Training for my 1st century is proving to be vastly differently from training for my 19th or 20th marathon. The fact that I’ve been there, done that means I know that I can run a marathon. But riding 100 miles, that’s a whole different story. Additionally, I’m afraid that my life continues to be just as busy.
By no means am I sitting on my arse doing nothing. I am leading an active life. However, I have a sneaking suspicion that cross training (running, hiking, yoga, etc.) does not translate to cycling in the same manner as it has for running.
Although I have ridden to and from work 1-2 times per week for a couple of weeks now, my weekend long rides are still lacking. I’m just not finding the same ease in solo rides as I did with solo runs. It’s more than just time. Perhaps it is a lack of drive, confidence, knowing where to go. Perhaps it is all of these… and more.
Don’t get me wrong. I am truly finding enjoyment in cycling. Today, after 2 1/2 hours of TITS (equivalent to 2:06 of moving time), I was spent. With that time investment, I’d only covered 30 miles (about 1/2 the distance I’d like to be covering at this point in the training). That’s a lot of time, and it doesn’t even include prep time.
Nonetheless, I will continue to do what I can. When the time comes, if I feel that I am unable to go the full distance, I will ride the metric century distance instead. For rather than change to a flatter 100-miler, or put it off another year, I have my set my heart on riding the Foxy’s Fall Century. And, you know me. If I want to do something, I do what I can to find a way. It just looks like it’s going to be a little more challenging than I first thought.