age, rank and serial number

 How do i know i'm hooked?  It's a beautiful Fall day in Boulder, CO and after going out for a 3 hour bike ride, eating and napping - I am now spending my afternoon reading all the wonderful blogs written by women that love this sport.   

Maybe I should be doing something more productive??? nah - this seems just fine to me.  :)

A common thread amongst the blogs is these ladies talking about age and weight.  Usually subjects that women don't like talking about but these girls talk about all aspects and it's very inspiring.


In mtn biking - age and weight are often discussed.  Age because it determines which race category you are put in.  Weight because it's all about power-to-weight ratio for climbing.  In Colorado - climbing is King.  And the difference of 3 or 4 pounds (on your body or bike) can easily be the difference of getting on the podium or being 'mid-pack' fodder.


My Age
I was born in 1961.  In a few weeks I will be 49 years old.  That means next year I will be 50 years old(how in the F did that happen?!?)   

I feel very lucky to live in a place where it is easy to be fit.   Most of my mtn biking friends are in their 30s - so I work hard on my skills and fitness to be able to hang with the best of them...

Typically when doing a group ride (or like last week's race) I'm the oldest person riding/racing.    I'm used to that.   I suspect that will probably be the case for me in this sport - i'm just glad it's the norm  ;)

Rank (weight)
As  I said - weight is very important in mtn biking.  I'm 4'10" 110lbs.  To put this in perspective I am the height of an average 5th grade student.  My girlfriend's that think they are short at 5'2" have a whopping 4" on me.  

Usually during the race season May - Sept - I weigh 105lbs.   During the off-season - I'll usually gain ~5 or 6 lbs(110-111) and then as the riding ramps up - the weight comes off.  I like myself at my racing weight - I *thought* it was a good weight that let me keep my power for all those techy bits but is light enough for me to climb well. 
  

But with that said - this season - I was never able to get under 110.   it was very upsetting and frustrating to see that number on the scale and never reach my typical racing weight.  I knew I was burning a ton of calories on the types of rides I was doing but I never got below 110.   

However, the funny thing was - I had my BEST racing season ever.  Beating girls that had always beaten me in the past.   

I joked with all my friends telling them - "I got older, fatter and faster"

It's also has me looking at that number in a different light.  Yeah - I don't have ripped 6 pack abs but maybe 105 was too small for me.   I have a short stocky build.  My legs respond very well to exercise and I easily gain muscle in my butt and legs.   my upper body - not so much.   So maybe 110 is a good racing weight of me?

Maybe in the past - I've been "forcing" myself into my ideal weight and in the process - diminishing my physical ability.    


Based on what I've been reading on the net - I wonder if that happens to women in jiu jitsu.  Cutting weight but losing - strength and power??   

Serial Number
Other stuff  - I'm a software engineer for a company that specializes in hospital software. ( my job is awesome)

I have a 29 year old son that lives in NYC - he has grown up into a fine, young man.  I'm very proud of him.

ricky - somewhere in the East Village, NYC

 

I'm not married but have a wonderful boyfriend.   We have been together 8 years.  I'm hoping he'll eventually start jiu jitsu. (right now he's recovering from a broken ankle - he was playing ice hockey when that happened)

dave and i - after a couple margs ;)

celebrating my 48th birthday last year

I feel very fortunate I found this sport and am looking forward to learning it and having it teach me more about myself.