Sunday, July 19, 2009

7/18 - Mermaid Ride

I'm going to do this post quick before I forget and get caught up in my training and work next week.

Saturday was the day of the 40 mile Mermaid Ride. There was a nice big group with some new faces, including Nancy from masters. I wanted to wear my tri top to expose my skin to the sun a little before the race. (in 2 weeks!) However, it was a cold foggy morning in Santa Cruz so I bought a pair of sleeves to keep me warm. And, after we started rolling I was glad I did. I would have been really cold.

The route went along the coast from Santa Cruz to Capitola to Rio del Mar. In Rio I had to face my nemesis, The Hill of Doom. I made it further up the hill, but decided to walk the steepest part. *sigh* Then it was a lovely ride (with some gradual hills) through the strawberry fields to Watsonville. When I turned on to Beach Road there was a nasty headwind so I took some pics since I wasn't going anywhere very fast.


Still working on my photographing while riding skills.


Okay, that's better.

We had a nice lunch and then headed back to Santa Cruz.


Mermaids in front of me . . .


Mer . . . umm . . . need to work on shooting behind me


Better . . . let me try again . . .


Out of focus Mermaids behind me.

Here is where I found my happy pace last year and remembered how much I liked bike riding.


The Hill of Doom is too steep to stop and take a pic of going up, so here is going down:


We made our way through busy Capitola Village, up another hill, by the beaches in Santa Cruz, and finally I could see the Rio Theater. I was never so happy to be back and done in my life. (Well, maybe except for the ride in Sonoma last week.)

Nancy and I at the end.

Why does Nancy's hair still look normal? I was a sweaty mess.

40.91 miles
3:19 riding time

This was my last big ride before the Vineman AquaBike on 8/1. Starting to get nervous.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Long time, no post. Too busy training.

Rather than try to write about all my training I'll hit the highlights since 6/29.

>>Lots of riding & swimming.

>>On the 4th of July I celebrated with a 3 hour, 15 minute ride on the Peninsula with a bunch of friends. No one got lost or injured, we all made it back pleasantly exhausted.

>>Having some trouble with my Achilles Tendon. Hurt's when I point my toe so it mostly effects my swimming.

>>On July 9th I did the "Splash and Dash" at Stevens Creek Reservoir. Dude, those were some fast splashers and dashers. Usually, I'm in the middle of a swimming event, but this time I was at the end of the middle. But it was nice to swim in the open water. Whoever thought they would see me write that? Not me!