I Want to Ride My Bicycle...

I want to ride my bike...

That Queen classic has popped into my head a few times the past few days.

Since I can't run or even elliptical for a few more weeks, I am spending more time biking and swimming.

Sigh, such a shame. [wink, wink].

This weekend started out with frigid temperatures and a just under 3 hour trainer ride - graciously hosted by TRIgirl BL and Barracuda BN - and in the esteemed company of TRIgirl DL and Mr. GG.

We gathered together a little later in the day, which always makes me happy - though traipsing the darn trainer, Patriot Sangria and all my other crap is a whole 'nother workout (especially wearing "da boot"). I also realized that I've historically probably set-up my trainer a few turns easier on the tension than Mr. GG kindly sherpaed mine prior to our virtual loop of the IMUSA course.

But soon, we were following Coach Troy through Lake Placid. Coach Troy was very encouraging, as he coaxed us to catch his wheel and spin at ridiculously high cadences during downhills I'd normally be coasting and desperately engaging my brakes. Not to mention the cadences he expected while in the big gears while simulating the climbs through the Hazelton hills and the Three Bears. As TRIgirl CJ noted, Coach Troy provokes the worst of "Training Tourettes," evidenced by the involuntary expulsion and explosion of four letter words.

Let's just say, while I couldn't meet all of Coach Troy's expectations, my quads were quivering by the end of the ride. Thank goodness for a glass of wine, soothing food and great company during a post workout refueling at the Tavern.

Sunday, with temperatures above freezing, I struggled with wanting to join the outdoor posse vs. knowing I would be tired trying to ride two days in a row. I have to say, I don't remember my legs ever being so weary before a ride, but minutes into our trek to Ashland, it did not matter. I was surrounded by the beautiful outdoors and the great energy of my riding mates - REB60, POPSCR, TRIDi and TRIgirl Annn. TRIgirl Annn (who has graced me with a very cool nickname) lead the pack, at a challenging pace, to Ashland - and REB60 and POPSCR carried us back home.

I've heard some of my training mates talk about how they are happy to get their workouts done early in the day, leaving the rest of their day open. But for me - a bike ride with great people is something I look forward to - a special indulgence my lifestyle offers me.

I love my fellow weekend riders, especially the outdoor diehards. I can't imagine a better way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon - other than figuring out how to add adult beverages to our cool down. (Glogg or Blackbirds anyone?)

Snapshots of LA

Los Angeles, that is.

Ideally, my first trip to California would have been to the places I’ve been drooling over for years. San Francisco, Sonoma, Carmel…

But you take what you can get. And I was able to get a great opportunity to combine a work trip with a few extra days tacked on to explore the west coast – in the heart of Hollywood.

LAX – let’s just skip that part.

Hollywood – Our hotel was literally .1 miles from Hollywood Boulevard. Why do I know this? Because my husband sent me the Mapquest directions from the hotel’s lobby to Regis Philbin’s star.

Patriot Sangria, who's been keeping busy with a little make-over at 3-Sports while we’ve been traveling, has been jealously pouting because Steve McQueen has a star, but she does not.

And other than that – and a few good restaurants – Hollywood was, kind of, boring.

Beverly Hills – Yes Beverly Hills was quaintly posh. The homes were lovely. Not terribly big, but still impressive – and ridiculously expensive. We shopped along Rodeo Drive with a few friends who came down from central California during our visit. Actually, we didn’t really shop as the only affordable item was Starbucks water.

I made a separate trip to Beverly Hills to fit in my long run. There was no way I could handle two hours on the treadmill – and Hollywood is not exactly conducive to street runs. I woke up early on Sunday morning – to DRIZZLE – chilly, drizzle - which, though slightly ironic, was refreshing as I followed the 6 mile loop cue sheet I found online. Running goes by much more quickly when you are trying to keep track of directions on unfamiliar streets.

Malibu – My husband and I rented a car for our stay and spent part of one morning cruising. We stumbled upon Malibu – my first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean – with the high cliffs and hills bordering the Pacific Coast Highway. The water was calm, though plenty of surfers were out trying to catch some waves. We even drove by the triathlon site for the infamous “JLo” race which was set-up for the weekend’s events. I couldn’t help but wish I had registered for the race – the course would have been awesome!

Venice Beach – Uh, how could such a lovely beach also boast the most bizarre combination of boardwalk vendors? Crap and more crap being sold by quite the eclectic crowd.

Laguna Beach – We visited my husband’s cousins in Orange Hills and scored a tour of Laguna Beach. We walked down the shoreline on a gorgeous afternoon. Photographers posed their clients among breathtaking rock formations. The waves pounded the shore – and I could not understand how such an amazing beach was not more crowded.

And now, we are back home - happy to see the furkids - and ready for the last workouts before MightyMan!

Patriot Sangria is Nervous

Or maybe it is me?

Tomorrow she goes in for some new gear - or rather - a switch in gear.

Seems her 56 big chain ring is not really suited for big hills, like this weekend's upcoming Blue Ridge Mountains ride.

So a 53 will be replacing the 56 - at least temporarily.

Coach B tells me I can save the 56 for flat races, like Florida or White Lake.

Ironwoman Canada is telling me to never put it back on again.

I'm thinking investing in a turbojet may have solved the whole hill problem much more easily.

A Happy Day - By Patriot Sangria

I seem to be spending more time in the garage lately.

Through the winter, for 3-4 days a week, I proudly stood in my trainer and was visited regularly. While my back tire was worn to the core for countless hours, I was able to watch many TV programs and movies. In between, I cozily rested, sun streaming through the bedroom windows, as I dreamed of weekend outings through the West End and Ashland.

With the arrival of the warmer weather, I've braved the back of many cars for fun and diverse adventures that enabled me to revisit the Eastern Shore, speed through White Lake and casually explore Central Richmond. More outdoor rides has equaled less time on the trainer.

But more time in the garage.

Today, though, brought a surprise.

Very early in the morning, I was startled awake to the garage door opening. Soon we were traveling the familiar roads to West Creek. Many other friends of all styles, sizes, shapes and colors greeted me as we waited in the parking lot and watched the most unusual display - of a red friend propped on a trainer - though we were outside! I heard the topic being discussed.

Hills. I wasn't sure how well that was going to go over.

Finally, we were out on the nub. It was a chilly, bright and clear morning. We rode about 3/4 of the loop.

And then the unthinkable happened.

We circled the same two hills 5, 6, 7 times - I am not sure, I lost count from the dizziness. My gears were played with a bit more, helping me keep a more even pace as we glided round and round the Farmers Bureau.

The outing ended soon after and we headed home. I did not understand why I was left on the back of the car, but fell asleep for a few hours anyway.

Then - there was the sound of the garage door opening - again.

We were off to visit a few more friends. I was transferred to a different SUV rack to join them as we headed down Patterson Avenue. I told my buddies that I thought we might be on our way to the Osborne route.

We were taken off the car by the familiar 7-11.

By this time, the day was perfect. The chill was gone and the sun was shining in the bluest sky.

We rode.

We cruised down Osborne
and into Battlefield Park
and near the boat landings
and through the tree lined stretches
and past the amazing stone cottage
and on new streets when revisiting the Park
and by an awesome house for sale
and, eventually, back to the 7-11.

Two rides in one day.

I'm resting in the garage.

And I am happy.

Snow, Snow, Go Away, Patriot Sangria Wants to Play

TRIDi just emailed me the following from Channel 8 Stormtracker:

"We are starting to watch an area of rain in the Gulf of Mexico that will be moving into the southeast this evening. This system will increase our clouds tonight, but ahead of that our low temperatures will dip into the upper 20s to near 30. That system will slide across North Carolina on Saturday and that puts us under the gun again for another round of wintery weather. This will be a different system than Thursday's as we will be getting colder as the weather moves in. That means we may start off as rain for Richmond and points south and east but transition to snow during the afternoon and evening. The timing of that change over will determine exactly how much snow we receive, but it currently looks like we may see a couple of inches here in central Virginia, including the Metro Richmond region."

And Popsrcr has confirmed, "This is a proper storm to bring snow. With the arctic airmass in place, I agree with the forecast."

I don't like this weather forecast. Can someone bring me another one, please?

Yesterday, I moved Patriot Sangria from off the trainer inside our house to the garage. She has been waiting there patiently in anticipation of tomorrow's ride.

She is going to be quite sad if the weather forecasters are actually right this time.

Zippidy Do Da...

Ironwoman Canada has lent me her Reynolds DF UL racing wheels for IMFL.

While, being a newbie, I am more familiar with the Zipps brand, these babies seem like a twin sister.

Assuming I haven't jinxed myself with a flat tire - they should add a little distance to my mph - or offer less effort for the same distance.

I am a bit nervous about using them. Patriot Sangria and I will be heading off this week to the bike store for one final outing to get the "I'm not worthy tires" mounted - and for a little tune-up.

While I feel quite honored to be able to borrow them, Patriot Sangria, on the other hand, is strutting about just thinking of her new accessories.

Patriot Half - Race Report

This race report has been challenging to blog about.

Not because it was bad or good, or new or different, but because there are several loosely related significances about it. I can't really form a theme. Though if I had to pick one - it would be - how this race helped me prepare for IMFL. And, you know what, I think that is what it was supposed to do.

I took a vacation day on Friday. After working a couple of hours from home, I packed up the car and headed to Williamsburg. On the road, I spoke to TRIgirl DL, who was way too sick to race - we were going to miss her! First stop was packet pick-up, then onto the pre-race swim clinic. As I waited on the tiny beach for the session to begin, I ran into a few TRIgirls. The clinic itself was great - very helpful for newer swimmers - though not what I really wanted - which was an opportunity to check out the swim course. After practicing a few strokes in the shallow, mild current, with water quality that "just passed the USAT swim requirements," I ran into TRIgirls TD and M who were pitching a cool TRIgirl tent, then I headed off to meet TRIgirls CH and AM for a pre-race dinner at Chili's.

Before dinner, I had prepared for the next day's race, from equipment to nutrition to what I would be wearing. So, after the pre-race meal, I was able to crawl into bed and cross my fingers for sleep.

And unlike the night before Eagleman, I slept, probably a good 6-7 hours.

And unlike Eagleman, I woke up feeling like a significant training session awaited me - versus feeling sick and nervous. A funny list of "what we could do instead of racing" from TRIgirls CH and AM stuck under my door continued to lighten my mood - with big hearty belly laughs at the suggestions that ranged from shopping - to - well - uhm - things that would make this post R-rated.

And I ate more than before Eagleman. Two crustables, a mini bagel, 1/2 smoothie and one banana.

Then I met up with TRIgirls CH and AM to head off for the race. We cut the arrival to the site a little close, but when all was said and done, we were ready when the transition area closed. On the tiny beach before the swim start, I was waiting for the panic to set in, but it never really did. In the last wave, I headed into the murky James River - and then - we were off.

The water was shallow, so I tried a few dolphin dives. They were fun, but also increased my heart rate a bit - so I started swimming as soon as I could. The current was quiet. The first turn buoy came more quickly than I expected. I settled into a rhythm, practicing a few of my latest Guppy lesson form techniques. All was good until the last turn around. A couple of hundred meters past the buoy, I looked up and had no idea where I was in relation to the course. Coach G popped up around the same time - and we tried to figure it out. Between spotting swimmers and a few boats ahead, we thought we knew where to go. And we swam, and we swam. Until a volunteer on one of the boats called out to us and said "You are way off course - about 200 meters" in the opposite direction and upstream. We still couldn't really see where we were supposed to be, but Coach G and I swam and eventually found the exit. Together, we walked out of the water and up the long path to our bikes. It was great to have Coach G's company, through the confusing last swim leg to the bike start. But, I am guessing, we added about 1/4 mile to the swim. Which turned out to be about 43 minutes - and while not great for a 1.2 mile half IM swim (Eagleman was around 40), not at all bad for a 1.4-1.5 mile swim! (Why I didn't remove my swim cap on the 1/2 mile transition run, I don't know!)

Since this was a "training race" I did not rush the transitions - and my very long times can prove it. In T1, I tried to wipe my feet clean of all debris and headed off on the bike. My main goal was to really focus on getting calories into my body while not losing too much pace. The bike went well. I took in about 750 calories compared with the 300-400 at Eagleman. And, surprisingly, my pace was better, even given a couple of challenging Patriot hills. My Eagleman time for 56 miles was around 3:17, while my Patriot time for 58 miles (according to the race director and mile markers) was 3:16 (thank you, Patriot Sangria!). But, a few miles into the bike, my left foot started to feel uncomfortable - like a big blister forming on my big toe. I didn't really know what was going on. Toward the end of the bike, I knew I'd have to check out my foot. If there was a big raw blister, I'd have a tough decision to make. Finish the race or risk losing a few days/week of training time.

So, back in transition, I stripped off my shoes and socks. No blister, just some yellowish grooves in my foot. Nothing scary enough to make me stop racing. I tied my sneakers and headed out for the run. After the first mile or so, the foot discomfort disappeared. Also, surprisingly, my legs felt much stronger than they had when starting the run at Eagleman. The heat was quite a distraction. 91 degrees, full sun, heat index of 95. Coach G and TRIgirl SL passed me around mile 5 - and I was so grateful for their encouraging words. Soon thereafter, the course led into a few, much appreciated miles of shady patches. I ran into many TRIgirls and two Guppies during this stretch. And since this was a "training race," I even stopped a few times to see how folks were doing.

Like Eagleman, I walked the water stops. I tried flat Cola every 2-3 stops and think it helped. I alternated half a Gu with the Cola to take in calories. I dumped lots of water on my head. I packed my sports bra with ice and placed ice cubes in my hands when the heat was making me light headed. The miles passed by. Finally the finish was in sight. Wonderful TRIgirl sherpa cheers of encouragement were in earshot. God, I love these women.

I made it through the run, 3 minutes slower than Eagleman. Overall race time (not including some penalty I have not idea how I got) was about 9 minutes longer. Somewhat comparable considering the extra swim, bike and T1 time. Especially considering the heat. 6:49 without the penalty.

I finished the race feeling more hot than tired. A few TRIgirl sherpas confirmed by saying they noticed how much stronger my Patriot finish was than Eagleman. I still couldn't imagine doubling the half IM (two half IMs do not equal a whole), but recognized how much stronger and less tired my body felt after the Patriot from Eagleman. I peeled off my socks to see that several inch long gashes, similar to very deep paper cuts, had caused the foot problems and were starting to open up. I am guessing they occurred during the swim, after hitting some rocks before exiting the water. Nothing a few days of rest won't heal.

I watched several other TRIgirls cross the finish line - and was able to see TRIgirl LS receive her award for 1st place in her age group - with like a 5:30 time (amazing!). After a fabulous post race massage - TRIgirls CH, AM and I headed back to our hotel to get ready for a big post race dinner at Opus 9 (a decadent and fun meal that surpassed every hope we had for it while getting through the tough Patriot moments).

Today (Sunday), I woke to just a little soreness in my legs, further proof that my body is more trained for the longer distances ahead. TRIgirls CH, AM and I headed out to watch several TRIgirls rock the Patriot Sprint - and they did GREAT!

Another notch on the IMFL journey race belt. Things are continuing to come together as I do the best I can to hopefully cross that finish line in November.