It's a wild life...

15 Jan 2008

I surprised myself a bit this evening, I really wasn't looking forward to going out. It's been the wettest day of the year, there are 73 national flood warnings in place, it's still blowing a gale, but how good do I feel for going out and getting on with it? I feel great!

People have been telling me it's not about speed, it's about long, slow miles. So I thought I'd do the slow bit, ride in lower gears and try to reduce my average heart rate (aparently the lower you can get your average heart rate, the more fat you burn, reducing the rate at which you burn glycogen, helping you ride longer - I can't claim to understand this - but I do intend to learn more!).

I was intending to do a 17 mile loop (as it was 9pm before I managed to get out!), but forgot to turn left at Sawbridgeworth! Anyway, I felt better going a bit slower, and the weather wasn't bothering me that much so I thought I might as well go further!

Out past Harlow, towards Sheering, a deer charged across the road just in front of me, just before I go to Hatfield Heath a car stopped me to check the way to Harlow, at Hatfield Broad Oak the pub looked very inviting, towards Takeley a rabbit, temporary traffic lights and the view of planes taking off and landing at Stansted Airport. I have never been so pleased to stop at temporary traffic lights in the middle of nowhere with no other traffic in sight, after answering a call of nature I felt much better!

The ride was blustery to say the least, but turning left at the traffic lights in Takeley was like hitting a brick wall! Head-on into the wind - last 6-7 miles is all in the same direction! And the last 2 miles is all up hill. OK - so it was slow, hard work, but worth it!

Got back about 10:50pm and Clare was just starting to wonder where I had got to! A bit slower, a bit further and a lower average HR - so all in all, I think this has been my best ride yet!

26 miles; 1hr 50mins; Avg HR 150; Max HR 165