Johnny Hall's Travels and Travails

I had a big training weekend planned but it didn't work out quite how I wanted but I got it done, eventually. Saturday was my 20 mile run. I wasn't planning on pushing it since Ihad a big ride planned for Sunday. Anyway, the weather was terrible,windy, cold, sleet and snow. So, I just ran 2.5 miles from my house (ona quiet single lane, country road) and back, 4 times. Without pushinghard, I managed a hair over 8 minute miles, despite only really aimingfor 8:30s. HR avg was 148, which is nice and low. I felt great afterwards as well, no aches or pains and not overly tired. Sunday was a big ride but the gods conspired and when I got my bikeout, I had a flat tyre. Fixed it and got out but, despite trying toclean the inside of the rubber, 11 miles later I had another puncture.Fixed that and then got another 4 miles before it was dead again.Something in the tyre but I couldn't find it. Anyway, I was out oftubes and my patches had rotted in my bag and I was out of co2canisters anyway. Called home and Becky came and took me home and I went to thepool for half an hour to relax a bit. Then we all went into town to the cafe for a hot chocolate and some cake. Anyway, I'm not easily defeated. So, I took the morning off workand got up at 6 and went out for my ride (with new tyres fitted) in the dark and the rain. Lovely. Despite not really having myhead in the game for the first couple of hours, I managed 85 miles in alittle under 5 hours. My legs lasted the course and I didn't have any of the fuelling issues which sometimes bother me. My neck and back are a little tired now but apart from that, I'm in good shape. Hopefully, these long sessions will pay off later in the season.