Preparation for this year’s event had gone as planned as previous years. Lots of bike practice which intensifies as it gets closer to the start. Lots of physical training which for me normally means either a 5, 8 or 10k most mornings before work. Then either bike training or circuits later in the day. As with every year the fitter you are the less painful the event should be. With that said let’s not pretend it’s not going to hurt …. a lot but the scenery and accomplishment o