Last night 8 turned up for sprint training, including a BR-1 level pro who was there for the first time.
As we know the course so well we gave him a good run for his money and he didn’t win all the sprints. maybe 2 out of 8. He was often left panting frantically at the end of some of them as well. I’m sure if he comes again he will win them all.

As for me, I was on my first day of my colon cleanse.
Still able to have some meals in the first 3 days I turned up to training with some curry rice and two herb tablets in my stomach. Not sure, but I think the curry was causing the most irritation. I had the Fondriest out with the heavy wheels and no heart rate monitor or computer so I could feel a bit of extra tension all round. I launched an attack on the second lap but the seat post was a bit loose and the saddle slipped down a few centimeters. I stopped for a lap and adjusted it.

It was hard to hang on to the head of the pack in the tunnel sprint and I was not going to try too hard.
I launched a few attacks but the red lights caught me and I had to slow down and be swamped by the pack.
On about the 8th lap we were in the tunnel going over 50kph when some dickhead in a black Hi-ace came flying up beside us blowing his horn for the full 300m of the tunnel. He was breaking the law by passing us in the tunnel, going over the speed limit and then blowing his horn as well. On the next lap I saw him sitting in his car hiding behind the post office watching us.

We finished the 10th sprint and were having our chat when the cops turned up. They told us somebody had reported us for running red lights. We do run the left hand turns but not the straights.

We apologized and said we’d be more careful. They also said that they are aware of our training and that we cause no problems but that the general public (some) may not understand what we are doing and be frigthened or bothered by us. We promised not to upset anyone in future and to be careful.

They said they could only talk to us and they didn’t complain about us running through the tunnel, or parking our cars on the sidewalk. It is afterall a sports park area where people come to train for all kinds of sports.

Just after the cops left the Hi-ace did a lap past us then came back and parked up the road, switched his lights off and watched us. I guess he was waiting for the cops to come and arrest us. Like one of those pyromaniacs who comes to watch the fires he has started.  Well, I got his license plate and the next time he stalks us, I’ll be calling the cops first. He almost ran us off the road in the tunnel.

The BR-1 racer said he’d be back next week. Our little secret training is being discovered. We had so many podium places at Hitachinaka and this trainig was the reason for that.

As for the cleanse. Seems to be going well. I’ve been on apple juice and water all day today. Had an apple for lunch. This is overdoing it a bit as I’m still allowed a bit of food till Friiday night.

Looks like rain for the next 4 days so will be able to concentrate on the cleanse. Two puppies being sold on Saturday and that will leave us with just one to go!