Bring On The Taper!!

Hallelujah!! Last long ride completed today. 6 hours 20 minutes. The relief I (and my bits) feel is so welcome.

The long ride has been part of my schedule for so long that I will probably get withdrawal symptoms. Orrr not.  To be honest I couldn't be happier. The getting up at 7am, packing, preparing the bike, cycling in all weathers for 4/5/6 hours is beginning to get tedious. It isn't fun or exciting anymore, it isn't something I look forward to. It has become a bit of a chore. Last week I was meant to have a 5 hour. It was chucking it down. Within 15 minutes I was soaked through and cold, and I just thought, I've had enough, not doing it. I just turned around and went home. And I didn't particularly feel guilty about it either. I just snapped, and did not want to carry on and make myself unhappy, angry, and completely miserable for 5 hours. Anyone who has read previous posts will know that I despise cycling in the rain, and I also get very stroppy when cold.

I had intended to get up at 6.30am this morning, and be back for 12.30. My alarm went off and I didn't hear it. The next thing I knew was when the phone started ringing. I jolted awake, opened one eye and saw it was my friend (and fellow cycling buddy). I answered, and bless her, she was phoning to make sure that I was up, because she knew that this was the last big one. She also knew of my atrocious sleeping patterns, insomnia and just general inability to get out of the bed. In my defense, it really isn't laziness, I am a very bad sleeper, and last night it was 3am before I dropped off. Waking up 3 and a half hours later to cycle for 6 hours REALLY wasn't going to happen. It takes me so long to sleep that when I finally do I am so tired that I don't hear the alarm, or I switch it off and roll over without even realising it.
She insisted I get right out of the bed before she went, and that was actually a pretty good tactic. If I'd still been in the bed the quilt would have been back over my head before I'd even said bye.

So anyway, I got up, went upstairs and sat staring into space while robotically chewing my muesli, trying to feel psyched. Cycling really was the last thing I wanted to do.

I got the bike ready and set off. A few friends who are also doing Outlaw were doing loops, so my plan was to cycle out there, do a loop on my own, meet them for one loop, then cycle home again.
I was taking one isotonic gel every 30 minutes. That does seem to work ok for me. By the time I was on the 12th one though it really wasn't an appetising prospect. Someone suggested a cheese and rocket sandwich, which sounds mighty fine to me, but how am I meant to carry that?! The marathon will be an unknown, obviously I haven't been running at all, so haven't been able to practice. I'm just planning to eat whatever they give me at the feed stations!

By mile 55 my knees really started to ache. By mile 60 I started to feel really knackered and fed up. Which worried me slightly. I shouldn't really be feeling knackered and fed up until around 75.. It was too early to feel so bad! I needn't have worried, because by mile 75 I just felt awful. Usually these feelings pass, you get ups and downs. But I can honestly say it didn't pass. I continued to feel completely  awful until I got home, which was mile 90. I am assuming (and hoping) that this was because I am tired and not 100% anyway, and also that the way home is quite undulating, which isn't great when you have burning quads. I felt quite disheartened by how bad I felt. Now, lets go run a marathon.......!!!
At least my bits didn't hurt TOO much. The reason for that is because I am now the proud owner of some Assos shorts. I've saved up for ages, and today was our first outing. They are very comfortable, and did make quite a difference, but still not sure I can justify the cost! Or maybe I can. I've suffered with saddle sores the whole time I've been training for this, so I think my bits deserve some TLC now!

I've never been happier to see my back door. I got in, and went and sat in the bath for half an hour with a protein shake. I do feel huge relief that the bulk of it is over. I'm looking forward to next week and my ''long'' ride of 2 hours! :)

Jesus, nearly there.... 3 weeks and counting!

I'm just going to quickly add a bit about the naked group of people I saw standing at the side of the road....
Actually that isn't true, it was just to keep your attention whilst I say my bit about charity. I do really dislike asking people for money, it feels really impolite, hence why I never do sponsorship. But this year is the one year that I am. As previous readers will know, I lost my Nan last year, (it's a year on Saturday actually) and I wanted to raise a bit of money to help the Nottingham City Hospital Chemotherapy Department, where she was treated. If everyone reading this gave just £1 it'd all add up and really help. Please support a fantastic cause. God forbid, but we or people we care for may need them someday. There's a link at the top of the page. Ta!