This is kind of funny. Now that the cycling season is winding down, I’m getting really excited about racing again. I’ve had some really good rides lately and am enjoying my time on the bike. I’ve also had too much free time to watch racing and look at new gear. This is a good sign though… already being excited about it before I’ve started prepping for the new season makes me confident that I will have the same eagerness come April.

In other news, my precious Vittoria shoes are on their last legs. They’ve served me well for about 3 years but they’ve stretched and are wearing through. I’m not quite sure what I want to get, as I’ve never really been shopping for them before. That is, I got my first shoes when I was a complete newbie and didn’t really know what I was doing. We’ll have to see… I don’t want to downgrade so I’ll be looking for a carbon sole. Maybe Sidis? I don’t know.

Also, I’m working on getting my eating habits back on track. I’ve been avoiding fast food and I’ve been baking a weeks worth of chicken on the weekends so that I have healthy food available when I’m busy. My weight is in a good place (~130lbs), I’ve been getting lots of sleep, and I’ve got lots of energy. Overall, things are going very well.

I’m excited!

I put in 30 miles yesterday and 20 today.  I just didn’t feel like going the extra distance today but I may make up for it tomorrow.  Regardless, I am doing a lot better than I did last year.  I didn’t start my serious base work until October, and that was only about 20 miles per day.  I hope to do the same 20 mile ride with the team every day in October just because it’s lots of fun, but I will most likely add a few of my own miles on.

Anyway, my appetite is actually what has been on my mind the most.  I can’t stop eating. I am constantly hungry and I’m just not the type of person who can ignore it.  I will eat until I’m satisfied because I figure it’s what my body needs.  I guess it’s not an effective way to achieve my goal of weighing 130lbs come race season, but oh well.  I think that being healthy and always having enough fuel for my rides is more important than the advantage I would get from 4 fewer pounds.  Anyway, I’m hoping that over the course of the next few months I will very slowly lose the weight just through the increases in my workout volume.  It has worked in the past, so we’ll see.  I just don’t think ignoring hunger is healthy :o)