RunningCeleste : Next stop Olympic Park & My Longest Ride

Okedoke, better write something. Minus three days, eek..

So it’s been about 2 weeks since my last cycle, it feels like about 2 thousand years. I mean I’m not sure I can even ride a bike now without stabilisers or without my stepbrothers holding onto the back of the saddle going “you can do this” (actually they’d never say that they’d be saying something mean I’m sure).

Hmm, so (as people keep reminding me) I’ve got that bike thing this weekend, yep just a little pootle around the surrey hills. Currently, I feel very very underprepared, after a week on my hols in sunny Ibiza, feasting on tapas and good wine, and sunshine. I did see people cycling and it did cross my mind to hire a bike, but then I looked around at the hills, or rather at the Everest mountain range (did you know the Himalayas were in Ibiza? people don’t seem to know this until they go out for a little run – which I did do).

Ride London has very much been on my mind though, mostly in my dreams, or rather nightmares. Usually, I’m late for the start line and they’re packing up, or I stop for a snooze halfway through and wake up and it’s all over. Or the latest one, my saddle kept slipping down making it really uncomfortable to cycle (haha, me worrying about cycling on a low saddle, I have so changed).

But mostly I’m worried about not finishing (I deserve to cross that finish line) and my lack of training, I really only have done long cycles, and I’ve barely done any running. I’ve promised myself I will play it by ear on the day and if I’m not up to it I’m happy to divert off to the 46, I know there’s no shame in that, I’ve done so well and come soooo far, I can’t believe I’m now a cyclist; I cycle to work, in London! I’ve cycled to the south coast, I own bib shorts (true story) and I actually enjoy cycling.

But deep down competitive me will be disappointed in myself if I don’t go the full distance (without the hills). I almost feel like I’m letting people down if I don’t. I need to be easy on myself, and I need to continually remind myself how far I’ve come on this cycling journey, as my friend keeps telling me, remind myself “I’m a badass”!!!

So, yes, I will play it by ear on Sunday I promise not to beat myself up, and I promise to be proud, and most of all I promise to enjoy the day and get a cycle PB in fun.

… watch this space.

My longest Ride 13th July.
I wanted to get one last long cycle in, so I designed a 70-mile route, based on the one to Windsor (a flat version), and continuing on to maidenhead, then via Dorney Court and then home. I'm pleased to say I did it and loved it, here are few pics from the day.