Gearing up for Endure24 and Tentative Cycling

June seems to be playing fair and giving us a bit of warmth and sunshine this week and so it would have been rude not to have made the most of it.

I started last weekend with a lovely run in the woods in the evening sunshine alongside some of my fellow Endure24 runners, which a couple of us followed up with park run on Saturday morning. I ventured out again in Thursday's early morning sunshine for a scurry and another woodland run with the gang that same evening. Beautiful it was too. A total of 18.5+ miles run. Only a week to go now and despite a last minute change to the team I think we're about set. No grand designs about numbers of laps or times but I think it's going to be a great weekend. Tiring, but masses of fun, especially as there will be 4 teams of us plus supporters!

This week's been the usual mix of training, teaching and PT-ing, all of which has been thoroughly enjoyable. I think my favourite moment was post-RunFitUK, discussing the Outlaw Triathlon with the group and collectively plotting a version involving pedalos or amphibious vehicles. I do wonder about us sometimes... I love my group but would equally love to expand it. I collected a RunFitUK flag from co-founder Leanne during the week so hope to generate some real interest from passing foot traffic, rather than just attracting nervous stares. Also thinking of getting a couple of banners to put up around town.

The big achievement for me this week was venturing out on my bike for the first time in about 9 months. I'm nervous about going out on the roads but now I've cancelled my gym membership I have fewer options. There is a decent bike lane on part of my usual 5 mile run route so I was able to make use of that for peace of mind. I didn't fall off, cause any accidents or get a puncture. I even managed to fix my clicking gears and inflate my tyres to the right PSI before setting out, thanks to the booklet and skills I picked up on the Evans Fix It course. I managed 9.5 miles before deciding to call it a day and even though I was about 20 minutes short of what my training plan said, I'm really pleased with what I achieved and won't be so nervous next time.

This weekend will be full of socialising, teaching and marshaling. I'm also excited to go to a This Girl Can Ambassador's meeting tonight. It's going to be a great weekend.

If you run clubs or classes, have banners been effective at drumming up interest? What crazy races have you done or would like to see?