Yet another Ride for Heart training ride in the books. I’m just over a week away from what will definitely be the most athletic accomplishment I’ve ever had. Riding 75 km is a big deal for me. I was always a little bit intimidated by the distance. But now that I’m in treatment for my joints it seems even more daunting. Honestly though, if I wasn’t going through physical therapy I don’t think I would have made it to ride day.
My doctor gave me a lot of things to think about for this training ride. Since I’m not a yoga gal I’ve never really concentrated on the whole mind-body connection. But my brain is playing such a huge factor in my training now. Here are all of the things I had to concentrate on:
- keep my knees straight and forward while riding
- concentrate on the distribution of pressure from my feet on the pedals
- flat back (no arch)
- rib cage down
- shoulders down
- and breathe (I hold my breath a lot, very bad)
Not so hard when I’m on the stationary bike at my treatment clinic. I only have to do it for a few minutes. But concentrating on that for over three hours yesterday was hard. I kept chanting to myself “straight, straight, straight” over and over again. The most important was my knee positioning.
It was awesome to spend the afternoon riding along the lake.
My total distance yesterday was 50km. I’ll be out training again this weekend.
The mind/body connection is huge, and what I am trying to focus on in every aspect of my life. Its been helping with pain relief, so although you aren’t much of a yoga girl. when you are done with this awesomely amazing athletic task, I can recommend a book that may help with your mind/body connection. (and you dont have to do yoga for it)
Good job and good luck with the 75k ride! I absolutely love Yoga
Mind/body is such a big deal. It’s something I definitely need to improve–I get lazy and just want to enjoy myself rather than concentrate! Good for you and enjoy your weekend of riding!
Way to go! Riding a bike 7 km would be huge for me… of course, this is coming from the girl who never learned to ride.
Happy Friday!