I am not doing Sufferfest 2.  I am not doing it because I am going to a friend’s wedding and accompanying a choral concert that day.  Part of me is sad (really!) because I do miss having a goal for which to train.  The bigger part of me, though, is relieved (and by “bigger,” I mean my rear end), as Sufferfest is really really hard.

That said, I have a new goal!  My SAT (“self-appointed trainer” for you new readers) and I were brainstorming ideas for an EPIC challenge, something CRAZY and DIFFICULT that would force us and inspire us to get off of our butts and get more active.  Strangely enough, we both agreed on the same idea: riding our bikes to Yuma.  From Phoenix.  In one day.  That distance is just under 200 miles (322 km) and should be possible with the right training and attitude.  After all, I do have experience riding long distances (remember why I started this blog?) and following a training plan.  I think the funny part of this new challenge is that we will be heading to the same city in which my double century occurred and will be attempting close to the same number of miles.  Why Yuma again?  Well, my parents are retired and like to spend the winter in Yuma (the alternative is spending the winter in their native Canada….cold temperatures do not agree with my folks).  We thought we would cycle to Yuma and spend Thanksgiving weekend with them, then cycle back home.  [Author’s note: I have not yet told my parents of this plan, as nothing is definite.  However, since my mother subscribes to this blog, I am wondering how long it will take her to contact me about this cycling idea after reading this post.]

I am praying that the temperatures in Phoenix will continue to cool down soon so that my SAT and I will have the motivation and desire to get outside and train.  I won’t have a chance to start training until after the weekend, as I will be taking a little trip to Greer, AZ with some friends (update on that next week). I plan on enjoying my last weekend of pain-free living!