Oh dearest.

Something I discovered, when you're frantically training for an athletic event-- you don't have a lot of spare time for meandering posts. I attribute my lack of posting to either having my butt on a bike saddle, or my butt at the YMCA, or having my butt at the office.

Last Saturday was the Spring Breakaway ride. My second attempt at a metric century (100km, or 65 miles roughly). The first time I got lost. The second time we had brutal, brutal 30mph headwinds about 3/4 of the route. I don't know exactly what the mathematical ratio is to effort perceived/exerted to headwinds= distance. All I know is that the wind made it super duper hard!! I sagged about 9 miles out of sheer exhaustion in the middle of the ride. Surprisingly though, I got off at the next rest stop and started pedaling away. Most people did not do that once they got on the sag wagon. They rode it all the way to the finish line.

After Mister and I hit the last rest stop (he caught up with me, as they made him sag-- he was dead last because of my snail pace)-- we traveled onward. Some dude came pedaling up behind us. He quickly panted (to Mister), asking how much further it was. Mister said "7or 8 miles, or so". The guy sped up and got ahead of us. He started doing what, I have a bad habit of doing which is - pedal pedal, coasttttt, pedal pedal, coastttttt. Turning around to keep checking to see where Mister and I were. Finally, a light bulb goes off in Mister's brain.

"That guy is worried about beating you, Lady!" duh. That happens frequently. People who are on their last wind, as long as they beat the fat chick they're happy. Guess what guys, I spend anywhere from 6-10 hours a week cycling or exercising. I'm not in great shape-- but I can now go the distance on a bike!! So, I let the guy wear himself out trying to beat me. Then I pulled out my last little bit of strength, and took off ahead of him, while my drling Mister distracted him and chatted him. I am pleased to report that, indeed, the fat chick beat the guy. We were at the car loading our bikes by the time he pulled into view! Muahhahahaah.

The perverse lesson that I learned is that, there are always people better on the bikes than you-- and there will always be someone that I am better than. *snort*
I, too, have people that I peg in a crowd and determine I need to beat them-- without them ever knowing. I'm particularly guilty of that with old people at the YMCA. It is slightly sick that I'm willing to compete with a Grandpa at the Y-- but tht's just how I roll. Adorable CW thinks that is messed up, but bah! Everyone does it.

Next rides coming up (look for me on the long routes, so you can beat me without me ever knowing!!)-- Tour de Houston and Katy Ram Challenge.