Yes, I'm beginning this blog in the middle of my training because I didn't decide to write about it until now. But don't worry, you haven't missed much.
In fact, here's a quick recap: The first week of training went fairly well. It was very hot (it is June in SC after all), but I took it easy due to having just completed a sprint triathlon the previous weekend. So, I needed a week of rest, but I also needed to jump on training as there were only five and half weeks to do so once I started. Thus, I rode, but I rode easy, even skipping the required three hour ride on Saturday.
However, this week there is no slacking off! I must say, it was difficult to find or come up with some type of training plan that covers six weeks and allows me to improve my endurance level quickly. I settled for an eight week centurey (100 miles) training plan and shortened it to six weeks. It's intense and requires riding six days out of the week. Fortunately, all I have going on right now is one summer class at lunch time each day, which allows me ample time to ride. And, to make things more difficult for me (or rather, more challenging), I've added P90x to the mix so as not to lose my upper body and core strength by riding my bike all the time. (If you don't know what P90x is, you probably shouldn't worry about it. It's painful to even think about...)
Today I had a test in my class, so I decided to forgo my morning bike ride in favor of studying. So, I rode later in the evening instead. I waited until about 5:00 to ride, after the temperature had dropped a little. I went an easy fourteen miles in one hour, cruising for most of the ride. I found a hill on Chicken Foot Creek Road (yes, that's really the name of it) that allows me to get up to forty miles an hour on the descent if I'm in a tucked position on the drop bars. Forty miles an hour on a bicycle is very scary and very exciting! I have no idea how those guys in the Tour de France go that fast (and faster) on featherweight bikes without crashing all the time. I guess that's why I'm not in the Tour de France...
Good ride, not too hot, felt nice to relax and enjoy the scenery. I wish everyone could enjoy a ride through the countryside around my residence. It is so peaceful, so humbling, so revitalizing! If you don't have a bike, go get one and take yourself for a ride! It's totally worth the chance to get away from life for awhile, not to mention the obvious health benefits of exercise.
That is all of my ramblings for today.
Thanks for reading!
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