6 Weeks to go - send help!

Count down is now certainly in full swing. With only 6 weeks to go until the challenge i find myself trying desperately to get myself ready for the miles ahead.

After heading out last weekend (9th August) and taking on the road sections from Hicks Lodge Leicester to Cannock, and then from Cannock to Eastridge a slight panic seems to be setting in.

Cannock to Eastridge is the longest road section of the challenge at 55 miles. Not a great distance but somewhat of a struggle for me when i rode it last weekend. I tried to follow the fueling that i had practised the week before on the hilly 100, eating and fueling every 45min/1hr and either substance or gel alternating. This started well but towards the end i felt full and over fed and legs were in no fit state either.

Getting to the van at Eastridge i felt quite sad and more nervous about the challenge than i have ever felt before. Lots of what if's going through my mind. What if I am feeling like this on the challenge day? faced with 143 miles and no ooooomph i am worried i will not be able to complete.

Pedaling always feels better with friends and good legs

I thought long and hard about the ride at the weekend and I have come to the conclusion that i struggled for a couple of reasons. 1. Hard ride on the Saturday before in a fast paced group for me legs were a tad tired 2. Not stopping at all but simply fueling on the bike, note to self! 3. I had no friends meh! - riding solo for the first time in a while and i think that not having the distraction really affected me. I normally use my road bike for fitness sessions and going out on group rides so the lack of others in that setting felt weird. Struggles aside i did complete the sections that i set out to ride that day so taking that as a positive and the route was a treat too passing through Ironbridge on the way to Eastridge.

I did manage to pull over and reward my bike with a pic against the famous bridge.

This weekend is a non bike affair for me away for a weekend watching Mark race motorbikes instead. Full spectator duty for me and plenty of coffee to go with. Resuming the bike miles on Monday with another big ride planned.

M....out riding somewhere!