Session 3 – aftermath – Bored

“….she had sent for him to tell him that she was bored, that her husband was odious, her life frightful.” Madam Bovary, G. Flaubert

Wednesday  

Bored.  Can’t be bothered to do this.  Considering cancelling holidays.  There is no way I can stick with this exercise regime.  On top of everything else the holiday I had planned for this year was just cancelled.  I was due to go to China  in April – not cycling this time round.  For obvious reasons the trip has been cancelled.  I feel like I’ve come out from a long-term relationship.  I’ve been looking forward to this trip for literally 12 months.  Saving and preparing for it and now, it’s not happening.  Friends, colleagues and even the travel agent asked me where would I like to go instead.  But it’s like breaking up with your boyfriend and hooking up with another guy, when your ex is still in your head or heart.  Even though there is a long list of places I want to go to, my heart isn’t in it.  I decided to rebook the trip for 2021, and just stay put this April.  Maybe take a long weekend somewhere.  In a meantime, I have more time to learn Mandarin or Cantonese or whichever language they speak in those Chinese dramas on Netflix.  I was supposed to sign-up to some official lessons, but that never happened.  Well, I have the time now.  

As for cycling.  Can’t be bothered. 

Friday

I actually considered cycling tonight!  What’s more, I was really close to doing it, if it wasn’t for the rain that arrived after work. I had that strange urge, as I walked out of the office, to take out my day’s frustrations on something.  The way people run – and push themselves to a collapse, or box, or….cycle.  I have done that in the past.  Few times in the gym, after a particularly brutal week at work, despite not really being a runner I just had the urge to run until I could run no more.  

Unfortunately, due to the rain…..drizzle, no such luck on Friday.  Once again, however, it was a refreshing feeling – the realisation that I ‘crave’ exercise, or cycling to be precise.  There is hope for me yet.

Saturday.

OMG, I actually got on a bike, on what is not currently my training day.  I spent a day with my best friends from university, and after getting back into the city – I thought why not.  It’s not raining, I have gloves with me, though not glasses and my hair is untidy, and I’m missing scrunchie. But, despite all those drawbacks, I decided I could cope.  So, I crossed the road across from Euston station to the nearest cycling bay, picked up a Boris bike and off I went. 

Thanks to increased focus on cycling in the city, there has been an increase in cycle lines and quiet cycle routes.  However, to get from Euston Station to Hyde Park, I still had to traverse a few busy roads. I suspect there are quieter routes than criss-crossing St Christpher’s place – I just need to find it.  I want to avoid cycling on main roads, especially at night.  I don’t have a helmet with me, or high-vis gear when I get a random idea to get on a bike.  So it’s best to stick to quiet roads. 

When I reached Hyde Park, I decided to do one extra loop around the park – in the dark. Only a little one past Horse Guards barracks, back around on the cycle path, down the promenade by the lake and up back towards Royal Albert Hall, then home.  I added around 3-4 kilometres to the journey.  The result being an 11.4km cycle.

As pleased as I am for having done the ride, I am a little nervous of how I’m going to be feeling tomorrow – both physically and emotionally, i.e. am I not going to be too tired in the morning to do another ride, and am I going to be in the mood. 

Well, only tomorrow can tell.

Right now….I’m shattered and slowly nodding off……..

  • Days left:  354 I think
  • Weight: who cares
  • Distance travelled:  19kms
  • Total distance travelled: 105.9
  • Stupidity Level:   Still surprisingly reasonable

Session 3 – Steady

“So he hurried on, keeping to the rough road that ran down the valley, and followed it at a steady jog-trot for nearly twenty miles,….” Jungle Book, R. Kipling

As per previous Sunday, I woke up, got dressed in my training clothes, packed  a snack and a drink bottle and went off for a little cycling session, just before 9am.  It was perfect timing really, as at approximately 9:25 the Horse Guards were departing the barracks on their journey towards Buckingham palace and the Changing of the Guard ceremony. It was a nice little diversion, during the training session, especially as it took place on that dreaded little hill past the Horse Guard Barracks. 

That hill looks like nothing, but when you’re out of shape and condition, it’s an absolute bitch.  Cycling it once during a training session is fine, twice is bearable, but by the 3rd time I can usually feel it in my legs quite badly – and that’s when I start to swear and debate wether I should actually cancel my trip.  It’s those upwards rides that take the most out of me.  If it was all just flat, I could probably carry on forever.  Well, maybe not forever, but definitely for a few more miles.  Unfortunately, that would be a cheat, and wouldn’t get me anywhere near to being prepared for the holiday.  I need to be able to cycle up those little hills and inclines.  

I did a few laps around Hyde Park.  As well as the horse-guards, I saw another little curiosity this morning.  A man, walking down the park path, carrying two blue macaws, one atop each shoulder.   It’s nice spotting all those curious little things around the park.  Keeps things interesting; takes my mind off the task at hand.

I had a plan for this Sunday (26th Jan).  It was Chinese New Year and celebrations were due on Trafalgar square.  So around 10am I made my way towards the centre of the capital, to partake.  Which I did, had some food whilst there, wandering around the stalls.  Unfortunately by the mid afternoon the heavens have opened and my plan for a training session in the afternoon fell apart.  I should have bought that rain-mac for cyclists I saw the other day at Decathlon.  Instead I now had an excuse not train.  Yey.  That actually made me happy.  That’s bad. I’ll never be ready for my holidays at this rate.

  • Days left:  361
  • Weight 90.1 kgs
  • Distance travelled:  19kms
  • Total distance travelled: 86.9kms
  • Stupidity Level:  Very reasonable

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