by | Oct 7, 2015 | Training
When my off season began I was really excited about trying new things and eating cake! I had lots of plans to go swimming, running and even a bit of sailing whilst I recovered form cycling. As with all plans some of these for one reason or another never got off the ground.
I did however try running. I used to run at school (way back!) and thought it would be an easy way to get some exercise. I found running really hard my first run, which was probably too long was 40 minutes of absolute hell! My shins hurt, my achillies hurt and listening to music i felt disconnected from the world around me.
I decided to try again, so a few days later I laced up my trainers and headed off this time my play list was actually motivating and I found myself running faster and even did some lunges too! Although my legs ached I decided this was probably normal for a non runner and carried on.
I have found it hard not having a reason to go out on my bike and have only been out with friends which was great a usually I do so much riding alone, it was nice to share adventures with others, this is something I want to continue to do!
It was also nice getting out and exploring new places with no agenda, when training I am so focused on what my heart rate should be that sometimes I miss out on the enjoyment of riding my bike. It has be great to get this back and take my time and enjoy the views.
My coach and I have been working out my training timetable looking ahead to my races next year. It is going to be hard to fit everything in but I am determined to make it work.
So after a month off I am officially back in training! Not the best start to my training plan as im blown over by a cold second week in!
Ill keep you posted on how its going!
by hattenburrow | Aug 16, 2015 | Biking Adventures, Training
Due to a family emergency I have spent this week in Suffolk on the East coast. On Wednesday I got out on a training ride, a vo2 session and then trying to catch my parents on their ride, I did not succeed!
On Thursday Mum and I left Carlton Colville and headed towards South Cove on the back roads through Mutford. Our aim was to find a new footpath which would take us to the beach. We crossed the A12 and made our way on a quiet country road down past South Cove heading in the direction of Kessingland. After several twists and turns it seemed we would not find the right path but instead enjoyed our ride meandering between fields full of crops of sweet corn. The sun shone on us, but the wind was picking up as we got closer to the beach.
We reached Benacre sea front and the wind had become very fierce crashing the waves into the un- protected coast line. I remember as a child there being a lot more beach than there is today as the coastal cliff steadily succumbs to the waves.
From Benacre we turned left towards home travelling through Kessingland and then back through the country roads making our way through Gisleham to Carlton Colville.
Our 15 mile ride had been really good fun and a reminder that sometimes it is good to stop and take in the view instead of rushing past. When you’re training you don’t have time to stop and admire the view because you’re transfixed on what is happening on your Garmin! So it was a very welcome change to get out and ride for the sheer pleasure of riding your bike and completing a journey under your own steam.
The next day instead of making driving to my grandparents, I jumped on my bike and made the trip across town. I travelled quickly through Oulton Broad past rows of cars stuck by the bridge secretly enjoying the freedom two wheels was giving me, being able to wiggle my way through the traffic. I went past people enjoying a drink by the Broads and Swans with their goslings pruning themselves in the sun. It was a really pleasant way to make a small journey that I have done over and over again in a car and always got stuck in traffic!
On leaving my Nan and Granddads I decided to ride along the sea front. As I reached the sea wall, the wind was strong and a couple of kitesurfers were making their way through the breaking waves. I followed the shore along the cliff top until I could go no further on the cliff and made my way down onto the beach. The deep sand and pebbles made it tough work to get to the line of hard sand. The spec of cliff top in the distance slowly became nearer until I could make out houses, then slowly I could see windows and make out people on the cliff top. My destination was Kessingland, as I travelled along I passed shrieking children playing in the surf, dog walkers and runners. I kept worrying that I would run out of hard sand making my journey along the beach almost impossible. That is when I spotted the tell-tale tracks of another bike! I latched onto this hope that if someone else had been here before that I would make it to Kessingland.
I kept my eye on these tracks following beside them, with my head down focusing on the tracks I was not focusing on the cliff which had now disappeared, replaced with a bank of shingle giving no clue as to where exactly I was. It wasn’t until I got to the sluice wall I realised I had gone too far! Not one to turn back when an adventure has started I continued along to Benacre Broads and slogged through the hard sand onto the footpath that my Mum and I had taken the day before. Once off the sand I was grateful for the small bag of Haribo that I had found in my bag as my legs resembled jelly sweets themselves!
I slowly made my way along the farm track through fields lined with Sweet corn until I got to the road. The road was lined with blackberry bushes which taunted me with their nearly ripe fruit. I stopped to try a couple which were very sour so I continued on regretting my foraging attempt. My pace had dropped off and I felt like I crawled into Henstead. I turned right into Mutford and felt a rejuvenated sense of energy at being nearly on the home straight.
Saturday was my final day. Mum Roger and I made plans to ride along the sea front to a little café to have breakfast, it was tranquil as we rode along the deserted sea front. The sea was calm and just a few boats and sea gulls graced the blue water.
From the café Mum and I made our way back through Oulton Broad with another Grandparent visit. Once we returned home I headed straight back out to get in a hill climb session. Now the East Coast does not have that many hills but I headed to one in Mutford that I thought I might be okay and one I had used about a year ago.
As I sprinted towards the top I realised that my fitness from last year to this had improved dramatically as I reached the top in 40 seconds. So I turned to plan B and did three all out efforts round the 2 mile block pushing as hard as I could. My heart rate at the end of each effort was always over 180 but during my 2 min rests it always dropped back down, another good sign for my fitness levels. After 3 efforts and still feeling like there was more in the tank I pushed round for a final time. Finishing this last effort I felt a huge sense of achievement in getting out and pushing myself. I then enjoyed ambling back through Bluebell woods, where there was no bluebells! The tree canopy made the track seem dark and mysterious until it released me back into the dazzling mid-day sun, the ground going from smooth to rough and bumpy in seconds, I pushed hard up the hill. Turning towards home on the road I had really enjoyed my time cycling and training somewhere different.
Altogether I covered 85 miles and it was great to share those miles with my family.
by | Aug 15, 2015 | Training
Today I did my second vo2 session of the week! These are lung busting short sharp efforts with minimal rest in between.
I have been at home this week so found a loop on quiet country roads which was around 2 miles and sprinted round as fast as I could.
My best time was 6 mins 33 seconds with a max heart rate of 186 bpm.
I did four efforts which is an increase of one effort and between each one I had a 2 min rest.
Altogether I did 19 mins at my threshold heart rate (between 168 – 186) which i am really pleased with.
by | Jul 16, 2015 | Training
The pressure of moving house has really impacted on my training and in the last three weeks ive missed two races including the national championship race and hardly sat on my bike for more than 30 minutes!
Martyn and I are now finally settled in our first home together and ready for the challenge of renovating! I do wonder sometimes how im going to manage renovating, working, coaching and training but where there’s a will there’s a way!
The decision to not train over the last couple of weeks has been really hard I feel guilty for not training but with so much going on my body started to show signs that it needed a break from the pressure before it cracked.
I am now feeling more settled and having unpacked most of our stuff the house is starting to feel more like a home and so I feel comfortable enough to start training again and not feel like there is loads of other jobs to do on top of that.
Training started with a bang yesterday. A tempo session for two hours, after 20 minutes I wondered how I could even ride for two hours let along at any pace. Luckily it did get easier and I finished my two hours feeling good for achieving something I had felt was impossible.
After uploading my results to training peaks it’s clear to see that my time spent at tempo was low compared to what I’m capable of. This I aim to change.
I think this break has made me rethink my priorities it is really important when you have such a small focus to sometimes step back and see if that still sits with your values and I believe that training and racing does still belong as a big part of my life, however I would like to keep challenging myself. Part of this development has been moving from cross country to longer endurance rides which so far seem to suit me.
My next focus race is now the Scott MTB Mega Marathon at the start of August. After this I will be preparing for Torq 12:12 and taking it on solo!
Wish me luck…
Thanks to all my sponsors and support network I couldn’t do it without you. x
by | Jun 5, 2015 | Training
Now don’t get me wrong I love racing, the buzz of arenas the blood sweat and sometimes tears that have got me to the race. The starts, fast and furious, seeing my heart rate busting over 180 and knowing ive got laps to go, and having the determination to keep going! It’s all a huge adrenaline rush. BUT there is a part of racing which this week ive found really tough and that is not being able to just get out and ride. I love being on my bike, but training and riding are very different. I have a training program which I have to stick to and I understand the importance of structure to my training but this week I just wanted to ride my bike, not worry about the pressure of training and enjoy the satisfaction I get form cycling.
To me cycling has become more than just a hobby it has become a routine, a lifestyle choice to train, eat, sleep, repeat (okay not that regimented) but you get the idea! My goal this year was to take on longer races and challenges and so far I have done one… I got sucked back into chasing points in XCO but have had goals set out to change this and so I shall starting next week with my first ever six hour race. I will continue to race XCo because I love it but have re focused my attention on endurance.
Last weekend Martyn and I went to London which was fantastic it was nice to spend some quality time together and as I find it almost impossible to relax when I’m at home it was nice to feel totally free of any worries.
I came back this week hungry to ride and not ‘train’ I wanted to get out and explore not get out and do hill reps!
I feel okay about feeling like this after all im only human and the pleasure I get from cycling is not training it’s the pleasure of being on my bike pushing myself towards my next adventure.
So this week I made a decision not to race on the weekend instead, I would concentrate funnily enough, on a long training ride and do something new! A charity road ride, my charity Dreams Come True were entering a ride where some of the proceeds will go to the charity, having done Ride London two years in a row I have done road rides before but I thought it would be really fun to cycle with new people and enjoy riding my bike.
Saturday I am going to put in a long five hour ride to fulfil my training needs, I am feeling very positive about my up and coming first ever six hour race next weekend followed by my first ever 24 hour race. My training has gone well I feel physically up for it and mentally prepared for hours turning the pedals.
When you set yourself a goal is is important to revisit the reasons behind setting that particular goal and see if that still sits with who you are and where your going.
This year my goal was to do some endurance races to see whether this suited the type of ride I have become and so far I have completed Battle on the Beach. I have two six hour and one 24 hour race on the cards and am on the look out for more challenging events I can accomplish.
To me the motivation of achieving what I set out to do is what I strive for. Knowing that I said I would do it and then doing it! I have also decided on a big challenge for 2016 so watch this space….
Bring it on!
by | May 1, 2015 | Biking Adventures, Training
My latest training ride edit, from Dunwich Forest with my highly skilled videographer Dad! (thank you Dad). I love heading home to Suffolk and racing around Dunwich forest it is an unspoilt part of the countryside with wild natural trails and secret spots of singletrack.
One of my favourite rides involves a plank ride through the marshes, a path of steps to hop down and a beach ride past Sizewell nuclear powerplant with the waves crashing against the shore and the sea air you can’t help but fall in love with the beautiful landscapes you can reach on two wheels.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYSI-1Jzl0M&w=420&h=315]
