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:
My calories burned is almost equal to elevation gained. I wonder if that’s correct.
Cheers and good luck to all those running Boston!
22 comments:
Congrats, you are going to conquer the bike. I have no words of wisdom about biking, sorry!On the bike I usually burn 1/2 the calories I would burn running the same distance, so probably the nr is right!
Yeahhh!! That is awesome news! You are going to fall in love with your bike :)
Yeah,that is really hilly. At least to me. Elevation gain at IMFL is 160feet!
great job on the bike. I really need to get out there and spend more time in the saddle. My sprint tri is in about 6 weeks! ACK! I think, as athletic as you are and as much experience as you have mountain biking, you'll be FINE!
Great news about your ride !! So happy for you! Can't wait to hear all about how your training progresses :)
I think if your muscles were screaming at you like that, then the elevation is high. And it's good that you're training with a couple other people, which I think will help you get to that comfort zone quicker. Nice job on the first go!
can't believe that douchebag threw a bottle at you...yikes.
Great job on your bike! That's great you have people to ride with and work on improving. Keep it up and good luck with training!
I don't know where I've been (nose in a school book I'm sure) but I didn't realize you were training for a half Ironman!!Wow!! Very impressive! Great job on the ride today. Cycling totally freaks me out too but I hope to get over that soon and get a bike eventually! Keep up the good work girl!
Glad to hear the bike ride went well and that your fears have been overcome!!
Geesh, drama on bikes, scary!!! I think you're one of those tough girls who can handle it though and you're going to RIP it up on your half-iron but I have no advice, none what so ever, regarding bikes...okay, two words: pedal harder!!!
Thanks for all of your support this month, you're the best!
Haha - I am like you! I know I can complete all the events individually, just not sure when they are all together.
You WILL get better and more comfortable on the bike. I have been training for only 5 weeks and feel so much more confident - I can even stand and climb now. Just keep at it and you will see improvement.
Did you make up your own training plan or are you using a pre-made one? You might have mentioned this in a past post, sorry, I just don't remember.
NICE job out there girl!!! being brave about things like this can be scary but sounds like you are on the right path to killing it!
Great job on the bike! I thought I wouldn't be so scared on the bike, but it turns out I am :( I seriously hate that people have such cyclist hate when I am out! Nice elevation gain :)
Biking scares me too. I could do the run and swim no problemo!
I'd say that's hilly. I don't really know either though.
There is this one hilly place I've ridden (granted I still had my old mountain bike) but I had to walk up two hills. Now I'm afraid if I'm going too slow I won't be able to unclip but instead I'll just fall over =).
When are you coming down to ride!!! Or, I suppose, I could come up there too!
Oooo, I love to ride my bike, wish we lived closer, I would love to have a female to ride with!
I'm starting my tri training and you know, I use to be a total gear masher, but my coach is trying to break me of that. She has me doing all of this high cadence work and I have to say, it is definitely working, hills are MUCH easier for me these days!
The bike is the scarest part of 70.3 for me, so you're doing great!
I'm not a fan of road riding right now. I went out for 39 minutes today & was bored out of my skull. I don't know why I appreciate the run so much more. Weird.
The thought of having to spend more time in the saddle's making me cringe - I need to get in on a group ride around here.
PS - too funny that you watch Cesar & don't even have a dog! I'm finding out a lot of dogless peeps watch that goofy show ;)
Congrats on making such progress on the bike in one ride. You're going to be a pro in no time! Keep up the good work girl. :)
OMG, I used to feel the same way you do about the bike. And I am still nervous when I first head out. But that fear will go away. Maybe not completely (still hasn't in my case) but it will decrease.
And yes, walking is totally acceptable especially if you have only 2 gears. You're going to be FINE come race day. Promise.
I think calories burned as shown by a HR monitor (I have a Garmin too) are inflated. Muuuu-cho. I think there's no way one could burn as many calories on the bike as a garmin says you do. That being said, I still eat like I burn that much :).
You'll gain more confidence with each ride. I am so excited for your 70.3!
Thanks Kiddo...you are so encouraging.
Right on sista! That rocks, so happy for you. Like everything, do it more and it will become a whole lot easier. AND NO WAY on a triple, compact, yes! Cycling cashes me in an all different kind of way too.
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