HOW many miles in HOW many minutes?

Since we decided, diligently, to dedicate our Wednesday evenings (previously referred to as languishing Wednesdays) to hill training, we though we better make a start and so headed out to Richmond Park from work. A beautiful sunny evening helped us on our way from Vauxhall, all the way along the river West to Putney Bridge and further West to Barnes where we entered the park. As we approached the park, cyclists began out numbering cars. This should have given us a clue, but innocently we pedalled along leisurely, with other cyclists whooshing past us, until we rolled through Roehampton Gate and entered a cycling metamorphasis. It appeared that we were not the only ones to pop out for a once round Richmond Park! As we paused at the entrance, open mouthed at the swathe of speeding cyclists zipping past our noses, we struck up conversation with a rather physically intimidating cyclist; complete in club branded lycra onesie and slick, impentrable wrap-around glasses. Initially impressed by our training efforts and forthcoming challenge, his enthusiam soon dwindled when asked "which is the least hilly way round the park?" He, incidentally, was there training for a race. Apparently they do an average of 26 miles per hour (have I ever reached 26 miles an hour?) although he didnt seem quite clear, "wait, how fast would I be going if i did 30 miles in an hour?" I suppose if you're pedalling hard enough to keep up that speed, it's reasonable that oxygen might not make it to the mathematical section of your brain?

Unperturbed (but letting him go ahead in front) off we set - in the hilly direction i might add - and we sped all the way up the short, incredibly steep hill which defeated us last time. Hurrah - progress. The most part of our journey was obscured by the blur of brightly coloured lycra and bulging calf muscles hurtling past us, but we completed two loops - one in each direction - taking about half an hour for each.

Mind you, it's all relative - we did get lapped by a roller blader, and a man pedalling with his hands! Still.