I was also refraining from chocolate (I think I had forgotten that Easter was early this year), so all in all a challenging month. We named it Miserable March.
However, the healthy path that we had set ourselves on was good groundwork for stepping up the exercise regime. As I was reflecting on this at the end of the month I thought that I would look back to see how many miles I had ridden (Strava is a wonderful record keeper!) I've also added in the classes I did at the gym and all in all this is completely barking. I have definitely gone mad!
I don't think I have ever had a month like it, but it's what I really need to get fit for the London Ride 100. A challenging ride, where I need to average 11.8mph in order to not get kicked off the course.
Training Rides
I'm very focussed on my speed now, which is why I have set up a training circuit around the common. It's 0.6 miles, which I complete 10 times in just under half an hour.
The training circuit is great, and after some wrestling with the Garmin, I think I have got the Virtual training partner figured out.
This is a neat little feature of the Garmin, where you can race against yourself based on a previous ride (or you can set it wrongly and get completely thrashed!)
I think this really works for me because the average speed of my ride increased from 11.7 mph on 17 March to 14 mph on 31 March.
Sportives
This month Stuart and I also took part in our first Sportive of the year, called Ware's Cambridge. It was a fabulous ride through some stunning countryside.
On previous Sportives, I have invariably arrived back after the event is over, everyone has packed up and gone home, there are no food trucks left and no other cars in the car park. This time although my average speed was only 10.6mph, when we got back there was still one food truck left in the car park.
It had sold out of everything, but I count this as an improvement!
Breeze Rides
There are two types of Breeze Rides that I am involved with, the Blazing Blues, mid paced rides and Roaring Reds quicker rides.
I have thoroughly enjoyed planning some routes for the Blues for Helen the leader of the group. I feel very comfortable riding at this level, probably averaging around 10mph, with a strong focus on just enjoying the ride.
I know the ladies really enjoyed the last ride out which was a beautiful country route through Ashridge forest to a funky coffee shop in Potten End.
Roaring Reds is another matter, these ladies ride much quicker and are all very fit, competing in triathlon and iron men challenges. I am usually hanging off the back of this group! However, Tracey the leader, is extremely supportive and encouraging, and even though I felt very trepidatious about signing up to a 50 mile ride with this group, she said I should give it a go.
I needn't have worried, although I was bit slow on the hills, I kept up on the flats and downhills, and found that my average speed was 11.3mph over 56 miles, a stunning result for me. I even felt pretty good at the end of the ride, so much so I cycled an extra 5 miles home rather than asking Stuart to come and pick me up!
It's been a beautiful Spring month...
...but now March is over and I still haven't eaten any chocolate. However, when I do there is an egg out there with my name on it!
