Another Freakin’ Bee Sting - OUCH!

Last Saturday, I got stung again on another ride! I can’t believe it. What are the odds? O.K., I guess that I should go out and by a lotto ticket now.

After my first sting about a month ago, I did a lot of research. Some websites suggested carrying Benadryl or Calamine Lotion in your saddle bag. Others cyclists I talked to suggested other insect sting topical ointments that you can find in your local drug stores. All of which, were said to help but not cure.

Somehow my “sting incident” came up in a conversation I was having with a friend of mine from Mexico the other day. Her suggestion was garlic. Yes, GARLIC. She said that when she got stung as a child that they put a smashed clove of garlic on the sting and that the garlic drew out the insect poison. My friend swore by this old remedy and so I thought it was worth a try.

Well, ever since that conversation I have been riding my bike with a couple of large cloves of garlic wrapped in cellophane in my saddle bag. You know…just in case.

This last Saturday about 30 miles into my 60 mile ride…ZAP, I got stung on my leg near my knee. I screamed…“CRAP, I got stung again!!!!” and then yelled to my cycling buddy that I was stopping to get out my garlic. “Garlic?” he said, “What’s with the garlic?” So, I told him the story about my friend as I was getting it unwrapped from the cellophane.

First, I pulled out the stinger since I could still see it. Then I smashed a clove with my shoe on the road and put the smashed innards on the sting and sting area (you gotta hold the garlic on the sting the entire time). At first, it just hurt like heck and then all of the sudden the pain started to subside. Within about two minutes, all you could see was the small point where the stinger was pulled out of my leg.

After this episode, I got comments like...“you have to ride in the back now, no one wants to ride down wind of the garlic.” Yes, my garlic cure was the material for a few more jokes along the ride that day. However, every time I showed someone the sting area they were amazed at the result.

When I got home I told my husband about the incident and showed him my leg. It was truly amazing! The last time I got stung the area had welted up to a 4 inch red swollen bump. Burning and itching for about a week.

All I can say is that garlic is just as important as an extra tube on my rides!

FY I- Next week, I am going for 65 miles!

From 6 Miles to 60 – My Journey on My Bike

Last February when I came out and told some friends at a dinner party that THIS was the year I was going to ride the Lance Armstrong Challenge, I only imagined what this would be like. I was not a cyclist. Matter of fact, I had not been on a bike in over 20 years!

During these past few weekends I reached another milestone – completion of my third 60 miler. This is officially the longest distance I have ever completed in a single training ride. What started out at 6 miles has now progressed into a 60 mile journey into a new education. What I mean is that you don’t get to 60 miles without learning a few more lessons in life.

I used to think that golf was the ultimate teacher. However, I have learned that being on a bike can teach you a few things too. Riding my bike has taught me to make peace with myself and to enjoy where I am at that moment in time. I have learned to make time for myself and to enjoy my own company. I have also learned to try harder, take chances, and yes, to make mistakes. All of which, make me feel very much appreciative of where I am today.

So, I guess you can say that my training is going pretty damn well. Just four months ago, 90 miles was almost unthinkable. And now, I am just 30 miles from reaching my training goal.

I want to say that really appreciate all of the encouragement from my friends and family, I can't begin to describe how your kind words have pushed me to my limit, when I thought I couldn't go any further. My fundraising efforts for the Lance Armstrong Foundation are doing well. So far, I have raised $2,926 and am in the process of receiving even more donations. By the time the event happens I hope to have reached a new goal of $5,000 for the cause.

Last year, I caught my first Marlin - something that has been on my bucket list for many years. For cycling, its “big fish” is the century ride and I fully intend on reeling this in one day too.

As I celebrated my 46^th birthday this year, I reflected on something Lance once said “Birthdays don't really matter much anymore ... for me, I sort of have a new birthday and that's October 2nd, the day I was diagnosed, ... the day we all sort of look to and mark these milestones by one year, two year, five year, 10 year. Hopefully, I have a 50 year.” Now, I feel 13 years young and just like a kid riding her bike…happy, healthy and STRONG!

Interval Training - My New Frontier

First of all, I want to let everyone know that YES, I HAVE BEEN RIDING despite my blog neglect. It’s just that life sometimes interferes with entries. Rest assured that no matter what, I am getting my rides done each week.

O.K….now for my entry….

When I reached 1,000 base miles I decided that I was ready for the next level in my cycling…Interval Training. So, what exactly is Interval Training? The basic concept of this type of training is to increase your overall amount of time spent training at a higher intensity, therefore increasing your endurance ability to ride fast longer. Science has proved that training at a high intensity leads to performance gains, particularly in professional athletes. The whole point of intervals is to allow you to increase the amount of time your body is able to train at a high intensity, therefore increasing your overall fitness level.

If it sounds pretty technical, it’s because it is and I use a heart rate monitor to help me with mine.

Right now, I am just starting this type of training. For me, I call it IT 101 or Interval Training for Dummies. This means my intervals are fewer (about 5 to 6 times) and for shorter periods of time (I judge this by heart rate).

First, I pick out a good long hill to climb (not too steep, but a good hard steady climb I can pedal on – nor one that’s too easy so that I will be spinning). I use a big gear. One that I can manage and then ride hard for a good distance to get my heart rate up to about 80-95%.

Although I was watching my heart rate monitor the first time I did these, my legs and lungs were already telling me that I was training in my threshold. I could feel my legs stinging after each one like they were asleep (I am told this is the lactate acid I am feeling in my muscles). Yes, these are particularly unpleasant to perform and…well, I just don’t like them very much!

No matter…if I want to get better, increase endurance, and insure that I finish 90 miles in a respectable amount of time then I will hammer these bad boys out when needed. From my research, I am told that as I progress I will be able to increase the numbers of repeats and as well as the lengths of my intervals. Additionally, I read where it is common for cyclists to do these intervals for up to 10 minutes (OMG-I can’t imagine going for this amount of time!). And another benefit? I will be able to increase my lactate tolerance!

All kidding aside…if this is what it takes, well then I am going to do it.