Still Blowing

We got a heat wave (FINALLY!) early this week, and then by the weekend temperatures dropped again *sigh*  The winds, however, did not and even though I tried to engineer a ride where we’d score some nice tailwind, again we were out there riding across the flats in the valley with headwind. *double sigh*  At least I’ll be prepared if it’s windy in Austin.  Or darn strong from all this pushing in a headwind.

Early on, when things were hilly but calm

Going up up up!

I had arm warmers AND a long sleeved top on to simulate more heat.  We were a colorful group!

It appears to be my new tradition for these long ride days.  I need to find a better topping for the Toasted Coconut frozen yogurt (LOVE this flavor!) though – any suggestions?

In other news, Stanley and I hit up the Mensona Kennel Club show yesterday.  I was most nervous about our true debut in Rally Advanced – where we have to do the rally obedience course off-leash – but Stanley came through for me, even in distracting new conditions (the ring was indoors, something we’ve never worked with), and qualified for his first Advanced leg!  Then we went on to a more familiar venue, the show ring, and he got a Select for his first point towards the Grand Champion title (not that I’m really interested in pursuing this but it was nice to be recognized).  Stan’s littermate Beatrix went Best of Breed and then got a Herding Group Two – wow!!!  I was so happy for Beth to win big at her home show.

And now to try to rest up for a busy workweek.  On the training front, TCIRW – Thank Coach It’s Rest Week!!!!

Dealbreakers

For some reason, while driving home from dropping the dogs at the groomer this morning, I was thinking about group training and my dealbreakers – things that make or break working out with other people.  What are yours?

Swim: In a masters setting, it’s people who don’t follow the workout and don’t know how to use the pace clock, especially if they are the ones leading my lane!  I’ve learned to just switch lanes if there’s a bunch of these.  In the lap swim pool, it’s people who want to circle-swim when there are only 2 of us – that never ends well – or people who steal my swim gear.  More than once, I’ve looked up and someone else was using my pull buoy.

Bike: This one is fairly easy - (a) wearing an ipod or (b) not wearing a helmet.  I know there are people who say they can be safe with both and that’s fine, but I won’t ride with you.  Period. 

Run: Oh, just about anything here.  I really don’t run well with others (put it in my report card, go ahead).  I want to go my own pace, not talk much, and not smell anyone else where possible.

Sometimes It Just Blows

and blows and blows and blows…the wind, that is.  Sometimes it even manages to change direction in tune with your ride, because Mother Nature says there’s no such thing as too much headwind.

When I woke up this morning, I knew the weather would be different than the last 2 months, because the sky was clear and the sun was out.  We’ve had weeks and weeks and weeks of cold cloudy/foggy mornings with no sunlight till nearly lunch.  Sweet! I thought, we’ll have some warmth on this ride.  What I didn’t expect was that we’d also have this new north wind as we headed south, before the shift to our normal south wind as we headed north.  Nearly 56 miles of headwind is bound to annoy even the most optimistic person, unless she is my coach in which case she’s delighted I got a good tough day out there.  Still, at least I had wonderful companions (who let me hang on their wheel when I was supposed to be riding easy in between intervals) and beautiful scenery!

They re-paved Watsonville Road just for us!

Thank you, trees, for providing some small shelter from the wind.

We had Day Road all to ourselves!

No shelter at all from the wind coming back up the valley to San Jose

Typical Northern California summer scenery – dry hills studded with oaks and farm fields in between

Post-ride/run recovery eating at its finest

TLC for tired legs

And so ends another big week, with one more to go before a rest week! 

Is it bedtime yet?

Another big training day tomorrow so I shouldn’t be awake at this point but…

I saw dolphins on our open water swim today! That was a first…when we arrived a bunch of them were frolicking right near the shore, and a group of sea lions were swimming around as well.  They had wandered away by the time we started swimming out though.

Two and a half loops of the Cowell’s Beach swim buoys looks something like this.

Finally, a completely awesome poster made by my ride buddy for tomorrow, Chris, for our memorial ride.  She is ridiculously talented!

Announcing….

my little project for this fall, and possibly beyond. I am helping to organize and run a new local event, the

Jan Lipson Memorial Ride for Diabetes

as a tribute to our friend who died in a tragic bicycle accident last month. If you’re local and ride a bike, come on out! We’ve got some seriously beautiful South Bay courses to ride.

If you know anyone or sports company willing to donate coupons or something cool for goody bags, or something for the raffle, let me know!

I’m sure there will be a post to come sometime later about Adventures of a Rookie Event Director :-)

Ho Hum

Nothing exciting going on around here…nope, no siree.  Just lots and lots of training.  It’s scary and exhilarating all at once to be starting to build up the volume again.  And especially in the same time frame as things got exciting last year. 

Friday I had my longest run since it was considered a short run during my Ironman taper.  In case you’re new around here, I love love LOVE long run days!  There is something about them that makes me extra happy.  10 miles came and went pretty smoothly and I was straight to the ice bath with my chocolate milk from there.

On Saturday, the beardies and I dashed up to an agility trial in Petaluma, where Max made his full return to the ring after taking some time off for his injury.  He was spunky and happy and perfect! Literally, perfect, as he nailed another double-Q with two clean runs!

I swam at Lake Del Valle for the first time since my very first open water swim.  This time, with a watch and my Garmin 310XT, I learned that there IS in fact a good current in the lake (last time I just figured I was a bad swimmer) – it took me 25 minutes to swim up the lake and only 20 minutes to come back down.

Photo stolen from the interwebs – I was too busy swimming!

And today, it was long ride time, with the longest training ride I’ve done since last year (other than the sufferfest we called a bike ride at camp in May).  Since I was focused on doing some hard intervals today, I let Jeff use the camera to document events (for a long time on this ride, I was riding alone as others had some mechanical issues).

I can’t tell you I saw much on the ride today other than trees (and my Powertap computer as I tried to hold various wattages) so this sums it up well!

I don’t think I’m providing Philippe with much to draft off of.

At a water stop in Woodside with Meaghan

Nigel and Meaghan

Self-portrait of the photographer (we’re in the background wondering what he is doing?)

Pink was the color of the day.  Jen Harrison would be proud.

Meaghan’s dad and regular riding buddy, George

I had a run before and another run after my ride, so it’s a good thing my 2nd run ended at the brewpub where I was meeting Jeff and Nigel.  1 water, 1 root beer, 1/2 a pizza, and some ahi poke later, I was able to move again and go home. 

It’s good to have a big week in the books!  Time to rest up before the next one begins tomorrow.  I hope everyone else had a great weekend!

Time Flies When You’re Having Fun!

Today marks 7 years since the best and most fun years of my life began.  On this date in 2003 Jeff and I officially got together and it’s all been downhill from there.  I made him this video a couple months ago but saved it to post for today.

My only thought looking at the old photos now is OMG we used to look so young!

PS Right around the 1:47 mark is the photo taken roughly 15 seconds before we got engaged :-)