This week’s training…..

I'm still looking after my back so I have only trained once a day since last week (well, twice a day if you count the ride in and the ride back on Wednesday). The gym has been fine although it has left my back a bit stiff, yesterday's ride was easier on the way back given the wind direction. Circuit training was quite hard today but I think I didn't eat enough during the morning.

Fuelling is a key part of completing this ride, I have been thinking a lot about getting enough carbohydrate down my throat to avoid that nasty 'empty' feeling. The stove cooks up pasta easily but this may get a bit dull. I also need to make sure that I have plenty of veg and fruit to strike a nutritional balance. Snacking throughout the day on things like bananas, raisins or malt loaf will ensure I make it to the next hot meal. I have been offered an army 24 hour ration pack to try – 6,000 calories apparently. I'll give this a go on a long training ride I think.

A colleague at work is keen to join me when I bleep test next (end of November), we are having a practice tomorrow. He is a very good runner but is unsure about turning at the cone – I suspect that he will smash me into a cocked hat in terms of oxygen uptake when it comes to the test itself but then that should raise my game. Not that it will be competitive at all….