I love my blog. It has given me an outlet for my feelings and frustrations. It has also given me a way to connect with so many amazing people with so much knowledge. I have amassed a wealth of knowledge here and made some unique friendship along the way . To those of you who post comments on my blog....you have no idea how much that means to me. I think it is really something special that someone would take the time to : A. Read my words. and B. Give advice and words of encouragement to someone they have never met.
I was running on the West Orange Trail yesterday and was stopped by two people who recognized me from this blog! They told me I inspired them and they loved reading my words. I was overwhelmed. Me? I make that kind of impact with my "prose therapy"??!! Wow! The only word that came to my mind was : humbled.
But I am up at 500am on a Sunday morning to go do a bike ride with a friend. I didn't get much sleep last night (my hubby and I were out late at an event) but it wouldn't be the first time I did a workout on very little sleep. I had made plans to do a ride with this friend of mine at a place with which I am very familar. Van Fleet trail is a 30 mile flat windy course about an hour from my home. Its the perfect place to get into my aero bars, pedal and think. Little or no traffic...and very desolate. For me ... its the perfect place for a recovery ride.
My friend calls me, after making all these plans in the morning, and decides to change the venue to a place I have never ridden. She also decided to add another gentleman who is an expert rider who's average speed makes me look like I am standing still. He is a delightful man but I have to admit, he intimidates me to death.
I have ridden with people who are faster than me with the understanding that I don't keep them back and they don't wait for me. Ill meet up with them at the middle point or maybe at the end. We have cell phones...were adults. If I get in trouble, Ill give them a call. But for some reason, on this morning, I felt I would make a total ass of myself riding with these folks that average 8 to 10 mph faster than me!
So I grabbed my bike and decided that I would do the urban route at dawn. Downtown Orlando at 630am belonged to me. Aside from the scattered beer bottles, wristbands from the bars and a few people passed out in their cars in a bar parking lot, this Sunday morning world belongs to the early morning runner or rider. Through Downtown and then out to ORMC (Orlando Regional Medical Center) then the Executive Airport, I did all I could to rack up the miles. Making my way to the Cady Way Trail, I left Orlando and entered Winter Park then followed the route back home. A beautiful two hour ride...
Although I still struggle with my confidence as a triathlete, it is mornings like this that remind me that I love what I do...
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7 comments:
I've been enjoying your blog for several weeks now!! Great job and keep up the hard work!
You know.. it is a funny thing, there is always someone faster. But you stay in your own zone and life is good. I may need to remember that because I think Arnie has my number on the bike.
Just read your previous post. Maybe a good shot of inhaler prior to race or workout is the trick?? I'm semi serious.
I TOTALLY understand the intimidated thing. I have pushed WAY beyond my comfort zone with all of this IM stuff, but sometimes, it is better just do a ride or ruin on your own if it will be too demoralizing.
You are doing so great and I am so excited about your progress! Sorry i have been MIA. I have been reading but not commenting. It has been a tough couple of months, but I know you know all about that!
Gah! We leave tomorrow. I am trying to not freak out.
Oh, and I am with IronBob. I have asthma too and my pulmonolgist recommends I use my inhaler 30 min prior to exercise.
I have allergy induced asthma, not exercise induced, but all the allergens are outside where I train!
Van Fleet used to be the only place I'd ride long when I got started riding a few years back. I was terrified of cars and couldn't get out of my pedals reliably.
Way to go on your workouts. There'll always be people who are faster than you and you just have to keep telling yourself that you belong too. Next time I'm at Orange Trail, I'll look for you!
I am so excited to find your blog. I've been searching high and low for a blog from a fellow Central Floridian and happened to stumble on yours a couple of days ago. I live in Seminole County and have never heard of Van Fleet Trail (I definitely need to search for that one). I'm still afraid to ride on the roads so the more trails I can find the better.
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