Warm rain and wet roads

This morning I enjoyed a shorter ride with my friend Sharon.  We were the only two riders in our group who showed up; the other four must have checked the forecast.  We shortened the ride when the rain started to fall in earnest. I discovered that riding in the rain can be pleasant when the temperature and the rain are both warm and gentle; it's more like riding through soup.  The biggest downside is the soggy diaper feeling at coffee time after the ride.  I'm starting to think about my riding week a lot more now; making lists, reading blogs of riders, learning from their struggles...

Spinal discs are good

Thanks for the prayers for healing!  I've enjoyed some rest, with less fitness teaching days on summer schedule, and even some rain days off the bike, and I'm happy to report that after yesterday's 60 km ride (and 130 total over three consecutive days), my back is happy.  The four hours of gardening yesterday were a little harder on the back, but still fine today.  Feeling thankful....

Riding with re-habbing husband

I picked up Rob on Saturday from his hernia surgery experience, which happened Thursday.  I rode with him yesterday (Sunday) and today, and discovered that we now ride at the same pace.  At least for a day or two.

Just passed 1,000 km

This week I've passed the 1,000 km milestone in my training.  I've put some bigger rides back to back and feel good.  My next goal is to string three days of long rides together, just to get used to that feeling.  I'm nursing some irritated disc fibre in my lower back, and need to be a bit careful, so please pray for fast healing, and for protection from the possibility of disc herniation.  This morning I enjoyed a glorious (and fast) pre-church ride with my supportive (and fast!!) husband, Rob.  I learn so much about road riding from him; what a gift.

solo cycling as meditation

This week I rode an hour alone, which I rarely do.  I decided that I will need to do this more as I lengthen out group rides to meet my increased distance goals for July.  It's really quiet, or, at least it was until I realized I haven't been spending as much time as I'd like talking to God lately.  With new resolve to spend my solo riding time in conversation with God, I found we had lots to talk about.  So, riding alone has new meaning.

50 km morning

 

This morning I had a cancellation, so after teaching my early spin class, I had a wide open morning. What to do...bake, clean house, work?  NO, I rode with my good friend Sharon and had a lovely morning breathing fresh country air, hooting at the wild deer, revelling in the beauty of rolling hills, sunshine and wind.  Life is good.  Now though, the house still needs to be cleaned.

Overwhelmed by donors!
When I committed to ride one week, I wondered how I would be able to raise the $2,500 required to participate.  Well, in less than a month, thanks to you, my generous supporters, I passed that goal.  I thought "maybe I'l be crazy and increase that goal", and so I set my sights higher, to $3.000.  God must have a plan to overwhelm me with people's caring hearts, because I've gone through that process two more times, moving my goal to $3,500, and now to $4.000.  Thank you for caring about our brothers and sisters who live in poverty, and thank you for teaching me about true generosity.