Day 2 Familiar Territory, And Always Beautiful!

Day 2 of my Fuller Center for Housing Bike Adventure took me to the very familiar Boise Greenbelt.  I have run this greenbelt for 2 marathons, 2 half marathons and 1 10K.  I have ridden my bike countless miles on this greenbelt.  I know it like the back of my hand, yet every time I get to play on it, my eyes are filled with wonder and there are always new faces to greet with a smile!

Today is Tuesday and I have a weekly Weight Watcher's weigh in at 11:45.  Granted, sometimes I skip it for important things like a lunch ride with Kurt Schneider. *laugh*  But today I REALLY wanted to go to the weigh in.  So my alarm clock went off at 4:15 and I was on the Greenbelt by 5:15 and it was still dark (but the sun was quickly rising).  With lights on my bike turned on and my own head lamp going, I set off in the dark.

I thought my legs were feeling great until I started riding.  I'm pretty sure they hated me.  And my saddle..we won't even discuss it.  Have I ever mentioned how BUMPY that greenbelt can be???  Ouchies!!!  By the end of 400 miles, I may have permanent damage!  I'm not entirely certain how the summer riders will ride every day for 9 weeks  (Okay, they get rest days...but still!)

My goal today was 40 but then I figured I would just do 50 instead.  It was easy enough.  The first 27 or so were slower than I would have liked 5:30 miles.  I just felt like I was dragging.  My legs were having NONE of it today...well that and I had to avoid the bumps.  Ouch!  Then I happened to ride by a peak that I ALWAYS ride by and never think twice about it.  But today, I rode by it and said, "Hey!  I just summited that peak on Saturday!"  3500 foot elevation gain and it was a relentless up hill climb.  And I thought, "Martha, if you can do THAT, you can do a measly 50 miles on this flat greenbelt!  I just kept peddling.

After my rest break at Sandy Point Beach, my legs were feeling warmed up and ready to rock and even my saddle was finally deciding to shut up and get with the program!  The remainder of the 50 miles was a breeze!  I even got the pace down to 5:01 until the very end where it changed to 5:03. Grrr.    That is okay.  I got to see the Giraffe today over the wall at the zoo and watch as a woman who is just visiting the area smile the biggest smile of joy when she saw him too.  She was so excited.  Yup, Boise, is just that amazing!  In case you want to see them... about 10:30 every morning, just head out to Julia Davis Park and head to the Giraffe habitat and there they will be!  And they are not camera shy!


So ya.. I finished in plenty of time to get home, shower and get to my WW meeting.  But more importantly, I am down 120 miles of the 400!  Only 280 more miles to go!  I got this!