Time trials when you're having fun.

I did a couple of TT's in the last weeks with mixed results. One week I did the Southern Counties Cycling Union (SCCU) 50 mile Champs and the following week I did the Eastern Counties Cycling Association (ECCA) 100 mile champs. The 50 was pretty brutal. Bad course (45 RABs), windy day and coming at the end of my biggest high intensity weeks training was stupid of me to do at an important training phase. 2.00:44 was my finish time which is 6 minutes off my best and 3 min of what I did on the same course last year. Worryingly this was 100% effort and I was completely shattered after finishing. This is overtraining. I felt awful and had to race double the distance the following week and I planned to do it quicker (sub 4 hours)

I made dozens of mistakes in my preparation for the 50. I did not make any for the 100. This is the benefit of racing regularly and it's OK to c**k up a meaningless 50 on a sunday morning if I learn from the experience.

The 100 was pretty much clockwork. I went out easy and just held a speed over 25mph the whole way. I always felt in control and it was a hard effort but cruisey. The route for the last 10 miles was pretty hilly and windy but I had some time in hand so came in a 3.59:19. Job done.