Cycling at night

Just as everyone was going to bed last night, my friend Wallie and I were unloading our bikes, ready for a ride through the night around the Salisbury Plain area.  Most people think I'm mad for doing this kind of thing but actually it's kind of fun and something a little different.  For eagle eyed readers, we did something like this about a year ago and because we enjoyed that so much, we decided to do it again this year. Click here for 2010 link.

The original plan was to ride through the night and then marvel at the sun rising.  Instead we had the issue of continuous rain with no improvement being forecast.  We were tempted to postpone it but decided to have a shorter ride instead. We'll have another go on a clear night while we're still in the mid summer period, all being well.

What's different about riding at night?
The quick answer is loads of things.  I find the way I sense things will become different at night time.  Have you ever noticed those pockets of cold, damp air when you're riding through the countryside at night?  Sometimes you'll hit them in a dip, or perhaps in a wooded area.  All very atmospheric, perhaps spooky.  That also applies to the mist you'll sometimes encounter and then there's the scents you can smell - wow!  Both of us last night were struck by the beautiful smell of pine as we rode through a wooded area.  Sounds are different, as are glimpses of wildlife.

You can't see the gradient in front of you so easily, so suddenly you find yourself speeding up or slowing down but the road looks flat.  Of course it isn't but you just can't see it, but you can feel it.

Other times when we've had more visibility, the landscape takes on a different quality that can be very beautiful.

Riding with a friend also brings a certain camaraderie and pleasure in sharing the experience.  Sometimes we'd go a mile or two without chatting, just riding alongside each other savouring the ride.  We are fortunate with our natural pace being virtually the same, so we're very comfortable riding with each other - this really helps.

Isn't it dangerous?
No not at all, providing you take a few precautions and take care.  By that I mean having some decent lights, which is obvious really.  That's lights to see the road ahead and to be seen by other traffic you might come across.  Don't forget riding on dry tarmac will bounce far more light back than compared to wet roads.  LED lights these days are pretty bright and they have the advantage of not having a bulb to blow in the normal way.  Batteries last a lot longer as well.  Wallie, as I have come to know over the years, has a keen eye on being thrifty at times but sometimes this doesn't pay off.  He's lost 2 el-cheapo rear LED lights because of flimsy brackets.  So it's really important to get good lights which fit the bike well.  We both had head torches, though mine only came out later when I had a bike problem (see further below).  Again these are available with traditional bulbs or LEDs.

Worth considering whether you prefer to blend in or stand out with your clothing - both have their advantages.....

We found there were only a handful of cars around and those were easy to see coming because of their headlight beams shining from a mile away.  That gives a feeling of security in knowing there's no nasty surprises and allows you time to go single file (and for me, to get on the correct side of the road).

Hazards include wild animals.  Last year we had the odd startled badger run out in front of us.  Country lanes will inevitably have pot holes and these can be difficult to see in time, especially if you're blasting down a hill.  Another country lane hazard is gravel on downhill stretches (this is my worst) which can so easily cause a skid - a front wheel skid is almost impossible to control.  When you're going fast downhill, allow some distance and don't be blinded or dazzled by the rear light in front of you.

Other times it helps to just have some kind of understanding or communication about who goes first or hangs back when you're not riding alongside each other.  For us, this just seems to happen with the minimum of words.

"Wouldn't it be a shame if we had a puncture on a night like this?"
Yes, Wallie, it would.  It's just as well I'm not superstitious because no sooner had Wallie said that, a few yards on I felt my back wheel go over a bump differently.  And then another and then there's a continuous vibration.  I had a puncture.

Bloody Panaracer Tourguard tyres!  Shysters!  Is this bad luck or the norm?  This means I get one puncture every 350 miles nowadays.  This is not good.

Getting it changed was fairly straightforward but interesting to note that out of the handful of cars that went passed, no body stopped to ask if we were okay. The nearest we got to that was a Police car slowing down for a look and then carrying on, presumably we didn't look too dodgy.  Times like this are a reminder of why it is vital to carry one or two spare inner tubes, plastic tyre levers, a pump and maybe one or two other tools.  It was also a time for my LED headlight to prove invaluable and for me, a pair of glasses.

Know where you're going
Last year we had Wallie's green lane diversion (anything to avoid an A road!) which was "fun".  This year's diversion was planned and involved pushing our bikes over a foot bridge to avoid a ford about 15 feet wide and goodness knows how deep.  This was okay this year, Wallie knew where we were going!

Just imagine being in a strange area and having to put your reading glasses on every few minutes to check a route.  Then it rains.  Paper maps and water do not mix very well.  Besides, it's easy to get cold with frequent map-check stops; better to keep pressing on if you can.

Fuel for cycling
Night riding is all very well and you might be enjoying yourself but your body is used to being asleep at this time, not huffing and puffing up hills for several hours.  Important to start off with a "full tank" and of course carbohydrates is the fuel of choice; a slow burn source of energy.  To keep us going we had some bananas and Blackfriars' flapjacks (cut in half size doses).  One of those every 60-90 mins with a drink of Lucozade or plain water is about right.

Stopping for a snack on a convenient bench - white spots are raindrops caught by the flash

It really is important to keep eating and keep moving to avoid getting cold.  Feeling cold also slows your reactions which you can't afford to allow.  Besides, just stopping, turning off your lights and then just listening to the countryside, is sometimes a wonderful thing to do!

I could "wax lyrical" about this forever but I'll just step back here.  If you're tempted to try a rural bike ride, I can recommend it!  Pick a nice dry, still and calm night for the best experience.  Be open minded, allow your senses to wallow in all the new things you'll experience.

Just to conclude:

Your kit

• Bike checked in daylight before.
• Take at least 2 spare inner tubes (plus a pump and tools). Be sure you can fix a puncture at night time
• Good bright lights with new batteries (as primary light source or back-up for a dynamo).  Consider 2 front and 2 rear.
• Map, glasses, headlight
• Mobile phone for emergencies
• Identification

Your clothing

• Yellow reflective jacket is best. Ideally waterproof and breathable
• Gloves (maybe mitts) even in the summer it can get really cold at night
• Decide on shorts or trousers

Other

• Tell someone where you're going if your alone
• Spare car key, if applicable
• Ride quietly - do not get people worried as you pass their houses at night
• Food - be prepared to hit the "wall" in the small hours.  Take it easy, have something to eat and drink.
• A camera.  In spite of these really uninspiring shots, there are some great opportunities - especially at dawn 
• Check out local cycling clubs or CTC groups for an organised ride
• Remember you'll need to catch up on the missed sleep, so plan for that and avoid driving if possible
• Allow your senses to wallow in a whole new experience!

Recovery 5

Strange as it seems, I was really looking forward to the Doctor's appointment today.

I explained the hand problem.  He had a prod.  I said it's worse in the cold and much better after a dose of Ibuprofen.  He pulled my little finger about and said "Mmmmmm".

"You've got Digital something Neuralgia".

"What's that?" I asked

"Damage to the nerve itself, jolly painful.  It'll take maybe a year to heal"

"Treatment?"

"Yes, Ibuprofen for a month and you can wear some gloves when you're cycling".

"So I can cycle then?"

"Yes providing it doesn't hurt you too much"

I changed the subject.

"Doctor, I've run some Half Marathons and I'm thinking about a full Marathon, is that okay with you?"

"Yes of course it is but thank you for asking.  Just train up gradually"

I was still well inside my allotted 10 minutes and I considered whether it was viable to engage in a sport-health conversation.  I looked at him to weigh up if he could be a runner.  Fairly unlikely, though he might have been years ago.  I decided not to, time to go.

So that's brilliant news.  Cycling and Ibuprofen is okay for the next 6 months.  So I'm going to start cycling again now.  Just as well really, my friend Wallie and I are having another all night ride in a few days time.  You might like to take a look at last year's ride click here.

Recovery 4

Following on from some blog posts in March 2011 where I talked about my injured hand, sadly I'm still not completely healed.  There's also been a certain amount of denial on my part.

It all started at the end of January when I was out running, early on a Sunday morning.  I had a fall, caused simply by tripping up on some rough ground which was frozen rock hard.  I landed by squashing my hand under my chest, so the little finger side hit the ground first followed by hand hand curving in on itself.  Hope you can picture that.  Following two trips to the hospital, one x-ray and a follow up visit to my Doctor's surgery, the general opinion was I had damaged some ligaments or tendons and these would take longer to heal than bones.  The Doctor did make a half comment, suggesting the Hospital where I had the x-ray carried out wouldn't necessarily spot a broken bone in a complex structure like the hand.

It is still painful and I'm not sure what is wrong, so I have an appointment tomorrow at the Doctor's surgery.  I'm managed to get an appointment with another Doctor there, one that I've never seen before and who I hope will be a little more interested.

I am now recognising that cycling does aggravate my hand, as does a number of routine ordinary tasks (the worst is drying my hand with a towel - agony).  Consequently I've not cycled for the last two weeks.  I really do miss riding and have withdrawal symptoms kicking in.

So I'll hopefully give an update tomorrow evening.   I'm not sure how interested or concerned the Doctor will be, so I'll consider what the best approach ought to be other than "Good evening Doctor, my hand hurts, I'm not sure what is wrong but please can you fix it?".  We hear a lot about NHS reforms, GP Commissioning Consortia against a history of falling standards and rising costs.   I don't think treating me will assist in the achievement of any public health target (I have learnt much about this fascinating subject over the last year from a professional standpoint with offender health needs), nor am I suffering a chronic debilitating disease.

I am astonished that this injured hand of mine has stopped me achieving what I wanted to do this year.  In February and March even my running was affected but not so now.  I'm disappointed that I've not been able to train for some day-long rides (100+ miles) as I know this is otherwise very achievable.  Once again it is, for me, a matter of trust.  Though I don't necessarily understand the reasoning for this set-back, I must believe it is for the right reason.  I still enjoy running and for slightly different reasons.  I also find myself looking at things more easily from a longer term perspective.  My hand WILL heal; 2011 is just one year.  I trust I will be blessed with many more years to come where I can enjoy cycling more in the future.

Thank God I'm alive!

Me - after my run and high on endorphins

Just back from a run.  Wow.  This is the first run after the St Albans Half Marathon which was just a few days ago.  I feel fantastic and thank God I am alive!

I went out at 8.15pm for about an hour on my Hilly Route number 2.  There had been some rain in the air which was gradually clearing so the air was humid and yet fresh.  I love these summer showers, with soft gentle refreshing rain.  I noticed a few pockets of cold air when I was in the countryside which added to the atmosphere.  Three quarters of the way around, I was running along the edge of an escarpment with distant views over towards the setting sun.  It was awesome seeing the mixture of heavy clouds stretching far into the distance.  Wow it was good.

So, how was I running, after the Half on Sunday?  The answer is better than I thought, I was expecting to be a bit stiff (which I was until I was on top of the first hill) but instead I had a good running form.  My strides were longer, I ran lightly along a footpath, almost tip toeing as I danced along, snaking the edge of a field with the wet grass brushing against my legs.  Further on I was on another footpath where the undergrowth had shot up so high over the last week or two.  Wet leaves were brushing as high as my waist and I was covered in grass seeds.  I had a couple of sprints, forcing myself to take longer strides until it started to hurt, then easing back.

Somehow all the thoughts from the day at work vanished through the run.  I went out replaying the two meetings I'd been in today.  Neither were too tricky but it was good to mentally leave them behind on the trails and hills.

Coming home, along our road I sprinted as fast as I could, turned the corner with just a few yards to our house and eased back to a gentle jog, still panting on for a few seconds more.  Please can I say again, for anyone unsure of running, it works wonders both physically and mentally - try it.  If you're out of shape, don't worry.  Start gradually and slowly build up.  I feel so uplifted once again.  So thank you; another uplifting and wonderful run.  Thank you.

St Albans Half Marathon 2011

My friend Paul in Birmingham says I'm crazy for running a half marathon.  He'd probably think I'm totally bonkers for actually enjoying it....

You'll know from my previous posts that I'd been really looking forward to the race, even though I knew I could have trained a little more for it.  So why was I standing there, shivering in the rain  feeling full of anticipation?  Surely any sane person would be at home in the dry?  Rachel and the girls would be getting ready for church and why wouldn't I want to be doing exactly the same?    This race is meant to be one with pleasant weather and instead it was pretty miserable.

It turned out to be a wonderful race.  Why? Read on, I'll tell you.

At 10am, rather than hear the starting gun go off, word spread the start was delayed by 20 minutes.  Apparently there was an Elf & Safety issue somewhere on the course.  Grrrr more standing shivering in the rain.  Before long there were loads of fellow men having their last pre-race pee against some nearby undergrowth and I decided to gently jog around to keep warm in the pouring rain. Spectators were retreating under umbrellas.

Then, at about 10.20am we were off.  All the chatting stopped, we wished each other good luck.  The pack was quite tight.  Much heavy breathing going on around me, some huffing and puffing rather a lot.  It wasn't until I'd gone passed the 2 mile sign that I was starting to feel warm and less stiff.  I knew I was being over taken many times and I remember there was a fellow runner who tried to say a few words of encouragement to me, thinking I was going to be struggling up a nearby hill.  That reminds me, everyone seems to think the course is really hilly.  It isn't, just undulating Hertfordshire countryside, nothing too steep or long.  It's often on these hills where people flag, generally the ones who have previously shot passed me.  I decided to try counting my steps as someone in the pre-race huddle had suggested.  "One two three, one two three" and so on.  Yes, that would help for a really steep hill but not necessary yet.

I really enjoyed the course as I couldn't remember it from last year, though there were a few bits I half recognised.

Helpfully there were mile signs and I was trying to work out my speed by looking at my stopwatch as I passed these and in particular, what would be my finishing time?  After a while I figure it might be 1.50.  Not too bad but I must go faster.  And so I did.  At the half way point I started passing other runners, some that had already over taken me!  The rain, by the way, was lovely.  Beautifully cleansing and refreshing - I loved it!

I got to mile 11 and made a real effort to maintain my pace and then there was a young kid with a bowl of jelly beans!  Wow what a hero!  I grabbed a couple (including the last blackcurrant one left!) and plodded on.  As I entered the park I knew the end was close and so I went as fast as I could to the end.  It was great crossing what I thought was the finishing line with people waving and cheering me and a bunch of other runners.  I clocked the time, DAMN a minute later than I wanted so I sprinted further to pass under it.  Then I realised the difference in the gun / chip time and then knew I'd be alright.

So, 2 minutes faster than last year - 1.42.  That's OK but what next?  Gotta go faster and further.

Oh, you Marshalls - you were great!  Many thanks also go to the good folk at the numerous water stations.

I didn't hang around afterwards.  I got cold quickly so I legged it back to my car.

Are you getting the drift of this?  With such 'orrible weather there is every reason to loathe this race but instead it was fantastic.  That wonderful feeling of satisfaction, pain, elation, joy and more pain came flooding in.  I was soaking wet, freezing cold but I loved it!  I had been on a journey with nearly 2000 other runners who were both companions and yet competitors and there to be beaten, just as I was for those in front of me.  It was an emotional and mental journey, as well as one of a physical journey.  It was putting my mind into a different way of thinking, to run, to enjoy it, to be strategic, to be tactical and run as fast as I could.

My result meant I was just in the first Quarter.  Not too bad for a novice 49 year old but I must do better, as any Type A personality should do.  So pleased I did it and I can't wait for the next race!

St Albans Half Marathon results 2011

I'm like a cat on a hot tin roof waiting for the results to come in - just can't wait.

Well done everyone for such a great event today.  Even the late start and having to stand shivering in the rain didn't seem to matter once we were all underway - it gave many the opportunity to chat to some fellow runners before we all set off.  Well done ARO Runners from Harpenden.

Here's the link:    http://www.stalbanshalfmarathon.co.uk/

Running at dawn - what a privilege

This morning I woke at 4.25am.  At 4.30am I was sitting on our front doorstep putting my running shoes on - simply couldn't do anything else.

There was much birdsong in the air, along with a cool freshness from what must have been a recent shower.  I ran quietly through the nearby streets onto a green lane that begged me to run along.  After a mile, I turned back to run along the edge of a field and then back home.  Just a couple of miles.

I saw nobody else.  No dog walkers, cars, newspaper boys or heard any sign of life, just nature stirring for the day ahead.  I was there, just gliding through, quietly, softly on my own.  It was priceless.

Sitting here back home at the dining room table, I've just finished a coffee.  Although it's a little cool and I'm still in my running gear, I have the French door open so I can hear the birds and smell the fresh air, looking out onto our garden - all beautifully wet, lush and green.  I have it for myself - what a privilege. As much as I love all of the different seasons here in England, I do, just for now, wish it could be like this all year 'round.

And if it wasn't for tomorrow's race, I would have carried on for miles but I had to resist the temptation.  I hope I haven't caused myself any problems for tomorrow, surely a short gentle run will be Okay.

ARO Sports update

This afternoon I stopped in Harpenden to go into my favourite running shop only to find it was closed and empty.  According to a neighbouring shop, they've had to leave as times were difficult.

That's a real shame, if you've read my review (March 2011) you'll know it had a lot going for it in terms of personal attention and service.  As good as some mail order companies are, they don't do a Gait Analysis to help you choose the right shoes or give you the advice, local information and all those useful snippets of advice.

Running in the rain

In preparation for this Sunday's St Albans Half Marathon, I had my long run last weekend and I'm now enjoying just a short run most days before breakfast.  These short runs are about 3 or 4 miles; a nice easy pace perhaps with a 50 yard sprint at some point for the fun of it.  I'm feeling fairly loose and supple when I run at the moment which I'm sure is helped by frequent running, rather than distance.  I haven't been stretching much lately and my weight is around 10st 5lbs (feels about right but I might drop a bit further after the Half Marathon).

When I went running on Wednesday, there were just a few spots of rain in the air and it seemed quite pleasant; certainly refreshing.  While I was running along a near by trail, I could feel the long wet grass brushing against my legs and it seemed nice.  Gradually the rain got heavier and was in full flow when I got home.  It was fantastic!  I was wet, who cares?

This now is opening up a whole new running possibility in my mind.  Sometimes in the past I have planned to go for a run early in the next morning, only to find it is wet and I end up not going, yielding to the temptation of that extra cup of tea in bed.  Now I'm starting to see it differently.

There seems to be a certain beauty that's there which I haven't realised before.  I've enjoyed running through mist  before, which seems to have its own magical quality when the sun is trying to shine through.  So maybe there's something I've got to try out just to see what one of my more usual 6 or 7 mile hilly runs are like in the rain.  Then there's the different kinds of rain to consider and I bet they're all great in different ways - from the gentle drizzle through to the monsoon-like downpour.

I just can't wait!