Hills

I need to start to love them. Or as Coach said when riding hills during the week is challenging for me, "Any hills, find them, ride them, embrace them, love them :)" Is the fact that he used a :) supposed to help change my attitude about hills?

Anyway, I took a few hours early from work to go home, pack up the car and head to Arlington to meet Sandy for some hill repeats on Military road. I would like to say it was fun. But I don't think "fun" is the right word. I won't say that I embraced the hills. Or that I loved the hills. But I found hills and I road hills. 2 out of 4 isn't bad, right?

My bike computer still isn't reading speed correctly (I think I need a new magnet) but it does read cadence. This was probably for the best as I tried so hard to keep a high cadence, and didn't worry about my average speed. This lasted maybe for the first 2 hills. Then my legs were shot. And I just did all I could to get up each hill. Again and again and again. I had some shifting issues, but the magic of the power balance band kept me up right, TWICE. And after some debate, I wanted to head back, but Sandy needed to do another loop, we compromised and I went out again with her. Half way through, I dropped my water bottle (which I NEVER do), took it as a sign that I was done, or at least mentally checked out, and I should head back.

Sandy was great, both in her ability to support, and kick a$$ on the hills. After a quick stop at Contes, oh sorry - Fresh Bikes (I really wish they asked my opinion on the new name...) we met Alejandro for a healthy dinner at Sweet Green. This wasn't enough, so off for ice cream we went. Is that not the largest small you have ever seen! I haven't had ice cream in a long time, so needless to say, I was unable to finish and the rest is in my freezer. But it was a nice treat (thanks Alejandro!!) and as Sandy said "all hill rides should end with ice cream."

It's no surprise that I didn't magically get better at hills. But I am in a better place with hills than last year. And I think a better place than 3 years ago. It was a good starting point and things can only get better from here (knock on wood).