Wednesday 2 December 2009

Another milestone in my cycling re-discovery.

Just a quick update to share my news. As most of you know, my monthly target is to ride 100 miles (or more). Yeah ok, that, probably doesn’t seem that much to all you seasoned cyclists out there, but as I have gone from doing nothing for many years, I think it’s a pretty realistic goal.

Anyway, I’m waffling and I’d planned to make this brief… But first I think I need a drumroll please … as November marked another milestone in my cycling rediscovery.

Not only did I achieve my monthly target for November, but more significantly the few miles extra I rode in both November and October have bought my grand total up to 400 miles in the last 4 months. I am chuffed to bits - as I was really disappointed back in September when a nasty saddle sore stopped me from riding for two weeks, so making up those missing miles is great and has given me a boost.

YAY!!! Whouda funked it? Four months ago, I would never have thought I could have achieved so much and if i'm honest, I had half expected to loose my momentum by now. Amazingly, I am really enjoying it and each time I meet one of these small milestones it drives me on. I keep setting myself targets. Some easier, some more difficult; but when I reach them my confidence grows. And of course, when I achieve some of the bigger goals, I treat myself (or get Mikey to treat me) to something new - bike related of course!

[BTW I still plan on raising the bar and increasing my monthly target at some point but for now, with the miserable & unpredictable weather I will leave the goal as it is - as I’m guessing that there will be days/weeks where I wont be able to venture outside… and I can’t face many more than a few monotonous sessions on the turbo-trainer each week.]

4 comments:

simondbarnes said...

Well done!

I need to do about 2000 miles this month to equal last year's total mileage. I find it hard to believe that I'm going to manage that!

KatieCake said...

2000 miles? I am sure that you can achieve that in a couple of weeks. But first of all you need to get on your bike! ;-)

Small Adventures said...

Mad props on being so close to your goals this close to the end of the year :)

I completely understand about feeling like losing momentum after being sidelined...my goal for 2009 was a meager 1,000 miles between 1-1-09 and 12-31-09. Well,I was well ahead of the average needed untill August when I tore a hip muscle loose on an out of town mtn bike ride,and was off the bike more than 2 months.

I lost interest and had fallen into an anti-ride funk,riding very little,my goal thought to be crushed. However,as I was adding a small 3 miler into my log and totalling up,I realised I was only 136 miles from that goal,and had 29 days remaining.

I realise 1,000 miles may not seem much...but I spent most of my adult life driving long haul trucks away from home (and bikes),and had some serious spinal injuries on the job hindering me some days. My Dr. sums it up like this "You get around pretty well for a semi-cripple...don't look the part either",LOL!

Sorry :P,didn't mean to ramble. Just warmed my heart to read the last few posts (I have only recently discovered yuor blog) :)

Steve

KatieCake said...

Hi Steve/SS:Mtn Biker.

Thank you so much for your encouraging comment. I'm really chuffed that my ramblings have managed to warm some heartstrings somewhere. :P

BTW, I think 1,000 miles does seem a lot considering your past and present injuries. (My own target is pretty similar but my only excuse is unfitness/lazyness, so you're inspirational.) Anyway, I will keep my fingers crossed that you achieve your final 136 miles. Now that I have found your blog I will be able to stay updated on your progress. ;)

Katie