This week Im endeavoring to make myself hurt. A lot. The theory being that doing this in a short term, controlled manner will up level my fitness. I bought my first do-rag on Friday. Im channeling the Hulk!
Yeah. Pretty much.
This morning I did my usual Tues/Thurs workout class at 5:45am. *cue Rocky theme* Today was one of those days I call texas hold 'em. We dont do a set number of reps, we do things till we're told to stop. So we squatted, kettel bell swinged, planked and push up'd until we were told to stop. I really really hate planks.
Tonight I did sprints on Mt Tabor. I imagine myself pulling off this epic move in a race where I take off at the bottom of the hill and sprint to the top, crushing my competitors. With my teeth bared and eyes bugged out I give a Xena worthy yell as I burn across the finish line like a rocket. I look so fierce small children nearby start to cry.
With this in mind I set off on my first rep. I am the champion! I realize at about 30s into my 60s sprint that this really sucks! I manage to get about 2/3 of the way up when my legs give up and Im sucking air like a vacuum. After an hour of repeats like this Im tired, but saying to myself 'well I didnt puke so I probably could have gone harder'
Which is when I realized theres something a little screwed up about being disappointed with my workout because I didnt barf. Im tired but not totally decimated. My glutes hurt. We will see what the next 2 days of workouts bring. Probably a lot of whining ;)
Have I mentioned that while I'm training for the Alps I'm also pursuing a major career change? So in addition to spending my days as an analog circuit designer I'm now learning the black arts of computer programming. Yep, I really know how to pound myself into the ground!
This week was especially busy at work with some late hours required to meet a publication submission deadline. Add to that the arrival of spring rain downpours and Ive been a bit of a crabby girl lately. I think we in Portland have PTSD when it comes to rain; when it really lets loose (especially after an abnormally dry winter) we start threatening to move and building arks and rounding up our cats, 2 by 2.
Oh geez, really its not that bad!
And Im still feeling some effects from my IT band getting irritated last weekend. So here on the couch I sit. Fried from work, gloomy about the weather, paranoid about the miles Im not getting in this week and ready to just take a cab to the top of the Passo Stelvio. Oh, and I hate intervals. Screw training.
In a word, it sucks.
Thank goodness for daylight savings
Coming home from work tonight there was a break in the sky. It was around 6, now nearing 7pm and its still bright as can be outside. And not raining! This made me immensely happier and I had a sudden urge to ride my bike (followed by the 'but i need to rest' voice in the back of my head..) It reminded me of something important. Light makes me want to bike. If its light and especially if its sunny I have no motivation problems at all with getting on my bike. I was feeling sad about having to rest tonight because I knew riding my bike would make me feel better. Im glad to know that while Im having a momentary tantrum I still love to ride my bike.
This Saturday Im telling the rain to kiss my butt and heading for the Dalles with some awesome buddies. Im looking forward to putting in some long, hard, fun miles in the sun.
For now I am smothering my wounds with nut butter. And computational biology!
The rain returned this weekend. I got up at 7 and saw that the forecast predicted little chance of rain until 1pm. After checking the wind on Marine Drive wasnt gale force I decided to finish what I started last Sunday. Larch Mountain.
While I was getting ready I was thinking about similarities between mountaineering and long distance road cycling. I did some climbing a few years ago and have had a life long interest in wilderness survival skills. When preparing for my trip today I had 3 small pockets to carry whatever I would need for an 80mile trek. I stashed my jacket, hat and toe warmers knowing how cold the descent from the mountain would be. I took some extra food, my holy trinity of electrolyte tablets, mylanta and advil, and a small pump. Tire repair kit, an extra tube and a multi tool were in my saddle bag. Survival skills indeed!
Heading out to Marine drive I was appreciating the ride of my Cervelo after a winter of riding on my rain bike. I fell in love with cycling on my Specialized Sequia (Elite!) but having a really sweet carbon bike makes me want to take cycling home to meet my family and move in together.
Along the bike path I saw a heron!
No no, not a herring, a HERON. Like a heron hidden in the moon.
I enjoyed riding someone off my wheel further down Marine Drive. He latched on around Blue Lake park and yelled something before falling off into the dark abyss. It was drizzly but not really soaking wet. The weather kept most of the motorists off the highway so I had a fairly quiet ride out to the Gorge.
"Mountaineering is the only sport where you celebrate at half time"
As I headed up Larch the rain picked up. I had started to feel that inner thigh ache that comes with long miles for the first time this year. Its like a badge of honor! As I got up around mile 5 I noticed a lot of the snow from last week had melted, but at about mile 7 there started to be icy spots on the road. I wondered if it would be like this in the Alps. I also started to think about how much at risk I was, being up there alone in the cold, wet, slippery and little cell phone coverage refuge of the forest. I turned around just past mile 8 as the road got more treacherous and my gloves had soaked through from the rain I hadnt expected.
Annnd thats about enough. Turned around here
On the way down my fingers seared with pain. I was concentrating on the road, looking for iced over spots and gingerly picking my way across some snowy patches. My fingers felt like they were on fire. Once I got out of the snow I started slapping my hands on my thighs to get them to warm up. Fortunately the temperature was rising rapidly as I descended but the rain was still coming down pretty heavy, and all I had was a windbreaker.
Back down on the highway headed for town. I had 30miles to get home. With still another 10 of downhill to go I was a pretty miserable drowned rat at this point. I kept thinking of being at home warm and eating and pondered if i should stop and call someone to come get me. If i had a mechanical id probably be in a rough spot, but at least I was getting nearer and nearer to civilization.
Thankfully the rain let up when I got to Troutdale and was dry most of the way home. My lower back hurt from climbing and my upper back and neck hurt from tensing in the cold and lifting my head up to see while descending 20+ miles. I was ready for this ride to be over so I put my head down and focused on getting home.
81 miles later I peeled off my sopping wet clothes and had some pizza. Here's my route
The road to the Alps is paved with biking. And food. Dear god I was so hungry for lunch today I could have eaten a horse. I actually had to go eat because I couldnt concentrate. I also got a cramp in my leg. EAT FOOD NOW says body. OK.
The weather this week has been magnificent so after weeks of indoor only training during the week I was finally able to get outside. Outside = more fun, more miles and more friendly faces to ride bikes with!
I logged about 90miles last weekend. Saturday AM I headed up Skyline via my new favorite approach, Cornell. Its a nice long climb, which I need to work on. Surely spring is upon us; last time I was up there a few weeks ago it was snowing, on Saturday the sun was peaking out and temps were a good 20degrees higher.
Long unrelenting climbs always bring out the demons. "Why am I doing this?" "I missed brunch for this?" "You are completely insane to think you can climb the Alps if you are whining about this puny little hill at sea level" I keep pedaling, alone with my thoughts. Trying to focus on my pedal stroke or some scenery instead my mind eventually moves on.
I cut my climbing short due to concern about my recently inflammed IT band and turned around at Skyline Elementary.
I deftly dodged a wolly bear on the road.
Sunday's ride was spectacular. I headed out about noon for the Gorge. The wind on Marine drive was merciful and the Gorge scenery didnt dissapoint. Coming down Larch Mtn I pondered what kind of clothing Ill need to get for descending the Alps. I own 1 long sleeve jersey that I rarely wear. Im guessing arm warmers and a windbreaker probably wont cut it.
Heres a short video of my Sunday ride:
I find myself lately obsessed with having a 6pack. I figure Im more active now than I may ever be again. Over the last few months my legs have turned into rocks but a stubborn layer of belly fat still remains. Its interesting how attached Ive become to being physically fit and that I worry about losing it.
While Ive intensely focused on other things in life, studying engineering comes to mind, Ive never had this kind of intense focus on something physical. I find myself struggling with the lack of social life but at the same time relishing the zen simplicity of my life. I work, eat, sleep and train. I know pretty much how I will spend my time and I feel at times a freedom from having to plan but also a restlessness. Its helping me prioritize my time better; Ive realized how important it is to eat good food and how weak willed I am when it comes to eating out, so I make sure to set aside time on the weekend to make food for the week.
Im also becoming hyper aware of my body. Right now I have a cramp in my thigh that happened right before lunch, Im wondering if Im not getting enough electrolytes. Im monitoring a muscle ache in my right calf that happened this week, I think riding in the cold Tuesday night started it and cramping after sprint intervals Weds made it a little worse. I kept my eye on it at Tabor last night and it seems to be ok today, or at least not any more stiff than my other calf.
Its hard to balance what I want to get out of training and accepting where my body is at. Its hard not to obsess over miles, heart rate targets and elevation gained week to week. With something as big and unknown to me as climbing the Alps I never quite know if I'm doing enough. For now Im trying to focus on meeting myself where Im at physically, mentally and emotionally on a day to day basis. And enjoying the really amazing things my body is already able to do!
