Resumption of the Challenge

Don't you just hate blogs which start and then disappear! Sorry for not keeping up with this, but I have an excuse and I think you will forgive me if you knew what it was.

Last week, I mostly cycled. I think I did 100 miles approximately. I also ran 20k on the treadmill and did three sessions in the gym. 

On Friday and Saturday, I took a complete rest and, sadly for me, ate like a horse after a session on the Moroccan Black. 

 I probably set myself back six weeks. This challenge is one of the toughest things I have ever done. You cannot get off the scales for a second. It's iron discipline. I am consoling myself with the knowledge that I nearly smoked after seven years on Friday (but didn't) and I managed to stay out of the pub after Friday - three double brandies and five pints of cider. 

Last week, up till Thursday, I have never been so busy. I was in constant motion, always cycling, unable to sit down. I even enjoyed the weight session on the Thursday. That, for me, is a breakthrough - I detest weight training. But after the weekend, you may as well forget it in terms of forward progress. 

I shall extend the deadline until October 1st. 

Sunday 10th August 2014

Ran 12.5 miles, half of it, down the trail, in pouring rain, the tail end of Hurricane Bertha. I was drenched before I reached the mansion on Westgate. I listened to DSOTM and finally ran up Halam Hill toward the end of the half marathon. I am running distance once per week. My legs were extremely sore after, and I had forgotten to lube, so certain bits were pretty chafed!

Monday 11th August 2014

Gym session. Mostly unable to move my legs.

Tuesday 12th August 2014

Another gym session. 

Wednesday 13th August

7.5 k on x-trainer and treadmill watching Jeremy Kyle. Legs were okay - slightly worried about my knee. Out the rest of the day so that will be it.

Glorious Goodwood Week - Retrofitted

I've been busy all week. Each year, I take a week off to watch Glorious Goodwood and this year proved no exception. I have kept up the challenge, but didn't have time to record it. Here's the retro.

Every time I mention the words weights session, please picture a man yawning in abject boredom.

Day Fifty One: Tuesday 29th July

AM: Weights session. 

PM: Cycled to Newark and back (18.5 miles) (Racecourse route)

Day Fifty Two: Wednesday 30th July

AM: Treadmill and X Trainer. 1 hour. 800 calories expended. Interval training.

PM: Cycled to Newark and back (16miles) (As above)

Day Fifty Three: Thursday 31st July

AM: Farnsfield run along nature trail. Plus the run to and from the trail - approximately 12 miles. Two hours.

Day Fifty Four: Friday 1st August

AM: Rest and recovery day

Day Fifty Five: Saturday 2nd August

AM: 8k X-Trainer and Treadmill

PM: Cycle to Newark and back. The return journey was one of the best cycle rides I have ever had. Perfect conditions for it too. Absolutely flew, even on my trundler. If I had a decent bike, it would have been something special.

Day Fifty Six: Sunday 3rd August

AM: Six Hills run. Approximately four and half miles from Southwell to Thurgarton. Then back again. I may run up to Brackenhurst the back way - or I may not. I used to cane this run back in early 2012 - lets hope I get the same vibe today.

(Did it. Tough old run. Now time for another cycle to Newark.)

PM: In the end, I cycled to Bilsthorpe and back down the Trail. 15 mile round trip, followed by half an hour in the sauna.

Day Fifty Seven: Monday 4th August

Decided to cycle to Nottingham and back. I travelled there down through Lowdham and BJ, turning up through Westdale Lane. That was like cycling up the Matterhorn. It took me an hour and forty minutes to get to Sherwood for my meeting, but twenty minutes of that were spent up Westdale - a nightmare.

Cycled back up Mansfield Road, toward Doncaster, down to Oxton and up along the Oxton Road to Southwell. It's approximately thirty four miles in all. Beautiful sunshine.