Staggering Home

Ride Day

Suggested time- 1:30
Actual time- 1:43
Distance- 24.78mi



Oof, long ride for the Dirtbag today. And the quick fast cadence of my last ride was much harder to find. I went down the hill again to Haleiwa, but instead of turning right around like I did last time I rode through town since my time was longer. I rode a little too far though. I spent the whole time thinking as long as I was at the base of the climb with 45 minutes to go I'd be perfect. Well I wasn't there at that time. I was about five minutes late. And it took me longer today to get to the top than it did last time. Not much, but longer.
The reason for this, I think, is partially because we didn't eat all that well last night so I was running on bad fuel. Also, this was the furthest I've ever ridden so I have every right to be tired at the end. And finally, thats a rough damn climb.
I had a hard time keeping my rpms where I wanted them to be, but I think for the most part of the levels I was successful. Until I finished the climb back. By the time it leveled out again I was blown out. If you could hear me there was lots of encouraging self-talk going on, "Come on, what's behind me does not matter. Let's finish hard. Nearly done. Fight through this." That would work for a few minutes, then I'd bog back down and have to fight to speed up again. By the end my muscles didn't even hurt anymore, I just couldn't pedal very fast.
Also, this was the first ride where other parts of my body got sore. My shoulders are tired right now, telling me I was too tense the whole ride. I felt them tightening up and starting to hurt during the climb and would drop them and shake them out but next time I checked it, up they were again! Lower back is sore too. And I'm more saddle sore than I have been. I'm sure all of this is a result of riding longer and nothing to worry about. Its growing pains.
Can't complain about the views though, when I remember to look around. My ride today took me past the park where Stitches and I got married six months ago on Monday.
Stupid elliptical tomorrow. Hope there's a good game on. I know I need to keep the pace up so I get cardio benefits from it, and I need to be positive about it, and I'm working on it. I vow not to grumble about the stupid elliptical for 48 hours. There. I vowed.