Cross training is, apparently, an important part of training for a big race. An important part that I ignored for awhile before I finally coerced Kyle's husband to come over and wrestle my bike out of our outdoor storage closet. When I set out for my first bike ride last week, I envisioned a happy little evening stroll with the breeze flying through my helmeted head. Imagine my surprise when I could barely bike up the tiniest of inclines!
Before last Tuesday (or was it Wednesday?), the last time I had been on a bike was probably about 2 years ago. My parents had brought my bike out to Virginia, and Matt bought a cheap bike from Walmart. We headed out for a bike ride along the GW Parkway bike trail for all of 20 minutes, and it was glorious. I think. That trail is mostly flat, so I'm not really sure. Before then, it was probably ... high school? I think?
So anyway. When I started my little bike stroll last week, I passed a girl out walking. I went down a long hill and then turned to bike up around the junior high we live near. Wow. I could barely get through the PARKING LOT. Muscles in my legs that I apparently do not use for running were screaming at me. Wow - I was shocked! I made it up the, um, hill (okay, it was a slight incline) and went around the track a couple of times. Then I went out through the neighborhood, down a big hill, and (you know what's coming, don't you?) then I had a very large hill (okay, it was a moderate incline) to bike up. The same girl was walking up the hill. I passed her, and then - yeah. I couldn't make it up the hill. I had to stop about halfway for a rest, at which point the walking girl totally passed me. Embarrassing!!! I totally pretended that I was playing with my watch or something so she wouldn't know I couldn't make it up the hill (sidenote: I walk up that hill pretty much every day). And then I just turned around, went back down the hill, and biked home. Total minutes spent riding the bike: 15.
It was really hard, and I was so surprised. I really didn't think it would be that hard, especially since my legs are so much stronger now. But, like I said before, biking seems to use TOTALLY different muscles. I decided once and for all that I was going to conquer the damn bike. I took it out Sunday morning for an early bike ride - I made it 35 minutes and biked a little over 4 miles. Yes, that is pretty darn slow still. Yes, someone passed me ... while running. But that's not the point. The point is that I did it! And I am going to bike twice a week, every week. My bike needs some work - it's making a clanging noise that probably woke some people up on Sunday morning. Oh, and the seat is in the wrong place. And it needs to be lubed up or something.
That's what she said. Sorry, I had to put that in there for Lucy.
9 comments:
Hehe, this post is perhaps even funnier written. Well, I don't know. Your look of total dispair was a bit priceless. Anyway, I am glad your most recent bike ride went better! Pretty soon you and R can bike all over town!
Seriously dying laughing. With you, not at you. Clearly.
I need to get my bike out ... if only to combat the insane amount of honey I plan on eating tomorrow ... Yeah, I got 3 jars because the shipping was the same. Bring on the cinammon honey ...
I have not biked in 100 million years. I remember distinctly the moment I last did it...and my ass hurt after approximately 2 minutes. That's all I could think about the whole time. Until, you know, it went numb.
And 35 minutes is awesome :) You're improving!!
Totes am a girl who "plays with her phone" during an epic fail as well!
Bike rides scare me a lot, you're a brave human being!
My parents have my bike in their garage and I keep saying that I'm going to pick it up but I keep forgetting. It's one of those situations where I know it will be awful the first few times but eventually worth it. Your bike adventures are serving as great motivation!
You are right. That IS what she said.
LOL! Lubed up? And yeah, seriously, as a woman who teaches cycling, I don't understand who designed that godawful seat position on bikes!
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