Marathons to Bikeathon...?
Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 12:50PM It’s a well known fact that if you exercise in a particular way on a regular basis the body adapts very quickly. In order to get the results you want, whether that’s a specific body shape or fitness level it is important to mix things up every few weeks. Give your body an unexpected challenge; shock your muscle fibres and take your fitness to the next level!
Now, I’m as guilty as the next person when it comes to exercise repetition. I adore running and weirdly have a mental block over doing anything else before I run at least 10km. After the run is done I feel I can relax a bit and then turn my attention to other disciplines, such as free weight training, biking, whatever takes my fancy depending on what I want to achieve at the time. As part of this ‘running rut’ I tend to lean towards half and full marathons when it comes to racing, however, it’s time for me to get out of my comfort zone; properly and once and for all!
A couple of months ago my housemate highlighted the perfect opportunity to help me take advantage of my lush racing bike, that I only bought last year, which will also give my joints a small break from all the running (although I am wanting to get into ultra marathons but that was a previous blog) as well as forcing me out of the gym and into the fresh air (well...as fresh as London allows!). So, what have I gone and entered? A bikeathon...
For those of you who know me you won’t be surprised to hear that despite this being my first cycling race I didn’t want to enter the shorter routes but instead go for the longest distance on offer (if I’m committing to something there are no half hearted efforts, I’ll do it properly. That way I get to feel mildly like Rocky!). My housemate and I agreed we’d do the bikeathon together, all 75miles of it. A beautiful bike ride all round Surrey including some great hills (which I have no doubt I’ll be less enthusiastic about when I’m exhausted with a bad case of saddle soreness!).
Apart from the fact I’m a runner, not a cyclist, and I have no doubt this event is going to seriously hurt and result in DOMS* I have never experienced before, there is yet another fly in the ointment. Where my housemate entered the race pretty much immediately to secure her place on the 75mile course, I didn’t get round to entering until a couple of weeks later (maybe my subconscious was trying to tell me something?) so when I came to choosing the distance I wanted to cycle the 75mile route was full! Gutted (or am I?!). Needless to say my housemate was not impressed even when I tried to see the positive in that we’ll at least set off from the same starting point. Funnily enough that piece of information didn’t bring much comfort!
I have contacted the event organisers and placed my name on a reserve list should a spot become available (fingers crossed) but whatever distance I end up doing I shall still be attempting to raise some money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research (do you see where this blog is going?)
If you do want to sponsor me it’ll certainly help with my motivation to hang up my trainers and get out on my bike to train properly, so please, if you can, visit www.justgiving.com/stephanieblakemassage it’s a great cause and I’ll even let you mock me as I’ve no doubt I’ll be walking around like John Wayne for at least a month afterwards!
*Delayed onset of muscle soreness
Reader Comments (1)
I know that cycling is a good exercise but is it safe for pregnant women?