I'm beginning to think that maybe I'm just not supposed to do this ride. After everything I've been through this summer with the rain, the sprained wrist, the illness, etc., I got hit with the stomach flu last week. I haven't been able to ride, and so I decided that now that I'm feeling better I'm going to ride every day for the next week. Earlier this week, I took my bike in to get serviced before the ride and got my seat pack, tubes, CO2 pump, etc. Also got a riding jersey finally (an Air Force one that my husband bought me).
I got on my bike today aiming to go 10 miles, but realized right off the bat that things weren't going to go very well. I had stupidly decided to ride in the middle of the day, right in the peak of San Antonio heat. Nope, not very smart. I also hadn't decided where I was going to ride before I rode, another mistake. At first, I was very excited and motivated, because I rode right up this pretty tough hill that I've been afraid to ride for quite a while, but then I got to the busy street on my route, and had some trouble with cars zooming by me at very close distances, etc. It also didn't help that the "busy street" was STRAIGHT up hill. I was going slowly but steady, and then I had the bad luck to hit a light in the middle of the hill (I had been hoping it would turn green before I got there). That did me in. I got off the bike and walked it through some retail parking lots before turning down the wrong side street to get home. Had to turn around and walk the bike back up THAT hill, and down to the right side street (still going up hill). I got back on my bike and decided to just ride home. At this point, I had walked quite a ways while holding my bike, so my shoulder was KILLING me, making it tough to concentrate on riding. I ended up riding about 6 miles, but approximately 1 mile of that was walking along side the bike. And I was completely beet red and felt like I was dying. I almost didn't get my bike up the stairs to my apartment.
Hence the title of this posting... I'm in trouble... BIG trouble. I'm never going to be ready for next Sunday. Please, anyone that has any tips for me let me know. And anyone that believes in it, please pray for me to get the training I need to prepare for the ride.
Friday, October 5, 2007
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5 comments:
I hate to tell you, but nothing you do now is going to get you "ready" with only a week to go.
Just focus on not killing yourself off when you ride over the next week. That means keep the heart rate in the low range, if you can.
Drink loads of water in the day or so before the ride (some folks recommend a full gallon 24 hours before and that seems to work really well for me).
Eat well the night before and get breakfast in you at least 1.5 hours before you set off on the ride. Eat regularly while riding. Due to my allergies, I subscribe to the 1 gel and 1 bottle of sports drink an hour rule and I couldn't tell you where bars fit because they'd kill me and get very little thought from me for that reason.
Typically, the routes overlap so if you really can't go, you can bail to a shorter loop. Quite a few riders in Portland did that because of the weather.
One of my friends, a former serious racer, once told me he liked riding with me because I liked to ride hard but always new where my limit was and could make it home. No matter what you decide on ride day, ride within yourself. Don't let the adrenaline of riding in such a large group make you change your pace. Go at a comfortable pace you can maintain.
Best of luck and enjoy the Challenge!
You'd be right with the "nothing you'll do will get you ready" approach if we'd be doing the 90 mile or even the 63, but you can still prepare yourself enough to manage to "survive" the 45 mile ride.
I mean, I had almost no preparation for last year's 40 mile ride due to a knee surgery and, although I was kind of slow, I managed to finish it without any major problems.
Plus, I started slow, even though a lot of people went ahead of me. However, most people went too fast, so I was able to pass some of them during the ride, which is a great thing to keep the motivation up.
The most important thing for me was to keep a steady pace, which can be tough when you're all pumped up to start with all those people around you.
Also, lots of fluids and some energy bars and a few minutes of recovery time at each rest stop.
I had a minor setback with a scratchy throat and a light fever, so I had to stop my 2 hours on a stationary bike- strategy. But we will get through this and we'll be crossing the finish line with big smiles!! I'm totally convinced of that!
Just keep telling yourself you CAN DO IT and you WILL. At point of your ride when it gets tough, just think about all the cancer survivors and how hard they have it. It is a great motivator!
Everytime I push myself I always say it is easier then when I went through my own cancer expereince. No matter how physically taxing it is, there is no way it even comes close to fighting cancer and going through treatments.
You will do a great job in Austin. Pace yourself and remember it is not a race. Drink plenty of fluids and remember to eat at the rest stops.
I look forward to hearing about your great experience.
Best Regards,
Brian Dowd
One of the most important things is to stay hydrated and eat, there should be a rest stop every 10 to 15 miles. Also remember there is a 10 mile route. I have decided to do the 60 instead of the 90, I just don't won't to be worn out for the festivities. LOL I will be wearing a yellow and white jersy with the team name Carpe Diem and my hubby will be with me and he is 6'5" so you might spot him. Come over and say hello. LiveStrong
Just take your time and do each part of the ride between the rest stops as a separate ride. That way, you never view it as one long ride, but several short ones.
And we know you can do it, you just need to believe you can.
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