I admit it, I messed up. Here I've been doing all of this cycling - a mere 7 months ago I was limited to circles in a parking lot and today I went out for a 65 mile training ride. Cool stuff! Did someone ask if I've actually been stretching? Of course not

It was supposed to be 75 miles though...but my quads were in pain, my knees were not happy, and the wind changed direction - suspect my nutrition was off as well. Have been home almost an hour and am starting to feel better - certainly after I have my recovery beer

This morning before my ride, I hired a personal trainer who is also a massage therapist to stretch me. My hip flexors have been quite tight and I haven't had much luck with them. She isn't "my" usual trainer, but she is quite good at sports stretching/massage. She said my hip flexors were indeed tight (one hip was even higher than the other but she fixed that) - but that my quads were far tighter. She did tell me that I would find a 75 mile ride troublesome and she recommended that I not try it - but of course I did head out (even if I wound up 10 miles short).

I am having a very difficult time getting my mileage past 75, and I only have 4 training weekends left. My average speed ranges between 12.5 and 13.3 - and am beginning to wonder if I am expecting too much out of myself for my very first season.

I guess this is what I get for not stretching after my rides...though I did today - kind of like closing the barn door after the horse escapes.

Any encouraging thoughts? I haven't given up, and in the end if it turns out that I am not ready I will just be out a $10 registration fee...