Day 1 in the books

I rode at my favorite place locally to ride: the Chickamauga Battlefield. I arrived before the sunrise at Battlefield Outdoors, where I park. I did not push myself to go fast today, though I did push myself to get up the big hill near the end that traditionally kicks my butt.

My first circuit was my traditional route that I had saved years ago from a now altered website. There is a Labor Day celebration in the small oval park near the beginning of the route so the roads were blocked. While it was no problem ducking under the barricades at 6:15 am when no one was there, I took an alternate route on my second circuit. There was also a road closure within the battlefield itself. The road was just gravel in long stretches, so I decided my gravel bike should be able to handle it. There was a small three foot wide ditch that I had to carry the bike over, so after crossing it on the first circuit, I chose another alternate route for the next circuit.

After making it up the dreaded hill on both my first and second circuits (hooray!), I found I was only at about 28 miles when I returned to the start, so I opted for a quick down and back to push me over thirty miles for the day.

I am not working today, so I will rest. I hope you have or had a lovely Labor Day.

Wake up call

I’ve gone and done it.

I registered for my seventh Great Cycle Challenge several months ago after receiving the usual “we’d love to have you support us again” email. I look forward to it every year. This year, however, is different.

I have been walking at least 10,000 steps each day since 30 September last year. Three hundred and thirty four days in a row. Well, only 8,560 steps on 14 May, but my Pacer app considers that to be a skip day.

I have also been using an exercise app that encourages me to do daily exercises above and beyond my daily step requirement. I have lost weight. On purpose. At my annual physicals over the past several years, my doctor has informed me that I was overweight. So I set my mind to be healthier.

As I approached this year’s GCC, I even had grandiose plans of riding a portion of the Natchez Trace, or the Silver Comet trail, or even a segment of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I was in better shape after all.

Early in this morning’s ride, my first in months, I had an epiphany. It was silly of me, really. Athletes train with specific exercises designed to help them in their specific sport for a reason. I had not been riding my bicycle at all. I tired quickly. I may be healthier, but I am not yet acclimatized to bicycle riding. And do not get me started on the seat.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not giving up. Not quitting before I start. I still intend to get my 300 miles, plus more. I still hope to raise $2,000, plus more if possible.

I actually still want to do some longer rides. My first test will be on day one. Tomorrow. I will ride my favorite local ride:a 13.8 mile circuit of the Chickamauga Battlefield. The number of circuits I do will depend on how tired I get. My biggest concern is whether I will have to walk my bike up the biggest hill on the route. We will see.

Thank you for your support and interest in what I am doing. I hope to continue to blog during the bikeathon.