1st of June

Yesterday rode the SE champs on the tenterdon circuit... A race that I would really like to win one day.

Sadly yesterday was never gonna be that day! In the past two months since the Girvan I have only done one race (the Lincoln GP - which I didn't finish) and haven't done any long 0r hard training sessions.

When Andy Betts jumped off the front on the first time up the hill i was in a good place to go with it so jumped across to him and was last man into a group of 7 or 8 riders and started rolling through to help keep it away. At least this would give me a good workout and with give Sigma a presence up there at the front of the race.

We were keeping a good but not super fast pace, but each time up the hill I could feel my legs getting progressively weaker. After about 80k the race favourites including team mate Gary Dodd, Steve Calland and Chris McNamara bridged across. As they were about to get across Andy Betts made a nice move going off the front with Darren Barclay. This allowed me to rest my already knackered legs in the shelter of now enlarged group.

When it started attacking again I was long wasted having been cramping up the hill the previous 2 laps and did my best to cover a few moves but each time I did this was getting dropped afterwards and having to chase on - Joy!

Eventually after not too long the race went ahead without me with the group splitting with the strongest riders on the day getting away, no searing attacks just legs behind that were too tired to respond.

Was pretty wasted by the time I eventually crossed the line, took me more than 30 minutes to cycle back to the HQ at which time the medals had already been given out.

Taking some positives... Whilst the knees aren't painfree yet the rest of the body hurts almost as much today and im confident that my body is strong enough that I can slowly start to ramp up the training load again.

Think ill take some good fitness away from that race... Was a good workout for sure and was at the front of the race for around 110k which isn't bad considering the little training I have done in the past 2 months.

Further positives are that I have been really disciplined and motivated on the diet front just now and keeping a diary to help get the body fat % down and keep it there.

Also beautiful and sunny here in the UK at the minute and can feel the tan coming along nicely.

Well all being well I will be off to Ryedale this weekend looking forward to take a good kicking... Can't wait!