The importance of being earnest (about food)

As Bigman has already told the tale of the tape I can only add a few personal reflections.

It was baltic and as I jumped on to the bike I immediately knew I'd made a basic error in glove selection. Anyway it was the time to meet the Bigman and the day was beginning, I'll be just fine I thought....

Bigman was early as ever, early in the wrong village and I was looking the wrong way when he appeared from the wrong direction. We then blasted off. A vain act we probably paid for later but as we blasted along I felt great and full of energy.

The chewy banana's were opened at Stirling. Being a donkey, I hadn't brought along any food which again was very very stupid. When it's as cold as it was today you burn more energy at a faster rate and I turned down the offered chewy banana's. Bigman munched his way through a handful of banana's and a bit of an energy bar.

The section to Milnathort was a nightmare and I just ground it out. The hill just goes on and on and the wind was relentless. I was shattered. The food strategy, of eating nothing, let me down and I had to stop the Bigman to beg a chewy banana. I was out on my feet with nothing to give. I did try and lead the Bigman along for about 2 minutes but he obviously had a bit more in the tank and took on the leadership into the wind.

My hands were frozen. I felt like stopping and phoning for a lift home but Moonwalker was out doin the Maggies Challenge today and therefore unavailable for driving. So I had no choice but to suck it up and keep going.

We turned at Milnathort and immediately I felt better with the wind behind. My fingers warmed and it was good to be pushed along.

Cleish was fine. The sprint at the bus station as Bigman said - I almost had him but left myself too much to do and was short by about a metre. I have to say it wasn't a bad effort given the speed the Bigman launched off at.

We didn't share much chat today. Once we turned into the wind we were both keen to get home.

I was a km less than the Bigman. The banana's kicked in once I got home.....

Need to think about what I eat on our next trip and during the etape in a few weeks time.

I'm hoping that the biking hasn't toasted my legs before the Edinburgh 10km tomorrow. I did a practice run earlier in the week and did a 49 minute training run which felt pretty comfortable. We'll see how we go tomorrow.....