"The Tuesday Ride" - 2nd October 2012

Prior to my serious cycling accident 3 years ago I would get out with a group of guys and girls from my cycling Club, One & All Cycling on most Tuesdays making sure I worked a late shift if I happened to be working that day. I loved these rides as I was out with a great bunch of people with a similair interest, getting a half decent ride in that was both social and indeed on occasions very physical (depending on how hard we decided to push it!) whilst at the same time seeing some different parts of the fabulous county of Cornwall.

Since my accident I have just been unable to do the rides because just being on the bike was too painful around my upper back and neck. I have to say though that my friends would still come and visit me after my accident which was always really appreciated by myself. They don't really know how much I appreciated them to be honest.

I wanted to try to get out a few weeks ago but I knew my friends would just be too fit and fast for me. I decided therefore to wait until the end of the cycle racing season as I know the rides slow down and gradually build up again as the spring approaches. I was heartened with my rides in France as the pain had subsided and I can only put this down to being fitter through my running.

So, at 9 am, I met up with the guys at Union Corner in Falmouth and immediately the banter I had missed for three years started. The group this time included David the GP, Darren the Coastguard Helicopter Pilot, Fiona, the Cycling Coach and myself before we later joined by another Dave.

It was a dry day but quite windy. The Tuesday ride generally follows the same route and thankfully, the pace was not too fast on this hilly course. My heart rate monitor decided not to work so I couldn't tell you how hard I was going but I certainly felt within myself. Riding from Falmouth, through the back roads to Treverva and then up and across and around the back of Stithians Lake before the long climb up and towards Redruth before hanging a left to pass through Carnkie (Redruth) and down through Pool and onto Portreath before travelling across North Cliffs to Gwithian where we stopped (as has been usual for the Tuesday ride for the past 4 years) at The Godrevy Beach Cafe (check out the virtual tour. I never get tired of the beauty around here and you can even see one of our club members in his kit sat outside!) for coffee and a cake. More excellent banter and then back onto the bikes, to cycle up through Gwithian to Connor Downs, past Trevaskis Farm (another great place for cakes!) and onto Praze-an-Beeble before the long climb up to Black Head and onto Porkellis and then Carnkie (Helston). Unusually, we have two Carnkies in Cornwall, just about 7 miles as the crow flies apart from each other. Our route for the last few miles retraces the start through Treverva back to Union Corner in Falmouth.

It was a great ride and I was delighted as despite a dull ache I was not suffering in any way with the pain that I have had before.

All in all, I had great fun in great company and the route can be found (in two parts as I didn't include the cafe stop) on my  Endomondo link for 2nd October.

If anyone wants to join us for the ride then you can. The only rule is that you have to wear an approved cycle helmet. See you at Union Corner, Falmouth at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays! If I am not there, someone always will  be.

1st October 2012 - Discipline starts

My wife was up at 5.00 a.m. ready to get ready for her early shift starting at 7 a.m. and I was woken by the alarm clock too. I tried to doze for a few more minutes having had a few calls from work through the night but that early morning dawn chorus known as a "lesser spotted ladies hairdryer" brought me to my senses, so I thought I may as well get up!!! So by 5.30 am, I was dressed in my running kit with my buddy the head torch and I popped out of the front door for a short run before she disappeared and left the children home alone :-) (only kidding of course!)

It was a very still morning and dark as I ran through the village before disappearing off down the footpaths and onto the coast path. There was a slight drizzle and the ground underfoot was very damp having had a downpour overnight but it was refreshing and great to be out there. Lizard Point Lighthouse cast me in light every 30 seconds as I ran towards Housel Bay and then I took different paths back up into the village and through the fields back to home. It may have been early but it was worth it and refreshed me for the start of the day ahead at work. I walked back in the front door as Mrs T. walked out for work. A quick breakfast, shower and change before getting my children up, showered and out of the door delivering them to breakfast club.

A short run as can be seen on Endomondo but off road in the main and 28 minutes in the bank. Not a 100 miles but you need to start somewhere!!!

Bumping Along

So, over the past few weeks, I have bumped along doing infrequent training which has involved either running or cycling for between 30 minutes to 90 minutes in Cornwall and in France. The cycling in France (Charente Maritime) was superb. Quiet, country, good surfaced roads with hardly any cars to be seen. In fact if I saw four cars an hour on a ride in France I would not be exagerrating. All my training was done at 70 - 75% of MHR, so base training and on the bike I managed to average 17 mph at that speed, so I was pretty pleased to be honest and it showed that my ultra run training had got me to a reasonable standard of fitness. What I was delighted about was though, was that my broken neck and back whilst not totally pain free was far better than it has been when I have tried intermittently to get on my bike over the past 2 years or so. I put that down to again, the ultra run training.

I was also out running. Going through the maize fields and forests of the area. Very hot on occasions (well for me anyway) at upto 35 degrees celsius but fantastic just the same. Peaceful with the only sound being the wind in the maize or the Crickets and Grasshoppers doing their thing in the grass or the odd lizard scurrying away from under my feet. This made me jump at first but once used to it, it was not a problem.

Since my return from France, I have managed to do a couple of runs but no bike riding. From 1st October, I start training in earnest.

My Endmondo links below albeit I didn't have the GPS everytime. I will do from October 1st.

workouts


Below, I will post the pictures I took whilst out training in France and some in Cornwall (I'm sure you'll guess which ones are France and which are in Cornwall :-) ). I hope you like them.

Caerthilian Cove - Run

Towards Kynance Cove - Run

Lizard Point - Run

Above Gatebourse - Bike

Towards Nere - Bike

Saleignes - Bike

Vinax - Bike

Run

Run

Run

Run

Run

Run

Run

Looking down into Gatebourse - Run

La Garenne - Where I was staying at the end of the run

Cognac - Bike

Cognac - Bike

Bike

Bike - Mortagne Sur Gironde

Bike - Mortagne Sur Gironde

Lizard Point - Run

Introduction

Hi!

My name is John Trott. I work full time as a Police Officer (I am a Detective Inspector responsible for Domestic Abuse and Vulnerable Adult Investigations for Cornwall) am married, have 5 children from 18 months to 15 yrs and various other responsibilities which include being a member of the local Lizard Lifeboat Crew, a cycling coach for youngsters at the One and All Youth Academy and on occasions preaching.

Recently, I attempted to complete the Lakeland 100 mile Ultra event but due to circumstances beyond my control, I failed to finish. You can read why (if you wish) on my blog at My 100 mile Ultra Run Training Blog

I now have to turn my attentions to something different but I don't know what but know that it will be endurance base (because that is what I love) and the main event will be in or around July 2013.

I will share with you my training over the next 12 months and maybe even beyond to show that you can achieve results even with a job, a family and various other responsibilities. It's about balance and some dedication but whilst I did not complete the 100 miler I have done other distance events in the past including other ultra runs from 50 upto 80 miles, 24 hour Cycle Time Trial Races and Ironman Triathlon events. However, since my near fatal accident 3 years ago (see start of above blog)  I have only run. Now it is time to get back on my bike as well and see what I can achieve whilst juggling the other aspects of life. I try to get out around Cornwall as much as possible to train, take in the Lake District and am going to France soon, so to try and make it slightly different from a same old, same old training diary and to celebrate those areas, I will take pictures where I can (slows my average pace down) and share it with you as well as publishing my routes on my phone app (if I remember to take it) that I use, Endomondo

So if you are interested in achieving an Ironman, an ultra run or a 24 hr cycle race then see how I am going to prepare and welcome aboard :-)

You can also follow me on Twitter at  @JohnCTrott