I’ve been back on the bike, finally, after three days off! Yesterday I rode 20 km, just across town and back but we are having a lot of wind. Biking home against the wind was a lot of work but it was a good ride and I felt good.
Today I didn’t have any commitments so even though I got a bit of a late start, I biked 39 km, or 26 1/4 miles in a bit over 3 hours, off my usual pace but I have excuses. I chose the route that goes up into the hills so part of it was 300+ meter climb, and the strong winds continue so the most of the way back was into a strong headwind. Today was a lot of mind over matter. I was climbing, tired, in the wind, my foot was bothering me, my butt was getting sore, my knee was threatening to complain… and all the time I knew all I had to do was turn around and coast back down. I had to keep talking myself into going forward. I wanted to do 30 miles, which means I should bike more than 15 before turning around but at about 13 1/2, the matter won out over the mind.
I’ve seen all the possible routes around here so many times. I’m just doing it for the exercise and training and though I do enjoy being out, and though I do have some beautiful routes, it isn’t like I’m experiencing anything very new. I think it will be better when I have new things to see every day.
Maybe I should take snacks with me, and drink more water. Once I start feeling really thirsty it might be too late to catch up on fluids, and when I’m out more than a couple hours I start to feel wilted.
Sometimes I feel ready to go, and other times, like today, I think I have a ton more work to do. I’m sure I will have days like this with climbing and winds, and if I find less than 30 miles a struggle, am I really ready? Or, does it matter? Everyone says you get stronger as you go. I am seriously thinking of changing my goal to 30 miles/day though at least for the first week.
Or, maybe I should just chill and keep working and see how I feel at the end of the month. Tomorrow I should be back on the bike again. I have no commitments of excuses. I have no commitments or excuses all week, for that matter. I should be on the bike every day, and this week I need to get at least one 35 mile ride. Maybe this wind will die down and I can set out for the beach. I hesitate to do it now though, knowing I’ll be biking back 20 miles in a headwind.
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