The end of everything

The end of the year was dominated by the untimely passing of a friend. Nothing can prepare or insulate us from the cruelty of a young, vivacious lady being taken so suddenly from her family and friends. The service was attended by many and the outpouring of love will hopefully give some support to the family over the coming months and years.

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Riding has gone on a back burner. Mel and john were here for the new year and we slotted a nice ride in at the local trails, even finding the beginning of a winding technical shoulder clipping slidey and engrossing trail i have been exploring over the last few weeks.

Then the cold hit. Both meteorologically and virally.

For the last few days i have barely been able to move. I have been a zombie at work and sleeping at all other times, living off fruit juice and paracetamol. The sweats have left me swimming out of consciousness at 4 and 5 am, unable to even get up to feed the cat. Today is perhaps the only day i have felt remotely human. Ironic as in the back of the car i have a set of rollers to aid the early season training. Strathpuffer approaches and thereafter i desperately want to set a plan for some long rides, and races, this year. So far i cannot see myself doing any other 24 hour race either solo or in a team, other than perhaps 24:12. The others i think are 'done'. Shenandoah 100 is after the worlds in Napa, and i intend to help chris put on a pretty beefy 4-5 day across scotland ride, self supported, with a 300mile expected route it looks tough. After plotting it on maps the other day we were half way out chris' living room to the kitchen before we were anywhere near the end.

So. The end of the year, but more importantly, the beginning of the next.