The animals of Petts Wood

Back on plan today and it stated 9 miles in 1:18:00 I was a bit suspicious about my ability to do this and opted to slow it down a little changing my Garmin to the same distance in 1:25:00. I had woken fairly early and surprisingly up for a run despite the copious amounts of meat I had eaten last night at the Hard Rock Cafe.
The satellites were not up as early as me which was frustrating so I set off before they could catch on, I was slightly disheartened as the pace seemed quite slow so I pushed and pushed, before long I was running at about the right pace for the original plan so wondered how long I could keep it up.
The pace was much easier to maintain then I thought it would be and I happily ran along and did a bit or bird spotting..... there were magpies, wood pigeons, jays, parakeets. It felt a bit like the Animals of Farthing wood as I went along with birds, squirrels and foxes going about their Sunday morning routines!
The time seemed to fly by and before long I was well past halfway with only 2 miles to go until home. Sadly the last mile was mostly an incline but I kept a decent pace and was soon coasting along my road to the front door. My post run re-fuel was poached eggs on Marmite toast and a nice cuppa. Oh and the time 1:18:40 so I think this bodes well for the Brussels half marathon next weekend. 

Winging It

So half of our palace to palace team set out on a bike ride today, carefully planned by me... oh and when I say half just me and hubby. We wanted a route of about 30 miles and this is what I carefully prepared with a mix of hills and flats and some nice countryside. We set off up Sevenoaks Way, a tough long upward slog towards Badgers Mount where we did in fact see some badger road kill (bad times). 
There were many other cyclists out on the roads today and all a friendly bunch, or maybe it was pity in their hello's as they passed us and became a speck in the distance before disappearing altogether. Soon enough we reached Sevenoaks  about 12 miles into our journey, we passed along the High Street and kept our eyes peeled for out next turning as we ventured into unfamiliar territory. So unfamiliar that hubby missed the turn and went flying down a huge hill - despite my best efforts to scream at him to stop he as gone and I had no choice to descend for over a mile to catch him up and give him the bad news... the turning was back up the hill. It was not something that either of us wanted to face. Luckily we spotted a sign to Penhurst so we decided instead to head their, then follow the Penhurst to Tonbridge trail before getting the train home again. This was a great idea as we stopped for a quick cuppa and some flapjack before hitting the trail. We saw many riders taking part in the castle triathlon series and encouraged them on up the incline we had just descended. 
Before long we had done 28 miles and were at Tonbridge station waiting for a our train. Happily we chugged along and soon departed and started to cycle the last 4 miles home..... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... came the shout from up ahead. Hubby had left his bag on the train, we hot-footed it back to the station and I waited with the bikes whilst Hubby chased over the platforms trying to call ahead and find the bag. We left our number and headed back knowing there was not much more we could do. By the time we had reached home and made a few more calls there was a call to say the bag had been handed in and was at Charing Cross.... massive relief for both of us and as we had planned to go uptown not a huge problem. Thanks goodness someone found it.

Pretty Tired (emphasis on P and T)

Release date for tickets tbc

...but is was still my personal training session tonight and this is not something I can or will cancel. 

Emma works me hard, much harder than I would ever work myself and I really enjoy it every time. 

The best thing about this is that I can see and feel it working. I am getting stronger and faster and even maybe there is a slight hint of muscle in my previously flaccid upper arms. 

It won't be long I'm sure until I can put the tickets to the gun show on general release but right now there is still work to be done!

Rain rain go away

Sore legs (from weekend) and rain conspired against me last night and gave me sufficient reasons (excuses) not to go out... in fact that coupled with my friend coming to stay meant that staying in was really the only feasible option.
The trade off though was that I would get up early and go and do intervals this morning and I did it! It took me no time at all to get out of bed and into my kit but it did take a little longer to build up the momentum to leave the house. My plan was 10 x 200m and for the first time in ages this would happens on the roads and not the gym, I was actually looking forward to it!
As it happens I was right to, I performed well and fairly consistently, I didn't need my waterproof as the rain held off and the private road I had selected saw only one car for the duration of my session. 

Ferry Sweet Ride

After my successful and slightly tough hilly bike ride last Sunday with the Breeze ladies I signed up once again to go with the same group up to 'Breeze in the Park' at Victoria Park in London. I met with Jill and Collette at Danson park and we chatted as we waited for some others who did not show (naughty first timers) and off we went on our merry way. It was a cool morning and overcast, we knew the rain was coming but we didn't know when it would arrive. 
As we arrived in Woolwich (descending a very steep hill which I knew would be back to slap us in the face later)  we ventured down some dodgy looking roads and found the secret entrance to the Woolwich foot tunnel. Unlike Greenwich there is no lift but also no tourists so we lugged our bikes down the 124 step winding staircase. We followed most instructions on the sign at the entrance... no spitting, no shouting, no animal fouling but as the tunnel was empty we hopped on peddles and scooted through. The other end was a bit tougher and I was sent first with my bike up the winding and seemingly never ending staircase. We emerged like moles squinting and puffing but that was the tough bit done!
The journey continued and we cycled along the Thames path - stopping briefly to watch the cyclist of the London Triathlon - until we reached Victoria Park and met up with the other Breeze ladies, we were given cakes, sweets, croissants and hot drinks and chatted to some of the others. As we prepared to head back the rain arrived as did 4 young scallys to see what they could get from the tent - we hung around looking disapprovingly as they received a water bottle, apple juice and lots of sweets, stickers and goodness knows what else until finally the leader of the pack stated 'come on lads I think we're taking the pi$s now' - we heartily agreed and they were sent packing with their haul.

All aboard for sweet tea

Happy that the danger of young boys had left we did a lap around the park and started back along the route we had come. We passed the cyclists of the London Triathlon once again and this time went to the Woolwich Ferry. Sadly we had just missed one and were forced to stand cold and wet waiting on the windy dock. Finally the ferry arrived and we were ushered on, before long one of the ferry worker appears with a cuppa, we made a little joke about where was ours, which happily resulted in me getting his cuppa, it had sugar in it but as this point the old classic 'I'm sweet enough already' may have deterred him from giving me that sweet hot beverage. With my numb hands and cold core this was not something I was going to risk. So, yes I was told 'never to take sweeties from strangers' but not specifically 'never to take Sweet Tea from strangers' so I made an exception! I was after all, cold, wet and really wanted a cup of tea - sugar or no sugar.
We departed the ferry, somewhat warmer and ready to tackle the uber hill that awaited us... I made it all the way to the top, I used pretty much all the gears and my thighs were burning but I did it. maybe the sweet tea helped?
By this point although warmed up the rain was beginning to feel relentless and I could only focus on getting home and into a hot bath. I left the others at our meeting point and continued the final 5 miles alone. Finally back and warmed up I was in good spirits.