Bike tyres and broken bottles dont' mix...

It's tipping it down with rain your in a bit of a hurry the last thing you need is 'another' puncture!!! this was a bit more than just a puncture though the tube and tyre had been almost completely sliced in two by the bottom of a broken wine bottle conveniently left on the narrow section of the tow path, i spotted it at the last minute and managed to miss it with the front tyre but the rear went straight over it......
I was too big a cut too repair so i ended running home the remaining 7 miles pushing the bike, the combination of pushing a bike, the wrong trainers for running, baggy wet shorts all made for a miserable trip home.

Happy days.....

I can't describe how good it was to cycle in today it's the first proper ride/training since the Arctic, most importantly it was pain free, it's a 05:30 start so the sun is just coming up, a couple of miles through the forest, then another couple of miles on the road and then it about 11 miles on the tow path all the way into mile end.

Now normally i'm stuck on a train that is full/late/uncomfotable, this morning i've seen herons, rabbits, baby foxes, ducks, geese, burnt out cars, dead swan and a 3 legged dog......

Happy days........

Always looking on the bright side......

Ever hopeful that my groin injury will clear up i have put together the following race calender, leading quite nicely to the 6633 Ultra in March 09.

Sat 14th Jun - South Downs Marathon - 26 miles
Sun 20th Jul - Fairlands Valley Marathon - 26 miles
Sat/Sun 23/24 Aug - Ridgeway challenge - 85 miles non stop
Thu/Fri/Sat 11/12/13 Sep - Spar Coast - 103 miles
Sat 22nd Nov - Lee Valley Ultra
Sat 6th Dec - Round Rotherham - 50 miles
Sat 17th Jan - Thames Path - 50 miles
Sat 31st Jan - Town to Tring - 42 miles
Sun 1st Feb - Tring to Town - 42 miles

Best i do an update.......

What an amazing 5 weeks, I think most of you know i dropped out of the 6633 Arctic ultra after 120 miles with a stress fracture of my right shin, up until that point i had been comfortably keeping up with one of the best ultra runners in the world, i have no doubt that if i hadn't got the injury that i would have finished and probably i quite a good time.......

Just for the record, the coldest temp during the race was i think about -56, post race i slept outside for a couple of hours at -50 (hats of to Etienne who slept outside for 8hours at -50!!)

My aims for the race where to

1. have fun
2. finish

The first aim was comprehensively satisfied, thanks to the organizers/support and fellow competitors (Martin, Sue, Matt, Murry, Scott, Dave, Nic, Sarah, Etienne, etc) i had a great couple of weeks.
The second aim will be for filled next year, as i have already entered next years race.

So what now, well I've had 5 weeks rest so my shin should be fine, the groin is still a little troublesome having been back to the physio i've been given further treatment so hopefully it just a matter of time.

Waiting for the taxi

Let the adventure begin.....

The second challenge (the packing being the first) is to make sure all this kit turns up at Whitehorse airport, fingers crossed if either bag doesn't arrive thats my race over before i even start.

And looking out the window the third challenge is to get all the kit there dry, it is absolutely tipping it down, when going to the Arctic packing a rain coat is not normally something you need to think about.

If i get a chance to post over the next few weeks i will otherwise look for updates in about 3 weeks time......

First challenge complete

Packing all that kit, i had put aside a couple of hours but it took most of the day in the end.

Think i may blow my baggage allowance, fortunately Air Canada are expecting a sled but i don't think they were expecting it to be pack full of kit!!, leaving an hour early for the airport just in case some repacking is required.

Hey Fatty.......

This is the best part of the training!!!.

I need to bulk up a little to compensate for the weight i will undoubtedly lose while in the arctic (During my run across the Sahara i lost 5kg's) also the extra weight helps to keep you warm, unfortunately this doesn't mean eating chocolate cake for breakfast/lunch/diner (oh heaven) but just eating reasonably healthily just loads of it, my current favorite is the Sainsbury pasta meals for a family of four which i quite comfortably eat by myself!!, oh and snacking on organic carrots.....

The result is a weight increase of 3kg, from 82kg to 85kg

If you use the common calulation for obeseity of weight (kg)/height2 (m) it means that i am officially overweight which should ring some alarms bells for some of my friends (you know who you are)
:-)