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Let me preface this by first telling you that in the past hour and a half, I have eaten: two bananas, an apple, a loaf of bread, a lot of Nutella, a can of soup, and half a jar of juice. What would compel me to eat so much? Think back to the goals I wrote down on here a few weeks ago. By now, you know that I've crossed the Bolton-Trapp's ski of that list, as well as the Circle Mansfield cycle ride. What's left? The ultimate goal I set: cycling 90 miles (145 km), climbing through both Smuggler's Notch and Appalachian Gap. Time? Just shy of seven hours. Did it hurt? Hell yeah.
Surprisingly, it wasn't all that bad. Most likely this is because my whole body went numb, including my brain. Also, during the ride I was really "at the office." Last night, I ordered a router bit so that I can finish up my new rifle stock. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that it said that they could only send packages to the billing address on my credit card. It doesn't match my current address, so I had to get a hold of my debit card, which does match. So the first half went by quite quickly because I was on the phone, and was more frustrated with this horrible company than the fact that my legs were screaming at me.
This workout is, to date, the longest I have ever traveled under my own power. I think that I have done one workout, when I lived in Norway, of eight hours hiking, but hiking is nothing compared to cycling. Summer decided to show its face today as well, making the cycle even more fun, with traditional Vermont humidity making it feel like 90 degrees.
Am I complaining? I hope not. In actuality, during the ride at some point, I said to myself, "How did you come up with this great idea? Cycling for seven hours…" The only answer I could give was a grunt, and I kept on moving along. Tackling big goals gives me a lot of motivation on workouts like this. The next time I am on a seven hour ride, though, it will be much more difficult because I will have done it already before.
You won't see me anytime soon on the roads cycling - the only thing that my bikes are going to be doing over the next few days is waiting for me to pack them up for my move up to northern Maine.
Peace,
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