If I'm going to be representing Vegan Fitness at the West Midlands Vegan fair, I really ought to have an active training log on here.
Here we go with a bit of an update then...
24 hour race at Catton Park, Derbyshire;
It was very muddy. Most riders were pushing through a lot of the course through the trees. I ended up breaking the drive belt and retiring at about 11 hours in. So many other people retires as well that I still finished 33rd/81 overall (no separate veterans class)
12 hour race at Gorrick, Surrey;
Got the worst cramp I have ever had and the worst pins and needles and bruising on my hands that I ever had too. Lost all motivation when I found I wasn't even in the top ten and retired at about 9:30. Still finished 18th/41 veteran.
3:30 hour trailquest around Govilon, Monmouthshire;
This one was steep. Proper Welsh Mountains. As usual, I planned my route before setting off and only made one significant mistake in not adapting the plan to suit the course.
I spent about 1/2 an hour riding up a steep hill to get a score of 30, then being unable to use the height gained to ride back down quickly because of all the blind bends on a narrow lane, yet missed an easy 30 point CP only about 1km along a disused railway, which would have taken me less than 5 minutes.
10th/35 overall
3 hour trailquest around Lowsonford, Warwickshire;
Fairly flat and fast, although a bit muddy on some of the bridleways.
7th/43 overall
3 hour trailquest near Church Stretton, Shropshire;
Another steep one, up Wenlock Edge and back down again. Everything seemed to go right, good route choice and good navigation for a change.
3rd/36 overall
I'm currently 10th/114 in the Autumn League after four events. Highest placed rider with only three results. Best four results from seven events count.
8 hour race at Aston Court, Bristol;
2nd at the last 8 hour and 3rd at the last 12 hour event on this course in the single speed class, with the two guys who beat me not entered this time, I thought I was in with a realistic chance of a SS win.
Up hill run at the start and as usual, I feel like I'm getting left behind as I see all the sprinters disappearing off in the distance.
Started off lapping in about 35 minutes. By lap 6 I was down to 40 minutes, although I managed to hold this pace for the rest of the race without getting any slower.
With no support crew and no other riders shouting to me, I had no idea what position I was in until I crossed the line at the end and a friend told me I had won.
I was really struggling for motivation during the middle part of the race. I feel OK at the start while I'm still reasonably fresh, and OK towards the end as I count down the last few laps, but from about 3 to 5 hours in I find it really hard to keep going.
I get loads of support from the marshals and other riders though. The marshalling is done by Air Cadets and they all know me by now and shout "Go Vegan" as I ride past.
A lot of other riders know me, either through seeing me at other races or through STW forum, and will give me encouragement as they overtake.
1st/5 Single Speed
I'd have been 4th/23 in the veterans class or 12th/51 in the open class.
Top 1/5 overall at 49 years old on a single speed with a cold.
by Orkje » Mon Jul 30, 2012 8:51 am 
