Fitness Training News

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Saw Blondie on our ride.

Saw the bear today. She or he is beautiful. Hope she/he stays away as you can see there is a tagged ear. # posted by Michelle Grainger @ 4:28 PM 0 Comments

Baby steps. It's all in how ya look at it.

OK it is only an hour and it is on a flat dirt road. But... it is something and I am so happy that I can do this. As of today, I can now go up a slight incline. It wasn't easy. Actually very hard. I spun at about 70 RPMs and had to stop once about half way to rest and eat something b/c my legs were shaky. Steve was very patient with me and rode my easy recovery (literally) pace. It was awesome and I thought I would not be able to do this ride until next year. 8 miles took 50 minutes. Never thought that would be the case. Oh I am so happy I could do a little jog-if that was in the rehab protocol. Haha.

Alas, it seems, just as I get back on track I have, yet another, surgery planned. But, I knew it was coming. I knew this year would be hard.

I can get through this and I know I can. Lots of counseling and lots of physical therapy but I'm getting there. Long road ahead. I can do more than I thought I would be able to. This makes me happier than ever. Thanks for everyone's support.

and, no. This is not the road I was on-the one in this photo. That's too steep and too rocky. Next year. # posted by Michelle Grainger @ 11:53 AM 1 Comments

More on 1200KM Brevets, PBP and Union des Audax Francais's PBP Audax This is to inform you that there is another 1200KM event held in France. This event is called the "Union des Audax Francais's PBP Audax".

PBP Audax + PBP Randonneur
The Audax Club Parisien's 1200 km PBP Randonneur is the pinnacle of brevet riding for most of us. The 5300 starters in 2007 became part of PBP history stretching back to the race's beginning in 1891 and the first PBP brevet in 1931.

Unknown to many riders is the Union des Audax Francais's PBP Audax, also held for the first time in 1931. Some more history can be found at http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1200.0 but the original form of Audax riding (since 1904 in France) involves groups riding together for the full distance to a set schedule. The now-common randonneur style (free pace between specified maximum and minimum speeds) was only developed in 1921, following a disagreement between the ACP and Henri Desgrange. The original group brevet style is still fairly popular in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and more recently in Sweden and Australia. The USA also held a few UAF brevets about 10 years ago.

Early on, both PBPs took place in the same years. In 1971, eight Frenchmen rode both PBPs in just over a week and the PBP Randonneur interval was subsequently shifted to every four years. PBP Audax is still run every five years and it is only every two decades that both PBPs are held in the same year. The prospect of riding two PBPs in 2011 is an intriguing prospect to some cyclists.

The UAF traditionally limits the number of riders in each peloton to avoid over-stretching facilities, often running each peloton at different dates. Next year, the UAF are currently looking at running one peloton simultaneous with PBP Randonneur (the last week of August) and another in July. Several riders in Australia and the UK are interested in riding both PBP Randonneur and PBP Audax but would prefer to ride PBP Audax in early August, to allow riding both PBPs during the one trip without taking excessive leave.

UAF Cycling President Bruno Danielzik is happy to organise another Audax start but this requires about 50 riders to justify another start date. He has asked me to collect expressions of interest from randonneurs possibly taking part in PBP Audax next year regarding which date they would prefer.

If you are interested in riding PBP Audax next year, please email pbpaudax@gmail.com with your preferences for riding the 2011 PBP Audax during:
A the first week of August
B the second week of August
C a date in July
D simultaneous with PBP Randonneur

A reply as simple as "B, A, C, D" is fine, as is "A".

Food for thought. Hhhhmmm. # posted by Michelle Grainger @ 11:47 AM 0 Comments

Sunday, August 1, 2010

40 minutes is 40 minutes.

I had no idea that after my hip surgery I'd be able to do anything. Now, for some, they would be unhappy with how much fitness is lost with months of rehab. Not I. I am so impressed with how my recovery is going that I cannot complain. I am so happy to be on my way to healing that I am taking each and every little milestone as something to be happy about. To cherish. No, a 40 minute ride is not a 200KM Brevet but it is a start. 40 minutes is 40 minutes.

I can now go to the flat part of a dirt road and ride my mt bike with my family. Something that I value more than most people will ever know. I can see the mountains that I used to ride in. I can feel the mountain air on my face. I can value the little that I have and know it is really a lot that I have.

Life is all what we make of it.

Now, don't get me wrong. I have my moments. Moments when I cry or feel sorry to think I am missing out. But I'm not missing out. I am recovering. I am doing a new job. I am healing. So, for now 40 minutes is 40 minutes and I will take that as if it is 40 hours of riding.

It's all in how you turn the situation around. It takes work but I want to look forward. I don't want to be a bitter person that cannot turn life around. That's what riding and racing taught me. That and living my life.

So even if you are injured-turn it around. Heal and get better...but turn it around and take the little you may think you have and make it a lot. # posted by Michelle Grainger @ 11:12 AM 0 Comments

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