mmm hmmmm. That's not really *said in high, hesitant squeaky voice* my style. I don't consider myself a negative person, and while I probably fall into the "realist" or "cynical" categories, I'm also open to suggestion. I decided instead of recapping the Ride for Heroes 73mi rally and the Shiner GASP not quite century ride, I would take this "Top 5" idea and apply it to my cycling thus far ... followed by an explanation. (You didn't really think I would make this short, did you?) So here it goes. My Top 5: Cycling Edition.
1) Back in January I had the presence of mind to understand it was important for me to get up off my couch and start training for something.
This is a VERY good thing. I love training. I missed training. I was sitting in my newly acquired massage suite waiting on my client, and I saw TPG tweet about the Shiner GASP - a century ride from Austin to Shiner. I read that it ended at the brewery for the after party and thought, "yep, THIS is what I'm gonna do." It's amazing what you'll do for free beer. By the way, a century means 100 .. miles. But before making the attempt on Shiner, there was Aledo. *sigh* This was my first rally. Convinced - or should I say influenced? - that I should experience a rally before going to Shiner, I picked the Ride For Heroes in Aledo. I chose the 73 mile distance because I was going on vacation the weekend before Shiner and was too scared have my longest distance in the 60's. And let's face it, Plano is flat. Austin to Shiner is Texas hill country. The Aledo ride seemed perfect. Long and hilly.
2) I have the BEST support system a person could ask for.
This actually isn't cycling specific, and applies to my family as well as friends. I'm referring to the people that are out there on their bikes riding with me and those that live in my phone and encourage me. I met my friends for a 25ish mile ride and got my ass handed to me. It was an eye opener to just how out of shape I was and how far I needed to go. But TPG was so excited I was there she brought donuts!! And then there was the time I was SO NERVOUS about my 40 mile training ride that Drum offered to come out and ride with me. She's training to be an Ironman and I didn't want to hold her back but she didn't care about any of that and we had a great time. Aaaaand let's not forget the day I had 50 miles on my schedule but just couldn't make it. I was 35 miles in and I sat on a sidewalk, got on my phone and started texting my girls. I eeked out 10 more and was done. Didn't make my 50 but they love me anyway. And did I mention the time I fell off my bike (for the 3rd time), broke my handlebars and had to wake my sister up so she could come pick me up? She bought me breakfast too :). One more? Ok, my parents drove from San Antonio to the Shiner brewery for the finish line celebration and were the first ones there waiting for me as I hung my head and got off the sag wagon. LOVE.
3) I have more muscle in my legs after 6 months of riding than I did in 4 years of running.
Yep. My legs are strong. Never really felt that until I got on the bike. My last memories of running are of pain. Now? I love my legs. Running was more about fighting the urge to quit or getting my lungs to catch up to my desire to go faster. And while I still experience this on the bike, MY LEGS ARE TIRED. That means I'm using them :)
4) It's fun turning acquaintances into real friendships.
There are a group of girls that I often refer to as "the people in my phone". Emails, text messages, Facebook, Twitter .. it all seems so impersonal. Getting on the bike has brought some of these people into my real world - much like running did. TPG and I made the road trips to Aledo and Austin together after only a few training rides. I remember someone saying "the older you get, the harder it is to make friends". But you know, that really hasn't been my experience.
5) Cycling is AWESOME.
Really? You need an explanation for that?
In the end, I made it to the Spoetzl Brewery via the sag wagon, 70 miles in. It wasn't my day. This was my first time to not cross a finish line .. and it's humbling. I was looking for everything I could think of to blame it on. I even went so far as to get my iron levels checked to make sure I wasn't anemic. (Damn, that's so embarrassing to admit!!) I've never felt that weak so quickly during an event. But you know, nutrition is real; recovery is real; hydration .. yeah, you get the point. And let's not forget that I did a bit of "procrastination training"! But I got off my couch and did the damn thing. Take your lessons learned, apply them to your next round of training and move on. No excuses. Allow yourself to accept defeat. But really .. what exactly did I lose here? Looks to me like I've gained a lot .. glass half full :)
Ride For Heroes lessons learned
- 73 miles is far.
- Hills are hard .. and we don't have them in Plano.
- I now know where I need to apply Ride Glide and while we're at it, might as well use some body glide too.
- I'm stronger on hills than I give myself credit for.
- I'm not trained to ride 73 miles with that many hills.
- I need to learn how to properly read an elevation chart.
- I'm not sure I'm trained to ride 73 miles .. PERIOD.
- Suncreen works, but only on places where you apply it.
- I know I'm still not a cyclist because every hill I climbed .. even in the bitter end .. I was thinking "I bet this will make me a faster runner".
Shiner GASP lessons learned
- When you're standing still on the side of the highway while others are riding into a headwind, you can hear people's conversations as clear as if they're standing next to you.
- If you're crying at mile 25 out of 100, push harder .. you'll be more proud of yourself for quitting at 70 than at 26.
- It takes longer to recover from a ride like Aledo than I could have imagined.
- Eating soup for a week before an endurance event is never a good idea.
- Sometimes you don't see the benefit of not crossing the finish line until you're out of the shower truck.
