That cosy, achy feeling throughout your whole body. The sensation of a job well done. A blanket of cotton wool around your head.
Good training session last night.
Time to pull on some running kit and get out there again.
Not done one before… looking forward to a good, cold, muddy two hours of racing.
I should be saving up for a new cross-country race bike, but I was very taken by the proto version of the On-One Dirty Disco that Crossjunkie was riding this weekend. Coming from a mountain biking background, the idea of disk brakes appeals, but as always, the appeal of new shiny bikes is the real draw!
45minutes. That’s all. 45minutes.
Why is it so damn hard? And why am I (relatively) so slow in comparison to longer races? Frustrating. But addictive.
For the first time, I actually got a really good start, a flat sprint across the playing field before a tight right turn into the course proper. It was all a bit of a blur, but I got clipped in cleanly, and had a convenient gap open up in front of me, and took the opportunity. Round the first corner, holding my place… maybe 15th? Then into a series of straights and hairpins, and I gradually fade back. Fellow Velocaker Tim passed me, unsurprisingly, as he always beats me, and I tried to settle into a steady pace. But, my legs felt heavy, I felt sluggish, and just kept going backwards.
Maybe this was down to mountain biking the day before, maybe I was feeling a bit under the weather, maybe it was that I’ve been training for long endurance events all summer, maybe it was just one of those things. I think I eventually came in around the half way position, maybe a little further back.
On the plus side, it was a beautiful day, there was a wonderful atmosphere, I met up with lots of friends, both old and new AND got to have a few swigs of Duvel after the race (and could have had a hell of a lot more if I wasn’t driving). I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon than racing, chatting, watching more racing, more chatting and laughing with lovely people.
Jo Allen got some great snaps (including one of me pre-race)
As did Cheryl King
I’ll be back at the next week. I’ll keep racing cross, it’ll always be “a bit of fun”, I’ll always want to do better though!
Love this photo, spotted on the SCOTT Sports facebook page. Two of my favourite things combined.
For the first time in a long time, I’ve felt motivated to train. Not just ride my bike, or go for a run, or go to the gym, but to push myself when I do. I’ve looked forward to swinging a leg over a turbo trainer when I get home from work, and the sofa would normally be a far more inviting option.
Can’t beat having a new goal to aim for. I’m under no illusions, this is very much the honeymoon period. The aches and pains are a welcomed back like an old school friend. The longer morning runs are a novelty. The early nights and deep sleep, a welcome bonus after months of on and off insomnia. But, there is inevitably a reason that you didn’t stay in contact with old school mate. They hang around a bit too long, outstay their welcome. There will be the day that the sofa feels more inviting, that the duvet promises more than a headtorch and a cold, wet morning.
That’s why I need to set myself up with a training plan. Something that structures my week. Something that translates “I must get better” into I will spend x hours today doing y, then do z tomorrow. A commitment. Short term goals.
Better get researching.
Stoemper Presents Ben Berden on Vimeo on Vimeo
Ace video, thanks to Here Come the Belgians for the link. It’s my first CX race of the season on Sunday. This gets you in the mood nicely. Raaaar!
I only got round to cleaning my cyclocross bike and taking this race number off this weekend. The number is splattered with mud, and will stay that way. It is from the Scotland Coast to Coast.
The race was a bit special for me. The result was better than I hoped for, but more than that, I rediscovered a forgotten part of me. A deep level of determination, thriving on exhaustion, enjoying the pain. I remembered why I do this, and made up my mind to do more.
I’ve made and broken too many promises to myself in the last few years. I’ll be keeping this one.
Fitness cannot be stored, it must be earned over and over again. Indefinitely.
VeloBelgian
Here come the cakes?
Either way, they’ll both be worn lots over the next year.
Hello world.
A new challenge, a new website, a new start. Same me. That there manifesto up in the top right explains a little more about why, how, when.
I sit here with a broken finger, staring at my turbo trainer. It’s going to be a long journey, but an exciting one.
projectenduranceracer 