Yellow Jersey for me!

I earned my first yellow jersey today, of course I realized yesterday that I don't have a yellow jersey, so I'm wearing my yellow LiveStrong running shirt. It will do just fine.

I completed Stage 1 of the Tour de Trainer today. 1 hour 48 minutes. A little longer than I thought it would take, but my legs were feeling the effects of multiple days in a row of hard riding. Factor in that there is a killer hill for the last mile of this stage and I'd wager money that I wouldn't be the only one to slow down!

Taking a long weekend with the family, so no riding until Tuesday, when Stage 2 starts. I think I may pick up a book to read on the "real" Tour as I know very little about it other than it's in July, in France, and is completed during the month with a few rest days here and there. Oh, and Lance won it 7 times in a row, which is a record.

Totals for Stage 1:
Last Friday 2 hours 25 miles
Monday 2 hours 25 miles
Tuesday 1 hour 12 miles
Wednesday 1 hour 15 miles
Thursday 90 minutes 22 miles
Friday 110 minutes 21.9 miles

Totals, about 9 1/2 hours to ride 121.9 (hilly) miles.

Stage 2 starts Tuesday I haven't looked at the course yet, but I promise to let you know before I start how it looks! What is your goal for the weekend?

Made 100 miles today!!!

It was quite the adventure to get there. No school today, so not only was my son home but his friend was over. I thought (first mistake) that I would be able to ride uninterupted. Not! They built a huge matchbox track that I had to go "judge". Paused the trainer (I justified it as a rest stop break after 13 miles) and set off to see the track.

Took a minute before resuming my ride to refill water bottles and grabbed a gel (legs were a tiny bit sore today, more on this later). When I hit F3 (to cancel) saving the report so I could resume riding, my PC crashed. The ominous "blue screen of death" appeared. This happened on days 1 & 2, so I have sent an email to Computrainer to see if they can help diagnose the problem.

After rebooting my PC, I was finally able to set off on the rest of my ride. I hit the 100 mile mark on Stage 1 and called it a day. 90 minutes of riding today (not counting my "down" time).

If my math is correct that means it only took me 7 1/2 hours to ride 100 miles (ok, over 5 days, but I still did it). 21.9 miles left to cross the finish line of Stage 1 and claim my yellow jersey.

I just realized I don't have a yellow jersey, guess I need to go shopping :)

My legs were a little sore today, but I realized that I rode more this week than I did the entire month of September. Tomorrow will be 1 week since I started my epic journey and I'm getting more excited each day. Did your workout motivate you today?

Improvement or less hills

Today I rode 15 miles in 1 hour. Could I be getting faster already, or were there less hills to climb. I think the later, although anything is possible. I won't complain. 78 total miles of Stage 1 completed, 43.9 to go. If I ride 90 minutes on Thursday and Friday I should be able to meet this weeks goal of completing Stage 1.

My son was looking at the various Stages of the Tour with me today and was commenting that I must be nuts to do this. He may be right, but it's a lot of fun to have something to work towards. What did you accomplish today?

Halfway today

Rode 13 miles today (in exactly 1 hour). Crossed the halfway point today. The only crowds cheering were the ones in my head (ok, I talk to myself, I'll admit it). I'm actually looking forward to riding tomorrow (so much for the dread, although ask me in a few weeks how I'm feeling). Have to get a different saddle. The new one I'm trying out is not working out. How far did you ride today?

Monday 10/6 Another 25 bite the dust

I was scheduled to ride the Carpe Diem (www.carpediemride.org) on Sunday, but with a sick son and husband time was limited. Arrived bright and early to help set up and then took pictures of the team on the course, and went back to celebrate the finish with my friends. The one advantage to NOT riding yesterday is I was fresh and ready to tackle another 25 miles of Stage 1 of my "Tour de Trainer". 2 more hours down, 50 miles finished. Tomorrow I should cross the halfway point.

The day after Day 1

I rode the first 25 miles of Stage 1 of the Tour de France on Friday. Those are some major hills those riders climb, and mine are simulated. I only averaged 12.5 mph versus my usual 15+. I know for some of you that may be a snails pace, but that what Computrainers PIG (Performance Improvement Guarantee) is all about. Improving my performance. Have to start somewhere in order to improve. Way I look at it, I am giving myself plenty of opportunity for growth!

Tour de Trainer Day 1

I woke up on Friday dreading my workout. Jennisse (my coach, www.echeloncoaching.com) had me down for a 2 hour ride. Don't get me wrong, I love a long ride, but am a VERY fair weather rider. It was only 55 degrees outside so it was an inside day for me! I was looking forward to really getting to know the Computrainer (www.computrainer.com) my wonderful husband bought for me this past Spring. However, the idea of 2 hours staring at a screen made me wonder if the thrill would last all winter. I needed a plan, a goal, something tangible. Improvements for next year are good, but spring is a long way off.

Over breakfast it hits me. I'll ride the Tour de France. No, I haven't lost my mind. I had downloaded all 21 stages from the computrainer website. A little math and I confirm that while ambitious, it's a goal I should be able to achieve by spring. 21 stages, 2,220 miles. It's Friday, October 3rd. Presuming it's not regularly warm enough for me to ride outside until April at the earliest, that gives me 6 whole months to complete the Tour. 6 months. 24 weeks. Just under 100 miles a week on average.

Ambitious? Yes! Doable? Yes!

Now I have a plan, a goal, I'm ready to ride. Whose game enough to ride the Tour de Trainer with me? Stage 1 awaits...