Trainer ride, cycling food porn, going clipless and my new women's team!

Happy Hump Day y'all! I don't know about you but this has already been a pretty long week and we're only halfway through!

Kansas City is being invaded by summer as I type this. The past three days have been hot and humid! Remember every winter when we're freezing and we say we can't wait for summer? Are we NUTS? I'm already hearing people complain about the heat and we haven't even seen the worst of it yet! The good learning for me right now though is how important taking care of my body is going to be during this heat - both in terms of food and hydration.

I've been feeling a little under the weather the past couple of days. It always takes me about a week to adjust to the changing seasons and, coupled with being dehydrated on Sunday/Monday, I'm slowly recovering. For that reason, I decided to ride inside on the trainer tonight. It would've been easier to just not ride tonight but because I have a trainer, there is NO excuse for me not to ride! (Besides, last night was a rest night…which I enjoyed with my Maggie Sue at the pool!).

I decided to do some pretty hard training tonight (even though I don't really know how to properly speed train right now). No matter - I'm in the saddle and I'm pedaling my ass off so it's all for the greater good, right? Right.

Here's my ride info:

Lap 1 - 5:01 slow to medium paced warm up
Lap 2 - 3:00 medium pace
Lap 3 - 1:00 fast as you can pedal
Lap 4 - 2:00 medium pace

Lap 1- 1:00 fast as you can pedal

*I should note that here my legs started to feel a little tight - but no rest for the wicked - it's time to GET IT! * 

Lap 2 - 2:00 medium pace
Lap 3 - 30 second fast as you can pedal
Lap 4 - 1:00 medium pace

Lap 1 - 30 second fast as you can pedal

* CAN I THROW UP NOW?!? Holy legs and stomach…FEEL THE BURN!!*

Lap 2 - 30 second medium pace
Lap 3 - 1:00 fast as you can pedal
Lap 4 - 1:00 medium pace

Lap 1 - 1:00 fast as you can pedal

* I swore to myself at this point that I was going to just fall off my bike and die tonight, y'all. Even though I'm not out in the hot weather, these variances in speed are a very tough workout - even when it's just myself keeping me accountable for pushing as hard as I can. Keep going, Sara. You won't die. And, you know you won't crash (YAY!). NO excuses. Mark Cavendish wouldn't quit now. You're not allowed to either. *

Lap 2 - 1:00 medium pace
Lap 3 - 30 second fast as you can pedal
Lap 4 - 5:00 medium pace

Lap 1- 30 second fast as you can pedal
Lap 2 - 1:00 medium pace
Lap 3 - 2:00 fast as you can pedal

*This is your last "pedal as fast as you can" interval girl. OWN IT! Holy crap my legs hurt! Sweat is dripping everywhere and my stomach wants to crawl outside of my body right now! *

Lap 4 - 15:00 cool down - slow/medium pace

Okay. WHEW. Done. Dismount the bike. (I almost fell over after this point. My legs felt very weak - but also eerily strong.) I think I sweat just as much as I would have outside. YUCK.

YOU DID IT! 43 1/2 minutes!

I've been noticing some major changes over the past few weeks in my muscles, both in my legs and in my core. It's hard to explain but it almost feels like I can feel them strengthening as I go throughout my day. Clothes are fitting more loosely, I have more endurance and energy most of the time and there is some definite definition starting to form in my thighs and my calves. YIPPEE!!!

After the ride? EAT!

This has been the hardest transition for me in this passion of mine. Before cycling, I would maybe eat once a day. I know that wasn't smart - but I am figuring out now that I'm going to have to eat even more than I did when I didn't care what I was shoving into my face 40 pounds ago. A cyclist's nutrition is vital to overall performance and endurance. While I haven't purchased any "diet" or nutrition plans for cyclists, I have read numerous articles online about what fuels a cyclists body and what is necessary to consume during rides, before rides, after rides and at normal times.

Here's a pretty good article that wraps it all up into one nice little explanation: (I won't bore you with ALL of the articles I have read!)

http://www.eatingfree.com/newtrition/nutripedia/did-you-know/nutrition-for-endurance-cycling.aspx

I do great at breakfast and lunch. Dinner is where I struggle. It's only because I don't like prepping meals just for myself. But, I have to get over it and tackle the nutrition just like I'm tackling the miles on my Ridley.

Enter the cyclists food porn:

This was delicious tonight. I was starving and it hit the spot immediately. 4 ounces of salmon, 1/3 cup of cooked barley, mushrooms (lightly sauteed in olive oil) and fresh, raw red peppers.

Happy, happy mouth tonight.

And, if I just take the time to think about what I need to eat, write down menus on a weekly basis, go to the grocery store to pick everything up and prep my meals as much ahead of time as possible, I KNOW I can get this part down. Tonight was a success so I will take it!

Enough about food since I'm completely full right now, the CrazeeCyclist is going to CLIPLESS PEDALS! EEEEKK!!!

I'm very excited about this, kids. Look how pretty my new Speedplay pedals are!

I don't have them on my bike yet because the shoes have to arrive before I can attach the pedals. And, speaking of shoes - these are on their way to my house right now:

Usually these shoes retail at about $225 - but I was able to find a great deal online that made them almost a hundred dollars less. THAT in itself is reason to celebrate! I will be thrilled next week to attach my pedals and practice clipping in and out. I'm hoping I don't immediately crash. Anyone want to take bets on how long it will take me to log my first crash?!? (It'll probably happen right when I'm getting used to using the darn things!).

One last thing - which is probably the most EXCITING news of my week (besides the shoes, of course!):

I'M FORMING A WOMEN'S CYCLING TEAM!  Yes, you read that right.

Me.

Recruiting and forming a team of women cyclists.

It's still in its infancy - but it's moving forward fairly quickly. The women will form a team under an already established male team here in the KC area (my coach is a member of this men's team). I already have one recruit, besides myself, and there are potentially 3 other women that will join as well. And, I will captain this group of women. Some of us will compete and race (me, eventually, for sure) and some may only do the charity rides. Either way, this is so awesome. I'm so giddy I can hardly stand myself right now. I've been reaching out to local businesses trying to gain some sponsorship for both teams. (The team is currently going through some changes with sponsors and it's the perfect time for me to get in there and try to help. I mean, I have an MBA in Marketing - I need to put it to use!).

Well, today that MBA worked. I got verbal commitment from a sponsor here in the KC area. I won't comment on who that sponsor is since the ink isn't dry yet but it's a very exciting endeavor and they are just as thrilled as I am to join forces! And, they aren't the only ones who have expressed interest - so keep reading and I'm sure I'll have news very, very soon!

This week has been a great week of learnings and new adventures. As long as this continues to happen, this cycling passion that has grabbed a hold of my head and my heart won't ever get old. I LOVE MY LIFE!

Happy Cycling!