Training weekend on Dartmoor

BECKY:

The team has just completed an intense weekend of training on Dartmoor.  The training began with a 30k running loop through Dartmoor, beginning and finishing at Burator reservoir.  The route was hilly and mostly off road, and the team completed the route in an impressive 3hrs and 45mins.  We were lucky enough to miss most of the rain on Saturday, but the ground was certainly boggy enough to ensure that our shoes stayed soaking wet for most of the day!  Our support team befriended some of the local residents whilst the team was running and managed to find us an empty field to camp in for the night, so after finishing the running loop us four runners switched to our bikes and we cycled the last 5miles to camp.

      Day two began with a 7 mile run around the reservoir and up sheepstor, after which we took to our bikes again and headed off towards Exeter for the final leg of the training weekend.  On the trip back we were faced with some fairly horrendous weather conditions, with strong winds and hail pelting us as we cycled, we also had some issues with the bikes, after 3 punctures it became obvious that my outer tire was worn out, so my bike went on the rack and I joined the support team for the last leg.  The others continued on, making very good time, and made it all the way back to Exeter with only one other puncture to Alex's bike which was easily fixed.  The cycle route was roughly 35miles long and extremely hilly, but the team made back to the barracks in an impressive 3 and a half hours.

All in all an excellent weekend of training, a lot was learnt particularly with regards to logistics for the support team and bike maintenance.  I would also like to say a huge thank you to Ray and Fiona for lending us their field and letting us cook and prep our bikes in their shed.