Many thoughts and questions fill my head as I prepare to box up my bike in ten days. I keep asking myself what I have gotten myself into. Seriously? I am going to ride my bike from Albuquerque to Champaign, Illinois. 1372 miles! It seems unreal, impossible, and so unlike me. I question my physical strength and mental stability.
Often times, I do not see an athlete or as a cyclist. I only see a girl that likes adventure. I forget that there are few bathrooms on the road or places to go that require a dress code.
It seems strange that I wonder across America, on my bike, when I have a nice home and a family that I leave behind. My car will sit in the coolness of my garage, for 21 days, waiting for the sunroof to be opened and the radio to blare in the wind. Roxy will patiently wait my return and greet me as if I were never gone.
Two more long training rides and one short ride. Ten more days, and counting.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
How Wants A Clean House Anyway?
This week has been an exciting week. 180 miles over the weekend and Monday was my birthday. Tuesday, I deflated. I was exhausted and tired. My voice was even getting scratchy.
My house has confetti on the floor left over from Easter and Fiesta. My clean cloths are still piled in the laundry basket with no time to hang them. Roxy has brought in mud that has turned to dirt. I now walk on a layer of dirt in my kitchen.
Wednesday arrived and I was feeling recovered. My bike is back from the bike shop with a new shinny big chain gear and I was itching to try it out.
Do I stay home to get my house in order or go ride my bike?
Me, I go ride my bike.
It was a nice twenty-four mile ride with beer at the end.
Promise, Thursday and Friday will be recovery days. Maybe, I will get to sweep my kitchen floor sometime soon but that is so not a priority these days.
My house has confetti on the floor left over from Easter and Fiesta. My clean cloths are still piled in the laundry basket with no time to hang them. Roxy has brought in mud that has turned to dirt. I now walk on a layer of dirt in my kitchen.
Wednesday arrived and I was feeling recovered. My bike is back from the bike shop with a new shinny big chain gear and I was itching to try it out.
Do I stay home to get my house in order or go ride my bike?
Me, I go ride my bike.
It was a nice twenty-four mile ride with beer at the end.
Promise, Thursday and Friday will be recovery days. Maybe, I will get to sweep my kitchen floor sometime soon but that is so not a priority these days.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Fredericksburg Weekend Ride, 2010
Some folks from the ECT gathered for a weekend of riding. We stayed at the cutest little bungalow equipped with a kitchen, pool, and hot tub. There were about 13 riders and 3 significant others.
Friday ride
Distance: 58.85
Calories: 2975
Time: 4:49
Average Speed: 12.2
Total Ascent: 2548
It seems like so long ago. I believe there were about eight of us riding. Robert and I were going to ride the 36 mile route. 6 miles in, he broke 2 spokes. I rode to the car, picked him up and he drove me to the rest of the group and I finished the ride with the gang.
Saturday ride
Distance: about 92
Calories: Unknown
Time: Unknown
Average Speed: Unknown
Total Ascent: about 6274.9
Wind: 20 mph
there were 12 rides that braved the massive head wind and CAT1 and CAT2 climbs. Robert and Paul, Kim’s husband followed us. The guys were awesome! They had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, bars, oranges, and drinks.
The wind was massive! My knees were hurting after pounding through the wind. It was a hard and slow 45 mile ride back. R wanted me to get in the car but I wanted to finish and get my miles. It wasn’t pretty, but I finished.
Sunday ride
Distance: 26.78
Calories: 1252
Time: 2:10
Average Speed: 12.3
Total Ascent: 1362
Kim and I rode an out and back to keep the legs loose. I wasn’t sure if I could ride because my knees were sore. The night before I woke every hour to shake my legs to make sure they were in working order.
Friday, I was able to take a few pictures before I fell on the camera and broke the lens. Some memorable moments include:
• the calf that I spooked and ran to his mom
• The lama at the bungalow
• The watering hole/pool
This weekend proved to be a great training opportunity. I feel ready to start back in ABQ to start the next leg of America.
Friday ride
Distance: 58.85
Calories: 2975
Time: 4:49
Average Speed: 12.2
Total Ascent: 2548
It seems like so long ago. I believe there were about eight of us riding. Robert and I were going to ride the 36 mile route. 6 miles in, he broke 2 spokes. I rode to the car, picked him up and he drove me to the rest of the group and I finished the ride with the gang.
Saturday ride
Distance: about 92
Calories: Unknown
Time: Unknown
Average Speed: Unknown
Total Ascent: about 6274.9
Wind: 20 mph
there were 12 rides that braved the massive head wind and CAT1 and CAT2 climbs. Robert and Paul, Kim’s husband followed us. The guys were awesome! They had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, bars, oranges, and drinks.
The wind was massive! My knees were hurting after pounding through the wind. It was a hard and slow 45 mile ride back. R wanted me to get in the car but I wanted to finish and get my miles. It wasn’t pretty, but I finished.
Sunday ride
Distance: 26.78
Calories: 1252
Time: 2:10
Average Speed: 12.3
Total Ascent: 1362
Kim and I rode an out and back to keep the legs loose. I wasn’t sure if I could ride because my knees were sore. The night before I woke every hour to shake my legs to make sure they were in working order.
Friday, I was able to take a few pictures before I fell on the camera and broke the lens. Some memorable moments include:
• the calf that I spooked and ran to his mom
• The lama at the bungalow
• The watering hole/pool
This weekend proved to be a great training opportunity. I feel ready to start back in ABQ to start the next leg of America.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Birthdays
Published in 2008, the average life expectancy is 78.4 years.
Monday is my birthday and I will be thirty-five. The past few days I have been hyping it up. Everyday I have been waking up saying “it’s my birthday!” Fiesta has been fun and excited. It has helped get the celebration started.
Then it dawned on me… I have already lived almost half of my life.
Today I have been in a funk. I have been dragging and slow. The gray skies are not helping.
To cheer myself up, I decided to start subtracting the years instead of adding the years. I only have about thirty-five more years to live. I need to make the most of the time that I have left. There maybe more wrinkles around my eyes and my body becomes more achy, but I am only getting younger. Or, that is what I am going to tell myself….
Monday is my birthday and I will be thirty-five. The past few days I have been hyping it up. Everyday I have been waking up saying “it’s my birthday!” Fiesta has been fun and excited. It has helped get the celebration started.
Then it dawned on me… I have already lived almost half of my life.
Today I have been in a funk. I have been dragging and slow. The gray skies are not helping.
To cheer myself up, I decided to start subtracting the years instead of adding the years. I only have about thirty-five more years to live. I need to make the most of the time that I have left. There maybe more wrinkles around my eyes and my body becomes more achy, but I am only getting younger. Or, that is what I am going to tell myself….
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Fiesta 2010
This is what fiesta is all about!
Carb loading!
Ms. Fiesta and her court. A nice lady asked where my crown was.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Rest and Fiesta 2010
After this past weekend, I realized that I needed some much needed rest. No 5AM workouts, light spins and only two yoga classes. The rest is perfect timing for Fiesta and prep for Sunday’s 100 mile bike ride (That is if the weather holds up. It is forecasted to rain through the week.)
Fiesta is like a mini Mardi Gras here in SA, it’s a party for 2 weeks in the streets. I like to think San Antonio comes together to celebrate my birthday; however this year my birthday falls after Fiesta.
Roxy has learned that I hit my alarm clock and then get out of bed. This morning at 5AM I woke up to her pawing the alarm clock trying to get the sound to alarm. She does not know the difference between rest days and training days. She just wants her food and to play ball.
Riding in the mornings have become so part of my routine that I seem sluggish without pedal time. These are the times that I have to remind myself to enjoy the quite time and let my muscles recover.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Weekend Attempt At Back To Backs
Friday started with a fifty mile bike ride. The headwind starting at mile 30 and my legs felts heavy starting at mile 25. It was over cast, no sun, and cold (65 degrees is cold for this Texas girl). It was brutal. I was tired and my knee started to irritate me.
Distance: 50.6
Total calories: 2682
Total time: 4:23
Average speed: 11.5
Total ascent: 2134
Saturday, I attempted another 50 mile ride. I drove, sin bike partner, to LBJ for the Pedal Power Wild Flower Ride. I saw all the riders with their cycling friends. I hated that I was there alone. I picked up my packet and drove back home with the intensions of riding a local ride.
By the time I returned to San Antonio, I was tired grumpy and didn’t feel like riding. I believe my body just needed a break. When I reached my house I was on the verge of tears. I was really fatigued.
Needless to say… I rode one day not two. But, I gave my body a much needed break.
Distance: 50.6
Total calories: 2682
Total time: 4:23
Average speed: 11.5
Total ascent: 2134
Saturday, I attempted another 50 mile ride. I drove, sin bike partner, to LBJ for the Pedal Power Wild Flower Ride. I saw all the riders with their cycling friends. I hated that I was there alone. I picked up my packet and drove back home with the intensions of riding a local ride.
By the time I returned to San Antonio, I was tired grumpy and didn’t feel like riding. I believe my body just needed a break. When I reached my house I was on the verge of tears. I was really fatigued.
Needless to say… I rode one day not two. But, I gave my body a much needed break.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Riders
Yesterday and this morning has been an exciting time.
All the riders on “the trip” were sent a list of our fellow riders and we are starting our introductions. I am so distracted with the excitement of my new friends that finding my Garmin is a mere hiccup.
All I can think about is food! I want to eat everything and anything in sight. My body needs fuel to prepare for back to back 50s this weekend.
Today is a rest day. Not waking up at 5AM, Roxy started barking ten minutes until 6 trying to wake me up. She is my alarm clock when all else fails.
Welcome, to my new friends. I look forward to riding with you and meeting you on May 20th.
All the riders on “the trip” were sent a list of our fellow riders and we are starting our introductions. I am so distracted with the excitement of my new friends that finding my Garmin is a mere hiccup.
All I can think about is food! I want to eat everything and anything in sight. My body needs fuel to prepare for back to back 50s this weekend.
Today is a rest day. Not waking up at 5AM, Roxy started barking ten minutes until 6 trying to wake me up. She is my alarm clock when all else fails.
Welcome, to my new friends. I look forward to riding with you and meeting you on May 20th.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Easter Hill Country Ride, 2010
Distance: 85.6
Calories: Unknown
Time: Unknown
Average Speed: Unknown
Total Ascent: 5700
Excited about my new closet, I place my handlebar bag in its new home and forgot to take it on my ride. No camera, no blackberry, and no peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
At mile 50, I wished I had my sandwiches. The rest stops only had oranges, bananas, and chocolate chip cookies. Mile 55 through the end we found headwind and hills. It was a slow ride in but I finished. I am proud of myself for not crying and not SAGing in.
Some memorable moments that I would have taken a picture of include lama, sheep, goat, horses, and cows. The street named “Barbara Ann”. Grant’s battle scars from the mishap with the gravel. Funky tan lines from biker shorts and bike gloves. Fields of wild flowers and bluebonnets.
My estimate is that there were about 20 cattle guards that we crossed, if not more. I stopped counting after 10. Within the first 10 miles, I ate the bug that flew into my mount after getting stuck to my lips.
The route was well marked. I called out the directions and Grant used his Garmin to follow the miles. My Garmin is still missing. How can I find myself if I can not find my Garmin to tell me where I am at?
Calories: Unknown
Time: Unknown
Average Speed: Unknown
Total Ascent: 5700
Excited about my new closet, I place my handlebar bag in its new home and forgot to take it on my ride. No camera, no blackberry, and no peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
At mile 50, I wished I had my sandwiches. The rest stops only had oranges, bananas, and chocolate chip cookies. Mile 55 through the end we found headwind and hills. It was a slow ride in but I finished. I am proud of myself for not crying and not SAGing in.
Some memorable moments that I would have taken a picture of include lama, sheep, goat, horses, and cows. The street named “Barbara Ann”. Grant’s battle scars from the mishap with the gravel. Funky tan lines from biker shorts and bike gloves. Fields of wild flowers and bluebonnets.
My estimate is that there were about 20 cattle guards that we crossed, if not more. I stopped counting after 10. Within the first 10 miles, I ate the bug that flew into my mount after getting stuck to my lips.
The route was well marked. I called out the directions and Grant used his Garmin to follow the miles. My Garmin is still missing. How can I find myself if I can not find my Garmin to tell me where I am at?
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