Took a combined late lunch and early exit from work at about 15:35, and removed the X from the garage with the intention of doing a Twycross of roughly 30 miles’ distance. In fact although I didn’t intend to, I did exactly the same route as last time, through Witherley and Fenny Drayton. By the time I’d got to Sheepy I thought it might be fun to see if I could remember the route. And I did.
This was quite a different experience from Saturday, though. Cloudy and cooler, though still warm enough for shorts. But I had to contend with a bastard headwind the whole length of Fenn Lanes. I thought (or hoped) it would dissipate once I took the left turn into Cadeby, but nope. It was tolerable after Bosworth though, coming a more direct north. But I got it in the face again when I turned east toward Ibstock at Odstone.
Despite the headwind I consciously went a bit quicker than on Sunday, and got round 12 minutes quicker (by “moving time”). For some reason I recorded a slightly shorter distance though, 31.82 miles.
That sees me past my April target by 1 mile though, so I’m happy about that.
https://www.strava.com/activities/2313260881
For reasons that are not known to me, there’s a fibreglass cow peeking through the hedgerow on one side of Fenn Lanes. It’s been there for years but recently it’s been sporting a cycle helmet, so I stopped for a selfie.
I noticed that it’s also adorned with Christmas tree lights.
Presumably due to a combination of increased speed and the headwind compared to Sunday, my right knee did start feeling a bit sore after Sutton Cheney. But nothing troubling.
I am supposed, per my physio’s advice, to increase my distances by 2 miles per week. I’m notionally on 30 miles at the moment (I allowed myself another couple on this route because it has long flattish stretches). But I’m not always going to find the time to do 32+ miles three or more times a week, so I guess my strategy will be to increase the elevation instead. Perhaps I can come up with a rough formula as a guide. I’ll think about that.