Hello blog lovers.
You can probably see, it's a cycling blog! Yup, I am doing a bit of cross training trying to get as fit as I can before I do my second every marathon! And probably the last one! It's a bloomin long way, but I just want to do it one more time, but this time do it right!
Anyway, after a days Christmas shopping all I really wanted to do was to snuggle under my duvet and just browse the Internet, plays games and chat with family and friends. So when the Old Boy said 'You coming out for a short one to Downe?" I really wasn't feeling 'it'. It was dark and cold, and I was nice a warm and snuggle. I was just about to browse the Internet for more gift ideas. I turned on my computer, pulled my blanket around me and started to settle down.
But a little voice in my head was telling me to get off my arse and get out and do some exercises, a bit of cross training will do me good! It was a struggle, let me tell you! I was looking at my computer trying to convince myself that this is where I should actually stay! But I said to the Old Boy "Ok, lets do it, lets go for a ride" I couldn't believe I was actually getting off my backside! But there I was, going upstairs to put on cycling layers!
After pumping up my tyres we were ready. We were only going to head up to Downe Village, along to Jail Lane and then down to Biggin Hill and home. Like he says, a short one. But for me, it's up hill and it won't be a quick one! I have not been on my bike for ages, my cycling arse as all but gone, and my cycling legs have turned into running legs! But it is very good cross training, and I should try and keep it up, at least once a week!
Downe Village, like I say, it's uphill, so its very good for training. I am going to try and get up here in one go, without stopping. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it, but that is in my mind. It's going to be uncomfortable, it's going to be a bit hard but I am going to try my hardest to do it none stop. I should be able to, for goodness sakes, I've been at this running and cycling lark for flippin ages now!
The Old Boy stayed behind me all the way, and it was just as well, because just as we was coming down Church road he noticed that the batteries was going on my back light. So carried on riding until we got the the entrance to the car park for High Elms country Park, and just pulled there to change the batteries. With that done, and a nice little rest before the ascending road, we were back on our bikes.
I found it real tough, but I kept on, didn't stop! I kept thinking, it's only a short ride, and once at the top its all virtually down hill with some little bumps till we get home! Just before we got to the top I really did start to struggle. I so wanted to just stop for a second, or even walk, but I knew I would kick myself if I did. I remembered last time I did this route, I stopped somewhere around about this very spot, and I was very annoyed with myself. So I let out a groan, in fact several groans, I huffed and puffed, and moaned and groaned all the way up, "That's it Old Girl, we're nearly there, the flat bit is just up here" he said.
We could hear the dogs barking in the stables, probably because of the grunts and groans coming from me, and then I knew, just a little further and we will be in the centre of the Village, at least I think that is the centre, I am sure it is! They had their festive lights on, with the obligatory glowing reindeer, moving reindeer at that! It does look very pretty!
From here I find the rest of the ride home quite pleasant......normally.......but now that it's winter my feet are starting to get very cold. Although I have two pair of socks on (one pair being thermals) they were still cold. The rest of me at that time, was quite toasty. I had thick winter gloves on with liners, a long sleeve top, long sleeve cycling jersey plus my rain/wind jacket! Around my neck I had snood, (a freebie from the cycling magazines) plus another one on my head (again, another freebie from the Jogging Hippo, after I complained of being cold a couple of years ago!) and also I had a woolly hat one! Do you think I was maybe a tad overdressed! Well, all I knew is that I wasn't freezing! I hate being cold. But my feet was started to worry me!
The lovely ride down to the Keston Mark was fantastic! Of course there were those bumps to negotiate, but I tried to keep my legs spinning up the hills so that I didn't slow down too much, I not sure if I did too well, but we go there!
Just the short bit through the allyway and then home! I felt quite pleased that I did it. Although I really didn't want to go out earlier, I felt better that I actually listened to myself for once and did it! I'm not sure if this new found mojo for exercise will stay with me, but I know it needs to!
Just one more thing, when I went to switch off my back light it wasn't there! Heavens knows when that fell off my bike! Flipping annoyed about that!! If anyone sees it anyway, please let me know!! Thanks x
