Time to be a dragon slayer

Well it's been an bit of a mixed few weeks since completing Challenge 5 this included me taking a whole week off from training, something I've not done since before October last year.

The plan was to spend some time with the family as it coincided with the back holiday however the lovely bug that's been doing the rounds put paid to that as the kids and wife were all unwell.

Despite the week off I still managed to clock up 370 miles in May, most of which were completed on the bike, I did do a couple of runs and what became pretty clear was the fact that I need to keep running as it was tough going.

So I have had a rethink about my training over the next couple of months and I plan to mix it up with a bit of running and cycling just to keep the running legs ticking over.

My bike went in for a service last week so on Saturday I went along to the Southend park run and it was hot! But despite that I completed the 5k course 50secs off my PB and came 17th in a field of 146 which was pleasing although I did end up looking a mess!

I finally got my bike back late of Saturday and along with the service I've asked them to help me to get up bloody big hills, short of fitting an engine they have added a bigger cassette to the bike (I'm not the technical sort but the bigger the rear cog the easier the gear which should mean I can get up hills easier than before).

So I took it for a spin on Sunday and there was a definite improvement in getting up hills however the hills in Essex are not quite the same as the hills that I'm going to face on Sunday in Wales.

That's right it's Challenge 6 time the Wiggle Dragon Ride, 134 miles in the welsh valleys and a course that includes the Black Mountain! The start and finish is at the Margam Country Park and following a loop of Port Talbot we head of to the Black Mountain.

I'm also not alone on this challenge as I have a new wing man in Russ McLoughlin who is a top bloke and also quite nifty with a hockey stick! He too has an issue getting up hills so I think it will be an interesting 8/9 hours!

I've pimped my bike a little bit which I'm sure will raise a few comments from certain individuals!

So the next few days will be about resting up ahead of what will probably be the hardest cycling challenge!