Although I know rest days are vital to any workout plan, they still make me nuts.
I feel like I should be up and doing something - anything - other than sitting around.
I look longingly at the bikes hanging on the wall and think what a lovely day it is for a ride, but I can't because I have to rest.
Dammit. I hate it.
That's weird, isn't it?
Someone saying that they hate the idea of not working out?
It's weird. I know, but I also know that I really need the rest, especially with Death Valley coming up in less than a week.
I've decided that I'll be satisfied with anything over 50 miles, and extremely happy if I can make the 100 miles.
But then again, I might lose my mind and decide that they're going to drag me off the course when my cold, stiff carcass misses the cutoff point.
I'm not bringing Gary - I'm renting a really nice aluminum/carbon road bike from an awesome local bike shop called Zone 3 Multisport.
When I went in to reserve the bike, the guy who works there picked up Gary, looked at me and said "Oh, you're going to fly on our bike".
So, the schedule is: rest today (dammit), run/swim tomorrow, long ride Tuesday, swim Wednesday, yoga or stretch Thursday, Friday I'm off to Death Valley, and Saturday's the ride.
Two weeks from now is the Solvang Century ride (should be cake after Death Valley), and then I'm back to regular training for Vineman 70.3 and commuting on the Cannondale, which as of late's been doing a whole lot of nothing.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
It builds character
One of the things the training plans for just about anything mention is called a 'mental toughness day'.
Since you can't control conditions in races, you may have to power your way through rain, wind, dust, heat, plagues of locusts, etc..
With that in mind, I headed out to PCH for a long ride. Leaving my house it was a bit windy, but by the time I got to the coast the winds were very, very strong, and, of course, blowing south so as I rode north I got the full brunt of it (plus the occasional gust from the side, which was a surprise).
Although I desperately wanted to turn around, go home and curl up with a warm blanket, I kept riding. I knew I wasn't going to make my targeted distance of 100 miles, but I figured if I could just go a little further I'd be fine.
I stopped briefly at a farm stand where they had freshly dug green garlic (so tasty). I didn't have a backpack or bag since I was on the road bike, so I shoved the garlic up the back of my jersey, which made me smell great (I'm sure of it).
I continued up the coast, eventually turning around at Leo Carrillo beach, which is 30 miles from my house.
So I did 60 miles instead, but it felt like 100 in that wind. Even going back, when I should have had a really good tailwind, I still got gusts from the side.
Mental toughness, right?
The really interesting thing is that today, my legs aren't hurting at all, and they probably should be. I guess that's a good thing.
My nether regions are hurting like hell, though. Forgot to bring the chamois cream with me. I won't make that mistake again.
Since you can't control conditions in races, you may have to power your way through rain, wind, dust, heat, plagues of locusts, etc..
With that in mind, I headed out to PCH for a long ride. Leaving my house it was a bit windy, but by the time I got to the coast the winds were very, very strong, and, of course, blowing south so as I rode north I got the full brunt of it (plus the occasional gust from the side, which was a surprise).
Although I desperately wanted to turn around, go home and curl up with a warm blanket, I kept riding. I knew I wasn't going to make my targeted distance of 100 miles, but I figured if I could just go a little further I'd be fine.
I stopped briefly at a farm stand where they had freshly dug green garlic (so tasty). I didn't have a backpack or bag since I was on the road bike, so I shoved the garlic up the back of my jersey, which made me smell great (I'm sure of it).
 |
| I don't know what a Zuman is, but apparently it's vital. |
 |
| Enough! I turn around! |
Mental toughness, right?
The really interesting thing is that today, my legs aren't hurting at all, and they probably should be. I guess that's a good thing.
 | |
| Bridge over the California Incline. The troubled waters are to the west. |
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Chinatown Firecracker Ride in pictures!
This was my first time at the Chinatown Firecracker ride - there were two routes offered - an easy flat 20 miler, and a hilly 30 miler.
I chose the hilly route, thinking it would be fun.
It was, but the main challenge wasn't the climbs, but navigating Los Angeles' legendary shitty roads.
And the impending rain, of course. Despite hopes that it would hold off, it started sprinkling just as the race started. Luckily, it never really rained, just misted enough to make the roads slick and fog up everyone's glasses.
The ride had a really nice mix of people, and since it wasn't a race but an organized ride, there wasn't such a sense of urgency to go flat-out, but I did end up joining one of the pacelines, which was fun, but since the road was wet I got covered in the goop being thrown up by the tire in front of me. I looked like "Pig Pen" from the Peanuts cartoons.
About halfway through Griffith Park, the blue sky started to peek through the clouds.
The only aid station of the ride was at the halfway point, located at Travel Town.
Appropriately, we were given fortune cookies in addition to the standard fare of pretzels and bananas.
Good thing they had a repair station at Travel Town, as a large number of people were having mechanical problems related to the wetness and shittiness of the roads.
By the time I left the aid station, the sun had come out and it was a gorgeous. We rode through Burbank. looped back to the LA River bike path, and made our way back to Chinatown, where there was a huge line for the promised carbo load lunch:
There was a beer tent, which seemed promising, but they weren't serving good beer. I wasn't expecting top-end microbrew or anything but:
I didn't drink any of the so-called beer, instead opting for a Vietnamese iced coffee from the Pho place across the street.
I wandered around for a bit, chatted with some fellow riders and some friends who were there picking up packets for the run on Sunday.
When I got home, the first thing I had to to was wash the gunk off Gary, then I took a shower myself.
It was a really fun ride, and I'll definitely do it again next year, but I'll seriously consider bringing a mountain bike because of the pavement.
I chose the hilly route, thinking it would be fun.
It was, but the main challenge wasn't the climbs, but navigating Los Angeles' legendary shitty roads.
 |
| Starting line |
And the impending rain, of course. Despite hopes that it would hold off, it started sprinkling just as the race started. Luckily, it never really rained, just misted enough to make the roads slick and fog up everyone's glasses.
 |
| Tandem! |
The ride had a really nice mix of people, and since it wasn't a race but an organized ride, there wasn't such a sense of urgency to go flat-out, but I did end up joining one of the pacelines, which was fun, but since the road was wet I got covered in the goop being thrown up by the tire in front of me. I looked like "Pig Pen" from the Peanuts cartoons.
 |
| Griffith Park |
About halfway through Griffith Park, the blue sky started to peek through the clouds.
 | ||
| Steep climb |
 | |
| So steep that everyone had to stop and rest |
 |
| Aid station |
 |
| Fortune cookie for the Chinatown ride! Get it? |
 |
| ...in bed. |
By the time I left the aid station, the sun had come out and it was a gorgeous. We rode through Burbank. looped back to the LA River bike path, and made our way back to Chinatown, where there was a huge line for the promised carbo load lunch:
 |
| Load me up! I'm hungry! |
 |
| Noodles, and more fortune cookies. |
 |
| I'm sorry, I thought someone said there was to be beer. |
 |
| Red Lanterns |
 |
| Red Lanterns and puffy clouds |
 |
| Gong on a shop |
When I got home, the first thing I had to to was wash the gunk off Gary, then I took a shower myself.
It was a really fun ride, and I'll definitely do it again next year, but I'll seriously consider bringing a mountain bike because of the pavement.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Wow, didn't see that one coming.
Between road biking and commuting, I put in a respectable number of miles on the bicycle.
Consequently, my legs are pretty damn strong.
Strong enough that usually weights don't make me sore the next day, so when I was at the gym Sunday pre-Superbowl party, I decided to do the workout that they call 'the board' which is posted on, natch, a board on the workout floor.
This one looked good, but not super hard for someone with legs of steel:
In case the photo isn't showing, that's "Push, Pull Squat"
3 x 20 push ups
3 x 20 cable chest presses
3 x 20 seated row
3 x 20 lat pulls
3 x 20 body weight squats
3 x 20 body weight alternate lunges
I added in some ab work, but holy crap.
That easy-looking workout kicked my ass. It's Monday night and I'm still sore.
I knew the shoulders would be sore because of the push ups, but they're way less sore than my quads.
Masters swim tonight was an adventure - of course we were doing sprints. I ran out of gas about 45 minutes in and only have myself to blame.
However, in the future, if I need a really good quick workout (this one took under 45 minutes), I know what I'll be doing.
Consequently, my legs are pretty damn strong.
Strong enough that usually weights don't make me sore the next day, so when I was at the gym Sunday pre-Superbowl party, I decided to do the workout that they call 'the board' which is posted on, natch, a board on the workout floor.
This one looked good, but not super hard for someone with legs of steel:
In case the photo isn't showing, that's "Push, Pull Squat"
3 x 20 push ups
3 x 20 cable chest presses
3 x 20 seated row
3 x 20 lat pulls
3 x 20 body weight squats
3 x 20 body weight alternate lunges
I added in some ab work, but holy crap.
That easy-looking workout kicked my ass. It's Monday night and I'm still sore.
I knew the shoulders would be sore because of the push ups, but they're way less sore than my quads.
Masters swim tonight was an adventure - of course we were doing sprints. I ran out of gas about 45 minutes in and only have myself to blame.
However, in the future, if I need a really good quick workout (this one took under 45 minutes), I know what I'll be doing.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
A tale of eBay woe
I'm forever on a quest for better bike shorts.
Better pad, better waistband, legs that don't ride up or cut off circulation, etc..
But mainly a better pad. I usually wear Mavic shorts, and they're certainly comfortable, but after about 50 miles, I'm in pain and no amount of fresh chamois cream will do anything about it.
So while browsing everyone's favorite online auction site, I found a pair of shorts that looked to have a promisingly thick pad.
So what if they were an off brand and priced at only $30?
All that stuff my grandma always told me about getting what you pay for?
Straight out the window. I bought the shorts.
They arrived the other day and this morning was my first test ride on them.
I had originally planned to do 80 miles up PCH today, but about 10 miles in, the shorts (or the spirit of my grandmother. I can't tell which) took their vengeance.
The pad, so soft and comfy at first, immediately compressed to the point where it was beyond useless and actually causing chafing, but that wasn't the main problem. The main problem was the seam up the back of the shorts with a very poorly placed tag that was rubbing the skin off the small of my back. It's amazing how the little things get you.
I figured that eventually the lady bits would numb out, but that seam/tag combo - I couldn't ignore it. The more it rubbed, the more it annoyed me, to the point that I started getting really snappish and mean to passers-by and riding buddies.
That, for me, was the signal to pack it in. It wasn't going to get any better.
So I headed home after riding a grand total of 25 miles. I've got a patch on the small of my back that's rubbed raw, and my lady bits are hamburger. Hamburger, I tell you.
So, lesson officially learned.
No more discount off-brand bike shorts for me
Better pad, better waistband, legs that don't ride up or cut off circulation, etc..
But mainly a better pad. I usually wear Mavic shorts, and they're certainly comfortable, but after about 50 miles, I'm in pain and no amount of fresh chamois cream will do anything about it.
So while browsing everyone's favorite online auction site, I found a pair of shorts that looked to have a promisingly thick pad.
So what if they were an off brand and priced at only $30?
All that stuff my grandma always told me about getting what you pay for?
Straight out the window. I bought the shorts.
They arrived the other day and this morning was my first test ride on them.
I had originally planned to do 80 miles up PCH today, but about 10 miles in, the shorts (or the spirit of my grandmother. I can't tell which) took their vengeance.
The pad, so soft and comfy at first, immediately compressed to the point where it was beyond useless and actually causing chafing, but that wasn't the main problem. The main problem was the seam up the back of the shorts with a very poorly placed tag that was rubbing the skin off the small of my back. It's amazing how the little things get you.
I figured that eventually the lady bits would numb out, but that seam/tag combo - I couldn't ignore it. The more it rubbed, the more it annoyed me, to the point that I started getting really snappish and mean to passers-by and riding buddies.
That, for me, was the signal to pack it in. It wasn't going to get any better.
So I headed home after riding a grand total of 25 miles. I've got a patch on the small of my back that's rubbed raw, and my lady bits are hamburger. Hamburger, I tell you.
So, lesson officially learned.
No more discount off-brand bike shorts for me
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