Some birthday thoughts.

As I turned 38 on Wednesday it struck me how much has changed in the past two years.

On my 36th birthday I had no desire to lose weight or ride a bike or improve my health in anyway. We went for a curry with poppadoms, starter, main course, rice, two sides and a naan nicely washed down with four pints.

For my 38th birthday I did a 50 mile ride up to and around Kendal, then had a nice beef stew and some cheese cake and birthday cake. My main treat was some red wine - my first booze since boxing day.

Here's to an even healthier next two years.

Climbing is still going well.

Well on today's training ride I expected to be dropped on the climbs as the groups poorest climber wasn't out with us, so I'm really chuffed I was second or first over most of the climbs and today we had a couple of leg testing climbs compared to the 'climb' we have done the past two weeks.

I think my weight work, diet (and associated weight loss) and roller work have all had in impact on my climbing. Yes I still sound like some grunting out of breath freak but the legs don't hurt as much - then again maybe I am riding slower than I do when I'm out on my own.

My details for the ride from my Garmin can be found here.

A mental week

Sundays training ride went really well again. I was first over Cleves Hill again - it's not much of a climb but it's nice to get one over on the whippets. This week my policy was balls out up it and at he summit my legs were burning but recovery was swift.

I was asked my opinion this week on the two bikes we have been offered for the ride from Cannondale and Dolan so my bike geekness is now out in the open so I expect I'll be ribbed over this on Sunday.

With regards to the Blazing Saddles challenge (LEJOG in 80 hours) I've been tasked with coming up with the spares list and a list of bike shops on the route - all good fun and the kind of planning I love (told you I was a geek).

Training wise during the week it hasn't been great if I'm honest. My dog hasn't been well and should have had an operation but they found issues with his liver so I've faltered somewhat but hopefully he next training ride on Sunday will sort my head out. This weekend will be my last ride with the team until 19th April as supporting the wife next weekend as she runs the Liverpool half marathon then got two weeks in Cornwall so hopefully will get a ride in every other day while I'm down there.

This weeks training run is below - a few more lumps this week but nothing more than I have on my runs around home from what I can see.

I'm a hill climbing God!

Well the first training ride has been and gone and I really enjoyed it.

A very leisurely 21 mile ride through some nice lanes and one 'hill' that I was first over the top of - tells you how small it was really.

To be honest the ride has done me the world of good as I have self belief now that I'm not heading for a spanking, yes the hills are going to be hard but if I lose more weight then they'll hurt less and I'm as good as anyone else on the flat and probably up there on the downhill side of things.

In other news I've got some new socks thanks to the guys at Prendas who never let me down on the 24 hour turn around from order to delivery.

I've also just got the route in for this Sundays ride which is a 25 route like last weekends with an extra loop added to it.

Must update more often

Well February was a bit of a washout if I am honest. I struggled with motivation, food cravings and the weather but back out the other side and almost back on target.

I failed to lose a stone in February - in fact I put a pound on but got into the roller and Sufferfest sessions so it isn't all bad. I still haven't done a ride under 30 miles which I'm chuffed with and after screwing up my food and drink on a 55 miler I was really happy that my ride to friends in Preston went well apart from the torrential rain.

Got the first training/selection ride for LEJOG tomorrow - it doesn't look to strenuous and they hope we'll do the 20 miles in around two hours - I'm keeping quiet but I should think we'll done in an hour and a half.