Well, folks I did my bike ride today. It was 51 degrees when I started my ride and by the time I was done it was 72 degress. The weather was perfect. I could not have asked for a more beautiful day. I guess in pervious years it was rainy and cold. I told one volunteer that the reason the weather was finally nice is because I came to the race. They asked if I would come back next year. :-)
There were several routes that you could bike. There was a 16, 25, 28, 38, ad 68 mile route. I was going to do the 25 mile route, but as I got going and my ankle started hurting at about mile 6 I decided it would be best if I just did the 16 today. There was some pretty scenary to look at, like farmland, lakes, birds, and the such. I was pretty much alone for the whole ride. The rest stop was at a forest preserve type area and was very pretty. This was the most food I have ever seen at a rest stop. They had tons of sweets, bagels with all kinds of toppings, bananas, oranges, and chili. I think that was all. I had a bagel, banana, and a gatorade. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised by the food spread because the brouchere said this event was all about the FOOD, folks, and fun. I was by myself, so I started talking to a family that was there. They were really nice. Sometimes I think it is nice to do these events by yourself because it forces you to meet people.
Once I hit the rest stop my route turned around and went back the way I had come and I was doing fine and then BAM there was this huge hill just minutes from the finish line. Man, that was one tough hill, but I was determined not to walk up it and I didn't, but I sure did want my MOMMY!! :-) I'm a little sore, but overall it was a great day!! I am so happy I did it.
For all you triathletes that read my blog I have a bum ankle and this is the first time since it has been acting up that I wore my clip in shoes. It was bothering me the whole time. Is there anything I can do to try and make this better? New shoes, change pedals? etc. Also, if you have wide feet out there what clip in shoes do you wear and I'm talking REALLY wide? Thanks for any advice.
I also named my bike today while I was out there on the road. I named her ROSEBUD because of her deep red color and I haven't decided yet if I will call her ROSE or BUD. I'll figure that out on the next ride.
IRONMAN UPDATE:
Swim: 1/2 mile
Bike: 22 miles
Run: 1.75 miles
I started losing weight in 2008 and over the next two years lost 106 pounds. In 2010 my life changed when I got diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. Over the next two years I gained back 100 pounds. I'm taking my life back. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. Today is my fresh start and it can be yours too.