Coach Big Mac has been telling us all season to learn patience. Not my strong suit at all. I want immediate results, instantaneous speed. I mean, what is wrong with that? NOW! Not later!
So before I get to my point here (yes, I am going to make you ready the whole blog), let me share with you our training route yesterday. Over and over again, I talk about the bridges and the wind. Well, neither one disappointed us this weekend.
We began our training at Ocean Cay Park in Juno Beach. This is a nice little park for a BBQ: I wish that was all we had planned yesterday. The Team began our ride south to Donald Ross Road for bridge repeats. At first we were scheduled for only 10 repeats; however, I spoke to Big Mac prior to training and we thought we should move the bulk of the bridges to the early morning due to the lighter traffic. So 20 Repeats it was. (Or so we thought when we began our journey.)
I decided to make the repeats fun by seeing how fast I could get on the downhill without peddling. Really I just want to perfect what I like to call the 'tuck n roll': hands in the drops, head down, elbows in, feet level, butt back, and coast! (Not something we get to enjoy much in Florida, but it will help me make up time in Tahoe for sure!) I could not seem to break 27 mph. Tough day for speed. I was on my last repeat (or so I thought) and decided this was it. So as I reached the crest of the bridge, just before my legs were actually ready for the tougher gear, I switched up the crank to the big ring, jumped off the saddle, and pumped my way over the top with enough get-up-and-go that I hit 28.2 mph on the downhill. I love speed!!
As I am getting to the bottom, I hear Coach scream out "Keep going!" What? I thought 20? I just killed myself on the last one thinking that was it. So, up and over we went for more! Joy!!! What was the coach's comment? "Pay me now, or pay me later..." We were scheduled for 10 more of these at the end of our ride. Thinking ahead to how tired we would be at the end of 45 miles, I was oh so very happy to climb more now. I think I got a few more repeats in before we finished up and started north for the rest of our workout. Oh, you did not think that was all we were going to do, did you??
North bound to Hobe Sound we went. Easy ride at first as we paced the less experienced bikers on our team at 15-16mph for the first several miles. Once the faster group caught us, I jumped on the pace line with them and we were off to Hobe Sound at 20-22mph. This is an uneventful flat ride; until you hit the water tower that is. Do you remember the Water Tower? I wrote about the tower a few weeks ago. We just climb, climb, climb.
After a brief sag stop for food, liquids (hydration not alcohol), and a little pep talk from the coach, we were off to head home. First a quick sprint through the north end of Hobe Sound. Coach Big Mac said quick sprint for a mile and a half then home... There is nothing quick about sprinting a mile and a half... It was tough. Jacey, Gary and I took off at about 22-23 then we all slowed down. Mind you were were at the end of a very tough training already. To sprint to 22 mph was enough for me!
Time to head back to Ocean Cay Park. Have I mentioned the wind yet? Well, in the earlier morning the wind was almost null. As the day moved on, the wind picked up. The skies started to get a little more cloudy, too. So we headed back trying to maintain 18 mph, but the wind blowing against us had a very different plan. My gears once again started playing with me and I was unable to get into a comfortable gear for that speed and wind. I was hurting just trying to peddle up to 16-17. Now I know it is definitely time to get my bike tuned up and to change the cassette to add a few more gears for climbing.
I managed to muscle through to the finish, as much as the wind tried to deter me. When the finish was within sight, I decided to sprint to the end. I was still against the wind, mind you; however, I cranked it up to 18 almost 19 mph. Then, within feet of the finish line, a bug or something got down the back of my jersey and stung me. I tried to swat it away, but it just crawled down farther and stung me again. I could not get to my car fast enough to rip off the jersey to see what it was. Must not have been anything big, but it sure hurt like hell. In any case, I still managed to finish about 50 miles and the last 15 against the wind was like climbing a hill the entire way.
So back to what I learned about patience. Yes, I always want everything NOW. However, while I was completing my bridge repeats, it finally hit me why patience is so importance. I have an abundance of speed on the down hill. I can get scary fast, and quick. Given there are a lot of long climbs in Tahoe (one that is 8 miles long) I have been learning to take my time and be patient with the climb. Once I get to the top I will be able to crank up the speed and sail my way down to the finish. Patience and Perseverance!
Where else is patience and perseverance so important? Our cancer patients can tell you all about this! From the moment you hear the word cancer, you begin to count every second of every day. In order to be considered "cured" or cancer free, it is (for most) a five year wait. Five years in remission. Five years of no relapse. Five years of treatments, check ups, exams, chemo, scans, shots, poking and prodding... Five Very Long Years! Patience and perseverance are what it take to get there: for our honored heroes, and for us.
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| It is to the one who endures that the final victory comes |
Patience and Perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. by John Quincy Adams
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