In the meantime, Brian and I got a chance to go back out on Sunday. This time we were easier on me and went to Wilderness Park to do the full loop. Grandma came over and we headed out. My first inclination of what I have in store for me in getting back into the groove was when I went to clip my camelbak at the same setting it was the last time I put it on, 15 months ago. It was just a little tight. OK fine, I could barely get it to snap on both the top around my chest and the bottom around my waist. I made Brian take a pic of me squeezed into the same setup as the old days as motivation to get back there, but no one else will ever lay eyes on that photo. So then I loosened up the straps, buckled in, hopped on the ol Mamba and off we went. The first 5 miles were pretty awesome. We went through some mud and I got to get dirty. My left foot was covered in mud and I thought "I can't wait to get a pic, this is awesome!!" Then the next 5 miles were more mud. And more. We made it to about mile 10 before the storm hit and I got exhausted. It was a "12 mile loop" Brian swore to me, so I toughed it out and paced myself for 12 miles. Then we were at 12.5, then 13, then 13.5, WTHHHH? It was pouring so hard I could barely see. Any mud I once proudly wore was long washed off and I could have left the camelbak behind because I was sucking in so much rain water. I was worried about my phone getting ruined in my camelbak, but that minor worry was soon replaced with fear of death by lightning as the cracks of thunder were directly over our heads for a short time. I wanted to walk my bike through some of the mud but the water was about 3 inches deep and I felt safer on the bike because at least the rubber tires grounded me a little better. So I popped in in lowest gramma gear and plugged away. The good news was that the 3 inches of water sitting on the sugar sand made that part of the ride a piece of cake and the easiest part of our whole day. I definitely felt the 25 extra pounds I'm carrying from last time I rode that loop. But it was still super awesome to get out and feel free again. I didn't start missing my baby girl like crazy until around mile 11. Brian was awesome as my lead for the ride. We decided I was comfortable at around 9 mph and he stuck to my comfort level. A couple times I told him it was cool it he broke out for a bit or tagged off with some guys who passed us as long as he just waited for me at the road, but he stayed with me and warned me of each deep patch of mud, and keep up my spirits with jokes like "are your feet wet?" Even at the end when I as exhausted and barely pedaling he still stayed with me.
The last .5 miles are on the pavement back to the parking area and the rain had finally stopped. Everything was so fresh and green and the air didn't feel so hot on our wet clothes. I felt so accomplished (even if my quads were unbelievably sore and tight). I can't wait to do it again.
This was our loop.
This is him cleaning off our bikes
And this is me afterwards.
I'm only showing this pic because in another 15 months I'll show one where I'm 25 pounds lighter and muuuuch less tired. (with much smaller milk jugs).
