Lisa - Fat Girl Fit

Prudential Ride London 100 – what an amazing day!

Yesterday was the Prudential Ride London bike event. This event is 100 miles starting from the Olympic Park in Stratford heading out to Surrey through the Surrey Hills and back again to London to finish on The Mall. What is different about this event is that it is closed roads, which makes such a difference – no having to stop and unclip from the pedals for traffic lights, zebra crossings, junctions its just go go go.

To get a place for this event you have to put in to a ballot and so it is dependant on that if you get in – and everyone wants a place! You can of course go for a charity place. It was the third year this year and I must admit feels like it is becoming a bit like the London Marathon and whilst that is also an amazing event charity places do require such huge amounts of money which in itself can be a daunting commitment without any of the training for the actual event itself.

I was lucky and got a place and between the members of my club getting either a ballot place or opting for a charity place there were so many of us taking part not forgetting the all important friends and partners and family members that are waiting for us all at the finish line or in either St James’s park or Green park with food and drink after the event.

The event starts at 6am and you are allocated in advance a wave colour, letter and number and a time to set off though this ranges up to 9am so it is the luck of the draw if you are near someone else’s time so you can ride with them. You can pull over as you go through and wait for people though again depends on the time difference. I was lucky as there were six of us who regularly cycle together and our start times ranged from 6am to 6:09am so we agreed in advance we would ride as a group.

The benefit of having an early start time is that there is less people on the road already though does mean your alarm is set for some ungodly hour which is still in the middle of the night in my opinion! Saturday I set my alarm for 5am with the logic that by 8pm I would get in bed and be able to sleep so that I had a decent sleep before my alarm was to go off at 3.45am! And it worked! By 7:30am I had made my own energy bars, two batches of cupcakes, done the washing and was in the local park with the husband and the pooch! Our friend Rob came down from Stafford and stayed with us and through the day different friends popped in (Tim, Rich, Nikki, Jhon, Sophie and Hugh). By the time 6pm came around we had dinner with Rob, Sophie and Hugh and after eating our body weights in pasta we were the most unsociable bunch ready for bed, which we all did.

Hugh drove us with the bikes to the start line bless him which was amazing as the trains do not run that early! We checked in our bags and headed to our start pens. It was busier than last year as I think so many people pulled out because of the awful weather and it took some time to get to our pens which seemed to be chaos and full of all different numbers and colours and so they had to create an overflow pen which Minnie and I got directed into meaning the rest of our bunch (Brett, Tim, Sophie and Lisa) had gone through and were patiently waiting wondering where we were. The holding pen meant we were delayed by half an hour! But we were ready for the off!

As we went through we saw the rest of our group and our ride began.

The first 50 miles or so are through London and flat and so before you know it you are halfway through the ride to be greeted by the first of the 3 main hills, Newlands Corner. On the hills there is a lot of congestion and you can often only go as fast as the person in front of you as there is simply no room to go round. The rule (or rather courtesy) is that the slower riders stick to the left and faster riders to the right so you will often here ‘on your right’ being shouted so you are aware someone is about to pass. Don’t get me wrong if a hill beats you then you have two choices unclip and stop or keep trying and probably fall over! There were a few just stopping anywhere and so quick manoeuvring is required but the first hill was done and we decided to stop in a hub for a loo break.

I must mention the eggs here. One of our group had bought some hard boiled eggs with her and at the hub asked if anyone wanted an egg. Lisa B has a heart of gold, mad as a bunch of frogs but we love her. We didn’t much love the eggs, or the smell of the eggs. We also wondered where she had been keeping them for 50 odd miles?!

Once you are in the Surrey Hills it is rolling hills most of the way and I knew we had the beast coming up – Leith Hill. Last year because we had the tail end of Hurricane Bertha some of the roads were flooded and they deemed them too dangerous so the course was cut short and I didn’t get to do either Leith Hill or Box Hill – at the time I was half relieved I didn’t have to do them but at the same time felt like I hadn’t really completed the whole thing and so this year I would do the full ride but Leith Hill petrified me. It is one of those hills that just keeps going and then it turns and then kicks up again and then turns and kicks up again and then turns and kicks up again. It’s a bit like Old Church B*tch hill I train on but longer and steeper and worse. I really didn’t want to have to stop on this hill and walk – I am way too stubborn! I am not sure what was worse my husband joking halfway up that we were done or as you see the next kick seeing all the cyclists out of their seats barely moving climbing up. My stomach was filled with dread and I think I had already come to terms with the fact that I was going to have to get off my bike. But I didn’t!!!! I only went and cycled up the beast they call Leith Hill!! All of us did!! I breathed a sigh of relief knowing the worst was over and could relax for the remainder of the ride.

The only good thing about hill climbing is that you get a descent afterwards and the descent from Leith Hill was amazing! It was pretty much all downhill until we reached Box Hill which is a zig zag hill. As we hit the first zig my husband pointed out the huge hill next to us to tell me we were going to the top, I told him to f*ck off, I did not need to know that. It was a steady incline that just zigged and zagged four times I think and we were done though first we passed one crazy lone man on a corner literally screaming ‘Woooooh you can do it go on woooooh’ and I must say the people who come out to see this ride and cheer the riders on make the atmosphere amazing it really gets you going. My husband in particular likes to shout to tell them to cheer and we laugh as we pass through towns with this ripple of cheering.

As you can see from our kit we stand out – remember when Sophie and I did a ride and one guy said he couldn’t work out if the kit was hideous or genius – well it worked and for the whole route we were being cheered on – go Romford!! It was amazing! Of course they were all there for us, just us, Romford CC ha ha.

Before we knew it we were on the final ten miles and heading back through London to the finish. Two of our other team members, Jamie and Jason, had stopped to wait for us so we could finish together and so as we hit the Mall we formed a line which consisted of Jamie, Jason, Brett, Tim, Sophie, Minnie, Lisa B and me and we went down The Mall in that line and crossed the finish in that line. It was epic! I am praying someone got a photo of it!! It was so emotional to finish together after having rode together. We had cycled as a six, sang, joked, chatted, laughed and it was probably my most favourite ride to date I loved it!

We all clocked our Garmin’s hit the 100 mile mark and stopped and saved our ride data. Cycled to the end of The Mall to get our medals, goody bags and collect our kit bags we had left in the morning. I must say this event is so well organised it is so easy for checking and collecting the bags, the hubs always have so much food and drink (though it can take the best part of half an hour getting in and out), there are St John’s ambulance along the way and Mavic support motorbikes and cars.

At the end we have a super team of supporters including wives, husbands, partners, friends and family. In Green park they letter the trees so it’s easy to arrange a meeting point (R for us for Romford CC) and we then spend hours eating and drinking and talking about the ride.

I took loads of pics so this post will have more photos than usual. My sister came up with my nieces and here is me with my gorgeous niece Ellie:

Here is the Queen herself the lovely Sophie:

My son Jack:

Our singing, crazy, eggy Lisa B:

A family shot with the husband, son and his girlfriend Elisha:

And last but by no means least my husband who stayed with me on every hill and was amazing!

So this year I got my second Prudential Ride London medal and for the full thing! Super chuffed!!

We did run out of plastic glasses for the celebrations afterwards though you get a water bottle in your goody bag so they were used for wine instead (we are that classy)!

I also want to mention my friend Becky – she bought a bike about 3 months ago but only started cycling 2 months ago and got a place with her work for this ride. I thought she was mental – 100 miles is a long way on a bike. She did it! Just goes to show what you can do with determination! Amazing!

I saw this in a porta loo – I know I am slightly going to lose some of the meaning seeing as this was written on the inside of a toilet cubicle but still you get the gist!

What made it even better was that I weighed myself today and lost another 1.5 lbs so the plaque is updated too – what an amazing weekend!

Category: Fitness

If someone had told me….

If someone had told me this time a couple of years ago that I would be running and doing so in public where actual humans with eyes can see me and running in a vest with no sleeves to cover my bingo wings as they sway to and fro in the wind (which they do) I would have probably laughed at them after I swallowed my mouthful of burger or something equally tasty but unhealthy and not good for me.

If someone had told me that I would have not one but 3 bikes now and be part of a cycling club (who are awesome by the way #RomfordCC) and regularly cycle and wear cycling lycra which lets face it highlights every lump and bump I would have thought you crazy and worried that my ass may swallow the seat!

If someone had told me that I would sign up (this time off my own back) to ride 100 miles by choice for the second time I would have probably winced and thought about how sore my lady parts would be after sitting on a bike for that distance.

If someone had told me that I would have a blog laying it out there about my journey (sometimes a struggle) on this path to being healthier and fitter and lose weight I would have chocked as I sipped on my large glass of white wine.

If someone had told me that I regularly go the gym, am friends with some of the instructors, and have learned to love spin class despite the fact that it breaks my vagina I would have probably thought you were high on something illegal.

If someone had told me that Friday nights (like tonight) require alcohol intake to be monitored as I am cycling tomorrow early and my social life is planned around that I would have probably tried to have you institutionalised.

But I am doing all that and I am loving it. Well most of it – I am still waiting to love the running but I do it anyway. I am still waiting until I find climbing hills on my bike easier but I do it (whilst sounding like a panting dog). I won’t yet run in shorts as I am not that brave – are you crazy?!

And I have received some lovely messages from people with kind words saying how they like my rambling on about this whole process and I am so grateful for that. Don’t get me wrong its not easy and whilst I snack on fruit and my work colleague eats chocolate I do not have any bad feeling towards her (bitch) ha ha.

I am a work in progress and enjoying the ride and I had a message from someone on my facebook saying that they cannot possibly do it but I want to say if I can then you can!

Category: Cycling, Events

London to Southend and a couple of well done’s!

Yesterday was the annual London to Southend bike ride. I did this ride last year with some of the members of Romford CC and went back again this year for another club event.

I was prepared with my new bike bag to sit on my frame which I could ride with opened so I had easy access to some food as I cycled. I am useless on this front and often finish a ride and realise I haven’t eaten anything so this was a handy hint from my friend Sophie to put the snacks in a zip lock bag open in the bag and take one out every now and then – worked a treat!

It starts in Victoria Park in London and heads down to Priory Park in Southend. At 7.30/8am there was quite a crowd of us with Romford CC and Hornchurch CC combining for this ride.

As we set off it was wet and there were 7 punctures before we had departed Victoria Park! But we were all still in good spirits and ready for the ride!

The weird yellow thing you see in my nose is new. Not a new nose ring I must add but something to help with breathing so I figured I would give it a go. Made by a company called Turbine it is sports breathing technology and is supposed to control nasal breathing. Hey if it’s good enough for Froome who am I to judge? When I breathed through my nose it was miles better – problem is I am a mouth breather on the bike and when running so will need to work on this but in the meantime will know what I will look like should I decide to have my septum pierced.

The weather picked up as the ride went on and most of us now have the obligatory cycling tan lines!

Getting out of London we hit pretty much every red light and groups got split pretty quickly – almost impossible to keep so many people together. I ended up riding for over 10 miles on my own having got caught at a red light and then being stuck behind a car. I managed to catch up three other guys in our club and carried on the ride with Mark, Jamie and Darren. The route actually takes in some of our club route so that is quite nice being on such familiar roads.

It is a busy ride and getting split up happens so easily and soon enough there were just two of us – me and the mighty Mr Wessels. We had a good ride and had a good old natter as we went! Thoroughly enjoyable ride and company!

As you come to the finish line you go through a gate to the park up a little ramp over the kerb (very technical) and down a little windy path (careful of the big tree route) to the finish tent to where my hubby was waiting.

The speedy ones form the club were already there and over the next hour or so our group got larger and larger as people came in combining our cycle club Romford CC with Hornchurch CC and also Havering Tri – lovely to have everyone together in the park!

The after gathering at such events is always as much fun as the event itself – who can complain with a celebratory beer in the park courtesy of the lovely wives of some of the club members! Such a lovely club to be part of!

Only downside was the signage on the ride was more than shoddy in some places and we got lost at one point and others got lost in other points – so easily done with lack of signs on the course. Having said that I will be back to do it again next year for sure.

I did say a couple of well done’s in the title of this blog and they are as follows:

to my lovely hubby, Darren and Andy for all completing the Great Newham Swim on Saturday
to my brother and his girlfriend Emma for also completing London to Southend having never done a bike event before
to a lovely lady who reads my blog called Jenny who completed her first running event yesterday and a 10k at that!

So I woke up this morning and put my right foot down as I skulked out of bed and ouch – shooting pain so today there will be no run and hopefully tomorrow will be all good. On the plus side though I lost another pound bringing the total to 52lbs and counting so the plaque can once again be changed (my favourite part of the week)!

Category: Fitness

What a lovely week!

Doesn’t the weather being nice make everything seem better? Although running and cycling when so hot – not so much!

This week has been social fitness with a lot of activities with lots of lovely people!

Monday saw a 5k park run with my furry running partner followed by a 26 mile bike ride with my spin buddy Rich:

Tuesday saw a 5k run with him indoors to test my new trainers.

Wednesday I helped recording times at a duathlon event for my husbands tri club and wow those guys are quick quick quick!

Thursday I ran with my lovely friend Anna who is doing couch to 5k and we did her first 5k with no stopping or walking and she did amazing as I knew she would!

Saturday I cycled with my friend Helen who recently had a nasty fall off her bike so this was her first ride since then – another nice 26 mile loop. Then a quick visit to Yellow Jersey Cycles in Billericay to get her bike checked out by the brilliant Nate – we were both wandering around Billericay in full cycle gear……..as you do!

Then I spent the afternoon in the garden sitting in the sun.

Sunday we were due rain and I wanted to get a ride in so headed out early to do the same loop as Saturday so another 26 mile ride to get some more miles in. So many people were out I counted 43 cyclists and 7 bunnies by the sides of the road. I didn’t manage to avoid the rain however and 6 miles from the end I could hear that tap on my helmet and then it came down and just kept coming – good job I don’t mind riding in the rain!

I like being on my bike and seeing other cyclists on my way as there is always a friendly wave, good morning or head nod unless you get a grumpy cyclist though on the whole its a friendly little sport.

I have started house hunting whilst on my bike and as I go through pretty places and see houses for sale mentally I am imagining moving there – yesterday I picked two, one in Orsett village and one in Bulphan.

Some of the guys in Romford CC, including my husband, completed the Etape de Yorkshire on Saturday which was an epic 98 mile ride that included over 5,000 feet in elevation of climbing (rather them than me). Well done all!

Monday came again quickly and so after my run this morning the scales came back out for weigh in day and I am please I lost 2lbs so can update my plaque to 50lbs again!

Category: Cycling, Events

Essex County 60 mile bike ride and a huge massive well done to the fabulous Nikki Warnes!!!

Yesterday was the Essex County 60 mile bike ride organised by Bike Events. It set off from the cycle centre not too far from me and so yet again my alarm was set for some ungodly hour on a Sunday morning so that I was ready to get on my bike and numb my lady parts once again in the name of fitness.

I set off with my friends Helen and Steve and along the route we found our other friends Tim, Min, Nate and Lisa B out for a morning ride that coincided with our route and so off we all set for part of it together. We hit a lot of the route that we do on our club ride and was nice to be on familiar roads. At one point we had some musical genius with Lisa singing, Nate acting as a human beat box and me making odd noises as I didn’t know the words – we have the voices of angels – deaf, mute angels.

We had stopped for a toilet break and whilst waiting we saw a fellow rider clip wheels with the rider in front and ending up on the floor in the middle of the road – so easily done! Tim and Nate were the first ones over to check the guy was ok followed by the rest of us, of course with Lisa B always on hand to help anyone on route. After she cleaned the bloody elbow up and gave the guy an energy gel for some sugar off she set to a nearby pub for a first aid kit. Romford CC is full of very helpful members!

At about 40 miles we went in separate directions with Helen, Steve and myself continuing to finish the ride and along the way we met up with yet another fellow Romford CC member, James.

I have said before I am not the biggest fan of hills and I knew that we would hit Theydon Bois at about 40 miles and so from the 40 mile mark on my garmin I was looking for this beast to creep up on me. It was actually at about 50 miles and it didn’t creep up on me I rounded a corner and knew instantly this was the b*stard. I counted 17 people walking this hill! Far too stubborn to stop I carried on until the top and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be (though don’t think I will purposely plan a route out there any time soon).

Following that we hit Loughton and I must say it was then stop start for the final 10 miles with traffic lights, roundabouts and a lot of traffic – not the best route for a bike ride. Towards the end our four ended up split in two with me riding with the lovely James and Steve and Helen together. At the finish we also found the lovely Laura from Romford CC with her friend Nicola who had completed the 35 mile route. Another ride done with no forecast for rain and yet most of the ride was accompanied by a lovely drizzle.

I do know I need to figure out how to put on my sunglasses whilst riding or just remember to put them on before I set off. After Lisa B had done her first aider routine I wondered what it was tapping my chin only to remember I had pulled my glasses down and then had to struggle to get them back on whilst cycling and trying not to fall off as I have the coordination of a drunken monkey. I got there in the end and gave Steve and Nate a laugh at least.

Yesterday was also the day that a fellow Romford CC member and friend was completing her first half Iron Man event. I am of course referring to the awesome Nikki Warnes and she smashed it. We were checking the tracker app every time we stopped on the ride to see her progress. Her and her mascot Iron Elmo finished in 7 hours and 18 minutes and so want to say a massive well done to her – never had any doubt she would be amazing! If you want to follow Nikki and her Iron Elmo she is on facebook here so show her some love as she has her full Iron Man in a few weeks time! https://www.facebook.com/IronElmo?fref=ts

Of course this morning was weigh in day and I am so desperately trying to get to the 50 pound loss mark. I have lost 48.5 pounds so far and it is getting slower and slower but with another 2-3 stone left to go until I reach the weight I want to be I am determined not to give up though I will happily admit that some Mondays I step on those scales and see no change and rather than listen to my own words of wisdom that muscle weighs more than fat I do instead want to hurl the scales out of the window. Measuring is good though and I do still do that every month or two and from about this time last year I have lost 16 inches in total across my waist, hips and boobies! So anyway I was extremely pleased this morning to see I lost 1.5 pounds taking me to the 50 pound loss mark!! (insert smug face)

Now I am running out of the door to start my run with hill repeats – if you don’t hear from me again the hill beat me!

Category: Cycling, Fitness

Hill repeats, Old Church B*tch and swimming

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!

Category: Cycling, Fitness

My birthday, cycling with Dan Patten from Team Wiggins and of course the lovely Romford CC

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!!

Category: Cycling, Fitness

Me and my bike!

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!

Category: Events, Running

Who knew I can run with friends, a Llama and Olympians past and present!

My fitness challenge at work is helping me keep right at it with regards to the exercising. Friday was my rest day (and I did need it) – my friend at work and I joke that the other needs to stop exercising as we are trying to keep up with each other and pretty bloody tired!

Saturday, however, I went out for a ride on my single speed bike and then on to my first spin circuits class with the lovely Emma. It is half spin and half circuits (as the name gives away) and was tough but good and made fun by Mr Sex Noises and also a rather funny dancing man who has a little boogey as he goes – brilliant! Who said exercising can’t be fun?

We travelled out to Surrey on Saturday and I am now the house guest who blogs about her fitness and shows up with her running stuff for a run! Actually that was not my idea that was all my friend Chloe but was such a nice run despite me being nervous that I would be far too slow for her we ran and chatted along the way. Her route joins the canal path and she runs for 5k up and down the canal – so pretty.

However, it was slightly odd as we were running along a field before we got to the canal path and you expect to run alongside horses, cows, maybe sheep but not a great big hair llama! I shall call him Larry. Before I realised it was a llama I was staring and asking Chloe what the hell it was and then Larry started running alongside us before he came to an abrupt stop and I think smiled at us?

We couldn’t resist but go back after we had showered to get a selfie with Larry our new running llama friend.

Yesterday I took part in the Bupa Westminster Mile for This Girl Can. Although it didn’t go quite to plan! I got to the train station to find most lines were part suspended and so we drove into London and parked at the husbands work then started a mad train dash so I was not late and I got there with 25 minutes to spare. Only thing was they decided the wave for This Girl Can, which was quoted on the paperwork as starting at 12.45pm, was going earlier and so as we finally got through the crowds of people to the start line to ask where to go they told us this and that I was too late. Luckily we had the paperwork with us to show them and they were lovely, apologised and told me I could run in the next wave. Brilliant. One problem the next wave was British Olympians past and present! My husband said I could leave it if I wanted but I figured I was there so why the hell not.

This is pretty huge for me as a year ago if I found myself in this position I would have run a mile …………. in the opposite direction and probably thought the person suggesting I run with actual athletes was drunk or on drugs. Don’t get me wrong I am no athlete by a long shot and standing there I felt ridiculous, placing my hands over my bib number so people couldn’t easily see I was the odd one out although I stuck out like a sore thumb! So I found myself with two lovely ladies – one an Olympic kayaker and one an Olympic trampolinist oh and then to the side was just Steve Cram and Denise Lewis!!

I was shaking – it is just a 1 mile run but with Olympic athletes?! I have a fear of being last at every event and this did not help. I ended up in photos being taken and was chatting to people at the start line explaining why I was there and Steve Cram said to me ‘go for it’ – the one time I didn’t have my phone with me!!!!

Anyway I finished and got my medal and I have to say running around the mall and in front of Buckingham Palace with crowds of people cheering you on thinking you are part of the Olympic wave was the most surreal thing I have ever done!

Also for my husband who said he saw me on the big screen – I will admit we laughed a lot about this!

And I didn’t come anywhere near the back. Not every day you can say you ran with Olympic athletes even if it was just for 1 mile. Not everyday that when someone asks you what you’ve done you can say oh you know just a quick run with some Olympic athletes! This Girl Can!

And so of course it is bank holiday Monday though I still have weigh in day and lost 1lb bringing the total to 48lbs now and still going!