It's a conspiracy!

Do you ever feel like events are conspiring against you? I planned to go out yesterday, but having driven home from town at lunchtime with full headlamps on, decided that the snowy weather and lack of visibility probably wasn't such a good idea, especially as I don't have any lights on my bike.

So, I headed out today, all keen and enthusiastic having had 2 rest days. 3.5miles in and there's a suspicious noise from the front tyre.....yep....my first puncture! I had no puncture repair kit on me and no bloomin' idea what to do with it even if I had one with me!

Cue 3.5mile walk home hoping that someone I knew would drive past and offer me a lift (no such luck!). Oh well, at least I've had some exercise for the day and it's bumped the "Learn how to fix a puncture" task on my to-do list up a bit!!

Lesson learned!!!

Feeling more achievable?

It's been a couple of weeks since I posted. I had a manic week after the last bike ride. Managed one outing of just over 10 miles and then went to North Wales for a long weekend. No biking involved, but climbed a couple of mountains, so at least there was some exercise involved!

The following Monday, I was playing badminton and one of my shoulder muscles went into spasm. Cue a week of wingeing (sorry to my v tolerant other half!), and not having a clue what to do about it. I thought it best to rest until Sat when I got bored. So I took myself off to my ski fit training session and asked the personal trainer there for some advice. She gave me some great stretches to do and lo and behold, today, the pain is almost gone! YAY!

So, got back on the bike this lunchtime expecting the worst, i.e. haven't been a bike for over a week "this IS going to hurt!". 13.25 miles later (target was 10!), and I am delighted to report that it felt really good today. My legs are still a bit tired from ski fit, 9 mile walk yesterday and the biking, but I feel like the distances are becoming more achievable. Just have to sort out my issues with hills (all in my head, I'm convinced!).

Looking forward to more productive training this week and trying to plan my 30 mile ride for the weekend!

It's wet out there!

Had a busy weekend. Managed to reach all my 10 mile targets during the week, even with a mad dash to get out on Friday night (quite an incentive to go quicker and I improved on my time!).

Saturday was ski fit day which should also help the biking because of the focus on balance and strengthening the quads. It was hard work but great fun - a proper workout!

Sunday was my first crack at 30miles and I had enlisted the help of my friend Mark. It was pouring with rain as I headed to his house, but I decided to go anyway and hope that it cleared up. Well, clear up it did, so we set off (me without my waterproof jacket) but then it started to rain good and proper!

We kept at it and made it from Maidenhead to Reading, covering 17.5 miles. We stopped for a quick bite to eat and to warm up and then braced ourselves to do the return journey. However, Mark's bike had a flat and despite pumping it up, it just deflated again. It wasn't going to be much fun to try and fix in the pouring rain (and now a horrid wind!), so we decided to call it a day and get the train back to Maidenhead and walk home.

It was a little disappointing not to have done the 30 miles, but I was really pleased with how comfortable 17.5 miles felt and I'm confident I could have made 30!

Here's a photo just after lunch, smiling despite being freezing cold and very damp! (photo courtesy of Mark)

REALLY back on the wagon this time!

OK, so the last attempt to get back on the bike failed miserably, mainly because I have been sick with what I now know is a virus (to quote the doctor: there's nothing you can do about it!). It left me with a lovely cough which was making it hard to sleep, or in fact do anything which involved raising my heart rate above resting rate!

Anyway, started to feel a bit better over the weekend, and managed the ACG ramble around West Wycombe yesterday so decided to try again today.

The target: 10 miles (and still have some sort of lung capacity left for breathing normally!!)

The result: SUCCESS!!! Despite the wind and rain, I comfortably managed 10 miles along the main road through Benson and into Dorchester.

The first 5 miles were pretty painful mainly because of 2 weeks off the bike and the fact that I was riding straight into a strong wind, but the return leg was a little easier.

Next session: 10 miles on Wed

Back on the wagon....

Got back from a fab week of watersports in the Red Sea last night. Late night but up and about at a reasonable time today. Then I remembered that today is the first day of ski fit training with Spice Thames Valley & Solent in Maidenhead - eeekkkk!! Have a sore throat and OH has just been diagnosed with a chest infection so hope I can keep up today.

Back on the bike on Tuesday per the training programme, hope this cough/sore throat is gone by then - I've got holiday pounds to shift!!!

Training programme under way

Thanks (HOOOGE thanks!) to my good friend Dom, I have borrowed a road bike to start training on, and the training programme kicked off this week on 2nd Nov 2009!

I've met or beaten my targets for each day I've been out which I'm pleased with. I am especially pleased with the fact that I seem to be mastering toe straps fairly well (I haven't fallen off yet!). This is the precursor to cleats which Dom has promised to teach me how to use - EEKK!!

So, if you're in the area and see me upside down in a ditch with a bike attached to my feet, please stop and give me a hand!

Having a little break for a week, but back to it after that. Ski fit training kicks soon too, so I'm either going to be knackered or REALLY fit!!

How it all began

Hi

My name is Cara Chapman (aka "Chappers") and I've decided to make 2010 the "Year of Challenges".

So I thought, in for a penny, in for a pound, why not find something really big to focus on?

I took part in the Rat Race London 2009 back in September and thoroughly enjoyed it, but didn't feel anywhere near fit enough, so I wanted a big challenge that would really focus my getting fit aspirations!

A leaflet from Helen & Douglas House, a local charity, popped through my door a few days later and something leapt out at me: London to Paris Bike Ride!

I have never particularly clicked with mountain biking, but road biking really appealed and it was this element of the Rat Race which I enjoyed the most. So, both feet first, I made the leap!

So, on 1st September 2010 I (along with a few other people with any luck!) will leave London on a bike and pitch up at the Eiffel Tower 4 days later. EEEKKK!!!

I am cycling in aid of Helen & Douglas House (well, they did give me the idea!) and have to raise lots of money before I head off. So, if you have any fund raising ideas, let me know! I've got to raise £1,450 which is a big target, so think big!

I hope that you enjoy my blog - I'll try to keep it updated over the next 10 months!