RUN Week 7, Tuesday 12/20 - Bike December 21, 2005
Posted by Amber D. Evans in : Cycling, Chico CA, Training Stats , trackback"Oh, what a heinous, miserable riding day it was."
Context
City, State: Chico, CA
Location: Mom's and Dad's House
Course: 16-mile Munjar North [map]
Terrain: Flat. Paved.
Distance and/or Time: 16 miles, 1 hour 8:39 minutes.
Speed and/or RPE: 13.9 mph; 7 (hard-heavy)
HRR: 143-173 (Aerobic)
HR(avg.): 161 bpm
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
The Cycling
- Light tailwind leaving. Hard headwind returning.
- RAIN.
Synopsis
- Upshot: An "easy" day for my B-day!
- Downside: Weather started out nice, ended like crap.
- What I'm most proud of: That I didn't tuck-tail, find shelter, and call my mom for a ride home.
- What I would do differently: Spend more time studying physics in order to invent the first invisible rain-shield bubble for cyclists.
Overall
Oh, what a heinous, miserable riding day it was. On my 29th birthday nonetheless! It started out kinda' pretty with a bit of sunshine poking through harmless gray clouds. I thought, screw the run! Time to ride! I was excited. It wasn't cold outside, so I wasn't worried about freezing to death on my bike. I suited and geared up and off I went. I passed a flower delivery truck on my way out, and wondered if it was for me (it was! Thank you, Hubby Josh!) I rode out past my 10 mile marker and wondered at which point I should consider turning back. By now, the wind had started to pick up and I was trying to gestimate the ratio of how much cycling to running. Mulling over whether twice or three times the distance cycled would be the (semi-)equivalent of that run. I finally figured on 15 miles and thought to add an extra mile for cooldown purposes. That seemed sound enough.
Right about 7.5 miles out, I heard the first drop of rain "pop" on my helmut. It was then followed by one, then two, and then a quick burst of them! Okay, I thought, No biggie. Just a little water. Nothing I can't handle that I haven't handled before. Then, it started raining. I figured I could make it another half mile before turning back. I did. Then, it started RAINING. Big, fat tadpoles of rain sheeted down. I literally thought I was trying to traverse a waterfall! WTF? Not only that, but the wind began to howl and now I was getting pelted with water from what felt like every direction! If there was an oriface open to the outside world, the water was trying to impregnate it! It was hideous! I tried to be the smallest ball of cyclist in the world, but it was useless.
I meandered in misery back home at a measly 9 mph in some parts because the wind and rain was so forceful that I couldn't muster the strength against it. It really didn't help that my quads were still suffering fatigue from running a 9 mile course last week. I thought about huddling under some barn awning and calling my mother to come rescue me (too embarrassed). I thought about ditching my bike and walking home to get the van (too far/cold). I finally settled on just telling myself, "Just another half mile" for the last six miles. It was the world's longest 6 miles I've ever lived through.
Finally, I was home. My mother was outside gardening (in the rain) and I still can't figure where I get my genes from. Sopping wet I pushed into the laundry room, stripped the soaking mess from my body, grabbed a towel and headed straight for the hottest (and greatest) shower I've ever experienced.
I'm really not so sure I'd like to go through that again. It was my birthday and all. I suddenly did know what to buy with my B-day money. Now, I'm just waiting for those gloves and glasses … maybe a (better) jacket is next.
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