bike a century

I’ve (finally!) started biking to work this week.. better late than never, right? I’m stopping to fill my coffee mug halfway there, which adds about .5 miles total – my commute is just over 27.5 hilly miles round trip. Doing that every day should certainly get me in a better position to do a century, no?

my earlier eantry about why I am giving up.

I quit. I give up on this goal. My form is all wrong, and, of course, I keep crashing.

I’ll be selling the bike, which is in good shape, and sticking to my first love for exercise – golf.

Yes, I said golf. It’s a zen game, a good walk spoiled, a showdown with Old Man Double Bogey. Cycling is a test of heart and lungs – golf is a test of wills. How does one execute EXACTLY the shot called for in the particular circumstance.

All the time on teh range, hitting off consistently perfect lies, can’t prepare you for a 160 yard bunker shot, or an open faced flop to a short sided green.

To hit the ball far, you must hit the ball hard; but if you’re only thought is to hit the ball hard, you will not hit the ball far.

So bye-bye bicycle. Or at least road bike. I may get something a little more comfy for running errands; but not for riding 100 miles. That’s crazy talk.

I should manage to ride for 2 miles with crashing.

Usually at less than 5 MPH.

My bruise is not as nasty.

Thank you to those of you who cheered this goal. Unfortunately…my husband had emergency surgery (gallbladder) that didn’t go well about the time I had hoped to do this ride. Not sure I can get it reorganized with my teammates before the weather goes bad. And now that school’s started, it will be tough to fit it around my teaching schedule. Rethinking. Not sure whether to shoehorn it in or reschedule for next summer.

First time in months. Of course, a lot has happened in the last several months. New home, self-realization, positive growth, and the occasional fits of terror. Since adopting this goal, perversely, I have gained 30 pounds.

Stress eating.

But I have been feeling so shitty lately. Physically. Emotionally. Spiritually.

So I went for a short ride – not even two and a half miles. I had to walk the bike up a hill. I was wiped. In a very, very good way.

Another ride tomorrow.

Mapped out a 100 mile route that keeps us predominantly on bike trails with about 3 miles weaving through a downtown area to hook up to the next trail. And I sent out a mass email to all my training partners to see if I can get more takers. Will wait on replies before I select a date, but probably looking at mid to late August.

Charity

Just finished a 50 mile ride. And found an individual willing to do a century ride with me. Now I need to work on mapping out a safe, yet interesting scenic route.

Charity

Biked 50 miles yesterday.

On either a Century or perhaps a week-long bike tour through some particularly scenic areas of my state.

Storming and forming stage only – but I am excited to plan something on the bike. I really have the urge to ride!