Over raced .... may be

My season has been pretty full on with events and after racing the national 24 hour followed by the Welsh 12 hour championships and then another 100mile TT, I finally needed a break.

Although my mind was willing my legs had simply had enough at the 12hr and even though I picked up my pace after a really slow start it was all over at 225 miles, my lowest mileage ever recored for such an event. Mentally I had to consider this race as a long recovery ride after a tough national 24 hour.

I simply do not like turning out to make the numbers up and a bad result really grates. My fustration finally boiled over when I raced the Bedford 100mile finishing just outside the top 10 on a windy and rain swept morning. I was so angry with my form that I peddled another 25 mile in temper.

It's not until you take stock of the season and that I realise I have raced over 1500 miles in just over 3 months and my passion (often obsession) with the sport forces me to neglect the recovery aspect which is so important if I want to do well throughout the season.

As part of my commitment to my training I sold one of the family cars so i could not avoid the daily commute by bike. To date I have commuted 3500miles as part of my training and there is plenty more of the year left.

My next key event will be the National 12 hour championships on the 14th August and then I will be taking a two week break with the family before returning to my 100mile TT's.