Spring Kick-Off (with pictures!)!

Whoooowhee! Are my legs tired! Yesterday was the MS Spring Kick-Off Ride out in Chesterfield. Dad and I decided to go for the 27 rather than the 37 mile-route, which ended up being a good thing because of a serious delay we experienced about half-way into our ride. Just 2.5 miles out from the rest-stop/turn-around for the 27 miler, Dad suffered a flat tire. It took about 15 minutes to repair the tube enough to make it to the rest-stop (conveniently located in a horse pasture!).

At the stop, however, we realized that the tire itself had been compromised, which meant even more delays as the generous and helpful folks from Big Shark saw that my Dad's tire was patched and fit to make it back to the start. I'll tell you what, though - I say it's a fine thing that we only rode 27+ miles yesterday. While it would have been an extreme psychological boost to have done the 37 this early into my training, I think my legs and ass-bones are thanking me today (that's not to say that they aren't still throbbing).

The route was much more hilly than any rides I have put myself out on to-date. There was one bastard of a climb that forced me off my bike and I found myself walking most of the way. Once again, though, I survived to cycle another day - which will hopefully be sooner rather than later.

Today I took the much-needed bike break and walked the dog with my husband through Forest Park instead. I may try to squeeze in a ride tomorrow after work, but the weather looks thunder-stormy and we're going to see Glen Hansard and Markita Irglova at the Pageant in the evening, so we'll see. I've still got 4 months, right??? Right.




Dist: 27.34 miles
Avg: 13.5 mph
Mx: 31.8 mph - that was on the downhill side of the bastard hill
Time: 2.01.00