The ol' gal gets left behind

Today Charlie and his friend Glyn arrange to meet up to go for a cycle. Great I said I'll come with you 'no way mum you won't keep up' was the response I got from Charlie I can take a hint! and left the speed merchants to it while I headed out on my own, at a leisurely pace.
So armed with my newly acquired innertube changing skills, a little bag with spare inner tubes, a pucture repair kit and a pump I decided to do the loop that had caught Tanya and I out last week. The rain had stopped, the sun was out and it was glorious if a bit lonely. Once again passed the sweetest, cutest foals ahhh and got to the top of Pen-Rhiw-Wen in a good time (well for an ol'gal) 54mins. Whizzed down the other side of the hill and past the place I'd had my first puncture last week. I continued to make good progress avoiding the barking farm dog (least this one didn't bite me) and got up the second hill and past the site of last weeks second puncture round the corner and who should I meet but those 'kings of the mountains'Charlie and Glyn. They seemed pleased to see me and even stopped for a chat I wanted to take their photo for the blog but they wouldn't have it but Charlie took one of me then they were off with Charlie shouting race you back to the house mum. It gives me great pleasure to say I got back to the house before them :-D.
Here's my route and some of the data off garmin conect I remembered to wear the heart monitor this time. Here's also the photo that Charlie took of me

Mid Week Runs

Tuesday evening Phil and I and our small white dog ahhh went on our regular run out over the Gwrhyd to the ruin - 44mins

wednesday evening did same run just me and the small white dog. It was a bit wild and windy up there on the hill plus we got chased by cows which freaked the dog out a bit still good to strech the legs, even managed three hill reps - 44 mins.

Training Rides

Anyone interested in coming on a training ride with me please get in touch.

Sarahx

Sarah And Tanya Test The Support Team - 21st May 2011

and they came up trumps :-). Midday Sunday and Tanya (who will be doing the bike ride with us) joins me on the 22 mile route over Pen Rhiw Wen. All morning we had been having torrential down pours of rain and it was sooo windy I was half expecting a little message on my mobile to say 'maybe we can do this another day?' but no Tanya turns up all keen and smiles - brilliant. So off we set and it was glorious the rain had stopped it was still windy but it was so envigorating out in the hills in all that fresh air and as we climbed up the big hill about 20 Morgan roadsters went past - magic. We got to the top of the hill in about 1hour, had a quick drink and then sped off down the steep hill the other side but straight into the wind which was so strong that we almost had to pedal to get down it. But as we turned off the main road and headed out towards Carreg Cennen disaster struck  I got my first flat tyre. I'd like to write here that I was all prepared for this and efficiently replaced the punctured inner tube with a spare one I'd been carrying for such an occasion but sadly no I was completely unprepared except for my mobile phone so I rang the support team (Phil). he didn't seem too annoyed and came out straight away with Charlie and the two of them efficiently changed the punctured inner tube etc and soon Tanya and I were off and cycling again. Things were going well we were bombing along and enjoying the scenery, we saw the sweetest foals and just had to stop but just as we got up the second big hill disaster struck for the second time and I had another flat tyre and had to phone for help again !!!! this time Phil was a little bit more annoyed and took a little bit longer to come and rescue us. As time was getting on  we decided to call it a day and stuck the bikes on the back of the car and got a lift home. What a shame we didn't complete the loop but we had done the toughest bits, the support crew got some training  and I vow to become more self sufficient when I'm out on the bike - promise.

My broken bike

Race for Life - 18th May 2011

This was brilliant. Ruth and I did this together, well Ruth dragged me round bless her she could so easily run ahead but she stayed with me. Phil, Hannah and Will were there to cheer us in which was really nice too. We did 5Km around Singleton Park which is surprisingly hilly. It was just great to run past the chemotherapy dept. instead of going in for treatment!!! We did a time of 29 mins 24 secs and by the end of it  I was the same colour as my shocking pink t-shirt.

Big love to Ruth will post photo when I work out how to do it.

Sarah x

Dodging the dog walkers - Sat 20/05/2011

Oh how I hope the sun will be shining on the weekend 3rd &4th September. Yesterday afternooon was wet, windy and nasty but out I went on my little pink bike and left Phil power washing our back yard. Once again I headed for the relative shelter of the Swansea valley bike track yeh me and all the dog walkers but it was fun bombing up and down the cycle track. If only Wales was flat I could keep going all day on the flat.

Did about 18 miles in the cold and the wet and when I got back the back yard was looking fab :-)

Thanks for your comments

Sarah x

Weekend Training - 14th 15th May

I hope this inspires you Hwyel !!! On Saturday morning decided to try a different route. Having read Tanya's 'Cycling for Fitness' book it appears I need to mix in a bit of speed work on the flat into my training. So instead of slogging up to Pen Rhiw Wen I headed for the beautifully flat and inviting Swansea Valley Cycle track. I had to go over a hill (the Gwrhyd) to get there but its hard to avoid them round here! It was lovely cycling over the Gwrhyd as only a few weeks ago this was a struggle for me and now I was flying along :D it was also great bombing up the cycle track I tried to go as fast as I could but it wasn't very fast about 25Km/hr. My problem is I keep slowing down to enjoy the scenery today there was a strong smell of wild garlic. Once the cycle track ended at Ystalyfera and I joined the main road only to be passed by Phil in the car - apparently he recognised my big fat butt from quite a distance. A bit of a climb up the Graig Twrch to finish. Total distance 12 miles Time 1 hour would have been quicker if I hadn't stop to talk to Phil.

Today i did my regular route over Pen Riw wen and out towards Carreg Cennen and back through Brynamman total distance 22 miles time 2 hours 45mins. It was quite windy and I struggled up some of the hills which were straight into the wind but it was just great to be out!!!!! i was shattered by the time I got home and hope I'll have more stamina ready for the big bike ride.

My first blog

Almost a year ago now I was diagnosed with breast cancer and have since received the most wonderful care at Neath Port Talbot Hospital. I am so grateful to all the sweet, caring and professional nurses and doctors that have helped me through my treatment that I've decided to raise some money for their breast care trust.  They really do the most fantastic work and I know that any money I can raise would be put to excellent use.

Just before my diagnosis I'd bought a beautiful road bike and Charlie and I had planned to cycle home form our holiday in North Wales. We still had the holiday but as I was undergoing treatment at the time we couldn't cycle home but vowed to do it the following year. We've now decided to make this bike ride our fund raising event. The Big Bike Ride will take place on the 3rd/4th September and I'm hoping that lots of people will sponsor us and join us on the ride and help us to raise lots of money for a very worthy cause.

I've started training and regularly do a 22mile route but I must admit all the treatment has left me very unfit and it takes me a while to recover from theses training rides. I'm hoping that my blog will tell the story of how I return to fitnness and cycle across this beautiful country.