Best ride so far...

Today's training included a bike ride and weights. I wasn't sure when I would do them, but it turned out they would be after dinner at 7 p.m.

It was a great night for a bike ride. There were perfect conditions: it was warm, 32 C, and the sun was going down, so it wasn't too hot, and there was no wind. 

For the first time, I did one of my old routes—a loop, not an out-and-back. I didn't care if it would take longer than the one-hour scheduled because I'm not running until my calf heals, and putting more time on the bike at least makes up for the runs from a cardio standpoint. 

On the one hand, tonight, I didn't want to go on a ride; I was a bit brain-dead from work. Yet, on the other hand, I knew if I did go for a ride, it would clear my head and put me in a completely different, chill reality, which it did.

I averaged 25.5 kph on the ride for just over an hour. That's a major win. I think I started at averaging 22 kph. Also, for the first time, I didn't have a sore neck during or after the ride. In fact, for the first time, I thought I might be able to get into the aero position for a short period. I still have a fat gut that gets in the way. 

As I rode, I thought that if I could just lose 6 lbs per month, that should be doable. I came up with that number because I figured that when I was gaining weight, I was gaining about 6 lbs per month. Over a 6-month period, I gained 38 lbs, which is nearly 6 lbs per month. Although I need to ideally lose more before the half-Ironman in December. 

For the first time today, I got passed a few times. A couple were individual riders, and the rest, according to their group jerseys, were a group from the Oakville Cycling Club. As they all passed, I was thinking how that wouldn't have happened back 14 years ago. All I could think about was that as they passed me, they must have thought, "Wow, look at that fat guy on an old Cervelo triathlon bike." 

After the ride, I immediately had my protein shake and went downstairs to do some weight lifting. I really didn't want to, but I forced myself. The idea is not to think about it, just do it. I definitely pushed it this time and wonder if my upper body is going to be sore tomorrow. I think I may need to start doing it by body part, one day upper body and, the next day, lower body. 

Bike - 1:03:10 - 26.80 km / 25.5 km/h pace

Weights - 26:05