It just got real

I'm in Club K because I've raised over $1000 for MS.

10 days to go!

Strength Training

In addition to all of the cycling, I have been trying to keep up with strength training. When I injured myself during the IM70.3TX back in 2015, the knee doctor told me that I had a muscle imbalance between my legs and my hips/glutes and that contributed to hurting my knee. Then, when I busted my hip a few months ago, the doctor told me that I need to strengthen my hips and abs. It's a reoccuring theme in my life. Every time I'm injured I hear that I need to strengthen my hips and and/or abs. 

So, I've been going to CrossFit Equality and meeting with Kellee to work on my strength and mobility. 

CycleBar Silliness

I forgot to bring shoes to wear home after class, so I had to put my work shoes back on. Vee thought this was hilarious and told me to "pose like one of your dress photos"

Also, this was my first time to come in #1. I get that it was only a 4 person class, but #1!

Fort Bend Education Experience and Cancelled Gran Fondo

Saturday was the Fort Bend Education Experience ride. Although this was my longest ride yet, it was all flat and felt a lot easier than a ride with hills - I rode 75 miles this week faster than I rode 60 miles last weekend. It also didn't hurt that the last 30 or so miles had a nice tailwind. 

I had to get to mile 24 by 9:30 or they were going to push me onto the 50-mile course. Although that would have still been a nice long ride, I really wanted to do 75 before the MS150. I got started in one of the later waves of riders since I was standing in a very long line for the port-a-potty. I blew past the first rest stop and only stopped at the second rest stop long enough to refill my water bottle and grab some orange slices. But, I made it to the cutoff on time and got to do the long course. I heard later that several riders got stuck behind a train and ended up missing the cutoff and were mad.

My bib number. It's my birthday! Several people found this humorous for other reasons and one guy wanted to take a photo of it in the rest stop. 

JoAnna and I in the rest stop.

Nice. (I feel like I should caption this photo "A rose by any other name" but the Bonnie Plant company doesn't grow roses)

Around rest stop 4 (45 miles in) everything was starting to hurt. I was sitting on the ground doing some stretches and thinking "I still have 30 miles to go" and getting kind-of discouraged. I really did not want to get back on my bike and keep pedaling, but I did. 

Mack, me, Dina, JoAnna, Mark, and Elizabeth in the last rest stop. Unlike the last rest stop, we knew we were getting close to the end and we had a nice tail wind. 

I got back to my car and felt really great about that ride. Also, I'm so glad I gave my bike some TLC. It was a much smoother ride this week. I went home, showered, and stretched and recovered in the leg compression sleeves. 

Next day:

It's a good thing my ride got cancelled. It was ugly out there.  I was really hoping to do the Gran Fondo. I was registered for 45 miles and it was up in Montgomery and I would have had some good hills to ride on. I was also hoping to get that experience of riding two days in a row. But, it wasn't meant to be. I was sad when it got cancelled, but a little happy that I was going to get to sleep in. 

I took it inside and did a double class at the CycleBar. I started tired and sore and was losing steam by the end of the second class. I messaged Mackenzie when the Gran Fondo got cancelled and told her to give me some hills, and she delivered! Also, her class as 100% Lady Gaga songs, which was really fun. I got in another 26 miles of saddle time and overall I rode 100 miles this weekend. 

I went and got a pedicure after class. Mostly, I just wanted to sit in the massing chair. That felt great. But, I painted my toes blue to match my cycling jersey. 

The day before a long ride

I'm supposed to ride 75 miles tomorrow at the Schlumberger Education Expedition and 45 miles on Sunday at the Gran Fondo Texas (although the weather forecast for Sunday is looking ugly and I may end up inside at the CycleBar). 

I am all up in my head and fearing this long weekend. It will be my biggest training weekend yet. Last weekend was my biggest training weekend before this training weekend. Last Friday I was all up in my head too. Last week I doubted that I could do 60 miles in the hills, but I got out there and I did it. This week I'm doubting whether I can ride for 75 miles. I know that I can, but I keep telling myself that it's too far. Get it together, Bonnie!

Front derailleur

I kept hearing a clicking that was getting progressively worse during my ride on Saturday. At first, I thought I might be cross-chained. But, it was actually my chain scraping against my front derailleur and removing metal. Lovely. TO THE BIKE SHOP!

Update: I'm getting new tires also.

Update #2: I also ended up with new pulleys on the rear derailleur. They were cracked. I gave the bike shop all kinds of money this week.

Buescher State Park

A little nervous before starting

Taking selfies less than 3 miles in

Lisa and I taking happy selfies

Nayeem, JoAnna, and Jane are the best volunteers

Gamin says that my average moving pace was 12.5 mph, which looks better than 11.3. Ha. There were a lot of places that I was stopped by my garmin was still going. I got caught at several red lights in Bastrop. Also there was one intersection I had to cross, and I stood there for probably 5 minutes before it was safe to cross. It'll be different on ride day. 

This was the longest/hilliest/toughest ride I've ever done. I was out there over 6 hours, and thank goodness for no cutoff and amazing volunteers. I was the last person from my team to finish, but I FINISHED! A cold front pushed through in the middle of this ride, it rained on me, I had crosswinds/headwinds/tailwinds, and I was completely exhausted. 

The most difficult section was the first 10 or so miles through the state parks. (If you click on the picture below, you can see the elevation profile of the ride) The hills were steep and I had to push myself up several of them. However, I can tell that I'm getting better at rolling hills. I averaged over 15mph through a bunch of rollers for about 10 miles mid-course.

When I got back to my car, my garmin said 61.7 miles, so I rode around the parking lot until I was at 62.15 miles. I officially rode a metric century. Woohoo!

I have pain in places I have never had pain before. Out of my entire body, my hands hurt the most. I was getting numb in my thumb and index finger and then all of a sudden pain would shoot down my arm. I never got this when I was training for a triathlon because I was splitting my time between riding on the hoods or riding in aero. I need to be more aware of my hands while riding. 

Bonus photo: Since I was in Smithville, I found the house from the movie "Hope Floats" on the way out of town.