The weather finally cooperated last weekend. We had a beautiful ride through Fall City/Carnation farmland. Being out with the cows is my favorite! My toes were finally not numb, but my knee started really hurting. And not the regularly obstinate knee. Worrisome. When can I relax with the technical issues and focus on just complaining about my sore rear end like everyone else?!
Unfortunately, there seems to be a new policy among the weather gods that it needs to rain every other time Norma goes out for a ride. Seriously, even if it's clear all day, it starts dumping once I'm 10 miles out. I'm not sure what I've done, but I seem to have angered them.
Take a look at a great video by a school teacher, cancer survivor and TNT honor patient whose students created a Team in Training video. Great for if/when we need reminding about why we are doing this... http://www.fifeschools.com/media/shula/tntvideo08.html
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
When can we give up and call Saggy Bill?
Today we did a 40 mile Kent to Black Diamond loop, which would have been a beautiful ride if it hadn't rained for the first half of it. And right before the halfway mark I totally lost steam - which a snack actually seemed to help. Maybe I need more breakfast than my usual yogurt and granola?! (One of the coaches suggested french fries before a ride. I could totally get on board with that idea.) Or maybe I could/should be more diligent about getting those weekday miles in...
As an added bonus, several other things went wrong for me. I often get numb toes in my bike shoes and someone suggested it could be as simple as too-tight socks, so I tried different socks than my regular thin Smartwool. And I regretted it. It was also the first time I had used my new gloves in the all-out rain. Right after the halfway bakery, I couldn't feel my toes and couldn't work my breaks with my frozen fingers - and I started to genuinely worry about how long you can go without feeling in your appendages before you start losing them (anyone know?). And being covered with mud, even in my mouth, was getting old.
Finally I did the seemingly impossible, and I asked for help which luckily I received in the form of a hand warmer - don't leave home without them. And how am I rewarded? Flat Tire. So the whole team (7 people) who were cold themselves had to wait and get more cold while I clumsily wrestled with the tire. I was dangerously close to calling Saggy Bill, the driver of the S.A.G. (Support And Gear) vehicle, to come extract me from the field permanently and figure out if I could give people their money back. (Yes, they really call him Saggy Bill, and he doesn't seem to mind.)
What exactly is the universe trying to teach me?! Yes, I have trouble being vulnerable and depending on people. I just didn't know I was going to have to work on it here. I thought the physical part was challenge enough. As my therapist's friend would call it, "another f***ing opportunity for personal growth!"
I've had better days. But I've had worse. And many other people have had much worse. So the adventure goes.
As an added bonus, several other things went wrong for me. I often get numb toes in my bike shoes and someone suggested it could be as simple as too-tight socks, so I tried different socks than my regular thin Smartwool. And I regretted it. It was also the first time I had used my new gloves in the all-out rain. Right after the halfway bakery, I couldn't feel my toes and couldn't work my breaks with my frozen fingers - and I started to genuinely worry about how long you can go without feeling in your appendages before you start losing them (anyone know?). And being covered with mud, even in my mouth, was getting old.
Finally I did the seemingly impossible, and I asked for help which luckily I received in the form of a hand warmer - don't leave home without them. And how am I rewarded? Flat Tire. So the whole team (7 people) who were cold themselves had to wait and get more cold while I clumsily wrestled with the tire. I was dangerously close to calling Saggy Bill, the driver of the S.A.G. (Support And Gear) vehicle, to come extract me from the field permanently and figure out if I could give people their money back. (Yes, they really call him Saggy Bill, and he doesn't seem to mind.)
What exactly is the universe trying to teach me?! Yes, I have trouble being vulnerable and depending on people. I just didn't know I was going to have to work on it here. I thought the physical part was challenge enough. As my therapist's friend would call it, "another f***ing opportunity for personal growth!"
I've had better days. But I've had worse. And many other people have had much worse. So the adventure goes.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Roadside Attractions
This week's big group ride was 35ish miles on the West Valley Highway from Kent to Puyallup. (I learned where Sumner is along the way - yes, I grew up here and should know that already.) Apparently it was a section of the STP route. It's not terribly scenic, which is what they say about most of the STP route - so I'm a little worried. At least it was nice and flat. With not a lot to look at, I was keenly aware of what was there...
When I got home, I crashed on the couch and inadvertantly slept for 4-5 hours. This seemed a little excessive and worrisome. Apparently, it might mean I'm not drinking enough water over the course of my week. I put a "wag more, bark less" sticker on my water bottle at work to hopefully help inspire me to drink more.
The good news is that I learned that recovery drinks aren't just a gymmick; they really are a good idea for endurance activity. And even better, the same possitive effects can be achieved by drinking chocolate milk! Yum. So Trader Joe's chocolate soy milk (doesn't need to be refrigerated while you ride) will be waiting for me at the end of every ride.
- Tarp World (am I the only one excited about that?)
- roadkill - possums, rat, mouse, and a really gross racoon
- two llamas (both alive, one pooping)
- an old exersaucer in a ditch
- my first angry dog chasing me (scary)
When I got home, I crashed on the couch and inadvertantly slept for 4-5 hours. This seemed a little excessive and worrisome. Apparently, it might mean I'm not drinking enough water over the course of my week. I put a "wag more, bark less" sticker on my water bottle at work to hopefully help inspire me to drink more.
The good news is that I learned that recovery drinks aren't just a gymmick; they really are a good idea for endurance activity. And even better, the same possitive effects can be achieved by drinking chocolate milk! Yum. So Trader Joe's chocolate soy milk (doesn't need to be refrigerated while you ride) will be waiting for me at the end of every ride.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Getting Back Up on the Bike
I was sick for over a week - like everyone else it seems, including the contestants on American Idol (that's how bad I felt). I had a hard time functioning at all, so I didn't get out on my bike for almost two weeks [gulp]. Plus, I couldn't make it on the last two Saturday team rides anyway due to coaching volleyball games. So I've felt disconnected and behind; therefore igniting my first feelings of resistance to getting on my bike. 
It feels a little too soon in the game to already feel that way. Luckily, our coach, Russ, is on my fridge telling me to ride my bike - which reminds me both of the good people involved (probably not waiting to scold me, as I fear) and the reasons bigger than myself for doing all this.
I got out of the house by allowing myself to pop my bike on top of Ruby Sue and drive to the Burke Gilman Trail rather than face the embarrassingly small hill between my house and the trail. I needed to get in 35ish miles, so I decided to head from the BGT to Alki then Lincoln Park via the waterfront and the Spokane Street bridge. My knees complained at first and I was slower than I'd like, but I put This American Life and Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me podcasts in one ear (just one ear,I promise - we can talk about earphones and bike safety later) and, as usual, 
I eventually got into a groove. I definitely have an endurance body - I finally really get going after about 9-10 miles. And pretty soon I was slightly embarrassed for laughing out loud to myself, but feeling good about life again. I swear cycling has a direct effect on my brain chemistry.
The only real adventure came in the form of a brief thunderstorm where I was pelted with freezing rain while being able to see blue sky everywhere else around the city - feeling like that cartoon where the little cloud followed the guy around... and I re-learned the lesson that I should always take one more layer than it looks like I'll need for any outdoor adventure. If the weather turns at all, everything can change.
Then almost back to the car, I spotted by my most recent boyfriend for the first time since we broke up, and he was walking with a woman I didn't recognize. Surprisingly, I had an delightfully peaceful and content reaction... maybe there are all kinds of healing possible through riding a bike.
I got out of the house by allowing myself to pop my bike on top of Ruby Sue and drive to the Burke Gilman Trail rather than face the embarrassingly small hill between my house and the trail. I needed to get in 35ish miles, so I decided to head from the BGT to Alki then Lincoln Park via the waterfront and the Spokane Street bridge. My knees complained at first and I was slower than I'd like, but I put This American Life and Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me podcasts in one ear (just one ear,
The only real adventure came in the form of a brief thunderstorm where I was pelted with freezing rain while being able to see blue sky everywhere else around the city - feeling like that cartoon where the little cloud followed the guy around... and I re-learned the lesson that I should always take one more layer than it looks like I'll need for any outdoor adventure. If the weather turns at all, everything can change.
Then almost back to the car, I spotted by my most recent boyfriend for the first time since we broke up, and he was walking with a woman I didn't recognize. Surprisingly, I had an delightfully peaceful and content reaction... maybe there are all kinds of healing possible through riding a bike.
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