Beginning Training
Well I have done it, I have made the switch back to a road bike. I have been riding a recumbent (where you sit down with your feet in front of you) for over a decade. It is such a nice ride, but I wanted to be back on a normal bike. So that means my back is getting so much better. I am actually recovering from L4 and L5 being degenerative. I did Vax-D to decompress those discs and now I am strengthening all of my core muscles and I am doing well!! That has been one of my personal goals in doing AIDS rides since the beginning and I am thrilled to be accomplishing it.
To strengthen my body I have been doing P90X (http://beachbody.com). Either you know how intense that one is, or you are wondering, what is that??? It is an intense workout program designed to last 90 days. I am now on day 33 and oh my. I have been sore almost every day and it is wonderful ;).
I have also been on two good rides (for me so far) on my new bike of about 20 miles each. A nice start to my training.

by Gwen Bettwy on Fri, Apr 17, 2009 @ 9:09 AM

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And ths journey begins
I am officially registered for the Red Ribbon Ride. I am proud of myself for stepping up and riding again. I am scared that I wont adequately train. I am honored that you would take the time to read this. I am thankful for my health when so many are battling HIV and AIDS in the US and around the world.
My last ride like this was in 2000 when I rode to raise money for a vaccine for HIV/AIDS. We chose to go to the 'ends of the earth' for that ride. So we rode from Fairbanks to Anchorage across two mountain ranges and 450 miles.
I am happy to know that I dont have any mountain ranges to cross on this ride, but I am also aware that riding 300+ miles is still going to be work.
So why? Why ride? My simplest answer is that I ride because I can. But the truth is that it goes so much deeper. I ride for those who cant. I ride to push myself to and through another limit that I have, for some illogical reason, placed on myself. I ride because I want to help raise money for those living with this disease, but I feel that I should work for your hard earned money that I am asking you for.
I have only been back on my bicycle a few times since I got off of it in Anchorage. I have been riding a recumbent for years since I have two degenerative discs in my lower back. My hope this year is to return to an upright bike. I love riding my 'bent' but at the same time I wish to strengthen my muscles to support my back. If I can ride an upright bike then I will have succeeded.
So training for the past few weeks has been intense core muscle strengthening. It is going well and I am happy to say that it looks like I will be able to choose which bike I really want to ride this summer!
So back to training for me ;)
Thank you for all of your support!

by Gwen Bettwy on Wed, Feb 04, 2009 @ 6:21 PM

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