The weekend has arrived and it's actually not raining. Still suffering from the after-effects of a cold, but the prospect of a dry and fairly mild day means that I need to start the year's training here. I'm running the 3 Peaks Race in April and riding the Etape du Dales in May. I want to do respectable times in each. Can training for fell racing be effectively combined with training for Cyclosportives? Will the latter help prevent me from getting injured doing the former?
I'm slow getting out of the house and eventually head off at 11am with no real idea of how far or even where I am going! I like spontaneity of route choice. Breathing not great early on so initially think I'll just do the 'trade route' from Ilkley to Burnsall and back (is there a better 25 mile circuit anywhere in the country?), but pick up with the beautiful weather (almost forgotten what blue sky looks like) and so head east from Barden Bridge to climb up to Stump Cross Caverns and down Greenhow Hill to Pateley Bridge, before returning via Dacre, Norwood Hill and Askwith, about 45 miles I guess (need to sort computer out for winter bike). Glad to have got that first decent ride in the legs, but felt tired at the end. There is a long way to go!
