Speed Ride

Ah the joys of a new tire- my last one was shredded on one side, so it would bump out, rub against bike, etc. I swapped out tires with my husband (who runs mostly now) and it felt awesome! It was humid but I was happy with pace.

8.3 miles 32 minutes

Extra Ride

My goal is 3 rides a week- hills, speed, distance. I rode last Sunday (22nd), Tuesday, Thursday, and again Saturday! Good thing too because my Paleo diet has gone way off track with Amelia's chocolate birthday cake.

27th- swim in Barton Springs:)
28th- 12.6 miles 54 minutes

Misadventure

Today's ride was... an adventure of sorts. Started off very nice, cooler weather, no dogs chasing me down. Towards the end of the ride I was really struggling. I thought the wind that was coming from the north-west had taken a toll or not riding a long ride for a couple weeks, etc. Then I noticed my front tire didn't seem balanced, it was skirting out to the sides. I stopped, and it was flat, very flat. I was only a mile away from my car at this point so I tried to just add some air to the tire, rode a minute or two and it was totally flat again. I took a sip of the last of my water and sat down. I was tired, warm, and frustrated. But, at first I was also eager for a hands-on lesson of changing a tire. Will had "showed" me how to do it before, but to save time out on the road he always did the actual changing. A few people offered help, but I said I had it. I was wrong. Finally I called Will almost crying, when I wasn't saying loudly things like "I have no idea what you are talking about!" Anyway, after 10 minutes or so of this I decided to ditch and hide my bike and walk in my bike shoes the mile to my car. Will offered to come get me but this made me feel like I was doing something.. and nothing could feel worse than sitting there, helpless on the heat of the road. Luckily, soon after I began the walk a couple offered to drive me to my car. We are about to go outside and get my bike and Will is going to sit at a distance and give me instructions. So, my lesson today- learn to take care of your bike if you are going to go on long rides by yourself. I feel very grateful the flat didn't happen at mile 15 in the boonies.

26.4 miles
1 hr 51 m

Fast ride

Today is normally my long ride, but due to Amelia getting an award for being on the "distinguished honor roll list" (95% higher cumulative gpa) this morning, and then some not as noteworthy disruptions (pest control appointment), I had no time to ride until late afternoon. We have movie night Tuesday night, so I had to go in the heat of the day. Handled it better today then Sunday though.

Ride: 7.8 miles 30 minutes

Home

We got home last night from an unexpected trip to Utah. My grandmother passed away last week. Of course, it was heart wrenching and emotionally difficult. Surprisingly, it was also beautiful and inspiring. The service was about her life, I remembered things, I learned things. I saw lots of pictures. She was an amazing woman. She was great with kids, great with me growing up. I found out why: she raised her younger siblings after both her parents died. Then she raised her own three boys. She baked bread, grew a garden, kept a clean and organized home, while humming, joyful and 100% present in what she was doing. She also hunted and fished; she was competitive and tough. She loved being outdoors.

On another positive note, I found out my sister Cheryl might get a road bike!! I'd love to train separately for a ride, then ride it together. She has been doing some tough spin classes.

Today's ride was tough- getting used to the heat and humidity.. or maybe it was the last 2 days driving.

Intervals (hills): 11 miles 45 minutes

Week's Rides (not to be confused with Weak Rides)

4/21 Thursday
Rode 17 miles in 1 hr. 14 min.
Added in lots of hills.

4/23 Saturday
I was sunburned from Luke's football game, and then sitting out at his friend's football game. Well, that and not putting on enough sun screen! The heat made me feel sooo tired. But, I stuck to my new routine and got on my bike.
Rode 10 miles in 38 min.
Speed ride.

And... today:) 90s, humid, and windy. Fun ride though. Even while I'm working really, really hard riding I am happy. I love it -seeing the wind blow through the fields, the scissor tail birds on the wires, the farmers waving, Indian blanket and Indian paintbrushes and many wild flowers I don't know, and the NICE dogs who come out and greet me and then follow me (I had to lay on the speed and drop this super sweet dog before s/he got far from home). I know this riding is to try to train for a marathon again, but right now I am enjoying the journey very much! I'm also feeling very grateful that my husband works really hard and is so smart, allowing me to have a flexible work schedule. Over the weekend when we were having friends over I worked super hard around the house. I cooked a delicious dinner (toot my own horn): rosemary chicken, ham, home made bread and strawberry shortcake. That day I felt I earned this "day off".. yet while I was riding I just kept thinking how very lucky I am.

33 miles + 2 miles on mountain bike making two trips to pool to cool off (first time I forgot my key... I just wanted to jump in the pool!!)

4/19: The Moment

One of my favorite quotes goes "take care of the moments, and the days take care of themselves". I'm not even sure when or where I first heard it. It was years ago as I struggled to lose weight after my two babies. I found that taking care of this moment, this choice, would also take care of the extra pounds!

Today it was hot and windy. While I enjoyed the wind at my back, I also found myself worrying/stressing about when I would need to turn into the wind about half way through the long ride. Could I do it? How many times do we worry about facing the wind head on, instead of being totally present and fully feeling the joy of the wind at our back, the joy and ease in life? I told myself I could rise (or crouch) to meet the challenge when the time came, but for now enjoy the ride! And I did, as I sailed down a hill at 30 miles per hour!!

I hope the wind is at your back today, as the Irish saying goes. If it is, enjoy it! If you are meeting a challenge head on, remember you will turn a corner and things will feel easier.

27.8 miles
2 hours 5 minutes