MIND OVER MATTER (and the Mind LOST)

24 mile ride today. It felt like 100 miles. I'm still not fully recovered from the flu/respiratory stuff I had a few weeks back. My body let me know that today.

I felt bad for Bill, who was feeling fine and was hoping to get in 30+ miles today. It wasn't going to happen with me.

The last 15 miles were really tough for me. All throughout the ride I felt as if my legs were slowly filling with concrete. They where getting heavy. My breathing wasn't right from the start. I wore my heart rate monitor (hrm) and it was just crazy wacky with the numbers my heart was trying to pump out.

On top of all that, the weather was raw. About 43 degrees, but a cloudy 43. A "rainy" 43, although the rain held off.

Wind was present for most of the ride. I was sucking wind like an octogenarian, and I had to stop 3 or 4 times just to catch my breath.

It was not a good ride for me. I know I'm going to have rides like that.

Bill was patient though and didn't dish out and "girly" type cracks/comments.

At one point I almost told Bill to ride on. I was going to call Kelly to come pick me up.

Even when we got to the point in our ride when I knew we only had 2-3 miles left, I was struggling to win the MIND OVER MATTER battle. (I lost.)

The final 1.5 miles saw me fighting off serious leg cramps. Ow! They frickin' hurt! I almost fell off my bike in pain.

It was a bad ride from the get-go. I should've stayed home.

I've got 24 miles to my name this week though....

Saturday Ride

I got out yesterday for a decent ride. 18 miles with an average of 16.3mph, which isn't too shabby.

It was warm yesterday too. I haven't sweated like that in a LONG time. I had a short-sleeved shirt on, with a long-sleeve riding shirt over top of it. Shorts rounded out the ensemble. It was fantastic to ride with such little on. No skull cap needed to keep my BALD head cool. It was awesome weather.

The wind was present, ever so. Nothing major. It was a warm wind, and it wasn't "gusting", just blowing.

Bill and I are going to get out today for a ride as well. Around 9:30am. We're shooting for 25+ miles.

See ya.

RIDE, or SLEEP?

So, I get a call yesterday afternoon from Bill. He wanted to know if I'm up for a morning ride tomorrow (Thursday). Never one to turn down a chance to ride, I say, "Sure."

Fast forward to 4:10am when my alarm went off this morning. "What the !@#! was I thinking?," was my first thought. (I knew it was going to cold. I knew it was going to be windy. I knew it would be both cold AND windy.)

Deep down, I was secretly hoping Bill would not make it out of his garage at 4:30am, the time we decided on.

Today was not my lucky day. 4:30am on the dot, Bill's garage opens, as does mine.

We meet, both commenting on the chilly weather. We start our ride.

Fortunately, I'm getting pretty good at judging the weather in relation to how I should layer and dress for a ride. This morning was perfect. I was a bit warm, which was fine. I'd rather sweat than freeze, as Bill says.

The first lap was the toughest. It always is. The wind was formidable. Damn wind!

We got in 11.2 miles in 45 minutes. Not too bad. Not Olympic Time Trial material, but hey!, it's 4:30 in the morning. Get off my back.

I'm glad I rode this morning. I wouldn't admit to that while I was actually ON THE BIKE this morning.

Post ride benefits rock. I feel energized. I relish in the fact that while most folks are sleeping, I'm out getting in a great workout. I'm getting closer to my 4,000 miles each day. The weather is warming up (relatively) and I know that soon I will have the added benefit of squeezing in a night-time ride while it's still light outside....

My legs feel good, which is good, seeing I've gotten in 46.75 miles this week.

I'm hoping to ride tomorrow morning, but they are forecasting rain. I will ride in the cold. I will ride in the wind. I will not ride in the rain. (Momma didn't raise no fool....)

Good ride. Good times. Glad Bill forced me out on my bike today. I would've TOTALLY skirted today's ride for sleep....

2 RIDES FOR MONDAY

Wow, I can't remember the last time I got out for 2 rides in on day. 30.2 miles for the day.

The 2nd ride today was a brutal adventure reminiscent of riding in a wind tunnel. The 1st 1/2 of the ride was awesome. Wind to my back, I was cranking out the miles. Legs felt great. I knew full well that the 2nd 1/2 of the ride was going to SUCK!

It didn't let me down. I went from an average of 18mph to a measly 12mph. Wind, wind, and more wind beat me down like a dog. It was awful. My main thought was "just get me off this bike..."

I didn't stop riding though. got in 14.4 miles in under 57 minutes. Not a great average, but I ended above 15 mph. (barely.)

I was contemplating riding early tomorrow morning, but we've got some cold weather moving in upon us here. I figure I'll wait til tomorrow afternoon or evening to ride. It will be warmer then.

I've got 35.5 miles to my name this week. I want to near 100 by Saturday.

Stay tuned.

I'M BACK!!

Ah.... I finally got back on the bike for a "good" ride.

Yesterday, I did a 5-mile ride just to get out on my bike. It wasn't a bad ride, but it wasn't a good ride, if you know what I mean.

This morning, I got out with my neighbor Bill, for a 15.85 mile ride around the neighborhood. With today being a holiday, the traffic was light, even though we didn't get started til 6:30am.

The sky lightened up too during our ride. It has been a while since I've done an early morning ride in the light. Usually, it's pitch black. (Usually, it's 4:30am....)

My energy level feels good right now. I didn't go into any major coughing fits while out riding. A double "win" in my book.

If the weather cooperates today, I'm going to try and get another 15 miles in later this afternoon, say around 4pm.

5.28 MILES

I did it. I got out on my bike. It's been 13 days since I've put any miles on the bike. It didn't feel bad. It didn't feel good, but it didn't feel bad.

I simply went out and rode 2.5 miles and turned around. (With some change).

With some luck, I'll get out tomorrow morning. Early.

Then, I'll get out in the afternoon. Hopefully I can rack up 20 miles tomorrow.

I'm well on my way to recovery and getting back to my 4,000 mile goal. (FINALLY!)

I'M GONNA RIDE TODAY

The flu has sidelined me now for 13 days. ugh! I'm finally feeling well enough to head out on my bike. I'm not going to push it though. I'll be lucky if I log in 5 miles today, which will be fine with me. If it goes well, I'll ride more tomorrow, and more on Tuesday. Slow build is the theme here. I don't want to do something stupid and sideline my recovery any more than it needs to be.

Today's weather should be applicable enough for a ride. Temps are supposed to be in the mid 50's. Perfect. Not too hot, and more importantly, not too cold.

I'll blog more later about my ride.

Out.

LIGHT RIDE?

I'm still worn out from the flu I had last week. I can't beat this hacking cough that constantly has me coughing and wheezing for breath. Not fun.

My energy level is SLOWLY returning. SLOWLY. TOO SLOWLY.

Each day this week, I'd get home from work and just completely crash. I barely had the energy to eat dinner.

On a bright note, I lost 7 pounds.

**There's a silver lining in EVERYTHING

I don't see myself getting out this weekend on a bike. I wish, but I'm not going to push myself. Everyone I talk to that has been sick with what I've got said it took over 2 weeks to get completely better.

Damn!

LATE WEEK RIDE

That's what I'm planning on. Maybe as early as Thursday.

Still getting over this flu/cold that kicked my can around the block a bit last week.

I'm itching to get some miles in, but I'm in no shape right now to go out and ride. I have bursts of energy that are short lived and then I crash.

Getting the flu sucks.

THIS IS KILLING ME

I feel like !@#!@. Really.

This flu is handing me my own ass. It sucks. I thought I was getting better. Oh no. Not yet.

So much for February starting off like a lion (mileage wise.)

I have 25 miles to my name this week. I should be closing in on 100 by now. I won't be riding tomorrow either, unless I miraculously heal overnight, and I don't see that happening.

Sunday? Probably not. Ugh. I hate losing weekends like that.

FLU = NO MILES

We're having the warmest weather of the year (low to mid 70's) and I'm stuck at home not allowed to go biking because I have the flu. D@#!~~!!

SUNDAY RIDE/MONDAY RIDE

Got out for a short ride on Sunday. 6 miles into the ride, I got a call from Kelly. Emma's temp was at 104.7 degrees. Yikes! I headed home and ran out and get some Children's Tylenol.

Emma now has the full-blown flu. Poor girl.

Sunday's ride was 10.73 miles. Had a fun clip at the end that saw Bill and I chugging along at 29mph for a good while. I felt like a kid.

This morning I got out and rode 14 miles before work. Around the neighborhood, so my average mph was only 15.1 . Not terrible, but I want to shoot for above 16mph at all times this month...

That's about it. Might blog later today more about these 2 rides.

RAIN-SHORTENED RIDE

I got out last night for a quick 8.86 miles. I wanted to do more, but Mother Nature apparently didn't get my memo. A steady rain started falling. With the temps hovering near 40 degrees, wisdom won over machismo, and I called it a night.

I ended January with 236.49 miles. Not my best month, but not my worst either. February's total will be much better. I will get over 300 miles for sure.
Stay tuned.