Ride to Conquer Cancer

As you know, in a moment of insanity, I signed up to do the Ride to Conquer Cancer on June 19 & 20, 2010. It is a bike ride from Surrey to Seattle. 130 kms (or so) x 2 days.

I keep telling myself that I need to train, train, train... but I'm pretty sure that the I am the most obstinate person I know... Hoto would agree I'm sure.

So I rode on my bike/trainer indoors until March and then I did a few outdoor rides here and there. Today I decided it was time to get serious and do a longer bike ride and get in some of those hills that Hoto's been nagging me about.

It's hard. Really hard.

I managed to ride 41 kms today. I avoided people, roller bladers, dogs off leash, small children, and raccoons. I rode with my skinny road tires through gravel, a ton of debris from the recent wind storms, on flagstones, cobblestones, and over dreaded train tracks.

I rode to Science World and back around the sea wall. I huffed and puffed my way up the hill in Stanley Park (with other cyclists whizzing by me like I was standing still - which, let's face it, I almost was). I rode around the park again and headed back to Science World. I carried on to Granville Island and then rode the road across the Burrard Street Bridge before heading home.

It took forever.

My hands went to sleep. I got a crick in my neck. My back ached from the minimal weight of carrying extra water and my bike lock in my back pack. I stopped being able to feel my feet at around 25 kms. My nose ran like a river with my eyes tearing constantly despite my sporty sunglasses.

How am I ever going to manage 130 kms a day for two days?

Then again... where do people find the strength to fight cancer day after day after day?

Right... guess I'm back on bike tomorrow.