How Ugly Was It? How do I know this Suffering?

It was pretty ugly! Add in a bike to the above photo...and we are set...more accurately it felt like the above photo!

I rode the time trial course for the first time this afternoon...and it was pretty ugly.  I have been sitting here trying to compare my suffering to other suffering that I have experienced on the bike.  It felt so familiar!  Yes, the ugly is called a hill and  yes it is a CAT 4 climb....but how do I know this suffering?  What hill do I know that I can compare this to?

I arrived at the Freightliner on 1-40 going west and decided that I would go make  new friends and discover what they were all about...since I will now be in the vicinity a lot and will have to use their restroom!  Also I wanted to make sure, in person, that I could park in their lot.  Sure!  No Problem! 

They are a national company that sits off major highways and they repair the big rigs and service them as they cross country.  They have expanded work hours so the truckers can come in at pretty much any time. They have a lounge where the truckers can relax and watch TV as they wait for their rigs to be serviced.

Everything in their lots was so big and my SUV looked very small in comparison.  I parked my "blueberry" next to an 18 wheeler and  had easy access to the frontage road where I would begin my own mini race to get an idea of the work I have to do...and it is a lot!

Off I went along a roughly paved road that made me think I had a  serious flat. No, not a flat, just a crappy road that bumped and shuddered at every extension of the pavement.  The jolting took its toll on the body and kept shaking loose my headlamp mounted on my handlebars and kept turning the light on.VERY rough road.

The first almost 5 miles were all uphill but not at a very steep grade.  More like a false flat although the road ran parallel to 1-40 and you could tell all those cars and trucks were going up!  And after the 5 miles, is where the fun began,.  I am being sarcastic.  There began a 2 mile downhill that was quite steep.  Due to the poor road conditions, I was hesitant to let myself fly....AND I realized, that at the bottom of the hill, I somehow needed to slow down and pull a uey...yes, that's right a U-Turn.  I gave up... given there was no traffic control and I had to stop and put a foot down, turn to look for traffic and begin again,...this time UP what I had just flown down.

It is this suffering that I speak of.  Yes, a  hill!  A 2 mile hill that seemed to never end.  I had no idea whether I would make  it up...but I am a stubborn woman and as my pace dropped down below unmentionable speeds, I began to talk out loud between heaves of breath...telling myself to have supreme optimism....telling myself to channel the focus of Cadel Evans...to find my rhythm...even if it was slow....to not  look to the top...just look a bit ahead. Later, I realized I knew this suffering...it was a longer Elena Gallegos climb ..and on a more shitty road!  Trying to push over the top...my pace picked up...that felt good....more and more speed as I crested the hill and went on a temporary downhill.  I  told myself I have to learn this course and take advantage of my weight on the downs and flats and push the speed. 

Somehow, after all that energy expenditure, I had a kick left in me. I knew my cardio was good,. That is when  I thought, "I like this distance, it is manageable for me."  I pushed and pushed and was going over 21 mph.  And in honor of Stephanie, I can say that there was an actual "roller" on the way back to the finish line  that I will handle better on my next attempt! 

So, sad to say, for me to meet my self-imposed goal, I will have to increase my avg. speed by 3.8 MPH.  How sad.
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Update on  Weight:  Given that it is that time of the month, I am maintaining my losses. "Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishments"  Jim Rohn

The Ride That Wasn't!

Cece and her friend Stephanie had been watching the wind and the weather all week.  They had planned to ride  the time trial route and wanted to make sure they picked a good day...given the strong winds lately!  Also, this route was out in the boonies and on a barren stretch near a truck stop in the scrub on the outskirts of the city.

It was Sunday and the weather looked good.  They would meet at 3pm and drive out to the location.  Once out there, Stephanie did not feel comfortable where Cece wanted to park because she is more of a rule follower than Cece is.  She had another parking idea and Cece went with Steph's better judgement. 

They  got to the barren abandoned gas station and parked.  There was nothing.  Cece had to pee.  She considered herself lucky that her first cycling coach Debbie had taught her the trick of "being able to pee any where at any time." And so she did...she quickly peed and she was off to get her bike ready.

And so began the ride that wasn't. Stephanie commented, "Look at that bag over there...there is a dead animal in it."  We could see fur coming out of the bag and we both got the chills.  Cece tried to pump up her back tire and the valve would not hold.  All the air leaked out through the valve.  When Cece examined it , she told Stephanie, I think I have a malfunctioning valve and stem and before she knew it, it came off right in her hand.  Great.

Put the bike upside down....try not to get too greasy...take the rear wheel off....tire off...tube out....comment on how fast some of their friends could change a flat....question how long has it been since she  changed a tire?  Seems like years!  But off they came.  Soon, a new tube was being placed and as they pumped it up , again the valve and stem broke right off. Cece is sure she uttered a curse!

Stephanie said, " This is an omen.  Let's not ride today."  Between 2 malfunctions and an animal in a bag....  they looked at each other knowing that they were going to ride in the virtual wilderness and into no where's land.  They agreed. No ride for today.

Stephanie said, "Let's go to Annapurna and get a chai tea!"  Cece agreed that it would be nice to recover there.  Off they went. As they arrived, they realized  that Annapurna was closed.  See the bad juju still in effect?  Cece suggested that  Stephanie come to her place and have a chai tea.  They agreed  and finally they began to have a pleasant afternoon...catching up and talking about all sorts of topics.....

Football Any One? Letting Yourself Go!

Cece watched her first football game during the super bowl.   She got hooked watching the pre-game show and listening to all the back stories about the two teams AND she wanted to see Madonna.

Shortly before the Superbowl though she had joined a new gym and met a pro-football player who worked out very hard.  He was retired and still was in very good shape.  He was kind and worked with her and spotted her on the bench press.  They are developing a nice friendship.

So, the other day, she asked him how many crunches he does every day as she watched him do crunch after crunch, this way then that a way.  He told her 2,000!  Cece was amazed and asked him why he did so many crunches. He told her,"Because one time, I let myself go and I got lazy working out and  I don't ever want to get that way again."

Later, she thought about that and decided that the next time she sees him at the gym, she is going to ask him about the time he let himself go  and ask him if he is comfortable talking about it.  Well, that day was today.  He had brought pictures of his football days when he was player of the year for the Chargers.  He looked very good...much like he  does to this day.  So, Cece took a risk and asked him the question....about letting himself go and how it happened, what happened etc.

Well, he told her, he likes to maintain his weight at his playing weight which is  214. He is about 6 foot 3.  He played one of those running positions that catches the ball after the quarterback throws it.   214 is the weight he likes to hold.  Well, Cece asked, when you let yourself go, how much weight did  you gain?"  Well, he said, I got up to 224."  In amazement, Cece said , "Well that is only a ten pound gain!"  Yes, he replied, he I got i t all here."  He pointed to his stomach.  She told him, "When I let myself go,  I put on  30 pounds." She pointed to her hips and thighs.  He smiled.

Cece thought about this. Once she gets down to her goal weight, she needs to make sure that she does not keep taking it off and then putting it back on...which she has been doing.  If she can catch  "I am letting myself go" at a 10 pound gain it will be way easier to take off than a 30 pound gain.

She will have more talks with this man about how he keeps  his motivation up etc and will keep you posted.
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Update on Weight loss:    I am down 6.0 pounds of the 10  I want to loose by March 16th.

The Wind is a Liar!

All week I had been planning to ride on Wednesday afternoon.  Joe Diaz, our beloved weatherman,  and the Weather Underground all promised the weather to be fairly warm in the high 50s with about 9 mph winds.  HURRAY!  I could get outdoors at the end of February!

On the way home from work, I watched all the flags blowing, not quite straight out, but I could tell it was  pretty windy.  Should I ride outdoors or should I ride in the comfort of the indoors?  That was the question. Those of you that know me, know I do not like the cold and wind in combination and I rationalized I only had one thing I hated..the wind...it was pretty warm out hovering round 65 degrees. 

Once at home, I went to the Weather Underground...a weather site that tell you hour by hour what the wind speed and temperature is from various weather stations that you can choose for your destination.  I chose the weather station along my route.  It said Zero wind!  And it said 65 degrees!  I  wondered if  on my ride route there would be no wind...it could be possible.  I got ready, got dressed for windy weather...thinking the wind was a liar and set off for my ride while there was still enough sun light to complete it! 

When I arrived I greeted a woman who was walking by as I was getting my bike ready.    I told her,  "This is my first ride outdoors this winter."  She said, "Well this weather must be  heaven for you then!"  I agreed as  I stood in a slight wind and the warm sunshine.

Off I went in a southern direction!  The breeze was coming from the west and was not at all bad.  I was happy that I could feel all the training I had done indoors and at the gym doing hamstring curls and other forms of torture to get my legs stronger.  I was maintaining a 19 mph speed.  This WAS heaven! 

I got to my turn around point and started back. As I rode back it was getting colder.  AND the wind was picking up.  I now had a head wind to cycle through to get all the way back to my starting point.  OK, I thought I am  going to channel the focus and determination of Cadel Evans and  will get myself home in one piece.

And that is just what  I did with maximum speeds of 11-12 mph!  URGH!  It was  tough going feeling  like someone was pulling me back with a r ope around my waist.  Later, I met a woman in the parking lot who cycled in after  I did.  We discussed the horrid wind and guessed it was between 15 and 25mph.

When I got home, I discovered it was 18 mph. Well, the cyclists mantra..."The  wind is your training partner" comes to mind...and  so it was.
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UPDATE on weight loss goal: As of 2/23 I have lost 5.6 pounds of the 10 pounds  to be lost by March 16th.

A Long Time, Not Writing! Getting my "Zup" On!

What have I been doing you might ask?  I have been riding indoors with Troy Jacobson, working out at the gym  and dealing with a sick cat.  The three do not go together.  I will stick to talk of cycling! 

Just Wednesday night, I made the decision to enter a time trial in May.  I chose to race the 20K.  Call me crazy...but it is giving me added motivation and Zup!  What is Zup!  Amped up motivation!

I have spoken to the race director twice in two days and he told me to call him again!  Go figure.  Nice guy!  I drove the course today and thought, "What have I gotten in to?  This course has lots of hills...and lots of long hills...and long false flats.....and no Stephanie...the hills are not rollers!

So besides  work with my trainer and consulting with other cyclists about my plan of action , what I am doing?  What is the major thing to accomplish?  Losing that winter weight....because I will cycle much faster with 15 pounds off me than  I will with it on me!  I hear you saying "DUGH!""  So this must be my priority...taking off those dreaded pounds! 

My first goal is a 10 pound goal by March 16th.  So far I have lost  3.6 of  the 10 pounds!  I will keep you posted.
cece

When Your Eye Doctor is a Cyclist

Cece went to her annual eye exam.  When she saw the doctor, the conversation went like this:

What rides did you do this past year?

How did your training go?

Are you getting outdoors now or are you indoors on the trainer?  When will you move indoors?  You like to ride in the rain and wind?

How did you hurt your shoulder (Cece to the Dr.)

Are you still able to ride?
Can you see your cycle computer with your sunglasses on?

Are the sun glasses protecting your eyes when you look out and over at the road?

Are your eyes drying out from the wind?

As you can tell, there was a lot to discuss.... and Cece giggled at the unique pre-exam questioning! Yes, they finally got around to the computer work and the looking from the computer to the paper....and the "can you see this?" ..."which is better"  questioning...but it is nice to have a Dr. who understands your cycling passion and can help you to see as well as possible given those sometimes extreme rides!

The Glory of the Cottonwoods : Beauty Unsurpassed

There are just some days that nothing will soothe you except  nature.  And so , on the day after Cece had to orchestrate the comings and goings of her staff and medically fragile clients during a multi-hour SWAT team stand off, Cece took the afternoon off to find solace...and....she knew what would soothe her.

On her way to work,  she saw the glistening cottonwoods along the Bosque as she crossed the Montano Bridge.  She saw the glimmer of leaves and thought they resembled gold coins flickering in the sun.  She has been riding on her trainer indoors lately or not riding along the Bosque...and she thought that morning, on her drive in,  that she should see the beauty along the way with her own eyes  She did not want to miss the color before it darkened.. So off she went to ride a 22 mile loop.

As she rode along, even when this guy passed her, she did not care.  She was soaking in the beauty.  It was like a trip down memory lane.  She has been riding her beloved bosque for many years now and she rides it  all year round.  She sees the seasons change and she feels like she knows every inch of this land....every turn, every tree...she is able to notice the small changes too.  When she met Kind Daniel of the Open Space he showed her which tree to watch for the eagle when it gets a bit cooler and  he showed her a picture that he took of it last year.

Today, she was remembering....

She remembered a berry fight she had with her friend Gilbert as he took her riding off road.  They shot the berries  at each other like kids....and rides with college kids and men in the army who taught her to go fast on the corners, rides with the team along this path to get to another path toward a hellish climb, then socializing with friends as we rode....meeting new friends...surprising friends along the way.....today it seemed sentimental to her as she remembered her friend Tom and how he taught her, years ago,  to shift and how he made her laugh.....and how none of them could hear....

The memories were as alive as the fluttering of all the leaves...and the memories spoke to Cece.  The old trees were speaking to her and reminding her to have gratitude for all the paths she has ridden down.

You never know where they will take you....