The Pearly Plodder Steps into Cycling (Part 1)

It has been a while since I wrote anything on this blog.  However, we have been through a cold, wet, windy winter and it is very hard to get motivated into doing anything much at all other than hide under the duvet and hibernate!

We have had more rain here in Pearly Beach than we have ever had, certainly in the time that we have been here.  Hopefully, we are coming out the other side now and can look forward to summer. The last few days have been much nicer and there has even been some blue sky.  

On my part, there has also been some 'blue sky' thinking going on!

Cape Town Marathon training:

So, what have I been doing then?  I have been training towards running the Cape Town Marathon to be held later this month and my training had been going really well.  I managed to break 30 minutes (at long last) for my 5km and got a really good PB at my running club time trials of 28:56 minutes at the beginning of August - about 3 minutes off my usual time.  I've been aiming towards a sub 30 5km for ages!  After that, I had a few really good runs and I could tell that I had definitely improved, both strength-wise and speed-wise and was really pleased with my progress.

Then the weather deteriorated a lot and most days were cold, wet and windy!  It makes it much harder to get out there in those conditions but I struggled on and did my runs according to my plan albeit they tended to be a bit slower in the wind and rain until, one day, it all started to hurt too much.  I have had a 'sore' big toe for a long time and can usually manage to run through the 'ouch' but over the last few weeks it seems to have become worse.  Maybe the weather has something to do with it, or maybe I'm just getting really old now, or maybe I'm just trying to do too many kms, but I have been struggling with running even just a few kms without too much pain since then, so I feel I really don't want to spend five hours or so on the road knowing that every step I pound is going to hurt and get more sore with each step.

I don't want to pull out of the marathon but, then again, I don't want to make my foot worse either in the long term so I have decided, reluctantly, to downgrade to the 10km.  I don't expect to be able to run all of the 10km either but I will just do it for 'fun' and try to enjoy it - and remain positive about it!  Eek!

So, with this in mind I have a (lovely) surprise for Hubs!  He doesn't know it yet, but he is 'running' the 10km with me!  Yep, isn't he the lucky one?  He, who hasn't been able to run, is entered into the 10km and we can complete it together - slowly!  Very slowly!  At walking speed!  And enjoy the scenery along the way!  That will be a first!  (Doing a 10km together, I mean, not enjoying the scenery!)  So, Hubsy, you'd better get your best trainers out!  You've been entered into the Cape Town 10km.  You've now been warned!

Don't worry, we will be walking it!  And think of all those extra calories you will have earned!  You can have a braai that evening after all!)

I wonder if I should start running (and hiding) yet?!!  Hubs?


First Steps into Cycling:

Anyway, realising that I may not have my running to focus on, at least for a while but, hopefully after a rest I will be able to run shorter distances, I decided to dig out my bicycle from the garage last week, and try to start using that again a bit more regularly now - more than once a year!  At least it will help keep my fitness levels up.  I've been out on it twice in the last few days - not bad for me!  And I haven't fallen off it yet!  The first ride I had, I rode up to the R43 and several kms along it to meet Hubs coming back from Die Dam.  Wow, it was windy coming back!  But I did it, and was out for about 35 minutes.  Long enough for a first ride in months!  Didn't touch the gears though.  Did the whole ride in the same gear!  Don't think I took my hands off the handlebars either - how do cyclists do that?  In fact, how do cyclists manage to drink from their water bottle on the move?  Incredible!

The second time I went out was the next day and I did about 45 minutes - around the village and up to the R43 and back home.  This time, I played with the gears (well, some of them anyway) and it all went well.  I had to use the gears really as there were hills to climb.  If I hadn't tried to use the gears, I think I would have had the embarrassment of getting off the bike and walking up the hills!  Bit scary going down the other side though!  So fast!  But I survived.

And I am buying a pair of 'tena tights', sorry, I mean padded shorts, so that I can feel the part!  Actually, I am hoping that my parts won't 'feel' too much and it will be a more comfortable ride.

Part 2 tomorrow if I survive after Hubs reads this!