The Aprẻs Training Routine........

In my presentation yesterday, I asked our congregation to offer words of encouragement to us as cyclists, even if they told me I was crazy, I would listen to them and hope to prove them wrong at the end of next summer. Now, some did come up to me and express that view....but that's alright....

Today's training went well considering we had a dump of snow yesterday. First of all I had a stress test done this morning at my doctor's urging. He just wanted to make sure I would be able to take the stress? of the cycling. I passed that. Then after lunch today, my personal trainer, Joe, suggested we do the stairs. We drove to Chedoke Golf Course where we start the first set of stairs - because of the open grid no snow accumulates directly on the stairs so that's not a problem doing them in winter. We did them twice and then decided it wasn't wise to walk to the Dundurn stairs because of the ice on top of the snow. Drove over and did those stairs twice as well. The temperature is -2 with quite a strong wind blowing so we decide the best thing now is to have a sit in the backyard hot tub with a cold one and a plate of crackers and sardines. Sure tastes good after the strenuous exercise! This alone makes you want to keep on training.

The Training's Started

It's 8 months before I join the tour - less seven months before the first cyclists arrive in Seattle for the beginning of the cross country bike tour. They will be exciting months....training, fundraising, and more training.

Sunday, December 2nd, was kick off Sunday at Bethel CRC - my home church. Too bad the weather was not in our favour - many couldn't make it through the snow so the sanctuary was less than 1/2 full - the video was shown and Hilena, a fellow cyclist and myself did our presentation to the congregation - officially our/my fundraising has started. Now to get the word out to others...

The snowfall has stopped all outdoor cycling for now - spin classes at the local "Y" three times a week and setting up my bike on a stand will have to do until we head south in January for some outdoor riding again. Living so close to the Niagara Escarpment gives me an excellent opportunity to climb the 289 steps up, come down, go up again, come down the Chedoke steps, walk for 1.5 km to the next set of steps at Dundurn Street, do the same there - only it's 326 steps here, walk back to the vehicle and go home to rest up for another round at it two days later. This has become my weekly routine and I can always count on Joe, my faithful husband, to join me each time. The snow shouldn't stop us from doing this routine.