Training update #10 THE FEAR

Okay.

So I've got the fear now. As of today it is only four weeks until the cycle. That leaves three weekends left of training (plus one for light cycling/sleeping/eating a shed load of ccarbs).

HOLY COW

Thus far the furthest I have cycled is 67 miles. Once. Never mind four days in a row.

One of the main problems is cycling on my own. I had planned on cycling to Whitstable with my chums last Saturday but the weather was atrocious. So, I figured that I'd cycle back myself on the Monday instead. But when it came to it I just plain chickened out. It is around a 75 mile cycle and the route included a great deal of wee country lanes and circumnavigating Kent towns like Gillingham and Rochester. Basically too much scope for getting lost. And getting lost when you're knackered and alone is not fun. Instead I got the train home and went on the usual DP Saturday training route. I didn't skip either of the hideous hills which I was a tad proud of but even though I knew the route it did occur to me at one point that I was over 20 miles from home, on my own, on a country lane and no one knew I'd even gone cycling never mind where I was. If somehow I crashed or broke down I was kind of scuppered. I think maybe tiredness brings on the paranoia! Or maybe I'm just making excuses.

Ach, this is all a bit doom and gloom isn't it?! Which is silly because on Saturday I had one of the best rides ever -along the coast from Whitstable and up some wee roads to Canterbury. I arrived in Canterbury at 10am on Easter Sunday morning and the place was pretty much deserted. Cycling up through the cobbled olde streets (slippy!) and past all the lovely buildings was extremely peaceful. It felt slightly like going back in time. Until I noticed the Starbucks right beside the entrance to the Cathedral of course! I grabbed a cuppa and watched the people slowly starting to arrive for Easter service before pottling off on my bike once more. I had considered nipping into the service until I realised I was in my cycling gear, complete with muddy bum and general sweaty-ness so thought I'd spare everyone that pleasure.

On the way back I took a wee detour which took me through Fordwich which claims to be the smallest town in Britain (methinks it may not be the only one). After a pretty long climb I was treated to some lovely sweeping roads which were great fun...at one point shouting out loud "This is amazing!" What a doofus. When I turned round and went back the same way I realised it felt so great as the wind was at my back. The cycle on the homeward leg was not so much fun!

Anyway, back in the house by 12.30pm after:

Distance: 45miles
Time: 3hrs
Ave speed: 15mph
Sites seen: Canterbury Cathedral, Fordiwch, Reculver Church, couple of squirrels (dodged), loveliest road name ever ' Heart in Hand Road'
Number of weekend naps: 2

This weekend I am away to the Borders and have no time to cycle unfortunately so off out with a couple Dulwich Paragon peeps on Friday morn for a 50 odd mile ride before catching the train. The company will be most welcome! Although they may regret inviting me when I hold them back the whole way round!

Anyway, as you will no doubt know, the reason I am putting myself(and my big bro ) through all this bonkers-ness is to raise money for Book Aid International who support literacy and education through book provision and library development in sub-Saharan Africa. Even though my days are taken up working for Book Aid International I've still chosen to do this in my spare time, which I guess shows you quite how much I believe in what we do! Books are amazing things but are very easy to take for granted - imagine what it would be like to have no books at all? And no way to learn or be inspired by them?

If you've not already, please do sponsor us. Your support really will make a difference!

http://www.justgiving.com/pedallingpinders