Training Log Archive: OutdoorsMama

Event: SMOC Chilson
 

Warm enough to do my church duties by bike today wearing a summer dress. And I managed to control the pace so I didn't arrive all sweaty :)
Then spent the whole afternoon doing drastic gardening, sawing and purning several shurbs to knee height (I really wish I had a chain saw!). My triceps sure got a workout with the hand saw
Finally brisk walk to the library then grocery store and return with more groceries than I intended to buy.

Event: Barry Roubaix Gravel Race
 

I usually don't do this much somewhat-vigorous warm up activity. But since I seem to do better as races progess, I thought I would start things up earlier.

Sun. Low winds. Dusty course. I bet there were course records set out there today!
Opted for shorts and a short sleeved jersey with sun blocking arm covers. SPF 60 on the face and legs. What the heck is that blue stuff up above us and that shiny orb in the sky?

I made it up the 3 sisters hills at the beginning for the first time in 3 years, and did NOT use my granny gear (she wasn't available when I asked for her help...and I didn't need her after all...so HA :) ). Made it up the Killer, and may have begged the Highland drummers and pipers there to give me a drum roll (they were taking a break when I came upon them). They started warming up their bagpipes as I neared the top of the second part of the hill, and that gave me a nice boost (today is the anniversary of the Battle of Culloden....my Scottish roots must've felt the significance of the wail of the pipes).

There were many sketchy sandy parts, and riders went down. Fat bikes or mountain bikes would've been good choices for those parts. As well as for Sager Road, especially when a Jeep came through the middle of us, making us loose momentum in the loose sand (that's when I was off and on my bike a couple times).

3 gels, 1.5 L water from my Camelbak, 3 GU gummies, half a bottle of Tailwinds. No cramps, but there was a twinge or two after the Killer.

Maybe last week's awful hill climbing helped for today. Regardless, I was very happy with the final result.

Knew a couple gals on the Single Speed podium....great work, JustMe and Middy!

Enough fast walking and dynamic stretching to feel like I have done something constructive in advance of Saturday.

Hauled myself up every "hill" in town. Some other riding too, but def. a good 30 minutes on "standing climb". Let's put it this way: I was worried that the folks in the lakeside condos were going to confront me for riding up and down their hill repeatedly.