I haven’t written much lately, and sadly, I haven’t read much in those weeks either. I feel terribly self-absorbed and clueless as to what’s been going on. Forgive me. I needed some time to process my trip and really pray about what comes next. It’s been an exciting time, and I can’t wait to see what comes next. Stay tuned; it should be a fun ride.
While I’ve been slacking on my blog, I haven’t been slacking on cycling. Since spring is in full swing here (just ask my pollen-covered car), I’ve officially started my training plan for September’s JDRF Ride. I’ve signed up for the century and committed to raising $3,000 to fund research toward a cure for diabetes. I can’t do that without you, so if you’d like to partner with me and JDRF, you can donate toward my ride effort here. Starting today, the banner below will be posted on the right sidebar through September. (If you’d like the code for your site or a variation of the button, just ask.)
I had wonderful plans to ride through the winter months so as to not lose my endurance, but it didn’t happen as I’d hoped. My first week of training, I made excuses not to ride. By the second week of training, I knew I had to actually get on my bike. I was in Nashville that week, so I rode part of a nearby greenway. It was a hilly trek, which I didn’t realize beforehand, and it was snowing. The entire hour, I released cursing whispers under my breath and came super close to crying at one point. It hurt, and I was miserable. As I fastened my bike back onto its rack, I thought, “I can’t do this. I can’t train another year and put in the time and effort. It’s too hard and I’m too far behind where I was last year.”
But then I remembered all the people I’d talked into riding the Nashville trail with me and I thought about how mad they’d be if I quit. (And to be completely honest, I’m scared of a couple of them.) I knew if I bailed, I’d be letting them down as much as I’d be letting myself down. So when Thursday rolled around (along with the sunshine), I hit the road for another hour-long ride. It was a great ride, and I felt like myself. My first two-hour ride that weekend was even better. The weather was great, the roads were freeing and I regained the optimism I’d lost over the winter months.
I have an actual coach this year — he’s certified and everything! I’m forcing myself to ride outside of my comfort zones through group rides and hilly terrains. I’m moving slow, but I’m moving. We all have to start somewhere. Follow along on this year’s journey as I Ride to Cure Diabetes.
You can totally do this, Victoria! Stick to your plan as best you can, and you’ll get through it just fine. Won’t be easy, but you’ll get through it.