make sure we had run enough, we ran for an extra 90 seconds. Then a few days ago we squeezed in an extra 60 second run - when nature called and I wanted to get home quick sticks. ;-)
Overall during our running training 19.8 miles have been covered - obviously not all of this has been running but a large majority of it has and it will soon be time to kick it up to the next level. This however, will not be done until my Mum feels confident to do so - as after all, I am running for her. I only started running to help motivate her. Without her wanting to do it I wouldn't be running at all. So we run at her speed and we will go to the next stage when she is ready - or maybe when I feel like I need to push her to the next step. ;-)
My cycling has suffered a little but as much as having sore legs from running the weather has also been a major player in hindering my bicycle mileage.
Despite this I managed 11 rides and covered just shy of 148miles.
The longest rides were during the Easter weekend with a 22.1miler on Good Friday and 20.09 miles on Easter Monday. There has also been a tough 15 mile session on the Turbo (as it was too wet and windy outside) as well as the shortest of road rides. (The shortest in a very long time.) It was windy! Far too windy! I was on my way to meet Mikey from work but ended up turning back as in the first few miles I'd been nearly blown off three times. I got back home frustrated and with only 4.64 miles on the clock.
April also saw my introduction to Strava and Garmin-Connect, which has helped re-motivate me and encourage me to get out there and do something.
So, as well as the rides, I have been running. So far, me and my Mum have managed to do 8 runs! I use the term "run" very loosely as it is quite a slow jog. As part of the Couch to 5k plan we did 4 runs at Level 1 which is alternate 60 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking - eight times (for 20 minutes). The first few attempts were easy-ish but sadly then we met a wall as my Mums dizziness reared its ugly head and she needed to stop and sit on the floor - before she fainted!
Despite not completely conquering the first stage we decided to move up to stage 2 which involves alternate 90 seconds of running with 2 minutes of walking - a total of 6 interval runs. Despite the longer runs, it would give us more recovery time. Surprisingly I found this stage much easier than I expected. Even more shockingly the last two runs have involved some extra running. Today because our final run was interrupted when passing Mums colleague who wanted to chat - so then to make sure we had run enough, we ran for an extra 90 seconds. Then a few days ago we squeezed in an extra 60 second run - when nature called and I wanted to get home quick sticks. ;-)
Overall during our running training 19.8 miles have been covered - obviously not all of this has been running but a large majority of it has and it will soon be time to kick it up to the next level. This however, will not be done until my Mum feels confident to do so - as after all, I am running for her. I only started running to help motivate her. Without her wanting to do it I wouldn't be running at all. So we run at her speed and we will go to the next stage when she is ready - or maybe when I feel like I need to push her to the next step. ;-)
Saturday, 14 April 2012
G-G-G-G-Garminnnnn!
Right, that's my 2nd run complete and I'm happy to report that it felt a lot more comfortable. The first few "one minute runs" were over quicker than I expected and apart from a few twinges in my thighs I felt overall OK. Of course I still felt like a flat footed buffoon.... but I hope that will come with time and practise and as my ankles get stronger, etc.
The only downside to the run was my Garmins inconsistency! Practically every time I looked at it, it had auto-paused - which wasn't the case as we were continuously on the move; either walking or running. Then when we got back home and uploaded the run to GarminConnect it said that our moving time was nearly 10 minutes less than the overall time. Pfft! I know that it didn't take me 10 minutes to do my shoe lace up - and other than that momentary stop - we didn't stop moving at all!
Is it possible that my lovely bicycle specific Garmin is absolutely useless for running? Can they not cope with the slower walking and running pace? Yes, they are impractical as you have to hold them in your hand or pop it in a pocket, instead of having it neatly around your wrist but surely as it works using the same satellites it should give the same reading as a Garmin Forerunner.
Then to top it off... I really don't understand the statistics. After uploading the Garmin, it stated my best pace was 7;24min/mi. It took a lot of twitter peeps (and some controversy) to explain that it meant at that pace - if I could sustain it - I could run a mile in 7mins 24 seconds. My average moving pace was 11:54min/mi - but how could I trust the accuracy of that when it only had my moving time as 24mins instead of the 31mins we were out for.
Please don't tell me that if I continue running I'll need a different Garmin to run with?
The only downside to the run was my Garmins inconsistency! Practically every time I looked at it, it had auto-paused - which wasn't the case as we were continuously on the move; either walking or running. Then when we got back home and uploaded the run to GarminConnect it said that our moving time was nearly 10 minutes less than the overall time. Pfft! I know that it didn't take me 10 minutes to do my shoe lace up - and other than that momentary stop - we didn't stop moving at all!
Is it possible that my lovely bicycle specific Garmin is absolutely useless for running? Can they not cope with the slower walking and running pace? Yes, they are impractical as you have to hold them in your hand or pop it in a pocket, instead of having it neatly around your wrist but surely as it works using the same satellites it should give the same reading as a Garmin Forerunner.
Then to top it off... I really don't understand the statistics. After uploading the Garmin, it stated my best pace was 7;24min/mi. It took a lot of twitter peeps (and some controversy) to explain that it meant at that pace - if I could sustain it - I could run a mile in 7mins 24 seconds. My average moving pace was 11:54min/mi - but how could I trust the accuracy of that when it only had my moving time as 24mins instead of the 31mins we were out for.
Please don't tell me that if I continue running I'll need a different Garmin to run with?
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Jog-on!
As well as my continuing momentum for cycling, today saw me start a new venture.
Last weekend my Mum and a few of her friends decided they would kick-start a new healthy lifestyle by starting to run by following the NHS Couch to 5k Plan. Trouble was my Mums friends don't live near here. Ones in Cambridge, the other somewhere equally far away. They had each other for motivation but not when it was most needed most - when they were running. After Mums first run I could tell she was despondent. After some encouraging words I could see she was still disheartened and in a moment of madness I told her I'd join her for her next run - for motivation and to help her feel less self conscientious. Her face lit up like a child in a sweet shop!
Unfortunately I'd failed to consider the fact that I have never run (apart from during high school.... but even then I used to just walk around the sports field) so I don't have any idea of how to. Oh yeah... then I remembered my old ankle injury - since then, whenever I have needed to try to run (such as for a bus etc) it has been excruciating and I have ended up limping. Eeek! This could see my old injury flare up again.
Ooops... then there was the tiny wee issue of shoes. Despite being a hoarder of trainers in my youth, I now actually don't own a pair of decent trainers. I have my very old and very battered Adidas Shell Toes (which even when they were new aren't practical for running in) or my Converse All-Stars - again far from ideal! Thankfully this was the easiest problem to overcome and after a quick trip to Penzance I was the proud owner of a pair of snazzy new Pumas.
Now I had the shoes, but not the skills, strength or stamina.... Hehehe... this could be quite entertaining. I could end up injured or just plain exhausted/broken.
Anyway today was the day. After work Mum came round and we set off. We had planned to walk up out of the village first before starting the programme. The last thing either of us wanted was to start out running up a pretty steep hill. So after a 10 min brisk walk we started with a 1 min jog followed by a 90second walk... which we repeated 7 more times before a 5 min walk home.
I was very surprised with how I coped as I didn't expect to manage at all. However the first jog was OK. I was very flat footed and ungraceful but it was over much sooner than I expected. I am just glad I had Mum with me or I would have probably tried to sprint for a minute and then died very quickly. We easily got to the half way point but after that the minute jogs were starting to feel longer. I was glad to finish them and by the last one I didn't actually think I would manage to sustain it, but I did.
We got home and the Garmin said we had done exactly 2 miles which had taken us 30 mins (of which only 8 mins were jogging). We wont win any gold medals for that pace but for my very first attempt at a run I am pretty pleased. I know it's still early days and it wont always be easy but today I am feeling confident that I may stick with this and help my Mum achieve her goals whilst also enjoying a new sport.
Last weekend my Mum and a few of her friends decided they would kick-start a new healthy lifestyle by starting to run by following the NHS Couch to 5k Plan. Trouble was my Mums friends don't live near here. Ones in Cambridge, the other somewhere equally far away. They had each other for motivation but not when it was most needed most - when they were running. After Mums first run I could tell she was despondent. After some encouraging words I could see she was still disheartened and in a moment of madness I told her I'd join her for her next run - for motivation and to help her feel less self conscientious. Her face lit up like a child in a sweet shop!
Unfortunately I'd failed to consider the fact that I have never run (apart from during high school.... but even then I used to just walk around the sports field) so I don't have any idea of how to. Oh yeah... then I remembered my old ankle injury - since then, whenever I have needed to try to run (such as for a bus etc) it has been excruciating and I have ended up limping. Eeek! This could see my old injury flare up again.
Ooops... then there was the tiny wee issue of shoes. Despite being a hoarder of trainers in my youth, I now actually don't own a pair of decent trainers. I have my very old and very battered Adidas Shell Toes (which even when they were new aren't practical for running in) or my Converse All-Stars - again far from ideal! Thankfully this was the easiest problem to overcome and after a quick trip to Penzance I was the proud owner of a pair of snazzy new Pumas.
 |
| The pink socks don't quite match! |
Now I had the shoes, but not the skills, strength or stamina.... Hehehe... this could be quite entertaining. I could end up injured or just plain exhausted/broken.
Anyway today was the day. After work Mum came round and we set off. We had planned to walk up out of the village first before starting the programme. The last thing either of us wanted was to start out running up a pretty steep hill. So after a 10 min brisk walk we started with a 1 min jog followed by a 90second walk... which we repeated 7 more times before a 5 min walk home.
I was very surprised with how I coped as I didn't expect to manage at all. However the first jog was OK. I was very flat footed and ungraceful but it was over much sooner than I expected. I am just glad I had Mum with me or I would have probably tried to sprint for a minute and then died very quickly. We easily got to the half way point but after that the minute jogs were starting to feel longer. I was glad to finish them and by the last one I didn't actually think I would manage to sustain it, but I did.
We got home and the Garmin said we had done exactly 2 miles which had taken us 30 mins (of which only 8 mins were jogging). We wont win any gold medals for that pace but for my very first attempt at a run I am pretty pleased. I know it's still early days and it wont always be easy but today I am feeling confident that I may stick with this and help my Mum achieve her goals whilst also enjoying a new sport.
Sunday, 8 April 2012
March Round Up & other news.
Ooops I appear to have been neglecting to blog recently....
So much so that I haven't even done a March Round up yet... so here it is.... drumroll please....
The first couple of weeks of March were a tad non-eventful just managing around 25miles per week but then as the weather brightened so did my mood and on the last couple of weeks I hit my long neglected 50 mile per week target, bringing my target up to a respectable distance as I managed to muster up a not to shabby 146.5 miles.
As well as the good weather there has also been a new incentive. Just before the end of March, sweet Mikey came home with a very special and surprise gift for me - a Garmin Edge 200. His new obsession with Strava obviously gave him the idea to get me a little more motivated.
It did the trick and the very first ride that I did with it (March 28th)... was so much more fun and I even pushed myself to ride 20 local miles - something that I haven't really done for a while now.
The next ride (the last in March) wasn't as great as the weather was awful - as usual the wind was the issue...
... but I wasn't deterred too much and the momentum continued in April with a 16miler on the 1st, a 22miler on Good Friday and today another 20 miles.
I am now also on Strava and it is great fun.... keeping track of your progress and comparing yourself to other riders. I am nowhere near the other two females that use Strava in this area.... but it is great fun pushing myself up hills in the hope that the other girls haven't been up there yet.
All my effort payed off and today after I practically killed myself to get up a nasty little hill (only 1/2 a mile but 15% at its steepest and a 6.2% average) to become Queen of the Mountain! Yay! ... I may have been 9minutes behind the overall male leader - who happens to be Mikey - and I "may" have had to stop for a mo and I may have only managed about 2mph at some points but by jove I did it - and there's no bloody taking that away from me. ;-) The only other time I have attempted it I had to stop about 4-5 times.
So much so that I haven't even done a March Round up yet... so here it is.... drumroll please....
The first couple of weeks of March were a tad non-eventful just managing around 25miles per week but then as the weather brightened so did my mood and on the last couple of weeks I hit my long neglected 50 mile per week target, bringing my target up to a respectable distance as I managed to muster up a not to shabby 146.5 miles.
As well as the good weather there has also been a new incentive. Just before the end of March, sweet Mikey came home with a very special and surprise gift for me - a Garmin Edge 200. His new obsession with Strava obviously gave him the idea to get me a little more motivated.
It did the trick and the very first ride that I did with it (March 28th)... was so much more fun and I even pushed myself to ride 20 local miles - something that I haven't really done for a while now.
The next ride (the last in March) wasn't as great as the weather was awful - as usual the wind was the issue...
... but I wasn't deterred too much and the momentum continued in April with a 16miler on the 1st, a 22miler on Good Friday and today another 20 miles.
I am now also on Strava and it is great fun.... keeping track of your progress and comparing yourself to other riders. I am nowhere near the other two females that use Strava in this area.... but it is great fun pushing myself up hills in the hope that the other girls haven't been up there yet.
All my effort payed off and today after I practically killed myself to get up a nasty little hill (only 1/2 a mile but 15% at its steepest and a 6.2% average) to become Queen of the Mountain! Yay! ... I may have been 9minutes behind the overall male leader - who happens to be Mikey - and I "may" have had to stop for a mo and I may have only managed about 2mph at some points but by jove I did it - and there's no bloody taking that away from me. ;-) The only other time I have attempted it I had to stop about 4-5 times.
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Singing on the by-pass.
Yesterday I was riding over to meet Mikey from work. It was a lovely sunny day but as ever the ocean wind was brutal. Ah well, I'd have a tail wind all the way there. I decided to take the longer route there - along the by-pass - as with the tail wind it would be fun and super fast.
Weeeeeee! I was having a blast. I had a song repeating over and over in my head. I didn't know many of the words so it was just the same two lines over and OVER. Trouble was it wasn't just in my head - I was singing at the top of my lungs. Ah well, at least the people in the cars wouldn't hear me over their engines and the wind.
About 3 miles in and at the first roundabout (the first place that I needed to take a proper look over my shoulder) I realised I had a cyclist on my tail. Jeez! How long had he been there? I had been singing/wailing for the last few miles and there's no way he couldn't have heard me.
I said a quick hello, trying not to look too embarrassed, before heading across the roundabout and taking my exit. Weeeee! The wind was still with me but I realised I was very early so I slowed down. I hardly needed to pedal. This was fun. Without thinking, I started singing again. The same song, The same two lines. The same tone-deaf wailing.
Ooops, another quick turn to negotiate around a parked car and I was mortified to see I still had company. Eek.. I hadn't realised the cyclist had followed me. Had I not learnt anything? If he hadn't heard me the first time, he would definitely have heard this time. Sheeesh! Ah well. It was too late now. The next roundabout and he was still sat behind me - not sure why he was still behind me, as like I said my speed had dropped dramatically due to being too early for my rendezvous. Maybe he was enjoying my beautiful catawailing. Yeah right. ;-)
I meet Mikey just near a an industrial estate but to get to the meeting place I have to turn back on myself to go and wait in a lay-by. At this final roundabout the chap was still there. He looked a little bemused when I signalled and manoeuvred to go all the way round but surely by now he realised I was a complete oddball.
Ah well, just maybe my cheeryness made him smile on an otherwise boring daily commute.
Weeeeeee! I was having a blast. I had a song repeating over and over in my head. I didn't know many of the words so it was just the same two lines over and OVER. Trouble was it wasn't just in my head - I was singing at the top of my lungs. Ah well, at least the people in the cars wouldn't hear me over their engines and the wind.
About 3 miles in and at the first roundabout (the first place that I needed to take a proper look over my shoulder) I realised I had a cyclist on my tail. Jeez! How long had he been there? I had been singing/wailing for the last few miles and there's no way he couldn't have heard me.
I said a quick hello, trying not to look too embarrassed, before heading across the roundabout and taking my exit. Weeeee! The wind was still with me but I realised I was very early so I slowed down. I hardly needed to pedal. This was fun. Without thinking, I started singing again. The same song, The same two lines. The same tone-deaf wailing.
Ooops, another quick turn to negotiate around a parked car and I was mortified to see I still had company. Eek.. I hadn't realised the cyclist had followed me. Had I not learnt anything? If he hadn't heard me the first time, he would definitely have heard this time. Sheeesh! Ah well. It was too late now. The next roundabout and he was still sat behind me - not sure why he was still behind me, as like I said my speed had dropped dramatically due to being too early for my rendezvous. Maybe he was enjoying my beautiful catawailing. Yeah right. ;-)
I meet Mikey just near a an industrial estate but to get to the meeting place I have to turn back on myself to go and wait in a lay-by. At this final roundabout the chap was still there. He looked a little bemused when I signalled and manoeuvred to go all the way round but surely by now he realised I was a complete oddball.
Ah well, just maybe my cheeryness made him smile on an otherwise boring daily commute.
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