Closing out 2007 - results?

[Geonz]

How *did* it go? It ain't over yet 200 to go...

[Velobambina]

I exceeded my goal. Aside from February, the weather was generally conducive to riding outside (drought!) in 2007. Had a lot of stress--hell at work, loss of a beloved dog, addition of a "spirited" puppy--so slogging out the miles kept me grounded.

This year, I sold my Terry Fast Woman to someone who is giving her the outdoor miles she deserves. I also got my Seven and my Kona Lisa, both at superb [sale] prices. To my surprise, I'm discovering a love of riding off road, even if it's just non-technical stuff.

For 2008, I'll try to keep to my goal of riding every day that conditions are safe/relatively comfortable, but I'm hoping the work situation improves in 2008 so I don't have so much stress/anxiety to burn off. I have a couple of irons in the fire that I am hoping will work out. If not, I have only 9 more months to complete my current assignment, and I will try to make lemonade out of lemons, if the other things come to naught.

[Flybye]

I am pretty new to riding, so I only set two goals -

Ride as much as absolutely possible with a huge smile on my face - check!!!

Participate in my first organized ride and do a metric century - check!!!!

I rode 1000 miles, 800 of them solo miles. This year, watch out!!!!!

[withm]

Oh Withm I've been rooting for you! Partly because you're so close that I'd hate to see you miss it, and partly because I'm not going to make my 2500 mile goal and I figured maybe I could try to have the highest mileage of those who did not make it.

Sigh - it's a little after 12 noon, been raining all morning and though forecast is for on-off rain, the radar is clearing a little, so I'm heading out to see what I can pull off. Have a non-riding houseguest expected late afternoon through New Years. I explained that I might have to spend some time on the bike but it's supposed to rain tomorrow most of the day as well. I can only hope the forecast is wrong.

Monday should be rideable but chilly. I don't think I'm up for 72 miles all at once but with any luck I can still do this if I can get 30 in today.

On the other hand, my first ride for 2007 wasn't until Jan 6. So does that mean I have until Jan 5 to complete the 2500? Or, looking at it another way, If I started my fiscal bike year on Dec 29 last year, there's 61 miles that could be applied to this year - but that means my year is over now, still a little short. Hmmm.

Off to the races!

[kelownagirl]

Get on the trainer girl!

[silver]

Wow! it is so awesome to read what everyone has accomplished! What a great year! you all inspire and encourage me sooooo much!

Hmmm.....I guess my greatest hope at the beginning of the year was to overcome the trauma of Sam's wreck and my own wreck and to try to get back to the fitness level that I was at before.

I'll try not to go on and on, but through everyone's encouragement, especially Mr.'s I feel that I have overcome that trauma. It will always be with me, but It will not hold me back, rather it will continue to spur me on!

I love being on my bike!! I love riding long miles! I love the feeling of exhaustion after riding a distance and difficulty that I did not think possible.

So, what did I accomplish:

6,464 miles (so far) outdoor miles (I don't count cycling class miles)
9 centuries, the longest at 139 miles.
2 triathlon age group wins
3 5k runs at or below 25 minutes.
certified to teach indoor cycling
began to trail run
began to do Pilates class.
completed the year without a major injury.

It's been a good year!

For next year, I don't want to chase the number of miles that I did this year. I'd rather chase speed. I want to ride faster and run faster. I want to improve on my triathlon times. I told Mr. that I wanted to ride more and he was offended. He feels that I ride too much. I had the opportunities this year to ride and he feels that I neglected things. So I want to be able to accomplish my goals without making him feel that he and other things are neglected.

[Mr. Bloom]

...completed the year without a major injury.

But you did barf in the car yesterday

[RoadRaven]

All of you inspirations... all of you

From winning championships to reaching mileage goals to conquering hills to not crashing (I will diplomatically avoid mentioning barfing in cars ) to healing and getting active again

I reached my mileage goal yesterday while riding with my nearly-17 son - the 62k ride meant I passed my 4500km goal for the year.

Still got today's ride with my youngest son to do when the cooler evening arrives... and a ride with my partner tomorrow.

Other goals I achieved

- riding in and completing the Club Champs road race

- being placed third vet woman in the Club Champs time trial

- lifting my time trial average to 32kph

A good year

[silver]

But you did barf in the car yesterday

But wasn't I smooth?....dumping out the new things from the D*ck's bag and not messing up your car at all....all in one smooth move?

[IFjane]

But wasn't I smooth?....dumping out the new things from the D*ck's bag and not messing up your car at all....all in one smooth move?

Good Silver!

Now.....why did you barf? Too much exertion? Bad food? Too much to drink? Pregnant? Virus???


Hope you are feeling better!

[silver]

Good Silver!

Now.....why did you barf? Too much exertion? Bad food? Too much to drink? Pregnant? Virus???


Hope you are feeling better!

thanks!

I'd been feeling yucky since christmas day. Some kind of cold/virus/funk and think that it just yucked up my tummy. I'm feeling better today. We can definately rule the first 4 options out!

[HillSlugger]

My main riding goals for the year were 2500 miles and completing a metric century. Due to injury (and triathlon training) I will only make 1800 miles. Injury also kept me from even trying for the metric century. However, I went from basically being a non-swimmer to doing 113,000m this year, I ran 250 miles, and I completed 2 triathlons. All in all, it was a great year and I'm hoping to tick off these riding goals in 2008.

2008 goals:
175,000m swim
2500mi bike
350mi run

metric century
3 sprint triathlons
$2500 raised for American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure

[smilingcat]

Well I did a modest 1100 miles since April-May. This in spite of my back problem. I think its getting slightly better with all the Tai Chi and gyrokinesis work, Pilates like, and all the streching exercises I've been doing.

I've tried to ride everyday this week, company shutdown with no pay. I did take a day off altogether yesterday due to overtraining. I couldn't get my HR up into 180's.

Today went for another short ride of just over 15 miles with 900+feet of climb. My HR stayed above 160 for about 35 minutes. And when I finished, I felt like I could have gone for another 5-10 more miles. The hill work is getting bit easier.

I want to put in 20 miles tomorrow and another 20 on the 31st with about 1300 feet of climbing each day.

I guess I have nothing to complain at my age . Still, its tad hard that I'm way over the hill. I still hate to admit it though.

smilingcat

[withm]

Get on the trainer girl!

Sunday forecast is 70% chance of rain for most of the day with temps in low 40s. Ugh. If I get a radar window, I'll go out and ride for an hour or so, but if the forecast is accurate that's not likely to happen.

Monday will be clear and sunny (and windy), (and colder), but I have a plan. I'll do a "tailwind ride" - run the final 42 miles south to Assateague Island, taking advantage of the North wind, and have my friend meet me there with the car. I can get the miles in, then load the bike into the car. If I'm not frozen by then we can walk around down there on the trails a bit, and drive home. And then I'll take a few days off the bike. Well that will be easy cause I'll be back at work again.

[Triskeliongirl]

This year I only road 2794 miles (so far, still a couple days left, right?), but what I am most happy about is that I finally solved my weight problem. And I don't mean just losing weight, although I did lose and keep off 35 lbs, I mean figuring out the underlying metabolic reasons I was heavy, and how to use diet to both control my problems with impaired glucose tolerance and still cycle. Here are some before and after shots: