Today was a big day. This was the day for the long ride of the week which takes much more time to complete. It worked best to try it on Thursday (weather permitting) as I stay overnight with friends who live near Mankato (where I teach daily). That means I am free of the responsibility of parenthood for one evening...well, at least the direct hands-on type of responsibility (thank you, Honey!).
I tried my best to be prepared to attempt a 40 mile ride: two water bottles filled with half water and half Vitamin Water (need the electrolytes), two protein bars, sunscreen applied, official bike riding tank top made of polyester supplied by friend Ann S. as part of a bike riding care package, cotton t-shirt on top of aforementioned tank top 'cause that's how I roll, cell phone, sunglasses, and $10...just in case.
I rode on the Sakatah Trail again but started at Madison Lake to avoid the killer goose bridge. After being slapped and beaten by a Canada Goose I have decided that they are like the flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz. I fear that they are just waiting to swoop down and give me the scarecrow treatment...hence the skipping of the goose bridge of the last assault. From Madison Lake the trail runs through Elysian, Waterville, the Sakatah State Park, and Morristown, which is where I stopped and turned around. Although it was a warm day there are many parts of the trail that are shaded and the wind was pretty light, which is a rarity for this neck of the woods.
Coach Terri told me to just relax and have a good time while riding so I tried to take her words to heart and just let the ride happen. That was easiest for the first 25 miles. After that I had to call on the words of encouragement people have bestowed on me and repeat my mantra "every rotation is a gift" to help keep me going. The physical discomfort started to increase around this point too and my hands decided to fall asleep, as well as my toes (although if I curl and uncurl them that seems to help get rid of the numbness), and my "sit bones" didn't want to be sat upon anymore, and my back was sore from either the riding or hitting all of the bumps on the not-so-smooth trail. I had to get off and walk the bike a couple of times to give my body a break. But I am pleased to report that I made it 41.1 miles today and it took about four hours to complete. That is the farthest I have ever ridden in my life in a day. Now I am sore, but I learned that polyester does indeed wick moisture even though it feels like a weird fabric to be wearing (latent polyester-phobia).
Have I gone from sloth to athlete yet? Not sure about that, and don't know if this venture will turn me into an avid biker or dissuade me from ever going near a bike again. Time will tell. For now, I'm just taking a walk on the wild side.
Again, the reason for this insanity is to raise funds for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Please help in any amount that you can and let your friends and family have an opportunity to help out too...share this link with them: http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/gjengdahl
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Oodles of Gifts
Oh, what a challenge to get up this morning when the alarm went off. Being nine weeks away from the Ride in La Crosse, Coach Terri suggests two 15-20 mile rides per week and one long ride, about 40 miles to keep in the training groove. I have yet to make that long one but did squeeze a 15.36 mile ride this morning. Juggling the schedules of Hubby and children and myself and trying to find time to be together as a family as well as take care of chores and somehow have multiple hour blocks of time to ride a bike remains a challenge.
I hit the trail nearest to my house and was so pleased to discover that the gnats have had plenty of time to mature to a robust size. We must need more bats to take care of those buggers. A biking helmet needs to be designed that has a retractable mosquito/gnat netting that you can pull over your face when riding through the swarms. I contemplated buying one of these oh-so-attractive mosquito/gnat net head covers from the camping section of the sporting goods store a couple weeks ago to throw over my helmet. The friend accompanying me laughed and said she would ride with me if I would wear it. Never one to be within the bounds or even near the edges of fashion, I just might do it. Perhaps I'll start a trend!
The problem of the numbing toes continues. Although my non-licensed, practicing chiropractor younger brother told me it is because the (insert latin sounding word here) nerve is being squeezed by the gluteus maximus and (insert another fancy latin word here) muscle. That must mean I have buns of steel! The remedy, or perhaps only the treatment, is to have a whole lot of pressure put on the gap between those butt muscles to release them and hence release their grip on the aforementioned nerve. Or so that is what I heard him say. Chiropractor-in-training Brother taught Hubby how and where to push and how to pull the opposing leg across the back of the other leg...and the gist of it is, it hurts. Chiropractor-in-training Brother assures me that's how you know you've found the spot.
Even though today was a relatively short ride down the gravel trail, I was struggling to keep focused and to enjoy the ride. The word "enjoy" and strenuous physical exertion are just getting to know each other in my world, and they are still in the awkward blind date sort of stage. But a couple of things came to mind to help turn things around. I acknowledged that every rotation of the pedals is a gift. Being physically well enough to get on a bike and just ride is a beautiful thing. There is a freedom there that is often only appreciated once it is gone. I am trying to not be a totally ungrateful putz. So each revolution of my pedals was a gift, a gift, a gift...and they just kept piling up. That made it easier to ride. The other thought was that had we been living 100 year ago, diabetes would have claimed the life of Annika at five-years old. Before 1922, there were wards of children dying from diabetic ketoacidosis and there was nothing that could be done. Many would be comatose and then eventually die with their grieving families beside them. There was no treatment. And there still is no cure. However, the gift of insulin was discovered and suddenly there was hope. That is why I continue to pedal.
Annika is a gift that I am glad to have. She is so courageous and brave with all that she has been through dealing with type one diabetes. Her twin sister, Johanna (another gift) always has ideas on how to raise funds for JDRF, and if you happen through the neighborhood at the right time you may have the chance to purchase hand-painted acorns, pinecones and rocks. She raised $4 the other week selling her wares from the little blue table at the end of the driveway. She is gifted with a big, sensitive heart.
So as the week continues and I spend time on that bike saddle, I will be holding these piles of gifts in my mind. Thankfully they are lightweight but fill the soul. Now I must go be a teacher again...oh, look another gift!
To donate to JDRF and support my ride efforts, go to:
http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/gjengdahl
I hit the trail nearest to my house and was so pleased to discover that the gnats have had plenty of time to mature to a robust size. We must need more bats to take care of those buggers. A biking helmet needs to be designed that has a retractable mosquito/gnat netting that you can pull over your face when riding through the swarms. I contemplated buying one of these oh-so-attractive mosquito/gnat net head covers from the camping section of the sporting goods store a couple weeks ago to throw over my helmet. The friend accompanying me laughed and said she would ride with me if I would wear it. Never one to be within the bounds or even near the edges of fashion, I just might do it. Perhaps I'll start a trend!
The problem of the numbing toes continues. Although my non-licensed, practicing chiropractor younger brother told me it is because the (insert latin sounding word here) nerve is being squeezed by the gluteus maximus and (insert another fancy latin word here) muscle. That must mean I have buns of steel! The remedy, or perhaps only the treatment, is to have a whole lot of pressure put on the gap between those butt muscles to release them and hence release their grip on the aforementioned nerve. Or so that is what I heard him say. Chiropractor-in-training Brother taught Hubby how and where to push and how to pull the opposing leg across the back of the other leg...and the gist of it is, it hurts. Chiropractor-in-training Brother assures me that's how you know you've found the spot.
Even though today was a relatively short ride down the gravel trail, I was struggling to keep focused and to enjoy the ride. The word "enjoy" and strenuous physical exertion are just getting to know each other in my world, and they are still in the awkward blind date sort of stage. But a couple of things came to mind to help turn things around. I acknowledged that every rotation of the pedals is a gift. Being physically well enough to get on a bike and just ride is a beautiful thing. There is a freedom there that is often only appreciated once it is gone. I am trying to not be a totally ungrateful putz. So each revolution of my pedals was a gift, a gift, a gift...and they just kept piling up. That made it easier to ride. The other thought was that had we been living 100 year ago, diabetes would have claimed the life of Annika at five-years old. Before 1922, there were wards of children dying from diabetic ketoacidosis and there was nothing that could be done. Many would be comatose and then eventually die with their grieving families beside them. There was no treatment. And there still is no cure. However, the gift of insulin was discovered and suddenly there was hope. That is why I continue to pedal.
Annika is a gift that I am glad to have. She is so courageous and brave with all that she has been through dealing with type one diabetes. Her twin sister, Johanna (another gift) always has ideas on how to raise funds for JDRF, and if you happen through the neighborhood at the right time you may have the chance to purchase hand-painted acorns, pinecones and rocks. She raised $4 the other week selling her wares from the little blue table at the end of the driveway. She is gifted with a big, sensitive heart.
So as the week continues and I spend time on that bike saddle, I will be holding these piles of gifts in my mind. Thankfully they are lightweight but fill the soul. Now I must go be a teacher again...oh, look another gift!
To donate to JDRF and support my ride efforts, go to:
http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/gjengdahl
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