I had a couple of weeks break from blogging and probably will continue to write every few weeks from now on. Usual format, Lee first, then the cycling bits.
A couple of weekends ago Lee had a weekend at centre parks with friends. Here she is, gingerbread person painting! If you don't know the Queen of cakes is very creative and loves this sort of thing!
There's the cheeky chaps on the shelf at home! She had a great time with her good friends and I really must thank them for looking after Lee. Whilst it undoubtedly did her a lot of good she was exhausted for a week afterwards.
The pattern of Lee's days remain constant. She still needs that afternoon nap every day. She's still very tired and very sore but this week I think we've seen a small improvement. For the first time since she went to hospital the Queen of cakes 🎂 has achieved her 8000 steps daily target one day this week.
So to summarise. No dramas (for Lee at least,) signs of improvement, the long slow recovery continues!!!
For me it's been the usual blend of dog walks, running, junior parkrun, and lots of cycling.
I'm taking part in a sponsored challenge for the Cavell Trust. This organisation provides help for Nurses and Midwives facing hardship. The challenge is #10kForNursesAndMidwives and you decide for yourself how to do this. If it wasn't cx season I'd run 10k every day however that would not help my cycling so I'm just making sure I do 10k of activity every day in October. It's also worth looking up the story of Edith Cavell. She was executed by the German army in the 1st World War for assisting soldiers to escape from Belgium where she worked as a nurse. Edith_Cavell My sponsor page is available on either Facebook or on my Instagram bio and on Twitter.
Pesky little bolts 🔩
As well as riding I've been doing a bit of maintenance. I'm quite pleased with myself for changing a bottom bracket and some other bits and bobs!
There are two reasons why I look forward to the start of the week. The first is coaching KCC cyclones. The second is the Corby Capers CX training group on Tuesday nights.
These two sessions look the same but they weren't!!!
I think Tuesday's session summed up whilst these are so good. Firstly we gathered at the start to discuss the race on Sunday. Then we were worked hard by Sean in a session of corners, hills, hurdles and intervals. At the end everyone helped to tidy the course and put the equipment away. It's just a wonderful group to belong to!
Last Sunday we had another dry fast race at Western Park Leicester. The course featured hurdles on a hill and some technical sections of single track and tree roots! I'm not massively happy with my ride, I was tired almost instantly and trudged round, finishing 2nd from last! I was hoping for better and think I could have picked up a few places by a 20 seconds a lap improvement. The truth is that I just couldn't push. My preparation was probably all wrong. I rode too hard in the club ride the day before, instead of then putting my feet up I did loads of garden work and then on Sunday morning I was the RD at parkrun! All of this after a very stressful week at work! Lesson learned (sounds unlikely doesn't it,) and I will try to do it all better next time. Or as Peter Cook said: "I've learned from my mistakes and could repeat them entirely!"
Don't get me wrong though. This was still fun and it was lovely to share the ride with clubmates from KCC and RFWCC and training mates from capers! #onecyclingfamily
One of my other cycling families is the Cyclasylum. For the last two weeks we've had fantastic group rides. We enjoyed the countryside in reasonable weather. We've ridden hard and laughed harder. Just like the Capers, these lads keep me sane, which is kind of the point of the club name.
Happy birthday also yesterday for one of the best blokes I know Richard Golding! I think he's looking splendid for 56.
It was also Steve Minney's birthday the day before so happy birthday 🎂 to him too!
The last thing to mention is that I've written this watching the National Road Race championships. I've only seen the senior men's race so I need to find the highlights for the other races. Lots of people I ride with are there for what looks like fantastic racing. I believe Phil and Dave pictured rode there and are riding back, probably joined by the machine that is Ian Bird.
Happy Pedalling!
