My Longest Ride to date

This weekend I set myself a challenge to ride into town and back in one hit. This is a total of 40k I ride into town regularly every week but then go to work and because the days are so short I havent attempted to ride home for some time.

So this ride was going to be a challenge for my fitness and determination to do it. The plan was to do it yesterday but a storm came over in the morning and wiped any hope of riding. I don't mind rain but thunder and lightening well that can be a bit scary...

I was very disappointed because I felt if I don't make myself do this I never will. So this morning it had to be it... even though the temperate was 3 to 4 degrees...

Philip got me my cup of tea in bed at 6am so I had no excuse I was awake and the day was fine well as far as I could tell at that time of the morning so I got up had the usual porridge, got changed and headed off at 7.30am. I only have a short sleeved bike shirt and bike shorts so I have to tell you I bloody froze I was sooo cold but that wasnt going to stop me I just had to do this it was important to me I must keep proving to myself that I am strong fit and healthy... It could be so easy just to keep doing what I am doing but without challenge and pushing myself I feel I could easily fail myself.

Over the hill and off my legs when so red from the cold my arms had goosebumps the size of Mt Everest but they kept working.... you know your mind does tricks with you it tries to con you that you are totally mad and incapable of finishing what you have set yourself to do.... constantly I kept thinking its too cold, its too far, the bike needs lube on the chain, maybe that front tyre needs a bit of air. Awww come on you have your phone its so easy to ring up and get picked up....maybe you could try again in a couple of weeks... but I didn't stop I didn't give in I just kept going pedaling along.

Its bloody hard when you work so hard at getting along the rode then suddenly you hear another tinkle of a bell and four blokes past you on their road bikes at least this week they said "good morning' but I feel such a dumb woman because I just cant keep up with them or go as well as they do... I just wonder am I wasting my time doing this.... i know the difference is probably about 30 years and my hybrid bike is not comparison to the road bikes they were riding but I truly try so hard to get faster and better. Oh I so wish I had someone who would come with me and ride along side of me, it would be so good just to challenge each other. My boy likes to ride but he isn't keen on the roads and I can understand that.... I must keep trying to encourage him to come along even if we just do shorter distances and have some fun. Maybe I am just being too serious and too hard on myself.

I know what you are probably thinking that I should get real and accept that this morning I rode the longest I have even ridden in one go without a break.... and that now my legs are burning with the effort that I put in and I should be proud of myself, I am proud and I am happy, yes it was awesome, yes I did do something that I had set myself to do.... plus I burnt 902 calories.

I am a 54 year old grandmother who just loves to ride who loves what I have become and I know its not the end but only the beginning of me and my healthy life. I will just keep doing the best that I can do and believe in myself and what I can achieve...

Yes today I did well and I am proud.