Because I'm lucky, or stupid, depending on your point of view, I get to put in 45 minutes of free training twice a day by commuting to work. I'll have mentioned before that on the days I cycle in it's 11 miles each way, and on the days that I run, I've managed to get it down to 10. So that's 20 miles of running and 88 miles of cycling on an average week, before I do anything else.
Result, I hear you say, not only free training, but think of all the money your saving by not driving to work. Well, that's not quite the case, because so far this year I've got through 3 pairs of running shoes, 2 bike tyres, a chain, a cassette, a set of brake blocks, and more food than you can shake a stick at. Whilst my colleagues seem to get by on a yogurt and a biscuit bar for lunch, I have 2 bananas, 2 apples, Porridge, a ham and cheese roll and just about anything else I can get my fingers on, and that's on top of breakfast before I leave the house. It costs a fortune I can tell you, and that's before we even consider the extra clothes, cycling shoes, gloves, lights and all that lark. Without a doubt it would be cheaper to drive. And what about the grey, damp, dark and freezing cold days, what about the mixing it up with 40 ton lorries and car drivers who are more interested in their coffee, than where they're going, what about the pot holes that nearly break your wrists, the sore legs and the chapped lips? It makes you wonder why I do it. Well, for a starters it's a great way to start and end the day. As I said, it's free training, if I didn't do the commute I'd be out running when I got home anyway, so I might as well kill 2 birds with one stone. Just as importantly it's a chance to get out in the fresh air, clear my head and chill out. And just occasionally, you get a morning like today. A morning that's so stunningly beautiful that you've just got to stop and stare. The sun's low in the sky, the temperatures dropping allowing some low laying mist to form, and the lights amazing. A couple of days like that a year more than make up for the wet, cold, windy and dull days. You can keep your car, I'd far rather have this as as start to my day!
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Paul PerrattOld enough to know better, young enough to still feel invincible, stupid enough to keep on trying the same thing again and again. Cyclist, Gardener, Runner, Hiker, Cook, Woodworker, Engineer, Jack of all trades and master of none, Anti social old git and all round miserable bugger. Archives
March 2024
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