Today established a new chapter in my training, I completed my first EVER Century Ride…well metric century anyway! I rode 63 miles today in Houston’s Tour de Pink (that’s 101.388 kilometers for my family back in Australia)! I am so very pleased with my progress, even if I do say so myself!
The Tour de Pink support’s breast cancer research which, as you may know, was one of the three cancer’s Pauline was diagnosed with. This event also was my first organized bike ride.
Today’s ride was the outcome of my search for a training ride in Houston, since I had to run an errand for MS to our Houston office on Saturday. My good friend Margaret Shelton (also a member of Pauline’s Last Hurrah) is a university professor by day but the Tour de Pink event director by night. So she suggested that I sign up.
The event offered several route distances. I really wanted to challenge myself given my 50 miles just last weekend. I was tempted to go for the 80 miles (and wish I had), but thought I should be a little conservative. After all, I wouldn’t want to have gone on the 80 miles and not completed it! I had no idea how I’d handle the 63, but handle it I did; it took me just 5 hours to complete the course (and stopping at all the breakpoints). I crossed the Finish Line feeling very, very strong and realized I could have handled the 80 miles. There was a 100-mile option, too! But I think I’ll hold that personal accomplishment for me and Pauline on the Valero Bike to the Beach on Oct. 4!
The event started and finished at Prairie View A&M University. Wheels down at 7 a.m. we were treated to brisk conditions, a little chillier than I’m used to. But sunrise came soon enough with a huge orange ball sitting on the horizon as the route headed east. It was magnificent. As the sun rose in the sky, which was the coolest electric blue all day, the mist laid heavy and carpeted the grassland of this rural setting, located about an hour or so west of Houston, Texas.
It was a very pretty ride, although there was a pretty good head- and cross-wind to contend with for most of the day. That said, I was able to keep a good speed for many miles (at least in the 19’s or low 20’s MPH).
ACCIDENT: About 15 miles out, I turned into the second to last breakpoint. My calf muscles had been twitching at the top of them for several miles just itching to cramp! But I had been repositioning my feet for many miles (turning them in, turning them out, pulling with my clip-less shoes instead of mashing) in order to relocate the muscle flex to another part of the calf. Anyway, I pulled into this breakpoint, had already unclipped my right foot, stopped the bike and proceeded to unclip my left foot when my calf cramped like a mule kick! Anyway, I lost my balance and fell to the left, still clipped in to my pedal and fell square on my left knee (I’ve fallen on this now for the 3rd time in 4 weeks)…and hit my helmet on the road to literally add insult to the subsequent injury. The guys from the local bike shop at the breakpoint came over to untangle me from my bike as I tried to work out how I could stand up with my calf in a major cramp spasm. Needless to say, I reached my feet and tried to stretch through the cramp…not wanting to look anyone in the eye because I was so embarrassed and so frustrated, since the day had gone so well!
Finally, I was able to elongate the muscle and just hop around as the “knot”-pain subsided. I looked down and had blood oozing from my knee and noticed a 2-inch high swelling protruding from the left side of my knee, and a growing lump on the right side of my left knee. I figured I’d broken the thing! I hadn’t, at least I don’t think I have as I sit at home writing my blog entry. But I was very worried about the joint seizing up. I grabbed a quick drink of water. Hobbled to the bathroom. Had to fix the chain on my bike, since it had come off during the fall. I quickly got back on my bike and on the road, hoping the knee mechanics would carry me to the Finish Line.
The final 15 miles were equally delightful. I forgot about my knee…well, decided not to look at my knee!
I soon hooked up with rider Number 10, her name was Joanne. She is a cancer survivor, and so I road at her pace (8 MPH) for the rest of the ride. What an inspirational story she had to tell. But that’s a subject possibly for another blog entry!
The Tour de Pink support’s breast cancer research which, as you may know, was one of the three cancer’s Pauline was diagnosed with. This event also was my first organized bike ride.
Today’s ride was the outcome of my search for a training ride in Houston, since I had to run an errand for MS to our Houston office on Saturday. My good friend Margaret Shelton (also a member of Pauline’s Last Hurrah) is a university professor by day but the Tour de Pink event director by night. So she suggested that I sign up.
The event offered several route distances. I really wanted to challenge myself given my 50 miles just last weekend. I was tempted to go for the 80 miles (and wish I had), but thought I should be a little conservative. After all, I wouldn’t want to have gone on the 80 miles and not completed it! I had no idea how I’d handle the 63, but handle it I did; it took me just 5 hours to complete the course (and stopping at all the breakpoints). I crossed the Finish Line feeling very, very strong and realized I could have handled the 80 miles. There was a 100-mile option, too! But I think I’ll hold that personal accomplishment for me and Pauline on the Valero Bike to the Beach on Oct. 4!
The event started and finished at Prairie View A&M University. Wheels down at 7 a.m. we were treated to brisk conditions, a little chillier than I’m used to. But sunrise came soon enough with a huge orange ball sitting on the horizon as the route headed east. It was magnificent. As the sun rose in the sky, which was the coolest electric blue all day, the mist laid heavy and carpeted the grassland of this rural setting, located about an hour or so west of Houston, Texas.
It was a very pretty ride, although there was a pretty good head- and cross-wind to contend with for most of the day. That said, I was able to keep a good speed for many miles (at least in the 19’s or low 20’s MPH).
ACCIDENT: About 15 miles out, I turned into the second to last breakpoint. My calf muscles had been twitching at the top of them for several miles just itching to cramp! But I had been repositioning my feet for many miles (turning them in, turning them out, pulling with my clip-less shoes instead of mashing) in order to relocate the muscle flex to another part of the calf. Anyway, I pulled into this breakpoint, had already unclipped my right foot, stopped the bike and proceeded to unclip my left foot when my calf cramped like a mule kick! Anyway, I lost my balance and fell to the left, still clipped in to my pedal and fell square on my left knee (I’ve fallen on this now for the 3rd time in 4 weeks)…and hit my helmet on the road to literally add insult to the subsequent injury. The guys from the local bike shop at the breakpoint came over to untangle me from my bike as I tried to work out how I could stand up with my calf in a major cramp spasm. Needless to say, I reached my feet and tried to stretch through the cramp…not wanting to look anyone in the eye because I was so embarrassed and so frustrated, since the day had gone so well!
Finally, I was able to elongate the muscle and just hop around as the “knot”-pain subsided. I looked down and had blood oozing from my knee and noticed a 2-inch high swelling protruding from the left side of my knee, and a growing lump on the right side of my left knee. I figured I’d broken the thing! I hadn’t, at least I don’t think I have as I sit at home writing my blog entry. But I was very worried about the joint seizing up. I grabbed a quick drink of water. Hobbled to the bathroom. Had to fix the chain on my bike, since it had come off during the fall. I quickly got back on my bike and on the road, hoping the knee mechanics would carry me to the Finish Line.
The final 15 miles were equally delightful. I forgot about my knee…well, decided not to look at my knee!
I soon hooked up with rider Number 10, her name was Joanne. She is a cancer survivor, and so I road at her pace (8 MPH) for the rest of the ride. What an inspirational story she had to tell. But that’s a subject possibly for another blog entry!
C ya on the road! Tony
1 comment:
Hey Tony! I thought I saw you out there. Congratulations on the great ride! Keep up the good work. Since I am recovering from Pacemaker implant and other heart issues I believe in it's one mile at a time. I only did 12 miles, but it's all about the journey. See you in 3 weeks. Look for Club 100 #73.
Rhonda Budge
http://rzbudge.spaces.live.com/
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