Aug 08 2008
Day 48
For some reason I was extremely stiff when I woke up today. I wasn’t sore in any way but just felt ‘rigid’ in the legs, hips and back. I spent 10 to 15 minutes warming up my body and stretching my muscles and after that I felt ready to take on the day.
After having a lemonade smoothie I set off for a cycle around part of the TT course. This is the same road cycle I did 12 days ago with a gruelling climb up ‘the mountain’. I managed to complete the 25 mile circuit in 1:49 hours, 2 minutes quicker than Day 36. I was pleased with this ride because the climb up the steep hill, which is a continuous 28 minute climb, felt a lot more comfortable than last time. Last time it was hard!!
I was passed by an experienced racing cyclist and it was a bit demotivating to see him pass me with such ease and cycle off in to the distance so rapidly. I have to console myself that he was younger than I was, considerably lighter than I was, had a better bike than I had and had probably cycled this hill a couple of hundred times while this is only my second attempt.
I watched part of the Olympic Games opening ceremony this afternoon and was amazed at the scale of what the Chinese had put on. I was super impressed with the large screen that runs around the inside perimeter of the roof. I am looking forward to watching some of the key events over the next fortnight, although the time difference between Beijing and here may mean I miss some of the events ‘live’.
I tried some of the raw cakes I had made today. I made Wooshjacks and Chocolate Brownie cake. They are made with superfoods and 100% raw ingredients and are so rich that you only need eat a small amount to feel satisfied. It is strange that there is more nutrition in these ‘cakes’ than most people get in a traditional meal. While I have no longer have a desire to eat chocolate these cakes certainly add tasty variety to a raw diet.
