Countdown to Triathlon - 277 Days, 39.5 weeks to Race Day (See Installment 12 of "The Journey", 220 mile bike ride, below)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Many strokes overthrow the tallest oaks."
John Lyly

I must keep this in mind, especially at the beginning of the training since it seems I do so little each day compared with what I will have to do at the end.  But I also have to keep in mind that to do more at this point could cause injury, sprain, pulled muscle, etc. which would definitely set me back.  We can apply the above quote to everything we do in life, even cleaning house when the house gets at it's messiest.

We are certainly having some beautiful days for walking Roxi.  I wonder if they make dog slickers?  I'll have to check it out.  We'll need to be bundled up soon.  I read in the local paper that one woman, older than me, has been walking daily for five years, rain or shine.  That is a great accomplishment! 

Roxi does well on her walks until she gets close to another dog.  Then she tries to jump and get after the other dog.  Maybe I'd better start watching "The Dog Whisperer" to see how to correct that situation.  He certainly makes training and correcting dogs look easy.

The Journey - Installment Twelve

GOD PROVIDES GIFTS I DIDN’T

 KNOW I NEEDED

      

     Throughout September and October, Don and I continued to ride three times a week and I would ride two more days each week, alone, continuing to try to increase my speed and distance.  The Riverbank Wine and Cheese Festival, in Riverbank, California, was scheduled for October.  Riding with Don and a young woman named Neva from our church one day, shortly before the Riverbank ride, Neva asked if I minded if she rode with me the following Sunday for the 25 mile ride. Would I mind?  I was thrilled.   I had planned on riding alone since Pastor Don’s “workday” is obviously on Sunday and naturally wouldn’t be able to be on his bike and in the pulpit at the same time.  I had never been on an organized ride before but figured that there would be other people riding and there were bound to be some riders going my speed, (slow). I had not prayed and asked for someone to ride with because I felt comfortable with riding alone and thought that probably I would meet some people on the ride.  But God knew that I would need Neva to ride with me. 

            What a glorious day that Sunday was.   My friend Terri gave me a ride to the starting point in Riverbank. Neva met us there. It was still dark when we arrived and most of the people were there for the longer distance ride.  There was a list of three pages of people signed up for our ride and when I was handed the route I noticed that it said 29 miles.  I had mentally prepared myself for 25.  When I mentioned the discrepancy to the lady sitting behind the registration table, she commented that the rides are never exactly what are advertised and after all, “It was only four more miles.”  That was easy for her to say, sitting behind a table. It was still slightly dark when we began the ride at the Riverbank High School with great expectation and feeling assured that we would see other riders.  We saw a beautiful sunrise, cows, horses, a graceful white crane standing in a field and many beautiful homes in the rural setting.  The scenery was fantastic, first along the river, then out in the country at Woodward Reservoir where we could see a spectacular view of the foothills and all the pasture land for cattle.  The ride itself was long, but I believe we could have ridden farther if it had been necessary.  We thought we were lost several times and even got off the trail to the point that we missed the rest stop and the home-made cookies they were giving out. We couldn’t believe that we saw no other riders until near the end of the trip. A man who said he couldn’t read the route directions well followed us the last few miles.  We rode a good ride and arrived home in time to attend Sunday services at our church.  Neva and her husband presented me with a rear-view mirror for my bike. All in all, the experience was a great boost to my moral; I had accomplished the first quarter of my goal - 25 miles at one time. And I had received two gifts - Neva as a companion on the ride and a rear-view mirror. That ride was another Milestone.