On Riding Like a Pro

Posted on by lindsay
I missed my training last week as a result of an untimely bout of bronchitis, so naturally I had to come back twice as hard this week to make up for lost time. Despite promising The Coach that I would ease into training gradually, I rode 17.75 hours since last Saturday and started the strength training phase of my winter weightlifting. Now I'm exhausted and limping around. Today's ride was challenging. It began terribly; icy cold with a sore back and flat legs. My riding partner, henceforth known here as Riding Partner, was feeling nimble and quick and immediately dropped me. He then dropped me another half dozen times, which felt incredibly awesome and inspiring (read: I collapsed mentally). The whole affair was pathetic. Let's get my excuses out of the way: I was short on sleep, long on recently-logged riding hours, and fatigued from the new weightlifting program. All ...continue reading.

Riding Wakefield: Like being trapped in an elevator with somebody you always assumed was an ass and discovering that they’re cool.

Posted on by lindsay
Wakefield was my first mountain biking experience when I started riding in June 2007. I vividly remember riding along the creek trail over and over, panicking at the top of a steep little hill because I was too afraid to roll down it, and being so excited to always come home with bruises, cuts, and legs covered in a layer of dirt. Since I started doing the Wednesday at Wakefield series every summer, I've gotten really sick of the course and always associated the entire park with that one main loop. If somebody suggested riding Wakefield, I would immediately say no because it is a boring place with boring trails that are boring. I was wrong. After riding my local loop three times last week, I drove to Wakefield for a desperately needed change of pace and found the riding to be completely chill and fun. I rode sections I ...continue reading.

On Gender Egalitarianism: Since that’s not a catchy title, how about, “Bitchy Post In Which I Reference My Hoo Ha.”

Posted on by lindsay
Something minor happened today that bothered me. When my father and I got to the shooting range this morning, there were a group of old men occupying half of the lanes. They watched us grab our bags and walk up to the firing line, at which point one man came over to tell us that they were sighting in some guns but that we could use the lanes on the far end. Except he didn't say just that; he said, "You can set up down there, especially if she's just learning." Let me think. I first shot a gun when I was probably ten. I used to shoot 2-3 times a week, I know how to handle a gun, I own my own Sig Sauer .40 that I specifically chose. Last week I shot the two cleanest rounds anyone had seen all day in a bowling pin shootout competition. Today ...continue reading.

2010 Shenandoah Mountain 100

Posted on by lindsay
Last weekend was the Shenandoah Mountain 100 and, despite plans to bail after Checkpoint 4 in hopes of preserving my legs for cross season, I finished the race in 9 hours and 54 minutes. I did not keep up with Sue Haywood, much to nobody's surprise, and based on her Facebook post in the days following the race ["Legs so sore...next year I'm going to train"], I don't foresee pacing her anytime in the next, well, ever. She's still my local hero, in a totally non-creeper way. I have another hero from that event, though, one who deserves a shout out for her efforts and accomplishments. That would be my friend Nicky, Log Posse member and fellow SM 100 racer. Nicky decided in 2009 that she was going to train throughout 2010 for the SM 100 and do everything she could to finish. She followed through, buying and sticking to ...continue reading.

Eating Disorderly Conduct

Posted on by lindsay
I had one slice of apple pie a la mode after dinner and now I'm thinking about putting on my heart rate monitor and jumping on the bed until I burn a slice of pie's worth of calories. Jesus, these are some serious issues. Eating has always been a sensitive subject. I love to eat, and while I have a generally healthy diet, I also have a sweet tooth and the periodic inability to stop putting food in my mouth. Add in all of the training (which increases my appetite enormously) and the pressure to be competitive on the bike (the more I have to carry uphill, the slower I go), and I struggle constantly with my eating. Am I eating enough? Am I eating too much? Am I feeding my muscles or overstuffing my gut? Am I actually hungry or am I just craving? AM I OUT OF MY MIND? ...continue reading.