Beachgrad05

In preparation for doing the MS ride in a few weeks, I have been trying to get a "metric" in on the MUP near my home.

First attempt was cut short due to excessive heat and hydration issues. I called my husband to come and get me with only 31 miles done. First time I have done that.

Second attempt was last Sunday and once again heat played a role in cutting the ride short but also severe hip and lower back pain (I have early stage lumbar spinal stenosis plus mild hip arthritis - and a torn labrum in the left hip). I made it all the way to the Santa Fe Dam and met Omar the "Gatorade Guy" but the ride back south was extremely painful and I cut the ride short instead of going all the way to the beach so only managed about 46 miles.

So yesterday I got started a bit earlier in the day (left the house about 9:15am).



I made it this time but it was not an "easy" ride.

https://connect.garmin.com/activity/230655360

What was my issue? or issues? Think nutrition or lack thereof played a role. My diet on Friday (day before) was not so hot. I went to the movies (saw Looper) and had plain popcorn during movie along with diet coke. I had a massage after seeing the movie. We went to dinner and I had a reuben sandwich and some fries for dinner. Pretty much that was the extent of my eating on Friday. So not exactly building up stores of energy. I did drink my usual ton of water tho.

I am hypothyroid and I am suppose to wait for an hour to eat anything after taking my medication to make sure it gets absorbed properly. So I got up and took my meds, drank water and went about getting things ready. I ate a Clif Bar and took some anti-inflammatory meds and a stronger pain killer pre-ride as well as did stretching. Then I headed out. Felt pretty good. It was not super hot and my legs felt decent.

Got to the dam at Pico Rivera Golf Course...and drank some of my NUUN infused water and did some more stretching. Figuring "head off any potential issues".


So headed off north toward the Santa Fe Dam and was doing pretty well....or so I thought. Then started hitting those short climbs periodically. And it felt like I just lost energy and my breath. So I stopped about 21 miles into the ride and a few miles from the dam. I felt dizzy and close to passing out. I ate one of my gels and some Welch's fruit snacks.

I got myself back on the bike and continued on to the spot where Omar sells Gatorade etc. I got a coke from him and drank that. After a short rest, I headed back south. Felt stronger and my pace was pretty strong. Got back to the dam by the Golf Course...ate one of my Clif Bloks (margarita flavored) and drank more of my enhanced water. Continued south after some stretching....

I had to stop at Santa Fe Springs Park to stretch more as my hip was really starting to bother me on top of the obvious hunger issue. Stopped once more near Imperial Hwy and ate another Clif Shot Turbo gel and drank more.

Got to Del Amo and headed over to the 7-11 and got myself 2 Gatorades, 2 bananas and a sandwich. Ate both bananas and the sandwich and put the Gatorade in the empty empty bottles. Got back over to the MUP and continued south.

By this time it is past 1:30pm and the wind had picked up coming inland from the beach. So I gutted out getting to Seal Beach. Took a break there:


Finally felt recovered enough to head back north and home. The ride back north was much better and that tail wind was much appreciated. (this is why I go NORTH first on my long rides as this way I most likely will have a tail wind headed home and not be fighting a headwind when I am tired).

Made it home and despite it not being excessively hot, I was sweating pretty heavily and was still feeling a bit faint/dizzy.

I am proud being able to gut out the ten miles or so to the beach fighting the headwind when I was not exactly in top form.

I usually don't eat all the ride nutrition I bring but yesterday I did plus stopping to eat mid-ride. Valuable lesson learned that I need to eat much better leading up to a long ride. At least I hope that was my problem....

Mr. Beanz

Wow nice ride! I'm pretty sure your pre night goodies were not helping any. Beign the eater that I am, I always eat a good meal the night before and no goodies. I eat a good spaghetti dinner for some carbs. I DO NOT eat any goodies or rich foods like filet mignon. I've had too many experiences feelignliek snot ona ride afer a night of rich foods and goodies so I know better now.

Plus I start hydratign the day before, lot so of water and some gatorade mixed in. Not too much or one gets stomach problems, but plenty of fluids. DON'T try to hydrate ON THE RIDE, that too late IMO.

And I eat a good breakfast before the ride as well.

Way toi go on the ride. You learn from your mistakes and learn what works for you.

BTW, you're looking much freakin' thinner! Nice job!

TrojanHorse

Meanwhile, LMAO at your tan lines... Heck, who cares what I think, I'm no paragon of style myself.

Nice ride! I think I still figure "stuff" out every time I hit the road for a long ride. My chiropractor (I get a nice 30 min. massage right before) said to NOT get a massage the day before a big event. No idea why.

As for eating, heavy, fatty foods stay with you a lot longer but I'd imagine they'd be done by the time you left in the AM. I usually go with something lighter like pasta. It sounds like you drink plenty of water already anyway, so that's probably not an issue.

Then of course, some days you just feel better than others and who knows why?

Well done!

tergal

I was told it was because you may do damage to the soft tissue that was just worked on due to it being a bit tender and prone to a sprain or pull. Unsure how exact that is .


Nice ride Beachgrad

goldfinch

Nice job and you are looking fine!

Beachgrad05

I laugh at them too. Haven't had a sleeveless jersey til this one. Wanted jersey with pink to wear....to honor my mom for breast cancer awareness month. This was what I found and $19 made wearing with the cycling tan on my arms worth it.

lenny866

Way to go!!Good job!!

TrojanHorse

Yeah, it'll self correct in a month or so.

Dad 2 3

Good job!!

mprelaw

Good job. Congratulations

I noticed something yesterday. My normal breakfast is carb-heavy, with the only protein coming from the milk that I put in my whole grain cereal. It's basically all I have time for during the week. Yesterday, chaapa made an egg dish and fried some bacon for our breakfast, which I ate along with half a bagel about an hour before going out on my club's group ride. I normally have to eat something after 30-40 miles on any long ride. Yesterday, I did the whole 50 miler feeling very strong for the whole ride, without ever feeling the need to eat.

Esteban58

Rumor has it that getting enough protein will do that for you... (I'm certainly no nutritionist). I pretty much bonked at the end of my ride saturday, and that was on no breakfast - I don't think I'll try that again.