Hello, Muscle, Have We Met?

Our assistant coach arranged to do core/cross training as a team on Thursday evenings, which began tonight. There were two of us that showed up besides him, and there were a lot of laughs. Most of the giggles came from me. Some of the exercises that we did reminded me of PE in school, and some of them were completely new to me. He would tell us what we were going to do and then proceeded to show us. I’m sure that I had the deer in the headlights look every-so-often. Come to find out, some of the things we were doing were yoga exercises-which has been completely foreign to me…until tonight, that is. Macey was the other participant and she was such an encourager, and would give me helpful hints. I have never thought of myself as being overly coordinated, and I would get in a position, and then I’d crumple, fall, and laugh. I love that I can usually laugh at myself.

2 hours later, I still have legs that feel like jelly. I’m sure that I will be reintroduced to muscles that I had forgotten that I’ve met before tomorrow. This is a good thing. After all, “pain is weakness leaving the body,” right? I look forward to more Thursday evening training sessions.

Through Sun, Wind, Rain, Sleet and Hail. Ok, small exaggeration.

There were 6 of us riding on Saturday. For a crummy weather report, we all felt that the ride started out with really nice weather. Or maybe we spoke too soon.

We started in Meridian and headed out towards South Boise. Before we knew it, we were out beyond the airport., and we were still going. We were enjoying our ride, when we saw other cyclists coming towards us. As they would pass, they yelled, “GO TEAM!” I wasn’t sure what to think of that because the only article of clothing that would give it away that we were with Team In Training were a pair of bike shorts. Any other TNT clothing was hidden beneath layers. Come to find out, this was the TNT Triathlon team, doing their cycling. That was fun. It was also fun to run into another cycling teammate as he had decided to do his own ride that day. They all had just come down a hill that we were about to go up. I’ve been down this hill before, and it is a lot more fun going down, but had never gone up it, and I must say the going up wasn’t bad. Of course, it makes all the difference to have a cycling buddy riding right next to you, carrying on a conversation all the way up. (Thanks, Allison!)

When we got to Ten Mile Creek, the wind started coming up a little bit, and it started raining lightly. Because this road has very little traffic, we practiced a group pace line. We were in two rows of 3 riding side by side. The person in the front of the right lane would let off on the pace as the person in the front on the left lane would pass the right lane and then do a lane change, making them the front of the right lane. As the right lane made way for the ones in the left lane, the rider in the back of the right lane would then go over to be in the back in the left lane as soon as the third rider would pass them. The left lane would pedal a little harder than the right lane so that they could get past the riders on the right. Once a rider gets to the right lane, they get a chance to rest a bit. It was really fun, almost dance-like.

As we were doing this, the rain started coming down harder, The rain turned to snow, then…hail? If it wasn’t hail, whatever it was, it stung my cheek when as it hit me. Then, as suddenly as it started, it quit. This little cloud burst got us much more muddy than the first ride in the rain. Lot’s of mud up to the top of my helmet.

We all made it back to our cars safely, loaded up and headed our separate ways.

28.33 miles, 1 hour 58 minutes. 14.5 Average Speed. 28 Max Speed. Total Miles on my bike: 1104.53

Beautiful Spring Day

Today was an absolutely gorgeous day to ride 25 miles! Before we started out, we were told that we would break up into two groups: The Less Experienced and the More Experienced. After hearing what the More Experienced group was going to do, I wanted to jump in with them-and said so, but put in a disclaimer stating that looking at the rest of them, I’d be the slowest one. Our assistant coach (Daniel) said, “Come on with us!” So-I did. We headed towards Lucky Peak and I was able to keep up for a little while, and took a turn at leading the pace line. Then all of a sudden, I lost steam. As we kept going, I kept getting further behind. Daniel stayed with me, saw what my speed was and then he and I created a pace line at my pace.

The two groups met up and I told my group, “You’re too fast for me! I’m going over with the other group.” The More Experienced group encouraged me to stay with them, but I told them that I was going at about 14 mph and didn’t want to hold them up (they go a solid 18-22mph, and faster when they can). As I ducked under a chain to get with the other group, everyone started taking off. When we got to the Lucky Peak recreation area, we stopped, took a bit of a break, then headed up the hill towards hill top. The majority of the group that I was with hadn’t been up hills yet, so I tried to give tips about going up this hill…EAT before you start. Start the hill in your climbing gear, things like that. Our group was stopping just above the dam to regroup, and meet the More Experienced group who were going up to the top of hilltop.

Side note: I’ve been curious about how, if any, the spin classes that I’ve been taking all winter will help me with hills. This particular hill, I always end up in my granniest granniest gear and go 4-6mph. Today, I stayed on my middle ring, and found out later that I didn’t even go to the easiest gear on that middle gear! There was one point where I thought I wanted to go easier, but decided to push myself. My speed also didn’t dip below 6mph. It was typically 6.5 or 7 (still not stellar, but I felt so encouraged)!

When I got to the top of the dam, I thought about going further up towards hilltop, but decided to stick it out with my group. We waited for a little while, then decided to head back down and finish the ride. The rest of the ride was fabulous. It got to the point that I nearly stopped to take off one of three layers. But then the wind would come up and I was glad I had that extra layer on. We got back to the cars and hung out for a little while, talking about mid-week rides and scheduling those. I am looking forward to getting to know my teammates better.

If you have considered donating to this cause but haven't done it yet, it's not too late. Please go to the link at the upper left hand portion of my blog. This will take you to my fundraising page to securely make your tax free deduction. We are saving lives one mile at a time.

25.14 miles, 1 hour 50 minutes. 13.8 Average Speed. 31.5 Max Speed. Total Miles on my bike: 1076.2

Soaked but Exhilarated

3/5/11 Last Saturday’s ride was AMAZING! We started out by attending a potluck, listening to several testimonies of how TNT and the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society have helped people personally. I was honored to listen to people who wouldn’t be here, talking to me if it wasn’t for the funds that have gone into research for a cure for these blood cancers. Some of these people have just completed a round of treatments; some of them have been in remission for years. That Saturday was one person’s anniversary of when they found out that they had this disease, and the next day was another’s anniversary of the same. These testimonies bring home the reason that I am riding with Team in Training.

Once all of the testimonies had been given, the cyclists were told to mount up. So we all put on our layers of clothing (it was about 46°F, cloudy skies with a chance of rain) and headed out. While I was waiting for everyone, I was trying to decide if I needed to grab my sunglasses. With how cloudy it was, I didn’t think I would need them-but Allison reminded me that if it does start to rain, it would be nice to have the glasses to shield my eyes from raindrops. Good point. I went to get them (and am SO glad that I did!).

This ride was a different experience than the rides that we had done in the past. This time, instead of 2-5 of us, there were 9 of us (there are more, but a few couldn’t make it this day). I am so excited to get to know my teammates and continue riding with them.

When we started the ride, we knew that there were going to be two ride options. The first one was 13 miles and the second one was 23. After having been in spin classes all Winter, I wasn’t sure how I would be feeling on my bike and was a little doubtful that I would feel good for 13 miles let alone 23. When I started having doubts, I decided to take control of those thoughts and tell myself that I could do this. Truly, I knew that I could do it-but you know how sometimes you just need a reminder? It started to rain a little, and the roads were wet, so we all started getting that wonderful brown line up our bums and backs. At one point, I was in a position in the lineup where I was right in the middle. The people in front were way ahead and the people behind were not way behind, but there was a gap. I decided to try and catch the folks in the front. Pretty soon I hear the “whoosh whoosh” of bicycle tires being powerfully propelled behind me. Daniel, our assistant coach, looked over and said, “Jump on” as he flew past me like I was just sitting still. He was referring to drafting behind him. I tried to catch him, but the guy is F-A-S-T! That was at the bottom of a very gradual incline, and the hill caught me unaware, so I found myself gasping for breath. About half way up, I heard a spin instructors voice say, “Take deep breaths and breathe through your nose as much as possible.” As soon as I started to do that, I was able to regain breathing composure, get my heart rate back under control, and finish up the hill without any other problems.

We came to the point of the group separating, the 13-mile riders heading back to the cars and the 23-mile riders doing another loop. As the 13-mile riders departed, I was thinking with fond memories of my first ride. (See blog entry “Rubber, Meet Road. Road, Meet Knee, Elbow, and Bum”.)

We got about half way through the loop the second time and needed to add a little out and back section to get in the mileage. We rounded a corner and headed down a hill into what looked like a cul-de-sac. We circled around and headed back up the hill. It’s amazing the different perspectives of a hill. Coming down it, it didn’t seem too steep or large. Rounding that corner, the hill looked like a wall to me. I didn’t dwell on it, I just jumped out of my seat and started pedaling-“running” up the hill. For a few moments, I felt like I was doing great, keeping up speed, not gearing down, when all of a sudden, I hear, “Wanna race?” right beside me. I look over and AJ is sitting on his seat, pedaling, and passing me like I’m standing still. I had to laugh. Ah well. I have some strength to build, and some things to figure out bike-wise, still. I also have to remind myself that it’s been 4 months since I’ve been on my bike, but more importantly, I’ve only been riding since the end of last May (9 months). Towards the end of the ride, the rain started really to come down. It had been sprinkling here and there, but now, it was a proper rain. I started to wonder how I was going to get home in my car without getting the drivers seat all dirty and wet. Once I figured that out, I sat back and enjoyed the rest of the ride.

(At the end of the ride, I asked Allison to take a picture of my back, but I’ll spare your eyes.)

Coming away from last Saturday’s ride, I was pleased at how I physically felt because of the spinning that I had been doing those 4 months. I didn’t know how that would help, whether it would build strength, endurance, or what. I have yet to see if spin classes will help me climb hills, but I’m sure I’ll have that chance in the next week or two. This Saturday, I look forward to a longer ride.

Later, Saturday evening, I looked at my bike helmet and found mud splattered up to the top of it. COOOOOOL!

22.34 miles, 1 hour 31 minutes. 14.2 Average Speed. ??? Max Speed (My computer tells me 47.9 but there’s no way I made it that fast. More like 25.) Total Miles on my bike: 1051.1

Mission Moments:

Mission Moments:

At the beginning of most training sessions, we have what’s called a “Mission Moment”. This is where we hear stories of/or from people battling one form of blood cancer or another. This helps to remind us why we are pushing our bodies to do things that some of us thought we could never do. When I start thinking about giving up, it’s the mission moments and the personal moments that remind me that quitting is not an option.

This last Saturday’s mission moment reminded me why I’m out there riding the pavement (well, actually, so far, why I’m on the spin bike), not from a stranger’s perspective, but from someone I’ve known for several years.

Two years ago, my friend’s husband was diagnosed with stage 0 Leukemia. They were told that a person can stay at this stage for 15-20 years before it progresses, IF it progresses. Over the last three weeks, he went in for more testing. The results of the testing confirmed that the cancer has progressed and they are discussing treatments.

This Saturday will be our first ride outside for the season. The distance options are going to be 13 miles or 23 miles. I’m going for the 23 mile loop. I’ve been anxious about riding in the cold due to not liking to be cold-but eager to get on my bike. But when I ride this Saturday, when I want to quit and go warm up, I will be thinking of all of the people that I’m riding in memory and in honor of, realizing that they couldn’t and can’t quit. What gives me the right to consider the option to quit?

I am so close to my fundraising goal. Would you consider helping me get there? Please go tohttp://pages.teamintraining.org/oswim/ambbr11/jkdowner to securely make your tax deductable donation. If you don’t want to donate on line, you can write a check to LLS and give it to me-I’ll make sure it gets there.

Thank you so much for your consideration to donating.