Rookies 2nd attempt at the new IMUK Bike loop

Couple of things then we’ll get cracking.

First, me little girl lost her nanna this week so training has been very sparce as you can imagine. We all deal with things in our own different way and my way is to block it out, not talk about it and focus on something else if only for a few hours so that is what i’ll do if you don’t mind….

Second, well over 150 of you ‘shared’ my ‘take’ on the new IMUK bike loop on FB with your mates that have signed up to the race and many of you also kindly took the trouble to thank me for writing it / said you found it useful to your quest and I wanted to let you know that I really appreciated the fact that you did that so thanks.

Third, I just wanted to clarify something….

Some people will do IMUK as a once in a lifetime ‘bucket list’ thing and earn bragging rights for the rest of their lives and I am the first one to stand and applaud them for that…

Others will come back to try and beat their previous time and I am the first one to tip my hat to them….

However believe it or not, some of us are simply addicted to the process and want to prove to ourselves that we are still able to ‘cut it’ with the Ironmen so return to ‘renew our stripes’ for another year.

When I said ‘if you want to retain your stripes you are going to have to come and earn them’ I was talking about this final group.

The point I was trying to make was that in my opinion, this new bike circuit has changed the game.

If you came and rode it you would soon see what I mean.

2 x pool miles and that was it for this week but I managed to get out onto the new bike circuit for another bash earlier today….

Here is what happened….

3:37 for the second attempt versus 3:30 for the first.

In a nutshell, I felt stronger for long periods and I got a lot further into the loop this time before I started losing the will to live.

The first 20 odd miles are fine but I made a concious effort not to overcook them….

I say ‘fine’…..You ‘breeze’ down into the town centre but then have a stonking hill to conquer in Breightmet however you fly through Ainsworth, Walshaw and totty with lowercroft dip sandwiched inbetween which is very good fun.

A slight grind up turton road before stomping round to Rammy where we once again fly and if you catch green lights at the base of Holcombe hill the smile on your face will last half way up it.

Once conquered, the descent over the other side of Holcombe is a treat however I noticed I was pedalling down it today?

Let’s have it right though, it’s at the end of this that the grinding for Grane Road really starts (well before it.)

Grane Road itself wasn’t as bad as I remember first time round but keep seeing the road climb off into the distance just at the point when you think you have conquered it is not good for the soul.

The loop round Hoddleson was faster than ever and Roman Road is simply a bitch… always will be…

I forgot to mention – at the end of Roman Road just before we turn off to Moorside there is a short sharp climb that is practically vertical – many will be coming unstuck on this one on race day especially 2nd time round.

Moorside lane was tough, Edgworth was a downward treat and the dogleg section back to the main road was a tad easier this time round but still an upward grind all the same.

Sheephouse in reverse was tougher than I remember but the descent over the other side when you are used to battling it out in the opposite direction is just sublime.

By the time I got to Horwich I was drenched, freezing and windswept – it was here that I lost my power but i’ll take that all day long versus losing it way earlier at the first attempt.

So slight progress is being made, not from a ‘time’ perspective but in terms of a ‘how it felt’ perspective..

Make no mistake….

Plenty of work required if I am to have any chance at all of ‘earning my stripes’ in 2019…

Another loop next week Rookie?

Oh yeah…..

www.strava.com/activities/2189393486

Like this article? so will your mates – feel free to share it and don’t forget to ‘add’ me on FB where you will find my daily training log for 2018/19 updated daily, as it happens

By the way, have you heard about this book? its nearly 500 pages crammed full of hints and tips detailing exactly how I was able to go from zero fitness to completing an Ironman triathlon and covers super sprint, sprint, olympic 70.3 & full iron distances all from a ‘first timer’ perspective – please take a moment to read the reviews on amazon www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Ironmen-Iron-Rookie/dp/1974002322/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540676777&sr=8-1&keywords=iron+rookie

Ironman® is a registered trademark of the world triathlon corporation and in no way is this website affiliated with or endorsed by Ironman® or the WTC