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April 5, 2008
The Usual
So here we are again with another day of great training under our belt. Started off a little rough this morning in that I didn't feel like swimming. Humpf. I wanted someone to go with but O was off to a track meet instead. Double humpf. Who else would go swimming with me? After about 30 seconds I decided the answer was "nobody" and that I just needed to get my suit on and go. So that's what I did.
Somewhere along the way I started to have a great swim though so my attitude changed quickly. Some 100s and 50s today and I felt great! I think that day off yesterday might have been just what the doctor ordered. Anyway, the repeats were on a pretty tight interval today and it was only 3000 yds total so the workout was done before I knew it!
Back home and to the computer to check the weather. Currently 40 degrees and no rain in sight. YIPPPPPEEEEE!! I still haven't figured out how to dress properly for outdoor cycling when it's below 60 degrees. All I knew though was that I was NOT going to wear tights. I just can't do tights in April. I think Ness would agree. Of course this is going to come back to bite me at some point when I wake up for a morning run and somehow it's 15 degrees... :)
Anyway, I went for the leg warmers, shorts, long sleeve top, cycling coat, head thing (I don't know what they are called but they are kind of like skull caps) and GLOVES. Now here's the thing - I hate wearing gloves. I especially hate wearing gloves when I'm riding because I feel like I can't shift correctly. So I brought the gloves but just shoved them in the back pocket of my coat instead of actually wearing them.
About 3 seconds into my ride I realized I should probably be wearing the gloves instead of carrying them around on my back. I decided to wait until the next red light to get them though. There are about 342 traffic lights that I have to go through to get out of town and just about every time I ride I get 341 of those red and have to stop. But wouldn't you know I didn't get ONE red light today until about 15 minutes into my ride?!?! My hands were raw. Of course if I had any sort of head on my shoulders I would have just pulled over and got the gloves or put them on while I was riding. This thought didn't occur to me at the time though. :)
Anyway, besides the raw hands I have a GREAT ride today. Felt strong and fluid on the bike. Again, likely a by-product of yesterday's day off. I did have one little run in with a motorist. It was the typical scenario where I was riding along, minding my own business when I hear the honking that starts behind me. You just know some JERK is going to scream something out his window when this starts. Sure enough, as the honking gets closer I see the SUV right next to me with window down and I hear "get the f*ck off the roads!!!" Nice. This SUV then proceeded to cut me off and...I kid you not...pull into McDonalds. Extra nice. I would bet a large sum of money that the driver was an overweight man in his mid to late 50s who smokes. This is almost always the case. It's either that or a middle aged woman driving a car that costs >$50,000. The women usually don't yell but they honk and gesture instead. Either way, I didn't even look as this guy drove past. That's my rule. Don't even look, just keep riding and get up on your brakes so you can be ready if they try to run you off the road.
Regardless, I got home and transitioned quickly into my running shoes, begged Roxy not to eat my bike while I was gone, and started off on my run. Again, legs felt GREAT off the bike. I usually feel pretty good off the bike but not this good. I did have frozen feet that didn't feel normal until about 12 minutes into the run but that's to be expected until you are riding in temps >45 or 50.
And so was my morning. Does anyone feel like they could write my Saturday blog for me now? Pretty standard - swim, ride/run followed by lunch, ice bath, shower, stretch, relax, wait for O to return from track meet. Insert an occasional funny story or perhaps some complaining and you've got it! :)
Hope everyone is enjoying some somewhat warmer temps and some sun!
Posted by beth at April 5, 2008 4:22 PM
Comments
I agree about the overweight smoker pulling into Micky D's for his cholesterol fix! It's a jungle out there sometimes!
Posted by: Dawn at April 5, 2008 5:16 PM
Beth - I would swim with you anytime if I could :)
Some motorists are stupid. Humbug.
But you did the right thing... way to go. And of course you don't get any red lights for the first 15 minutes. IF you had been wearing the gloves, you would have hit them all. Nautrally!
Happy Sunday!
Posted by: marit c-l at April 6, 2008 1:16 AM