Week 6 was an interesting week. I had some great cycling moments. Amie and I went on a 22 mile bike ride through Sellersburg/Utica with the LBC on Tuesday night. The ride on the club site was listed as a #2, which is up to 1/3 hills and the words "mostly flat" were included in the description. Hah. Mostly flat my patootie. A few of those hills were killers and there were many more hills than there were flat spots. It also didn't help that I was running late and completely frustrated with a wrong mapquest turn and some belligerent drivers en route to the ride. So I started out the ride with a crappy attitude. I swear to you this isn't a theme! I am usually pretty good natured when starting out on a course. Promise. With sugar on top.
It took until about halfway through the course to start feeling warmed up and just more like myself. Then it started flowing more smoothly. At one point I did take a slight detour off-road through some thistles but managed to stay in saddle by incorporating my, to quote from Amie, "mad recovery skillz". I got a teeny bit scratched up, but each new bump and bruise is starting to feel more like a battle scar than they are a negative thing. Want to see where I jammed my pedal cleat into my shin on Sunday?
I made it through to the end of the ride. Honestly, if Amie hadn't been there riding with me, I might have chucked it all 2 miles in and begged a ride back to starting point. She's pushing me more than she knows. Thanks Amie!
Thank you also to "mostly flat" Sellersburg/Utica ride. Those hills are what is advancing me in my cycle training. We then rode the race course on Sunday and two hills that tried their best to kill me a month ago were attacked and conquered with breath left to spare and a victorious war whoop at the top. Ride of the Valkyries could be heard faintly in the distance. It was awesome. Also, after doing a few 20 milers, the 14 mile race course felt over before it should have been. I heard Amie tell Ben that she could have done another several miles and I concur. I briefly thought of suggesting going around for another loop, but that would have just sounded crazy!
The runs and swims for the week were pretty normal with the only oddity being an orange road traffic cone at the bottom of the pool on Sunday. I dunno.
Here is this week's schedule:
Tonight - Run/Swim
Tues - Run/Swim/Kickball
Wed - Strength/Early am spin class
Thurs - Off/Drum lessons for kiddo
Fri - Bike
Sat - Morning Run/4th of July!!! Happy Independence Day Everyone!
Sat - Bike/Yoga
Now on to the lost wager.
My friend Joanna lost a bet and had to kiss a gnome. Joanna has Gnome-a-phobia. She is scared to death of these happy bearded little fellas. No idea why. We don't ask; we just exploit. Here she is in a little piece entitled 'Oh gnome - how I love thee!"
Enjoy!
Week 7 Training Plan and Comeuppance from a Wager Lost
I want my bike I want my bike I want my...
If you are anywhere near my age, the title of this post should bring back fond memories of a little girl in a coat screaming and stomping because Josh Brolin just ganked her bike and is racing off down the street after the rest of the Goonies.
Well, little girl, I feel ya. My bike has been in the shop now for a week just waiting for me to pick it up after a tune-up and a replacement rim being installed. I miss it. I had to do all my cycling training this week inside. In the gym. On a stationary bike for the love of Pete. I couldn't get the bike adjusted as I needed and there were no WHEEEEEEEEE!!!! moments as I tucked my elbows, leveled my feet at 3 and 9 o'clock and glided downhill wind whistling though my helmet. Sigh...
I'll be going to get it tomorrow just in time for the Girlfriend's Ride in Columbus, IN. on Saturday. You have no plans for Saturday? You have a bike, you say? You like massages and chocolate and would love to support a domestic abuse shelter? Well then, come along! You can sign up on site or here!
Boys Allowed
I've tried to make my blog sound as gender neutral as possible, I am, nonetheless, a girl and so I'd like to introduce you to a guy friend I've made along the path to the finish line. Meet Jason, a Web-Producer for NBC Universal Sports. I'd snitch his picture from the nbc site, but they might actually come and get me. Jason is in training for his first triathlon, just like yours truly. He started blogging about his training plans and adventures and if you want a male perspective of the whole thing, be sure and check out the links below.
What I like about Jason is that you can really feel his enthusiasm for what he is doing in his writing. When he went bike shopping recently and posted about it, you couldn't help but share in his Christmas-morning-like excitement. He's been an unexpected and fun part of my continued enthusiasm for my training.
One Man's Plan - An introduction to Jason, his training plan and his dream of ping-pong prowess.
Triathlon Training - His blog along his 16-week journey
Also being half-way through his training and I asked him yesterday how he was feeling, "Feeling great in the water and loving my new bike. Running is getting there. In week 8 of 16! Seen a huge improvement in my recovery time."
There's no doubt in my mind that he will cross that finish line flying!
You can follow Jason and Dawn (that's me) on Twitter.
Come along for our rides and share your own adventures.
Week 5 Training Plan - Closing in on the halfway point!
6 weeks, 4 days and counting....
The race bike route was finalized today and the forms are being faxed to me as I type! Huzzah! Registration has been delayed as the city of Anchorage kindly decided to install speed humps over the winter (because those golf carts were just getting out of control) and the park was trying to find another suitable route. Alas, no route could be found and we will just have to deal with speed humps. I'm thinking out-of-seat full-on Evel Knievel style is called for here.
And speaking of bikes, my baby is in the shop. Boo! I took it in for a tune-up because one of the bike club guys said it looked like my rear derailer was bent. Lucky me, it wasn't my derailer, my rear axle was in pieces. I needed a whole new rim, etc. I'll be picking her up later this week.
Meanwhile, it looks like I'll be indoor biking for the next few days. It's ok though, the gym is playing the Bourne movie series. I'll just pretend like I am chasing bad guys through Paris and every so often I'll look confused and ask the person on the bike next to me if they have any idea who I am.
Here's the plan:
Monday - Cycling (Indoor)
Tuesday - Run/Swim/Kickball
Wednesday - Arms/Run
Thursday - Lunch Run
Friday - Lunch Cycling
Saturday - Girlfriend's Bike Trip!!!
Sunday - Swim/Run
*Possible off day on Friday as all of my Fridays so far have gone straight to heck.
Bike Handling Class Tonight!
The Louisville Bicycling Club will be starting a new Bike Handling Class this evening with several Monday sessions over the next few weeks. If you want to see something funny you will come out and join my 14-year-old in making fun of me since I haven't been on a bike in years. Here are the deets:
Bike Handling Class – ABC Quick Check, Road Rules and Etiquette. Become a better cyclist!. Participants should plan on attending as many sessions as possible. Classes will start promptly at 6:15 with a hands-on activity and conclude with a short 10- to 12-mile ride. Waterfront Park, Yellow Parking Lot. All skill levels welcome. RC: Tom Armstrong 502-523-9581, education@louisvillebicycleclub.org.