Today was rest day for the competitors in the Tour de France so I took it as a rest day, too. It wasn’t the official rest day of my training plan but my legs were shot so I made it a rest day and that’s okay.
Before I discuss my plan, my events and what I’ve decided or not decided about SOMA I’d like to let you in on a little secret. I have discovered the most comfortable way possible to fall on your bike. This should come as no surprise as I am a master at falling over due to an inability to clip out be it because the bike has stopped suddenly or I just forget. I do it quite a lot so I know of what I speak.
Yesterday I was supposed to go riding with a group of women one of whom is a sub 11 hour Ironman. I was really looking forward to this ride because I was told that this woman was a great rider and would give me lots of tips. Sadly, my legs were shot from going for a 6 mile run on Saturday, I had no speed on the way to the rendez-vous point and I missed them *sniff sniff*. I didn’t have her number, either. So I rode by myself. I just rode. On the way back I was finally making some time and I heard that noise you dread to hear – Pop! pppffffffttttttt….. damn. I was on a 4 lane road with a wide bike lane and I headed for the curb, but I was so preoccupied with the reality that I had a flat and I was all alone that I completely forgot to clip out. I fell over – right on to the well cared for grass strip that was about 8 inches above the road. Ahhhhh…. very comfy. I didn’t for a second consider how funny that must have looked to the 200 cars whizzing past me. No – it was that nice.
I’m happy to say that I was successful in changing my own flat tire – yeah! Self sufficiency is good. It took me too long so I need to practice but I got it done. I had some trouble getting the wheel back on and I got really confused by the way the chain hung over the frame so I flagged down a woman riding by so I could just look at her bike. Then I felt stupid. I got it worked out though and managed to ride home which was about another 10 miles.
So – about that planning thing.
My friend the Dread Pirate Rackham turned me on to 1/2 IM traning plan which I have been following more or less. The less part has to do with travel and with the odd assortment of events I’m signed up for. It feels good to be on a plan, though. I changed my thoughts about doing a 1/2 IM from testing it out by riding 50 and running 10 to just going on a training plan to see how that worked to getting smart. By getting smart I mean listening to my coach – Coach Bold. Now he did not volunteer for this job nor did he ever agree to it. I just decided he was my coach and so far, so good. It’s a low output job as I almost never turn to him for anything but when I do I figure I might as well listen to what he says – awlays, not selectively. He said I should do the SOMA quarterman and who am I to argue? I also figure a 1/2 would be a really dumb move since I am running a 1/2 marathon the Sunday before SOMA. So – if I go, and it is still an “if” due to my decision to go to IM WI, I will be doing the Quarterman. I will be trained for the 1/2, though so it should work out really well, right?
The other reason I’m not doing the Half is because my reasons were all wrong. I’ll save that for another post. For now I’ll just say that if my reasons are wrong then I will never be able to get through a race by remembering my reasons because either I won’t care or I’ll decide I can’t really do it. Not a good plan and if I’m going to actually buck up and make a plan it needs to be a good plan.
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I am so relieved you are not going for the half. You could do it but you need to do it for the right reasons, as you said. You’ll do a half IM when you are fully ready!
It’s ok to do your own thing (i.e. rest day) when your body tells you but it is vital to listen to the coach for the big stuff.
I just got back from a bike ride where my chain fell off and I couldn’t get it back on to save my life. My husband tries to teach me the basics but for some reason they don’t sink in. So – YEAH to you for your run, your ride and your bike smarts.
low output? if i had a nickel for everytime a woman gave me THAT line… i’d probably have just a nickel.
i’m not going to comment so much on your decision, and your doing your thing for the right reasons.
let me state for the record something else. your tenacity, persistence, and get ‘er done attitude is inspiring.
i don’t think you hear it enough P.
personally, i’m so impressed with how much you have accomplished this year, on the TdF rest day, and on your rest day, take a few moments to remind yourself of how well you are doing, and…
keep doing it!
Great decision! Doing a race that is shorter than you trained for is so much more fun! So you get the best of both worlds – the experience of training for an HIM (and secretly knowing you could totally do one if you had the whim) and racing the Quarter.
Way to go on changing your flat roadside. I’ve changed a couple of flats, but they’ve always been at my house – I’ve yet to flat on a ride -quick, find me some wood to knock on! I’m sure its a whole different story when your ten miles from home
Bold’s right, you’ve accomplished so much this year – revel in it!!!
No matter how many times I have changed my rear tire, the derailuer always gets me. The falling thing…maybe if you had one good fall on asphalt you’d get better at clipping out.
Not that I would have any experience with that…;)
No matter how many times I have changed my rear tire, the derailuer always gets me. The falling thing…maybe if you had one good fall on asphalt you’d get better at clipping out.
Not that I would have any experience with that…;)
you shouldn’t feel stoopit for checking out how another bike looks. feel stoopit for being arrogant and assuming you know all, then phukkering up your bike. no no no, you are a good puss. pat pat!
anyway, if it was a good thing, it’d be called a derailer. wot eez dees, zee dérailleur? if you want to see someone take it far too seriously read sheldon’s</a? take on it. i wonder if he’s going to change the spelling of brassiere to brazeere, too.