Training Begins, Bring on the Doubles

[Veronica]

Ideally I'd like to be training twice a day, 30 - 60 minutes in the morning, 90 minutes or so in the PM. That doesn't mean riding twice a day - training for me also includes the Core stuff, yoga and weights. I'll be happy if I can get in 3 AMs and 2 PMs this week. I have Back to School Night Thursday, otherwise I'd go for 3 PMs.

Wish me luck! I'm gonna need it.

Well my week did not go as planned. I got in two AM workouts - Yoga and Core. By the end of today I'll have two PM workouts, only because we got out early today because of Back to School Night last night.

Monday Thom and I did a great mountain bike ride. It's a 3 mile climb with an average grade of 6% and a couple of super steep sections. I got distracted on one of the steep sections and had to step off. I tried it again and was so mad at myself for goofing up the first time. I messed up the second time. The third try at it, I was determined. This time that hill was going down!

After this steep section, the climb levels out a bit and I usually take it easy. But this time I actually got out of my granny gear and hit it hard so I could catch up to Thom. There is one more steep section and when I caught up to Thom, he suggested we race up the last section. I whined and told him I had nothing left. But he took off anyway, so I had no choice. I caught him, and he starts yelling stuff like, "Come on, beat me! Spin! Spin! Spin! Circles!" And I am just cursing him inside. This last section is a little more technical. It is a little loose and has some embedded rocks and so I'm concentrating on picking a good line and trying to go as hard as I can. He edged me out at the end. But then as we were drinking and catching our breath at the top, he says, "I thought you said you had nothing! That didn't look like nothing!"

The descent was what really made this ride. Since my accidents, mountain biking descents have filled me with trepidation. For no good reason - neither accident was on a gnarly descent.

I was still cautious on this one. But I was pedaling hard on all the little swoops up, instead of coasting. When Thom caught up to me back at the truck he said that it seemed like I was finding my mountain bike place again. My max speed was 31 on the descent.

Today I'm heading out for about twenty miles - just to stretch my legs a bit.

Tomorrow I'm planning on doing Morgan Territory. That will be about 50 miles with around 3500 feet of climbing.

Sunday another mountain bike ride, but longer.

Ahhh... the work week.

I have a meeting with a parent Monday, a Leadership Team meeting on Tuesday, a staff meeting Wed. a meeting on Thursday about testing our ELD kids. I'll be amazed if I get in one after work ride next week.

Three AM workouts is the goal again.

I keep hoping things will get into a routine. Work is causing me a bit of stress. I've got a fairly good class. But I have one girl who can't read. Seriously, she cannot read much of anything. She's new to our district and needs so much help. I have 34 students in my room and someone needs to read her everything! I feel like a failure because I can't do it all. I can't meet all of her needs and help my other students. Almost all of them have some issues.

Time to go ride.

V.