The Wall

Somewhere after I rode 6-1/2 miles on the same day as I walked a 5K, I hit the wall. No, there was no car accident involved, that's just what athletes say happens when you push yourself beyond your breaking point. You push and push and push, and then suddenly the effort of it all hits you and you have nothing left For me, it meant that I was standing in the bike store, trying to decide on a new road/commuter hybrid bike with which to continue my training for the 30 mile Tour de Cure in May, when suddenly I was having trouble forming words and couldn't think about anything except getting home to collapse on the sofa or bed.

I have been working out 5-6 days a week, 30-45 minutes a day, for four weeks, but this week I've stopped completely. Nothing. Probably would have been smarter to just do less, but my body doesn't want to do that...it wants to do nothing. Work has been tough for months and it's culminating in the last week and this one, so it all just became too much.

And so I'm taking it very easy physically and mentally this week, but I'll be back at it tomorrow (Saturday) and I have a 9 mile training ride on Sunday, so there's that to look forward to as well. I really need to eat better, too, but I'm giving myself permission to eat what I want as long as I'm keeping active. I'm not trying to lose weight, I'm creating a healthier life for myself and the exercise is a good first step.