Baby on wheels

So I went for a bike ride on Monday night, 20 miles, and it was really really hard. I spent the first 10 miles pretty depressed, mentally beating myself up over how I was just a fool for even trying and it was ridiculous for me to even consider Ragbrai. But the return trip was much better, as my legs loosened up and I rediscovered some muscles (a few). I figured I'd better go again tonight, just to see if was still awful, and it was really pretty good. It's incredible to think I'm carrying 20 lbs more than I was a year ago at this time, so I'm clearly not going to try to push myself as hard as I was last year. That would be stupid! But I feel like I'm able to gauge how hard my body is working, and push a little, but still feel comfortable going for a long ways. This might work after all. I think a big difference tonight was that it was a lot cooler than Monday. I hadn't been considering the weather to be a major factor in how much I bike of Ragbrai (other than wind) but if it's super hot it's probably not going to work out, no matter how much I've prepared. :(

It's also getting quite crowded on my bike, and I'm doing my best to not pedal knees-out like an old fat man. I've noticed in the last two weeks that I've really picked up the pace of weight gain, and although I'm eating mostly healthy foods, I'm eating a lot!! My stomach is so cramped for space that it can't tell me when it's empty, and instead my body responds with a low bloodsugar shakiness that actually comes on pretty quickly. So I have to eat more frequently, which means I eat lots more, unless I plan carefully. *sigh*. I've stashed some snacks at work, and I'm being more careful to make time to eat during the day. I think it was Tuesday that I carried a banana around with me for almost an hour before I had a free minute (and clean hands) to sit and eat it. And as soon as I sit down - my belly comes to life!! I can actually watch all the activity, and I found myself being self-conscious of all the motion during a meeting the other day. That's silly, I know, but it really does feel like an incredible amount of motion from inside.

I'm pretty tired tonight, after being run ragged for yet another day at work. It's not the biking - it's running around the plant for 9 hours a day that wears me out. The pace that I have to go at in order to keep up is incredible - I think I would be tired if I weren't pregnant, too!

And I miss my hubby. He called today and he's feeling good about the trip, and that it has been worthwhile for his career, on many fronts. And I know how much he loves German-speaking countries so he's having a nice time. I am too, actually, but it'll be great to have him back.

Goodnight, all.