When did 73 miles become "not enough"?

[Mr. Bloom]

TJ, you're just impossible to please!

[nscrbug]

I can totally relate to what you're saying TrekJeni. I often find myself feeling the exact same way...that no matter how many miles I put in, it never seems like enough. I too, rode 73 miles on Sunday and while it was my longest ride of the season so far, it's nowhere close to what I know I'm capable of. Heck, last season I was riding a 100-miler every month from May - Oct. I remember when riding 40 miles was considered my long ride. Now when I ride 40 miles, I always refer to it as just or only 40 miles...and I know that's crazy because 40 miles IS a long way. It's like I'm never happy with my accomplishments...something I really need to work on.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If distance in miles is what makes you happy, great!
Like Tangentgirl, I wondered if you enjoyed your ride- since you didn't mention anything about that.
Me, I'm a slowpoke who decides on her ride based on how much time I want my ride to last that day. I stopped using a bike computer last year because I no longer care so much about how my mph. We are all different.
Actually, it's pretty convenient when you typically ride 10mph (we have lots of rolling hills here)- because I know if a ride is 25 miles long, it'll likely take me 2.5 hours.

That said, I do still brag about my longest (70 mile) ride when folks ask me how many miles I ride. Afterwards, I'll add something like "But that was my longest ever ride, today I'm only going ___ miles."
I do feel proud that 5 miles used to seem like a 100 when I first started out, and now 50 miles seems like 100 to me. At 57 years old, I'll take it! lol!

[indysteel]

I felt that way at one time--when I was consistently riding 200 plus miles a week, but then life started getting in the way. In some respects, it was good for me to let go of that neverending quest and arguably rigid routine, but I also miss it, too. I spent some time yesterday looking at my old Bikejournal entries, and it just depressed me. Not only did I ride a lot, I was pretty fast, too. I couldn't ride like that now if I tried--and it was just a couple of years ago. What's weird is that I feel like it was easier to build my miles when I first started riding than it is now. I don't know what's changed. My motivation maybe? I dunno. I'd like to get my mojo back, but I'm starting to accept that I may never get it back fully or, if I do, it's going to feel and look a little different.

[Crankin]

I've had a few 200 mile weeks, but mostly not. Even though I steadily built my total mileage over the years, most of it's been from lots of little rides. I mean, little, like 12-18 miles. Then, for a while I also did lots of 35-50 mile rides on weekends. Now the weekends tend to be 20-40, with a few 50 milers thrown in. Last year was the first year in 5 I did not do a metric. I think it's because I never really train for these longer rides... I just do them, the end is always painful. Last year I increased my total mileage a lot by doing one 25-45 mile ride during the week, plus the weekends, and also doing lots of short (10-12 mile) before work rides. I do work on getting my speed up (to my normal slow speed ) in the beginning of the season, but this year, I am setting no expectations, as I don't know what my schedule will be like when I start working. It was fun working toward a goal up to a certain point, and i passed that stage awhile ago. But, I still get a little adrenaline, when I am riding with others. I do a good deal of riding with others who are slower, don't ride as far, as me, so maybe that gives me a false sense of superiority!
I know that to my "normal" friends, what i do is nuts, so it helps to put it all in perspective. To the OP, there's nothing like illness or injury to put this in perspective.

[indysteel]

I'd really be thrilled if I just regularly did 30-40 mile rides, with an odd metric thrown in, plus my usual routine of yoga, hiking and (now) running. The truth is that I just feel like I have a lot more going on these days then I once did. I'm relatively new to marriage and while I was a home owner previously, I purposely had a home that just didn't require much work. That's different now, as our house and property just require more time and effort. Plus, I need and want to balance what I want out of my free time with what my DH wants. So, all things in moderation at this point. That may change in time, but right now, it's okay. From a health standpoint, I don't think I was any heathier when I rode 200 miles a week. In fact, in a lot of ways, I was putting far more strain on my body and immune system. If nothing else, these changes have made me really learn how to adapt to change. I was ready to throw my hands up about it last year out of frustration, but I've gotten a little more centered since then. My guess is that set of challenges will not be my last, so this is good practice.

[warneral]

I have to fight off thoughts like that (though admittedly on a smaller scale LOL).

Like Lisa, I want to enjoy myself and that is my primary motivation. Speed comes in dead last with distance coming in ahead of speed! I'd like to train for a century this year but am afraid all those competitive types will leave me in the dust and close up shop before I even get to mile 50!!!

So as I get those feelings of insecurity I remind myself that I'm doing it for the enjoyment and that alone is how *I* win

I did push myself to do 31mi today and it feels great!