It was a great day for a bike ride! Unfortunately, today I bit off more than I could chew! I did a 7.75 mile ride yesterday as a warm up for a longer ride today. I was planning on a 20-30 mile ride today, a nice ride to help with my endurance. I noticed on MapMyRide that my friend, Michael Jones, rode a 47 mile ride yesterday. We are planning a 70 mile trail ride in October. So I decided today that Id up my ride to 45-50 miles, apparently trying to keep up with the Joneses! I shouldve known it was going to be a tough day when I left the house and immediately could feel some soreness and restricted movement in my left knee. I paid no mind, figuring it would loosen up as I went along...and it did...for a while. Things were going pretty smooth. I was still sore and feeling a little weak but tried to push through. At about mile 20, down in Toll Gate, I knew I was in trouble. My body was pretty much done...20 miles from home! I quickly got off the trail and onto the road (old 50). The road offers less resistance than the trail and I knew I would need all the help I could get. I knew Penny was working over in St Marys so she wouldnt be able to come get me. I rode down old 50 stopping frequently to stretch, eat (banana, half a chicken salad sandwich) and sometimes walking when I just got too tired. I could feel my legs acting as if they wanted to start cramping (a first for me while riding). I finally got off the road and back onto the trail in Ellenboro. I had to be on the trail to get to the park and ulitimately home. I was lucky...most of the trail was downhill...not drastically but enough to make it a little easier for me. About 2 miles from the park, I laid down on a rest stop picnic table and stretched. I finished my sandwich, hoping to get any kind of energy I could. I texted Penny. She was done working and at home. I told her where I was and asked her to come meet me in the park. Thank God because there was no was I was going to be able to do any more climbs to get home. I was drained physically and emotionally. I started to feel like a failure because I couldnt accomplish what I set out to do. In reality, I was ok...just exhausted. I came home and still have a cold pack on my knees, drank a protein shake to help my muscles recover. Im now hoping and praying that I dont wake up in the middle of the night with those ungodly leg cramps! All that and it still was a great day for a bike ride!
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 00:54:48 +0000
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