Finding the chase and cutting to it

I cannot sleep: with my last set of training, I learnt how my body performs muscle filling, so I went to bed at 22:34 and fell asleep pretty soon after having set up a 70% temporary basal rate.

When that completed at 01:36, I woke up, found I was a little low and treated with a Soreen Lunchbox malt loaf.  I’ve been awake ever since.

Eh?

Yesterday, I completed a 45 mile(ish) trip on Route 51 between Ipswich and Bury St. Edmunds with a partial return trip to Stowmarket.  Call it silly, but I really didn’t fancy covering the ground where I’d had my accident last year.

I’d had a chat about my plans to go to Newmarket and my husband asked “why not just do a round trip to Bury?”  He had a point, so with the sun burning brightly yesterday morning I got on my bike at 10:10.

Essential kit – clothing

While it was sunny, it was not warm.  I wore a cycling long trousered dungaree, a cycling top and a new piece, a “showerproof, breathable” cardie ?  Socks, helmet and cycling gloves completed my look along with a snood.  I had a waterproof poncho in my kit along with my testing kit and phone (for testing and directions).

Essential kit – the carbs

Again, learning from last week, I planned stops every 10-15 miles.  I had my Camelbak “hydration pack” (basically a 1.5L water bladder which slips into a ruck sack), 5x150ml cans of coke and 2 Soreen Lunchbox malt loaves.  I had 92g of CHO in my panniers ready to go and an extra bottle of water.

Very prepared.  Can I go back to bed, please?

We’re getting there.  Same as before, I stopped at the community centre in Onehouse for a coke break (just the one) and a quick check of my blood sugar.  All was well.  The 14 miles had taken 61 minutes.  I didn’t bother stopping the clock.

I also didn’t use the fit bit for anything other than my heart rate.

That meant not only did my phone use less battery (I turned off the blue tooth), but I have the whole route saved as you can see.

Excluding the break, the journey took 2 hours 39. Not bad. The return to Stowmarket, 15 miles, was considered to take 1 hour 15 minutes.

I tried to take my blood sugar: “glucose not available, sensor too cold” came up on the reader! I was a little chilly and soaked through with sweat but really? I’ve been skiing with a sensor and it has been fine.

Given what I knew from last time, I took a pair of the cokes and a malt loaf. And tried to retake the reading. Finally it gave me a grumpy result of 7.6mmol/l. That would do.

Only, I couldn’t quite find my way back to Route 51. I was so glad I had the phone with me as the signs in the opposite direction just weren’t as well laid out. Or I was too knackered to read them! I got back the Onehouse eventually and followed my nose to Stowmarket, giving my husband a quick call to let him know I was OK.

I had trouble going back through the church yard and onto the cycle route and difficulties in the first few villages.

The second stint took a painful 8mph average but I finally rode in to Stowmarket’s railway station.

That’s when the pain struck. Since receiving my first insulin shot one evening in December 1977, I’ve had a few high readings and needed to do exercise, but that was nothing compared to the shooting, deep muscle pains I had waiting for the train (delayed because of trespassing on the track round Bury) in Stowmarket.

My sugar wasn’t too bad, so I had my second malt loaf and my penultimate coke. I had to make it back from the railway station in Ipswich after all.

I got on the train. Thankfully there was a space on the carriage and I set up my bike and pull down the seat to keep an eye on it. Just outside of Needham Market, the bike toppled on to my left thigh. I gave a small exclaimation. Two of the guys on the train rushed from their seats to help me, but I’d already pushed the bike back on to its wheels and instead they checked I was OK. I told them what I was doing and why. They told me how brave I was and how impressed they were with my progress. They wished me luck for the 7th and pointed me in the right direction home.

How kind?

The next couple of days will be recovering (hopefully with some sleep!) and then hill training until Monday. 5 days off before the 45 miles on Sunday 7th October ?