“Two little mice fell in a bucket of cream. The first mouse quickly gave up and drowned. The second mouse, wouldn’t quit. He struggled so hard that eventually he churned that cream into butter and crawled out. Gentlemen, as of this moment, I am that second mouse.” – Catch Me If You Can – Frank Abagnale Sr. (Christopher Walken)
Fighting hard not to get dropped on the hills is what I signed up for, I knew that from the start. Completely bonking after feeling so strong and pulling everyone along was not what I had in mind. Swimming hard so not be be lapped in the pool is what is signed up for, I knew that from the start. Having to be breath every other stroke and not being able to pull myself out the pool without the stairs was not what I had in mind. And I knew running was going to hurt, even I am not that optimistic/naive/stupid.
Pedaling Squares
After my first cycling session with Born2Tri beginners and intimidate group, which was fun just chatting and riding, and I gained some experience riding in a group, I felt like I needed more of a challenge. 60 miles with the fast group – Challenge accepted! You what? the fast group, well since this early season, and very cold, the average speed was projected to be just above the 15mph realms. With no ego, I knew I could do that on my own and be completely fine.
Group riding is nothing like riding on your own, where you may feel great and want to push the pace the group is happy to coast, when you feel a little too hard pushed (every hill – I do love climbing, but complain like a little girl as I really am not very good at it) the group want to press on.
My “great” plan of just sticking in the wheels was not followed after the second mile. I just wanted to race around and lead all of the time. not sure why, to prove I was a strong rider or the fact I am petrified of knocking someone else off their bike do to my habit of just darting around on a bike. To cut a long story short for the first 50 miles I was no the front, dancing on the peddles up the hills and everything was great. Some of the initial 13 who started fell to the way side, got cold/tired and headed home early and one guy had the biggest blowout ever – the whole side of his trye wall was blew out and as a result needed is other half to pick him up as a new inner rub or a bit of rubber was not going to fix the issue.
It was rather stop start but we made it to lunch in Clare. After getting back on the bike I felt cold and knew something was amiss but I had eaten so thought i would be fine. I was not. 15 miles from the eventual 70 miles I got dropped hard on a climb and completely bonked – I was pedaling squares. This was embarrassing and sadly the worse was still to come when I rode myself into a pot hole/crater by the side of the road and went flying – no injuries or damage bar my ego. I have not fallen off my bike in years and I choose today to bonk and crash in front of the head coach and other important figures in the club. Good work son, good work indeed.
Pushed into the Water
Sometimes manners get in the way and thus I have not moved up a lane, lane explanation, in the swimming. Luckily I was pushed right in and moved up a lane. It was amazing but real hard work. After a pleasant warm up which included some backstroke, big fan of the backstroke, the same set was long, fast and intense. Length after Length at a higher pace then I have swam at and going further than ever before. I dug deep and my cadence raised and my breathing pattern shortened but I got through and felt like it was a mini victory.
The most important factor is that i turned up to the swimming session after completely humiliating myself, however a further humbling was only days way.
Time-Trial by Sundial
The tri-club put on a special training session at Redbridge Cycling Centre, which is a beautifully laid traffic free criterium circuit with a nasty hill (still complaining about hills). The first part of the session was split into three activities including hill sprints and down hill fast cornering.
The after cake and coffee break was a 10km time trial – simply 5 complete loops. I knew in advance I was not going to set the work alight as the day before I rang 8 miles are half marathon race pace and my legs were a tad weary, however I wanted some redemption after the kerfuffle that was last weeks bonk.
My body was in no mood for vengeance and I was so slow there was no need for a stopwatch but a sundial. I will churn on and this mouse will turn the metaphorical cream to butter and climb out of the metaphorical bucket.
Enough words: have a song – everything everything kemosabe.
Style over Substance Training Blog 