DAY 2
"It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." And 5:30 comes early.
It's hard to say why Saturday was both maddening to me and yet wonderful at the same time. Many frustrating events took place, both for me and for the ride as a whole. There were many, many flat tires spread out among the riders, some riders got lost, it was the hottest of the three days, and the riders were so spread out throughout the route that the support vehicles had trouble keeping up with all of us from beginning to end.
But allow me to start from the beginning...
Beth woke me up around 5:40. I didn't get up right away because I knew what was coming: more biking. Once I did finally get up, I grabbed a quick shower just to help wake me up, then headed off to breakfast. Remembering my extreme appetite of the previous day, I ate as heartily as I dared to start me off for the day. I probably should have gotten up earlier, or at least hopped out of the bed at the actual time I was awakened, because I felt kind of rushed once I got back to the hotel room. I had to repack all of my stuff I had strewn about from the previous day, refill my water bottles, put on sunscreen, and take everything down the elevator to the lobby by 7:00. Somehow I succeeded, though sluggishly. All the riders got together and pictures were snapped of the faithful pedalers before the start of the day's ride.
Over all, I was very surprised when I awoke to find that my legs felt okay. They were a little sore, but not so much that every stroke I took that morning was a painful one. And my face looked much less red that morning, which was a small comfort in itself. In fact, aside from being ridiculously sleepy, I felt great! I didn't have time to finish off my cup of coffee for the morning, so the caffeinated energy kick I was counting on didn't occur. When we started rolling away, I remembered my mistake of pushing too hard at the beginning of yesterday's ride and decided to take it easy for this day's beginning. I dropped to the back of the pack and pulled out my iPod once we hit the country roads. A nice country stroll with my earphones in place seemed to be just what I needed to get myself out of my sleepy funk.
I coasted along, enjoying watching the sun rise over the countryside and was able to remind myself of the reasons I wanted to do this ride in the first place: 1. Raise money and support for the Alzheimer's Association - they need our help! 2. Test my physical limits with my greatest cycling challenge yet. 3. Enjoy a ride across South Carolina - this chance doesn't come often. Once you get your priorities straight again and forget the possible pain and sacrifice that accompany them, life (and a bike ride) gets a little brighter.
Along I go, just pedaling to my own tempo. I don't see another cyclist anywhere in front or behind me and I have no idea where I am in comparison with the rest of the group. That didn't bother me; I just wanted to set the scene for you for what happened next. I was on a busy road (I don't know which one, I'd have to check the cue sheet) with traffic constantly coming both ways. The white line on this road was one of those rumble-strip-things. Honestly, I don't know what they're called, but they make a loud noise when your car goes over them in case you've fallen asleep and need to wake back up again in order to continue driving. I was not asleep anymore and thus had no reason to be too close to the line and hit the rumbly things. So, I stayed just to the left of the white line, trying not to get too far into the middle of the lane so the cars coming my way would have no trouble passing me. Lo and behold, I found out that the midlands of SC also has stupid drivers. In fact, if there were such an award, I would give this driver the "I thought I had seen everything; but you win!" award. A red, Ford F-150 coming towards me in the opposite lane decided to pass the car in front of him on a double yellow line. To the best of my current knowledge, this move is still illegal in South Carolina. Not only does he decide to make said illegal move, he decides to do it just as I am passing by at the same time. So he "politely" blinked his headlights at me to order me out of the way so he could pass someone on a double yellow line. You must understand that these cars were going much faster than I was and this whole ordeal happened in a matter of seconds. I had but moments to figure out what the heck the F-150 driver was doing, why he was blinking his lights at me, and get out of the way in time for him to pass me and the other car at the same time. Now, let me remind you that the white line was a rumbly one and in passing over it to get out of the way of the truck, I was lucky I didn't go flying off my bike from the sudden jolt of the raised bumps. It would be similar to hitting a rock in the middle of the path after sharply steering your bike to the right in order to avoid an oncoming wall that seemingly appeared out of nowhere...
Or something like that.
Either way, I was a bit shaken up by the incident and very angry at the total disregard for the traffic laws of South Carolina, my right to be on the road as a cyclist, and my daily wish to stay alive a little longer. Fortunately, I serve a big God and was glad He was around to give me enough wits to get out of the way fast. That was that and on we go...
At the next rest stop I fumed to the support staff about the above incident, scarfed down some Fig Newtons, once again sprayed on sunscreen, and went on my way. Soon after that, I noticed the Ambulance pass me on their way down the route. The EMTs for the day were friendly fellows and they waved as they went by (oh yeah, the Ambulance EMTs changed each day of the ride... forgot to tell you that). I continued following the path and eventually caught up with the Ambulance. When I finally did, I began to notice they were traveling quite slowly, always staying just ahead of me. Whenever a car came around me, the ambulance pulled off to the side and let the car pass them too. Every time I struggled up a hill, they would drive out of sight until I got to the top of the hill where I would see them waiting for me at the bottom. Then, as soon as I got close again, they would begin coasting forward as well, remaining within view but never close enough to draft off of. (Dang.) This situation seemed so bizarre to me (especially after having the Ambulance trail me the previous day), I was starting to wonder if perhaps Beth or the other support staff had given them explicit instructions to stick with me because of the crazy story I had just fumed about at the previous stop. But, after about an hour of following the Ambulance, I had gotten used to their presence and actually began to appreciate their indirect company. I didn't feel quite as lonely with them around, and was also beginning to see and appreciate the humor of my now 2-day personal relationship with the Ambulance.
They kept up with me to the next rest stop and decided to follow behind me after that one instead of being my guide. That was fine with me! Within about thirty minutes of that stop, I saw a lone rider in red traveling within view a good ways ahead of me. I caught up with him faster than I thought I would because he had to stop on the side of the road. I rode up next to him, checking to see if he was okay and realized it was Randall. He was fine - his chain had popped off for the second time that day and he was putting it back on. When I looked back to see where my Ambulance had gone, I saw the two guys walking toward us while the Ambulance itself was sitting running on the side of the road. Randall was back on his bike by then, so I yelled back to the EMTs that his chain had just come off and we were fine. They smiled, waved in acknowledgment, and headed back to their vehicle. "Haha," I thought, "I like these guys!" I hopped back on my own noble steed and chased after Randall.
Now there were three RTR vehicles riding along in our very own caravan - two bikes and an Ambulance. Fortunately, on this long, hot second day, the support staff had posted rest stops every ten miles. (I didn't know until later how difficult this had been for them as we were all spread out from beginning to end and some SAG vehicles were out and about looking for the few groups of riders who had gotten lost, making them short on vehicles and support volunteers for the rest stops.) Ten-mile rest stops were nice because it was a steamy day and hydration and sunscreen were imperative, it helped the miles tick by a little faster, and, if you've been riding alone for awhile, it was nice to have some human contact every 45 minutes or so.
Randall, the Ambulance, and I came upon one such stop about twenty minutes after we had all gotten together and pulled off for some much needed refreshment. I don't remember what mile it was (maybe around 40?), but I do remember being surprised at how good I felt. My legs still felt strong and I was much more awake now than I was at the beginning of the day. Also, it was about the halfway mark of the second day, so that technically meant we were halfway through the whole ride... right? Right! If I've made it halfway through, then I know I can finish this thing! And, as a bonus, I had heard stories of flat lands where bikes go fast and riders don't have to work as hard to power them. Being from the Upstate, I was skeptical of such rumors, but willing to accept their validity as soon as I could experience them.
At this same stop, one of the friendly Ambulance fellows inquired whether I was bothered by them following me. I told him it was fine as long as it wasn't because I looked sickly and/or dehydrated. He assured me it was not for that reason, but because when they saw I was riding alone, they were worried for my safety as a loner and decided to stay with me unless they were called elsewhere. Ah, human kindness still exists. I thanked him and assured him I wasn't bothered by their presence. Not anymore, anyway. :)
I refilled my bottles, put on my sunscreen, and downed a pack of Skittles (which you can afford to do if you're riding 85 miles) before we set off again. I was grateful for the company of Randall and for my body's strange enthusiasm for riding more miles. I actually felt happy about the day's ride and eager to get going again (must be those endorphins I'm always hearing about). Of course, that was then, and the day was not yet over. Not even close.
A few interesting events happened in the next 23 or so miles. Firstly, and worst of all, I lost my cyclocomputer (may it rest in peace). Yes, this is the very same computer I had just bought Monday specifically for this ride because my old one was messed up. I failed to mention that the screen had fallen off its handlebar mount the previous day, but it was recovered without incident. It apparently couldn't hang on this day either, though I don't know why. I hadn't hit a bump or anything to jar it - it was just a bad mount set-up, I believe. Anyway, I heard it drop and immediately squeezed my brake levers hard, making them squeal. I did a u-turn and stood on the opposite side of the road, having to wait for two cars to pass before I could try retrieving it. I saw it laying close to the white line and prayed the cars wouldn't hit it. The first car went by fairly slowly, probably wondering why I was just standing on the side of the road staring at them as they went by, and evaded my poor computer. The second car came flying by, and as it did, I witnessed my computer screen go flying too.
CRAP.
I sighed an anticipatory angry sigh and crossed the street to assess the damage.
CRAP AGAIN.
The screen was chipped and cracked and looked like one of those psychological ink blot pictures.
I was mad. I wanted to throw the screen as hard as I could into the field beside me, shout curses, and stomp my feet. But, as none of that seemed like it would help the situation and might alert the Ambulance people that something really was wrong with me, I just stared at the screen in disbelief for several seconds instead, then put it in my back pocket so I wouldn't have to see it again until the end of the ride.
I caught back up with Randall who had stopped when he heard my brakes squealing behind him, and explained what had happened. He then became our chief navigator and I was knighted our time keeper (it was all I could offer). We decided to work out a makeshift drafting system around that point, with each of us doing two-mile duty. I would lead the way for two miles, then drop back behind him while he led for two miles. The wind that day (and the next, for that matter) was pretty horrendous, so the leader of our two-man pack had a rough job. But it got us to the next stop safe and sound.
About the time my computer committed suicide, I started getting hungry. Not just, "Oh, I could eat lunch soon" hungry, but "Oh my gosh, I'm starving! When's the next stop??" hungry. Luckily, I had a Cliff bar in my pocket, so I munched on it 'til the next stop. Randall was really hungry too, and we both figured lunch had to be just around the next corner. We were both under the impression that lunch was to be given between the 50 and 55 mile markers and should be coming up soon.
We were wrong.
We found a rest stop waiting for us around mile 50. Just a quick stop, no lunch. We ate whatever they had laying around and refilled our bottles once again. We also took a slightly longer break under the shade of their tent because it was getting unbearably steamy outside. Also at this stop, one of the support people taped up my foot (there were no band aides) because I was developing a large blister on my right heel. Honestly, it only hurt when I walked, not biked; but, I let her tape me up anyway. I knew my sweat would render the tape useless sooner than later, but I figured it might last until at least lunch. By the way, "Where is lunch?!" I asked them. "Mile 63" was the answer. I noted that thirteen more miles was nearly another hour of riding and Randall replied that he didn't want to think about it in those terms. Oh well, here we go. Back to two-mile duty.
But it wasn't another hour. Once we left the rest stop in Pelion, we experienced one last big hill and then the landscape miraculously turned flat. That was a miracle in timing because without lunch we were running on fumes, and it's hard to make it up hills on only fumes Flat land is so much easier!
We finally made it to the town of North, mile 63 on our route, and refueled at their town hall. I ate a turkey sub, a bag of chips, and several pieces of watermelon for lunch. I also downed a whole bottle of Gatorade. Feeling much better after that, we rode off again with the knowledge that we only had a little over 20 miles left to go that day.
Our two-man team had grown to three after lunch and we drafted our way to the next stop which seemed to come out of nowhere. The roads were significantly flatter by then and our average speed had increased. The young ladies at the stop told us we had less than ten miles to go... Ten miles is nothing, let's go!
Somehow along the way, Geoff (our third man) and I got separated from Randall and we went the last five or so miles alone. I felt the need to keep up with someone since I no longer had a computer of my own to help guide me. We ended up riding along a very heavily trafficked road, complete with a Wal-Mart and several restaurants dotting the sides. This was probably the one road of the entire ride that I hated. We were surrounded by cars giving off hot fumes on an equally hot road on the hottest day of the ride. We stopped at red light after red light, hoping the cars would see us and not try to hit us out of spite. The worst part of the worst road was having to cross two lanes of traffic to get in the left turning lane. Just because you stick your left arm out to inform the drivers you want to turn left doesn't mean they care. Sometimes it's a particularly dangerous sport.
Don't worry; we made it. Only three miles left to go. Just keep pedaling. Let the sweat drip off your face because there's not a dry spot left on you to use to wipe it off. Breathe in, breathe out. We saw a water park on our right and I shouted to Geoff, "That's not fair!" He responded with a tired chuckle.
Then we finished! Sorry, that was a little anti-climactic. But we did, once again to the cheers of the riders who came before us. I propped my bike up against the hotel wall, shed my helmet, unzipped my jersey as far as it would go, and went in search of my flip-flops. I noticed that all the riders were still hanging around outside, mostly by the pool. In fact, many of them had freed themselves from their jerseys and just jumped in with their cycling shorts. I quickly surmised that our rooms weren't ready yet and everyone was just trying to cool off while waiting. I also noticed one rider sitting against a column, shaking. The Ambulance was nearby and the medics were setting up the stretcher thing to put her in the Ambulance. She had apparently just recently been put on a gluten-free diet which hadn't suited her well that day. She was very dehydrated and at a lack of adequate calories. After about two hours, they had nursed her back to health and she was able to go on and finish the ride the next day. Thank goodness for the Ambulance!
I didn't see Beth around, so I grabbed a bottle of water and laid down on the hotel sidewalk. I had to smile - I just completed two-thirds of the longest, hardest ride of my life thus far. And I felt great! In a manner of speaking. My legs were tired, but not shot. My back and neck were sore, but they could rest. I was hot, but in the shade cooling off. The only part of me that was in dire pain was my bottom. It had now endured twelve hours of sitting on a tiny seat being chafed by lycra. Poor bum.
Now, to speed things up a bit, here's more of a summary format of the rest of the evening...
1. Beth and I had some trouble getting our reserved room, but it all worked out in the end.
2. I took a shower - not as sunburned today.
3. Hungry again; ate half a sub and two bags of chips.
4. Watched TV while waiting around for supper.
5. Went to supper at 5:30; ate at the All-Star Deli; was really hungry; good food!
6. Went by Wal-Mart with Beth and Cindy after supper to buy a new cyclocomputer. Again.
7. Installed the computer, inflated bike tires, prepared everything for the next day.
8. Still felt good and excited, so I played cards with Beth until 10:00 that night.
Even Beth observed that I didn't seem nearly as tired that night as I had been the previous night. She was right! I was ready to finish off this epic ride and excited about doing so.
I slept well.. :)
Monday, July 19, 2010
A Ride to Remember, Part I
It is finished. :)
And what a journey it was! I wasn't able to post any blogs or pictures over the weekend due to a lack of internet connection and lack of expendable energy. But fear not, I shall catch you up now in three or four parts with as much as I can remember. Enjoy the ride...
DAY 1
The day started early for me and included many last minute preparations and packing, along with a quick, nervous breakfast. My wonderfully supportive Ma-in-law came and picked up my bike and me around 7:00 and we were off to Simpsonville. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the many smiling faces of the ever-friendly Alzheimer Association staff along with the eager, excited faces of all the cyclists taking part. I checked in, received a goody bag, put on sunscreen, loaded my bags, took a few pictures, and then stood around waiting for the ride to begin. There were people everywhere - some on bikes, some wearing volunteer shirts, some snapping pictures, some saying goodbye for three days. Before we began, several different important people stood on a foldout chair and expressed their heartfelt gratitude for our participation, as well as inspirational words to motivate our then-fresh legs to keep pedaling. (I can't remember all that was said, and, even if I did, it would take too much time and space to write here.)
Then we were off! (Keep in mind I can only write from my own point of view and personal experience which is undoubtedly not the same as everyone else's.) In hindsight, I believe I began the ride on the wave of too much excitement and went too hard at the beginning, forgetting to save my legs for the many, many rolling miles ahead that day. I made wonderful time for the first 16 miles, averaging 15.8 mph when arriving at the first rest stop. Since I had breakfast pretty early that morning I was already hungry after only one hour of riding. I downed some Fig Newtons while saying hello to Beth and being introduced to a certain Ashton Houghton, head over this crazy ride. I didn't stay long (no time to waste) and traveled alone for awhile. I eventually caught up with a fellow cyclist I had met earlier in the ride, Randall Simmons, and we rode and chatted for awhile. He is from Goose Creek and not accustomed to the hills of the Upstate; so, much of this day's ride was a challenge. For both of us. It was even a challenge for me, despite training daily among said hills. I cannot recall many details about Friday's ride. It was mostly a long process of pushing myself up hills and coasting back down them. Lunch was provided around mile 35ish and Subway sandwiches were on the menu. At that point I felt there was no way I was going to be able to eat a whole sub and ride another 30 miles in the heat without getting sick, so I gobbled up a banana and munched on some watermelon instead. I also remembered then that I am a redheaded, pale-skinned human and should probably reapply the sunscreen that I had inevitably sweated off since the beginning of the ride. So, with sunscreen slathered on, water bottles overflowing, and sunglasses cleaned by the magic of cotton, Randall and I pedaled on.
Once again, I don't remember many specifics about the ride during this time except snapshot images my brain took and random thoughts that occurred to me along the way. I do vividly recall random SAG vehicles driving by with enthusiastic individuals "woo-hooing" us along the way. I also remember seeing Ashton's car drive by being closely followed by a WYFF, News Channel 4 car, then seeing them again a little ways down the road filming us coming down a hill. (So, we're pretty much famous now.)
But, what I remember most vividly is being on mile 51, feeling the heat of the sun directly overhead and wondering if I could really make it. I knew I didn't have too much farther to go, especially compared to what I had already accomplished, but it seemed that all that I could see before me was miles and miles of hot road with no shade. I had somehow gotten separated from Randall by this point and was all alone battling fatigue, heat, and will-power. I wouldn't call it a "bonk," per say, because I knew my legs had the strength to finish and I felt as well-hydrated as I could be at the time. But heat is hot, especially at 12:30 in South Carolina, and the sun alone will create doubts in your mind as to whether or not you are capable of doing much of anything, much less great things. I took a picture of both me and the road that lay before me at this point so in the end I wouldn't forget how I felt then and how far I had come since.
Fortunately, at the moment I needed it most, another cyclist rode by and encouraged me. I'm glad she did. :) I mustered through the remaining 12-15 miles with most of the battle occurring in my mind. Towards the end, with only a mile or so to go, the Ambulance that was keeping up with us throughout the ride caught up with me and one of the EMTs hung her head out of the window inquiring whether or not I was okay. I replied through short, winded breaths that I was hot, but fine. She answered me silently with a suspicious look - I don't think she believed me at all - and the Ambulance proceeded to follow along beside me the rest of the way. I'm sure I looked like a hot mess - I mean, obviously, I had just ridden nearly 67 miles - but it made me a bit worried and uncomfortable having the Ambulance trail me, like I might drop any second. However, this was just the beginning of my new-found relationship with the Ambulance...
I finally made it to the end amongst the cheers of fellow riders who had already completed their ride. I was hot and I was tired. It had taken me five and a half hours to complete 67 miles. Once I arrived, I found a place to leave my bike and sat down guzzling water. My legs felt pretty wasted and I sat wondering how in the world I would survive two more days like this on the bike.
Eventually, Beth and I were able to check in at the hotel and I got the chance to shower. When I finally saw myself in the mirror, I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. I looked miserable, first of all, with my hair all in tangles, my jersey drooping from the weight of a day's worth of sweat, and my black shorts now gray from all the salt they accumulated over the ride. That was why I wanted to laugh. But then I wanted to cry when I saw my cherry-red cheeks and nose. I was sunburned and not at all happy about it. At that moment I vowed to put sunscreen on my face at every stop the next day.
My spirits were lifted a bit once I got out of the shower and I finally had the wherewithal to realize I was famished! I hadn't really eaten a lunch, though I had been munching and gushing all along the ride. Beth, being the compassionate friend she is, hunted down a leftover lunch sandwich and some grapes for me to chow down on. I ate it fast and hungrily, not really even tasting it. That was around 3:30. At 5:30, when it was time for us to meet for supper, I was starving all over again. As it turns out, you burn a lot of calories riding for 5 hours and your body likes for those calories to be replaced. I wasn't used to feeling so ravenous so often.
We went to the lake home of Van Matthews, one of the riders and Alz. Assoc. board members. He was kind enough to fill us up with barbeque, potato salad, and cole slaw to our belly's content. And I finally got my belly to be content... for awhile. I have to admit that I felt pretty listless through most of this evening. I was tired, hot, and tired of being hot and tired. I jumped in the lake to float around awhile and cool off. The water itself wasn't necessarily cool, but being in it kept the humidity at bay, which made it cooler by default. I'm not sure how long we floated there, but it felt like a wonderful forever just hanging on to a float and letting my legs dangle uselessly. I also went for a short swim while I was in the lake for the sole purpose of stretching out my poor, curled-up cycling body. My neck, shoulders, back, and arms needed the short swim to work out the kinks they had acquired from being in the same, bent-over position all day. I also went for a very breezy boat ride around the lake, compliments of Van, which I enjoyed thoroughly. I truly had a good time at supper, but I was simply too tired to enjoy it all night. When Beth and I got back to the hotel, we both enjoyed a calming hot cup of decaf coffee before going to bed. Fearing a potential night of restlessness and equally fearing an inability to wake in the morning. I took half a dosage of Advil PM and called it a night around 9:00 with my stomach strangely rumbling once again.
I can't say that I slept perfectly soundly - I awoke a few times during the night - but I believe I slept as well as I could considering that I was sleeping in a strange place and had sore, stiff legs screaming at me all night for attempting this 3-day ride in the first place.
On to Day 2...
Still, when it was all said and done, I had completed the day's task and come out with a new personal record of over 67 miles in one trip.
And what a journey it was! I wasn't able to post any blogs or pictures over the weekend due to a lack of internet connection and lack of expendable energy. But fear not, I shall catch you up now in three or four parts with as much as I can remember. Enjoy the ride...
DAY 1
The day started early for me and included many last minute preparations and packing, along with a quick, nervous breakfast. My wonderfully supportive Ma-in-law came and picked up my bike and me around 7:00 and we were off to Simpsonville. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the many smiling faces of the ever-friendly Alzheimer Association staff along with the eager, excited faces of all the cyclists taking part. I checked in, received a goody bag, put on sunscreen, loaded my bags, took a few pictures, and then stood around waiting for the ride to begin. There were people everywhere - some on bikes, some wearing volunteer shirts, some snapping pictures, some saying goodbye for three days. Before we began, several different important people stood on a foldout chair and expressed their heartfelt gratitude for our participation, as well as inspirational words to motivate our then-fresh legs to keep pedaling. (I can't remember all that was said, and, even if I did, it would take too much time and space to write here.)
Then we were off! (Keep in mind I can only write from my own point of view and personal experience which is undoubtedly not the same as everyone else's.) In hindsight, I believe I began the ride on the wave of too much excitement and went too hard at the beginning, forgetting to save my legs for the many, many rolling miles ahead that day. I made wonderful time for the first 16 miles, averaging 15.8 mph when arriving at the first rest stop. Since I had breakfast pretty early that morning I was already hungry after only one hour of riding. I downed some Fig Newtons while saying hello to Beth and being introduced to a certain Ashton Houghton, head over this crazy ride. I didn't stay long (no time to waste) and traveled alone for awhile. I eventually caught up with a fellow cyclist I had met earlier in the ride, Randall Simmons, and we rode and chatted for awhile. He is from Goose Creek and not accustomed to the hills of the Upstate; so, much of this day's ride was a challenge. For both of us. It was even a challenge for me, despite training daily among said hills. I cannot recall many details about Friday's ride. It was mostly a long process of pushing myself up hills and coasting back down them. Lunch was provided around mile 35ish and Subway sandwiches were on the menu. At that point I felt there was no way I was going to be able to eat a whole sub and ride another 30 miles in the heat without getting sick, so I gobbled up a banana and munched on some watermelon instead. I also remembered then that I am a redheaded, pale-skinned human and should probably reapply the sunscreen that I had inevitably sweated off since the beginning of the ride. So, with sunscreen slathered on, water bottles overflowing, and sunglasses cleaned by the magic of cotton, Randall and I pedaled on.
Once again, I don't remember many specifics about the ride during this time except snapshot images my brain took and random thoughts that occurred to me along the way. I do vividly recall random SAG vehicles driving by with enthusiastic individuals "woo-hooing" us along the way. I also remember seeing Ashton's car drive by being closely followed by a WYFF, News Channel 4 car, then seeing them again a little ways down the road filming us coming down a hill. (So, we're pretty much famous now.)
But, what I remember most vividly is being on mile 51, feeling the heat of the sun directly overhead and wondering if I could really make it. I knew I didn't have too much farther to go, especially compared to what I had already accomplished, but it seemed that all that I could see before me was miles and miles of hot road with no shade. I had somehow gotten separated from Randall by this point and was all alone battling fatigue, heat, and will-power. I wouldn't call it a "bonk," per say, because I knew my legs had the strength to finish and I felt as well-hydrated as I could be at the time. But heat is hot, especially at 12:30 in South Carolina, and the sun alone will create doubts in your mind as to whether or not you are capable of doing much of anything, much less great things. I took a picture of both me and the road that lay before me at this point so in the end I wouldn't forget how I felt then and how far I had come since.
Fortunately, at the moment I needed it most, another cyclist rode by and encouraged me. I'm glad she did. :) I mustered through the remaining 12-15 miles with most of the battle occurring in my mind. Towards the end, with only a mile or so to go, the Ambulance that was keeping up with us throughout the ride caught up with me and one of the EMTs hung her head out of the window inquiring whether or not I was okay. I replied through short, winded breaths that I was hot, but fine. She answered me silently with a suspicious look - I don't think she believed me at all - and the Ambulance proceeded to follow along beside me the rest of the way. I'm sure I looked like a hot mess - I mean, obviously, I had just ridden nearly 67 miles - but it made me a bit worried and uncomfortable having the Ambulance trail me, like I might drop any second. However, this was just the beginning of my new-found relationship with the Ambulance...I finally made it to the end amongst the cheers of fellow riders who had already completed their ride. I was hot and I was tired. It had taken me five and a half hours to complete 67 miles. Once I arrived, I found a place to leave my bike and sat down guzzling water. My legs felt pretty wasted and I sat wondering how in the world I would survive two more days like this on the bike.
Eventually, Beth and I were able to check in at the hotel and I got the chance to shower. When I finally saw myself in the mirror, I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. I looked miserable, first of all, with my hair all in tangles, my jersey drooping from the weight of a day's worth of sweat, and my black shorts now gray from all the salt they accumulated over the ride. That was why I wanted to laugh. But then I wanted to cry when I saw my cherry-red cheeks and nose. I was sunburned and not at all happy about it. At that moment I vowed to put sunscreen on my face at every stop the next day.
My spirits were lifted a bit once I got out of the shower and I finally had the wherewithal to realize I was famished! I hadn't really eaten a lunch, though I had been munching and gushing all along the ride. Beth, being the compassionate friend she is, hunted down a leftover lunch sandwich and some grapes for me to chow down on. I ate it fast and hungrily, not really even tasting it. That was around 3:30. At 5:30, when it was time for us to meet for supper, I was starving all over again. As it turns out, you burn a lot of calories riding for 5 hours and your body likes for those calories to be replaced. I wasn't used to feeling so ravenous so often.
We went to the lake home of Van Matthews, one of the riders and Alz. Assoc. board members. He was kind enough to fill us up with barbeque, potato salad, and cole slaw to our belly's content. And I finally got my belly to be content... for awhile. I have to admit that I felt pretty listless through most of this evening. I was tired, hot, and tired of being hot and tired. I jumped in the lake to float around awhile and cool off. The water itself wasn't necessarily cool, but being in it kept the humidity at bay, which made it cooler by default. I'm not sure how long we floated there, but it felt like a wonderful forever just hanging on to a float and letting my legs dangle uselessly. I also went for a short swim while I was in the lake for the sole purpose of stretching out my poor, curled-up cycling body. My neck, shoulders, back, and arms needed the short swim to work out the kinks they had acquired from being in the same, bent-over position all day. I also went for a very breezy boat ride around the lake, compliments of Van, which I enjoyed thoroughly. I truly had a good time at supper, but I was simply too tired to enjoy it all night. When Beth and I got back to the hotel, we both enjoyed a calming hot cup of decaf coffee before going to bed. Fearing a potential night of restlessness and equally fearing an inability to wake in the morning. I took half a dosage of Advil PM and called it a night around 9:00 with my stomach strangely rumbling once again.
I can't say that I slept perfectly soundly - I awoke a few times during the night - but I believe I slept as well as I could considering that I was sleeping in a strange place and had sore, stiff legs screaming at me all night for attempting this 3-day ride in the first place.
On to Day 2...
Still, when it was all said and done, I had completed the day's task and come out with a new personal record of over 67 miles in one trip.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Check, please
Bike? Check.
Jersey and shorts? Check, check.
Gatorade? Check.
Excitement? Check.
Sleep?... Sleep? We shall see.
Wish us luck, we're off!
:D
Jersey and shorts? Check, check.
Gatorade? Check.
Excitement? Check.
Sleep?... Sleep? We shall see.
Wish us luck, we're off!
:D
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Final Week
(Final Week, Day 3, Wednesday, July 14th)
It occurred to me that, as this is the week of the big ride, I should probably write something regarding cycling. Despite having already taken the weekend off from riding, I'm taking it easy on the bike this week. There's no reason for me to force my legs to carry me 40-60 miles today or tomorrow, then ask them to accomplish their greatest feat yet over the weekend. So, easy goes it.
I went for a short, albeit steamy, ride on Monday evening - it only amounted to about 16 total miles. I took Tuesday off and went for a walk instead of a ride. And today I rode over to my parents' house to watch Stage 10 of the Tour. It's amazing how hot it is at just 8:00 in the morning. It only takes me about 45 minutes to get to my folks' and my jersey, face, and hair were all dripping with sweat by the time I arrived. Sigh... it's not really fun to think about the heat that's sure to plague us during the RTR, so I just don't don't.
Once I go back home, I will have racked up about 20 miles for the day, which isn't bad. I brought my laptop with me in my super-sized, super-wonderful backpack so I could get some things done while watching the TdF - I don't want to be completely lazy - and during the ride I regretted that decision. Laptops are heavy and the burden I created for myself held me back considerably. It made me think that maybe I should have done all my training with a laptop on my back so that when it came time to ride without it, I would feel as light as a feather. With that said, I do believe I will leave the bag here for my trip home. It's just too hot now to have all that extra weight hanging on your back. I'll come back in the car later and pick it up.
I have no real interesting news to report. I bought a new cyclocomputer and it's working well. I'm a little anxious about all that is coming, as I usually am. I have a habit of being nervous before big events, whether it's a charity ride, a triathlon, a concert, a big test/exam, or whatever. However, fortunately, that nervousness usually evaporates once I begin. Part of my anxious state stems from having nothing to distract me. I've finished my summer class, I don't have a job, and I don't have any daily obligations to keep my mind off of riding over 200 miles. So, I'm watching the TdF, packing and repacking, drinking tons of water, and picking blueberries when I feel like it.
One fun aspect of big rides like this is carbo-loading: My husband and I are planning on pigging out at Pizza Inn Thursday night for just such a purpose. :) (Or at least, I'm planning on pigging out...)
It occurred to me that, as this is the week of the big ride, I should probably write something regarding cycling. Despite having already taken the weekend off from riding, I'm taking it easy on the bike this week. There's no reason for me to force my legs to carry me 40-60 miles today or tomorrow, then ask them to accomplish their greatest feat yet over the weekend. So, easy goes it.
I went for a short, albeit steamy, ride on Monday evening - it only amounted to about 16 total miles. I took Tuesday off and went for a walk instead of a ride. And today I rode over to my parents' house to watch Stage 10 of the Tour. It's amazing how hot it is at just 8:00 in the morning. It only takes me about 45 minutes to get to my folks' and my jersey, face, and hair were all dripping with sweat by the time I arrived. Sigh... it's not really fun to think about the heat that's sure to plague us during the RTR, so I just don't don't.
Once I go back home, I will have racked up about 20 miles for the day, which isn't bad. I brought my laptop with me in my super-sized, super-wonderful backpack so I could get some things done while watching the TdF - I don't want to be completely lazy - and during the ride I regretted that decision. Laptops are heavy and the burden I created for myself held me back considerably. It made me think that maybe I should have done all my training with a laptop on my back so that when it came time to ride without it, I would feel as light as a feather. With that said, I do believe I will leave the bag here for my trip home. It's just too hot now to have all that extra weight hanging on your back. I'll come back in the car later and pick it up.
I have no real interesting news to report. I bought a new cyclocomputer and it's working well. I'm a little anxious about all that is coming, as I usually am. I have a habit of being nervous before big events, whether it's a charity ride, a triathlon, a concert, a big test/exam, or whatever. However, fortunately, that nervousness usually evaporates once I begin. Part of my anxious state stems from having nothing to distract me. I've finished my summer class, I don't have a job, and I don't have any daily obligations to keep my mind off of riding over 200 miles. So, I'm watching the TdF, packing and repacking, drinking tons of water, and picking blueberries when I feel like it.
One fun aspect of big rides like this is carbo-loading: My husband and I are planning on pigging out at Pizza Inn Thursday night for just such a purpose. :) (Or at least, I'm planning on pigging out...)
Monday, July 12, 2010
A Break
(Week 5, Days 5-6, Friday-Saturday, July 9 & 10)
I'm taking a break this weekend, partially by choice. My husband, Patrick/Frac/Fozzie/Gloodin of Doodin, is filming the last episodes of the "The Carrier" web series in Raleigh over the weekend, and I've gone with him. I guess I didn't have to go, but... well, it's the last episodes! So here I sit writing things like this while he's busy becoming famous.
This probably isn't a good weekend to slack off, but it's too late now. And, to make matters worse, all I've really been doing is sitting around eating junk food, working crosswords, and eating more junk fod. I bet I'll gain a few unnecessary pounds which won't help me ride any faster or longer.
But I like junk food.
In other news, here's the update on my cyclocomputer: It's useless. I checked online to see if I could find it anywhere or any valuable inormation about it. All I found was bad review after bad review. Apparently the one I have, which has lasted me nearly 3 years, was an anomoly. Most reviews I read noted that theirs quit on them after a mere 3-6 months of use. There were several testimonials of people who had bought new batteries, just as I have, and were still unable to revive the machines. Oh well.
I suppose my options are to either order a new one offline and pay astronomical shipping prices to get it here in time for RTR, or I can go to Great Escape, where things are slightly overpriced, and hope they have a decent one on hand. I'm currently leaning towards the G.E. option so I don't have to wait for it to come in the mail and I can begin using it right away. In the meantime, though, I'll keep giving my current computer CPR in hopes that it wil rise again.
"And that's how Sue C's it..."
I'm taking a break this weekend, partially by choice. My husband, Patrick/Frac/Fozzie/Gloodin of Doodin, is filming the last episodes of the "The Carrier" web series in Raleigh over the weekend, and I've gone with him. I guess I didn't have to go, but... well, it's the last episodes! So here I sit writing things like this while he's busy becoming famous.
This probably isn't a good weekend to slack off, but it's too late now. And, to make matters worse, all I've really been doing is sitting around eating junk food, working crosswords, and eating more junk fod. I bet I'll gain a few unnecessary pounds which won't help me ride any faster or longer.
But I like junk food.
In other news, here's the update on my cyclocomputer: It's useless. I checked online to see if I could find it anywhere or any valuable inormation about it. All I found was bad review after bad review. Apparently the one I have, which has lasted me nearly 3 years, was an anomoly. Most reviews I read noted that theirs quit on them after a mere 3-6 months of use. There were several testimonials of people who had bought new batteries, just as I have, and were still unable to revive the machines. Oh well.
I suppose my options are to either order a new one offline and pay astronomical shipping prices to get it here in time for RTR, or I can go to Great Escape, where things are slightly overpriced, and hope they have a decent one on hand. I'm currently leaning towards the G.E. option so I don't have to wait for it to come in the mail and I can begin using it right away. In the meantime, though, I'll keep giving my current computer CPR in hopes that it wil rise again.
"And that's how Sue C's it..."
Ugggghhh, dangit.
(Week 5, Day 4, Thursday, July 8th)
It's really hot and my new battery doesn't work. I am not happy.
Let me explain:
First of all, it's hot. Too hot for riding. I didn't go out today until 4:00 and it was miserable. I only went for about 11 miles and I went as fast as I could. Even a warm breeze in your face is better than the humid, dead air you feel when you stop.
And, to make matters worse, or at least more annoying, the new battery I bought yesterday for my cyclocomputer isn't working. At all. I messed with it last night and again today before and afer my ride with no luck whatsoever. I even tried putting the old battery back in and it still didn't work. So now I have a broken computer and very little time to either get it fixed or purchase a new one before the RTR.
To top things off, I also had to buy four new tires for our car today. It wasn't the best of days. It wasn't the worst of days either.
Hopefully, this heat will break soon and I can get a working computer in some form or fashion in the ensuing week.
It's really hot and my new battery doesn't work. I am not happy.
Let me explain:
First of all, it's hot. Too hot for riding. I didn't go out today until 4:00 and it was miserable. I only went for about 11 miles and I went as fast as I could. Even a warm breeze in your face is better than the humid, dead air you feel when you stop.
And, to make matters worse, or at least more annoying, the new battery I bought yesterday for my cyclocomputer isn't working. At all. I messed with it last night and again today before and afer my ride with no luck whatsoever. I even tried putting the old battery back in and it still didn't work. So now I have a broken computer and very little time to either get it fixed or purchase a new one before the RTR.
To top things off, I also had to buy four new tires for our car today. It wasn't the best of days. It wasn't the worst of days either.
Hopefully, this heat will break soon and I can get a working computer in some form or fashion in the ensuing week.
Adventure!
(Week 5, Day 5, Wednesday, July 7th)
Riding with Dillon is almost always an adventure!
I arrived at Dillon's place around 5:30, even though I wasn't supposed to be there 'til 6:00. I left early to go by Batteries Plus for a new battery for my bike computer, but I guess I overestimated how long that would take me. It was no bother, though, because it gave us some extra time to work on my bike. After some hammering, pushing, pulling, yelling, lubing, and degreasing, we were finally able to get on the road around 6:45. We had planned to leave around 6:30, but since when does anything go according to plan?
Dillon had visited the infamous mapmyride.com and printed out directions to a route about 20 miles long. We set out lighthearted and eager to ride. Our route took us through some beautiful places, including a bridge right over Lake Bowen. We followed the directions to the best of our ability, no matter how weird they seemed.
I wish I could tell you how far we went before we realized our directions weren't perfect and we were headed for North Carolina, but the new battery I had just bought for my computer was not working. After not finding a certain "Old North Main Street," we finally turned around in a cemetary and started heading back the way we came. I guess we were never once lost - Dillon at least knew how to get us back home - but, I never knew where we were.
Once we decided to head back, the sky decided to get dark. I think we turned around at about 8:30 and began cycling down Asheville Highway like fiends. Since we had left thinking we were only going to go 20 miles, neither of us had really come prepared for low-light conditions. Or at least, I hadn't. Dillon did have a tail light on his bike. We also hadn't eaten supper before we left because full belly + 97 degrees + cycling = ugh. Unfortunately, though, cycling burns some calories, whether you've concusmed them or not. However, Dillon had a Cliff bar on hand so we split it in order to keep hope alive. Or something like that.
We didn't get back until 9:10, effectively utilizing every last ounce of daylight there was. Despite being woried about not being seen by drivers, I rather enjoyed our sunset ride. In fact, there is something to be said for riding at dusk. Not the typical, "Wow, are you crazy; that's dangerous," but more like a, "Wow, this magical, can you feel it" sort of thing. At one point, towards the end, I was behind Dillon and we were going downhill on some back road that was completely lined by trees on both sides. The trees completely blocked what little sunlight was left, making it hard to see. What I did see was the steady red flash of Dillon's tail light acompanied by the arbitrary blinking all around us of lightning bugs. It was indeed a sight to behold and I let myself coast down the road, drinking it all in. Sometimes I wish you could see what I see. No picture could have done that scene justice. It made me believe that lightning bugs (or, if you prefer, fireflies) were put on earth just to awe us.
We did finally make it back, in case you're wondering, after traveling 30 total miles in nearly two and a half hours. Not quite what we planned, but it all worked out in the end. Thankfully, Aunt Janice had some supper waiting for us when we arived, so we didn't have to suffer for long.
Another memorable ride goes down in the books.
Riding with Dillon is almost always an adventure!
I arrived at Dillon's place around 5:30, even though I wasn't supposed to be there 'til 6:00. I left early to go by Batteries Plus for a new battery for my bike computer, but I guess I overestimated how long that would take me. It was no bother, though, because it gave us some extra time to work on my bike. After some hammering, pushing, pulling, yelling, lubing, and degreasing, we were finally able to get on the road around 6:45. We had planned to leave around 6:30, but since when does anything go according to plan?
Dillon had visited the infamous mapmyride.com and printed out directions to a route about 20 miles long. We set out lighthearted and eager to ride. Our route took us through some beautiful places, including a bridge right over Lake Bowen. We followed the directions to the best of our ability, no matter how weird they seemed.
I wish I could tell you how far we went before we realized our directions weren't perfect and we were headed for North Carolina, but the new battery I had just bought for my computer was not working. After not finding a certain "Old North Main Street," we finally turned around in a cemetary and started heading back the way we came. I guess we were never once lost - Dillon at least knew how to get us back home - but, I never knew where we were.
Once we decided to head back, the sky decided to get dark. I think we turned around at about 8:30 and began cycling down Asheville Highway like fiends. Since we had left thinking we were only going to go 20 miles, neither of us had really come prepared for low-light conditions. Or at least, I hadn't. Dillon did have a tail light on his bike. We also hadn't eaten supper before we left because full belly + 97 degrees + cycling = ugh. Unfortunately, though, cycling burns some calories, whether you've concusmed them or not. However, Dillon had a Cliff bar on hand so we split it in order to keep hope alive. Or something like that.
We didn't get back until 9:10, effectively utilizing every last ounce of daylight there was. Despite being woried about not being seen by drivers, I rather enjoyed our sunset ride. In fact, there is something to be said for riding at dusk. Not the typical, "Wow, are you crazy; that's dangerous," but more like a, "Wow, this magical, can you feel it" sort of thing. At one point, towards the end, I was behind Dillon and we were going downhill on some back road that was completely lined by trees on both sides. The trees completely blocked what little sunlight was left, making it hard to see. What I did see was the steady red flash of Dillon's tail light acompanied by the arbitrary blinking all around us of lightning bugs. It was indeed a sight to behold and I let myself coast down the road, drinking it all in. Sometimes I wish you could see what I see. No picture could have done that scene justice. It made me believe that lightning bugs (or, if you prefer, fireflies) were put on earth just to awe us.
We did finally make it back, in case you're wondering, after traveling 30 total miles in nearly two and a half hours. Not quite what we planned, but it all worked out in the end. Thankfully, Aunt Janice had some supper waiting for us when we arived, so we didn't have to suffer for long.
Another memorable ride goes down in the books.
Friday, July 9, 2010
:-)
(Week 5, Day 2, Tuesday, July 7th)
I was much more lighthearted about riding today. I think the extra day of rest helped to ease my frustrations. However, I did decide to throw half of my training plan out the window - the half that tells me how fast or how hard to ride at each moment during the ride. I'm just going to go for the duration that I need to and leave all other worries behind. I can work on sprints and interval training some other time.
I paid a quick visit to the nice ladies working in the Alzheimer's Association's office in downtown Spartanburg today. I originally went to pick up a purple bracelet to wear as a reminder for why I'm doing what I'm doing, and in the process was blessed with having a humbling conversation with them.
I am always amazed that others are amazed that I can ride a bike more than five miles. I'm really not all that good at it - I do it because I enjoy it, because I like to stretch my physical limitations from time to time, and because I've been endowed with large quadriceps that I may as well use for something. So, I'm still surprised when people think I'm crazy (If you think I'M crazy, you should watch the TdF guys!). I guess it's similar to me wondering why in the world people purposefully run marathons... ?!? (Cycling is easier on the knees, you know...) Anyway, if you're doing RTR and are low on inspiration or having second thoughts, just go visit Beth, Joyce, and Jill at the Alzheimer's Association. Their sincere joy and gratitude at your willingness to help support their cause is enough to renew your energy and resolve to attempt and complete the task. In fact, if it weren't for my dear friend, Beth Sulkowski, selling the idea of the ride to me in the first place, I wouldn't be writing any of this. If you're not doing the ride and would simply like to become acquainted with kind people, or if you have some extra time you would like to use volunteering for a worthy cause, I must insist that you go visit these ladies at the Alz. Assoc. - don't worry, they'll welcome you with open arms and smiling faces.
As for my ride today, nothing especially exciting happened. I waited until early evening to ride so the heat wouldn't be quite as oppressive. I went an easy 20 miles up to my parents' house and back. For most of the ride I just thought. I thought about what I need to get done in the ensuing week, about the final exam I have in my music class tomorrow, about how nervous I am about student-teaching in the fall, and about how I'm not going to waste the rest of my summer if I can help it. And, with all that thinking distracting me, I was home and done with my ride before I knew it. I did, however, manage to shoot some video, while riding, of the beautiful countryside I get to behold on all these rides. It didn't seem right to keep it to myself, so I'm hoping I can put it together and post it here with this blog. (You'll have to ignore and forgive the shaking of the camera - believe it or not, it's hard to film and ride a bike at the same time.) I figure I should go ahead and try it now to see if I'll be able to do it for the actual RTR.
I'm looking forward to riding tomorrow. I'm going over to my cousin-in-law Dillon's place (yes, you read that correctly) so he can hopefully alleviate the crunchy, clicking sound my left pedal has been making lately. Then we're going to hit the pavement together and take over the world! Or at least ride a few miles. It's been awhile since I got to ride with a buddy.
Thanks for reading!
(The video didn't work, sorry... I'll try it again later.)
I was much more lighthearted about riding today. I think the extra day of rest helped to ease my frustrations. However, I did decide to throw half of my training plan out the window - the half that tells me how fast or how hard to ride at each moment during the ride. I'm just going to go for the duration that I need to and leave all other worries behind. I can work on sprints and interval training some other time.
I paid a quick visit to the nice ladies working in the Alzheimer's Association's office in downtown Spartanburg today. I originally went to pick up a purple bracelet to wear as a reminder for why I'm doing what I'm doing, and in the process was blessed with having a humbling conversation with them.
I am always amazed that others are amazed that I can ride a bike more than five miles. I'm really not all that good at it - I do it because I enjoy it, because I like to stretch my physical limitations from time to time, and because I've been endowed with large quadriceps that I may as well use for something. So, I'm still surprised when people think I'm crazy (If you think I'M crazy, you should watch the TdF guys!). I guess it's similar to me wondering why in the world people purposefully run marathons... ?!? (Cycling is easier on the knees, you know...) Anyway, if you're doing RTR and are low on inspiration or having second thoughts, just go visit Beth, Joyce, and Jill at the Alzheimer's Association. Their sincere joy and gratitude at your willingness to help support their cause is enough to renew your energy and resolve to attempt and complete the task. In fact, if it weren't for my dear friend, Beth Sulkowski, selling the idea of the ride to me in the first place, I wouldn't be writing any of this. If you're not doing the ride and would simply like to become acquainted with kind people, or if you have some extra time you would like to use volunteering for a worthy cause, I must insist that you go visit these ladies at the Alz. Assoc. - don't worry, they'll welcome you with open arms and smiling faces.
As for my ride today, nothing especially exciting happened. I waited until early evening to ride so the heat wouldn't be quite as oppressive. I went an easy 20 miles up to my parents' house and back. For most of the ride I just thought. I thought about what I need to get done in the ensuing week, about the final exam I have in my music class tomorrow, about how nervous I am about student-teaching in the fall, and about how I'm not going to waste the rest of my summer if I can help it. And, with all that thinking distracting me, I was home and done with my ride before I knew it. I did, however, manage to shoot some video, while riding, of the beautiful countryside I get to behold on all these rides. It didn't seem right to keep it to myself, so I'm hoping I can put it together and post it here with this blog. (You'll have to ignore and forgive the shaking of the camera - believe it or not, it's hard to film and ride a bike at the same time.) I figure I should go ahead and try it now to see if I'll be able to do it for the actual RTR.
I'm looking forward to riding tomorrow. I'm going over to my cousin-in-law Dillon's place (yes, you read that correctly) so he can hopefully alleviate the crunchy, clicking sound my left pedal has been making lately. Then we're going to hit the pavement together and take over the world! Or at least ride a few miles. It's been awhile since I got to ride with a buddy.
Thanks for reading!
(The video didn't work, sorry... I'll try it again later.)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
I don't wanna...
(Week 5, Day 1, Monday, July 5th)
I didn't ride today. I could have ridden. I should have ridden. But I didn't.
I can blame it on last night's complete lack of sleep, or prolonged soreness from Saturday's 60 mile venture; but, the reality is that I just didn't want to. I had absolutely no desire to do so. I fear that this nonstop training has begun to put me at odds with my genuine love for the sport. Once pleased and excited at the sight of my two-wheeled friend, I now look at it with a hint of disdain and sorrow.
I've read that once exercise becomes more of a chore than a pleasure (especially in cycling), it's probably safe to bet that you're overtraining or just overdoing it somehow.
I fear that I have reached that point.
My true love for cycling comes from speeding down hills and feeling like I'm flying. It comes from witnessing the sunrise, the sunset, and all the hours in between from a slower, less hectic point of view. I love getting to experience nature at its finest and having the opportunity to drink in the magnificence of God's handiwork. I also love waving to all the nice people sitting on their porches during the warm, lazy days of summer.
Now when you attach heart rate monitors, cyclocomputers, and time trial helmets to all of that, the quality of the ride, in my opinion, can diminish quickly and greatly. There is a time and necessity for all of the gadgets stated above, but I don't think I need them right now. I'm tempted to just throw out the training plan completely and simply ride for the sake of riding at whatever pace I desire. Otherwise, I may not end up enjoying the RTR as I wish, or the journey its taking to get to that point.
Perhaps this extra day of mental rest will allow me to see my bicycle in a better light tomorrow. After all, it's not the bike's fault.
(In other news - GO Team Radioshack!)
I didn't ride today. I could have ridden. I should have ridden. But I didn't.
I can blame it on last night's complete lack of sleep, or prolonged soreness from Saturday's 60 mile venture; but, the reality is that I just didn't want to. I had absolutely no desire to do so. I fear that this nonstop training has begun to put me at odds with my genuine love for the sport. Once pleased and excited at the sight of my two-wheeled friend, I now look at it with a hint of disdain and sorrow.
I've read that once exercise becomes more of a chore than a pleasure (especially in cycling), it's probably safe to bet that you're overtraining or just overdoing it somehow.
I fear that I have reached that point.
My true love for cycling comes from speeding down hills and feeling like I'm flying. It comes from witnessing the sunrise, the sunset, and all the hours in between from a slower, less hectic point of view. I love getting to experience nature at its finest and having the opportunity to drink in the magnificence of God's handiwork. I also love waving to all the nice people sitting on their porches during the warm, lazy days of summer.
Now when you attach heart rate monitors, cyclocomputers, and time trial helmets to all of that, the quality of the ride, in my opinion, can diminish quickly and greatly. There is a time and necessity for all of the gadgets stated above, but I don't think I need them right now. I'm tempted to just throw out the training plan completely and simply ride for the sake of riding at whatever pace I desire. Otherwise, I may not end up enjoying the RTR as I wish, or the journey its taking to get to that point.
Perhaps this extra day of mental rest will allow me to see my bicycle in a better light tomorrow. After all, it's not the bike's fault.
(In other news - GO Team Radioshack!)
Monday, July 5, 2010
Independence
(Week 4, Day 5, Saturday, July 3rd)
What better way is there to celebrate our nation's independence (early) than by a grueling 60-mile ride?
Yes, yes, I'm sure there are many better ways. But not for me! I hit a new PR (personal record) today by riding 60 miles in 4 and a half hours. I was only on the bike for four hours - the other 30 minutes consisted of necessary rest stops where sunscreen was reapplied, Gatorade was chugged, and granola bars were destroyed by the gnashing of teeth. Good times.
If you've ever wondered what goes on inside my brain during a ride such as this, allow me to demonstrate a sampling of said stream of consciousness:
"Come on Heather, you can do it, you're halfway there... Come on legs, PUSH, PUSH!... I wonder if my face is sunburned?... 'If you're happy and you know it, ride your bike'... Only 20 more miles to go, Heather, you got this!... Oh my gosh, still 18 miles to go, I'm never going to make it... When I get home, I am going to collapse... no, first I'm going to eat a banana, then I'm going to collapse... Ew, I stink... HELLO CAR?!? Did you HAVE to pass me that closely??... Oh look, a squirrel!... God, please help. Thanks... I have to do this for THREE days in a row? I must be crazy... Owwwwww, my bum... Sigh, I made it. But I can't seem to move my legs..."
There you have it. This ride was tough, I must admit. I felt good for the first 30 miles and still felt alright for the following 15. But the last 15 just about killed me. For some reason, once I realize that I'm headed home and that the ride will soon be over, time stops. I try to remind myself that I'm almost done, and convince myself that I'm going to make it, but the last 10 to 15 miles are torturous nonetheless.
Regardless of how hard and long the ride was, there were some bright moments. I got to see a baby deer, whom I affectionately and ununiquely named Bambi. My presence obviously startled him and I rode along with him running beside me frantically trying to either jump the barbed wire fence by the side of the road or find a hole big enough for him to squeeze through. He was unsuccessful for so long, I finally prayed that God would give him an out so he could get away. Sure enough, after my short prayer, he found a large hole in the fence and bounded off through the field. To see a little deer bounding like that is truly a glorious sight. I was thankful just to have the experience.
Along those same lines, in the last mile or so of my ride when I felt like I was really just holding onto the bike for dear life, I noticed a beautiful yellow bird - perhaps a finch or a warbler - flying to my left a little ways, traveling at the same speed as me. It was a surreal type of moment that I can't really explain in words. It kind of felt like God saying, "I have you, Heather, keep going." I'll take that any day!
Okay, I'm done with this for now.
What better way is there to celebrate our nation's independence (early) than by a grueling 60-mile ride?
Yes, yes, I'm sure there are many better ways. But not for me! I hit a new PR (personal record) today by riding 60 miles in 4 and a half hours. I was only on the bike for four hours - the other 30 minutes consisted of necessary rest stops where sunscreen was reapplied, Gatorade was chugged, and granola bars were destroyed by the gnashing of teeth. Good times.
If you've ever wondered what goes on inside my brain during a ride such as this, allow me to demonstrate a sampling of said stream of consciousness:
"Come on Heather, you can do it, you're halfway there... Come on legs, PUSH, PUSH!... I wonder if my face is sunburned?... 'If you're happy and you know it, ride your bike'... Only 20 more miles to go, Heather, you got this!... Oh my gosh, still 18 miles to go, I'm never going to make it... When I get home, I am going to collapse... no, first I'm going to eat a banana, then I'm going to collapse... Ew, I stink... HELLO CAR?!? Did you HAVE to pass me that closely??... Oh look, a squirrel!... God, please help. Thanks... I have to do this for THREE days in a row? I must be crazy... Owwwwww, my bum... Sigh, I made it. But I can't seem to move my legs..."
There you have it. This ride was tough, I must admit. I felt good for the first 30 miles and still felt alright for the following 15. But the last 15 just about killed me. For some reason, once I realize that I'm headed home and that the ride will soon be over, time stops. I try to remind myself that I'm almost done, and convince myself that I'm going to make it, but the last 10 to 15 miles are torturous nonetheless.
Regardless of how hard and long the ride was, there were some bright moments. I got to see a baby deer, whom I affectionately and ununiquely named Bambi. My presence obviously startled him and I rode along with him running beside me frantically trying to either jump the barbed wire fence by the side of the road or find a hole big enough for him to squeeze through. He was unsuccessful for so long, I finally prayed that God would give him an out so he could get away. Sure enough, after my short prayer, he found a large hole in the fence and bounded off through the field. To see a little deer bounding like that is truly a glorious sight. I was thankful just to have the experience.
Along those same lines, in the last mile or so of my ride when I felt like I was really just holding onto the bike for dear life, I noticed a beautiful yellow bird - perhaps a finch or a warbler - flying to my left a little ways, traveling at the same speed as me. It was a surreal type of moment that I can't really explain in words. It kind of felt like God saying, "I have you, Heather, keep going." I'll take that any day!
Okay, I'm done with this for now.
CHAMPS
(Week 4, Day 3, Wednesday, June 30th)
The Angels won the pennant!...wait...no... the Gamecocks won the CWS!!!
Once again, I did not ride early this morning, thanks to the a nail-biting 11-inning championship game in which the Gamecocks came out victorious. Sorry, Clemson fans. So sorry.
So, instead I rode this afternoon for about an hour and a half. I ended up going a little over 24 miles. And I went FAST. I do not know what got into me - perhaps the excitement of the previous evening's game - but I ended up with an average speed of 15.8 miles per hour. This is exciting to me because my usual average speed is closer to 14-14.5 mph. I felt really great throughout the whole ride and was actually surprised to see it end once I got home.
Now, if I can only achieve that same feeling in three weeks...
The Angels won the pennant!...wait...no... the Gamecocks won the CWS!!!
Once again, I did not ride early this morning, thanks to the a nail-biting 11-inning championship game in which the Gamecocks came out victorious. Sorry, Clemson fans. So sorry.
So, instead I rode this afternoon for about an hour and a half. I ended up going a little over 24 miles. And I went FAST. I do not know what got into me - perhaps the excitement of the previous evening's game - but I ended up with an average speed of 15.8 miles per hour. This is exciting to me because my usual average speed is closer to 14-14.5 mph. I felt really great throughout the whole ride and was actually surprised to see it end once I got home.
Now, if I can only achieve that same feeling in three weeks...
The Inside scoop
(Week 4, Day 2, Tuesday, June 29th)
I had to ride my bike inside today using my trainer, due to threatening thunder and lightning outside this afternoon due to having not ridden early this morning as I should have due to having stayed up late last night watching the Gamecocks win Game 1 of the CWS Championship. Normally I don't much enjoy riding inside - it can get boring quickly and you don't even get to go anywhere. However, it has its advantages...
For instance, there's no need to wear a helmet unless you really have no balance whatsoever and are prone to falling off of stationary bikes. There's also no need for sunscreen (even I can get away without it) or extra water bottles. It's easy to listen to music to keep you entertained, or even watch TV. And, most importantly, there are no cars around to try and run you over.
I used about 20 minutes of my one hour working on my rear derailleur trying to get all seven gears to work. I only succeeded in convincing five of them to cooperate, which is better than none. Once I finally gave up on that, I grabbed a book to read called Blue Highways. It's one of those books I was supposed to read in college for some random class that had nothing to do with my major. Of course, I didn't have enough time to read it when I was supposed to, but kept it in case the future-me had nothing better to do or to read one day and grabbed it. I guess that day was today. I had read some of it back in college - enough to make me want to hang onto it - but I didn't remember a bit of it. And so I began again...
The book began with the author stating, in so many words, that his life was a mess, he felt like a failure, and he just wanted a way to start over. His plan? To take his Ford van and drive across America using only the blue highways on the map. He wanted to experience the back roads, the boondocks, the off-the-beaten-path places and people America has to offer. The book's stories occurred in the 1980s, so it may be slightly outdated... but, then again, it really isn't. I only made it to page 26 during my simulation ride, so I can't yet tell you much about what happens.
As I was reading the book, though, I could understand where the author was coming from and why he was going, for lack of a better word, nowhere. Now, to draw a connection between Blue Highway's purposefully aimless wanderings and my efforts to support the cause for the Alzheimer's Association through a 3-day bike ride is a bit of stretch. However, one of mine and the author's purposes are similar - to get out of our comfort zone, to experience this great country (or at least part of it), to take the road less traveled. When it comes right down to it, I am getting a small chance of a lifetime. I get to hop on my bike and experience the state of SC on two wheels. And, to make things easier for me, I don't even have to worry about water stops, meals, or where I will sleep each night.
Isn't that a pleasant thought to chew on?
I had to ride my bike inside today using my trainer, due to threatening thunder and lightning outside this afternoon due to having not ridden early this morning as I should have due to having stayed up late last night watching the Gamecocks win Game 1 of the CWS Championship. Normally I don't much enjoy riding inside - it can get boring quickly and you don't even get to go anywhere. However, it has its advantages...
For instance, there's no need to wear a helmet unless you really have no balance whatsoever and are prone to falling off of stationary bikes. There's also no need for sunscreen (even I can get away without it) or extra water bottles. It's easy to listen to music to keep you entertained, or even watch TV. And, most importantly, there are no cars around to try and run you over.
I used about 20 minutes of my one hour working on my rear derailleur trying to get all seven gears to work. I only succeeded in convincing five of them to cooperate, which is better than none. Once I finally gave up on that, I grabbed a book to read called Blue Highways. It's one of those books I was supposed to read in college for some random class that had nothing to do with my major. Of course, I didn't have enough time to read it when I was supposed to, but kept it in case the future-me had nothing better to do or to read one day and grabbed it. I guess that day was today. I had read some of it back in college - enough to make me want to hang onto it - but I didn't remember a bit of it. And so I began again...
The book began with the author stating, in so many words, that his life was a mess, he felt like a failure, and he just wanted a way to start over. His plan? To take his Ford van and drive across America using only the blue highways on the map. He wanted to experience the back roads, the boondocks, the off-the-beaten-path places and people America has to offer. The book's stories occurred in the 1980s, so it may be slightly outdated... but, then again, it really isn't. I only made it to page 26 during my simulation ride, so I can't yet tell you much about what happens.
As I was reading the book, though, I could understand where the author was coming from and why he was going, for lack of a better word, nowhere. Now, to draw a connection between Blue Highway's purposefully aimless wanderings and my efforts to support the cause for the Alzheimer's Association through a 3-day bike ride is a bit of stretch. However, one of mine and the author's purposes are similar - to get out of our comfort zone, to experience this great country (or at least part of it), to take the road less traveled. When it comes right down to it, I am getting a small chance of a lifetime. I get to hop on my bike and experience the state of SC on two wheels. And, to make things easier for me, I don't even have to worry about water stops, meals, or where I will sleep each night.
Isn't that a pleasant thought to chew on?
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