and butterflies

I did not want to ride this morning! I am sure that there are several out there that feel like that prior to actually getting on the bike and heading out. I'm really glad that I did though! It feels good now that it is behind me.

I discovered that I need to add more distance to my ride, I did it in 40 minutes today! I'm getting faster. It might be that I'm also getting more comfortable with the bike and gaining more confidence. I know that I am going downhill faster and I'm going up MOST of the hills faster as well. I still have that one long hill up Sears Road that gets to this one little pitch and I end up walking. I don't stop at all, I just get off and walk up that pitch and then I get back on when it gets a little less steep. I can start on a hill now and it feels good to be pedaling when I reach the very top of the hill and start down the other side.

I have decided though, it might be a matter of dealing with my mind more than my legs and lungs to ride the full length of that hill. It isn't in the first part of my ride, so I know that plays a small part in it. I know that I can push myself and I think that I will begin pushing just a bit harder. Of course that being said, I'm going to go clear to King Road on my next ride (rather than stop at the bottom of Buckhorn Road) so I'm adding another long hill to the ride. All that will do though is make me stronger in the long run!

I finally got a new battery in my heart monitor today and wore it for the first time. I discovered something very interesting. When I was running with my heart monitor I could not run and stay anywhere near my heart rate training zone. My heart rate always skyrocketed, it didn't matter how good of shape I got in, my heart didn't improve. Today I hit the high end of my heart range, but I didn't explode out of it and my heart rate came back down quickly, something that it has not done in the past. This got me to thinking and wondering what was going on. I think that I have the answer. This is the first time that I've worn a heart monitor since I stopped taking my MS medication. One of the side effects of the medication was an increased heart rate. I think that for the first time ever, I am getting a true reading of how my body is really doing. I have to admit, it feels pretty good!

I am very thankful that I didn't get rained on this morning! I am also thankful for the butterfly that accompanied me up the last hill and the second one that welcomed me back to the car. It was a good ride!