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November 26, 2007
Spinning, Swimming
O and I had today off work (another day!) - him because most schools, no, make that ALL schools in Western Pennsylvania have the Monday off after Thanksgiving for the start of buck season. It won't be long before there are dead deer hanging from the trees in my neighbors' yard. Oh yeah. Regardless, I took today as my day off from work since O had it off. I tell you all this because having the day off gave us the opportunity to sleep in a little and then go to the YMCA together this morning.
We started off with a quick swim - only 1500 yds for me. I'm rather enjoying my swimming lately with my main goal of each swim to use all the toys in my pool bag including paddles, flippers, pull buoy and kickboard. Never all at the same time, but boy would that be fun to try to do! (although pull buoy and kickboard together would make it relatively impossible to actually move forward in the water, no?)
Regardless, after the pool we headed upstairs for a spinning class. Now I haven't done one of those for about 2 years! When I first decided I was going to become a triathlete I didn't have a bike (minor issue of course) so I swam (sort of), ran and took spinning classes. It wasn't until about 2 months before my first triathlon that getting a real bike became a necessity. Anyway, before I had my first bike I was quite the spinning regular. I did the circuit, went to all the classes and knew all the spinning instructors! Since I got that first bike I haven't been back because I realized I could ride my own bike with the use of a trainer (part of me wishes I had never made that discovery!).
Regardless, it was fun to give that a try again this morning. I didn't kill myself or anything, but it was more interesting than just riding my trainer for an hour. I'll have plenty of opportunity to do that over the next couple months.
So I leave you with this to watch. It's a video from this year's Dirty Dozen, a cycling race held here in Pittsburgh every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The race is 54 miles total but it includes 13 of Pittsburgh's biggest hills. The winner is decided by a point system as to who places the best on each of the hills (not necessarily time up the hills or time of all the riding around to get to all the hills). Anyway, the race is just sick. The particular video that I've linked to is of some riders trying to get up Canton Avenue which has a 37% grade and (perhaps worst of all) is on cobblestones!!! The video is hilarious (in a sick sort of way). People just falling over on their bikes! I've never ridden up Canton but I have ridden up several of the other hills...and...well...let's just say there was quite a bit of weaving. :) I have made it a goal of mine to one day do the Dirty Dozen, at least sometime before I die.
Posted by beth at November 26, 2007 12:00 PM