"Bike Reality and Meaning"
I must say all week long as I was pretty excited of doing my first outdoor bike ride with my TRIClub... We had around 15 people from the club riding.. It was going to be a great day..
So not sure how many miles I would totally do.. My goal was at least 50 miles.. So the first half was great.. I felt good and was riding at a moderate pace and not feeling to bad... Then I see my rear tire becoming low, then somebody told me "I was bouncing on my bike".. Crap, I stop and hear a hissing sound.. Flat tire.. I was glad some of the group stayed with me...
But after that it seemed my cycling went downhill for the day. The strong wind and fatigue started to go thru my legs. Let just say at the end of my 55+ mile bike ride, it was not pretty.. I was dragging to keep up with group and a dose of "Bike Fitness Reality" smacked me in the face.. Since I have around 7 week to my 1st triathlon race, a half Iron-Man, and a 200k bicycle ride on a hilly route a week after that, I think I need to start biking more.. You think??.....
But the crazy part, at some points during my ride, I thought to myself I really rather be trail running then having to deal with this... So as I reflect on my UltrRunning plans for rest of the year.. I think I want to continue to plant the seeds for next year (taking an Idea from TriTeacher and SkiRough).
So even-though I'm limping around today with my ankle still injured from my 1st Ultra (I think I have ..Footballer's Ankle ~ anybody had that before?)
I signed up for the ICE AGE 50 miler happening on May 12Th.. Because I think I would regret it if I didn't.. Even-though my body is telling me otherwise, I'll register for the race using my heart... Not sure how I'm going to do, It will be a "B' race for me so this might not be pretty... But I think necessary for me to plant the seeds for next years crazy adventures.
Finally, while I'm reading this book
I read this race story which explains in words: My reasons why?
"Ultras are more of a competition between me, myself, the course, and the distance. UltraRunning pits my mind against my body. It is being outdoors where few dare venture, either with friends or alone with just my God. Ultras are a test of what the magnificent human body can do and what the mind will allow. I can think of no other way to truly feel alive. Running is not just what I do; It is who I am. For me, sleep-eat-work-TV-then-repeat is not enough. I need to see things. I need to see a squirrel scramble in the snow, then jump up onto the branch and run full tilt with no fear of falling. I need to hear a deer snort out a warning that I am perhaps not where he thinks I should be. I need to feel the wind, the breath of Mother Earth herself, tickle my ears and cause the trees to sway and dance around me. I run to be fit and healthy, to be fast and strong, and to accomplish feats that seem unobtainable to many. I enjoy discovery of that which I am actually capable: of how far I can push myself. It is why I live"
Or in simple terms, my wife calls it "MY MID-LIFE CRISIS"
I must say all week long as I was pretty excited of doing my first outdoor bike ride with my TRIClub... We had around 15 people from the club riding.. It was going to be a great day..
So not sure how many miles I would totally do.. My goal was at least 50 miles.. So the first half was great.. I felt good and was riding at a moderate pace and not feeling to bad... Then I see my rear tire becoming low, then somebody told me "I was bouncing on my bike".. Crap, I stop and hear a hissing sound.. Flat tire.. I was glad some of the group stayed with me...
But after that it seemed my cycling went downhill for the day. The strong wind and fatigue started to go thru my legs. Let just say at the end of my 55+ mile bike ride, it was not pretty.. I was dragging to keep up with group and a dose of "Bike Fitness Reality" smacked me in the face.. Since I have around 7 week to my 1st triathlon race, a half Iron-Man, and a 200k bicycle ride on a hilly route a week after that, I think I need to start biking more.. You think??.....
But the crazy part, at some points during my ride, I thought to myself I really rather be trail running then having to deal with this... So as I reflect on my UltrRunning plans for rest of the year.. I think I want to continue to plant the seeds for next year (taking an Idea from TriTeacher and SkiRough).
So even-though I'm limping around today with my ankle still injured from my 1st Ultra (I think I have ..Footballer's Ankle ~ anybody had that before?)
I signed up for the ICE AGE 50 miler happening on May 12Th.. Because I think I would regret it if I didn't.. Even-though my body is telling me otherwise, I'll register for the race using my heart... Not sure how I'm going to do, It will be a "B' race for me so this might not be pretty... But I think necessary for me to plant the seeds for next years crazy adventures.
Finally, while I'm reading this book
I read this race story which explains in words: My reasons why?
"Ultras are more of a competition between me, myself, the course, and the distance. UltraRunning pits my mind against my body. It is being outdoors where few dare venture, either with friends or alone with just my God. Ultras are a test of what the magnificent human body can do and what the mind will allow. I can think of no other way to truly feel alive. Running is not just what I do; It is who I am. For me, sleep-eat-work-TV-then-repeat is not enough. I need to see things. I need to see a squirrel scramble in the snow, then jump up onto the branch and run full tilt with no fear of falling. I need to hear a deer snort out a warning that I am perhaps not where he thinks I should be. I need to feel the wind, the breath of Mother Earth herself, tickle my ears and cause the trees to sway and dance around me. I run to be fit and healthy, to be fast and strong, and to accomplish feats that seem unobtainable to many. I enjoy discovery of that which I am actually capable: of how far I can push myself. It is why I live"
Or in simple terms, my wife calls it "MY MID-LIFE CRISIS"
posted by RunBubbaRun at 6:30 PM
10 Comments:
great post, and great quote... i think im going to add that book to my list...
You know, I think I've been hit with some "Bike Fitness Reality" a few times as well. For example, whenever the lean, sinew-y (sp?) guys blow past my beefier, lifting friends on the climbs, WHAM- bike fitness reality.
I'm sure your body is still recovering from the 50. Make sure you are getting in good nutrition and rest! I felt super tired for at least a month after JFK.
Love the quote!
You are funny... is it a mid-life crisis or a spiritual quest? Guess it depends if it's you or your wife looking at it. :)
For the record, I think you're nuts, yet am insanely jealous that you can run that far. Quite a pickle. Keep up the good work, Bubba.
Careful...you're ignoring one of the most crucial rules about increasing volume...slow and steady. You're not recovered yet (I KNOW, NEITHER AM I!!).
Just make sure you know when enough is enough and you stop before injury. Easy to say, hard to do...
Hope I'm able to ride with you guys soon!
The whole seed thing....I feel left out for not having my own seed analogy. LOL.
Anyway, it sounds like the seeds of ULTRA running are already planted and taking root and may become very mature plants next year...like a tree, planted by the river...that are going to stick around for a LONG time :)
We usually think of midlife crisis in derogatory terms, as if there were something shameful about it, an imbalance, a maladjustment, an impulse better squelched. But I think midlife crisis happens for a reason. It rattles the boat a bit, it forces us to stretch ourselves, it jolts us out of complacency. What is wrong with that?
Amen to what Lia said. We get to review our lives and add to it what we realize will be more fulfilling! I'm loving my midlife crisis! (Tho I've been in it for about 20 yrs now!)
I'll be volunteering at the 40-mile pitstop at Ice Age. Make sure you say hi!!! (I think I'm going to cook my special chicken soup)
Maybe it's called a mid-life crisis because whatever form it takes creates some kind of crisis in your wallet! At least our crisis is also making us healthy.
I have't seen that book before but now I must have it...I need something to get me back on track with the ultramarathon it's just that darn Ironman has an iron grip on me these days ;-)
Yeah, you may need to hit that bike HARD. And good luck with your mid-life crisis!
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