An Action Packed Day

Sunday was a busy one for me. My training schedule had me down to do a swim and a run, but the tri club were meeting for a road bike ride as well, and Steve was heading this way in order to go windsurfing… Would I be able to fit it all in?

In the end I decided to get up, head to the estuary to say hello to any windsurfers that were there and make my apologies for the morning and then head into Machynlleth for a 9am swim and then join in with the tri club bike ride. The swim was good, a nice steady 10 x 200m in the pool followed by a little chat with a few people from Cerist Tri club. It was then a quick change into my cycling kit and out onto the road with Graham, Simon and Gary as we headed off in the ‘fast’ group to Aberdyfi. Following behind us were Pete, Sharon, Elaine, Karen and Alison in the not so fast group.

Simon is a bit of an animal on a bike so I had trouble staying on his wheel and lost touch with him just before Aberdovey. We rode through the town and out to the hotel where I re-grouped with him and we turned back, picking up Graham and Gary on the way. Once in Aberdovey the road was closed for the Rememberance Day ceremonies so we stood and waited, observing a minutes silence and then waiting for the Last Post to be played and a few other things to be read out etc. After about 20 minutes of waiting we were getting a bit cold and so were glad that we were able to squeeze past the people showing their respects once they started singing hymns.

It was then onto a very windy ride back towards Mach, straight into a a 25 knot headwind. Gary and Graham dropped off the back soon after Aberdovey so I left Simon out on the front most of the way, just hanging onto his wheel. I did take the lead once or twice just to show willing and Simon forced me to the front on the final climb, only to sprint past me 100m from the top when I had nothing left to give. So much for a nice easy spin!

We met up with the others just before Mach and I then headed back home to meet Steve on the beach. Anna had been playing in the band at various remembrance day ceremonies and Morgan had been off on a parade with the Beavers but I did manage to see Anna briefly before going windsurfing and we even managed a hurried lunch together!

I then had a good winsdsurf on the seafront in offshore winds with Steve and Andy. It was blowing at around 20-25 knots and the water was flat so I rigged my big speed kit. An 80ltr Mistral Red Dot slalom board and a 6.3m North Warp sail which is a nightmare to rig. I just can’t muster the strength to put enough downhaul on it. Steve had a go to see if he could put any more on but only succeeded in letting some off, so I had another go and got it back to where it was and had to make do. I think I need one of those ratchet things for this sail.

In the end I was well-powered with that kit, but my top speed of just over 30 knots was disappointing – I just need more wind to go any faster. My average speeds were good though and I managed new personal bests for 1nm, 3nm and 5nm so not a bad day.

I was then supposed to go for a 50 minute run, but after a shower and a little sit down on the sofa, the sofa started feeling altogether a little too comfortable. My hamstring was also a little tight so I decided that it would be best not to do the run and save it for another day.

Busy days like that though are just the way I like them. Here’s some video from the windsurf session.