Celebrating Tiny Victories

One thing I've learned is that when you start to feel a little overwhelmed with intense training, you need to celebrate tiny victories along the way. It's like a marathon...if you look at the big picture, all 26.2 miles, it's downright scary. Break it into small pieces and celebrate each tiny victory along the way makes it that much easier.

For starters, Mother Nature foiled our plans on Sunday and alas, we weren't able to do our long ride/brick due to torrential downpours. So I elected to rest on Sunday and then yesterday squeaked out a brick, albeit a short one.

I went out with the intent for a 90 minute ride. Within 5 minutes I was freezing my buns off. One fellow rider questioned my sanity as I was wearing shorts in temperates that peaked in the upper 40's (and here I thought it was mid-May...what gives!?). After 15 minutes I decided rather than to ride for speed, since I couldn't feel my legs, that I'd ride about 60 minutes and focus on my form and aero position.

Oof.

I'd get going and then settle one arm into the aerobars with the other holding onto the hood. Say a prayer and then hold on for dear life. Breathe a sigh of relief when I don't hit anything or anyone. And then I'd switch, repeating the process. Give myself a pep talk, saying it was okay if I fall trying to get both arms into aero, then I'd chicken out and go back to the one arm dealio. There was even a cyclist in an orange jersey who offered encouragement for my aeroposition efforts each time we'd cross paths.

This went on for about the first 8-9 miles. And then finally, as I headed back north toward McCormick Place, I mustered up the cahoonahs to go all the way down (err...get your mind outta the gutter)...all the way into aeroposition.

And it felt great.

Granted, I would only maintain aeroposition for maybe 10-20 seconds at first, and felt all wobbly in those first few crucial moments fearing for my life and the life of those within a 20 yard radius of me, but I was finally getting the feel of it all. As I zipped by Mike who was walking Phog, I think I shrieked like a little girl with excitement proclaiming I finally got into position. He was pretty amped for me. Even orange jersey dude flew by me an offered up a "great job!" taking pride in the fact that I finally did it.

And so I smiled...celebrating the latest tiny victory.

Other tiny victories of the past few days...
- After yesterday's ride I clipped off a 9:42 mile when I felt like I was plodding along slowly.
- The new bike fit is awesome, no more aches and pains in my back and shoulders (although it makes me neck slightly sore...hrmmm)
- Last week I peeled off 3 sub-10:00 500's with ease in the pool...9:46, 9:44 and 9:28.
- During my 11 miler on Saturday, I pulled it out at the end, making my final mile one of my fastest.
- We got Mario Kart for Wii. Okay. Not so much a tiny victory as it is a whole hell of a lot of awesome fun. :)

Okay. Off to work. Have a beautiful day!