Beavais, Beau vie, Bovine?

Well Im back from a few days in Fontainebleau and am glad to report Im still in one piece. We had enough sunshine to get some lovely bouldering done and then when it was raining I managed to fit in a decent length run and a bike ride. This year we stayed in a gite which made the whole trip so much more relaxed as we were able to enjoy good food and wine in the evening, and sit and chat without having to find a restaurant or all crowd into a small hotel room. On the last day I found a cow climbing up a crack in a famous boulder, which perturbed me somewhat as I cant help but think they are following me... no really I did... look I'll get the photo from Dave and post it as soon as I can, but it was there! Which reminds me, thanks very much to 'the cow' who sponsored us after the other weeks trauma.
Bovine topics aside Im gutted to report that my mountain bike was stolen on the first day of my hols so I am now filling in paperwork and hoping I can get something back from the insurance. It seems typical that Im finally getting up some confidence on pedal power and someone takes it away! I am particulary thankful that I am doing The Cross on the road bike and was out on that this evening getting in some extra practice. My new clippy shoes are making a huge difference to my average speed on shorter flatter rides so I just need to build up the distance again. 4 weeks to go so every second counts :O)

Great week pottering on the Caley Canal with plenty of gentle strolls along the towpath to keep the legs going.

Finally dusted the cobwebs off the road bike today and put in a breezy 20miles. It took a mile or two for me to get back into the Campags after so many hours on the tourer.Luckily the legs seem to be holding out fine, which is more than I can say for my back at the moment. Had it repositioned by a sadistic therapist yesterday so fingers crossed.
By the way, does cycling home from Rogart with a rucksack full of beer for the BBQ count as resistance training???

Attack o' the killer coos!

Possibly a slightly melodramatic title for a blog but if you'd met these 'coos' when out on a run you'd understand where Im coming from! I was about 7 miles into my run and after being slightly bemused by the 'bridleway' taking me through a field of very large horses I then followed the signs into this field of cows. They were in the middle of the field and looked up when I entered so i decided on caution and slowed to a walk so I could subtly sneak through without disturbing them, but as I reached near the middle of the field they stopped staring at me and started to charge - needless to say I turned heel and tried some sprint training. They succesfully herded me through a pile of mud and manure that went up to my mid calf and I just made it through the gate to turn round and see them milling around next to the hedge here. It didnt take long to decide that even though my planned run was quite lengthy that I could extend it and I took in an extra loop. As I set off running along the road the cows chased me right until I reached the edge of their field mooing noisily... not the sort of adrenaline I expected on my run but certainly an alternative type of training! As a result of all this fun and games I was out on the road for about 3 hours today and clocked up over 14 miles so I think we can say the training is back on track even if Im absolutely knackered!! Tomorrow Im off to try out my new shoes that stick to bike pedals - I just hope its not such an exciting experience as today!

Glorious Weekend

What fantastic weather we have had this weekend. Not the best temperatures for long distance excercise but Im certainly not complaining! It was Beth's housewarming on Saturday evening and the good weather meant a fun BBQ in her rather nice garden. I earned my burgers by managing a 12.5 mile jog in very humid conditions before driving over to Sheffield. Then worked off the yummy prawn kebabs with a cycle from Walkely to Wharncliffe Woods on the Sunday, in blazing sunshine that made every hill feel like a mountain... and I still dont understand how there can possibly have been that much up for so little down! I paid for the distance last night when my left knee decided that it didnt care if the physio thought it was better and I ended up sat with an ice pack whilst eating my dinner. Its a little worrying that the pain is still there after all the strengthening excercises Im doing but, all in all though, things are improving slowly just like the weather. I hope it holds out for a little longer!

Sun at last!!

Had a wee wander up Ben Wyvis yesterday. Not a lot in miles, but a fair bit of "up" to test the aged knees.

Glorious sunshine, but just a bit too much haze for the views we had hoped for.

At the moment I am miles behind my training schedule for last years event......if this lovely weather continues there is still a chance of catching up though.

Everything is late this year.

Its 5th May and in a normal year I would be in Fontainebleau enjoying fine food, and bouldering but this year we are going the last weekend in May instead. That's not the only thing that seems to be running late this year:- there is still skiing at Cairngorm (not alot but some) and the fact there was skiing late into April is bizarre, the trees & flowers are late blossoming, and Dad only heard the first Cuckoo of the year last week.
I guess if everything is late than that would explain why I'm slightly behind on training compared to where I was last year. I've been seeing a physio on a weekly basis due to knee problems but they are getting much better and I am finally starting to see the benefit. Today I managed about 9.5 miles running and am hoping that over the next couple of weeks I can start to catch up with myself. (With under 7 weeks to go I really hope so!)
On the plus side I've just spent a fabulous couple of days in the peak district (my living room was being destroyed and rebuilt by the plasterer so I thought it best to evacuate!). Dave & Becs introduced me to real 'mountain biking' on peak trails from 'White Peak Mountain Biking'. We did a mammoth 20k - the Calver circuit - with some very tricky single track and gravelly ascents on Saturday and an even trickier 12k yesterday-the Ashover single track special . So at least Im getting lots of bike practice in, and practice makes perfect so they say :O)