25km ride - done!
Today’s programme was the one I had been dreading all week - 25km bike ride -timed!
Swimming is my strength and I’ve learned to like running, but I’m still not fond of riding. Sore bum, sore shoulders, sore hands. I literally sit there the whole time stewing and grumping as I get more and more annoyed with the road, the cars and the bike.
So it was with some resistance that I mapped out my route last night. I met Mel for a walk this morning and grumped some further about my bike. As she also pointed out (have you and Marie been talking???!!!) that it might be windy and cold on Ironman day so best I get out there regardless - I think I’ve heard this somewhere before!
I rugged up again - the sun was shining but it was very windy and very cold. I can see that my sexy stripey long johns are going to get a real workout this winter. And I headed off. Riding my mountain bike. Mel has kindly loaned me her road bike but unfortunately it’s a fraction too big for me so back to the mountain bike.
Had a good ride in the sun actually. Along a few new roads I hadn’t been on before. Went down past Ohinemutu (gorgeous, I’ll try and find a photo) - discovered I couldn’t get out of Ohinemutu so doubled back again. Around the lakefront and headed out towards my planned route. Bugger. No pedestrian crossing at a very busy intersection. Oh well, carried out on the route I biked earlier this week. Starting to feel very pleased with myself because I knew this would definately add up to my 25kms and I was feeling quite good at this point.
And then I got the first few drops of cold icy rain on my glasses. And then through my helmet. And then I was soaked - it absolutely poured down. And unfortunately despite being warm, I wasn’t dressed for rain.
Managed to get myself across the busy intersection, road around past where I used to work and then down the long home stretch on Fenton St. Bottom very very sore by this point, but the end was in sight.
I arrived at Mike’s work nearly 90 minutes later very wet and cold, but stoked with the effort. Rest day tomorrow. Nice.