This week I started out with a run and finally managed to get a sub 1 hour 10k though as much as I hate running (sorry I don’t think I will ever be one of those people who love it as it does not come naturally to me but ask me again when I am a couple of stone lighter and I may have a different opinion) I feel like I have to do this again at an event.  The reason being is my furry running partner.  I have mentioned this before but much as I love my little April dog running with her is not always easy and can be stop start from the beginning to the end.  Why do dogs have to pee every twenty metres?  And I have to slow to check its not anything else that I need to stop an clear up.  Why does she run off and then come back and stop directly in front of me?  Why Does she suddenly dart across me?  Why does she want to be friends with every dog in the park but when she runs over to them then just lays on the floor?  Maybe like me she doesn’t actually like running and probably thinks right I will show her for dragging me out – she’s probably laughing the whole way round the park loop!

I’ve been reading Womens Running magazine trying to get some inspiration so I can be one of those people who I see in the park who stride along smiling as they run making it look so effortless whilst I puff and pant like a shuffle along.  I have therefore decided that I shall start interval training.  Apparently it will help make me faster, build strength, prevent injury and help with my breathing.  I will believe this when I see the results as I tend to slow at even the slightest of inclines.  So far my running has consisted of putting my trainers on and just running and hoping for the best but I have seen so many people doing this and you don’t get better at running hills by walking them so I am going to do the opposite and run up and down them instead.  I make this sound like I am so sensible but really I will just be in the park and whilst the other runners are doing their hill repeats and speed work I will just be going up and down hoping to catch my breath and not die.

So Monday morning bright and early I shall be out there running up and down a hill in the park like a crazy lady!

Talking of hills yesterday I ventured out on my own to the dreaded Old Church Hill that was the scene of the marital fall out the first time.  I have been up this hill 3 times in one day and the first time I didn’t make it – I actually gave up which is unlike me as I am a stubborn old boot and hence why I then went back.  I had yesterday off and was going to be busy but wanted to get some cycling in so I headed in that direction again.  This hill starts as a long drag and then kicks up a bit and then again every time if goes round a slight bend and you end with just a concrete uphill facing you where you cannot see the end (of hell).  I figured I should do this again and on my own.  Now I talk to myself (sometimes in my head and sometimes out loud) when running and cycling and for me its a mental battle and when I know I can do something it helps.  Yesterday I won’t lie I got half way up and thought oh god I’ve not yet got to the house on the right with the driveway by the road, which is the point where I know I am on the final stretch.  Will I make it?  Or will Old Church Hill be the place of my death?  If you see me there just push me and my bike in a nearby bush – we’ll be fine.

After what felt like an eternity I got to the driveway and having used all my gears was just spinning and trying not to look up to where you cannot see the end.  In my head I was saying ‘come on Lisa you can do this, you’ve got this’ but really I was thinking yep I’m going to have to stop any minute.  But I didn’t.  I could hear my breathing though and it did sound like I was going to die or at least carried around with me an oxygen tank for some medical condition.  This was even better when I got to the top, sounding like a cow in labor, to find some fellow cyclists tinkering with their bikes to witness me in my finest glory.  They said well done and whilst I caught my breath they were chatting.  They were also far more sensible than me and were going down the thing rather than up it although I hear the hill on the other side is worse and so I am not sure who lucked out there, them or me?  Maybe next time I will go up this thing the other way?  Just to totally finish myself off!

I did manage to find a pic of this hill online – my intention was to do the hill, then the loop back around and go up again but there was a car parked in the driveway I mentioned and this hill is not big enough for anyone to be parked on it and so I figured if there is nowhere to stop do the next best thing and just hit Google instead! The pic doesn’t make it look that bad actually but my legs would say otherwise.

After I conquered what I now refer to as Old Church Bitch I went swimming though not for myself instead I took my friends two gorgeous boys for their swimming lessons.  So much fun!  Though I did have to dunk both of them – they probably now hate me!  My friend managed to take some pics and thought it was hilarious.  As you will be able to see from my face – I did not but can assure you I am not trying to drown baby George as the pic would otherwise suggest!

Tomorrow I have another cycling event and i am definitely seeing improvement – perhaps down to the 3 spin classes I do every week?  This weeks were taken by the lovely instructor Paul and they are a workout for sure – Wednesday’s class finished with an 18 minute sprint in dedication to Sir Bradley Wiggins after his one hour record.  Ouch is all I can say.  Oh and sweaty, very sweaty!

So my birthday was on Saturday and to start the day I headed out for a bike ride from the lovely Yellow Jersey in Billericay with the amazing Nate and their social ride on this occasion, purely for my birthday, was accompanied by Dan Patten from Team Wiggins!  Ok this is not strictly true he may not have been there for my birthday but he was there and rode with us all.  He was lovely, chatted with everyone, wished me a happy birthday and I was that annoying person who asked for a photo with him (standard).

As I mentioned before my training is fitting around having a poorly husband, but I am still managing a lot and on my birthday I managed to not only cycle but also attend Cross Fit with the amazing Jack O’Sullivan PT and being the lovely, if not a bit mean with some of the workout sessions as we found with a tough one on Saturday (did he not remember it was my birthday which means go easy?!), he also bought some beers for afterwards!  I know what you are thinking – doesn’t it defeat the point of doing Cross Fit to then follow it with beer?  We’ve never done this before he did this for my birthday and besides wouldn’t you if you could? Of course you would so sit there and drink your tea as you read this and just be jealous.  Then get yourself down to one of his sessions!

Sunday I managed to get out with the lovelies from Romford CC for the Sunday club ride and it was such a good ride.  Hot, very hot, but good.  I cycled mostly with the lovely Lisa B who gave a smashing rendition part way along the route of the Prodigy’s Smack My Bitch Up and the super quick Joseph who continues to amaze me.  Joseph is relatively new to the club and joined not using a road bike and despite this he was still keeping up with the speedy crew.  My husband was selling a bike recently (this is a big deal!) and Joseph became the proud new owner and now rides along at epic speeds without breaking a sweat!

If you are looking to join a cycling club I cannot recommend Romford CC highly enough – between my husband and them I would not have got to where I am on the bike for sure!

Of course cycling whilst the weather is heating up does mean only one thing that all cyclists will understand – the dreaded cycling tan lines.  When out in the sun you do of course catch the sun leaving lines where your clothing is.  When you cycle the same lines from bib shorts and cycling jerseys are in place week after week and after a few bouts of sunny conditions (not moaning about these) you have started your cycling tan, which will mean you have to strategically pick items of clothing so as not to look like a complete idiot and will eventually lead to something similar to this (not the best look):

So on my first sportive I cycled a little with Victoria Pendleton, I recently ran with Olympians past and present and at the weekend was part of a ride with Dan Patten from Team Wiggins.  This Girl Can!!

So I have had this week off work and decided to take advantage of the good weather and get some miles in on my bike.

This started on Monday when me and him indoors went to visit the grandparents and in my infinite wisdom (more like absolute stupidity) I decided we should ride up a local hill that I have heard about but never been up before – Old Church Hill.  Now I hate hills so I am unsure why I decided I just had to see this beast for myself and not only see it but get up it on my bike but I did and so as we made the turn into the road I was gripping my handlebars with fear.  Quite rightly too!  It is a very narrow road which only fits one car and the surface is gravel, holes, bumps and all the sh*t that comes from the surrounding hedges in the rain.  It is about 1 mile long and starts with a long drag and as the road bends it gets a little steeper and then it bends again and gets a little more steeper and we get to a bit that my husband tells me is the steepest part.  I am now panting similar to a dog in labour and he is telling me to take deep breaths but I am aware that I am out of gears and although my legs are spinning I am convinced this is the place that I will die.  The road bends again and he asks me if I am ready.  Ready for what?  If we have just hit the steepest part does this not mean we are about to hit the fun part?  The descent?  Oh no the road bends and there is more to climb.  In a moment of panic I just say no, unclip and stop.  What follows is a foul mouthed angry exchange of words between husband and wife (you know the ones) and he basically tells me to get back on my bike and carry on.  Only problem is that the hill is too steep I cannot start and get clipped in to move so have to go down slightly to a driveway (in which were children playing who must have heard our pleasant loving words to one another) and start again.  I reach the top and have equal measures of anger for my non-sympathetic husband who I want to push down the hill and myself for not at least attempting to try and finish the climb.

Now I am stubborn and so on the way back from seeing dear old Nan and Grandad I am psyching myself up to tackle this climb again and so we reach the road and pass it before I insist we go up it again so around we turn and it is take 2.  Second time round I knew what to expect which is a small consolation, but this climb was hard.  I can hold my own on a flat and a descent but any sort of incline turns me into a wheelchair ridden tortoise and this one I don’t even have a funny anecdote to give but if I recorded myself you would listen and wonder if it was an animal in pain – nope just me panting my way up.  Deep breaths he says again, you are doing great he says (kind liar), and we reach the part I stopped before.  I am talking to myself in my head telling myself come on Lisa do it, just do it.  He then starts counting down – 400 meters left.  It should help but ever the pessimist I think Jesus Christ 400 more meters?!?!?!?  We get to the top!!  I did it!! Quickly unclip lean over bike and see if my gas canister can be used to inflate my lungs.

We then go down the hill which should be fun but actually this narrow road is like navigating through rubble so not so fun.  Then he shouts at me to stop.  I am confused?  Turn around he says.  What I say?  We are going up again he says.  I hate him.  How long does it take to organise a divorce?  I will sell his fancy bike for a packet of love hearts and a curly wurly, that will show him.  But I do turn around and so we are on take 3.  This is the decider will I get up it or have to stop?  I have no idea how but I got up it.  For me I think if I did it once I know I can do it again.  This should make it easier but it doesn’t I still sounded awful – you know I said once I dropped my vagina on a ride?  On this climb I think I dropped a lung.  It probably landed in a pot hole, and I left it there in the gravel as it is now good for nothing.

Now wouldn’t it be funny if we got to the bottom and he suggested going up yet again?  Well he tried it and I told him to f*ck off.  He said he didn’t think anyone had been up it three times and I said I don’t care to be the first person and headed in the direction of home and no hills like Old Church Hill.

Tuesday saw a lovely ride with two Romford CC members, and friends, Sophie and Steve out to Hanningfield, via Billericay, to visit Yellow Jersey Cycles.  Slight incident there when I stopped in a hard gear and tried to start at traffic lights in said hard gear, and on a hill, and promptly fell to my right.  Dusted myself off and walked the short distance to the shop for the lovely Nate to straighten my now wonky saddle – stupid Lisa!  Had such a lovely day with these two, lots of laughter, banter and tea!

Wednesday I was back on the bike with the lovely Gemma at the Cycle Centre in Redbridge for her debut road bike ride.  She did amazing and I am looking forward to going out with her again!  (I didn’t ride in the slippers below – even I am not that bad!)

In the evening I was invited to a fitness bloggers meeting by the lovely Lucy from Lucy Lunges.  I was so nervous imagining meeting a group of super fit peeps and there is me who blogs about falling off my bike, losing a lung and generally giving it a go without really knowing what I am doing.  It was such a lovely evening though, we did bowling with some tips from a coach, had some drinks, ate some food and all chatted about our blogs and what we were up to and met some really lovely people!

Yesterday I cycled my first solo ride.  I always cycle with people and need to get out on my own rather than relying on others and so I headed out for a short ride.  I headed to the country lanes, which was a stupid mistake as the wind was ridiculous but I did it and that was all I wanted – not sure what I was worried about now!

Today is Friday and therefore rest day – and breathe!  Before a 10k Race for Life tomorrow with the lovely Anna and Kelly and then off to watch my husband in a triathlon on Sunday.

It’s all go go go!