Century Training Week 10

I got back to my training log...somehow I had "lost" it. Well, it had gotten moved in the flurry of my life this past month.

I not only got back to my log...but also to my training. I'm now re-thinking my original goal for May 8th's ride. I know I can finish the 50 mile, but I'd like to try for the 100 still, I just want to finish with some sort of dignity. But that's my pride talking. It seems that everyone I know knows someone who has finished something way grander than what I am trying. In fact, finishing a century isn't a novel idea. It's just for me it keeps me on a target with a goal. Something that seems way beyond what I would normally do.

I rode 11.5 miles on Saturday and 8.4 miles yesterday. I was going to ride today, but not sure as the weather looks bad and it is suppose to be an off day today. I overdid it last year and then I couldn't ride for 3 days I was so sore. I don't want to do that again.

This last month hasn't been a total waste as far as my rare bike riding goes: I've ridden to work more or walked more than I have since it snowed; I got to ride 3 glorious days in Cannon Beach, OR; I've learned some bike stuff at the Boise Bike Project. I've re-evaluated my goals to make shorter term goals as well. My goals for the month of April are: 1) stay on track, 2) decide which ride to ride on May 8th, 3) volunteer at the Boise Bike Project and 4)get the junk food out of my diet this month (I had way too many cookies last night!)

Sometimes I feel like I get off kilter with my walk with God...sometimes I just don't look at the training log (God's Word, the Bible) as often as I should. It gets pushed around as my schedule gets busy and allergy season starts. Even though I am reading through a Bible reading plan and I consistently go to church on Sunday and am involved in a small Bible study I sometimes feel like I am in autopilot. My life gets crazy with deadlines and allergies and two lovely daughters in the house. (Can you tell it's allergy season for me? All the trees are looking great which means my nose is not!)

Today I am reminded once again to live each day to the fullest. To love God with all my heart, soul and mind. To love those whom God has put around me as I love myself. It is in these two things that my life regains balance and I am on track!

"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Luke 11:33 (New International Version)

Century Training revisited

Bronchitus UGH! I am a big chicken to ride my bike alone. Mostly I think it is because to me riding is a social affair. Dave got bronchitus a couple of weeks ago which means I was stuck either riding my bike alone or riding the stationary bike. I have liked riding outside so I was bummed. And so being the "athlete" I am I just hoped every day that he would feel well enough (aka able to breath) to go outside...and every day ...no way jose.

So here I am revamping my century training. I am going to start up again on Week 5 and I am going to ride inside....even though the weather is still good outside...well I might end up changing my mind at the end of the week. I am going to Cascade for a couple of days and so I might (if I get gutsy enough) take my bike with me to ride a little up there. Maybe I'll blog about it. :)

We'll see.

Riding a Century? Are you nuts? Week 1

Last year around this time I got a book that was really how to ride a century in 100 days...or something like that. Being a planner I really liked how organized the book was and I really liked the chart. So I started the plan...did really good for about a month. Until my riding buddy, Dave, got sick. Now, I am a chicken to ride alone. I really don't like it. I rode to work and back for about a month (that was mostly alone...but not that far). Anyways...with no motivation and no riding buddy I gave it up. I thought that I could just ride on my stationary bike...but that is pretty boring so I just didn't ride much this past year.

What's a century though? Well, it is when you ride a bike for 100 miles....well there's some other milage also that counts...but, since I am a novice in this whole arena...let's just say I really want to ride the 100 miles. I know that there is no way that I could just get on my bike and ride tomorrow, so the plan in the book made a lot of sense to me.

Back to today...well, Saturday night actually. I thought that this week would be a great week to start the 100 days again. The way my week looks will work with what the plan requires for the 1st week. Ride Monday easy 30 min, rest Tuesday, ride Wednesday easy 30 min, Thurs-Friday rest, Saturday ride 1 hour moderate, Sunday rest. EASY right?

I don't know about you, but I tend to procrastinate. So since I woke up way earlier than normal on Sunday morning I started....well, I rode 30 min on my stationary bike! Then I talked Dave and David Jr. into riding on Monday (Dave's day off) on the green belt. After about 1 mile David Jr.'s bike got a flat..but I had an extra tire in one of my saddle bags (not my hips, the bags on my bike). So we got that fixed and rode another 4.5 miles into the heart of Boise. We had a great lunch at Prontos (a great pizza place) and rode back to the car. In total we rode 11 miles! ( a little more than the 30 minutes of easy riding)

Today I am sore! It's ok though. I am so glad to have started once again on my journey to ride a century. I just hope I can get up tomorrow to bike before Dave goes to work. It is way too hot to ride later in the day. I'll have to plan for it though. :)

Trying to ride the century reminds me of when Paul writes to the church in Romans...

I want to prepare to ride the century, but I put it off to another day; I don't want to be a couch potato...and yet that is sometimes what I am....woe is me.

"For I know that in me(that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present iwth me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will tod, I do not do; but the evil I willnot to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me...O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:18-20,24-25a)

I am thankful to God that in He has conquered sin and that through His power I can live a right life and I can flee sin. Praise the Lord for His everlasting goodness to give us a powerful savior!