Happy to report I made it up the 3 mile hill. It actually wasn’t as bad as I feared it might be. Today we only did about 20 miles of riding. The rest of the days will be more. It’s beautiful here in Utah.
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Well done! I don’t bike much… but when I do, it’s usually only 6 or 7 miles… mostly flat. I’m really impressed with your trip plans! Have fun.
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sending energy your way
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H and I had our first pickleball lesson yesterday with D1 and our SIL. We all had a great time and have bought rackets and balls and are going to start playing each weekend!
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I’m back from vacation, headed back to pickleball tomorrow evening for a free skill/drills evening with the local club. (I consider the $49 class sessions in June and my $25 annual club dues a great deal… have met so many nice people along the way.)
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55 miles today. All except one guest rode the van for 14 miles.
Tomorrow will be a scary but beautiful day. Scary because we are riding on a road without guardrails, and if you go over, it’s a LONG way down. We will be riding in the van for some time tomorrow too.
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Started my ramp up. Moved my daily 1 hour of elliptical to 5AM before work. Still walking about 3.2 miles at lunch. Then 4 days a week a separate weight lifting at night.
I set a goal on 2/7/24 and really want to hit it in one years time. 36lbs to go as of last weigh in.
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Be safe 1214mom! I admire your spirit of adventure!!
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I found a very effective method to lose weight.
Get a root canal. 
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56.37 bike miles today, and 3190 feet of elevation gain. This was my “best” day of biking in recent history. It was tough, but I did it. Only 1 guy didn’t get in the van for 7 miles, but I did everything else. The other woman who did it all was on an e-bike. It was a beautiful ride. Southwest Utah is pretty amazing.
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Can you explain more about “the Van”? Is that an option if the ride is too much for you or is it sometimes a requirement if in areas where you can’t or arent r riding??
It’s both. They often shuttle us someplace to start the ride, or everyone gets in at the end to get shuttled back to hotel. The van driver lets you know where it will be stopped along the way, to get water refresh, snacks, you if you don’t feel like continuing… For example, yesterday almost everyone got into the van for a 7 mile hilly stretch, then got out and did the final 17 miles to the hotel. They load the bikes in or on the van too (electric go in, regular go on top).
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I could really use a rest day, but off I will go, at least for this morning’s ride. This is the hardest bike trip we’ve ever been on. I’m both impressed with myself and thinking maybe there’s something to be said for NOT working so hard on vacation. Actually, it’s been good, and it’s nice to push yourself when you know someone can usually come and get you if you really need it.
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Enjoy the day! How many more days of cycling?
I had my last PT session today originally prescribed for sciatic pain (likely) and a shoulder/arm issue. My sciatic is like 90+% resolved and the arm/shoulder continues to improve. I need to keep working on building up strength in that arm. Hope that over time I continue to make gains. I have a new outlook on the value of PT - I’ve never participated before and though at first sort of sceptical, ended up very pleased with my therapists, the facility, the process - all of it.
Continued homework of PT exercises a few times a week at home with a focus on stretching and weights. I’ll also continue (as I have been) with cardio and lots and lots of walking and the occasional short run.
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It’s Pickleball week for me 
After a few weeks off for vacation, I had a Mon night beginner drills evening session scheduled. So I decided to do an afternoon session practicing serves. (I was the only person at those courts… very nice since the wind was blowing the balls around.) At the session I agreed to be part of a Friday private lesson at an indoor public club. When the email came from pickleball classmates for Wed night playtime, I decided that would be fun too. Loving the social aspect of pickleball, including some younger players.
I did not play especially well on Mon night or Wed night. But I had a few compliments about my serves. Honestly at this point, my main goal is to just get my serves over the net and into the box. When alone I can do it 10 or 15 times in a row sometimes, once 20 times! Alas, my hit rate is not as good when out on the court for a real gams.
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Tomorrow is a hiking (non-cycling) day, and then Saturday morning we ride our bikes into Zion National Park before cars are allowed in. Then it’s over.
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Keep up the practice, and you will get better. I’m no expert, but have you been told you should do the “drop serve” instead of the “granny serve?” I was really getting pretty good at the granny serve, but my drills instructor said I should do the drop serve, and it took a fair amount of time to make the switch. I suggest you consider trying to switch earlier, if you’re doing the granny serve.
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I think I did about 30 miles of biking today. I skipped part of the ride, because it was on a busy highway, and I just didn’t want to deal with it. We rode into Zion National Park, and it was pretty spectacular. PLUS, we got to see the Aurora Borealis after dinner, something I’ve never seen and really wanted to.
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Thanks for the hint. I am not familiar with the term “granny serve”, but it sounds like it is the drop serve that I use (drop, bounce, Hit). At my Friday lesson I’ll ask for some coaching on possible use of volley serve.
One funny thing is how many of us beginners struggle throwing the ball back over the net to the server. “we throw like girls”. At drills, the instructor suggested tapping the ball over with paddle - made sense.