Retired banker and Twitter enthusiast KB spotted this and thought it might be of interest to retro/scientific training fans:
The importance of quality rest in your training programme:
It hasn't always been this way; Way back in the winter of 1984 Cobbleshock (Matt Scott), Retrophoenix (Craig Wilson) and I (Robert Kennison) were students in Eastbourne. Cobbleshock was a fresher and RP and I were third and second years respectively. It might be an understatement to say that RP and myself were somewhat competitive; We were both First Cat racers and our competition often continued over into training.
On this particularly miserable January day the three of us set off in bitter conditions to do a "long one", RP and I set the tempo on the front as we braved the biting wind and occasional sleet and hail storms. Up and over Beachy Head we pushed, each turning the screw a bit tighter as we tried to half wheel each other into submission. This punishment continued for an hour or so, neither of us prepared to submit to the will of the other. Finally having turned into the wind to head North through Piddinghoe RP turned to me and spoke his first words for an hour "Matt's gone" I looked around, Cobbleshock had indeed "gone" he was nowhere in sight.
We pottered on for a mile or so to give him the chance to catch up, nothing. We turned around and retraced our tracks for a mile or so, still nothing. We decided he'd had enough of the cold and wet and binned it, feeling slightly guilty we pressed on, our ride truly becoming a "big one" of five hours or so. Returning to Eastbourne, we thought that it would be nice to check that CS was OK so we pulled by the halls of residence and popped up to his apartment. His roomie was in; "Hi Brad, seen Matt?" "Er, no wasn't he out with you two?" We explained how we'd lost him, but assured Brad he'd be back shortly, (it was getting dark after all), and we were feeling genuinely guilty, remember?
RP and I rode down to our flat for showers, and dinner before deciding that we really ought to check on CS again. So off we went back across town to his halls. Here we found the shell of the man formerly known as "Cobbleshock" Still kitted out in the full 80's winter regalia from the tip of his Duegi overshoes to the top of his peaked winter hat, he was crashed out on his bed, fast asleep just the way he'd stumbled incoherently into the room. Brad elaborated, "He wobbled in here, fished an old Mars bar from the bin, scoffed it and passed out"
Eventually we roused him and over a cuppa he recounted his tale of woe. " Lads, I was so tired. We've done so much training this month and it was so cold, when we turned at Newhaven I'd had it, I shouted but with the wind must have been deafened you both. I stopped and went onto a pub to try and buy chocolate. Then I decided to shelter from the weather in a bus shelter, I must have dozed off for a moment or two. When I woke up I was really concerned I'd still not have the energy to get home when, by pure chance Robin's mum drove by and gave me a lift." Clearly Cobbleshock's learned from our mistakes! Cobbleshock, is this how it was?
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