EVERY RIDE IS DIFFERENT...

I enjoy cycling. I'm glad I got back into after a good 10-year absence. I'm in better riding shape (muscle, endurance, etc...) than I have ever been.

I'm averaging 3,000 miles a year, if not more. My daily ride is anywhere between 15-20 miles. To miss a day on the bike is rare. I enjoy my 1 day off a week, but the other six days? I'm out riding.

On most mornings, I hit the ground running. I've written before how I'm a morning person. 4am is the best time of day for me. Seriously.

This morning, as I got dressed in my riding shorts and shirt, I strapped on my cycling shoes and prepared to head out. I looked across the street to see if there was any sign of movement at Bill's house. I had run into him last night and mentioned that I'd be riding EVERY morning this week. He mentioned he was going to ride last night. That was before the TERRIFIC thunderstorm and lightning show descended upon us for a few hours. We didn't get much rain, but being the only thing out on the road (on a METAL bike) during A thunderstorm doesn't equate to a long lifespan. So, I thought I may see Bill this morning.

Sleep must've won out. So, I grabbed my MP3 player, cranked it up and off I rode.

It's amazing to me that after 2,000 miles I can still count on EVERY ride being different. Today was a perfect example of that. Yesterday I crushed the ride. Destroyed the hills, both up and down. Had endurance the whole time. My MP3 player hung across my arm as I cranked out mile after mile of just sheer joyous miles.

Today was different. I was tired. My gas tank was on low. I look back on this now and realize I should've started the day off with some yogurt, or a banana, or even a simple teaspoon of peanut butter. 40 years old and still learning.

My pace today was laid back. I started slow. I reminded myself throughout the ride to pace myself. Even though I was only doing a 15.6 mile ride, I didnt' want the last 4 miles to be torturous.

I did well, but my legs are tired. I'm 46 miles into my 100 mile quest for this week. Tonight I'm hoping to add 20 miles to my total.

I got to work this morning and wolfed down a blueberry yogurt, topped off with a tablespoon of sunflower seeds. I have some celery, carrots, and garbanzo beans to snack on today. I need to replenish my proteins. That will help my legs.

I'm looking for tonight's ride to be more like yesterday's ride instead of this morning's.