Health and fitness

I trained for four months for this ride, also training for a half marathon run at the same time.

I rode 350 miles a month in January and February and ran 65 miles. In March and April I stepped my cycling training up and rode 650 miles a month, focussing on hill training and riding big miles on consecutive days.

As a rule of thumb, you should be able to ride two-thirds of your daily distance for three days in a row before the trip.

Planning to ride 100 miles a day on the trip, I wanted to ride 70 miles on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the two weeks before I left.

Due to mechanical problems and social plans I didn’t quite manage that. In the two weeks beforehand I rode 30 miles after work on the Friday, 100 on Saturday and 50 miles on the Sunday. Still 180 miles but not quite so intensively.

If you’re planning 900 miles in 9 days you should be able to do this without excessive discomfort.

Running man

So there was no cycling last weekend, just a damn long run.

I took a rest day last Saturday (March 6) and used the time to go to an all-you-can-eat Italian for lunch with Helen. Four plates of pizza, pasta, salad and meatballs seemed to make up for several weeks of under-eating. And it stood me in good stead for Sunday too. I took eight minutes off my personal best for the half marathon with a time of 1hr 37m.

After a week of not drinking I fell off the wagon with a good showing at the pub later that afternoon. Seven pints on a Sunday evening - hardcore. I think most of the drinking was through relief at not having to run again for a few months.