Saturday 30 June 2012
Preparing to cycle at Tesco
Lots of balloons to blow up, pictures to print off of my cycle ride and banners to sort out. Busy busy busy.I'm wondering what snacks and drinks to take with me and then I thought, "dopey Dora! You're at Tesco, you can pop in for a banana!"
I hope another five hours in the saddle won't have the same effect on my lady bits as three days did!!!
Two hours to go and I'd better get my skates on. More later. 0 comments
Tuesday 19 June 2012
After 230 miles of cycling, I'm home at last!!
Home at last! What an amazing 4 days I've just had. I set off on Friday morning knowing no-one in a group of 36 people and I've come home with 36 friends. Special mention must go to my room mate Julie Daly who was a brilliant room mate and she's way stronger than she thinks. She set off on Friday on a mountain bike with no clips and no cradle on her pedals and managed to make it to Portsmouth with only a few bruises. Thankfully Expedition Wise (our organisers) had a spare road bike and Julie was soon flying.I'd also like to mention Mike, Aussie Paul and Tony (Ward), with whom I cycled for the best part of 2 days. Guys, you let me take the lead and I gather you regretted it! Special mention too to Tall Paul who was an absolute gentleman. He caught up with me on Day 1 when I was cycling mostly on my own and stayed with me for quite a while was I was on my own. I know he did the same for Julie Daly and Tony (Reeves) and I'm sure for many others along the way. He is a great cyclist and a true gent.
The first leg to Portsmouth can only be described as OK and uneventful in terms of the cycling. The wind was lashing and at times we had a few light showers but I managed to get to our first stop before the rain came down.
After the pub, our final stop was in Portsmouth at the Travelodge by the port. We had 4 rooms between us in which to shower and change before a very mediocre carvery at the pub next door!
Dinner over, we walked from the hotel (minus our bikes which were on a van) to the port to board our ferry to Caen. When I'd asked JDRF who I would be sharing with, I didn't realise that on the ferry night I would be in a cabin with 3 other women so it was quite a squeeze.Despite having cycled 74 miles, it took all of us ages to get to sleep. We arrived next morning in Caen and after disembarking we were re-united with our bikes to begin our 85 mile ride to Evreux. For some of the way I teamed up with the above mentioned Tony (Ward) which was great.
At this point, some of the gung-ho chaps who'd ridden hell for leather the day before decided that enough was enough and asked (yes asked!!) if they could ride with me. Who wouldn't be flattered at that? I of course said yes.
So from then on had constant cycle companions and it certainly makes the time go quicker when you're chatting to people. It was great to find out people's stories and really get to know them.
We had a second morning stop at another equally pretty village and we sat in glorious sunshine to have our coffee. No pain aux raisins here but I did buy a Bounty to eat on the road. (As it happened I ended up sharing out my Bounty so only had half of one bar which hit the spot).Lunch that day was interesting. We arrived at the designated stop point and walked into the restaurant. Layed out at each space was a pasta salad and a piece of bread. I tucked in and felt full at the end of it and thought that was the meal. However, the chef came out with hot plates and began to serve something he called "boeuf" which was actually ox tongue. Not one of my or anyone else's favourites.
We gave it a miss and went for a coffee to a local bar, Much better.
Lunch over it was back on the bikes and a 23 mile stretch on an old train line which has been converted to a cycle track. Although the cycling was rather boring with nothing to see on either side, it made a welcome relief from pot-holed roads. By now I had got into a routine with Mike and Paul and occassionally Tony and we made it in good time to our next stop. It was helpful to think of each day in the various stages rather than in a chunk of 85 miles.
When we arrived here, the local firemen were training up the new cadets in a field beside us. It was quite mesmerising to watch them instead of think how sore my undercarriage was. By now, any opportunity to raise myself out of the saddle was most welcome. Some of the guys - actually most of them - were complaining of sore butts but that wasn't an issue for me!
Our final ride on the track took us into Evreux where we camped for the night at a budget IBIS hotel in the centre of town.
By now I was feeling very tired indeed so a quick meal out was followed by a stroll back to the hotel and to bed. Julie and I slept very soundly that night until the alarm went off at 5.30 the following morning.
A hearty breakfast watched over by a little Hitler in the Ibis restaurant was followed by more cycling once we had been briefed on the day's challenges. Immediately on leaving Evreux we had to climb one of four steep hills and because it was almost at the beginning of our day's ride, my legs felt a bit stiff but I made it up and quickly caught up with Mike and Paul.
I broke my no-caffeine rule and decided that perhaps a shot of caffeine was exactly what was needed to help me get up all the hills so I had an espresso at our first stop.
This was the best lunch yet. We started with this scrumptious rice salad followed by fillet steak and boulangere potatoes. Both were so tasty. After a dubious dessert we left, safe in the knowledge that we were inching every closer to our final destination.
A final break on the outskirts of Paris with 14 miles to go and no toilets was interesting for some but for me it was like from home from home. I just imagined I was in Black Park and sought out a secluded spot.
We stopped to regroup beside a beautiful waterfall in the Bois de Bologne.
I must confess that at this stage I was seriously worrying about the state of my ladybits. I decided to be practical and turned my back as re-lubed myself. Not pretty but very necessary.
At this point, the slowest riders went to the front and the faster ones went to the back and we cycled into Paris in pairs. We made slow progress due to heavy heavy traffic but eventually we saw the Arc de Triomphe ahead of us. I was with Tony Ward on this bit and I was very worried that I wouldn't get out of my clips in time and that I would fell into him. I needn't have worried as this never happened.
We finally hit the Eiffel Tower and ahead we heard screams as friends and relatives had gathered to greet us. We had made it. All 229 miles! Yes my undercarriage might have been sore but the only other mishap on the way (for me) was that my chain slipped off. Apart from that, there were no serious problems to report at all.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation had taken 36 riders across the channel and set them down in Paris all in one piece. If you haven't sponsored me and would like to do so, you can go to www.justgiving.com/sarah-liveing1
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Sunday 17 June 2012
Final day
Sorry for lack of info. We had no Wifi!!! So it's the final day and I've just had a breakfast of croissant with Nutella, yogurt and apple purée and a cup of tea.Today will be tough. Lots of big hills to climb but we've only got 70 miles to cycle instead of yesterday's 85!
We should be in Paris by 5.
I have amazed myself on this trip and learned a lot about what the body can cope with on lack of sleep.
Big thanks to my cycling mates Mike and Tony with whom I have shared loads. 0 comments
Thursday 14 June 2012
The coundown begins!
At this very moment, my body is buzzing! I feel like I've downed 4 cups of strong fresh coffee but I haven't. What I'm experiencing is a massive adrenalin rush as I pack my bags for tomorrow's challenge. It's a bit disconcerting but at the same time it's good cos I'll need it when I set off tomorrow.So what have I packed? Well the obvious things like cycle shorts/capri pants, cycle tops, helmet, gloves and cycle shoes (all essential equipment). Rehydration tablets, high energy snacks, and wine gums are also included for an quick energy boost. But there are some items that you wouldn't expect such as arm-warmers, let-warmers and rubberised socks are some of the more unusual things included in my bag. The plan is that I leave in my capri pants (padded of course) with short sleeves tops on and the arm warmers. If I get too hot at least I can peal off my sleeves and carry on.
And what about the rubberised socks? Well if it's raining, I'll be wearing those as my cycle shoes have got air holes in them and I don't want my feet to get wet!!
This cycling malarky is not sexy stuff but then it's not about how I look is it? All the gear, no idea springs to mind and I'm definitely not in that category.
I must go and finish my packing and I also need to check out where we're meeting in the morning.
Adieu. 0 comments
Is going to the gym worth it?
I've just watched an amazing Horizon programme: The Truth About Exercise. It was broadcast on 28th April but I hadn't watched it yet.As the title suggests, Michael Moseley was exploring how effective going to the gym really is in terms of weight loss, Such an interesting programme with lots of very scientific tests and info being given which sheds so much light on what is considered effective exercise.
The overall message coming from the programme was that walking is the best way of reducing fat in your body alongside a healthy eating regime.
Michael sat down to a massive cooked breakfast and a blood test revealed a big surge in fat in his blood. The following day he went on a walk and then ate the cooked breakfast a day later. Again he had a blood test and guess what? There was no increase in fat in the blood.
Are u beginning to realise why I've been banging on about the benefits of walking?
There is no doubt that it is the best form of exercise to be done in conjunction with healthy eating that will leave you healthier on the inside and on the outside too! Don't take my word for it. Watch the programme on iPlayer and see for yourself.
Now I'm off for a walk. X 0 comments
Wednesday 13 June 2012
Last Day of Training
Today began like any Wednesday with my little pooch, Freddie jumping up on my bed to say good morning. That was my signal to get up and out to the gym. By 6.30 I was on the cross trainer for a warm up prior to spinning.7am and Ted arrived at the spinning studio for what would be my last spin session before Friday. And boy was it tough. But whenever I felt like lowering the resistance or worse still, giving up, thought of my trip and carried on!
Everyone at the gym has been very generous and change in my collecting pot for which I'm very grateful.
After spinning I came home for my power walk with the dog and Alice.
We decided to go to Black Park which is still very soggy after all the rain but today.... the sun was shining!!! We set off at a brisk pace and completed 6.5 miles in 1 hr and 20 mins.
I had decided to go out tomorrow but on the walk I just thought that was stupid so tomorrow is a day of rest! Yippee!!!
I've started packing this morning and plan on going into Fox's in Amersham for some rehydration tablets. Tried on some leg warmers that belong to my husband. Not a pretty site. See what u think.
Tuesday 12 June 2012
London to Paris Cycle Ride
Three days to go until I start my London to Paris cycle ride in aid of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. I'm nervous, excited, apprehensive, prepared (I think) and a little bit scared.I've checked the weather forecast and it's not good but I'm not going to let that put me off! A bit of rain couldn't dampen the Royal Philharmonic singers and it's not going to discourage me either.
A parcel arrived in the post today from www.wiggle.co.uk which contained some last minutes wardrobe bits and pieces. I've had to return the all-in-one cycle shorts with bib as I just can't see how I'm going to get out of them quickly enough when I need to use the "facilities"!
However, my padded capri pants in figure-hugging lycra are just the ticket as are the sleeves which I can use when it's cold in the mornings. The good thing about these is that I can take them off and roll them up and still have a top on so no flashes on the side of the road. I also have some rehydration tablets which are a must when exercising for more than an hour. As I plan to be cycling for about 8 hours each day, I will be going through lots of fluid.
I went up to Waitrose today and selected my sweet treats for when I need a sugar rush. I bought wine gums and some cereal bars. If you have any other suggestions for what's good on the move, please do let me know.
Tomorrow I will start getting all my kit out ready to pack on Thursday.
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Friday 8 June 2012
Believing in you.
With the Olympics starting in 49 days time, I have been thinking about the outstanding sportsmen and women who will be taking part in what, for many, will be the highlight of their careers. How come these dedicated individuals have come to represent their countries in their chosen sports?To be a top class sportsperson, you need focus, dedication, drive, belief in oneself, passion and above all, a will to win. If the basic components are there, then everything else slots into place. If an athlete has to be on the track for 8 hours each day, he/she will be there. If a swimmer has to start training at 4am in order to excel, he/she will do it. And they don't do it for anyone else, they do it for themselves. And yes, they have to make huge sacrifices but they know that the price of success is a place on the podium at an event like the Olympics. Once they have the medal, they don't give up there, they strive to win the next one at the World Championships and the next one at the Commonwealth Games perhaps.
This made me think about weight loss and what it takes to be able to lose the weight and keep it off. A staggering 92% of people who lose weight put it back on again (and in many cases, put on more than they weighed at the start). It made me ask why?
I have learned over the last 7 years that to be successful at weight loss requires exactly the same qualities that it takes to be a top sports personality. However, for some of us we just don't have the self-belief that we can succeed or we're not willing to make sacrifices, or we're not prepared to maintain the fitness regime that got us to where we want to be.
For many people attempting to lose weight, they have listened to and learned "truths" about themselves from parents, siblings, friends and teachers, that have become so entrenched in their minds and it's hard to see themselves in any other way. For example, if you were repeatedly told as a child that you were the "big one" you will believe that to be a truth about you. The reality is that you could be different but to do so would mean changing the way you and everyone else who knows you perceives you.
But it's an Olympic year this year and for the first time in 64 years the games are on our soil. I urge you to take a look at Britain's finest sportsmen and women. These people are going to make a difference to themselves when they step out onto the big stage that is The Olympics. Whether they win or not, they won't give up. They'll go to the next event having made some changes to how they do things and they'll try again. And they'll keep going until they succeed.
Weight loss and the maintaining of it can be achieved, you just need to believe that you can and will unlearn your "truths" and move forward. If you need some help with this, please get in touch via www.walkingforweightloss.co.uk
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