Bibs revealed!!

As promised yesterday, here are our bibs and logos that we hope will become very recognisable once we start running / cycling around the County on April 28th.

So please, whenever you see one of these (two runners, three cyclists) - shout, holler, cheer us on and throw money at us for the Phoenix Stroke Appeal. But please, only notes, otherwise we might have severe problems with weight!!



We also had our interview with Radio Cornwall at 0840 this morning, so hopefully some of you caught us on that.

And now - on with the training!!!

Perfect weather for Tandem training

Like Jayne and David, we also took advantage of the fine weather this weekend to spend 5 hours out on the tandem, covering nearly 36 miles - our longest ride this year.  We only had to partially push up 2 hills - I think that could have been reduced to one, but I messed up the gear change near the bottom - none of this index shifting on a a vintage bike!
We did a section of Day 3 from the real ride, Gweek to Coverack and back via Helston and then returning home near Stithians.  Lunch was at the Five Pilchards in Porthallow, washed down with an excellent draught cider which undoubtedly helped us up the steep hill out of the village, despite the moans and groans from cold legs!!
Tomorrow morning (Monday), the team is being interviewed by Radio Cornwall at 8.30am, so we are looking forward to that.  I am not certain whether we are going out live, but tune in anyway!

We also now have the bright yellow bibs and flags, complete with our Round Cornwall logo and the Phoenix Stroke Appeal logo.  Photo to appear on this site very soon - in the meantime, here is an usual shot Gilly took with her camera today.

Weekend training 24/25 March

We made the most of the fantastic sunny weather to get out and practice some really slow running on Saturday. We also built a break into our 16 mile run, to get us used to eating and resting at regular intervals. This is going to be important for our recovery. Obviously it is tempting to go out too fast intially, and to keep on running, as we are both used to doing this in races. However, we will need to keep to a strict schedule if we are to get through to the latter part of the week's running. So we are aiming to split each day roughly into 8 mile sections. We will make sure that at each 8 mile point we stop, eat and drink.

My sister joined us yesterday, for the section around Stithians lake.

On Sunday, David raced in An Resek, a mostly off road 10 mile race at Helston. I jogged around the course the opposite way, and cheered on the runners as they came along the coastpath section just after Looe bar. I added a few miles on to make 15 for the day.

Running distances

I have just worked out the more precise distances for the runners on the coastpath. The total distance from Cremyll to Mead is approx 300 miles!
So this is the schedule:
Day 1: Cremyll to Polperro =25.9
Day 2: Polperro to Portloe=36.7
Day 3: Portloe to Coverack = 36.4
Day 4: Coverack to Penzance= 38.3
Day 5: Penzance to Zennor=34.1
Day 6: Zennor to St Agnes=31.1
Day 7: St Agnes to Polzeath = 44.7
Day 8/9: Polzeath to Bude=39.2
Bude to Mead (Cornwall/Devon border) = 9.5

Looks like a couple of fairly long days towards the end!

Weekend training.

On Saturday, David and I ran down to Portreath for the photo shoot. We were supposed to link up with Gilly, Geoff and Roz along the trail but I had put the wrong numbers in my phone so we sort of missed each other on route! However, these things are better sorted out now rather than on the Challenge itself. We did all meet up in Portreath and the weather held off and I think our photographer got some good pics. David and I then ran home via Tehidy and Carn Brea.
I ran the Falmouth Half marathon on Sunday. Again, lovely weather and a scenic but hilly course and some more miles in the legs, and I won a bottle of wine too! David ran along the coastpath near Maenporth and managed to get a bit of spectating and supporting for the half marathon runners.
Most importantly, my hip pain did not really trouble me but I will need to keep up with all the stretches and massage.

Team photo on Portreath Beach

Here we all are on Portreath Beach.  Hopefully you will see this photo, along with accompanying words, in the local papers before too long.

We all ran / cycled from our respective homes to get there. Roz Collins (Cycle and Trailer) the furthest at 28 miles round trip, Geoff and Gilly Mead on the tandem at 26 miles and Jayne and David Angilley, the two runners, an impressive 18 miles.  And despite the squally showers, not one of us got wet!

It was a useful exercise, as well, so see how cycle and trailer, tandem and runners all gelled together in terms of respective speeds. And the answer was even better than expected.  Could be different on the Round Cornwall though - we know there are some serious hills awaiting all of us.

We are hoping to appear on Radio Cornwall, the main sponsor of the Phoenix Stroke Appeal, in the near future, so keep an ear out for us! Meanwhile, training continues.

News update!!

• Although they are unlikely to be ready for our photo shoot on Portreath Beach this Saturday at 11am, (please join us if you can!) we now have our Round Cornwall logo and the Phoenix Stroke Appeal logo underway at the printers for our bibs and flags.  

• We have purchased our rail tickets to get to Plymouth on April 28th - no going back now!!

• A very kind friend has managed to find a transit van to bring us all back from the village of Mead at the end of our Marathon.  So my fears of having to turn round and cycle home again (only about 70 miles) were unfounded!

• Since our Sunday outing on the tandem, we have done a power ride around Stithians Lake. While it did not take long, it is a useful leg strengthener.  I also did a 25 mile off road ride in thick fog on Tuesday. Not very pleasant!

• Our Phoenix Stroke Appeal posters are now appearing in various places including Hospitals, Council Offices, the  Cornish Tourist Info office in Truro, Clive Mitchell Cycles, Truro, Revolve Bicycle Works at The Track, Portreath (also our mechanic should things go wrong! Thanks Gary), Bike Chain at Mount Ambrose, Tesco and Sainsburys.  There will be others when I can get them out!  If anybody would like one, please contact us via this website.

• Our Just Giving website has also had some donations already - so we are underway!!

That's about it for the moment. More news as it happens.

Tandem hits the road again!

Just like our fellow Round Cornwall team mate Jayne did today, we also hit the road on  the tandem for the start of some serious training.  I completed a 30 mile offroad ride on Friday (more my forte really) but anything that involves turning pedals helps increase our overall fitness. So this morning, we took the tandem out and did 22 miles in just over 2 hours - quite impressive for us.  We saw several other people out on road bikes (tandems always encourage people to wave and smile!!) - and while we are pretty fast on the flat, the hills do slow us down, so no overtaking this time.

Next ride planned is Tuesday, then Thursday for a blast around the Stithians Lake (speed training!) and then on Saturday, the whole team will go down to Portreath Beach for a photoshoot.  This will be the first time we have run / cycled together, so it will be interesting to see how two runners, a mountain bike with road tyres and trailer and a vintage tandem all work together in harmony - we hope!!!

So if you are in the Portreath area, pop down and see us. The shoot is arranged for 11am.

Training Resumed!

I have had an annoying problem with my Piriformis muscle, (literally a pain in the butt!) which resulted in me dropping out of the Duchy marathon. So I made myself rest for 5 days with no running, and had some physio treatment, and things seem to have settled down a bit. I have done a couple of short runs over the weekend with no significant pain, so I will look to upping my mileage again. I ran in the Hoka Bondi B shoe today (see photo) and Wow...what a shoe. Very cushioned and no jarring at all. I really feel I could run miles and miles in these! As you can see from the photo, they are not pretty, they look like moon shoes really! They are also not cheap but they have had some excellent reviews from some serious ultra runners. So maybe these are the shoes for the Challenge if it is not too muddy underfoot. I am not sure they would hold up to a really wet coastpath, but fingers crossed for fine weather!

Just Giving Website address for our cause

As I promised earlier, here is the website address for any donations that you feel kind enough to pass on to the Phoenix Stroke Appeal.

www.justgiving.com/phoenixstrokeappeal


Posters will also be in hospitals, local Cornish cycle shops and anywhere else we can persuade people to put them up.  If you would like one (or more!), please use the comment box on this blog to contact me.

ROUTE DIRECTIONS

For anybody who would like to join us on the road, here are the directions for each day, which my trusty tandem stoker Gilly (wife!) will be in charge of - so if you see a vintage tandem and a mountain bike with a trailer looking very lost - that will be us!

ROUTE DIRECTIONS for 5 Run / Cycle around Cornwall in 8 days

DAY 1 to Polperro.

Ferry to Cremyll, having come down from Plymouth Station.

Start Round Cornwall 2012 at Cremyll on the B3247, head for Kingsand.  Head towards Rame.  Then Penmillard, Knatterbury, then on to Tregonhawke.

Head for Freathy, then Tregantle Downs and  Crafthole.

B3247 to Downderry, via Portwinkle. To Seaton Looe Hill, – Millendreath, – Looe.  Cross bridge in centre of Looe, Turn L immediately after bridge, unclassified road, to Portlooe.  Head for Talland and then Polperro for first overnight stop.

DAY 2 to Port Loe.

Polperro – Raphael – Windsor – Lansallos. Up hill to T junctn.  Tn L, first R past Carneggan Farm. Go R just before Tredudwell Manor – or past it and complete a triangle. To Carne Hill, then head for Pont. Cross river to Whitecross.  Head for Bodinnick to get the vehicle ferry across the River Fowey. Into Fowey town, follow the river south to Readymoney, then Lawhyre up hill.  L at junction, R at next past Lankelly Farm. Join the B3415 and then L onto the main road, the A3082 at rnd/abt. Stay on A road for several miles through Par. Head for Carlyon Bay and Charleston.

After Charleston, through Duporth, turn L just after holiday village – past Higher Porthpean.  Continue to Pentewan.  Take road to Mevagissey (B3273) – then Portmellon – Gorran Churchtown. 

Follow road to Gorran High Lanes – Trevarnick and Tubbs Hill. Then to Great Polgrain – West Portholland.

Take road to Treviskey and finally Port Loe for overnight.

DAY 3 to Coverack.

Port Loe via Camels Farm to Veryan. Straight through to Melinsay and Crugsilick Manor. Turn L onto A3078 to Treworlas. Turn R in centre of village to Treworthal to T junction. Turn L towards Philleigh (1m) and thence to King Harry Ferry.

Continue on road to Feock, Point, Devoran, old road to Falmouth, through Falmouth, Pendennis Point, Swanpool, Maenporth to Mawnan Smith.

Follow road to Porth Navas via Trenarth Bridge. Carry on, X roads straight over to Polwheverall then Nancenoy. L then first R to T junction, L for Gweek.  After Gweek, tn 1^st L into woods, head for Mawgan Cross. L in village for Gear.

L again just after Gear to Landvivick and Tregithew. At X rds follow road to St Anthony in Meneage. Go round village, take creek road back towards Manaccan. Head for Carne – Gillywartha – Treglossick – Roskorwell and finally Porthallow. Come out of PHallow on LH side (sea behind you), heading for Porthoustock via Trenance and Chyreen.

Steep climb out of Porthoustock to Rosenithon, then head to St Keverne.  L just after Rosewithen and B4 St K village, past Tregellast Barton, down Main Dale to T junction. L down B3294 to Coverack, next night stop.

DAY 4 to Penzance.

Coverack to Penhallick via Trevorthen and Penhallock. Tn R, first L to Zoar. Tn L B3293 Trelanvean. At Traboe X rds (1.5m after Zoar) tn L to Kuggar. Just after tn L to Poltesco. To Ruan Minor and Cadgwith. Up to A3083 via Clyhenra Farm to Little Trethvas junction. L to Lizard and back.

At Little Trethvas junction head for Mullion. Through M on Poldhu Road – Trewoon.

Alternative 1 (involves short stretch of bridleway):-

At Towan Cottages, tn L down bridleway until Willianton Farm. Here the road begins again – Gunwalloe – Chyanvounder. After Gunwalloe, head for Beripper, Little Nanspean, Tangines. L to Lower Goonhusband to Degibna Lane, which comes out by Helston hospital.

Alternative Route 2 (road):-

At Towan Cottages, carry straight on to Cury. In village, tn L to Mainlay, via Millpool, Millenane and Merries. At Mainlay, tn L onto A3083, past Culdrose to hospital rnd/abt.

Tn L at Helston Hospital, down road, go to Porthleven via normal road. Take RH road around harbour as you look out to sea and follow along cliff to Rinsey Croft.  Tn R to Ashton, L along A394. At Germoe X Roads tn L and do loop to Pengersick, Praa Sands and Pentreath, re-joining A394 at Newtown.

Tn L A394 and keep on main road to Marazion. Follow coast path, along the sea front to Penzance.

DAY 5 to Zennor.

Penzance – Newlyn – Mousehole, following coast road. From Mousehole up steep hill to T junction. L to Castallack.

Into Lamorna, road to New Town, Merry Maidens, Boskenna, Trevedran to Sparnon. At Sparnon, tn L to Treen. To Trethewey, X rds to Little Trethewey.

Tn R to Polgigga, to Trevescan – Lands End.

A30 out, past Sennen to Trevedra Common.  At Trevedra Common, fork L onto B3306 to Brea Farm – St Just.  Stay on B3306 all way to Zennor, via Nancherrow, Botallack, Trevellard, Higher Boscaswell, Tregaminion, Rosemergy, past Gurnards Head inn to Zennor for overnight.

DAY 6 to St Agnes.

Zennor to St Ives, B3306.  St Ives past Carbis Bay to Lelant.  Take L fork Church Lane just past Carbis B. Tn L by church again for road by estuary. Come out on A3074 by causeway. Follow old road into Hayle. Tn L by Lidl and take Gwithian road to Portreath. Portreath to Porthtowan B3301. Up long hill to Towan X. L fork to Bolster. Tn R in Bolster to St Agnes. St A to Goonlaze and Barkla Shop. Tn L Barkla Shop to Trevellas – St Agnes.

DAY 7 to Polzeath.

Perranporth (B3285) – Mount – Trebellan – T jnct, tn L to Cubert / Trevail. Tn R in village to Crantock. In Crantock, tn R for 0.75m then L by Trevella Park (caravan park?) up to A3075. Tn L into Newquay.

Follow coasta route around Newquay, coming out on cliff road to Porth, Whipsidery and Watergate. Up hill on unmarked road to Trevarrian and Mawgan Porth. 

On reaching Mawgan Porth, turn L in village towards Trenance and Efflins. Tn L at Old Macdonalds Farm for Porthcothan.

L after Porthcothan, having crossed river to Carnevas, Trethies Farm and Treyarnon, into Constantine Bay village. Carry on to Harlyn. L after village to Trevone, but not into village. Go straight on to B3276 to Padstow.  Either cross over estuary on Rock ferry or take the Camel Trail to Wadebridge, Rock, Polzeath.

DAY 8 to Bude.

From Polzeath, climb hill out to junction, tn R. 0.75m tn L to Port Quinn. Follow rd past Trewinte, to L tn to Port Isaac. Follow rd out to Port Gaverne, past Welshman’s Quarry and Tregarverne.

Join up with B3314 to Westdowns. Follow rd to Trebarwith. To Trewarnett, then B3263 to Tintagel. Tn R in Tintagel to Bossiney, past Trevalga, head for Boscastle.

Tn L in centre of Boscastle on B3263 past Hillsborough (2 house hamlet).

Alternate Route 1 (involves bridleway / byway):-

Tn L 1m after Hillsborough to Middle and Higher Beeny. 0.5m after take Byway to Newton Farm to connect up with road again.

Alternate Route 2 (road):-

Stay on B3263 about 2m to X rds, tn L for Newton Farm.

Newton Farm to Trevingue, Woodgate, Carn Dean and Crackington Haven.

Come out of Crackington, tn L Coxford. Follow coast rd to Higher Crannow, Millbrook, Gt Hanson, Widemouth Bay, Upton, Lynstone and finally end up in Bude for last night.

FINAL DAY 9 to Mead Village and Finish!

A3072 out of Bude / Stratton. Middle of Stratton, take L fork towards Poughill. Look for signs for Stibb. L in Stibb, past Stowe Barton, Coombe, White Oak Farm, Radar stn on L, Eastaway Manor to James X. Tn R.

Past Rule X, Hobbs Choice, Eastcott and Eastcott X. Tn L, A39 over Wooley Moor, to Wellcombe X. Tn L, past Lipcott X, Kings X, tn R to Welcombe, down to Mead Village and FINISH!!

Start date looming already!

Well, here we all are, ready for the great epic, starting April 28th at Cremyll, the Cornish side of Plymouth and then continuing on every day until we get to a tiny village called Mead on the North Cornish Coast.

More details of our itinerary will be published at a later date, but briefly:- 1st night Polperro, 2nd night Port Loe, 3rd night Coverack, 4th night Penzance, 5th night Zennor, 6th night Perranporth, 7th night Daymer Bay, final night Bude with a shorter run / ride to Mead on the final day.  How we get back home (Truro area) is another matter - we could always turn around and do it again!!

Any one who cares to join us for an hour or two - or more - is most welcome, whether you run or ride.  I will be sending our ride map to cycling clubs around Cornwall in the next week so they know our route (basically as close to the Coastal Path as possible).  Any support you care to give can be donated through our Just Giving website, again details of that will be published on this Blog during the coming weekend.

Right now, we are all concentrating on getting fit for the occasion.  Having just returned from the other side of the world, Gilly and I have a lot to do - but one good thing is I have managed to lower the gearing on the tandem, so those hills might not be quite as bad as they would have been.

With the use of modern technology, we are hoping to update this blog on a daily basis once we start on April 28th, so everyone can see how we are all faring.  I just hope the weather is kind!!