Post by manuel6b on Dec 20, 2013 23:29:32 GMT 1
Thursday night was very cold. A night for the fire. Luckily it was a night for the "drivers". Graham B - he motivated Garry and me to come along. Once the three of us set off it was Garry doing the driving, keeping the pace high as we headed for Belfast. I was going well so I knew we had a tail wind !!
We were passed by two older gentlemen who informed us of a tree down ahead. This we found and passed however, no matter how hard we pushed we didn't seem to be able to catch these elderly two.
As this was the last Thursday night before Christmas it was decided to have our first "Christmas Coffee Tow Path Run" (we'll have to think of something more catchy). We took the tow path straight for Belfast. We headed up Stranmillis but couldn't see a suitable cafe so we went down Elms Avenue and went to Starbucks. 3 regular coffees that you could get into and swim around. We enjoyed these then it was back out into the cold for the return trip. I lead the way back up Stranmillis to the tow path but once we got there it was Garry back in the driving seat. He was putting in a great push into the head wind which had Graham and I struggling. I came up with a rule for next year's Coffee Run. No more coffee for Garry!!! Decaf only. I was busted. Once up to Lambeg I just tucked in behind him to recover. Graham was tucked in behind me. As we got into the final section Graham rode up beside Garry. The pace was still high. I was still sitting on Garry's wheel. The pace lifted. Garry was watching Graham. Graham didn't go for the sprint. The arches were now in sight - so I took to the grass to pass them both to take the "win". Oh well. It was a hallow victory. I'm glad Garry didn't go for the sprint as I don't think my legs would have went any quicker.
Thanks to Garry and Graham for getting me out and putting me out of my comfort zone. I needed that.
Looking forward to the next run in a fortnight's time.
*****************************************************
I had missed last week's report. Last week it was Graham, Colin and Michael McG + me. We headed down the tow path, crossed over the footbridge and headed up towards the Ring. We lined up for the sprint. Garry got a good start but Graham was on him very quickly. I chased hard after Graham but he got across the Ring first. On down through Ronan's way back to Minnowburn and then on down through Shaw's and into the trees. Met some of the VC Glendale lads. We had a good run through the trees but I was dying on the hills again. Graham got the climb at Vomit Hill. We headed around the loop and back to the car park with Graham (cheating!) his way to the car park first. Down and back to the tow path. Michael was feeling the pace at this stage. We skipped the Meadows and headed back to the Shaw's. While the three lads had a brief discussion at the bottom of Cardiac Hill I jumped the gun and went up first. It worked. I got to the top first. All gathered up for a spin around the trails. We headed up to the trail head and then onto Lady Dixon for the short cut down to the path again. A good run home with Colin and Graham at the front and me tucked in behind. The sprint was on. I waited until the arches came in sight and then jumped ahead. That was fun. A super night out. Clear, barely a breeze.
We were passed by two older gentlemen who informed us of a tree down ahead. This we found and passed however, no matter how hard we pushed we didn't seem to be able to catch these elderly two.
As this was the last Thursday night before Christmas it was decided to have our first "Christmas Coffee Tow Path Run" (we'll have to think of something more catchy). We took the tow path straight for Belfast. We headed up Stranmillis but couldn't see a suitable cafe so we went down Elms Avenue and went to Starbucks. 3 regular coffees that you could get into and swim around. We enjoyed these then it was back out into the cold for the return trip. I lead the way back up Stranmillis to the tow path but once we got there it was Garry back in the driving seat. He was putting in a great push into the head wind which had Graham and I struggling. I came up with a rule for next year's Coffee Run. No more coffee for Garry!!! Decaf only. I was busted. Once up to Lambeg I just tucked in behind him to recover. Graham was tucked in behind me. As we got into the final section Graham rode up beside Garry. The pace was still high. I was still sitting on Garry's wheel. The pace lifted. Garry was watching Graham. Graham didn't go for the sprint. The arches were now in sight - so I took to the grass to pass them both to take the "win". Oh well. It was a hallow victory. I'm glad Garry didn't go for the sprint as I don't think my legs would have went any quicker.
Thanks to Garry and Graham for getting me out and putting me out of my comfort zone. I needed that.
Looking forward to the next run in a fortnight's time.
*****************************************************
I had missed last week's report. Last week it was Graham, Colin and Michael McG + me. We headed down the tow path, crossed over the footbridge and headed up towards the Ring. We lined up for the sprint. Garry got a good start but Graham was on him very quickly. I chased hard after Graham but he got across the Ring first. On down through Ronan's way back to Minnowburn and then on down through Shaw's and into the trees. Met some of the VC Glendale lads. We had a good run through the trees but I was dying on the hills again. Graham got the climb at Vomit Hill. We headed around the loop and back to the car park with Graham (cheating!) his way to the car park first. Down and back to the tow path. Michael was feeling the pace at this stage. We skipped the Meadows and headed back to the Shaw's. While the three lads had a brief discussion at the bottom of Cardiac Hill I jumped the gun and went up first. It worked. I got to the top first. All gathered up for a spin around the trails. We headed up to the trail head and then onto Lady Dixon for the short cut down to the path again. A good run home with Colin and Graham at the front and me tucked in behind. The sprint was on. I waited until the arches came in sight and then jumped ahead. That was fun. A super night out. Clear, barely a breeze.