Some help with these hills, please!

A New View

Angela Connor is Managing Editor for User-Generated Content at CBC New Media. She recently relocated to the Triangle from South Florida with her husband and two young daughters. In this blog she shares the ups, downs and uncertainties that come along with making North Carolina her new home.

Posted: March 21, 2007

When I’m actively trying to lose weight, I ride my bike.
Bike riding is by far my favorite cardio workout because when I stick to it, I see results and I see them fast.
And since Florida is flat, I believed that I had pretty good endurance.
Five miles? Piece of cake.
Ten miles? Not a problem.

That was Florida.

THIS is North Carolina.

HOUSTON, we have a problem.

Fast forward to two nights ago when I finally got the nerve to ride my bike through my extremely hilly Holly Springs neighborhood.
The results were less than stellar.
After about 7 minutes, and just as many hills, I was unable to breathe, walk or talk.
My lungs were on fire and I thought my chest was going to explode. It took me at least ten minutes to recover.
So what did I do last night? I tried it again.
My husband told me to try a shorter distance or take a day off. I didn’t listen.
Needless to say, the results were the same.
Shortness of breath, fiery lungs, and inability to speak.
The upside is that it only took nine minutes to recover.

Okay you bike riders out there. What’s it going to take?
Should I give up now and just move on to the exercise bike, or should I keep trying.
Give it to me straight.
Can a girl who’s lived on the flatlands for the last 8 years, master the hills?

4 Comments

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Sometimes its OK to quit exercising and enjoy the secenery. If you slow down and enjoy the view you might be encouraged to go a little longer. Maybe talk to a neighbor and meet a friend. Walk for awhile(another form of exercise).Life does not always have to be conquered but sometimes can just be enjoyed.

NCRN
March 27, 2007 2:11 p.m.

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Actually the terrain here is not that hilly, minus a few here and there it's generally flat. Anywho good luck with the execrcise

seriousbusiness
March 22, 2007 3:36 p.m.

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I actually have those issues too. My only suggestion is to actually bike those hills often as this will help build up your body to tackle those hills. It will take time and plenty of sweat, but you will get there with strength eventualy. Even a stationary bike won't help you with that and who wants to stare at a wall for an hour anyway??? BTW, for some advice, try to use a lower gear and spin (otherwise, pedal faster) than to use a higher gear to grind your way to the top. It will be easier on your legs, though it will put more effort on your heart, which it needs anyway.

campagnollo
March 21, 2007 12:53 p.m.

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I had a similar problem with running here in the Tar heel state! I am a veteran of three marathons and several half marathons, and when I first moved here from Florida, the hills killed me! It took a about a month for my lungs to accept this new hilly environment. Keep peddling girl!