Cross Training: Outdoor Bike Ride

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I’d rather go for a run than ride my bike any day of the week, but the FIRST Marathon Training Plan I’m following calls for twice weekly cross training. Tonight just so happened to be a cross training night…

Luckily the Tour de France is currently in progress which helps my motivation to get out and ride. Also I only have to ride for about 40-45 minutes, so it’s actually quite a quick workout to complete. It’s easier to “get on yer bike” and start riding than to think of all the reasons not to be outside in the glorious sunshine. So after a quick check of my bike I set off through the neighborhood and onto the main roads.

Now it all comes flooding back why I’d rather run in a park than share the road with hundreds of crazy drivers. My blue triathlon bike must be invisible to everyone. Wing mirrors brush my elbows as pickup trucks zoom by. Minivans cut right across me as I maintain a straight line. School buses trundle past thinking they own the road. And this is supposed to be fun?!

Soon, however, I’m in the relative safety of some side roads and manage to ride a few loops with ever increasing speed, but as I spin the pedals I try to understand the law of wind. Why does it blow constantly against me when I’m riding a loop? Surely it should be behind me at some stage….

Before I can work out the answer my time is almost up, and with puny running legs burning, I head for home and another tangle with the rush hour traffic. Maybe I shouldn’t wear the Harry Potter invisibility cloak next time??

Tomorrow I lace up my running shoes for a 7 mile tempo run - I can’t wait! Fun, fun, fun….