Happy Birthday Me!

Oh OK then...

Yes I'm 38 today - hard to believe with these boyish good looks I know *cof*!

In other news...mountain mayhem was good this year. Didn't rain so we actually had the luxury of riding the course rather than dragging our bikes through a swamp littered with the bodies of fallen comrades and through rivers swollen with the tears of frustration. No, this the course was dry, fast and relatively easy so laps were quick and consistent. Jey pride came 53rd in Sport Men and I am told we were 5th singlespeed team. But big, big respect to Jenn for WINNING the female soloists with a buttock battering 25 laps!

Happy Birthday Imi!

My little girl is five today :o)

Hottest day of the summer so far and...

...I've got a cold! Now that (are you paying attention at the back Alanis?) that, is ironic. Felt fine until about 8 last night and then came down with the whole sneeezing, headache, sweating thing. Hardly any sleep so ended up phoning in sick today. Not a totally wasted day as after loading up with cold capsules and sleeping for a couple of hours I felt well enough to paint a few skirting boards. I'm *that* close to finishing all this home improvement stuff - well on one floor anyway.

Be a relief to finally pack the tools away for a bit! :o)

On a more summery theme here's Jack flying a kite.

Come on! Who wants some?

Wanderingav is a Giant Moth that breathes Fire, emits Ultrasonic Screams, has four Extra Limbs, is Guarding its Nest, Screeches when Angry, and can Generate Electricity. Strength: 3 Agility: 8 Intelligence: 5 To see if your Giant Battle Monster can defeat Wanderingav, enter your name and choose an attack: fights Wanderingav using Strength Agility Intelligence

It's Grim Up North...

Nah, it was great really. Just back from another fantastic weekend in Appletreewick in Yorkshire. Freezing cold and hard as hell, but top riding and superb hospitality as always from John at the New Inn. Big thanks to Rory for organisation and unflagging enthusiasm, and to Phil, Grant, Jerome, John, Lorraine and err me for being generally cool and making the whole weekend special. You guys ROCK! (Makes devil sign with fingers)

;o)

More Pictures

Steyning Stinger

Well, that was ****ing brilliant! :o)

Nigel and I set off with the mass start at 9.00am. The sun was out, the ground was dry and there was a cool breeze blowing. Perfect! We ran though a small field and onto the opening stretch of tarmac. After about a mile we were off into the forest . A couple of rises to warm us up, a short slippy downhill into Washington village for a quick cup of water and then the first 'Sting'. Sheesh, that was steep, after a hundred yards or so everyone gave into the inevitable and walked up, after all it wasn't much slower than running anyway. Then we were onto the top of the downs. Windy now but we only had half a mile before we turned and then the wind was behind us for the rest of the day. We then had a long steepish but runnable climb topping out at chanctonbury ring where we passed our support team. Cheers all, that certainly helped keep us moving!
A run down through Chalk Pit woods followed, this was my favourite part - rooty, steep and with the odd slippy patch to add excitment! Then it was just a couple of miles along the flat back to the finish and our free and very welcome cooked breakfast.
I finished in 1:56. A time I'm well pleased with, only 10 minutes slower than for the on-road half marathon in Brighton two weeks before. Nigel came in just a minute or so behind my, despite claiming to have hardly prepared at all (secret training I reckon).
All in all that was one of the best events I've ever attended. Now thinking about having a crack at the full Marathon next year...

(Thank to Rory at U.S.E for the pic)

Brighton Beacon Half-Marathon

Oops, I seem to be doing this this weekend! I wasn't down to but Ian has had to drop out due to a broken fingernail or something so I'm filling his shoes for this one. Actually this will make a nice warm up for the Steyning Stinger a couple of weeks later.

:o)

UPDATE: Well, that wasn't too bad. Weather wasn't good, overcast, drizzly and with a headwind all the way on the longest straight section (about 6 miles). Still, ran it in 1:45:59 which is pretty much what I expected. Don't even feel too bad today, bit achey but nothing too serious. Looking good for the Stinger in a couple of weeks. :o)


Some rather small and rather expensive pics here