The last few weeks have been a bit 'hit or miss'. Kind of unexpected since I've been at home. It's funny, because I'm starting to think that training on the road, aside from the issue of it being difficult (read: expensive) to have my bike with me, is actually better for my training! I don't have anything else to do. At home, there is such a long list of things to do, that it is sometimes hard to get out and train instead of doing one of those things on the list. I start out each day with the best intentions and some days just seem to disappear before I get it all done. I'm also finding that I am still very tired a lot, despite getting reasonable sleep. I'm sure it is the iron thing.So I've done my best at getting back to training. I'm doing some of my training without my Garmin - 'naked' as they call it - and that's actually been good. I'm uncomfortable doing it sometimes, but I'm sure that's a good thing too! I've said that this year is going to be different, training right from the word go, getting in a good base, and I am still on that track. I've learned in life and in training that there is no point in beating yourself up for things not done, but rather just getting up the next day and getting back on track. So this week is a recovery week, and though I don't really feel like I am recovering from much, I am taking it for what it is, and working through the training plan.
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| Riding at the Bud Plant - I think this is one of my favourite pics ever of me training |
It's been a while since I've ridden out that way. Not since I lived in Smyrna I think. At least a couple years at any rate. I've got really REALLY great riding up my way. I admit I was (more than) a little nervous to get out with a group again, knowing I'd be one of a few, or maybe the only, girl. My speed is still not where it was, and /I didn't know any of these guys. Mostly I did not want to look like an idiot ;) And then he told me they were doing the 48 mile loop. Seriously? I've ridden that far only 3 times this year. I kinda hummed and hawed, and said I didn't know if I could do that, I might not be able to keep up, blah blah blah. Luis pretty much kicked my ass for that and told me to shut up, that I was an Ironman, and a bad ass, and just get out there. (only he did say it way nicer than that!!) So I did.
I totally forgot what a group ride feels like. All I could think was solo effort, and this is just not that. I had a great day, great group of people, and I felt awesome. I could have gone another 20 miles riding with that group and still have felt great. Got in a nice hard effort towards the end of the ride, and pushed extra hard thanks to a nice pull from Brad (that was awesome, thanks Brad!), and had some really nice conversations with new friends. Thanks Tiago and Sean! And to top it all off, the weather was absolutely picture perfect for a bike ride.
I just love this shot I took of some of the guys fixing a flat. It's the quintessential group ride flat fixing photo. The guy whose tire flatted is kinda standing watching, most of the guys are standing around trying to look busy, and the one guy who is the bike expert in the group is actually doing all the work.
I will definitely be out riding with these guys again. I hope I can convince them to come up my way once or twice. Huge thanks to Luis for dragging me out there, making me believe I could do it - no problem! - and for taking some really amazing pics!!
Go find a great group to ride with. Get out to Masters and swim with others. Find a local running club that you can run with once or twice a week. Make training fun again for a while. And if you are like me, it will probably help you get out there when you would sometimes just rather snuggle back under the covers, or get one more task on the list checked off.
Happy Group Training!
and please remember to support CCFA
Kat
