With no more coached core trainings on Thursdays, we're now able to add another bike ride to our routine. After chasing down my runaway dog, we unloaded our gear in Aptos, CA, and noticed that my training gal pal had some seriously low tires. After both of our failed attempts using our small hand pumps, it dawned on me that the bike shop across the street might be the perfect place to get some air! Go figure!
We detoured into the Aptos Bike Shop, and were greeted by an adorable black lab, and the shop owner. What a great little operation they have going there, the people were nice, the dog was friendly, and it's woman owned... I know where I'm getting my bike maintenance done in the future!
With our tires filled to the brim, we hit the road for our evening ride. We planned to do about 24 miles, from Nisene Marks and out along the coastal farms in Watsonville, complete with beach front views, endless strawberry fields, and flower farms. We started out and hit a quick 400ft climb. Did I say that I HATE hills, well I do. I like riding fast, and the hills still get me crawling. I could really use some coaching on hill technique, and even though I hate it, I might just need to bring my bike to the base of a hill and do some repetitions up and down it... boo!
Anyway, the evening was beautiful, sunny, a little foggy, some cross wind, and warm. We had fun talking through the ride, screaming at the hills, and taking a few detours for sight seeing. We got a chance to tour through the cutest beach town, La Selva Beach, and stare in desire at their pristinely manicured yards and awe inspiring ocean views. Then we headed along the coast on rolling hills and checked out an old farm house, some beach front campsites, and finally a beach front mansion that literally looks like it was occupied in the 70's by the Cuban drug cartel! I'm talking gold fixtures on the gate and statues of lions! Think Tony Montana in Scarface!Due to our late start and detours, we didn't make it all the way to Sunset Beach, but we had a great ride and perfectly timed our arrival back at the car, just as it started getting too dark to wear my sunglasses. We did just under 20 miles and got back home in time to watch the Office! What a great ride!
05/01/09 - Swim
Happy 1st of May! I started off the month with a great swim this morning. I did my normal 400m warm-up and then braced myself for my timed 500m race distance. I'm still trying to figure out my pacing for this distance, always afraid that I'll start too fast. I just started out nice and slow, and at the half way mark, kicked it up. It helped that the woman next to me was a fast swimmer, because she definitely started racing me. I only had 50m to go, so I kicked it up and we were definitely matched for speed. It was fun to finish strong, and if I had to put $50 on it, I'd say that I touched first! My personal victory for the day!
Anyway, I finished the 500m and saw my time. I wasn't horribly impressed, 8:30. I don't think it's bad, but I know I could do better. I think I'm starting just way too slow for fear of burning out. I had a race in high school, the 200m butterfly. I had never done it before, and the Coach wanted me to do it for Championships. Well, my 50m was very fast, and so without a previous time, I ended up being seeded #1 for the race. WHAT? I was so freaked out that I got in, went as fast as I could the first 100m, and then could barely move the next 100m... it was awful and embarrassing and my friends still laugh about it! Hopefully with more practice, I'll lose that fear, and I'm hoping to bring my 500m into the 7 minute range by the end of the season. I should note though I started in the 9minutes, so at least I'm seeing progress!
More swimming and pulling followed, and I hopped out of the pool and raced to the showers to try and beat the crowd!
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