You may have noticed I’ve been radio silent this week. I hate not having new blog posts up on Monday or even Tuesday, but it’s been quite a week. I’ll give you the run-down of my training recap from last week – better late than never! And I’m feeling all sorts of proud, confused, and freaked out from my Saturday experience facing the fear of biking on the road.
Last week was a light week for workouts after the Nation’s Triathlon on Sunday. My youngest has some issues getting to sleep and I have to lie down with him. So what happens? I fall asleep in his bed half the time. This is making it hard to write, get chores done, and evening workouts if I haven’t gotten it in that morning.
Monday – Planned rest day after the race. I spent the evening after the kids were in bed at Target, buying birthday presents for my son.
Tuesday – Unplanned rest day. It was my middle child’s 6th birthday and I really wanted to be there when he woke up, so excited that it was his birthday! That night, I was just so tired after the boys were in bed. Sheer exhaustion. My training plan called for a recovery swim but I just couldn’t get out to the gym that night at 9pm when they were asleep.
Wednesday – The usual 5:45am track workout with the LUNA Chix. It’s really great to run with this awesome group and the cooler fall temperatures made it really lovely.
Then in the evening, I did this:
Chopped that hair off and got the gray colored out! I thought I’d just ruin it with a morning workout, but…
Thursday – I skipped the morning workout. I said I’d just get on my bike trainer that night. It didn’t happen. This makes rest day #3 that week. Not good.
Friday – I was so excited to rejoin Masters Swimming for the fall session! I hadn’t slept well with a kid in my bed hitting me in the face half the night, but I was motivated to get there after missing my workout the day before. I got in 1900 yards and felt great. I was so thrilled to get back to Masters that I was on a “swim high” all day.
I was thrilled to have gotten it done in the morning since that night after the boys went to bed, my daughter and I went to get favors for my son’s birthday party, and had plans to bake the birthday cake with my mother-in-law. She took care of the cake while we were out favor shopping, so that was lovely!
Saturday – I had a group ride with the LUNA Chix and was really excited about the group part of it. We were leading ladies through a preview ride of the 10-mile course for the Frederick Women’s Sprint Triathlon. The team was also giving the option of a two-loop practice ride, but I had the craziest day with kids’ activities so I knew I would have to leave after the first loop.
My training plan called for 30 miles, so I needed a way to get in more than 10 miles. I made plans to meet another teammate there at 6:45am so we could do one loop and then be there to greet everyone and get organized for the group ride.
It was awesome to have a plan to meet someone – it got me out there at 6:45am. It was a really chilly fall morning but I was so happy to be out there for a bike ride!
I got my bike ready and felt uber-prepared.
It turned out that my friend overslept, so I had a decision to make. Do the 10 miles alone on the roads or just wait for the group ride and only get in the 10 miles? I wasn’t eager to bike alone on the roads, so I thought about going for a run, or just waiting in my car for an hour.
I decided to put on my safety vest, flashing blinking light, and hit the roads.
Honestly, I was petrified. I’ve had a fear of biking on the roads, especially alone, and have been doing a lot of rides on my trainer or finding trails or other safer ways to bike.
I was shaking when I headed out and realized the first few miles had absolutely zero shoulder. I wasn’t sure if I was shaking from the cold or from nerves – maybe both! Thankfully, at 7am there weren’t a lot of cars, but I was nervous that someone would be drinking their coffee and not expecting a cyclist.
I’ve known too many people who have gotten hit by cars lately. I’m trying to determine if I’m just more aware of this since I’m in so many tri groups and know so many more cyclists, or if it’s happening more and more lately.
I was trying to take every precaution, constantly looking behind me and riding safely. I was really nervous though.
But I did it. I did my ten miles and was exhilarated when I returned for the group ride.
The group ride was great – I rode “lead” for the one loop group, something I’ve never done before. I wasn’t sure of the etiquette of being the lead since I’ve only been middle or the sweep so it was a good learning experience and stretched me out of my comfort zone for the second time that day.
I wish I could have done two loops to get in my 30 but I was thrilled with 20 miles total, knowing what the day had in store for me after that…
I drove home and had about 20 minutes to change and get this kid out the door for his very first teeball practice/game.
He absolutely loved it. I absolutely loved it.
His brother and sister absolutely loved it.
After the game we went straight to his 6th birthday party. It was a soccer party with some bouncing on inflatables. And cake.
My youngest loved the cake. When you usually have a homemade, allergy-free muffin when all the other kids are having cake. Recently he’s been cleared of a few of his allergies via food challenges, so he’s left with only peanuts and a couple of tree nuts. So his world has expanded in terms of what he can eat. And apparently there is nothing like the feeling of getting served the same cake the other kids are having!
By the time the party was over and the gifts were opened, I was toast. I had a neighbor friend and his son over for a playdate, then cooked a nice dinner for the family. Then fell asleep in my son’s bed, of course! What a day!
Sunday – I had an 8am Moms Run This Town group run. We usually run a couple miles as a group but I was supposed to get in 6 miles. I wanted to run to/from the run to get in the mileage but I was still getting the kids breakfast when it was time to leave, so I just drove over there.
We had a great run of 3.65 miles together – some really nice ladies at a pretty lake!
Then I drove home and put my youngest in the running stroller to finish it up!
He absolutely loved it – I hadn’t run with the stroller for a while. We did the rest of the 2.5 miles to finish up my 6 mile run!
Then there were some car issues – my car wouldn’t start! We had two tow trucks at our house.
Then I had to do a quick get-ready for a formal gala. It was our Opening Night Ball concert at work and I had to wear a fancy dress!
It was a huge night – a big concert and a late night of dancing at the “ball”. I didn’t really dance much, but had a nice time. I don’t go to the fancy dinner so my coworker and I went to whole foods in our black tie apparel and hit the salad bar before the dancing!
I got home from work at 1:00 a.m. and was totally fried from the day of running 6 miles, dealing with car issues, and getting fancy for a gala.
So now it’s this week and I’m still kind of worn out from my weekend!
Do you do your biking on the road? Do you stick to indoors? Not bike at all?
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