How do I train for something a big as ride the divide? I have been reading others blogs and web posting to see how they did it. Overall, the idea is to get in the best physical shape you possibly can be before you start.
I went in for my final doctors appointment regarding my herniated/bulging disc in my S1. Thanks be to God! It is being reabsorbed by my body. I should be fully recovered in about two months. Because of this injury my focus right now is to ride as many miles and hours as I possibly can. Then in a few months start adding a lot of core work. I think I need to start jogging too because there will be long stretches of the ride where I may have to hike my bike. Sometimes there is still snow on the ground and sometime the mud can be so bad you simply cannot ride.
Currently, I am averaging 10 hours a week of training. Each week I am bumping up my training by about 2 hours. In terms of mileage this averages out to about 160 to 200 miles a week. Weekly hours of training will be closer to 25 to 30 hours (or 400 to 500 miles) by the time I get within a month of the event. Last month I did 600 miles for the whole month. It is going to be super hard to keep up with training time but I have to do it so when I start my ride in June 2014 I know I did everything I could going into the ride.
With this training schedule there are times when I am riding in the early morning hours or evening hours and it is dark. The concept of riding in the dark isn't new to me. Years ago during my police career I trained a lot in the middle of the night. It's been about five years since I had to do this so it sort of fills new. I gain confidence from my past to not let fear get me when I am pedaling in the middle of the night or early in the morning hours to get my training done. This past Sunday was my first time out in the dark in a long time. My 1st hour was quite and cool. The moon hung high and bright in the sky. I have three flashing lights on the rear of my bike and a very bright headlight. I can see eyes glowing in the grass next to the road, I can hear air conditioning units humming alongside houses. I hear snuffling in the distance. Whimpers from dogs and mewling from the cows in the pastures. The ambient noise is low and you can hear everything. About an hour in you can hear the roosters crowing and start to see the light of a new day. The sun is just beginning to rise and the colors of the sky start to gradually fade from black to blue. Then you hear the birds starting to wake and begin their new day song. It is a unique experience to be out riding alone and witness this. I recommend you give it a try sometime.
Mountain biking trails in Houston, Tx are not at a high density. You have to travel to find the good ones. Today, Scottie and I are heading back to Bluff Creek Ranch to train. Its about an hour and half drive. We will aim for about 3 to 4 hours of saddle time and then head home. The plan for riding is to ride mountain at least twice a week. One ride is focused on distance and time in the saddle. The other I do intervals. Then the other three to four rides a week I ride on the road. I either use my road bike or my mountain bike. Soon, we will start to add weight to our bikes and get used to riding with about 40 pounds of gear. Then we will do some shake down rides. Where we ride really far away on gravel roads (hopefully) and then we set up camp. Then we tear down come home and think about what worked, what didn't work, and what do we need to change. Those want start until January of next year.
So, I am off to ride. Just wanted to put up another post. I am trying to do this weekly. Helps me stay focused and its exciting to share my thoughts with those of you reading about my journey.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Preparing for an adventure the size of Ride the Divide
Good Afternoon Everyone!!!
If you work and have a passion it is hard sometimes to make them all fit together. Yesterday was my Saturday. Most people have a normal Saturday but there is a large part of the work world who have odd days off. Typically, I am off Monday and Tuesday which is excellent for training cause when you hit the trails to ride there is no one about! Just you and your training partner!
So, for my Saturday I didn't get to nuzzle my warm bed and relax half the day. It's up early to load the truck, pack the food, prepare your bike, and hit the road. Scootie and I are starting to settle into a weekly routine. Monday's are for long mountain bike rides and Tuesday are for long road rides. The rest of the week I work so I have to get up early before work and get a few hours of riding in every morning I possibly can.
Yesterday we traveled to Lake Bryan Trails. It's fantastic. The Map of the Ride. We did 20.4 miles and spent about 3 hours in the saddle. There is a section called the octopus trail. My nemesis. It has been every since I started to ride this route. I have successfully cleared the run zero times!!! I have to always unclip and put my foot down at least three times. Yesterday I cleared more than normal and then got yanked off my bike. Unfortunately, my right pinky was sticking a little over the bars and caught a small tree. Today it is jamed and feels a bit tender. Nothing major but a reminder to me that my goal during training is to not get injured for the big ride.
Last time I mentioned I would need to pick some training events to start preparing myself mentally for the big day.
Here are two events that Scottie and I are going to be considering:
24 Hours of Rocky Hill 2013
A 24 hour mountain bike relay race on approximately 10-mile course. Teams try to log as many laps as possible, with only 1 member riding at a time. The team with the most laps in the 24 hour time period wins.
Saturday October 19th, 2013 @ 12:00pm
Reveille Peak 100 2013
Join us for the Reveille Peak 100!This is100K Mountain Bike Race at the scenic Reveille Peak Ranch. Come out and test your grit and help raise money for the Texas High School Mountain Bike League! The course will be (4) 25k loops around the 1300+ acre ranch. You will be on jeep road & single track.
Saturday November 23rd, 2013 @ 7:15am
Take a look at these events
Scottie and I will be hitting the pavement today around 3:00 for at least 2:30 - 3:00 hours of riding. SO, I am off to do the chores and pay the bills.
If you work and have a passion it is hard sometimes to make them all fit together. Yesterday was my Saturday. Most people have a normal Saturday but there is a large part of the work world who have odd days off. Typically, I am off Monday and Tuesday which is excellent for training cause when you hit the trails to ride there is no one about! Just you and your training partner!
So, for my Saturday I didn't get to nuzzle my warm bed and relax half the day. It's up early to load the truck, pack the food, prepare your bike, and hit the road. Scootie and I are starting to settle into a weekly routine. Monday's are for long mountain bike rides and Tuesday are for long road rides. The rest of the week I work so I have to get up early before work and get a few hours of riding in every morning I possibly can.
Yesterday we traveled to Lake Bryan Trails. It's fantastic. The Map of the Ride. We did 20.4 miles and spent about 3 hours in the saddle. There is a section called the octopus trail. My nemesis. It has been every since I started to ride this route. I have successfully cleared the run zero times!!! I have to always unclip and put my foot down at least three times. Yesterday I cleared more than normal and then got yanked off my bike. Unfortunately, my right pinky was sticking a little over the bars and caught a small tree. Today it is jamed and feels a bit tender. Nothing major but a reminder to me that my goal during training is to not get injured for the big ride.
Last time I mentioned I would need to pick some training events to start preparing myself mentally for the big day.
Here are two events that Scottie and I are going to be considering:
24 Hours of Rocky Hill 2013
A 24 hour mountain bike relay race on approximately 10-mile course. Teams try to log as many laps as possible, with only 1 member riding at a time. The team with the most laps in the 24 hour time period wins.
Saturday October 19th, 2013 @ 12:00pm
Reveille Peak 100 2013
Join us for the Reveille Peak 100!This is100K Mountain Bike Race at the scenic Reveille Peak Ranch. Come out and test your grit and help raise money for the Texas High School Mountain Bike League! The course will be (4) 25k loops around the 1300+ acre ranch. You will be on jeep road & single track.
Saturday November 23rd, 2013 @ 7:15am
Take a look at these events
Scottie and I will be hitting the pavement today around 3:00 for at least 2:30 - 3:00 hours of riding. SO, I am off to do the chores and pay the bills.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Morning Coffee and Thoughts about the Divide
Getting ready to head out onto a long training ride. While sitting here sipping my coffee I thought, "My friends need to know more about Ride the Divide"
So here is the Skinny:
The Route: The route is over 2700 miles from Banff, Canada to the Mexican border near Antelope Wells, New Mexico. Unlike other pro races you watch on TV, the race is self-supported. There is no feed zone, there are no helpers on the course handing you fresh water, and there is no such thing as SAG (support and gear). You have to continue forward with your on will and your own ability that all other racers have access too. I can stay at a friends house or have family and friends meet me on the course or will risk disqualification.
The route crosses mountain passes, amounting to a climbing vertical of over 200,000 feet – that’s 7 Everests! I will get to ride in the snow, the sand, the red clay, the rock scree, the dirt roads, the pavement and even a few miles of single track. While being cold, hot, and more than likely a lot of wet. I get to sleep with the bears and mountain lions - If I fall asleep.
All of these obstacles will be easy compared to the mind games that may start to play in my head after riding day after day of 16 hours in the saddle. However, for those of you that know me. I am good at being alone for hours on end with the voices in my head... :)
Here is a link to the rules of riding the divide:
http://tourdivide.org/the_rules
In my morning reverie I have begun to think I should probably sign up for a race before the big one. A practice run. Flush out all the things I am not thinking about. After my ride today I will start to consider an endurance event to take on before the big one.
So here is the Skinny:
The Route: The route is over 2700 miles from Banff, Canada to the Mexican border near Antelope Wells, New Mexico. Unlike other pro races you watch on TV, the race is self-supported. There is no feed zone, there are no helpers on the course handing you fresh water, and there is no such thing as SAG (support and gear). You have to continue forward with your on will and your own ability that all other racers have access too. I can stay at a friends house or have family and friends meet me on the course or will risk disqualification.
The route crosses mountain passes, amounting to a climbing vertical of over 200,000 feet – that’s 7 Everests! I will get to ride in the snow, the sand, the red clay, the rock scree, the dirt roads, the pavement and even a few miles of single track. While being cold, hot, and more than likely a lot of wet. I get to sleep with the bears and mountain lions - If I fall asleep. All of these obstacles will be easy compared to the mind games that may start to play in my head after riding day after day of 16 hours in the saddle. However, for those of you that know me. I am good at being alone for hours on end with the voices in my head... :)
Here is a link to the rules of riding the divide:
http://tourdivide.org/the_rules
In my morning reverie I have begun to think I should probably sign up for a race before the big one. A practice run. Flush out all the things I am not thinking about. After my ride today I will start to consider an endurance event to take on before the big one.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Ride the Divide Plans for 2014
I decided to create a blog so I could share my training and planning with friends and family. In June 2014 I plan to take on my greatest challenge - I plan to participate in the Ride the Divide!!! http://tourdivide.org/
Shortly after I got married we moved to Colorado. I spend a few months their training and cycling which has always been a huge part of my life. I came across a movie: Ride the Divide : http://www.ridethedividemovie.com/
While watching this movies I came to the decision I would do this one day! I have raced and won many events but just completing something of this caliber will prove to me that I most definitely can accomplish any thing I set my mind too!
Since watching this movies close to five years have passed. The dream laying deep in my mind was reborn in June 2013 while on vacation in New Mexico. My husband and I had drove over to a state park called Cat Walk. After hiking this park we drove to the ghost town of Mogollon. On this twisting winding road of fate we saw four riders decked out. Bells in my head began to ring. These guys are on the Ride the Divide. My husband and I looked it up and found their names and began watching the spot trackers. Nathanael, my husband, says. "Didn't you want to do this event?" Yes I did and I still wanted to take part in this event.
After seeing this we decided I should follow my dream and take on this challenge.
Working in the bike industry and having been on a bike for most of the past 16 years of my life I am finally ready to take on this dream. I quickly had a friend of mine in mind too that might just be as insane to come along. Scottie!!! As soon as I saw her on the next Saturday morning group ride I asked her if she knew of a ride called Ride the Divide. She quickly stated yes! I want to do it. I challenged her to doing it with me in 2014 and she completely took the plunge too.
Returning home I quickly went to my employer; Bike Barn, and asked for their support. Both Lee and Neil our owners have told me they support me and want me to achieve my dream. I will be taking a month off next year to make this journey!
Filled with Joy and Excitement I have started my training plans and have begun to map out my gear list. Keep checking back for my story as it grows!
Jessica Green
Shortly after I got married we moved to Colorado. I spend a few months their training and cycling which has always been a huge part of my life. I came across a movie: Ride the Divide : http://www.ridethedividemovie.com/
While watching this movies I came to the decision I would do this one day! I have raced and won many events but just completing something of this caliber will prove to me that I most definitely can accomplish any thing I set my mind too!
Since watching this movies close to five years have passed. The dream laying deep in my mind was reborn in June 2013 while on vacation in New Mexico. My husband and I had drove over to a state park called Cat Walk. After hiking this park we drove to the ghost town of Mogollon. On this twisting winding road of fate we saw four riders decked out. Bells in my head began to ring. These guys are on the Ride the Divide. My husband and I looked it up and found their names and began watching the spot trackers. Nathanael, my husband, says. "Didn't you want to do this event?" Yes I did and I still wanted to take part in this event.
After seeing this we decided I should follow my dream and take on this challenge.
Working in the bike industry and having been on a bike for most of the past 16 years of my life I am finally ready to take on this dream. I quickly had a friend of mine in mind too that might just be as insane to come along. Scottie!!! As soon as I saw her on the next Saturday morning group ride I asked her if she knew of a ride called Ride the Divide. She quickly stated yes! I want to do it. I challenged her to doing it with me in 2014 and she completely took the plunge too.
Returning home I quickly went to my employer; Bike Barn, and asked for their support. Both Lee and Neil our owners have told me they support me and want me to achieve my dream. I will be taking a month off next year to make this journey!
Filled with Joy and Excitement I have started my training plans and have begun to map out my gear list. Keep checking back for my story as it grows!
Jessica Green
My Blog Spot
Hey Everyone! I am giving this a test ride. I want to start writing and creating a place for me to put my thoughts out there. Mostly, to share my photos and to share my journeys. Hope this is something I can really make work. Facebook, Twitter and all that jazz doesn't get me going. I will move forward with this technique.
Jessica
Jessica
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