“At every step he found his former dreams disappointed, and new, unexpected surprises of happiness.” Anna Karenina, L. Tolstoy
Monday:
Day after the Sunday’s cycling session during which I travelled 32.4 kilometres doing loops around Hyde Park, I feel surprisingly fine. When I dismounted the bike after the session, my legs felt so weak, I fully expected that today (Monday) I would not be able to walk at all. I thought my legs would just be dead from pain. Surprisingly, however, my legs are fine. I can feel effects of doing exercise, there are certainly signs of fatigue, but that’s about as far as that goes. What I’m most certain of, though, is that it would be impossible for me today to complete another training session like yesterday. Or any cycling session at all. In fact doing the 14k steps walk today, towards the back end of the day, I could feel the pressure on the thigh-muscles increasing; making the walk increasingly uncomfortable. My legs need more rest.
Hmm, actually considering the level of fatigue I can feel in my legs now – at 10pm at night, I wonder whether the actual pain in my legs is yet to come, and I will only really feel the results of my stupidity tomorrow.
That my bum hurts, is not a surprise. Nearly three hours in a saddle without a proper break, those muscles and fats on the backside, just aren’t used to being tormented like that. But there is pain in places I didn’t expect: namely my forearms and should blades. Both are hurting considerably. This is an unexpected pain. I’ve been evaluating over the course of today why these parts of my body hurt – and there is one clear conclusion. Whilst riding I’ve been resting or supporting almost entire weight of my upper body on my arms. Putting pressure on my wrists. I did feel some discomfort yesterday, when cycling, specifically around my wrists, so perhaps this isn’t as much of a surprise. But that I should hurt my muscles along the entire length of my forearms, both front and back, was unexpected.
As to why my shoulders and shoulder blades hurt – I have no idea. I suspect this has something to do with my posture whilst riding, leaning over the handlebars and holding on to the steering wheel. Hopefully building up the stamina over the next few months will help to ease those pains. I am wondering, however, whether there is anything I can or should do, to adjust my position in the saddle.
There is another, unexpected twist to the tale, and that is, how hungry I’ve been ever since getting off the bicycle; that’s despite of me stuffing my face full of carbs yesterday and guzzling down a whole 750mls of an Innocent Smoothie. And today at work – I had a porridge, 2 bagels with sandwich filler, massive bowl of soup, 2 chocolate bars, countless cups of tea, big slice of wafer cake – despite all of that, I’m still feeling so very hungry.
Tuesday:
Somehow my legs are feeling more strained today than yesterday. I thought they would. Not quite painful, not quite like a pulled muscles, but definitely still feeling the fatigue. No way could I get on a bike today. And that’s the point, on the trip I’ll be expected to do 60 kms, and then get on a bike again next day for another 60 kms.
OMG what have I let myself in for!
Wednesday:
The pressure on my thighs seem to be easing; although I have a sneaky suspicion that pushing myself to complete my 8km walk each day this week, may not have been the brightest idea I’ve had. Whilst normally 8km walk is nothing, basically I’ve not given my legs any break at all and continued to exercise them; so the walking is very uncomfortable, especially towards the end of the day. I’m sure there is a reason why I’ve decided to do that, but for the life of me I can’t think of what it was.
The hunger has subsided, finally, and my weight (I gained 1.5kg after the cycling session – not due to any muscle build up, oh no! It’s due to the humongous amount of food I consumed since then), my weight is slowly returning to pre-exercise numbers. By Sunday morning – day scheduled for next crazy cycling session I’m expecting my weight to be back to normal – and my brain to have thought a little bit more carefully about I should put in my mouth, so I don’t end up regaining those 1.5kgs. I’m not going to starve myself, no chance – I love food too much. I just want to be careful not to eat massively more because of the exercise. A little more, yes – massively more, no!
Thursday:
Weight, keeps going back to what it should be /was. Legs – still feel the effects of exercise. I now have 2 more days left for my muscles to recover completely and not feel any residue from last Sunday, before I get on the bike again. The pain in my arms and shoulders has gone completely. The sorest part of me is still my bottom! Think I should get myself one of those gel seat covers to ease the pressure on the glutes.
At this point in time, my plan for the coming Sunday is to accomplish another 32.4 kms – no less. Definitely not less than last week. More would be great, but let’s just stick with same numbers. However, I’m considering doing it in 2, maybe 3 batches. Somehow 15kms feels a lot more achievable than 32.4kms straight out. And who knows maybe I’ll do a touch more than 32.4 that way.
Although, the way my brain is leaning right this minute, exercise of any kind feels abhorrent and I’m doubting whether I will have the discipline to do this, despite the fact that I need to.
Maybe I shouldn’t have booked that holiday. Perhaps they’ll let me switch the cash I paid, towards a more reasonable trip! Hmmm. ‘Where is your spirit of adventure?” I ask myself. “Left it somewhere along the cycling path in Hyde Park corner….”
- Days left: 375
- Weight: 90.1 kgs
- Distance travelled: 32.41 kms
- Total Distance travelled: 32.41 kms
- Stupidity Level: Out of this world
Hate To Exercise 