Took Downsie to the airport on Tuesday, should have nicked his cycling shoes considering the miles he is doing in the States! Had a lazy, beery weekend at Hollingworth lake near Rochdale even took my fell shoes as well but sometimes you just need to recharge the batteries eh.
Was planning to do Buttermere fell race today so went for a long training run on Wed for 2 1/2 hours but my shoes were not tight enough and ended up with blisters on both heels, should have known better really considering I have been running for over 25 years so I have had to concentrate on cycling which is probably what I need anyway for the E'tape.
Cycling training going well and probably averaging 500 miles a month and will start to ramp this up now the warmer drier weather is round the corner.
Etape du Dales this weekend so we will take the caravan to a site near the start at Grassington, I have been told it is tough so the big cog will be used on the rear mech and no beer on Saturday night, just like a marathon I suppose good training ride though.

Cheshire cat ride came and went with a new route but a lot tougher finish than in previous years according to other riders. Great organisation apart from no food and fewer drinks at the finish but plenty to nibble on at the food stations en-route.Hadn't felt too good for a couple of weeks with 'man flu' that left me with bad catarrh so probably only 80% fitness and as a result failed on Mow Cop climb but was quite pleased to see the finish when it arrived. A couple of days later it was all but gone and went really well round one of my local routes up Parbold Hill so was quite pleased with that to alleviate any doubts that Mow Cop might have brought on. Been to Tenerife for 10 nights R&R but still ran and even hired a mountain bike for a day. 10 euro's but not bad quality so set off towards Teidi to see how far i could get. I hadn't banked on it being all uphill though but got up to 4500 feet in 20 K in about 3 1/2 hours to a village called Villafloure - the highest in Spain I'm told. Bike top quite wet with sweat and up in the clouds, so going to be chilly on the way down but found a peach tray at the side of the road to stuff up my cycling top, worked a treat though a bit mucky from the dust, see picture. Next ride is Etape du Dales so the training will continue with a long ride this weekend. New Chorley Harriers cycling kit has been delivered to Downsies and picked mine up tonight

Welcome to my first attempt at a blog page. i am primerily a runner who does a bit of cycling but since Peter Downs (see Etape blog) joined our running club (Chorley Harriers) he has inspired me to atempt my first Etape, yes its Ventoux!!!.
Since being made redundant from Leland Trucks back in November last year i have more or less become semi-retired and a househusband with my wife Julie continueing to work bless her, this has left a lot more free time to get fitter on the bike in readiness for July this year.
The winter has been really cold and has seen a couple of falls on the ice which left me with a sore hip and elbow but thankfully the bike (Ribble Nero Corsa) was not damaged. The better weather is now only round the corner and we should all be peeling layers off, looking forward to short sleeve rides eh?
This Sunday see's the Cheshire Cat 110 miler with Mow Cop at 80 miles so this morning i ordered and picked up a new set of wheels just for competitions with a 27-12 block on which should be ok for the last climb up Ventoux!!