Late Saturday afternoon, I got a text from one of my doctors I call on that cycles asking if I wanted to go on a 45-50 mile ride on Sunday and bring some of my Tri Unify buddies.
I posted it up to our FB page and I got one response from Becca that she would join us.
I didn’t put too much planning into my ride – AS IN A NUTRITION PLAN- since I was busy having a date night with The Prince and just pulled some stuff together when I got home – AT MIDNIGHT – threw it in my bag, set the clock for 5am and went to bed.
I got up, grabbed a yogurt & some granola to eat on the way (didn’t want to be late), grabbed 2 bottles electrolyte drink, the frozen coconut water I had in my freezer, an apple, some potato wedges and figured I had some gels/bars in my Tri bag.
MmmmHmmm.
I was fine the first 30 miles and then…and then my casualness about my nutrition plan on a long ride tagged my ass AND HARD. I literally fell asleep on my bike (or dozed off) and when I mentioned to Dr.W that I was feeling odd, sleepy and a tad shaky he pulled us off for a stop and I practically fell off my bike. I had the shakes like you wouldn’t believe. I was hypoglycemic and probably volume depleted.
JUST DUMB!
We got some fluids in me and I ate what I thought I could keep down, which wasn’t much. A protein bar that made me gag after 2 bites and what ever I had left – 1 energy gel. We were 10-15 miles out from the car with one BIG A HILL at the 5 miles left mark.
I gave it a good ole try and made it another 10 miles, but just as we started to climb that last hill…I WAS DONE. I was disoriented and just couldn’t pedal anymore. Becca stayed with me to walk up the hill and we sent the guys on ahead to the top.
I KNOW BETTER. JUST DUMB!
As we were walking up that hill – which the top seemed to get farther away with each step – God answered prayers when a car with a 4 bike rack on it pulled over. Two ladies got out and started walking down the hill to check to see if we needed assistance.
YES WE DID! Well, YES I DID…and I cried for joy…I cried over my stupidity…I cried because I didn’t want to hear TheFireMarshall’s mouth…OR MY COACH (they both let me have it too!)…I cried because I love this sport – where there is a camaraderie – a KNOWING of the trials & tribulations – where people help, advise, cheer & render assistance…I cried.
Barb & Karen – THANK YOU! You saved me and resorted my belief that people are decent & kind. You pulled me off that road, fed me and gave me a ride back to my car when I didn’t know how in the world I was going to make it 2 more steps let alone 5 more miles. I mad that we didn’t take a picture.
Barb & Karen – THANK YOU!
Lesson Learned – Plan to Train, Race the Plan. Take the time out to eat & follow my nutrition plan. DO IT…or be VERY SORRY FOR IT…(DNF, crash and/or get hurt – bad)
See…When you don’t follow your nutrition plan on a long ride, you get hypoglycemic. When you get hypoglycemic, you get disoriented & shaky on your bike. When you get disoriented & shaky on your bike, you cycle into a tractor trailer.
DON’T CYCLE INTO A TRACTOR TRAILER.
Just Sayin’
