| Training Ride |
Description |
Challenges |
Lessons Learned |
Black Diamond
1500 ft elevation
80 miles |
Long, relatively flat ride at brisk pace, with advanced
cyclists |
Keeping up and not being dropped by the faster riders. I
was panting like a dog, just to stay with them. I only was
dropped twice. |
When I cycle with people who are better than me, I strengthen
my endurance and improve my ability to ride long distances. |
Sunrise Pass on Mt. Rainier
6500 ft elevation
99 miles |
There was a long, uphill climb to the foot of the pass.
Then 10 miles up a steep pass to the Sunrise vista. Beautiful
views of Mt. Rainier were our reward! |
We rode 10 miles up a steep mountain
pass. It was a psychological killer to continue to see nothing
but hills for 10 miles. They seemed to never end. We were
climbing at 5-6 mph – so it took
almost 2 hours to get to the top. |
When I am persistent and consistent, I achieve my goals.
I kept telling myself to pedal at a consistent rate and not
to rush it. My goal was to reach the top, not to set a new
speed record.
Slow and steady. Be like the turtle. |
Paradise Vista on Mt. Rainier
5400 ft elevation
80 miles |
This ride started with a gradual 10 - mile climb. The climb
to Paradise was 12 miles, some steep, some not so steep. |
This ride, I looked up the steep hills and knew I would
get to the top, because I had proved to myself that I had done
it before. |
The extraordinary became ordinary when I recognized that
since I had climbed Sunrise, that I can climb Paradise too. |
Snoqualmie Pass in Cascade Mtns
3,000 ft elevation
60 miles |
We climbed 1200 feet, over 5 miles through dense forest and
along pristine streams. Then, we repeated this six times. It
took one hour to climb the 5 miles and less than 10 minutes
(at 30-35 mph) to descend. What a thrill coming down the mountain! |
I was really tired after doing the climb four times. I rested
and did the fifth. The sixth and last climb, my friends went
up with me, even though I was slower than them. |
When you think you have had enough, you really have it
in you to do more.
It is OK (and good) to be supported by your friends. Good friends
support one another. |
