Cassandra: After my fun bike rides last weekend, I was really looking forward to biking this week. My, how quickly things can change. I was supposed to ride on Thursday, my day off, for my first ride of the week. I had planned an indoor session on the trainer. I didn't feel like getting up early to bike before my doctor's appointment, and I didn't feel like biking when I got home, either. I decided I'd put it off until evening, but when evening rolled around I was kind of grumpy and decided I was emotionally unable to get on the trainer. So I didn't. I figured I would just ride extra on Friday and this coming Monday instead, to make up the miles.

Last night, Friday, I still didn't feel like getting on the trainer. But I knew I had to force myself to do it. My conversation with myself sounded something like this:

"I really don't want to get on that bike. I could use the time to do so many things ... and, come on ... it's Friday night! Who wants to be riding a stationary bike on a Friday night?"

Responsible Cassandra kicked in. "Yeah, but I can't just ditch out on my training miles. I committed to mom ... I can't ask her to do the STP with me and then ditch out on training."

The other Cassandra was back with a response. "Maybe mom doesn't want to train three times this week, either! We could both take it a little easy."

And so it continued until Responsible Cassandra won out and I climbed on the darn trainer. I had only planned to ride for an hour, so I just wore regular capris instead of my padded bike pants. At the one hour mark, my seat was really starting to hurt, but I got a second burst of energy along with my second episode of "Army Wives" so I kept going for another half an hour. My seat pain got progressively worse, until I could barely stand it on the bike during the last five minutes of my ride.

But, I am happy to say that I pulled through. An hour and a half and about 23 miles later, my time was done. Thankfully, I was able to enjoy some of my Friday night still.

Unfortunately, something kept tugging at me. And that something was knowing that I would have to get up this morning and ride again, this time for two hours. Technically, this weekend we are supposed to ride 40 miles on Saturday and 40 miles on Sunday, but I knew that doing 40 miles each day on the trainer, because of the rain, would be a recipe for disaster. So I made an executive decision to ride for two hours each day.

This morning when I woke up, it was disheartening to realize that my morning wouldn't start for another two hours because of my ride. I had another internal conversation, much like the one that occurred last night, but after putting on my biking clothes (and this time choosing padded shorts), I fired up my music and warmed up with five minutes of dancing before getting on the bike. I figured that I would make the time go by faster by watching more "Army Wives," which usually works to keep me entertained on long rides on the trainer. But, for some reason, this morning time crawled by, even with the distraction of all of the drama on t.v. I glanced down at my watch the first time and only 20 minutes had gone by since I had gotten on the bike! I was biking at around 140 BPM, and pedaling around 15 mph, so I was getting a good body workout, but it also seemed like I was getting a mind workout, trying to keep my motivation up. I kept willing for time to fast-forward, for the two hours to be up. But, if anything, time just went slower.

I am happy to report that I did finish my two hours this morning, as painful as it was. I guess that's the most important thing: to finish something even when everything in you is shouting that it would be so much easier - and so much more fun - to quit. I wish that training for the STP were a perpetual high, but the truth is that sometimes it just feels like lots of work. Oh, and a sore tush.

I am supposed to ride again tomorrow but I think I am going to push the ride to the evening so I give my muscles a little bit of a break. Happy Saturday!

Carol - Well this is the first time I've been able to ride both weekend days, thank you sunshine.  I thought the first couple of miles would be difficult because I rode yesterday.  Actually the first five miles were fine, however, I didn't realize the route I picked would be so hilly and the road surface so rough.  Both sure do impact your average mph.  My outdoor rides I've been averaging 14 - 15 mph.  Not the case today...my speed dropped to about 11 on the way out to the lake. 
I rode down to town, out to Fairhaven, followed Chuckanut out to Lake Sammish Rd and then made two loops around the lake.  There were many bikers out today, and most of them kicked my butt.  What a reality check.  At one point another rider asked if I was okay...how embarrassing, I had been caught in the mid section of a hill where I had stopped.  The only thing I have to say for myself is "at least I was out there" and "it will only make me stronger".  My favorite part of the ride was along the bay between town and Fairhaven and the loops around the lake.  I have to say that after a hot tub, nap, and dinner I am still exhausted.  For the first time I'm glad I don't ride again until Wednesday. 
I am going to sleep so well tonight.

Total ride length this weekend   50 miles
I need a smaller pair of biking shorts and also a jersey and some interchangeable lens glasses.  Also, some fingerless gloves would be nice.  I actually overheated today.

Cassandra: I just wanted to mention that we'd love comments on our blog from readers ... let us know what you think or just give a shout out :-) We'd love to know who is reading!

Cassandra: Today was my first ride in a while that involved another person. I was hanging out with my Spring in Vienna friend, Michelle, when she suggested we ride the Burke-Gilman together. So even though I rode the trail yesterday, I headed out there again this morning. The rides were as different as night and day. Yesterday I rode at about 15.5 mph, which tends to be my normal pace. I started out at that pace today, too, and was surprised when I'd glance in my rearview mirror and find Michelle gone. I'd pull over and wait and she would always make her way up the trail to me, slowly. I tried to cycle more slowly so that we could ride together and chat, which is the best thing about riding with another person. It was tough to stay clipped in sometimes, though, because I was pedaling slowly or coasting and when you're going slow it can be hard to keep your balance on the bike. I found that Michelle's pace was around 7 mph on the way out and about 6 mph coming back. I was having a hard time staying warm at this pace ... my hands were freezing and so was my core, even though I had three layers on top. Michelle, meanwhile, was hot. We stopped for coffee in Shoreline so I could warm my hands and belly with a chai tea latte and Michelle could eat a sandwich. It was nice to be able to sit and hang out while on a bike ride. I don't normally do that. Sometimes I will pull over and refuel, but that is the extent of my breaks.

After a good half an hour we got back on the bikes for our return trip. Michelle gave me her coat because she was overheating and I was still having problems staying warm. It was a beautiful ride back as the sun peeked out in places and we rode by the huge houses on the lake. We ended up walking our bikes up the big hill near my house (Michelle would have killed me had we not walked!), which was a treat. Four and a half hours and 23.5 miles later, we were home.

As far as gear, things went better for me this ride. Last night I went to REI to replace my backpack and seat pack with a fanny pack and a stem bag. It felt great to be a little more free of weight. I love the fanny pack because I can just turn it around on my stomach to get into it; I find jersey pockets to be universally hard to access, especially when adding or shedding layers.

I hope Michelle isn't too sore after our ride today ... she was quite a trooper to do a 23 mile ride when she hadn't been on her bike in about a year. I know her fanny is sore and she is a little sun/wind burnt, but the first ride of the season is always the hardest. I'm hoping I can convince her to buy a bike trainer so she can work up to longer rides for the summer. It always helps to have someone to ride with! It makes the time go by a lot quicker!

Carol - Today I woke up to sunshine.  Wow... I was so excited to ride my bike outside I could hardly stand it.  Rich and I had made an appointment out in Lynden mid-day so given the heavy frost in the morning I decided to wait until after our appointment to ride.  I left the house about 4 pm headed down Lakeway Drive and took my normal route into town.  Once there I decided it would be a beautiful day to ride by the water so I took off down Marine Drive which follows Bellingham Bay out toward Lummi Island.  By the time I rode to where the tribal lands start I had 12 miles on my odometer.  After you pass the boat launch the houses and area starts looking rough.  I could tell that the dogs up ahead would not be on leashes and decided this was not an area I would like to ride alone.  I have ridden out this way before and you really have a strong head wind on the way out which is great, I'd rather have it on the way out than on the way home when I'm tired.
After turning around I headed back to town and decided to ride by the bike shop in case it was still open so I could have some minor adjustments done.  This took about a half hour but it was time well spent.  When I got back on my bike I could tell my weight had shifted to be more on my sit bones.  This also brought me more forward which was good because I had been thinking of having the stem shortened so I'd be more comfortable with my hands in the hood.  After completing the adjustments I got back in the saddle and continued my ride heading toward Fairhaven, followed Bill McDonald Parkway then turned left at 32nd and rode behind REI on the bike lane, turned right and rode over the freeway ending up at The Market at Lakeway where Rich picked me up.  Total ride length was 22.5 miles.  I feel great!  I wish I could have gone the full 30 miles I'd planned for today but it was starting to get dark outside.
This was the first rode ride since I had my new bike mirror installed....wow what a difference.  I love it...so much nicer to not have to turn my head to look for cars.

Cassandra: I just got back from a Saturday morning ride on the Burke-Gilman Trail in Seattle. I really didn't feel like riding this morning, especially riding outside, but I figured that I needed to get it out of the way. I rode for an hour and a half on the trainer Thursday morning (which for once seemed like an eternity), but I needed to get in a big ride for this week. To be honest, I was slightly grumpy starting out. It takes so much longer to gear up for a ride outside than it does to just ride the trainer. I had to get out all of my biking clothes - the pants with the padded seat, the cleated shoes, the jersey, and the neon jacket, among other items. Because I am still dealing with some pack issues I threw my bike lock and flat repair kit in a backpack, filled my water bottle, and attached my blinking light. It took me 30 minutes to get out the door, but finally I did make it outside.

I decided to speed down the main hill on 23rd instead of winding along the side roads on the way to the Burke. But half-way down, once I was committed, I remembered that I hadn't practiced clipping in outside for a while. That made me a little nervous so I pulled over onto the sidewalk and made sure I was still comfortable getting in and out of my pedals. When I got back on the road, the cars were speeding by me, swerving around me like they had never had to share the road with a bike before. Really, in Seattle, you think people would be more patient. This is a big biking community.

I finally made it to the Burke and was happy to part ways with my motoring counterparts. I headed out towards Gasworks Park, then up towards Fremont but stopping at Stone. And then it was time to turn around. By this point, I was still grumpy. I hadn't found my pace yet and my seat was uncomfortable and the new mirror I'd bought for my new glasses wasn't working very well. I couldn't see behind me at all, which was the whole point of the mirror. Oh, and my fingers were cold. And nothing makes me grumpier on a bike than having cold fingers.

After stopping at Stone for some readjustments, I headed the other direction on the Burke, winding through the University of Washington and along the lake near Magnuson Park and Matthews Beach. Finally, the sun started to come out and I found my pace and things started to look better. My fingers started to warm up and in trying to push my glasses further onto my nose I accidentally hit my mirror and it fell into place so I could actually see behind me.

I rode out past where the Burke had been closed for the winter and was happy to find a beautifully paved trail that was a big improvement over the bumpy, root-infested stretch of trail that the Burke can be in some areas. I was happy pedaling along, turning back when I had gone about 20 miles.

During my ride back I was pushed a little by a couple who was drafting off me. They were part of a local duathlon and must have been saving their strength for the run at the end. I felt a bit pressured to ride faster than I wanted to, but then decided that if they wanted to pass me they were certainly free to. I was going to ride however fast I wanted to ride.

My ride back home was pretty good. Unfortunately, the last mile was a giant hill, the one I have to walk up every day on my way home from work. It is so much harder on a bike! I am still nervous going up big hills with my feet clipped in to the pedals, so I took it easy and pushed my bike up the very steepest part, which was maybe 0.05 miles long.

I was a bit sweaty and definitely feeling triumphant when I rolled into my neighborhood and spotted my car. I was home! With about two hours on the bike and 28.13 miles under my belt, my Saturday was just getting started.

Carol - The week is flying by and once again I'm a little late with posting my workouts.  Monday...I have been riding hard for my last several workouts so I decided to ride at a steady pace but I rode for two hours while watching tv.  I really enjoyed myself and could have continued if it hadn't been so late.  I was able to finish my last fifteen miles or so that I didn't ride on Sunday because I wanted to lift weights when I was at the gym with Cassandra.
I'm really trying to step it up this week, however, I had a massive headache on Wednesday so I couldn't ride.  So tonight after work I headed to the gym for a good ride and to lift weights.  I rode my twenty miles.  During the first hour I rode intervals but instead of one to one, I rode three minutes hard and two minutes at a recovery pace.  After having a hard day at work it felt really good to just ride, sweat, and listen to my new play list I made last weekend for my workouts.  The only negative was I didn't have my biking shorts so by bottom was a little sore during the ride.  After my ride I went on to lift weights but decided upper body was all I was going to do as it was late.  It's too bad it was a twelve hour day once I finished at the gym but it sure is good stress relief.
I can hardly wait until Cassandra and I can take a long ride on the road.  I'm sure she'll kick my XXX, but heck she is a lot younger...so she should. 
Off to shower or hubby may not let me in the bed tonight; )