Cross Training Part 1
Okay, Juli and I have convinced ourselves that there is NO OTHER WAY to increase our running abilities than to cross train. We can’t imagine adding anymore running miles to our training log. Seriously, I think we are exhausted just thinking about running more to do better in our marathons. Our solution is to cross train and develop “other” muscles.
So, yesterday I had this amazing idea to go actual mountain biking. Right now, I use my mountain bike mostly for road riding and groomed dirt trails. I actually thought mountain biking could be fun…WRONG! First of all, the bike I am using is one step up from a Huffy you can get at Target. Add to that, I don’t know how to use the gears; my back brake doesn’t work; and the thing is so heavy. I didn’t know it was so heavy until I found myself carting the bike around up and down rocks and boulders for most of the ride. I was more exhausted from the 4 mile bike ride than running 13 miles! We couldn’t even do the whole trail because I just couldn’t do it. I was ready to leave the bike behind and run the trail. It was so bad…I just wasn’t prepared.
I have a whole new outlook on people who mountain bike; they are intense and extremely fit. I mean, I just ran 26.4 miles at a pretty decent pace but I couldn’t mountain bike 4 miles! Now I’m torn; I have tried an activity that I didn’t enjoy because I it killed me. Do I continue and prove to myself that I can do it? Or do I give up and stick to road and groomed trails? It’s a little more expensive to get better, considering I’ll have to buy a new bike. (My current bike is now retired from ALL real mountain biking.)
Maybe this summer will be road-riding and trail running. Next summer – mountain biking. I don’t know. My mind changes daily and sometimes hourly. We’ll see what happens next.
June 17th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
I think we’re both gaining an appreciation for how the “other half,” or all of those who don’t run, live…BTW LOVE the picture!
June 18th, 2010 at 7:07 am
I was told that my feet were suppose to stay on the pedals…but then my feet would get wet!
June 18th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
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