demoralized

[Tri Girl]

I'm sorry your trip was disappointing! I wish it would've turned out the way you hoped, but it sounds like your body was not as willing as your mind. You did a 3 summit 94 mile ride on day 3? WOW! I'm super impressed with that.
Keep your chin up, and please don't be too hard on yourself (much easier said than done). There is always next year... and you'll rock that ride when the time comes. ((((((Jane)))))

[Bklynmom]

Wow Jane - I only dream of accomplishing the ride you did do!

[Crankin]

Well, it took me 2-3 days to acclimatize to Boulder and then anytime we went up to an elevation above 6,000 feet i couldn't stand it. Tingly, sweaty, horrible. I was able to ride on a trail in Boulder, but any other activity was out. When we drove up to Rocky Mountain National Park I cried and screamed the whole time until we descended to about 8,000 feet. I have never felt so awful before...
Of course my husband and son felt nothing and my son came in second in an 80 mile race 3 days after we arrived. While I think I am in better shape now, I absolutely refuse to take a vacation at elevation. I suppose if I had weeks to get used to it, it would be OK, but with so many other places to ride and visit, I have decided that mountain passes are not for me.

[missymaya]

Don't beat yourself up, you tried the best you could, even when your body said no, you tried. I can only imagine doing a 94 mile ride through the mountains or any other higher elevation. Just that alone is something to be proud of. And, along with that, to ride in that heat, wow. The heat will zap your energy, plus all of the initial energy you were putting into this trip is a heck of a lot. Maybe your body just wasn't ready. It's ok, just take this experience and use it to your advantage.

[GLC1968]

(((((IFJane)))))

I'm so sorry that you were disappointed! But don't beat yourself up about this. You rode SMART, and that is something to be proud of. No matter how much we train for something, sometimes our bodies have a different agenda.

I agree with the others, I've seen what anemia can do (I battled a severe case 2 years ago) and I would put money on that as one of the problems. I'm also not easily acclimated to altitude (I had some real issues when hiking in Wyoming a few years back) and I can only imagine how hard biking at altitude could be. I'm impressed with what you did do!!

And I concur...care to share any pictures?

[mimitabby]

(((([[[{{{{IFJane}}}}]]]))))

I didn't know about anemia and altitude, but it sure makes sense. add heat to the mix and I'm not sure I would have been able to do it either!
I hope you enjoyed the other aspects of the ride. your son summiting 3 times... that would have driven ME nuts.
I'm glad he's in such great shape though!


pictures??

[Dianyla]

I think you should follow up with your doctor. You are probably still anemic or have reduced capacity iron stores. It took me about 15 months of heavy iron supplementation (90 mg daily) just to bring my ferritin stores up to "decent". You may also want to have your folate levels tested - this can cause pernicious anemia that responds poorly to oral iron supplementation.