Training Log Archive: Torino

Biking to the start (all uphill). Uhhh, felt yesterday's race and my calves were not happy. After a night of some rain, the sun came out again, yipee!

Long bike-O Champs. The distance and the climb scared me a bit. And it really was tough again, however my initial tiredness in the muscles disappeared. I did not have any inclination that I could be so close to winning this race because the first gal bikes so much and is a way stronger biker. But I blew it again on two route choices that I did not see. and I always had the fastest splits on the downhills :-)! Who would have guessed that. Several uphills were so steep (80 and 120 m at one piece) that I had to walk and push the bike, but I was not the only one.
A little annoyed at my not seeing the better choices (but this area is very intricate with a hill/creek/valley-system that it's hard to see where it goes up or down. I was not the only one not seeing those better choices.
Anyway, still happy and a little proud I could do it under 1:20.

And the long way back to the school. I took it easy, my muscles were a little empty.
Lots of climb today biking to the race, the race and going back after the finish.

Warm-up to the start.

Bike-O race in the Basel Land area. Tough uphills and fun downhills. Was pleased with my time but was annoyed that I made 2 route choice mistakes and one major mistake by not paying attention for a moment. Total mistakes probably around 4 min.
Sunny and very humid day, but the woods are still quite wet and came back covered with mud again ;-).
Ah, and I came in second in the old-women's class (uhu=under hundred)

Quick run after a full housework day. My legs still felt heavy from the long ride on Wednesday :-/)

Went with Max Santschi on a "little" bike ride. Lots of fun and lots of chatting. I have not gone that far in ages.

O-training with Anco after stroller-sitting Matti and spending most of the day with Sandra and Matti first at the mall and grocery shopping, then at home while Sandra could do a bike-loop. A very fun day!
PS: the O-training was on top of one of those open Jura mountain meadows with the fresh-green grass just growing tall. I also saw my first meadow orchids of the year. Beautiful scenery in the evening sun!

C • Those mountain meadows are ... 4

The usual "longish" loop in the Elfenau. I also wanted to check on the flooding as part of the trail was closed over the weekend. "My" little trail along the Aare was deeply flooded but the bigger trail along it runs on a raised dam and was dry.
Coming to that area from above, I was suddenly struck with the thought, what did "my" swans do and their eggs. Or have they hatched before it flooded? The nest was on a little island of reeds in the middle of a pond. When I finally found the swans peering through leaves I saw that one of them was sitting on the water as if she/he were still sitting on the eggs? I was puzzled, is the nest still there and the swan was protecting the submerged eggs by remaining on them even though it all was in the water? Or did it all rush away and the swan does not know the difference? And if the chicks (??) will hatch, which they are supposed to these next few days, will they be ok in the water right away? Because usually they spend most of their first few days on land resting. Hmm, any biologist's opinion/expertise here?

My run felt pretty good with a reasonable time, faster everytime I think.
And...... the sun was out today but a coldish northerly wind was making it fairly cool.