Training is going to plan but work might interfere this week. I’m blocked every day with evenings to suit, and travel is seriously limiting my training time further. The morning run was a grumpy affair and I again apologise to the moggie who fell off the neighbours fence, I seemed to scare it witless, must have been the make up, but I’ll do my best to keep with the plan.

The rear aspect was slowly getting used to the saddle, but it still aches at forty, miles not age of course, but having received advice I will look to invest in a new sofa or alike.

Quick break over I’m back to work now with more training later this evening.

You may have noticed but we don’t currently really have a logo. To get this site setup fast I used a template and cobbled together a simple text logo but it is about time we got a proper logo. So last week my Dad, Mark, came up with a great idea for a logo. So I’ve had a play with and come up with some designs based around his original idea. I would really like some feed back on what you think.

My drawings can be found here

.. as the ventriloquist’s dummy said. Well, not quite, but today I picked up a couple of G.I. can openers. Very lightweight and lethal looking, not got a clue how to use them, so I’d better practise. Also got a whistle (only had one, sorry guys), a very cool steel mug (also only had one in) and a roll up mat to sleep on. Getting there bit by bit. Oh, managed to fit in a 28 miler today. Nice to see the sun shining!. Off to the beeb tomorrow to see Question of Sport being recorded, so looks like a ‘rest day’ in my schedule…

……definitely not required today. Thermals and oilskins called for instead. Meon Shore and Tichfield Haven are glorious places when then sun is shining, boats bobbing on the Solent, flocks of birds in the nature reserve etc. Cycling head on into a 20mph easterly in the cold and wet isn’t much fun. Stupidly I did it twice. Decided against a third go so just 22 miles today after a lazy 10 yesterday.
Realised that my bike has all the aerodynamic characteristics of a brick, though thats probably due to the lump on it rather than the bike itself. Beginning to doubt the wisdom of going north to south against the prevailing wind…………….

I knew I’d return with a gentle pace last night but that was me running in ultra slow mode. I thought tow path’s were supposed to be flat, felt like crossing the Himalaya’s. Cross Trainer day today, so looking forward to the soft saddle.

I picked up more critical kit yesterday, in the shirts and shades, what more needs to be said…

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday’s training consists of running and cycling, Tuesday was weight training day carrying significant weight over distance, nothing like what I’ll actually be carrying on the trip but it got my legs burning. I then repeated the route without weight yesterday and took a massive chunk off my time.

Off to Judo and Karate tonight so will do a shorter route matching my planned training target, will burn it getting there working those fast twitch fibres, but will return with a gentle pace working those slow twitch fibres.

After 4 consecutive days phoning FirstScotRail, the position remains that our bikes are off to Scotland, but we aren’t. Hopefully they’ll have fixed their systems by tomorrow and I can actually book us on the train too!.
On a more positive note, I now have a pannier for my bike (to go with the bags I already had), Great Ormond Street Hospital Childrens Charity are sending us our fundraising pack, had 3 consecutive days of cycling (17, 28 & 27 miles) and my chiropracter was pleased with my progress. Don’t go back again for 3 weeks.
Paul (brother, uncle, uncle accordingly) is thinking of meeting us in Monmouth. Not to ride ofcourse, but we’d have a meal & beers waiting and a big tent to sleep in. I did warn him that we’d whiff a bit by then!
Only negative thing today was my pedal crank came loose again. Bit disconcerting, but I’ve added a big allen key to my tool bag which now stays on the bike. Just hope I can still pedal the thing when its fully loaded………….

Nearly forgot best news of all, Aldershot Town FC, Blue Square Premier League Champions and back in the Football League!!!!! Come on you Shots….

http://www.shotsweb.co.uk/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aldershot/7337126.stm

Training is going well now. I’ve gathered some decent mileage in the last week, and am keeping to my revised training plan now. With twelve weeks to go I am upping the anti with some serious interval training, varying the speed and distances significantly. This definitely improving my aerobic capacity, the bursts are getting longer and more regular.

I picked up our tent and some sundry equipment yesterday, the kids and I spent a few minutes pole fighting before pegging it out last night, we spent a cosy night in the wilderness of our back garden, and one of our feathered friends gave it a blessing which is always appreciated.

Back to work with more training to follow this evening.

….was a hit for Crowded House from their Woodface album. It also described this mornings weather, as I cycled through rain, sleet, hail, strong winds and glorious sunshine. Just 22 miles today (friday), feeling a bit tired as I’ve got an annoying little cold & cough. Did 25 yesterday and 17 last sunday. Had a break Mon,Tues & Weds as we went down to Devon to visit mum. Which means the mileage is well down this week. Got a busy weekend too, up to London to visit D&C. Going to have to ramp it up a bit next week………

This is my current mileage tally. So far so good, cycling to work is slowly getting easier as the weeks pass. Mind you I still don’t feel ‘fit’. Its nice now that I arrive home in day light certainly makes a difference. So far I’ve been doing two lots of ten miles a day with a hefty 7-8 hours gap between each and I have yet to get out and do a big distance in one hit. So I need to test my endurance cycling. Can I cycle for three hours non stop? … I’m not so sure.

Slightly off topic but it was a nice suprise this morning to see snow lying on the ground. Its April, its not supposed to snow in April. And seeing as we also had the hottest day of the year this week its been a bit of a rollercoaster in temperature. By way of evidence I’ve taken a good few photo’s which I’ll upload to Flickr later today.