into the wind.

We rode the Diabetes Ride route as part of our training. I wasn't prepared for the wind. Somehow we had to ride into the wind for 2/3's of the route.

I'm not kidding. I had wind beating into my chest for what felt like the entire ride. I got angry at one point and tried to figure out how it was possible that I was still riding into the wind... and up hill no less. I can only imagine how I looked to people passing me in cars. I was a pissed off cyclist going 2 miles an hour, up-hill and into the wind. I hope they thought "man, they're hard core."... but I'm sure it was more like "damn, I'm glad that's not me."

It wasn't fun. I did not enjoy. My lips were chapped. My ass was sore. My legs were spent.

But I rode the whole stupid thing. It took three hours. I feel a hundred feet tall right now.

--AC

we train.

We're training for the American Diabetes Association Ride for the Cure in March. Of course, this means I am on my road bike a lot. The progress I made clipping in a month or so a go has been maintained. I feel like I have regained my cycling rhythm. It still feels really good and I don't take it for granted.

We are training for the surprisingly hilly 35mile route. The farthest we'd ever consistently ridden our road bikes was about 25 miles on mostly flat ground, so this is proving to be challenge. On our mountain bikes and my trike we do shorter more intense routes... I like the change of pace.

I've never really ridden a "fundraiser" ride before. This is new. I don't like asking people for money, but a co-workers husband died from diabetes complications last year and I am riding in his name. I am proud of that.

I miss Helga. I've hardly ridden her recently. I think she misses me too. I can see her eyeing me longingly from across the room.

--AC