Make the Distance February Challenge

Planned Mad Mud event cancelled, replacement Seven Sisters Run abandoned due to my injured ankle - what other obstacles could be put in my way this month? Well none as it happens and my Plan C Challenge got under way at 7.30 this morning.

A beautiful day today to take on my February Make the Distance Challenge to ride 62km (38m) along the south coast from Eastbourne to Hastings and back. Great ride out along the sea with sun rising and sea blue. No problems except I had to shoulder the bike for a km as the coastal bike path washed away - my own fault I ignored the 'Do Not Proceed Further' sign. Lovely to get to the end of Hastings Town with its old fishermen's towers still in use. The fish freshly caught within 20 miles of shore and sold by the fishermen, slow food in action.

When I turned for home I realised my comfortable outward ride had been helped by strong south-westerly that was now against me. So I battled every one of the 31km home through the wind. My cycle mentor Steve Scott gave me permission via Twitter to stop for coffee break and that is just what I did. If a bus had come by I may have been tempted to jump on! Tough personal challenge as have never cycled further than 25km before - at least it wasn't raining!

Great practice for my April Challenge, set and being orchestrated by cycling Supremo Steve Scott who with his cycling mate Russ has planned a 80km Cross London Ride for Easter Sunday. Steve and Russ will be doing point on the back and front as I am not to be trusted with traffic...........we have a group of riders already but all welcome. Steve has even drawn up a training plan to get you up to the distance if you are not there already.

Looking forward to a more sedate March Challenge which is my Irish local annual St Patricks Day Ballydehob 10k but target is to blow my 10k 55 minute PB out of the water........no gentle fun run for me that day.