Hello. I'm someone who feels like they're dying after climbing Seohu Pass.
Just jotting something down after a long time! If you're busy, check out the 3-line (?) summary below ㅋ_ㅋ
5 AM in the early morning.
I wake up earlier than I do for work.
I watch the face of my baby, blissfully traveling through dreamland, making sure not to wake them,
then slip out of bed, gather my riding gear, and head out the door.
The early morning air is still cold.
Maybe it's the soju I drank the night before, but my legs feel quite heavy as I pedal.
With no one to draft off of, I keep grinding away alone on the heavy pedals.
The meetup spot, reached after an hour of riding.
While waiting for the group, someone recognizes me.
About 3 years ago? I unexpectedly ran into a younger rider I had ridden with before.
Immediately hit with a pregnancy joke the moment we met.
'Why is your belly so big?'
I had started noticing my belly had gotten noticeably bigger ever since putting on my jersey.
The abdominal compression felt different from before.
Today's course: Eastern 3 Passes, then Paldang TT
Number of rides this year: 2x / Accumulated mileage: 1000km ^^^^^
All I'd done was occasionally commute by bike and go out for a weekend ride two or three times.
I was worried about whether I, someone who only ever rides on flat roads, could make it over the eastern passes, but figured I'd get over them somehow, so I joined.
(If it gets too hard I can just walk my bike, oink oink)
The problem was that starting from Beot Pass, my thighs were threatening to cramp up.
I struggled my way over Beot Pass, and on the way to Seohu Pass I fell behind and lost the group.
Thankfully they slowed down and waited for me so I was able to catch up, but I got dropped again on the uphill.
We stopped at Nongbune for some water or something, then headed toward Myungdal-ri, which I really didn't want to go to.
Someone greeted me saying they used to ride with Bun-unni... but my only memory of Bun-unni is getting dropped and riding solo ^^^^^^^^
While grunting along at the camel hump section of Paldang TT, worried about losing the group, my thighs are singing a merry cramping song. (cramp-la-la)
I punched my thighs, somehow made it through the resupply stop, and made my way into Seoul.
Take it easy Screw taking it easy — the Han River Three-Sports Festival has cyclists and runners taking over the bike path.
I have no confidence I can push through that crowd.
I want to rest too.
The group says they're going to grab burgers.
I picture burgers and beer, my mouth watering, and board the subway.
Line 5 on the weekend was absolutely packed with people.
Standing in a corner, I transfer to Line 6, and only then can I breathe and sit down for a rest.
I picked up lunch to eat with my little garlic baby and came home.
Quenching my thirst with a cold adult milk, my blood alcohol level starts to recover.
I'd love to just crash and take a nap, but not a chance.
The day is only just beginning from here.
The pile of housework, childcare, and a walk still await me.
Ughhh.
The me who used to hate waking up early even in the middle of summer, sleep in, and go for a blazing noon ride around 12 ㅠㅠ
The me who always had a bit of a belly but could more or less (?) flatten it (?) out by squeezing it in with an inner layer and bibs ㅠㅜ
The me who, rather than do ab exercises, would rather go to a nearby restaurant, drink during the day, and call it a jump ㅠㅜ
The me who used to come home after riding, knock out for a nap, and then go out drinking in the evening ㅠㅠ
This is my life now orz
