Could it be that time.........

The lovely Bradford Pears have unleashed their white fury this week. When they blossom that is like the first round of the alarm clock going off. Of course, there will be some snooze's (unlike spring-like days) mixed in but it mostly means that warmer days, especially, warmer mornings are here. Yippee.

Thursday at lunch I got in a nice easy 3 mile run. Windy and pleasant outside, weather was around 75 degrees. Yesterday was much warmer and more wind. Highs around 90 and wind out of the west around 20-25. My route in fact took me west down Seymour Hwy. The bumps and wind made for a nice exercise and when I turned I enjoyed a really nice tailwind on flat concrete averaging 25 plus MPH. I would prefer to get out for a 30 plus mile ride but with only an hour or so for lunch, 20 miles will do.

Well, I fell behind significantly for goals for February but that is okay. Daylight savings and warmer days will motivate me and give me more time to get out. 

St Jo in the books, totals so far and a cactus.....

First off, very disappointed in last weeks effort. Unmotivated in core, running and riding. I was looking forward to the weekend and a trip to Bar H Breaks in Saint Jo, Texas. Chilly morning and some great trails. Lots of long uphills and super fast descents. Got in a about 15 miles, well short of the 25 I had hoped for. That's okay, beat us up pretty good. Cactus story coming up soon.

Okay, last week did not add up the goal totals like I would have liked. I enjoy midday runs this time of year instead of night, dark runs. Nights were chilly and that Unmotivated me. I did manage 2 runs, thursday and a 4.33 mile run saturday, that was really smooth and easy. I could have easily ran another 30 minutes. Weather was perfect. Also, did a short 10 mile road ride. Core was limited to twice and NO yoga. Oops. Guess that means 2 this week, plus 40+ on the road bike to meet Feb goals. Should be interesting to say the least. So, here are the totals so far:

On the feet....21.83 miles----goal met

On the dirt seat....30 miles---10 more miles

On the road seat...10 miles--need 40+

Core....6 times---Fell behind schedule

Yoga.....Still at 2

I really have my work cut out for me. So, my excuse. I honestly was concentrating on a running base this month  more than riding. However, I did make plenty of excuses not to ride on off days. Wind is my favorite. I think I did accomplish the goal for getting back into running. The last last 2 or 3 have been comfortable and am actually looking forward to going this evening. 

Now, the cactus story. So, we get to BH Breaks and proceeded to go to the hardest trail section there, Devil's backbone. We did not know that it was the hardest, honest. The trail is roughly 5 miles of switches up and fast gnarly downhills over loose rocks, root and nicely hidden under last falls leaves. Each time you top out you ride a nice plateau for a bit and than descend again. Well, on one of the plateau's was a log going across the trail. No prob, simple bunny hop and I am over. Nope, obviously a little tired and my chainring came down on the log and I flipped over it. No biggee, except I was laying on a cactus, yes, a cactus. Which can and did penetrate 3 layers of clothes. So I shuck down to shorts and proceed to pull little tiny needles out of my skin. Now the fun moment. My rear tire starts hissing. 2 large needles thru my sidewall. Got all needles removed, changed flat, redressed and headed on.

Temptations of Temporanillo

I ditched my "loop" run for a glass of temp this evening. I think I get a mulligan a week, right?

I did get some core work in this morning and will do some crunches and push-ups later. Better half is doing yoga downstairs. I am getting kids in bed. 

Hmm...I might try to squeeze some yoga in.

Starting sometime in the next few days I will post and discuss my stable of gear, i.e., shoes and bikes. Also, Beauty and the Beast is back and running in Tyler, Texas next month. Might try the 64 mile route with my buddy JDub. Coming in May is Muddy Buddy Nashville with BIL. And just a few days til St Jo.

While I am rambling, for those checking out the Tour of California, got time, check out Elden's coverage over at the Fat Cyclist. It is a hoot. Also, the ToC Tracker is running nicely, since the rains stopped. The full coverage video is sweet.

Good Wednesday e'ryone

Great weather week in the Falls, high 70's to low 80's the last few days. That is supposed to end tonight and tomorrow. I think the highs are around 60.

My run days this week are tuesday, thursday and saturday. Yesterday I did the loop. Massive wind and it was 85. Wind was worse than he heat by far. I do love the heat. I am definitely getting comfortable, leg wise. 

The nice thing that happened is that I got a 10 mile "sprint" ride in today, sunny with moderate winds. I am planning on going on a nice run with the better half in the morning. 

Got in some core work this morning before work/after everyone left. 4 days til the MTB trip.

Week 2 Recap with some Sinus Infection on the side...

I missed my scheduled run on wednesday but got one in on thursday. That threw me off a day so I was planning on a nice saturday run and maybe push it a little. Well, woke up at 2 am with a raging fever that kept me up until 6. Managed a few hours of sleep and got up to head to work. Got back home midday and took a 2 hour nap. Got a Z-Pack and started the antibioitics.

So, that gets us to yesterday, I did get out a run a nice easy "loop". Temp was around 50 and I can say that overall it was a very nice easy run. First one I can say that about, minimal leg discomfort and zero recovery. That makes three loops for the week. By the end of March I feel like I will be ready to amp it up some more. 

No rides this week either. Hoping to get on that tomorrow or wednesday. Big mountain bike trip this sunday, however.

I did get in a yoga session and 2 days of core.

So. Totals so far.

On the feet.....15 miles

On the dirt....unchanged, 15 miles

On the road...unchanged, 0 miles

Yoga....2 times

Core....4 times

Good Wednesday Morning

Slept great. No kids waking me or climbing over me. Good moods all around this morning. 

Just finished 30 minutes of core and stretching. I am planning on a loop on the feet at lunch or this evening after work, depends on the schedule today.

Yesterday I was hoping for a bike ride but the wind was way up and my normal 10 mile lunch ride would have been in the teeth of it most of the way. I did see some cyclist out yesterday. It is not the wind so much but I do want to enjoy it instead of just because I have to.

I did, however, get in an hour of yoga at lunch that felt awesome. Actually left my legs kind of shaky all afternoon. And, lastly, set of crunches last night while watching Brazil-Italy friendly. Fell asleep in the second half with Brazil up 2-0.

Monday

Slept great. Woke up and got kids and wife on the way. I did about a half hour of core and stretching. Did my normal 2.5 mile loop at lunch. Warm and windy. Loving the weather. Got a bit of a shower last night and blue skies this morning.

Hope to get some crunches in tonight. I am trying to add 100 crunches and 50 pushups 3-4 nights a week to my routine. I did it 3 times last week but got a strange dull ache in my right side of my chest so I have laid off since friday.

Fish tacos and red wine on the menu after soccer, I hope.

Note to self: Go to bed earlier and eat breakfast.