Just think you can anyway

I actually got on the bike and did a hard 27 miles today. I’ve been caught up in one of those periods where every time I plan to exercise something comes up and I can’t. It had been almost two weeks since I rode and I really feel it. My blood pressure is getting high (work is stressful lately), my back is hurting, and I’m starting to feel the little aches and pains that come with age. It felt really good to do something about it today.

I plan to ride Saturday morning too. Then I pick my son up from Scout camp. Then, assuming I have time, I plan to go get some wood so I can get started next week. I’m going to have to do some driving to get the plywood, but I can get the hardwood locally and that’s not a bad thing. I also need to get some more tools, but I have time and I’m going to wait until I can get a good deal on some used ones.

30 miles at about 17 average and it wore me out. I got in the pool for a while and even though it’s just jumping around with the kids I didn’t make it more than 30 minutes before I was ready to get out and go relax.

I’m not going to do the triathlon next weekend. I haven’t trained and I just don’t see the point in it. I still might try to do the blood sweat and gears (the 50 mile part), but that’s just cycling and I think I can handle that. I need to ride a couple times between now and then.

In other news, the garage is starting to come together. I want to get the place organized this weekend because I’ll probably be ordering the wood next week.

Most groups that I go out to cycle with have “A” people and “B” people.  The A group tends to go at an average pace of about 20-21 mph while the B people are at 15-17.  I need a C group.  The A people drop me off the back, and when I ride with the B group I feel like I’m leaving them behind.

Yesterday morning a group of us met at the Y for a 50 mile ride.  They were pretty much B riders, and I figured that would be a good thing because I’ve been worried about my endurance lately.  Well, before long (hell, immediately) I was in front, and about midway through the ride I took a wrong turn and everyone followed me.  Turns out that I inadvertently added about ten miles to the ride.  On the way back I intentionally dropped off the front because I was running late and found out that I have a lot more endurance than I thought I had.  I just need to get used to exercising for hours at a time again I think.  On the way out we averaged about 16.5, I know I did better on the way back.

This morning my arms are a deep red because I didn’t bother applying any lotion before I rode.  My legs hurt too, but it’s a good kind of hurt.  I’m still thinking about Blood, Sweat and Gears, if I ride it will probably be with the group I went out with on Sunday.  It will certainly be the 53 mile portion.  I don’t mind all the climbing, but I don’t think I want to try it after a 50 mile warm-up…

Went for a ride over the weekend and discovered just how quickly you can lose what you’ve worked a year to get. Early in the biking season (really before it started) I was doing great–20 and 21 mph rides without a problem. Then little league baseball kicks in, other activities start pulling at my time, and before you know it two months have passed and I’ve gained about 15 pounds. This past weekend I did a 40 and I think that a 16mph average would be a generous estimate.

I still want to do the Blood Sweat and Gears thing, but I think the 53 miler is a more realistic option…

I think I might try the Blood, Sweat, and Gears ride this year. I’m not in shape, I’ve gained a lot of weight, and I’ve never ridden a full century before. Still, it’s bound to be a lot of fun and so what if I take twelve hours or whatever to finish it?