I was tired, hungry and driving through rain on my way down to my second Wednesday night of bike training. I stopped on the way and got a Special K blueberry bar and a Gatorade Endurance drink which I figured would get me through the night. As I rushed to get there the sky seemed to clear up and the sun was out. Nice!
I ran to change from my work clothes and grabbed my gear and was ready just as the session was ready to start. We were told that tonight we were doing hills. There were some moans and groans and I knew right away that this was not going to be easy.
The good thing about being the new person who is unfamiliar with the sessions, is I have no idea what I am getting into so I just go with it without getting too worked up about it.
We split into two groups which basically was the A group (mostly roadies) and the B group (primarily multisport peeps). I went with the B group. We were planning on riding up 5 hills...if that is what you want to call these monsters that climb up for 2 miles. After a nice warm-up loop we came to the start of the first hill. Never to be one to admit I cannot do something I start the climb. It was so hard. I thought about all the hills I had rode so far this year which I thought were big, which did not begin to compare. I started to wonder when this climbing would end. I was out of the seat forever and breathing hard. Finally I made it to the top of hill one. Woohoo! Only 4 more to go!
I had started up the hill near the front and never looked back. I did not end near the front but that was OK because I was just trying to keep with the group. It was my second time out there and I knew many of these other riders were quite experienced. I do know that some people must have not attempted it or turned around on the way up.
So after some recovery riding it was on to hill 2. I don't know if it was easier or I was just better prepared for what I was about to do. Tiring, but not so bad. I am not sure if it was Hill 3 or Hill 4 but one had some serious uphill at the beginning. It hurt a lot. We were all climbing very slow standing up, moving back and forth trying to keep going forward. After that, even though hill 5 was said to be the toughest, it did not phase me like this steep one. As we rode back to the parking lot I felt very good about my training session. It was extremely tiring at times and I was happy to get through it and not hold anyone up. I think this session really will help me next time I look at hills that I once thought were big.
I was exhausted by 9 when I got home. I had completed an early morning upper body workout, a 40 minute swim, a 12 mile gorgeous lunchtime bike ride, and a grueling 26 mile hill workout in the evening.
Reflecting back, I felt really good about the day. It was good to actually see sun. I was glad I went even though I was tired. I happy to have had the oppportunity to talk with some really good people and push myself way harder than I would have on my own.
Lastly I wanted to say thanks to Mojo, who I thought about last night & how she toughs it out on her bike workouts with the big boys!
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8 comments:
Holy Cow. I am never going to be able to tackle these hills. You are kicking some booty girl!
Wow!! What a day! No doubt those hills are gonna help you improve. I wish we had a club around here that trained together like that.
NICE workouts, chica! Where is this crazy hill workout you're talking about??? SIGN ME UP! I need all the hill help I can get. I am such a hill slug--I will be in the BACK of the pack on the hills for now at least!...need to work on it definitely, especially for this IM I signed up for! You can tell me more when we ride Sat.!
Damn it, I missed the Western Slopes ride!? That's one of my favorite workouts. If you made it up the last one (Oak Hill) Congrats!!! Too many people are afraid of that hill. It's the steepest but shortest.
FYI next week should be a flat workout.
Great job DD. You have now rode part of the Death Ride. I'm interested in which hills you climbed, was qcmier there?
Did someone also do something in the tri club recently having to do with a duathlon series????? Huh? Did ya? Was that you??? Tell us more.
Hills make you faster and stronger.
Awwww, thanks Daisy. What a sweet compliment. :) I'll feel happy the rest of the day.
You're one tough cookie. I bet you slept well last night after all those workouts. How do your legs feel? My legs are more sore after a hard bike ride than a long run..
Good for you for working so hard and pushing yourself. It will all pay off, you'll kick some ass this season. I may have to go find a track and do some speed work in honor of you!
Eric, climbed IRA, Everett, Wheatley, Oak Hill (killer), and Major.
These trying workouts are to my liking and I am bummed that I am going to have to miss next Wed. due to other plans! However, definitely will be back the following Wednesday.
Mojo---the sleeping good, well not so much as you can read! My legs were exhausted that night but did not feel too bad the next day on my run-so that was good!
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