Well this is only my second sportive, and really did know what was ahead of me. I had a rough idea of the area but however did not know the route which I do not know if it was a bad or god thing, and in the end still don't.

One thing I did know was that the distance of 80 miles was to be a first, as my previous best was a short 56 miles, but what I did't know was the climbs that were ahead of me, and with the two big climbs of the Devils Elbow (from Glynneath) and the Black Mountains (from Llangadog) completed I surprised myself, even if it was slow but the confidence that it has given me cannot be measured.

I was not worried about those who went off in front, my aim was to complete so I had my own game plan and was going too stick to it. So with a start in the Llandacey Academy of Sport and set of toward Glynneath, even thou this was a gradually raise, it was then the run up to the golf club and onto the Devils Elbow, which I made steady progress up, back actually did not know I was not the it until nearing the top when there was a water station, the descend down was different had for me it was very slow as I found problems with the wind. It was then onto Sennybridge and Llandovery for a well need food station.

So after much needed refreshments it was on Llangadog and what turn out to be about a 9 mile climb (something I need to do more of) and another well needed food station. With a fast descend into Brynamman it was only about 25 mile to go. I do not know if I relaxed or something but I must of hit my wall and it was now all I could do to go on, I will admit the ride across to Pontardawe and the small climb the other side was not easy. And finally into Neath Abbey and then back to the Academy (and the final hill to me seemed the biggest of all), I do realise for most that this is nothing special however for me I have new found confidence in my ability (especially after the failure of the Ironman 70.3 this year).

What this sportive has done is answered a lot of questions including giving me some new ideas for training routes.

In the evening I do remember think what have i done to my body as I had pains like nothing else I have done before this has to be the hardest event I had done this year. However on a really good note, I felt really good the following day.

So next weekend is the trip up to the lakes with a stay in Ambleside for the "Great North Swim - the extra mile" and the chance of some canoeing on Windermere. Have a good week.

Well last weekend it was the BHF Weymouth Bay Swim, the journey down the day before was not the best, the family wish to leave ate, which meant hitting the busy part of the motorway in rush hour, never a good thing. Had a fairly relaxing evening even...

So it arrived one of my A races for the year, the London Triathlon. This is one where I took up the option of going for the extra distance by taking part in the new distance, which for me was also new, after failing to completed the Ironman 70.3. ...

Have I recovered enough from the chest infection to take part in the London Tri is the question of the week. Well its the family holiday too Cornwall, And the plan was to get in some training as well. Well the week did not get off to a good start,...

Well that's it or the week, still feeling like ****, have a chest infection that has ground me - no way could I go and do anything, it harder enough breathing at present without the extra training. So nothing much really to talk about really this ...