So this week was the big build-up to a race that was happening outside my front door, the 1/2/3 Grand Prix Leclerc (the French equivalent of Sainsbury's) at Hennebont. 24 laps of a really fast, technical 4km loop with 300m of off-road at the top of the hill just after the finish. A real strongman circuit and one that many people, including myself, were confident that I would perform well on. Alas this was not to be because I did something really stupid. My doctor in England advised me to take ibuprofen instead of paracetamol before a race as a pain killer for my knee as it would be many times more effective, however I should be careful though as the ibuprofen could trigger my asthma. I took slightly more ibuprofen for my knee than I otherwise would as I really didn't want any pain in my knee towards the latter part of this race and I thought I would compensate this by taking a few more puffs of my blue inhaler.
This did not work!
My first lap was great, but after that I just went backwards through the peloton and ended having to call a halt to my race after 4 laps wheezing my way back home with my tail firmly between legs. What a bloody tool!
Unfortunately this was my only race this week and with me going well recently, a small, but good quality field and a course that I know well from living next to it; it's just a shame I wasn't able to give any account of myself. You live and learn. Sadly I might have to wait over a week till my next race as next weekend is the National Championships in most countries, I would be competing in the Brits, but Glasgow is too far for me to get, would cost me a lot and the course looks rubbish. At least I will get a chance to continue resting my knee even more now though and catch back up with my French as I've let that slide a little bit recently.
This is because I've been caught up in my Balkan book which I've finally and what a great piece too, it's just a shame that it was written in 1999 and not a few years later so that the Kosovo Question and by extension the Macedonian Question could be dealt with more fully, it just feels a little open-ended. On the other-hand the peace process in the Balkans is continually evolving as we speak and the aforementioned Questions as well as the others in the Balkans, like Bosnia, will be open-ended for a good while longer anyway.
I also finally got round to watching 'God on Trial' this week too and I urge you all to watch such a fine drama.
On a complete different note I must mention my girlfriend Verity who won the 800m at an athletics meet in Italy on Tuesday, she is now beating me on the international scorecards this year 1-0 so far and can now legitimately claim to being the more successful partner, at least on the international stage, in this relationship. I do not begrudge such an assumption nor accolade, if bestowed as such, one iota. I am admiring her ability to balance not only the racing, but also the training, the exams she has at the moment as well as keeping up appearances with the social side of things in Siena too. I had only one job all week to do, to do well on Sunday, and I still managed to fluff my lines.
Special mention has to go to Sam Allen for his third win of the year on Friday. Chapeau bruv.
Until next time...
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