Easy 25, just pushing the pedals. We had an alarm at some point during the ride, which caused the GPS spoofing to cut in, and which transported me to Lima, Peru. It makes for a good 100k time, but I’ve had to crop the ride for Strava to accept it.

Must have been one of those mornings – chucked all my kit in the bed, got fully rigged up, found my chest strap last. Doh!

That’s likely the longest break I’ve had off the bike in 12 months. Lots going on at work, and a complex week coming up, but I needed to get out and get the blood flowing, and empty my head.

When I stopped training, it was the day I was due to do an FTP test after a solid block, so as long as other pressure allows, I’ll do a few days just to get the legs moving again, and try to get a test in the back end of this week.

But I think I may have a cold… lol. Let’s see. It’s what happens when you drive yourself too hard at work (rather than exercise) and get run down. Resting pulse rate is up by 20%, and HRV is through the floor. Need to try and get some proper recovery in for those to stabilise/return to normal before testing.

Anyway, a great run out through the woods and some tranquillity and solitude. Stopped for a coffee at a cycling destination, then made my way along the river bank. Fishing is a great pastime, but fewer people are fishing from the bridges now that the Russians have started to hit them with drones. South Bridge took four hits this week and was out of action for a while.

It’s not all gloom. The city is a city in a park. Greenery everywhere, and it makes me smile and cheers me up no end, seeing people out walking their dogs, kids playing in the park.

But reminders of the war are everywhere. From the murals on the walls, to the memorial Garden in Maidan, and the daily stop at of people and traffic at 0900 for a minute’s silence, to remember the fallen.

In other news… the alarms are just as alarming, but more frequent. Something like 20 hours on Monday, which is a record. And we’re expecting a big one at some point this week. I’ll admit that hearing the sound of jet drones overhead is getting wearing, and the double thump of outgoing fire is no less worrying.

Kyiv has gone from a busy, thriving capital suffering occasional attacks, to being a focus of Russian strikes. We may be a long way from the front, but it’s become a front-line city.