Sunday:

I had a nice ride with Julie up at Tolt today.  We left her house at 8:30am...hoping to beat the heat.  We were out for 3 hours.  Didn't cover a lot of ground but we had a good time.  Got home by noon to shower and start homework

I was glad to get out because I've been fighting a cold (actually it has gotten the better of me).  I've felt pretty crummy since Thursday.  I'm taking Sudafed to get the congestion down and cough medicine to keep the cough at bay.  I'm hoping it will clear out a bit (so far it has just moved into my chest).  So the ride was good in that I felt like I could breathe.

Friday:

Went out for an hour walk...felt good...despite my cold.

Lost and Found

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Today I rode the worm with Joseph.  He is great to ride with: he waits for me at the top of hills and never seems to mind that I'm slow.  Today I was really slow; partly because I've ridden 6 out of the last 7 days and 5 out of the last five days. My body began to rebel a bit; but the worm is always fun.  I got my rest bits when Joseph worked to conquer the technical trail features (ttf's).  Of course he loved the breaks waiting for me because this is only his second ride of the season.  I had hoped to drag him to Tiger on Friday but we dropped his bike off at the Down Hill Zone to get some work done on it (first maintenance in 3 years...).

Last Thursday, Fredricka had flat and so I loaned her my pump and a funky tire iron (the one that telescopes out).  Well she had put the tire iron in her pocket while she finished the ride; to make a long story short it escaped from her pocket somewhere on the trail.  Two days later at another ride she presented me with another one!  Today I rolled up to Joseph on the trail.  Joseph was leaning on a tree eating sharkies.  I stopped to chat with him and noticed something black on the ground between him and the tree.  It was my tire iron!  Looks like Fredricka bought herself a new tire iron.  The chances of us finding that 6 days later is unreal.

Today is a rest day.  My left ankle is hurting a little today (I'm sure it is just the muscles).  I thought about swimming but decided that rest is what I need.  

More training needed

Tuesday:

Today I rode with the Luna Chix out at Lake Sawyer.  We rode at an easy pace (it was a beginner/intermediate) ride.  We rode all of 6 miles in about 2 hours with many stops and breaks.  I was drenched (of course I was the one that put the coat on) by the end.  We rode a crummy trail (not the name, but a description), Toy trail and bridges.  I am very aware that this kid needs to get in shape to race the bike portion of the Xterra race on August 3rd.  My skills are great...my endurance needs some work.  Fredricka and Susan are riding (or searching for) the race course tomorrow...so I hope to get to ride it several times (with them) before the race.  The bike shop is out of maps, and the map guy has ceased to create them...so I need to dig out my old map and start riding Sawyer.  Endurance and speed are my two goals now.  My body did well today especially since I rode yesterday.  Tomorrow is the Worm with Joseph, and Thursday is Seatac with the Luna Chix.  Friday will need to be a rest day...and then back to Sawyer on Saturday.

Riding Road

Monday

Although Sunday was an easy ride, I none the less decided to try for a long slow ride (few more miles on the road bike).  My major hope was to ride to Seattle (from Marymoore) and enjoy a pleasant lunch at the Essential Bakery and then ride back to Marymoore.  My goals were to find a table outside (at the Essential), keep my heart rate under 80% MHR and to have fun.  All goals were achieved.  I averaged 12 mph and around 75 MHR.  It took 2 hours to get there and 2 hours 11 minutes to get back.  It was a beautiful day (about 75 degrees) and I enjoyed a great lunch at a lovely table outside.  You might be wondering why I didn't go all out since I was well rested from yesterday...I want to go mountain biking tomorrow.  I really want to ride every day this week, so I took it easy today.

Sunday

Patricia (my sister) called and wanted me to ride with her...so I loaded up the Seven and headed to Auburn.  It was a lovely day and we cruised along the Interurban Trail for 8 miles with a lunch break in the middle.  I had hoped that we would get in around 20...but 8 miles was good for her first ride of the season.  She was on the Breezer (which weighs a ton) so it was leisurely and fun.  I'd love to get her on a road bike...but since she bought an expensive mountain bike and then decided not to mountain bike....I'm shy about suggesting a road bike.

St. Eds

Saturday, I rode St. Ed's with the Luna Chix on a slow ride.  I took the Nomad and picked the slower of the two groups.  I had a blast.  I made most of the climbs including a few technical ones. Rode a big stack of logs (the Nomad loves the technical).  I haven't ridden at St. Ed's in a couple of years, I was amazed at how easy it has become!  It was a nice confirmation of my skill level.  I came home, took a hot bath and followed that by a nice 2 hour nap.  I'm amazed at how my body gets wiped out...and how much sleep it wants.  I've often taken a nap after my Saturday rides...so maybe this isn't different.  Today will be the first back to back set of rides I do.  I took it easy on Saturday so I could ride today.  I'm thinking Marymoore towards Seattle.  

Worms, twisty worms

Tonight's ride at the worm was awesome.  I realized (on the way to Renton) that I need to throw a granola bar in my car for a pre-ride meal, and probably a P&J sandwich for an after ride meal.  Not eating any real food till 8:30 p.m. sucks!  A dinner of cliff shots and cliff blocks on the trail just doesn't do it.  My skills were pretty good.  My claim to fame was a couple of track stands I did (mostly out of desperation because I realized I wasn't going to make a corner if I didn't stop first).  I spent a lot of time in the 90-92% of Max HR.  We only rode Tapeworm...I was so glad when we headed straight there.  I couldn't have ridden much longer than we did.  Also it was a beginner ride, so there was plenty of rest.  I did position myself behind a slower rider so I didn't get sucked into chasing other riders.  I'm amazed at my natural competitiveness (just an observation).  I love riding.  I'm hoping to pick up a few new riding partners this summer.  Fredricka mentioned an off road Triathlon in August (6 weeks away).  Little over a 1/2 mile swim, 15 mile mountain bike and a 5 mile run.  I couldn't get in shape for the swim and run...but a team might be fun.  I think I may need to make a plan to do one next summer....it could be a post MBA goal!

A well deserved break

I can't say I've been terribly active when it comes to workouts.  Today was the first day in about 2.5 weeks that I took the bus to work and therefore walked up (and back down) the Seattle hill. My last final was last night (Tuesday) so I have 13 days with no classes.  I'm taking next week off (vacation) and just plan to ride my bike and maybe get in a hike and a swim.  Spring quarter (at work) was pretty tough...lots of hours with lots of stress.  I'm ready for summer quarter.  My classes are tougher than I'd like; but my work schedule will be low key.  

I'm signed up for a ride with BBTC for tomorrow.  I've been having trouble getting motivated to ride by myself...so I figure a group ride will be good for me.  I'm expecting to get a good ass kicking.   

The best part of my summer class schedule is that I drive to campus a couple of days a week;  thus I plan to swim at Connolly at least one day a week...just the open swim.  Our community pool where I live is open fairly regularly so I plan to swim there a couple of days.  Especially on weekend mornings (since it is an outside pool).