Me, Sandra D., and the Big Bad Hill Part 1

Cycle Day- Recovery Week
Time- 44:37
Distance- 9.4mi
Ascension- 686ft



This ride hurt. It might not have been a good recovery week ride, but I had to do it. The wife and I drove this route a few days ago after having it recommended to me by Ob Tri Kenobi. He said that if I could do this four times in one ride then I wouldn't have any troubles during my race. Well I believe him now.
It got into my head while we were driving it. It seemed like a whole lot of going up to me, and that was intimidating. So I was already thinking about how hard it would be and how I wasn't sure if I would make it all the way up on my first try and all kinds of other negative things. Which meant that I had to do it. I couldn't not. The longer I waited, the taller it would get in my head.
It hurt just as bad as I thought it would. I mean, for a real cyclist, it's probably not that bad. But I'm still very new to the sport and this up climbing isn't fun. I was huffing and puffing the whole time, going slow slow slooooow. I wasn't sure I was going to make it all the way to the top, which really isn't that far, but I was determined not to stop. One pedal stroke at a time, up and up. The last corner before the gate at the top of the hill was the hardest, it's the steepest. But I recognized it from our drive and that helped push me up. I did a little fist pump when I got to the top, I'll admit it. Checked the watch, 25 minutes from start to top. Now I have a baseline. Good.
Descending is much better than climbing. That was fun! It's a nearly empty road on a military base, so every one drives carefully. I only passed one car once I started climbing. Still, better to be safe. I ripped down the mountain tapping the brakes to keep it down. I broke off at a street I'd predetermined to go down at the bottom, which will also serve as my turn-around point when I start lapping it. Took me five minutes to get to the bottom.
After that I rode through the base and back to the truck. Riding on base is a million times better than not. The roads are better maintained, the people drive slower, its just better.
I'm not looking forward to the days coming when I go up that bad boy more than once, but I'm glad I did it today. Seeing that gate broke through a mental block that I'd been building, showing me that I can do it, I can make it up, and I can do it more than once. Just gotta fight through that.