40 miles

Hey kids. I was asked if I wasn't going to update my blog until next July when the Tour started again. Actually, that sounded like a good idea - I have wanted to update, but there's really nothing exciting going on right now...except that I almost died this morning. OK, I didn't really almost die, but I thought I might pass out.

As you know, I'm training for a century ride on November 19th. Well, this morning's ride was 40 miles. I was a bit anxious about the ride because I don't do near enough training during the week like I should. I make the excuse that I don't get home until 9:30 or 10:00 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. That leaves me Wednesdays and Fridays. Anyway, I was nervous about the ride today. I started out pretty strong. I stayed with the lead group for about ten miles. After about an hour of riding, I told a fellow cyclist that we should have come to the first rest stop by now - it was supposed to be at mile 12. We kept riding and never got to it. The lead group of three riders had stopped, so we stopped too. The girl I was riding with said her computer was reading that we had done about 16.5 miles. Actually that was wrong. We had done 26 miles. At this impromptu rest, all I had had on the ride was water. I didn't have any power bars or food on me (that'll teach me for next time). After about a ten minute break, we started again and at mile 32 we finally got to a rest stop where I inhaled peanut butter crackers, a fig newton, gatorade, and half a banana. Our coach said we were inside 10 miles to finish, but I swear that was the longest ten miles I have ever ridden. At one point before I reached the 32 mile rest stop, my jaw started to tingle and I thought, "That's it. I'm going to faint." But I didn't.

It ends up that I was the 4th person to finish. The last person didn't come in for another hour and a half. I guess I did OK. My longest ride previously was 30 miles 2 weeks ago. I think in 2 weeks we're doing 50.

Oh yeah, I'm getting that farmer's tan that cyclists get from wearing the cycling jerseys. There are also two distinct lines on my thighs where tanning starts because of the cycling shorts. I'm so proud.

Just in case you're wondering, I've raised $1905 of my $4000 goal for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I've been a slacker lately and haven't sent out the latest thank-you notes. They will be sent soon.

I'm on break from UNT right now, but kids come back to school on Tuesday. We'll see if that gives me anything to blog about in the future. Thanks for reading.