Read any training manual and it will say that rest is as important as exercise. I’ve been focussing on the rest aspect of my training for the last week or so.

I haven’t cycled to work (well once) because I’ve needed the car and I haven’t been to the gym because it’s easier not to. I missed spin. both atthe gym and at the Tri club. To be fair Beth has been working so I’ve needed to muck in around the house, which takes precedence over training. So, what with the weather being unpleasant and life going on around me not much has happened.

After last weekend’s very wet ride in the floods, this weekend I got out with Mark and Edward on Sunday morning. It was a glorious day, almost Spring like (which is odd as it was the winter equinox, so about as far from Spring as you can get). We headed out of Warwick to Charlcote and marvelled at the fact we could be on a quiet country lane, after only five minutes on the bike. We deliberately headed this way to test Edward’s legs over Loxley hill. Which he of course shot up like it wasn’t there (although I was first to the top – declaring myself King of the Mountains, but I had the advantage of knowing the hill and anticipating the fact that it kicks in much steeper for the last 50 metres or so, which of course Edward didn’t.) This is also the hill Mark trained for Mount Ventoux on, doing reps up and down in his lunch break! He says his record was 9 in an hour (including getting there and back – in the car).
We managed a steady 45km in total. Riding back on long the Avon valley towards Warwick was a breeze. Wind at our backs, flat road, it felt like we could cycle for ever. Shame Peaches missed it due to a dodgy ankle.

And I made it to spin today. Big up the new magnetic bikes at the Warwickshire!

A little time for reflection. Last year my bike computer recorded 5200km in total. This year I’ve managed 2182km to date and I reckon I’ll add 100km before year end. Not bad really given that I haven’t trained for anything specific. Add to that approximately 1200km a year commuting, I think that’s pretty respectable. But, I do need to focus now for June. I don’t want to be embarrassed on the road to Paris!