Admitting defeat -NOT
Well I got up and thought I would do the ride straight away as I am sure this wind has no intention of dying down anytime soon. Also with the Pool Party I just don’t know if the day would allow a bike ride later.
Off I went feeling confident as have managed a 40minute ride previously and didn’t think another 10mins would be a problem. I decided to do my usual route twice as that is 10km and wanted to see how long it would take in relation to race day. Travelling down the suburban street was fine as usual, as had a back wind. Turned and had a mini hill to get to the track and could now feel the force of the wind.
I am now on the track and had 1400m of exposed track to ride. I could feel the muscles in my thighs working hard. I was pleased when it was over only to know I planned repeating this. Once again down the street I went with ease and as approaching the turn I decided to go the opposite way as the houses on the main road should shelter me although the terrain changes constantly. This is not the case houses are just there for people to feel shelter if inside. Halfway down this road I realised I still had 23mins to ride and I was shattered, really shattered. Ride on I did however and now 17mins to go, thanks to the radio host saying so (I wear my MP3 with the headband style headphones around my neck).
I am so close to giving up as this wind is my enemy and I did have my cell phone to call home as a back up. I just didn’t see how I was going to finish this journey. I kept going hoping for my 2nd wind, but it never came. I was so close to home but with 10mins to go. So hit the piddly suburban streets but still I had to carry on going to fill in time. I had to pass my street yet again to complete the time. Finally I was allowed to go home.
I rode up the drive in the standing position as no energy to go up the very small incline sitting. Got off my bike and didn’t know how I would walk to the house. At this point Martin came out and I hugged him and dry cried. I was so exhausted. I can’t believe what a workout that was. That wind made it more of a workout than I asked for. I had even prayed that the wind would stop and it would rain instead. That is how much I was over the wind.
Well I have stretched and now eaten breakfast which is possibly another factor as to why I struggled so much. Empty tummy.
Well off shopping for a present and then to the pool. This is an important party as Isaiah wants to marry the girl who’s birthday it is (he will be a toyboy by 5months). She is very pretty so the babies will be so adorable. lol.
October 4, 2008 @ 9:26 am
Sounds like a good dose of mental toughness going on there.
I hope you feel really proud of yourself. I do.
A suggestion, try and find a route that doesn’t take you past home cos it makes it so much harder to continue on. You did it which is great but it was much tougher than it needed to be.
I giggled at the comment about Isaiah and the girl whose birthday it is. How sweet.
October 4, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
I should try that. I have thought I would cycle to central Hutt and back as that is a 10km ride. I am apprehensive though as lots of traffic and who knows if the motorists want to be respectful.
I guess if I leave early enough I wouldn’t have any problems.
October 4, 2008 @ 8:54 pm
BTW – I love the Maori words used as anti-spam, but what does Maromaku mean?
Anyway back to my comment…
Isn’t there a cycle track along the river that you could ride? Maybe heading towards Trentham as an alternative? Might be better than riding the main road into the Hutt and back.
October 5, 2008 @ 7:25 am
The track I use is the stop bank. There is something closer to the river that I see runners and cyclists on but it is all gravel and I don’t know how far it goes.
I looked up the word and asks if I spelt it right (even in the Maori dictionary), so I don’t know what it means.