Enfuego!!!

I rode 14 miles last night, and the wind was blowing up to 25 mph as usual. Today my legs feel like they are on fire. Good thing I'm resting today. FIRE!!!

And the Wind Blew...

So, at 8pm when I decided that the wind wasn't blowing any harder than other "bad wind days" (slowed down from 30 mph with 47 mph gusts to 20 mph with 28 mph gusts) it was time to try out the CamelBak. VERY cool contraption. Water tasted like plastic, however it was right there for the taking. VERY cool contraption. The wind was in from the south, which was perfect since my uphill is headed north. I made it uphill in the fastest time yet! Then, downhill was a different story. I hit a brick wall (figuratively of course), and it took me 25 minutes to ride 3.5 miles tonight. Got a good little workout though.




Spoke to Diane tonight. She's the outdoorsy one of the group. Her email address includes her love for mountian climbing. She informed me that this 40 mile ride is her warm up for her 14,000 feet mountain climb in Colorado this summer. WOW!!! She also told me she hasn't been on her bike in about a month. YEAH...evening the playing ground. Also, LeCreshia, who just purchased her bike about a month ago, hasn't given it the inaugural ride yet!! Another point for me :-) That's a pic of her bike. If I called it the Silver Bullet she'd get mad, so I'll have to come up with something else. Cre works out on a regular basis though, so, I'm anticipating their athletic abilities to trump my aspiring ath-a-let-a-cism. I did learn that the plan is that once we get to Mineral Wells, we are going to have lunch and take a long relaxing break. I LIKE BREAKS :-) Ok, must shower, clean dishes and go to bed. Now this is getting boring...

Wind Advisory

To add to my "40's"...the wind advisory from the National Weather Service says winds are going to be up to 40 mph this afternoon. Good times!!! Mother nature and I will go rounds again today, and she ain't gonna like it :-)

Last Week of Training

This is my new gear. The CamelBak is for hydration, the seat cover is for the more padding needed to keep my tooshie from falling off, and the watch is to look cool :-) (or maybe time the thing next weekend...whatever) Our hotel has been booked, and fear is rearing it's ugly head. "What am I thinking??!!" now applies to the 40 mile trek. I'm going to shoot for 25 miles tomorrow, and then tone it down the rest of the week. I do think I "should" be able to do this. I just get reminded regularly how out of shape and overweight I really am. I can't believe I let it get this bad. I didn't even know until I started really training for this thing, how bad I had let it get. I eat horribly, I never get out and exercise on a regular basis, and I'm paying the price. This has been a DEFINATE eye opener. I can't wait for this to be more fun than work. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting outside almost everyday, getting to enjoy the sun and the rain and the mud :-) Lisa Moore's house is next, but then I want another trek. I want to keep this up. Outdoors, I am coming for ya!!

21 MILES!!!!!

I need a nap...

My training goal has been met!!! I wanted to be able to do at least 20 miles (since that's the length of the trail) once before the big day. I figured if I can do it once, I can do it more than once. It was 78 degrees, wind gusts up to 24 mph, I felt every bit of it, and I conquered. I also need a shower :-)

AND...I got hit by flying rocks, and have bruises. The only thing I can figure is that a car kicked up the rocks, that then ricocheted off the stone wall I was riding by, and hit me in the arm, both legs and chest. OOOOOWWWWWWWCCCCHHHHHH!!!!! Who saw that coming??? I'm just thankful they didn't hit me in the face...geesh!!

The Cool Down

After each bike ride, Kevin and I sit on his tailgate while I eat my apple and drink water to cool down. We chit chat about how to save the world, promote world peace, and what's for dinner the next night. The usual generalities. Today is trash day, so last night people were taking thier trash to the curb for pick up, etc. While we were solving the economic crisis, people walked up to the trash pile across the street and started digging through it!!!! We were shocked!! The house is for sale because the owners were elderly, one passed away, and the other moved out to a nursing home. They'd lived there for over 30 years. Their now adult children have been cleaning it out. What could possibly be worth anything in their trash?!?!? I know Gene would have blown a gasket if he knew folks were digging through his trash...hehehe. Well, he is the guy that stole our fire wood...maybe karma is comin' around here...hehehe. It was just weird to see that.

9 Days Left: Joanna vs. Mother Nature - Round 2

WE'RE EVEN!!!

Yesterday was SO windy all day. I've noticed that most of the time that when it's windy during the day, it slows down at sundown. Not last night!! So, I battled Mother Nature once again.

Conditions: Clear-ish, 78 degrees, 15 mph winds gusting up to 25 mph.

I am stronger this time around, and the gusts were 10mph slower than the day she won. I rode the tough route with all the hills. On my way up the last big one, the wind was blowing so hard that, literally, I peddled down with my left leg and the bike just stopped. It didn't go anywhere. My first thought, "HUH???" My next thought, "OH NO!!!" So, I pumped it as hard as I could. It was my slow-mo scene for this blog. I could hear "Chariots of Fire" playing in the background. (does that date me? eeek...) Yes, she tried to stop me. No, she di-en't!! I rolled right over and through her wind!! I feel so great about it this morning!! I am sore in some new spots. Whatever!! I WIN!!

For today, I'm pushing it back up to 20 miles. One week left of training, so "forward march!" (Never really got to say that much...long story, not about biking...so you don't get to hear it...mwahahahaha...) Last time it took about 2 hours. Will probably take that much time again. No worries, just want to make sure I can do it. (fade out with "Chariots of Fire" music...)