First Group Ride

Today's group workout was the first group bike ride. I woke up at 5:30 am to get out by 6 am and meet up with the group in Lincolnshire at 7 am. I had to borrow Andy's cousin's car b/c Andy has our car in MI this weekend and I set with a quarter tank of gas. I accidentally wound up in the express lane instead of local on 94 and missed my exit. I was planning on getting gas on the way there if I had time, but once I realized I went way out of my way, I lost time. Plus I took the wrong turn off the expressway and added even more to the trip. After stopping in two parking lots in the Old School Forest Preserve, I finally joined up with the group at 7:20 and yes, the gas light was on. At that point, I was just glad I didn't miss the ride and was able to get my crap together, hop on my bike and mentally prepare for a 43.5 mile ride. The ride was good overall--some rough areas on the roads and very strong winds. I realized I was getting a little too competitive with some of the women when I would see one ahead and push to pass, but hey, it's all part of the training I guess. However, I have to say there are some amazingly strong women in this group! This is not some whimpy club--I think there may even be a few ringers among us! Just about every woman I talk to has done at least one marathon, most have done several. To each her own.

I completed the three loops (one loop=14.5 miles) in decent time--I didn't count it exactly but probably around 3 hours or so. I almost didn't make it home-gas stations along 94 are like lakes in a desert!

The run tomorrow is either 60 or 70 minutes. That seems like a lot right now. But then I think about my sister, who is running the Bayshore Marathon next Saturday, and I realize how much of a whimp I am when it comes to running.

She's trying to qualify for Boston, which means she's shooting to average 8:30-45 min. miles. For 26.2 miles!! And she's been triaining in that range, which amazes me. She looks absolutely amazing and I think she's going to do it! If not, she'll be pretty close. She said if she doesn't make it, she'll still be happy she completed a marathon after getting ACL surgery (terrible triad to be exact) just two years ago. She's just amazing, that's all I can say!

By the way, this is a picture of my dad, sister and I after we did the Ludington sprint triathlon and duathlon. She placed second overall for women in the duathlon and my dad got second in his age group. It was one of the top ten best days of my life.