Covid disappointment

I've been on the bike a lot in the past three weeks, enjoying more hours in the saddle than any when previously this year. Crunching through the autumn leaves, making the most of  the dry Southdowns trails, as I built up to the Brass Monkeys winter series. 

After a 4 hour ride on Sunday I was feeling physically well prepared. The bike was totally dialled and my order of SIS gels and Peanut Butter Cliff Bars had arrived ready to scoff during the races.

I was going to take it easy in the week building up to the first race with just a couple of short rides planned, so I was refreshed and ready to go! This would be helped by the fact I was starting a new job on Monday that required me to be in the office 5 days a week. 

After nearly two years working from home, getting up at 6.15 and spending the day in a busy office came as a bit of a culture shock. Then at Thursday lunch time I received the worrying news that I'd been in close contact with somebody in the office who had tested positive for Covid. 

I took a lateral flow test immediately which was negative, but by the time I got home it felt like my head was in a vice and I was getting short of breath. Another lateral flow this time came back positive. 

I'm now waiting for my PCR result, but I am really disappointed. The Brass Monkeys are great races to keep me focused on training through the winter months. I've also had some good series results, but this year will be the third in a row that I've been unable to compete in all the rounds and challenge for an overall series position. Gutted.