Kettlewell

Found myself struggling to focus this morning, the brain rather fried from five very long and intense days. I was going through the motions really, just tidying up bits and pieces and not making any real progress. Both the lads have things on this weekend so today was really the last opportunity of the holiday to get out with them both, so I suggested a ride and they were up for that.

I decided to first go for a run at lunchtime. With a couple of days off from the running behind me, I was due a quality session. Only the chance of a couple more good efforts now before the World Masters. I decided to run up the Keighley Gate Road to the masts, a route I've not done all year. It's climbing from straight out the door for 2.5 miles. I'm thinking that it won't be too far off the kind of gradient that we'll be experiencing in just 8 days now. So, I set off at a good pace, legs feeling quite strong, and tried to work hard all the way. On the last stretch I could see that a sub-20 minute time was on so I found the energy to raise the pace and got to the top in 19.52. It's hard to remember back to when I was doing this little time-trial on a regular basis, but I think that's a reasonable time. No matter. It's given me a great deal of confidence for the run next week. With so little specific training, I know I'm not going to be as competitive as I would like, but I don't think I'm going to disgrace myself!

Got sucked into watching England pile on the runs against South Africa in the one-day series. Pietersen certainly seems to have the midas touch ... and long may it continue. Waiting to see the end of the England innings, we didn't set off until almost 3pm but I still held a vague notion that we could possibly go to Hawes to allow the boys to 'enjoy' the experience of Fleet Moss. That wasn't to be, though, for No.2 son struggled on the back road through Appletreewick, Hebden, Grassington and Conistone. It seemed to me to be more psychological than physical, but he didn't seem to have the legs. We stopped at the cafe in Kettlewell for a good feed stop and it occurred to me then that perhaps it was just that he hadn't eaten enough through the day. That seemed to be confirmed on the way back. What a difference! He set a good pace all the way home. Indeed we were a whole 20 minutes quicker coming back on the B road, on a route which is only marginally shorter. We had our customary sprint at the golf course, which was just won by junior following my lead-out. No.1 son got caught by the break and gave himself too much to do, but very nearly got us on the line. I was genuinely impressed with them both after 43 miles of fairly hilly bike riding. Winning the sprint put No.2 son in a thoroughly much better mood, and No.1 son was on a great high from just being able to get out and do this ride at all, and enjoy it into the bargain - a prospect that he would have laughed at if suggested just a month or so ago. I've been looking forward to this kind of scenario for years ... and never truly believed it was going to happen. I felt very lucky today to be able to share this kind of experience with my two fit sons. We've even begun to plan a training camp together for the beginning of next year.