Getting my hills back?????

I'd been wondering if something was up, because I'd been feeling tired in between my biking days. I mean, I'd have a list of things to do including shopping errands, dog walking, swimming, etc. Now often I do only half of a list like that because..... I get sidetracked, often by something completely legitimate -- or I spend a long time doing one thing. But for the last week or two I was just too tired, and didn't want to do any of it. I took naps and walked the dog, that's it. I wouldn't give up a biking day, but it was all I could do it make that happen.

Well I hope it's over, because it was starting to worry me. But then Em stayed home sick on Monday with a tummy thing, which she still has to some extent, but she's much better, and I realized that in addition to feeling tired I was also gassy. Now that's not always such an unusual thing for me -- but LATELy my digestion has been the best it's been in 20 years. I've been attributing it to the acupuncture. My yeast issue is also improved. I mean, after a long bike ride in spandex and a beer I don't feel anything threatening. My bike seat still irritates me in front (&I'm goign to get a new seat) but it doesn't feel like yeast is going to get in there and add to the problem. Anyway -- so I'm thinking that I was mildly sick. Hope that's all it was.

Yesterday was Beth's 55th birthday ride, 55 miles on 5/5. The start point of the original ride was moved, so it ended up being only 52 miles, with the option to ride around for a bit and finish it. (I may be compulsive about some things, but not that.) I'd been thinking I'd turn around early and ride 35-40 miles..... I had made an arrangement with a new rider to turn around with her, and had printed maps so I could find the way. Well I was lucky that there was aNOTHER rider who wanted to turn around early, because it turned out that I didn't! I couldn't believe it..... I had such a hard time a week ago on the 50 m training ride..... Was it all because of the wind?

Last Wed. the winds were 20-30 mph. The ride was out on the W&OD trail, with hardly any hills. I had a flat & changed it in Herndon, but I don't think I'd been riding on it for long. (There was construction on the trail, and my flat was a couple of miles after that -- and I pulled 2 new shiny & staple thick wires from my tire.) Anyway I turned around in Herndon along with most of the riders, so it was just a 33 mile ride -- and the same old usual 33 mile ride at that! (We ride to Herndon all the time.) But I was exhausted and wakeful that night (like from muscle overuse.) I was sure I wouldn't be able to do the 55 miler to CLifton, which is very hilly.

But I did, and it was not hard. There were maybe 2 hard hills on the way out (almost to CLifton) and a few more on the way back. People passed me going up hills, but sometimes I passed people too, going up.

Maybe the tiredness in between biking days was slowing me down on the bike too -- must have been. Lucky timing for me. OH and also, about yesterday's ride...... no wind, PERfect weather, and just pretty much a blessed day.