I need Karma, advice, something

[DDH]

I am going to ride by myself in an organized ride tomorrow for the first time. That's not a problem but since I will be by myself and can take my time, I want to try to ride the 50 miles instead of just the 25 like I had planned. My problem is this, I have not been able to get over letting the 50 defeat me 2 years ago, and haven't gone more than 30 miles since.
I feel like I don't progress and I don't know if I don't let myself, or if I'm just not physically able.

I can go 25 miles fairly easily and thats with quite a few good hills thrown in, so what do you girls and or guys think, should I try it again?

All advice and pushing is welcome.

[HoosierGiant]

We are always capable of sooo much more than we think we are. Absolutely, you can do it! If you can do 25-30, you can do 50. Yes, you can! Concentrate on enjoying yourself; focus on the natural beauty around you and the sometimes humorous behavior of other riders you'll see along the way; stay hydrated; stay fueled; and have fun, fun, fun!!

Without a doubt, crossing the finish line is a grand accomplishment, but it's the journey that teaches us the life lessons. I keep the following quote on my cycling bulletin board:


Out here
the only decisions
really are
where to stop
where to rest
how to take your lessons home.
~~ Lizzie Wann, "Freeway"

Here's to a successful 50 miles and the lessons you'll learn about yourself along the way! You go, girl!!

[Blueberry]

DDH-

I think you CAN do the 50. I've had some mental blocks - and I did an 80 mile ride last year, with my longest ride being 40. I believed I could do it, and I rested, ate and paced myself as I needed to. I finished, and finished strong.

So...my vote is go for it!!!

[wackyjacky1]

Ditto on the above! Relax and have fun. I love the quote that HoosierGiant posted, it's good advice to keep in mind.

Back when I used to ride a lot, I did long, organized rides all the time. I realized that I usually finished near the back of the pack (with the old folks and little kids :D ) but I found that it didn't bother me because I just really enjoyed being out there on my bike.

You can do it!

[uforgot]

and be sure and give us a full report after the ride!

[kat_h]

You could try my strategy and stop for a bowl of soup 2/3 of the way through. :)

[Flybye]

Think of it as 2 - 25 mile rides. If you are feeling like quitting, make sure you let yourself rest for at least half an hour and have something to eat at the start of the half hour rest.
I really think you will surprise yourself!

[HoosierGiant]

I'd done imperial centuries the year before, but my longest ride prior to last year's 160-mile RAIN (Ride Across INdiana) was 80 miles. I was having soooo much fun that the miles just flew by!! The mind is truly an awesome thing. Partner it with grit, will, and determination, and anything can happen!

[Zen]

Read this and have no doubt.
http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/content/April-2008/The-Joy-of-Failure/

Credit bouncybouncy for the original post (http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=23091&highlight=failure), it really stuck with me.

[cycle]

If you can do 25 miles with no problem you can do 50 with no problem! ;) You are fighting a mental battle, like a previous poster suggested, break it up into two 25 mile rides with a lunch stop in the middle. You can do it and you will feel so good afterwards.

I always find that my biggest challenges are mental not physical and that I have to play mental games with myself when I am having a rough time. A few years ago I did Pedal the Peaks out west a couple times which is a week of climbing, all.day.long., about 600 miles for the week. I would just have to say, ok just make to that tree and then you can stop, then I would make it to the tree and I would say ok make it to the pole and then you can stop, I would do that for hours. Sounds fun huh? :rolleyes: It was the best actually.

You can do it, sending riding Karma your way!

[DDH]

I like that article. I failed 2 years ago, one reason because I did not eat breakfast. Now I know better than to try to go out there and ride with out eating something first, for any distance anyway.

That article is sooo true, but I never thought of it that way. To fail is to know I am trying.

Okay, so I won't worry about not finishing and just try. I've been so worried that I wouldn't be able to do it once again, that I haven't even tried.
How wasteful of me. :eek:

Thanks girls for all the advice and support. I'm going to turn my bike to the 50 miler. :D

[Zen]

We can always do more than we think we can.

Use mental imagery.
Picture yourself pedaling along.
Picture yourself stopping for a break.

Picture yourself crossing the finish line.

[Mr. Bloom]

You'll do great.;)

Stay fed, hydrated, take your time, pace yourself, and have fun.

When you hit a wall, say "just five more miles"...and then repeat it in 5 miles blocks.

I look forward to readin gyour report too!:)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hey Donna,
Look at it this way....
The 25 mile ride you already know you can do, so it would not be a challenge. But look, you don't 'have' to finish the 50 mile ride- just do as much as you feel able to! It will likely wind up being more than 25 and maybe less than 50....and so what? Just get out there and enjoy the ride and ride until you get pooped out. The actual mileage will not be nearly as important as the effort you put out in doing the ride. Remember, you will also be inspiring others who are struggling to do the 25 mile ride and maybe can't do that yet. They look up to people like you.
Be proud about whatever mileage you can manage- what matters is that you are DOING it and are trying your best.
Be sure to eat a good breakfast- oatmeal, fruit? and yes stop midway and eat some energy food and carbs and drink lots of water all the way along.
Go for it and don't beat yourself up about the actual number of miles. Have fun! :p

[cosc]

Yes, I think you can go the distance. Like other have said, go your own pace, drink a lot if it is a warm Texas day, take breaks as needed, but not too long.
I wish I was visiting my family farm, close to Lampasas so I could ride with you.
Have a great time.:)

[makbike]

Go for it! Have fun! Stop as often as need be. Eat, drink and be merry on your bike. And ride your ride.

[SouthernBelle]

I'm coming in late on this so you may already be gone.

Promise yourself some good treat at the end! Then you can picture it waiting at the finish line.

[DDH]

Your not to late. I came on here to get all the good Karma from everyone and to feel the support before I leave this morning.

I will have fun, and I will let you guys know as soon as I get home.

Thanks girls!!!!

[short cut sally]

I'm just reading this, wishing you the best on your ride, regardless of what mileage you do or can not do, just do it! You'll probably read this after your ride, so hope you had fun, enjoyed the whole event, and i'm routing for you all the way to your goal..Enjoy..shelly

[spokewench]

DDH - Of course you can do the 50. I have great faith in you and the accomplishments you have made so far are awesome. It may hurt a bit, but you have the will to make it through - HAVE FUN>

spoke

[DDH]

Well, I didn't make it again. I'm not beating myself up to bad about it though. I went 33 miles.
The reason I am not beating myself up, is this, the first 22 miles was great, we got to the turn aruond point and heading back I hit some mega hills that seemed to go on forever, and the wind had started up and I was heading into the wind that was blowing 15 MPH.
Also, I had the energy to finish, I was slow, but I could have done it, but my seat. My butt and other areas that I care not to mention were killing me. I was burning, and pinched, and couldn't shift enough to get comfortable.
I got to 30 miles and had to stop, and try to give my bottom a break, got back on the bike and it wasn't 5 minutes and I was hurting again.

It was a great ride though, it was beautiful, and a lot of the ride had trees going alongside the road that kept it shaded, lots of horses and cows, and countryside. This is close to home for me and yet this is the first year I have been able to make it. I wil go again next year for sure. It was marked really well, and had lots of support.
I wish I had finished but I do feel okay about it, because I still had the energy to do it. Mind you I was tired, and hot, man it was hot, but far from not having it in me to finish.

Thanks for all your support girls. I thought about you guys the whole time. I got really tired for a bit about 10 miles in and I thought, there is not way I'm going back and telling them that I did less that what I am use to. lol

[mimitabby]

33 miles! that's great! now next week do 40! that's a great ride. (I hate headwinds)

[Aggie_Ama]

33 miles is great! It is really sticky here today and has been all morning, humidity zaps my energy. Be proud of yourself for trying and going further than your norm.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Fabulous! I have a 30 mile ride that I do fairly regularly and every time I do it it feels really LONG!
Donna you did great. :p And I like your 'tude, girl. :D

[Zen]

Find some shorts that work for you and do it again.
Maybe rain nor snow nor dark of night can stop you but I know an ill-fitting pair of shorts sure can!

[solobiker]

DDH, I know you can do it. You are a different person then you were 2 years ago. You have more experience on your bike and more knowledge about what works for you and what does not. People are far more capable then what they give themselves credit for. Just keep positive and don't " oh no" once you go above the 30 mile mark. DDH have fun!!:D

[solobiker]

Sorry this is late, my computer was acting up and was not able to access the your last post. You still are an awesome rider in my book. Anyone who gets out and rides their bike, runs, walks or whatever it may be (in the form of exercise type of acitivity) has goals in mind and that is something to be proud of.

[HoosierGiant]

Congrats to you! Farther than you'd gone before -- a new personal best!!! Woo-hoo!

[uforgot]

Surely with a headwind and hills, there must be SOME forumula to calculate your mileage, like every mile with a headwind is 1 mile X 1.47, and headwind and hill together is 1 mile X 2.4?

Geez, I hate the wind and the hills. Sounds like you did really well!

[bouncybouncy]

YIIIPPPYYYY!!!!! your new personal best! I am glad to see that article has hit some people! It is something I deal with all the time (my riding partner/friend and my hubby are much faster than me) but man, has that motivation pushed me to be better than I have ever been...still not as good as them but MY BEST!!!!

You will conquer 50 miles soon...from some of your previous posts you have been through some trying times! You will soon find that energy(edit: meant to say happy butt...boy I know what you mean...I have had a saddle sore that won't quit!! arg) (and hopefully that tail wind) and ride beyond what you ever thought you could!

I am glad you tried and you have a positive attitude!!! :D

[Alex]

GREAT JOB, DONNA!!!!! :)

(Headwinds make me want to throw my bike into oncoming traffic!)


Alex

[cosc]

Donna congrats on a ride well done. Not many people would be able to ride 30 miles on a bike. Your a smart gal to ride at your own fun level, so you'll be raring to get on your bike another day. My last ride I went to my 1/2 point and called for a ride because I didn't want to ride against a headwind and a storm that was coming in. I'm looking forward to hearing about more bike adventures from Donna.

[Mr. Bloom]

33 miles! that's great! now next week do 40! that's a great ride. (I hate headwinds)

Ditto! Your objective is to have fun, not to hurt. You did the right thing and did Great!

[KathiCville]

Congrats on your ride!! Biking 33 miles is fabulous!

Here's a simple little trick that a friend of mine taught me recently: Whenever you're going downhill, lift your butt up off the seat just a little, for even a few seconds to take the pressure off. If you do that consistently from the start of a ride---long before any pain or chafing begins---it can help to relieve or delay some of the 'ouch' later on. I tend to sit too still on long rides, just pedalin' along, until I suddenly realize that my bottom is hurtin'. So on my last long rides, I've been trying to follow my friend's advice; it's a small thing, but it makes a difference! (Edit: Did it today on a 24-mile ride; finished my jaunt without a bit of saddle soreness!)