Right, so now I’m feeling I may be able to finish this bike ride and not collapse in a jellied heap half way. Week four I actually did go for the 45km bike ride I’d planned. I put on the worn-once-before padded cycling pants and my new cycling top, not minding that I was wearing the Lycra. I cycled it in 2 hours 23 mins; 37 mins faster than the first time! Highlight: 59.8 km/hr down Apley Road, lowlight: 2 seconds after reaching top speed when a magpie dive-bombed me. I must admit, I swore a bit as I tried to keep going straight.
Feeling quite good, I decided to drive around the course route that afternoon. I took my dog Emma to give her a walk in Pakowhai Park afterwards. It was at 60km on the car odometer I was working out my pulling-out email. By 75kms I was even more annoyed at the staff who measured the course. At 80kms it all happened at once – the realisation that I’d written down the 100km route, that I was almost out of petrol, and that Emma had just thrown up all over the back seat!
It was a tense remainder 20kms. I found a petrol station just in time, proceeded to Pakowhai Park, gave Emma some water and she perked up and went for a run, then spent the afternoon washing the muddy dog and the back seat of my car. I also checked the 50km cycle route to make sure the huge climbing hill on Ohiti Road was only in the 100km one. Nope, it was in the 50km one too.
I didn’t go for a bike ride on week 5. I told myself I was saving my energy for the event the following weekend, but really I’m a tad nervous.
Rochelle :)
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