Hard ride today... I contemplated giving up

[KSH]

Thanks for all the kind... wonderful... sweet replies! *wipes a tear* I truly appreciate you taking the time to care enough to respond with such thoughtfull words.

I rode 30 miles today, it was a "fun" ride... we got to stop... use the restroom... and rest along the way! Great ride! I averaged 13.5! HA! It's a no drop ride though, and that's the way it goes. I know I am not terribly slow. It would just be nice if other people in my tri group were my speed!

I also ran about 3.5 miles. Yea, I was slow but I kept moving and did what I needed to do, for me.

I also found out that for my Tri 202 10-week training, we are going to be doing that 42 mile ride (with hills) every Sat., with the same group of people. UGH!

So, I have a few plans in mind:

1) I am going to eat more before the ride (around 500 calories) and put food in my tri bag to eat during the ride. I might have done better had my tummy not been grumbling.

2) If need be, I will stop at 12-15 miles, wait for them to come back (they go out/back the same way), and ride with them 12-15 miles back. That way, I get 24-30 miles in, and I might not get dropped.

3) Find the one person who I know is slower than me and see if he wants to hang together. Of course, he needs to know the route???

4) Send my Tri coach an e-mail asking for the route. That way, I can have a map to follow. So, if I do get dropped, I can get back!

So I had to become one with my pokieness. I figure my body is built for endurance, not speed. But that doesn't make me any less the athlete.
besides, the folks at the back of the pack are so much friendlier than those at the front. I;ve found the FOP'ers tend to take themselves WAAAYYY to seriously!

I am in this to have fun and I like to be friendly. I guess my body and mind was made to be in the back of the pack. And if I trained alone, I wouldn't give a damn.

Note to self: start thinking about training alone again.