is what I saw all around me as we started our bone-chilling bike ride yesterday! It was actually very pretty to see the fields covered in frost and some of the ditches (well, puddles...) frozen over. My fingers and toes did not necessarily join in on the enjoyment, but they aren't necessarily expected to.
Yesterday was the first "official" training ride for a lot of the IMAZ group, and was an eye opening experience for some of us (as to be expected). I have been riding periodically since my half ironman in October, but not more than 40 miles or so at a time. We rode 60 miles yesterday and I was great until about 30 miles in. That is when we turned into the wind that was not supposed to be there and when the hills hit. That is also when my legs decided to remind me I ran a marathon just a week earlier. Our ~17mph average quickly dropped as we could not even hold a 10 mph pace! I also fell over in the middle of the highway when I was pulling over to stop with Shellie. It is a good thing there weren't any cars, because we sure did not make much of an effort to get me up. I was still clipped in with one foot with my bike on top of me. When I tried to swing my unclippd leg out of the way, that quad cramped and I just turned into a total mess. I was also grateful for the cold at that point beacuse it meant my elbow was protected by about 4 layers and I didn't end up with a Lisa elbow, just a bruise and some funny marks.
The wind was much more than we expected yesterday and everyone began to ask me how it compared to the notoriously windy IMAZ last year. I told them it is hard to remember wind, just as it is hard to remember pain. But of course, my dorky self went and looked up weather histories and unfortunately, it looks like yesterday wasn't nearly as bad as IMAZ last year!Yesterday: wind speed 15mph, gusting to 22. IMAZ last year: wind speed 22, gusting to 30.
So, there is clearly some work to be done in the next 12 weeks, but I'm confident I will get it done. Hopefully we won't have to do to many more sub-freezing ride starts (most of us realized that was indeed the coldest weather we had ever ridden in yesterday). I am a few weeks ahead of where I was last year as this time with my bike training, so all is good.
Next weekend I think I am heading to Austin to run the 3M 1/2 Marathon. My "punishment" for that is a three hour bike trainer ride Friday night in the comfort of my own home. Wow, do I know how to party or what?
Yesterday was the first "official" training ride for a lot of the IMAZ group, and was an eye opening experience for some of us (as to be expected). I have been riding periodically since my half ironman in October, but not more than 40 miles or so at a time. We rode 60 miles yesterday and I was great until about 30 miles in. That is when we turned into the wind that was not supposed to be there and when the hills hit. That is also when my legs decided to remind me I ran a marathon just a week earlier. Our ~17mph average quickly dropped as we could not even hold a 10 mph pace! I also fell over in the middle of the highway when I was pulling over to stop with Shellie. It is a good thing there weren't any cars, because we sure did not make much of an effort to get me up. I was still clipped in with one foot with my bike on top of me. When I tried to swing my unclippd leg out of the way, that quad cramped and I just turned into a total mess. I was also grateful for the cold at that point beacuse it meant my elbow was protected by about 4 layers and I didn't end up with a Lisa elbow, just a bruise and some funny marks.
The wind was much more than we expected yesterday and everyone began to ask me how it compared to the notoriously windy IMAZ last year. I told them it is hard to remember wind, just as it is hard to remember pain. But of course, my dorky self went and looked up weather histories and unfortunately, it looks like yesterday wasn't nearly as bad as IMAZ last year!Yesterday: wind speed 15mph, gusting to 22. IMAZ last year: wind speed 22, gusting to 30.
So, there is clearly some work to be done in the next 12 weeks, but I'm confident I will get it done. Hopefully we won't have to do to many more sub-freezing ride starts (most of us realized that was indeed the coldest weather we had ever ridden in yesterday). I am a few weeks ahead of where I was last year as this time with my bike training, so all is good.
Next weekend I think I am heading to Austin to run the 3M 1/2 Marathon. My "punishment" for that is a three hour bike trainer ride Friday night in the comfort of my own home. Wow, do I know how to party or what?
Comments