A Silver Dream is no Nightmare

Well it’s taken over 2 weeks to get myself back on the bike.  I wimped out one morning during that heavy rain we had, and the bike’s been sitting forlorn and mud-caked in the hallway ever since.

I tried to cycle into work on Monday, but couldn’t bring myself to start off the week that way.   I tried to cycle into work yesterday, but listened to the voices in my head telling me I was too tired (after a good night’s sleep too!)…   Then finally this morning, when the alarm went off at 6am, I grudgingly dragged myself away from my pillow, struggled into my padded lycra shorts suit (this so wasn’t designed for my body) and after finding every reason not to leave the house, I eventually edged my silver dream machine (Les bike) out the hall door.

It was damned cold this morning, and I realised that as I wheeled off down the end of my cul-de-sac, my nose was already weeping, and my ears were cut to shreds with the breeze.   I grumbled for the next 5 mins or so, and then I suddenly realised that I was in top gear, flying like the wind, and absolutely loving the freedom of whizzing down the road into the dark morning.

There’s a lesson here.  I avoided cycling for 2 whole weeks and convinced myself I hated it.   I don’t.  I love it.  I loved cycling in this morning, I felt really good and strong – and I got into work in 45 minutes flat – without pushing the pace.   As it turns out, I hadn’t lost a minute on my time for the 15k cycle.   I’m thrilled – and I’m back.

It’s 6 weeks now, to my Concern/Uganda challenge; and the training is stepping up in earnest for myself and my WeightWatchers’ buddy Vera Baker.   We’re off to Kerry and Limerick this weekend to climb and hike.   Personally, the plan from here on in, is an hour of heavy-lifting in the gym twice a week.  Cycling the 30k round trip into work 5 days a week.  At least one swim at the weekend, and as much kayaking and climbing as we can fit in, between now and the off-date.

I’ve also started my injections and have Hep A and the first of THREE Rabies shots done.   They warned me it would hurt – it didn’t.   Hope that continues, and I hope I don’t start howling at the full moon….  wuff wuff folks…