Today was a road ride to Taunton. I got up early - it was still dark. I examined the dark circles under my eyes, drank 3 cups of tea, ate 4 weatabix and set off towards Ashton Court. Riding through the park is the favourite part of my ride. No cars, few people and a bit of peace above the bustle of the awakening city.
But then you fly down towards the main road and you're back in the fast lane; cars flying inches from you, water spraying up your back and onto your face, tarmac climb after tarmac climb, the headwind halving the effect of every watt you push out.
So, turn up the ipod and sing your way down the A38. I had a bit of Jose Gonzalez this morning and a few sketches of Blackadder. The old'uns are the best.
Now I'm at home with my housemate in the warm, watching the rain trickle down the window and hearing the wind batter the garden outside. I will fall asleep this afternoon and I can't wait. Sometimes I wish I could sleep forever.
Saturday, 5 January 2008
Friday, 4 January 2008
Relaxation
Today is a rest day. Today is a sort out those nitty gritty areas of life day: arrange finances, change brake pads, tidy up consultancy project, send emails and now, at last, study.
This is NOT relaxation. It took me a long time to work this out. NOT training does not mean you are relaxing and for every quantity of physical, emotional or mental stress you put on yourself you need to counter it with physical, emotional and mental recovery. I may be resting physically but mentally and emotionally I am at work.
Tonight I will be actively relaxing (mentally and emotionally) by having 3 very good friends around for supper. I may not find cooking quite so relaxing but it will be fun and they know me well enough to not stay late. I am up early in the morning to train again and then hopefully have time to pop in and see my Dad. As long as I get 8-10 hours sleep I will be well rested for a good session in the morning. I have good tunes on the ipod and some comedy sketches which keep me smiling up those hills - I am looking forward to the ride.
This is NOT relaxation. It took me a long time to work this out. NOT training does not mean you are relaxing and for every quantity of physical, emotional or mental stress you put on yourself you need to counter it with physical, emotional and mental recovery. I may be resting physically but mentally and emotionally I am at work.
Tonight I will be actively relaxing (mentally and emotionally) by having 3 very good friends around for supper. I may not find cooking quite so relaxing but it will be fun and they know me well enough to not stay late. I am up early in the morning to train again and then hopefully have time to pop in and see my Dad. As long as I get 8-10 hours sleep I will be well rested for a good session in the morning. I have good tunes on the ipod and some comedy sketches which keep me smiling up those hills - I am looking forward to the ride.
Thursday, 3 January 2008
Beautiful places
Lost
After over 3 cold hours, in which time I had to buy more gloves from a village store, I arrived back home to drink tea in the shower and examine the damage on my inflamed red skin. 3 cups later I feel better and ready to study. This is the song I listened to on repeat:
Grant my last request and just let me hold you,
Don't shrug your shoulders
Lay down beside me
Sure I can accept that we're going nowhere
But one last time let's go there
Lay down beside me, ohhh
I've found that I'm bound to wander down that long way road, ohhh
And I realise all about your lies,
But I'm no wiser than the fool that I was before.
I just want you to know something, is that alright?
Baby let's get closer, tonight.
The pictures are of Burrington Combe in the Mendips.
Wednesday, 2 January 2008
Seeing stars
The new year seems as good a time as any to start this diary. We are in day 3 of 2008 and I am sat at my desk early in the morning waiting for enough light to creep through the curtains so I can go out on my training ride. Today, 2.5 hours of road riding 'steady state'. I am desperately tired having slept for no more than 3 hours and not looking forward to the physical challenge at all, but I am anticipating the cool breeze on my face and the clarity that comes from long empty roads with excited pleasure. Riding bikes is like taking a long shower after a sweaty, unpleasant journey. You can feel the mental cobwebs sliding off you and disappearing down the plughole.
This year's challenge is to increase emotional resilience, confidence, independence and ability to relax. These things will help my real self but also my performance self: They will help me be happy but also win races.
How is it going?
Independence:
Well, I bought and fitted some new mud guards on the mtb and also had 2 of my bikes serviced, changed the tyres on my cross bike and washed and tinkered with my mtb. My bikes are my responsibility and there is no one else who will take care of them. My camelbak is fully kitted out with tools and I learnt how to tweak the caliper brakes on the cross bike so I can do it myself. A start...
Confidence:
My friends make this possible. I am lucky enough to have a very close group of friends (most of whom are superb athletes) who are supportive of my training and dedication and who offer me the emotional strength and confidence I need when I can't quite muster it myself. In time it will come from me but at the moment I still turn wide eyed to the people around me and receive strength and wisdom from them.
Emotional resilience:
Yesterday - great. Today - none. On these days it is best to avoid any possible emotional upheaval or stress.
Relaxation:
I am trying to find a yoga or pilates class in Bristol I can do (and afford). No luck so far. Any ideas?
The picture is from the most beautiful spot in the world on Exmoor. We flew down a shallow grassy slope towards the cliff edge, the view of Porlock ahead, and stopped just before we fell off the edge of the world to dive left along a perfect piece of singletrack which clung to the side of the steep slope. I gain enormous strength from these beautiful places and the bike helps me get there and experience them. People often ask why I train to much and what keeps me going - take a look...
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