May 23: Have bike, will travel.
I am up in northern Michigan this week in the beautiful town of Harbor Springs. Business brings me here, though it sure doesn't seem like it when I step outside. The weather is beautiful, and has been holding steady at 80 degrees for the last few days.
I was a good girl yesterday and followed my schedule, which said to stretch and rest. Today, however, my schedule said I needed to get in 10-15 miles of biking. Yessir. But first I needed to get in my golf game. (Hey, it was a BUSINESS golf outing!).
We played a scramble at The Heather, one of the courses at Boyne Highlands. Our tee off was at 12:30, and lunch was at 7:00. After a decent round of golf (I got closest to the pin), I quickly changed clothes (yet still no tri-shorts), and off I went on my bike.
I didn't really know where I was going to go, though I was somewhat familiar with the area having spent many a weekend up north in the winter when I used to race in downhill skiing.
Let me tell you, this biking up north business is very humbling indeed. Right out of the gate I was faced with a HUGE hill, and that was NOTHING compared for what was to come. I turned down a road that just kept going up and up and up, and it got steeper and steeper as well.
Even with my gears in the easiest settings, and a failed attempt to peddle out of my seat, I finally was so darn winded that I figured I'd walk the bike for a few. I forgot to take one of my shoes out of my cages, and I fell over on the side of the road, right into the weeds. Good thing no one was looking! I brushed myself off, and started walking. About 30 yards up, there was a side road. When I looked at that, compared to what lied ahead of me, I chose the side road. It was still a good size hill, but at least I could see the end. So off I went again.
Only about 20 yards in, a big dog started chasing me (and paying no attention to his owner who was calling for him to come back). Now that was a bit more incentive to make it up that hill, and I briefly forgot about my legs burning at that point. I soon came to the conclusion that the dog was just playing, so I played along with him and kept going. I would have continued, but as I looked ahead, it appeared that the road would turn to dirt, so I decided to turn around. (Besides, I'm sure the owner was appreciative that I "brought" her dog back.
I finally decided that this was a good time to turnaround on my route, so I headed for my base. I didn't conquer any hill like the one I had just left behind, but it still make for a heck of a workout back.
Other than the route kicking my *ss, it was a good ride. The scenery was beautiful and the wind kept me cool while I was on the road. The only other thing I saw that was interesting at all was a dead deer on the side of the road, being manifested by a ton of flies. Bleugh.
I just charged my route on beginnertriathlete.com, and it turns out that I ended up going a full 10 miles after all. And I made it back just in time for the awards dinner.
I bet I'll be feeling this ride in my legs tomorrow.
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Check out my fundraising progress at:
http://www.active.com/donate/tntmi/DunCAN
I was a good girl yesterday and followed my schedule, which said to stretch and rest. Today, however, my schedule said I needed to get in 10-15 miles of biking. Yessir. But first I needed to get in my golf game. (Hey, it was a BUSINESS golf outing!).
We played a scramble at The Heather, one of the courses at Boyne Highlands. Our tee off was at 12:30, and lunch was at 7:00. After a decent round of golf (I got closest to the pin), I quickly changed clothes (yet still no tri-shorts), and off I went on my bike.
I didn't really know where I was going to go, though I was somewhat familiar with the area having spent many a weekend up north in the winter when I used to race in downhill skiing.
Let me tell you, this biking up north business is very humbling indeed. Right out of the gate I was faced with a HUGE hill, and that was NOTHING compared for what was to come. I turned down a road that just kept going up and up and up, and it got steeper and steeper as well.
Even with my gears in the easiest settings, and a failed attempt to peddle out of my seat, I finally was so darn winded that I figured I'd walk the bike for a few. I forgot to take one of my shoes out of my cages, and I fell over on the side of the road, right into the weeds. Good thing no one was looking! I brushed myself off, and started walking. About 30 yards up, there was a side road. When I looked at that, compared to what lied ahead of me, I chose the side road. It was still a good size hill, but at least I could see the end. So off I went again.
Only about 20 yards in, a big dog started chasing me (and paying no attention to his owner who was calling for him to come back). Now that was a bit more incentive to make it up that hill, and I briefly forgot about my legs burning at that point. I soon came to the conclusion that the dog was just playing, so I played along with him and kept going. I would have continued, but as I looked ahead, it appeared that the road would turn to dirt, so I decided to turn around. (Besides, I'm sure the owner was appreciative that I "brought" her dog back.
I finally decided that this was a good time to turnaround on my route, so I headed for my base. I didn't conquer any hill like the one I had just left behind, but it still make for a heck of a workout back.
Other than the route kicking my *ss, it was a good ride. The scenery was beautiful and the wind kept me cool while I was on the road. The only other thing I saw that was interesting at all was a dead deer on the side of the road, being manifested by a ton of flies. Bleugh.
I just charged my route on beginnertriathlete.com, and it turns out that I ended up going a full 10 miles after all. And I made it back just in time for the awards dinner.
I bet I'll be feeling this ride in my legs tomorrow.
-------
Check out my fundraising progress at:
http://www.active.com/donate/tntmi/DunCAN
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