I got back on the wagon this week, logging over 130 miles over three days. Monday and Wednesday were hard climbing days, getting in over 2K of elevation gain in 20 miles of riding each day. My approach is to get the climbing in extended periods with some flat at the end to push for speed in. By doing this, I tie in the strength gained on the climbing with speed work with the hope of increasing my base speed. So far so good as my normal "cruising" speed is rising month over month. The way I tell this is happening is riding over the same roads, watching my speed. Not a real scientific approach but it at least makes me feel better about what I am doing. On Monday, I started with some real tight legs from Saturday's extended ride. After the first part of climbing, the loosened up a bit and I climbed with ease. Wednesday's climbing was smooth and fun. Nothing like bombing down Chehalem Road at 45+.
Saturday was nothing but fun - triple triple dime. We started early at the Dentists office. There is a theme here. Dentist - Pain - Pain Train. The pain train left about 6:30 AM with only one scheduled stop, Clubber Lang Blvd. We rolled out and around Haag Lake for the first 30, over to Yamhill, Carlton, Lafayette, and Hopewell for the second 30, Wheatland Ferry, St. Paul and back to Newberg for the last 30. There was no rain and a little sun. It was a good day on the bike. I started to feel the ride about mile 57. You know the feeling. It feels like your legs are hollow and the only way to make it stop for me is either to push harder or to stop. Stopping wasn't an option so I pushed harder and suffered a bit more. Thanks to Mark and Ben for the fun on the bike. It is always easier to suffer when you are riding with someone else. Share the burden!
Mark and Ben are a couple of triathletes and during the ride, one of them leans over and says that I should try running after a ride. I kindly thank him for his offer and politely decline. I have tried to run over the last few months to no avail. As I am riding up the house, the family is getting the rackets out to go over to the high school to play tennis. I want to play so I change and we go over. I find out that the gals are going to run. Craig challenges me to a 100m dash. I gladly accept and barely beat him. He's 11; I'm 38. Barely winning was never in the cards. Soon enough, I will be the second quickest in the family. I decided to see if I could run a mile. 1 lap, 2 laps, a little pain and discomfort, the quads are burning, lap 3, I'm going to do this, lap 4 with a kick at the end. I probably could have ran a few more laps but this might be the start of a little bit of running for me. Who knows? If it helps me lose weight, let's go. Next we hit the tennis courts and play for an hour. Yes, my legs are sore today but nothing that a few hours on the bike won't solve.
Now that the fun was over, time to do the chores: clean the garage, finished staining the deck, and hang with my parents. OB12OLD rode in from Sheridan. It was a good day for a ride. An even better one to hang with family. Thanks to my parents for stopping in and cooking some great salmon and potatoes and being great company. It is so nice to just "hang."
Stay riding. Only eight weeks to the STP. I am excited for this one.
Only 190 miles this week on the suggested mileage.
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