What with the Didcot – Knighton ‘Faffers 400’ looming next Sunday (29th May); last Sunday’s Prestwood 10k already entered and my wanting to accompany Jane on her first parkrun I booked Thursday off work to squeeze in a 200k DIY-GPS Perm. So three events were planned for 7 days!

I cycled out to Prestwood with no illusions of getting a PB on this bumpy course but hoping to knock a lump off last years time of 49 and a lot of seconds. A good ride out on the fixie with a bit of a tailwind and only the one taxing climb, up the Chiltern ridge via Longdown Hill, Cadsden. Met up with fellow VCACs Mary, Sharon, Peter and Keith and managed a good run for me despite the hills and a windy finish. 47:50 80/248. The ride back was enjoyable if a little slower what with a slight headwind and tired legs. There and back total of 49 miles at 13.2mph average.

A crap few days at work meant I was very pleased to have booked the day off, even more so with near perfect cycling weather forecast. I opted for my Slaughter Badby Perm, last ridden in November 2010 when it had taken me 12hr 30m. This time it was great, it’s a mostly lanesy route and I was amazed at how traffic free much of it was for midweek. The meadows and road verges were at their prettiest and I was well fuelled, if weighed down a little, by porkless pie, veg pasty and flapjack. I managed to ride the bridleway ‘bypass’ to avoid the Brackley dual carriageway this time and I got my 71″ gear up all the hills, admittedly with some tacking and grunting. My only real problem was running out of water as I didn’t see a shop or garage for ages – I did find a pub in the end though so a cool soft drink sorted me out. 10hr 45m for the 131 miles this time, much better.

Then Saturday Jane and I drove out to Abingdon for the parkrun, I wanted another go but didn’t expect to do to well only 2 days after my 200k, Jane has never raced before and only once managed 5k in training. A fine, sunny morning and as before I went off much too fast, my excuse being I’d lent my Garmin to Jane and didn’t know my pace, then slowed while everyone overtook me. It got quite warm and felt very hard work but I managed 23:48 28/84 which was only 11 seconds short of my PB from a fortnight before so I should have pushed that little bit harder I’m happy with that. Jane finished in under 39m which she was pleased with.

So a few days rest now before I endure the hills and sleep deprivation of next weekend’s spin to Knighton.