The mind is a strange thing. Its taken me over a week to figure out how I feel about completing 'The Bay' and I'm still not sure I know.
On one hand I feel very disapppointed with myself. I had vision of setting a cracking pace over the whole course, and triumphantly crossing the finish line feeling like a true endurance athlete. Instead I completed the course at a slow 22kph with a couple of rest stops along the way.
I also wanted to show my family how strong I am now. This didn't happen - it seems I'm not strong yet and there is still a lot to do before I can claim to be either strong, or an endurance athlete.
On the other hand, I feel quite pleased to have finished the 210kms - my longest ride to date. I'm also pleased I did it with an endurance mindset of being persistant, patient and within my plan. I finished the day with a lot of energy, and I was nowhere near exhausted which I guess means I could have gone harder and finished with a faster average. My average heart rate for the day was 122bpm so I rode it well within my target aerobic zone.
I'm pleased about the great memories of the day, and of the pleasure of riding with Dr BiL. I found out he is patient, helpful, genuine and good company. I also disovered he is one hell of a cyclist, with the aerobic ability to maintain a high cadence for hours on end.
I learnt to ride in cold, wet and windy conditions. The wind gusts from the side were hairy, the head winds were tough, and the cold stinging rain was uncomfortable and a little scary at times. But I survived and I now have the pleasure of knowing the ride was not easy.
I enjoyed the experience of hundreds of riders getting on and off a ferry, and the joy of a chicken and salad sandwich after a few hours of hard exercise. I enjoyed the views of historic Queenscliff, the quick ride from Geelong to Little River, the awesome views and fast descent of the Westgate Bridge and the frustrating stop/start of the ride into Melbourne through endless red traffic lights.
Lastly, I enjoyed the congratulations and the fun of sharing the result with all my friends.
So the mind is a funny thing. Should I feel dissappointed I didn't live up to a vague dream, or just enjoy the pleasure of reality?
Obviously the later, especially when #10 of my Training Philosophy (see Sidebar of this blog) is to always focus on my own efforts, and not compete with what others think or do.
But the mind is a strange thing, and my mind seems to be able to find creative ways to dissappoint myself.
That, in itself, is an important lesson from the day.
More later, journey on
James
Word Count - unknown.
25 October 2010
24 October 2010
Brothers-In-Arms...er....Legs
(Written Sunday 10th October 10- I'm still catching up on my blogging.....)
Doctor B.i.L - my Brother in Law - rang the other night with the final arrangements for ‘Around the Bay in a Day’.
It’s unusual for BiL to ring. We’ve been related by marriage for over 25 years yet a phone call to each other is rare. And to spend a whole day together is unheard of. We’ve lived in different parts of the country, had busy careers, he’s had a family to raise, and I’ve had beer to drink/ bad habits to develop. Different lives, different interests.
With his family he has visited my wife and I many times yet we’ve never really done anything together, just the two of us.
This journey, The Improbable Dream, is changing so much in my life. Months ago BiL heard of my long term dream to ride ‘The Bay’ and when he realised I’d been doing some serious training he signed us up. He then set about organising everything involved in the day, including the odd phone calls and email to keep me informed. He also occasionally checked to make sure I was on track with my training.
His efforts were both a very pleasant surprise and a delightful thing to do. I am staggered by his generous spirit. And I am so very pleased the journey is bringing us together. I’m looking forward to our day cycling together.
I think of it as ‘Brothers in Arms…er..Legs’.
I’ve got a problem though. He has organised for us to ride ‘The Bay’ with some friends of his in a standard cycling group formation. I've never ridden like this – all of my riding is solo, with no attempt EVER to slice though the wind/ share the load, peloton style. To now start riding in a group of experienced riders sounds daunting.
Bil also says they are planning on riding at a faster average than I’ve trained.
It seems I will have to learn fast group riding on the actual ride. If I had been thinking better, I would have joined the local cycling club and learnt how to group ride over the last few months. Too late now. I don’t want to let BiL down so I will just have to accept the challenge and do what has to be done.
That’s the thing with this journey. It has a constant stream of surprising twists and turns. It’s challenging but fun.
It also brings me into to contact with great people who are prepared to help me achieve my dream. And it constantly takes me out of my comfort zone.
It seems that once you set a goal and start working determinedly towards it, things happen, people join the journey, and the challenge takes on a much greater dynamic than originally expected. It becomes more fun, and more personally satisfying than originally imagined.
What a great lesson – It’s an Improbable Dream, but it is also a fascinating journey. Having the Dream, and making it come to life, makes for a better life.
More later, journey on
James
Word Count - 508
Doctor B.i.L - my Brother in Law - rang the other night with the final arrangements for ‘Around the Bay in a Day’.
It’s unusual for BiL to ring. We’ve been related by marriage for over 25 years yet a phone call to each other is rare. And to spend a whole day together is unheard of. We’ve lived in different parts of the country, had busy careers, he’s had a family to raise, and I’ve had beer to drink/ bad habits to develop. Different lives, different interests.
With his family he has visited my wife and I many times yet we’ve never really done anything together, just the two of us.
This journey, The Improbable Dream, is changing so much in my life. Months ago BiL heard of my long term dream to ride ‘The Bay’ and when he realised I’d been doing some serious training he signed us up. He then set about organising everything involved in the day, including the odd phone calls and email to keep me informed. He also occasionally checked to make sure I was on track with my training.
His efforts were both a very pleasant surprise and a delightful thing to do. I am staggered by his generous spirit. And I am so very pleased the journey is bringing us together. I’m looking forward to our day cycling together.
I think of it as ‘Brothers in Arms…er..Legs’.
I’ve got a problem though. He has organised for us to ride ‘The Bay’ with some friends of his in a standard cycling group formation. I've never ridden like this – all of my riding is solo, with no attempt EVER to slice though the wind/ share the load, peloton style. To now start riding in a group of experienced riders sounds daunting.
Bil also says they are planning on riding at a faster average than I’ve trained.
It seems I will have to learn fast group riding on the actual ride. If I had been thinking better, I would have joined the local cycling club and learnt how to group ride over the last few months. Too late now. I don’t want to let BiL down so I will just have to accept the challenge and do what has to be done.
That’s the thing with this journey. It has a constant stream of surprising twists and turns. It’s challenging but fun.
It also brings me into to contact with great people who are prepared to help me achieve my dream. And it constantly takes me out of my comfort zone.
It seems that once you set a goal and start working determinedly towards it, things happen, people join the journey, and the challenge takes on a much greater dynamic than originally expected. It becomes more fun, and more personally satisfying than originally imagined.
What a great lesson – It’s an Improbable Dream, but it is also a fascinating journey. Having the Dream, and making it come to life, makes for a better life.
More later, journey on
James
Word Count - 508
20 October 2010
2nd Goal for the year achieved
Finished Around the Bay in A Day.
Will update the blog in the next few days - Sleep and rest first :-)
More later, journey on
James
Word count - 20
Will update the blog in the next few days - Sleep and rest first :-)
More later, journey on
James
Word count - 20
10 October 2010
Countdown to Melbourne's 210km Bike Ride
Spent the day alternating between the lounge and TV, and short sessions on the spin bike. Late this afternoon, ran an easy 2.5ks over hills.
Between now and next Sunday, my plan is to exhaust my legs and lungs early in the week, then rest easy from mid week until the ride on Sunday. I'll have an easy ride on Friday to check the bike but apart from that, the legs 'get a few days off'
I know I haven't done enough, but its time to accept what's happened and get ready for this long-dreamed-about adventure.
The bike gets packed-up tomorrow ready for Wednesday's flight so its spin bike, weights and running from tomorrow until Friday.
More later, journey on
James
Word Count - unknown
Between now and next Sunday, my plan is to exhaust my legs and lungs early in the week, then rest easy from mid week until the ride on Sunday. I'll have an easy ride on Friday to check the bike but apart from that, the legs 'get a few days off'
I know I haven't done enough, but its time to accept what's happened and get ready for this long-dreamed-about adventure.
The bike gets packed-up tomorrow ready for Wednesday's flight so its spin bike, weights and running from tomorrow until Friday.
More later, journey on
James
Word Count - unknown
So much for 'The Plan'....
'The gods laugh when you make plans'. This ancient saying seems very real this morning as I sit here inside my comfortably warm and dry lounge room with a freshly brewed coffee.
Far more comfortable than the planned event of a 100km bike ride. The annual 'Brisbane to the Gold Coast Bike Challenge' scheduled for today was cancelled late yesterday due to 'severe weather conditions' forecast for the Queensland coast.
This is good in one sense (in addition obviously to the unplanned hot coffee opportunity). The weather conditions this morning are terrible- its been raining for days so the roads are flooded, everything is soaking wet making it very slippery underfoot and the wind gusts are strong and inconsistent. It's uncomfortable and dangerous weather for riding a road bike. I wasn't keen on taking any chances with either my health or the bike with only one week to go to Melbourne so I was secretly pleased when it was called off.
But its one more hiccup in the plan for preparing for my longest ride to date. The Gold Coast ride was supposed to be the last big hit out before Melbourne giving me a chance to ride in a large group, over a longish distance, at a fast pace. No joy!
This is just one more roadblock, which feels like the story of the last few months. It's been the wettest few weeks for years so there has been a lot of weekends when road rides have been called off. It's been hard to get long hours on the road.
The plan has been off almost from the start. My overall strategy was to get aerobically fit by training and competing in half -marathons. No problems, done. I then expected to get 'bike-fit' by participating in the 10 day Queensland 'Big Bike Ride' but I had to call this off due to my wife's foot operation. There was also a long period when I lost my motivation and didn't train for ages.
So the preperation has not been as good as I'd have liked. I've put plenty of hours in on the spin bike and the weight gym since getting my mojo back, and I've ridden whenever I can, including some great rides in the country. I'm reasonably confident I'll be OK. Not as fit as I'd expected, but still should be OK.
So much for the great 'plan' though. This journey seems to be as much about adapting to what's presented, staying motivated and being mentally strong, as it is about planning and logistics.
Planning? Who's that laughing?
Oh well, might have another coffee.
More later, journey on.....
James
Word Count - unknown
Far more comfortable than the planned event of a 100km bike ride. The annual 'Brisbane to the Gold Coast Bike Challenge' scheduled for today was cancelled late yesterday due to 'severe weather conditions' forecast for the Queensland coast.
This is good in one sense (in addition obviously to the unplanned hot coffee opportunity). The weather conditions this morning are terrible- its been raining for days so the roads are flooded, everything is soaking wet making it very slippery underfoot and the wind gusts are strong and inconsistent. It's uncomfortable and dangerous weather for riding a road bike. I wasn't keen on taking any chances with either my health or the bike with only one week to go to Melbourne so I was secretly pleased when it was called off.
But its one more hiccup in the plan for preparing for my longest ride to date. The Gold Coast ride was supposed to be the last big hit out before Melbourne giving me a chance to ride in a large group, over a longish distance, at a fast pace. No joy!
This is just one more roadblock, which feels like the story of the last few months. It's been the wettest few weeks for years so there has been a lot of weekends when road rides have been called off. It's been hard to get long hours on the road.
The plan has been off almost from the start. My overall strategy was to get aerobically fit by training and competing in half -marathons. No problems, done. I then expected to get 'bike-fit' by participating in the 10 day Queensland 'Big Bike Ride' but I had to call this off due to my wife's foot operation. There was also a long period when I lost my motivation and didn't train for ages.
So the preperation has not been as good as I'd have liked. I've put plenty of hours in on the spin bike and the weight gym since getting my mojo back, and I've ridden whenever I can, including some great rides in the country. I'm reasonably confident I'll be OK. Not as fit as I'd expected, but still should be OK.
So much for the great 'plan' though. This journey seems to be as much about adapting to what's presented, staying motivated and being mentally strong, as it is about planning and logistics.
Planning? Who's that laughing?
Oh well, might have another coffee.
More later, journey on.....
James
Word Count - unknown
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