Extreme Leg Pain

At the end of last year I participated in the Wonder Woman Century (100 mile bike ride). I had previously completed a number of centuries yet during this century my body seemed to fail me. It was a perfect day for riding, not too hot, and the course was great. By lunchtime, my face was CAKED with salt and my legs hurt so bad that it was all I could do to not cry. I finished the century...barely, with tears in my eyes.

After this experience I started to do some research about what had happened to me and why I did not feel good. The answer did not involve auto immune disorders or diseases of any kind. It turned out that I had vitamin deficiencies that were causing havoc in my body. Specifically, vitamin D.

As I learned more and talked to two sport nutritionists at my personal training conference, I found that up to 75% of people are vitamin D deficient. In order to absorb vitamin D you need calcium and in order to absorb calcium you need iron. My tests revealed that I was indeed low in iron, vitamin D and vitamin B.

I began taking vitamins prescribed by my doctor about 3 months ago. This cycling season I have completed 2 early centuries for the sole purpose of finding out if my body is feeling better. My report? No severe leg cramping or increased loss of salt. I feel strong and much more like my old self. Gone is the feeling of, "I just don't feel like myself." Having problems similar to these? Go get your levels checked and start taking the necessary vitamins...you will feel 100% better.

Be Fit!

Pick an Event

Now that we have worked on getting our fitness level up by increasing our cardio to 60 minutes 6 times a week, it is time to choose! And what fun it is. Chose what you ask? An event that will motivate you to train and continue exercising. An event that will challenge you and encourage you to push your limits.

Once we have signed up for an event, paid the money and made the commitment, it is a lot harder to back out.

This event may be your first 5K, a half marathon or even a marathon. It can be a bike ride. There are many women's only rides that consist of 30, 60 or 100 mile options. These types of rides are so much fun.

My favorites are the Little Red Riding Hood and the Wonder Woman rides in Utah. I am signing up for both rides as well as a new one...Goldilocks, that I have never ridden before. I only sign up for the 100 mile option because I hate paying for a shorter ride:) A couple of other fun events I am looking into are the Timp Trail Half Marathon, and the 5K Foam Fest. The options are endless....triathlons, duathlons, mountain bike events and a variety of mud runs. I am also signing up to do an adventure race in Moab. I have done an adventure race before and had such a great time!

Be brave. It is easy to let yourself think that we aren't good enough or that everyone is fitter than us, but the truth is that we are out doing something and no matter how slow we finish, we finish faster than the woman who didn't dare try:)

After choosing your event, sit down and put on paper your workout schedule. You will need one day of complete rest to recover.