flahute

View Ascent activity on 30-Jan-10 at 02:01PM in a larger map

Ride #2 for the year, and it’s obvious that whatever fitness I gained on my trip to Arizona over Christmas is now gone. With an AvgHR over 160, peaking out at 179, I was definitely struggling on anything even remotely resembling a climb … not to mention the actual climbs.

Funny thing, though … even though my pulse was really high throughout the entire ride, on the flats I felt like I was cruising easy. So maybe I’m not in quite as bad shape as I think, and it’s the air that’s causing the problems.

Tomorrow should be a ski day; at least that’s the current plan. The rest of today will be spent relaxing, doing laundry, and watching Steven Soderbergh’s Che. I watched the first part, which covers the Cuban Revolution, a couple days ago … watched a documentary on the making of the movie this morning, and am now watching the second part, covering the Bolivian years. Excellent movie. Highly recommended.

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Kind of hot, but very, very muggy today, making breathing difficult for a fat, out-of-shape old punk like me, but still managed to roll-out another 28 miles, bringing my annual total to 802 thus far this season; not a lot, I know, but still more than I did during the entirety of 2008. Looks like my goal of at least 1000 miles should be fairly easily achievable, but I don’t think 1500 is in the cards. Maybe 1250; but we’ll see.

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Felt much better today than Friday; most likely because it wasn’t as hot … and because I didn’t have to deal with multiple wasp stings. Emigration to Pinecrest, but instead of home via 20th East, I came back along Wasatch. Had to stop at Canyon because my shifting was off. You’d think that after 8 years working in a bike shop I’d be able to successfully adjust a derailleur myself; but no … I still screw it up, every time.

Thankfully they took care of me. Now, shower, then back up to Wasatch for a nice, yummy Barbacoa burrito.

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Typical loop; typical feelings. Good to ride. Hot. Sweaty. Salty.

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Slightly abbreviated Wasatch Loop for me today … it’s hot out there! Lungs felt good until climbing up out of Parley’s on the bike path. Even managed to keep my heart rate below 160 until Sunnyside just before the zoo; which for me is great.

Really wish I had the cash to spare to go see Max Testa at TOSH for a stress test; see if he can figure out why my pulse is always so high … it can’t just be an out of shape thing, because even when I was in shape (for me), my HR was always on the high side.

In any case, this marks three days in a row that I’ve been on the bike; which is a rarity … feels good. Gotta keep pushing though; consistency is the key.

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Another Wasatch mini-loop, this time in reverse into Cotton Bottom then up past the Old Mill to Porcupine, then north on Wasatch to 33rd South, then back home. Lungs felt okay today, but had a small sciatic flare-up. Not happy at all with my form right now … I know I don’t ride consistently enough, but by this time in the season, I should be better off than I am; part of me actually felt stronger in March than I do now, and I’m certainly not overtrained.

But, on the other hand, even a bad day on the bike is better than a good day off the bike, right?

Likely going to the warehouse tonight to re-watch the Stage 1 time-trial on a huge screen, then up to the roof for fireworks.

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Tried to take advantage of the unexpected good weather and got out for another ride on this holiday Friday; unfortunately, I forgot my inhaler, and had some problems breathing, including a pretty serious asthma attack on the climb up out of Parley’s on the bike path.

Felt like crap, cut the ride short and dropped down 4500 South to go home; then down with a migraine for most of the afternoon. Head still hurts, but feeling a little better. Will try to sleep well tonight, and try again tomorrow.