New Year has been and gone and so has January! I am not sure how that happened so quickly, but am now rooting around in my head to find the motivation to get going again with training and fundraising as we have taken a couple of months off over the Christmas period.
I have only one notable cycle under my belt so far this year which I am calling the Roast Dinner Challenge - a 32 mile round trip from Marple to my parent's house in Timperley in order to indulge in my mum's excellent roast beef dinner, yorkshires, roasts and all the trimmings followed by fruit crumble and custard. Fine recovery from the first 16 miles and fuel for the second 16!
I am finding that I need to invent reasons such as this to get me out on the bike in the cold wet weather. It has been made a bit easier with the gradual improvement of my kit - my current look is 3/4 pants over cycling shorts paired with a long pair of football socks. A fine silhouette! I have also inherited a marvellous cycling jacket which is way above my skill (and cool) level, but soooooo warm. Need better gloves and shoes as fingers and toes still objecting to the virtual frostbite they have been subjected to.
Despite my lack of outdoor cycles, I am feeling pretty good about the general fitness programme I have underway. I have increased my spin classes to 3 a week, occasionally 4. I have definitely noticed the difference when I get on my bike - I don't feel so saddle sore. Also now feeling OK about wearing skinny jeans for the first time since turning 20!!
I have also introduced yoga into my life. It wasn't quite what I expected (was thinking relaxing, gentle, calm) - it is strenuous, demanding and sometimes downright impossible; despite the patient encouragement from my excellent teacher - but I am loving it! I am becoming a fan of cross training and gaining strength from another practice to help you with your goal. Still waiting for inner peace, but will keep trying.
Talking of cross training - I have also signed up for the Sheffield Half Marathon as I want to keep up my running as well as the cycling, so needed a point of focus. It is in May so that gives me plenty of time to adjust my training.
It is now time to start thinking about a proper training plan though. I need to up my outdoor cycle mileage on a regular basis and start some hill training. This was made apparent 2 weekends ago when I attended the first Cycle Cuba meeting down in London. The Action for Charity Team shared the route with us and the fact that they have altered it to make it more challenging/hilly so we don't get bored or find it too easy!!! Funny.
It is also now time to get together with Gillian and decide what our next fundraising event is going to be. We have both just changed jobs, so needed to take a bit of time to settle in to our new roles. We are now both working in the city centre, so I am sure there will be a few strategy meetings required over coffee and cake. I will share as soon as possible - our ideas that is, not the cake.
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