I really have to give my wife a lot of credit. Even though I am no longer able to run or speed walk due to running-related injuries, she devotedly continues with her Goofy Challenge training. Determined to complete both the half marathon and the full marathon this coming January in Walt Disney World, without me offering support by running and walking by her side as I've done the past six years, she faithfully laces up her running shoes and heads out the door for whatever distance run/walk is on her training schedule. Yesterday was a 16-mile training run.
Greeting us outdoors was near perfect running and biking weather. After Janet laced up her running shoes and I secured my biking shoes with Velcro straps, we began the journey Monday morning at 4:49 a.m.
Not able to run or walk because of run-related injuries, I was at least going to escort my wife on my Felt road bike the entire distance. Living in the city as we do, one never knows who or what lurks in the darkness of night. Or for that matter, who or what lurks in the light of day, especially in our neighborhood’s county park. Even decent neighborhoods such as ours have occasional drifters meander in and around parks and mall areas.
My wife began her usual routine of walking and running by starting out in our regional mall’s well-lit parking area. Our plan was to run/walk and bike in the mall’s secure parking area until day-break, at which time we would skedaddle across busy Flamingo Road into CB Smith Park. We did just that when my bike’s GPS indicated that I had ridden just under eleven miles. Jan was almost at mile marker six when we entered the massive county park.
Besides offering my wife added security, my job was to carry the Gatorade and water bottles on my road bike. Whenever she was in need of fluid, I'd ride close by and then hand her whichever drink she preferred at the time. After she would consume the amount that she wanted, I would then circle around her so that I could take the bottle from her hand. My wife likes the fact that she doesn’t have to tote a bottle and I like the fact that I can contribute towards her training.
Sitting in the bike’s saddle for nearly four hours, yesterday’s session was more of a buttocks workout for me than anything else. It doesn’t matter if I sat in a new Serfas cruiser saddle, four hours on any skinny bike seat will be rather uncomfortable.
Jan completed her walk/run routine in a conservative pace of 15.11 minutes per mile, or slightly slower than 4 mph. Her goal yesterday was to complete the training walk/run faster than what Disney allows, which is a pace of 16 minutes per mile.
Mission accomplished!
Robert's GPS: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/446050
Janet’s GPS: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/128669663
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