Despite a vicious head cold that I came down with Thursday, I was determined not to let a sunny, 70 degree afternoon get by me. I headed out on a "goof off" ride from my house. I cut through some neighborhood streets that I frequently use to avoid main roads. One of the hills is not too much fun. I found myself thankful for my old school granny gear! I rode to the nearby university with the thought in mind that I'd ride loops around their main road. They don't mind cyclists being there and it's not that busy, so I figured it would afford me a good opportunity to work on climbing. Well I arrived and found construction fencing blocking my path. I knew they would be doing this soon, so I wasn't truly surprised. I rode around in a couple of parking lots, finding that this place is really full of stairs!
I doubled back, knowing I could cut across campus fairly easily on the sidewalks. I wound up going a different way that I initially thought and enjoyed looking at the buildings. One thing that struck me is the age of them! I'm surprised with some of their alumnae that there aren't nicer facilities. Maybe that's the trend they are going towards with their new dorms (the previously mentioned construction zone). Anyway, it's always pleasant riding here because if you encounter people they are generally very nice. They always smile and speak. I would think that it's a good, tight knit community as the undergrad enrollment is kind of small. I wound up near the tennis courts which were busy with matches going on - a nearby soggy field hosted women's lacrosse practice. Not sure how they were trodding through, but maybe this area was the driest spot they could find. I rode back towards the horse barns, etc; but did not go anywhere near the horses. I respect their wishes that bikes not be used nearby. They have some beautiful animals there for sure. I found that the hill in the back (Keystone Lane) wasn't too terribly steep, but at a little under 2/10 of a mile presented a bit of a challenge for me. I rode up the first time, then rode near the president's house - daffodils are up, but not bloomed yet (note to self, go back and check next week). I decided to ride up the hill a couple more times. Like I said, it's not that steep, but if you're in my shoes, it's not easy.
Anyway, I was struggling more due to my head cold and lack of cardio more than anything. My quad, glute and hamstring did say hello on the third trip up. After I finished this little quest, I found a gravel road in the back of the campus that I had only seen on a map. I rode out and back on it just to get a little taste of gravel. (SIGH, I miss that crunchy sound.) Upon leaving campus by way of the neat bridge across Tinker Creek, I headed for the new greenway along Plantation Rd. It's a great way to get out of busy traffic, but it's a tad awkward to get to because in the way I was going I'd be on the wrong side of the road if I was riding in the normal traffic lanes. None the less, it's a great way to get up Plantation now, but it does end at Waldron Park - the plan is to extend it farther because it will eventually cross at a stoplight and I think go down another road to cross Tinker Creek and meet up with the aforementioned gravel path at Hollins? Maybe?!?!
Back on lightly traveled roads - I headed in a generally homeward direction, I was really thirsty despite having water with me. It was doing me no good, my nose and mouth felt like cotton. I rode along Dent Rd where I could faintly hear the Spring Peepers (they really sing at night). Arrived at Williamson Rd and realized I wasn't going to be able to make the left turn for home, so I went up the hill. UGH, again very grateful for granny gear and very grateful for the courteous drivers today - there's plenty of room for them to pass here. Soon I arrived back at home - pleased with my ~14 mile ride.
The hardest part of this lately has been being frustrated by just not feeling good for the better part of three weeks - bladder infection and this damn cold have really frustrated me. I was feeling good about where I was with Zwift rides, walking daily at work then the hikes on CRL. I don't think anyone truly understands how hard this is. And the hard part for me is I don't know where I should be at. It feels like I should be able to do more, but I can't. Then some days I feel like I'm doing great then I second guess myself. There literally is no timeline. If you try to research to find anything about recovery almost 95% of what's out there is about elderly people or people who have had total joint replacement. There's little about what a middle age, partially athletic female should expect or anticipate.
I'm frustrated by trying to stay in an exercise routine when I don't feel like I make any progress. I guess I could fork out more money for the gym, but I'd be lost as to what to do. Again, I can Google or YouTube; and I have to find exercises; but these people are skinny as rails and not recovering from a major injury. Their happy asses blow through exercises expecting the viewer to be following along - hell I'm barely climbing out of the floor when they are halfway through the next sets. I get pissed and turn it off and revert back to the basics I was taught at PT.
Maybe the weather will change for the better, and I can continue to get outside. I don't mind riding in the basement and I truly don't mind doing exercises on my mats and with the many devices I have at my disposal; but sometimes I think all I need is fresh air. Sorry if I seem frustrated some days, but I really do hate that I can't do everything I used to do. I don't mind fighting back and working hard; I just need a break - I need a few good weeks back to back where I can get in a good routine again and feel like I'm progressing again.
That's all for now, and if you are in need of a good chair cardio workout check out this chick Caroline Jordan. I've actually done it twice and it does get your heart rate up. She's also posted some pretty insightful posts on Facebook.
I doubled back, knowing I could cut across campus fairly easily on the sidewalks. I wound up going a different way that I initially thought and enjoyed looking at the buildings. One thing that struck me is the age of them! I'm surprised with some of their alumnae that there aren't nicer facilities. Maybe that's the trend they are going towards with their new dorms (the previously mentioned construction zone). Anyway, it's always pleasant riding here because if you encounter people they are generally very nice. They always smile and speak. I would think that it's a good, tight knit community as the undergrad enrollment is kind of small. I wound up near the tennis courts which were busy with matches going on - a nearby soggy field hosted women's lacrosse practice. Not sure how they were trodding through, but maybe this area was the driest spot they could find. I rode back towards the horse barns, etc; but did not go anywhere near the horses. I respect their wishes that bikes not be used nearby. They have some beautiful animals there for sure. I found that the hill in the back (Keystone Lane) wasn't too terribly steep, but at a little under 2/10 of a mile presented a bit of a challenge for me. I rode up the first time, then rode near the president's house - daffodils are up, but not bloomed yet (note to self, go back and check next week). I decided to ride up the hill a couple more times. Like I said, it's not that steep, but if you're in my shoes, it's not easy.
Anyway, I was struggling more due to my head cold and lack of cardio more than anything. My quad, glute and hamstring did say hello on the third trip up. After I finished this little quest, I found a gravel road in the back of the campus that I had only seen on a map. I rode out and back on it just to get a little taste of gravel. (SIGH, I miss that crunchy sound.) Upon leaving campus by way of the neat bridge across Tinker Creek, I headed for the new greenway along Plantation Rd. It's a great way to get out of busy traffic, but it's a tad awkward to get to because in the way I was going I'd be on the wrong side of the road if I was riding in the normal traffic lanes. None the less, it's a great way to get up Plantation now, but it does end at Waldron Park - the plan is to extend it farther because it will eventually cross at a stoplight and I think go down another road to cross Tinker Creek and meet up with the aforementioned gravel path at Hollins? Maybe?!?!
Back on lightly traveled roads - I headed in a generally homeward direction, I was really thirsty despite having water with me. It was doing me no good, my nose and mouth felt like cotton. I rode along Dent Rd where I could faintly hear the Spring Peepers (they really sing at night). Arrived at Williamson Rd and realized I wasn't going to be able to make the left turn for home, so I went up the hill. UGH, again very grateful for granny gear and very grateful for the courteous drivers today - there's plenty of room for them to pass here. Soon I arrived back at home - pleased with my ~14 mile ride.
I'm frustrated by trying to stay in an exercise routine when I don't feel like I make any progress. I guess I could fork out more money for the gym, but I'd be lost as to what to do. Again, I can Google or YouTube; and I have to find exercises; but these people are skinny as rails and not recovering from a major injury. Their happy asses blow through exercises expecting the viewer to be following along - hell I'm barely climbing out of the floor when they are halfway through the next sets. I get pissed and turn it off and revert back to the basics I was taught at PT.
Maybe the weather will change for the better, and I can continue to get outside. I don't mind riding in the basement and I truly don't mind doing exercises on my mats and with the many devices I have at my disposal; but sometimes I think all I need is fresh air. Sorry if I seem frustrated some days, but I really do hate that I can't do everything I used to do. I don't mind fighting back and working hard; I just need a break - I need a few good weeks back to back where I can get in a good routine again and feel like I'm progressing again.
That's all for now, and if you are in need of a good chair cardio workout check out this chick Caroline Jordan. I've actually done it twice and it does get your heart rate up. She's also posted some pretty insightful posts on Facebook.
Comments
Post a Comment