I have been rolling on two wheels a lot the past few weeks.
The entire month of March was painful. I could barely walk, running was excruciating, swimming wasn’t an option after the world shut down, but biking and push-up’s kept my mood above water. I didn’t ride very hard, and only for an hour or so a handful of days per week, but I was smiling when the wheels were turning. In the past, I have felt a direct correlation between my bike fitness and running and swimming. It’s incredible what the body can accomplish after nine or so consecutive weekly 100+ bike rides. But there is more to it than that, when I am in great “bike” shape, I feel better in body, mind, and spirit.
Throughout the month of April, I was slowly getting my fire back, and a big part of that progression was being consistently inspired by my TeamHPB teammates for their heroic fitness accomplishments, (The Yeti Challenge, biking over 1,000 miles, snagging QOM segments, etc,). I was impressed, amazed, and proud of every one of them. Miraculously, near the end of the month, the heavy post-LA Marathon fog lifted, and I was ready to push myself again.
Cheering on my friend and teammate, Jess Zaiss, during her 4th segment of the Yeti Challenge, (30 miles in 24 hours), on April 25th.
Since there are zero pools open in LA County, and my right leg injury is improving, but running a lot, or as much as I would like to, (50-60 miles per week) would not be wise during this rebuild period, pedaling seemed to be the surefire option to scratch the goal-pursuing itch I was after. However, I did not want to choose a mileage goal, because I wanted to split up the riding between my three bikes, (DIMONDTri-Bike/Simone, TREK/Trainer, and FUGI/road bike), but Simone is the only bike that tracks mileage. I have a power meter and computer on my TREK, but it is not hooked up to ZWIFT, or any other snazzy software, so it does not track mileage, just watts, cadence, etc. Meanwhile, the FUGI is completely naked. It has no computer of any kind. Therefore, instead of mileage, I wanted to track hours, and a made a pitch to my coach to ride twenty hours per week for the month of May.
Unsurprisingly, she said, “Yes!”
My coach, Hillary Biscay and I re-connecting after a strange event called a "race," last December at Ironman Indian Wells, 70.3.
A fun twist to this Massive May riding adventure is that my typical long Saturday rides have not been super long at all, (only up to eighty miles so far), but what makes those rides so diffi-, err, interesting, is that they call for over 6,000ft. of elevation gain.
Now for those of you who know me in real life, you are aware that I am not a small person. I stand just shy of 5’11, and weigh 156-158lbs., which is not exactly the body type to earn the Polka-Dotted Queen of The Mountain jersey, but with the help and camaraderie of my friend and teammate, Lynne Fiedler, a deft, and speedy climber, I am racking up those weekly vertical feet just fine. In fact, I am usually peppier during the second or third climbs of the day. Although those efforts are never easy, since we get to ride in the gorgeous Santa Monica Mountains, they are always beautiful.
Lynne and I post-long, 6,500ft. ride last Saturday in Malibu.
Naturally, I am thrilled to be slinking back into fitness, but what I find most fascinating, is that as soon as I decided to pursue this goal, the annoying fatigue that I couldn't shake during the LA Marathon prep, (and demoralizing aftermath), had disappeared completely. That said, I am not at the tip-top of my game for every workout. Obviously, this kind of load takes a toll, but it is a stress that I believe is building me up versus tearing me down. The fact is, I feel better than I have in months, but not just physically, more so because it is gratifying to re-engage the competitive spark inside me that wants to improve daily.
Your tall pal, T, pedaling away last Sunday.
I still have many more hours to ride, in fact I might be jumping the gun telling you all about this goal before I hit it, but whether I reach the 85+ hours I’m after or not by this Sunday, 5/31, I am still enjoying every pedal stroke on my way there.
The song and video choice this week is from one of my favorite bands, The Killer’s, it is their new single, Caution.
*BONUS*
Following is a link to a fantastic blog post from the incomparable Pro-Triathlete, FKT Vermont Long Trail record holder, Ironwomen podcast co-host, TeamHPB coach, and my friend and teammate, Alyssa Godesky.
CLICK HERE