It is Sunday afternoon, and we didn’t have to work today. My parents and nephews are visiting for a couple of days. I took yesterday off from any exercise, but I got in some good riding during the week, mainly commuting back and forth to the shop. I went out for my first run today in over a week. I ran very slowly, and was able to run with just a little bit of calf pain for about an hour and a half. I had to keep reminding myself to slow down since I didn’t want to strain myself too much. I really had missed the running and was thrilled to death to be back out. I got my swimming exercise today by throwing my two nephews, Ryan and Kevin into our pool over and over and over again. It was a good upper body workout. Only 20 days till the Death Ride and 41 days till the Vineman. I can’t believe they are coming up so fast.

I had a really great 90 mile bike ride today. I left from the house early this morning and headed out to Dry Creek and then Hwy. 128 into St. Helena. I met Claire in St. Helena and then did the Pope Valley/Ink Grade Loop. I did an extra climb up Deer Park Road out of Pope Valley and then rode down Ink Grade and then back up again. We met another couple in Pope Valley, and they took us up on our invitation to meet them at the Calistoga Inn for some lunch and some beers. They were from Toronto and had just become engaged a couple of days earlier. I felt great on the ride and didn’t feel tired at all even at the end. My calf is still giving me some issues when I run, but I have been icing it and taking some Ibprofen to reduce the swelling.

Let’s see, things are going great in the training world. Claire and I went down to Big Basin for three days to do some camping. I went out and ran for 2 hours and 20 minutes. I figure I did about 15 or 16 miles since I did a 11 mile trail loop in an hour and 40 minutes, and then did some more running to get in the extra time. We went out for a couple of bike rides one of them we went up China Grade, which I did years ago during “Mr. Bill’s Nightmare”, which was one of my favorite organized rides.
I went out last night, but experienced a little tightness in my right calf so I turned back early. I think I will have to add in some more stretching. I have been neglecting the swimming portion of my training, but I will start swimming today at the SSU pool. Hopefully I can hit it 2 or 3 times a week.
It is only 29 days till the Death ride and 50 days till the Vineman. I feel like everything is going according to plans. My weight is down right where I want it, and my runing is feeling great. I need to get a couple of more nice long bike rides in before the Deathride, but otherwise…

I went out for a good, tough ride this morning. I got to do one of my favorite loops not just once, but three times. It is the Sweetwater loop, which turns out to be exactly 23 miles. It takes me roughly an hour and a half for a loop. This morning I went 1:22 on the first lap, 1:24 on the second, and 1:28 on the third. I was hurting pretty good on the final time up. It was also getting a little windy. I had my zone on my heart rate monitor set between 130 and 170 beats per minute. I ended up being below my zone for 34 minutes, above my zone for 34 and in my zone for 3 hours. I think those were the numbers. I don’t know the elevation gain of Sweetwater, but I do know that it is steep.
I was planning to run as soon as I got back, but it felt more satisfying to make some homemade bread and do some house cleaning. I will get in a couple of long runs this week.