Training Day 2
But wait, there's more. Ever since I got my spd pedals I've been even more afraid. Not only am I in danger of being hit by a car or attacked by a bear (because you know - those suburban bears are real killers), I might forget to clip out and just fall over. I have, in fact, done that 3 times. Of course it didn't really hurt but it could, you know - it could really hurt. Add to that the fear of climbing a hill and slowing down until I just fall over and I become apoplectic.
Then there's the issue of what has happened while I was training for a marathon and traveling to distant places (and YES - I am going to finish that travelogue soon). My friends B and C have been climbing mountains and learning how to draft and generally getting faster, and faster and faster. So in addition to the fear of cars and bears I have to grapple with the fear of B and C hating to ride with me because I'm so damned slow.
Today changed all of that. Today our other biking friend, E, asked if I wanted to go for a ride even though B and C were not available. I didn't hesitate to say "yes!" lest I never get on my bike again. Then she suggested we try to climb Mt. Diablo to the ranger station. Ow. So that's get on the bike at all AND climb a big hill. E is kind and forgiving and wanted a riding partner and she had done way more traveling than me in the last couple of months so I knew what we were doing - we were trying to catch up to B and C.
As FDR said, 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself' and so I agreed to that plan. By thee time we met up I was already thinking of good excuses to back out. As we got closer and closer to the base of the mountain and my legs got a little sore (because I did just PR in a 5K yesterday) the excuse-o-meter ran to the red and my mind became a blinding blur of reasons I just couldn't go on. But I went on.
And here is our ride
We rode 1300 ft up the mountain! There were a million times when I wanted to turn back and didn't actually make it as far as we had wanted to but we did a lot and I feel cured! I also feel like maybe I CAN train for Wildflower. Maybe I really can.
Now I just need to learn to relax a little coming down. I mean really, who comes down a mountain at less than 20 mph?
Comments
DATE: December 03, 2006 6:55 PM
Woot! That is one serious hill profile! WELL DONE!!
Posted by: nancytoby | January 27, 2007 6:43 PM
DATE: December 03, 2006 7:55 PM
I am afraid of bikes too. Big scary hills? Me? Never. (I know, never say never.) I definitely would come down the hill at less than 20 mph as well. I am a scaredy cat.Congrats on making it through and overcoming your fears.
Posted by: Laurie | January 27, 2007 6:43 PM
DATE: December 03, 2006 8:11 PM
Good job attacking your fear and that big HILL.
Posted by: Juls | January 27, 2007 6:43 PM
DATE: December 03, 2006 8:50 PM
I am allergic to hill myself. You rock for conquering them. :D
Posted by: Firefly's RunningJanuary 27, 2007 6:43 PM
DATE: December 04, 2006 2:47 AM
Way to go!There is nothing like doing what you are afraid of, and getting it done, tobuild confidence :)
Posted by: Stillwater Heron | January 27, 2007 6:43 PM
DATE: December 04, 2006 7:03 AM
You definitely are getting way ahead of me on the bike. Good job overcoming your fears, all of which, to me, are valid.
Posted by: Vickie | January 27, 2007 6:43 PM
DATE: December 04, 2006 7:48 AM
Challenging hill!!!! Great job. I was afraid of my road bike for a long time. Nothing can compare though to a downhill at 35-40 mph
Posted by: WADDLER26.2 | January 27, 2007 6:43 PM
DATE: December 04, 2006 8:37 AM
A couple of days to remember! Before 9 minutes under the previous record and after that monster hill. As a friend of mine said: "that is not a uphill but a tree to climb"!
Posted by: Black Knight | January 27, 2007 6:43 PM
DATE: December 04, 2006 3:38 PM
wow, i should go away more often!
Posted by: jeanne | January 27, 2007 6:43 PM
DATE: December 04, 2006 6:56 PM
I HAVE fallen over while biking up a hill with my feet clipped into the pedals because I was going so slow! It didn't hurt much, but my dignity was lost. Good luck with your biking. I resort to putting my bike on a trainer rather than battle traffic and bears.
Posted by: Janice | January 27, 2007 6:43 PM
DATE: December 06, 2006 7:18 AM
Good job on overcoming your fear, which I was surprised to read. Thanks for sharing that. I've been thinking about buying a road bike when I move to my new home, because it's too hilly to ride my old mountain bike. I had even been thinking about racing and joining a bike club, but I never thought that I'd be afraid to ride. Maybe I should do some test rides before I plunk down the big bucks.
Posted by: Dori | January 27, 2007 6:43 PM