I got another lesson in humility last Thursday (seems like these lessons are coming pretty often). I went for a group bike ride with the Mississippi Heat Triathlon Team , which I joined a few months ago. It was my first group ride, and boy did I feel like I had gotten myself in over my head quickly! We met at Soulshine Pizza in Madison and headed out towards Pocahontas. I left with the first group knowing that I would definitely get dropped fairly quickly. Boy, was I right about getting dropped! The group quickly reached 21+ mph. I lasted almost 3 miles at the back of the line before, slowly but surely, it became harder and harder to stay close to the wheel of the rider in front of me. Before I knew it, they were out of sight. So, I kept riding and joined another group of riders that were following behind. I had a better time keeping up with this group. They were averaging in the 18-20 mph range, slightly faster than I normally ride; but, I was able to keep up for most of the ride- at least until we came to what seemed like one of the mountains that they climb in the Tour de France. The triathlon team president, who had hung around to ride with me, warned me about it. I definitely underestimated it. I should have known coming down the hill when my bike computer said I was going 39 mph that it was going to be a MAJOR undertaking getting back up this mountain!
So, about 19 miles into the ride I started my climb and it didn't take long before I knew I was in trouble. I tried shifting gears to make the ride up easier, but as the pedals got easier to turn the hill got steeper and before I knew it, my heart rate was 198 bpm and I was going about 5 mph up this hill. I tried to stand up, but nothing doing, my legs were toast. So, at this point, I had 2 choices. The first option was to stay seated and keep pedaling until I could no longer pedal and risk falling over because I wouldn't be able to clip out of my pedals. The second option was to bow out gracefully and make sure that I could get my foot out of the pedals without falling over in front of everyone. So, I did it. I put my foot down. As one of the other riders passed me, she (her name was Stephanie) said something that that made an impression. She said, "You will never forget this day as long as you live!" I think she's right and I think that's a good thing!
I learned a couple of things during that failed climb. The first is setting myself up for success. Since the group was moving a bit faster than I normally ride, it would have been wise to be a bit more conservative on some of the easier climbs that I had been a bit more aggressive on. The second was that I have a long way to go before I'll be able to stick with a group of experienced riders. I'll never forget forget putting my foot down on that hill!
So, in light of failing to climb that hill, I set out to beat it a couple of days later after I got a map of the ride from one of the triathlon team members. I did climb that hill. I told myself that I was going to celebrate at the top, but I didn't have the energy to do so. What a great feeling of accomplishment to go back and make that climb after failing my first attempt.
This weekend I plan to go back and do hill repeats on that hill until I can't do them anymore! What better way to get better at climbing hills.
Running has gotten a little better over the last few weeks. Swimming was great for a few weeks, but I think I had a setback in my last swim session.
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." -Michael Jordan
"If you ever get a second chance in life for something, you've got to go all the way" -Lance Armstrong
"If you ever get a second chance in life for something, you've got to go all the way" -Lance Armstrong
I'm proud of you...and I love the quote. Keep it up!
ReplyDelete