cyclingsawatzki.com

Total miles yesterday: 20
Total Miles Today: 76.5!!!!!according to the map it was 78 though...
Combined miles in 24 hours: 96.5!!!
Total miles so far: 890.5!!!!

Okay sum up of Friday's ride: Gross like the last one. I swallowed I don't even know how many bugs. It was worse than the day before but I decided I just needed to suck it up and deal with it. But i swear that at one point a bug flew in my mouth and crashed against the back of my throat and I came so close to puking on my handlebars. But, I got 20 miles in while my adorable niece that is visiting was napping. I didn't want to miss out on Auntie/Niece time!

Then today came.

I'd be lying if I said I was excited about today's ride. 75 miles. The most I have done in the last 5 weeks since my surgery has been 31 miles. Come to think of it, the total miles post-surgery that I have logged totaled 75!!

Anyway, I started out on the ride with the idea that if I needed to stop I could. But I really didn't want to resign myself to that.

My century ride is in 3 weeks from today!!! 

I told myself that if I could make it the 75 miles today, there is NO way that I would not be able to make the 100 by my ride.

I had to do it.



When I started off this morning from my house to the location where my team was meeting, it was still dark out and was hovering around 50 degrees. And when you get moving on a bike in that kinda condition, it feels FRIGID. Luckily, the sun came out soon enough and by the time we got to Bennet I had to take my jacket off.

We rode on until we got to Palmyra and then we took 66 south, which turned out to be an accident. My coach had remembered a ride that she had gone on earlier this spring that was beautiful and quiet. Turns out she got what city it was located at wrong. This road was supposed to connect back to Hwy 2.



Although it was absolutely stunningly beautiful and so much nicer than having semi trucks rush by, it did have one drawback: HILLS!!!!

I know everyone believes that Nebraska is totally flat....heck I used to believe that myself...but all of you nay-sayers, I challenge you to get on a bike and see for yourself.

If there is anything I have learned from this summer it is that I now know what it felt like when suddenly the earth they had become to know as flat, was, in fact, round.

Anyway, I struggled a bit. Moreso because I haven't done much in the way of hills lately (just been sticking to the trails) so it was a combo of the longer distance and the hills that was near lethal.

But like I said we took the wrong road. It ended up leading to absolutely nothing but dirt/gravel roads.

So, we rode back. I will say this: the ride back was fantastic. Almost all downhill (the only time gravity is my friend).

And when we made it back to Hwy 2 we rode on out past Unadilla and turned around and came back. I struggled around the 55-65 range. It was rough. I don't think I was eating enough. I was tired. I wanted to curl up in bed and take the world's longest nap.

So my coach and I decided to make another stop at a gas station in Bennet and on the exit ramp I had to get off my bike and walk for the last part of it. I hurt all over.

But I refueled and rested for a bit. Escaped to the bathroom so that I could sit down. I very rarely have to actually use the bathroom because despite the fact that I drank over 200ml of water and gatorade, I tend to sweat equal parts.

After the brief brake we jumped back on and rode off. I decided I needed to mentally just focus on the fact that I had gond 65 miles already. Nearly 10 more than I had previously ever gone!

At the beginning of today's ride my coach said to me that if I can't bike with my legs, I should bike with my heart. Well I took that into account those last 10+ miles. It felt good to watch my odometer pass over the 70 mile line. And the 71. And 72, and all the way until the end.

I had briefly contemplated riding some extra to get to 80, but then my better judgement got the best of me. Thank god.

I've never been so happy to finish a ride. And the shower I took afterwards, never felt so good!

And neither did the chicken salad sandwich(es) my mom made for me. Oh man. That is THE best recovery meal.

So, I had my beer, I ate my sandwiches, and somehow I managed to muster up enough energy to play with my neice all evening! Probably because she's the coolest.

It's nice though because I totally feel like I can actually accomplish those 100 miles. Especially considering that the terrain in Maryland is really flat. Or so they tell me ***eyes narrowed suspiciously****

Also on a huge news note:

I REACHED MY FUNDRAISING MINIMUM!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a little less than $1,000 to go to my goal!!! Awww yeah!!

Coming in the next day or to is a Thank you email to all of you who I haven't yet sent thank yous out to! They are coming. But Also you get a shoutout here!

Also coming in the next day or two is a post on how Chamois Butt'r (aka Butt Butter) is THE best invention ever. As is knowing that you aren't supposed to wear underwear with bike shorts! I'm sure you are all looking forward to this possibly distrubing post! hahaha.