Gear Up Girl ride 2011

Well, despite the fact I am not yet back on the bike I have just registered for the 2011 Gear Up Girl 15km River Ride in November. I figure I have 4.5 months to get myself ready for a 15km ride and that is easily doable. I need a goal, and since I missed this ride last year due to my Achilles I figured it would be the perfect way to come back from that same horrible injury.


So which if you South Australian readers are going to do the ride with me? There is a 15km ride, a 35km ride and a 50km ride, followed by a party in the park afterwards. Would love to catch up with some of you after the event. :)

xox

Cycling

Quote of the Day

Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman,
before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air.

- John Quincy Adams

Whoodda thunk that 5 weeks off the bike would make such a massive difference.  Yesterday was HARD...  The morning ride was 8kms (normal) which I usually do in around 30-33 mins, depending on how tired I am and how long I wait at traffic lights.  That is because I take my time since I don't want to get sweaty as there are no showers at work.

Yesterday morning took 40 minutes.  And it was 40 HARD minutes. I was so sluggish.  It was dreadful.  The ride home was better.  I did 12.5kms, although I have no idea how long it took.  The 35 degree heat got to me though, and when my water got hot I started to feel quite ill.  I guess it was just the first heat of the year, combined with my general level of "un-fit-ness", that made me feel bleh.

This morning was better.  Took me about 36-37 mins to get here and that was with a killer head wind.  So I am pretty impressed with that. I am feeling good about my riding again which is good.

Which means I will be doing the Gear Up Girl ride on Sunday.  It is only going to be 19 degrees, so I won't have the heat to contend with.  I am a bit nervous as I have never ridden in a pack before. My plan is to stick to the back and as it starts to thin out just find a spot on my own.  It is 15kms, and afterwards I will ride home, so I will easily get the 23kms in I need for my 50km training plan.

As for my Achilles, I am off to the Physio for a check up tonight. It is feeling pretty good though. I went for a 30 minute walk yesterday morning, plus all my riding, and it is feeling good. The tendon next to it (I forget what it's called) is still tight, but it has only been 3 weeks since I started truly taking care of it, so I guess it will take time.  Hopefully the Physio is pleased with the progress.

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 8
Today I am grateful for the sunshine. Although I am a little bit pink right now, I am so glad that the sun is shining as it really does brighten the day in so many ways.

xox

EDIT
I have started a fundraising page for the Gear Up Girl ride, in support of the Heart Foundation. If anyone has a few dollars spare and would like to help out, it will be most appreciation.  Just click here to donate.
Thank you

Gear Up Girl

Quote of the Day
"Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try." - Yoda, Star Wars The Empire Strike Back

I love quotes and have been thinking about doing a daily quote thing for a while. This morning I decided, no more thinking about it, if I feel moved to share a quote, I will. :o)

I realised this morning that the Gear Up Girl bike ride is this coming Sunday. Oh my...  I haven't been on the bike in over a month!

But this morning I dusted off the cobwebs and rode to work.  My Achilles held up really well, but geez have I lost a lot of fitness. Stoopid Achilles injury... :o(

*stamps feet and has a tantrum*

Ok, I'm better now. :o)

Seriously though, I am not sure how I will go. But I am only entered in the 15km  I think (I'll need to check).  So I'll try a couple of 15kms ride this week and see how I go.  If I go okay (and I don't care about the time) then I'll do the ride on Sunday.  I mean, I have my fancy helmet I won and all. :o)

100 Days of Gratitude - Day 7
Today I am grateful for how flat Adelaide is, making my return to cycling not to painful. :o)

xox

I'm Back

Wow, Long time no blog. :o)

I have had a long weekend, and I have loved every second of it.  Coming back to work today has been hard, but we gotta do what we gotta do.

It started Saturday when I made my way into the city to pick up the new bike helmet I won.  Yep – I won a helmet!  I never win things so I was super stoked.  It is a Gear Up Girl Helmet for the bike ride in November.  The first 100 to register got one and I was in the first group.  YAY!

Saturday afternoon I spent shopping with Em.  We had a great time as usual.

Sunday morning was Book Club.  It was a really interesting group because this time we all had very different opinions on the book.  I had a great time.  From there I met up with my sister and niece in the city for my Niece’s 13thi birthday shopping trip.  I can’t believe she’s a teenager already.

Monday morning I caught up with a friend for coffee then went to a Tea exhibition at the Unley Council Museum.  Sounds strange, but it was really interesting. 

Then yesterday I spent writing and reading and relaxing.  It was fabulous.

I did no exercise at all (other than walking around the city) and I didn’t think about my food.  Strangely, I also didn’t overeat which is bizarre in a way.  I barely turned the computer on over the 4 days which was also fabulous.  I am becoming too reliant on the blasted thing so it was good to make the decision to avoid as much as possible.

But I am back at work today and already straight back into it.  I wish I had taken the whole week off, but I have more time off in October so I just have to hold out until then.

xox

Gear Up Girl

I just entered this years Gear Up Girl River Ride.  I am doing the 15km ride.  I could do the longer distances but I have never ridden in a group situation before so I thought I would do the smaller one and see how I go.

Any other South Aussies going to enter?

xox