Today was a first. I biked 76 miles and then ran 4.5. It was a great day and I felt amazing!
I was up at 5:40 so I could hit the road by my standard 7am. This allows me to make it to Del Mar by 8am to meet the San Diego Triathlon Club. They have a group ride that starts at the local Starbucks. You can choose several distances. I usually just stay the coast and do my own thing, but I like to start with the club because every week I meet someone new.
Last week I was fortunate enough to meet a nice couple, Kebby and Reggie. They also just moved to San Diego a little over a month ago. They're from the Atlanta area and are training for Ironman Arizona. How much better could things get? I gabbed with Kebby for about an hour which is where my turn-around point was last week. She and Reggie continued on making their way up the coast. We had a wonderful time when we were together and talked about getting training together some too.
This week, I was hoping to see them again, but no such luck. Oh well. Instead I biked with 4 others up into Carlsbad (about 15 ish miles N. of Del Mar). There, I bid them farewell and continued my trek north and into Camp Pendelton. At last, I hit the halfway point and I turned around flying down the final hill I just climbed. I love the downhills and am learning to embrace the ups too. They build character and make you stronger; I guess that's what it's all about.
As I was nearing the halfway point, the winds started to pick up. This made the ride back challenging at times. Along the coast there are cars parked. These cars provide a little bit of a wind break, but between every car, the wind pushes you. So as you are whizzing along, the cross wind comes and goes and adds an interesting element to cycling. I was happy to finish my coastal miles and head back inland without kissing the pavement as I thought I might.
The final miles from the coast are uphill as I mentioned in my previous post. Each time I ride though the hills get a little easier and I am less frustrated. This in itself is an accomplishment. This week was the first week that I have been well fueled. The other day I stopped in and bought a container of Sustained Energy. It rocks! I use about 5 scoops per water bottle. I sip on the bottle every 15 minutes, and one bottle lasts about 2.5 hours. For Ironman, I'll take 3 bottles. Today, I took only 2. I also consumed almost 3 other bottles of just water.
By the end of my ride, I still felt really good. I could feel my legs were tired, but there was no time to stop. I got off my bike, put it in the garage, changed shoes, took off one layer and was off and running. I ran about 4.5 miles and felt great. I could have kept running, but I wanted to save some energy for Sunday's scheduled 10 mile run. Now that today is Sunday, 10 miles seems like a long way on the hills around here when I'm feeling as tired as I am, but hopefully by the afternoon I'll be feeling a little better and will pound a few out.
So all in all, I'm feeling pretty good about my race. Should I? Most people think I'm crazy to even consider doing this race with my lack of preparation, but I feel strong and fit and have a few more weeks to iron out any kinks for race day. I wasn't ready for my half-iron either and I thought the race went very well. We'll hope things go really well for this one too. Then, I'm going to take a little time off and not worry about training. I'll probably do a couple of races this summer and call it done for the season; we'll see. I would like to get to the track and do some track work-outs with the tri-club. I need lots of work on my running. I still think that's my biggest weakness and this year, I'm going to change that!
Today I went farther than I have ever gone before on the bike. When you add my running, it's still the farthest I've gone in a single day by 10 miles. Next week I will go farther...farther on the bike, and a few extra on the run.
On my lucky day, race day, I will swim farther than I've ever swam, I will bike farther than I've ever biked and run as far as I've ever run. It promises to be a day to remember and I can't wait!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Why?!?! Not again!!!!
I'm behind...that's the story of my life.........
I'm sick...that seems to be the other story of my life, at least in the last several months. I was sick in October, November, December and now February. I've been sicker in these last four months than I have been in the last 4 years combined. I'm sick of being sick!!! Too many changes, too many new germs...from students to co-workers, these people are always bringing stuff my way.
Life in San Diego isn't bad. My job is ok, not fantastic, but not terrible either. I love the people I work with. Several of us go out on Thursday nights. It gives me something to look forward to in my week other than training, although training...what training, it's not like I have an ironman in 6 weeks. Yes! 42 days from this moment, I'll still be racing, hopefully nearing the end, but not quite finished.
I'm really bummed that I haven't been able to train for this event. I think I could do well. This means I'll just have to do another one ;) I guess I shouldn't speak too soon, I haven't done the first one yet. I'll be less prepared for this than anything I've ever done. It will be close to my preparation for the Disney Marathon which was kind of show up and say, well, I paid and I'm here, let's do it! I feel much the same way about the ironman. I'll finish. Yes, I have no doubt I can do it, but it's unlikely I'll post my best time. If I would have prepared and trained as planned, things would be different, but they're not so I won't pretend they are.
This first weekend I got here Mark and I cycled about 30 miles. I got off and have never been so sore in my life. I took baby steps around town as we hunted for breakfast and then the beach. I stopped many times, almost in tears the pain was so bad. I needed a new saddle! So that week, we got one. I bought Blackwell's Adamo Road Saddle (http://www.ismseat.com/products.htm). It's an innovative saddle that people either love or hate.
Up until this point my friends that cycle, like Mark and Big John, love it and I have never really understood why. I cycled because of the social aspect and the fitness, but I would never feel like I just couldn't wait to get out and ride and ride and ride. I just didn't get it...until I sat on the Adamo Road Saddle. It has changed the my thoughts, feelings and ideas about cycling in a matter of only a few miles. I am in love. It's so comfortable and I can ride forever!!!
Mark and I went out again and did about 30 more including the Torrey Pines hill which is 1.5 miles long. We did it towards the end of the ride which I guess made it even a better workout. I was already good and tired from all the hills here. It's amazing, for all of you who think San Diego might be flat, you're wrong! It's nearly impossible to find a flat stretch anywhere at all. There are great hills to climb on every street. It's tough cycling here, but great for my training.
Sadly, Mark left and I'm here now cycling on my own. I live in Carmel Mountain, which as the name suggest is on a 'mountain'. I left out last weekend and headed down the 56 trail. It's this awesome bike path that parallels I-56 and goes to the beach. Once at the beach, I bike the coast. The ride to the beach is pretty easy. It's almost ALL downhill. I go fast and peddle occasionally until I get near the beach, then I have to climb a little; however if it's all downhill one way, it's all uphill the other way. Yes, so at the end of my ride, I climb and climb and climb. It's good for me.
Last time I was out I went 53 miles and everything was great except I didn't bring enough fuel with me. I could have used either a really good drink like Perpetum or Sustained Energy or even a few more gels. Oh well, now I know a lot more about what my body needs when I cycle here. To help me work on cadence and get some good long rides in that aren't broken with tons of stop signs and lights, I bought an indoor trainer last week. It's awesome!!! It's quite and easy to set up. I went with the Cycleops Fluid Trainer. I went in to by their magnet trainer, but 1) they didn't have any in stock and 2) the fluid trainer was less than what I anticipated and had looked up for the magnetic trainer. Sweet!
My hope is that I can cycle before work and run after. I need to be able to do one of them in the dark, and neither are very safe outside in the dark, so now I can cycle inside anytime! Yeah! I just need to get well. I tried out the trainer on Saturday morning, my usual cycling time, but a few minutes in I was coughing my head off. The fit passed and I continued, but then it came again and this time, I thought my insides were going to come up and so I gave it up. No more cardio until I'm better. I can't take the coughing. Besides a few years ago when I was sick I coughed so much I tore my chest wall open and was in bed for 3 days unable to move.
I feel like I just sit and wait to get better. I have done some strength training and will continue to do that, but it's not helping me build endurance. Until next time...thanks for stopping by :)
I'm sick...that seems to be the other story of my life, at least in the last several months. I was sick in October, November, December and now February. I've been sicker in these last four months than I have been in the last 4 years combined. I'm sick of being sick!!! Too many changes, too many new germs...from students to co-workers, these people are always bringing stuff my way.
Life in San Diego isn't bad. My job is ok, not fantastic, but not terrible either. I love the people I work with. Several of us go out on Thursday nights. It gives me something to look forward to in my week other than training, although training...what training, it's not like I have an ironman in 6 weeks. Yes! 42 days from this moment, I'll still be racing, hopefully nearing the end, but not quite finished.
I'm really bummed that I haven't been able to train for this event. I think I could do well. This means I'll just have to do another one ;) I guess I shouldn't speak too soon, I haven't done the first one yet. I'll be less prepared for this than anything I've ever done. It will be close to my preparation for the Disney Marathon which was kind of show up and say, well, I paid and I'm here, let's do it! I feel much the same way about the ironman. I'll finish. Yes, I have no doubt I can do it, but it's unlikely I'll post my best time. If I would have prepared and trained as planned, things would be different, but they're not so I won't pretend they are.
This first weekend I got here Mark and I cycled about 30 miles. I got off and have never been so sore in my life. I took baby steps around town as we hunted for breakfast and then the beach. I stopped many times, almost in tears the pain was so bad. I needed a new saddle! So that week, we got one. I bought Blackwell's Adamo Road Saddle (http://www.ismseat.com/products.htm). It's an innovative saddle that people either love or hate.
Up until this point my friends that cycle, like Mark and Big John, love it and I have never really understood why. I cycled because of the social aspect and the fitness, but I would never feel like I just couldn't wait to get out and ride and ride and ride. I just didn't get it...until I sat on the Adamo Road Saddle. It has changed the my thoughts, feelings and ideas about cycling in a matter of only a few miles. I am in love. It's so comfortable and I can ride forever!!!
Mark and I went out again and did about 30 more including the Torrey Pines hill which is 1.5 miles long. We did it towards the end of the ride which I guess made it even a better workout. I was already good and tired from all the hills here. It's amazing, for all of you who think San Diego might be flat, you're wrong! It's nearly impossible to find a flat stretch anywhere at all. There are great hills to climb on every street. It's tough cycling here, but great for my training.
Sadly, Mark left and I'm here now cycling on my own. I live in Carmel Mountain, which as the name suggest is on a 'mountain'. I left out last weekend and headed down the 56 trail. It's this awesome bike path that parallels I-56 and goes to the beach. Once at the beach, I bike the coast. The ride to the beach is pretty easy. It's almost ALL downhill. I go fast and peddle occasionally until I get near the beach, then I have to climb a little; however if it's all downhill one way, it's all uphill the other way. Yes, so at the end of my ride, I climb and climb and climb. It's good for me.
Last time I was out I went 53 miles and everything was great except I didn't bring enough fuel with me. I could have used either a really good drink like Perpetum or Sustained Energy or even a few more gels. Oh well, now I know a lot more about what my body needs when I cycle here. To help me work on cadence and get some good long rides in that aren't broken with tons of stop signs and lights, I bought an indoor trainer last week. It's awesome!!! It's quite and easy to set up. I went with the Cycleops Fluid Trainer. I went in to by their magnet trainer, but 1) they didn't have any in stock and 2) the fluid trainer was less than what I anticipated and had looked up for the magnetic trainer. Sweet!
My hope is that I can cycle before work and run after. I need to be able to do one of them in the dark, and neither are very safe outside in the dark, so now I can cycle inside anytime! Yeah! I just need to get well. I tried out the trainer on Saturday morning, my usual cycling time, but a few minutes in I was coughing my head off. The fit passed and I continued, but then it came again and this time, I thought my insides were going to come up and so I gave it up. No more cardio until I'm better. I can't take the coughing. Besides a few years ago when I was sick I coughed so much I tore my chest wall open and was in bed for 3 days unable to move.
I feel like I just sit and wait to get better. I have done some strength training and will continue to do that, but it's not helping me build endurance. Until next time...thanks for stopping by :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)