PHASE TWO DEB'S TRAINING 1 APRIL 2012 35 MILES

Deb writes: Here is a pic of me on my bike yesterday. This was taken about 20 miles into a 35-mile ride.

PHASE TWO CATHY'S TRAINING 1 MAY 2012
Cathy writes: If no one sees you fall off your bike, does it count?
Here I am at my office after having a spill. My colleagues were quick to laugh (and gave no sympathy).

PHASE TWO CATHY'S TRAINING 4 MAY 2012 40 MILES
Cathy writes: My birthday. I rode 40 miles (probably should have done my age, but I needed to be back for a BBQ). A nice ride.
The most interesting thing that happened was my encounter with a giant snapping turtle at the 15-mile mark. He or she - I was not going to flip it over to look - was in the middle of the bike path. It took three of us and two branches to move him/her off the trail and down to the creek. I learned that snapping turtles are very fast and can snap a branch.
After that short wildlife break, back on the bike. I averaged 14.3 mph.

PHASE TWO CATHY'S TRAINING 7 MAY 2012 46 MILES

Cathy writes: Overcast day; my plan was to ride 46 miles. I like to ride on Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) trail, built on the roadbed of the former Washington & Old Dominion Railroad. I started in Arlington and rode to Herndon. It started out easy (which is odd for me, as it usually takes me a few miles to get stretched out). During parts of the ride, I met other cyclists who were clearly better than I, but I hung on with them for a while. The first 23 miles felt great. THEN I turned back to home. Oh my! Where did that wind come from? It swirled and hit me whenever I was riding up the hills. The next 11 miles were not fun. Legs heavy. After a brief rest, the last 12 miles went much better. Averaged 14.2 mph. Good for me! Next ride: 9 May, along the Potomac River to Mt. Vernon.

PHASE TWO DEB & LEE'S TRAINING 8 MAY 2012 35 MILES

Baron Sheffer sez: I like to support my Airedale friends in need, so I was anxious to help pack training parcels to be sent to Deb, Lee & Cathy. I know for sure these supplies will help them ride farther & faster! Debbie writes: ROLLING 4 RESCUE cyclists are in serious training mode now. Last night was an especially difficult ride for me. What was supposed to be an easy 35-mile ride, where we would average about 15mph, turned into something quite different. We ride with a club here in Greensboro; last night a group of about ten of us started out at a rather quick pace. I could tell immediately that they were going to ride faster than the agreed-upon speed. We started out pretty quick. The first five miles were averaging about 17mph. It was a really hilly route, on which I need lots of practice. The hills in North Carolina will be equal to the winds in Kansas. Just after the five mile marker, I could feel myself slowing down and started to fall a bit behind. That's when I saw it - and was glad I was the slowpoke. It was a pretty bad crash. I wasn't involved at all, but it does something to your psyche when you see another rider hit the pavement traveling 20+mph. The rider is OK; the bike is a total loss. Lee slowed down after viewing the accident to let me catch up with him. We cut our ride a bit short and I rode at a much slower pace. When you see something like that happen, you quit taking the risks that you might otherwise take when riding. It becomes a little less important to clock the fastest time going down the hills. Next step is our first long ride of the season. Lee & I will be leaving Saturday morning (12 May) for an 80-mile small-group ride. We'll take lots of pictures along the way and post something when we get home. If you haven't sent in your pledge or a donation please consider doing that soon. All the monies go to help any rescue Airedale from any group needing help.

PHASE TWO CATHY'S TRAINING 9 MAY 2012
Cathy writes: What a day! I parked my car at Teddy Roosevelt Island and biked to Mt Vernon. I love this trail. When I was in college, my parents lived just off this trail and I remember walking here with my Mom. It follows the Potomac River to George Washington's home. I prefer riding that trail during the week because there are fewer bicyclists and walkers/runners. On weekends, it is packed. It is a nice ride, mainly going uphill to Mt. Vernon. The last half mile is a sharp hill and usually I am cursing under my breath. I enjoyed the ride.
Nothing exciting happened. When I was three miles from the end, my legs got very heavy. I was at Gravelly Point. I looked to my right and saw the Washington Monument, Jefferson Memorial, Capitol & Kennedy Center; that gave me a boost. How lucky I am to live here and ride by such beauty!

TRAINING LOG CONTINUES HERE