As much as I do truly enjoy riding my bike, riding it 70-100 miles, alone, can get a bit dull. My mind wanders from one topic to the next with little effort. I sing little songs to myself, laugh at what I pass along the way and enjoy the sunshine and breeze upon my face. One thing I have realized, as I peddle my way around parts of the state, is how beautiful and amazing Ohio really is. True, there are lots of corn and soybean fields, but there is a great deal more to it if you just take a second or two to notice it.
(VIDEO: The majority of the images shown on this video were taken during the Month of May in the year 2010. A few were taken last summer (note the tall corn) when I first started riding. All of the images were taken from my bike. Pictures, however, can only show a small amount of the beauty that I am lucky enough to encounter each time I go out to train).
May 15th & 16th
5-15-10 - Bike 4 hours/run :30 - Knowing that I had a long ride alone ahead of me, I pulled out my map and planned my route, a new route. Speed was important, but I was more excited about the new scenery and I am happy to say it was 90% success. I got a little lost toward the end and thanks to the combination of my map and my mini compass, I found my way home.
What fun! Exploring new roads, exercising, the Spring sun beating down upon me, motorists keeping their distance and actually, on occasion, waving to me from their cars in Morrow County. I had no idea where I was, but as long as I had my map, all was well with the world as far as I was concerned. Compared to 236, what was 70-80 miles right? I had all day and really took the time I had available to be careful and enjoy what was around me. Afterward, I ran 30 minutes and it felt good, not fantastic, but good. (Photo: "walking the bike across the beam of a bridge being reconstructed).
5-16-10 - Bike Hills 3 hours/walk - When the offer came to have some company for a ride, I jumped at the opportunity. However, I had to choose between riding "flat" or riding "hills". My initial choice was flat (or course). What I learned about myself turning TOSRV was that I am doing "ok" on the flat portions, but when it comes to hills, my legs and endurance are lacking. Therefore, my Ironman demon had to step in and request a nice looonnnnng set of hills.
I can't really say that I was thinking anything but positive thoughts during the duration of the ride. Of course I had a little self doubt, especially when sitting and looking at the hill I was about to climb. I suppose knowing that everything I do toward getting in better shape will help me, makes anything I do (regardless of how frightening or initially difficult) that much better. I view all of this with the perspective that I can only improve.
My legs were certainly showing their inexperience by the end of the 42 miles of "hill work". However, knowing that I completed it and would probably have more opportunities to train on these hills made the ride that much more grand. I attempted to make the steep climbs as fun as possible by noting my heart-rate by the top of the hill and then while descending noting how quicly my heart-rate was dropping (yes, it's true, that is what I consider entertainment).
I suppose that is what makes the initial Ironman so fascinating. I will never experience any of this for the first time again. Certainly if have longer distances to my ride or run after my first Ironman there will be "firsts", but nothing compares to the first 226-mile ride or the first 18-mile run. All of these experiences are fresh and carry a completely different perspective the first time around compared to a second or third.
The weekend was a great success. My legs after riding this weekend felt great. I was and am still hungry (generally, I can always eat these days), but aside from a little minor discomfort at points, I feel lucky to be able to jump into such experiences and have such great friends who are willing to teach me everything they have learned over the years.
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