It’s all about the bike

This is the first week (of 18) on my 70.3 training plan. Truth be told, I could complete the swim and run portions today without any problems. Obviously I’m not in the optimal shape but I could complete it comfortably without any extra training.

The bike. Not so much. This is a totally new activity in my repertoire. Actually, I’ve been scared shitless about the bike. Until today. Today I had the ride of my life. What an awesome ride on my sweet ass Orbea. Seriously. It could not have been any better. I was so nervous about the first ride out on the streets, but everything was glorious.

I have had major hang-ups about the bike because when I lived on the East Coast where drivers not only don’t appreciate cyclist, but they actually carried a serious HATRED. As in one girl who trained with the tri group I joined actually got a bottle thrown at her by a driver. WTF?! I only rode a few times and every time I literally feared for my life. I dropped cycling like a bad habit and took up mountain biking. Much better.

Now here I am again, committed to complete a Half-Iron only now I have all these metal blocks about how awful road riding is. I'm so glad to report those mental blocks have been significantly reduced. I met up with one of the wives from the convention (from my husbands work) I went to a few weeks ago. She and a few of her girlfriends ride every Wednesday and I knew it was now or never. I was so freaking nervous.

We rode for ~25 miles (I forgot to start my Garmin and missed out on the first few miles). It was HILLY. Actually, I don’t know – Is 1,270 ft of elevation gain hilly? Maybe it’s not. I have nothing to compare it to. I just know my quads were cashed toward the end. I admit I even had to walk it up one hill toward the end, but I don’t feel to bad about it since I was the only one with a compact and seriously ran out of gears. Could. not .push. it. any. more. We took it nice and easy on the flats.

My hope is that over time, I’ll be able to spend more time in each gear. That will happen right? Is that the natural progression of improving on a bike? Now I totally understand the difference between a compact and a triple.

I’m posting my Garmin link for all to see:

Untitled by klbarrett at Garmin Connect – Details

My calories burned is almost equal to elevation gained. I wonder if that’s correct.

Cheers and good luck to all those running Boston!

Catch up

why do I always feel like over the last couple of months all my titles have been related to catching up….

• My in-laws were in town over the last few days. They left yesterday. They are great people and I am very lucky. Why do in-laws always think they know your husband better than you do?!  Yes, I understand you’ve known him his whole life, but I am his wife.
• I had a 10k over the weekend to close out my short-course racing season. It went ok. very windy, but a great FLAT course. I ran it as a tempo run instead of a race. I’m ready to move on to longer distances.
• and tri training!
• Hubby leaves  in a few days.
• BOOOOOOOOO

 

Tara from Colorado Runner is having a giveaway. Ryder eyewear. I want, no NEED to win.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten lots of things I wanted to mention, but that’s always how it goes. I need to keep a pen and paper handy to write this stuff down and not forget it until after I hit the publish button.

Have a great day everyone.