Slow start to the week. Took Monday off and then wasn’t feeling great on Tuesday so didn’t make it out.

On Wednesday I took to the Hills again. Did much better this time. Before I was out of breath just making my way across the bog to get to the hill and this time round I was Fine. I also made it further up the hill than the last time too. Could have gone further but have to admit I got bored! I’m hoping that with more people around on the day it will push me.

Thursday was a great day and definitely made me feel very proud of myself and see what I had achieved in such a short time. I had decided to set myself the small Challenge of trying to jog 2.5km non-stop. I knew I would find it hard if I had to retrace my steps on the jog so I got one of the girls to drop me down the forest, 2.5km from the centre – It’s always easier to jog home!

I really surprised myself. The hills that I had fretted about 6 Weeks Ago, and had to walk up, – I didn’t even notice them! I reached the centre, after being hail stoned on, and felt great, I could have continued on even further. This was a great feeling and I’m really surprised that I have come so far in such a short time.

I know 2.5km doesn’t sound like a lot but when you haven’t done it in nearly 15 years it feels like a marathon!

Took Friday off as I knew I had a big day ahead on Saturday.

As I said a few weeks ago, my taking part in the challenge had spurred a friend of mine to also final take up the challenge! So we had decided to cycle the whole cycle section of the Connemara Adventure Challenge course.

We were blessed with the weather, not a bit of rain or wind! So after organising ourselves we set off on the Coillte track. This is all the off Road section, with not too many hills. We were doing well, not as fast as we would have liked but the legs where holding up well!

We had both been dreading the road section, firstly because it is a lot more open to any wind and also, for me, that I always seem to push myself more on the road as people can see me! Anyway we were doing fine, and then my friend stated “my bike feels drunk!” (she will kill me for writing that!). I was behind, had a quick look at her tyres and told her they seemed fine! We lasted about 3 more minutes before I looked again and said “ No, it’s f**ked, you have a puncture!”.

So we pulled over and the next think she said was, “what are we going to do if this happens on race day?” We had no way of changing tube or even a repair kit! We were the cliché – Damsels in Distress! Must make mental note to learn how to change a tube!

So as our knight in shining armour (AKA my other half), came to our rescue, we made the decision to try and walk/jog the road back to our car – this is about 6.5km. I hadn’t done any training going from cycling to jogging, and my legs weren’t happy about it! And of course to make it harder on us the first 2km are hilly!

My legs did eventually start to come around and I made it about 2km before having to stop, stretch and walk about 100m before getting back in to a jog. Made it about another 2km before having to change to a fast walk for the few kms home!

Was really glad that we hadn’t just taken the easy option and got dropped home and also that I was sore the next day.

Upwards and onwards from here!