So, yeah, it is appearing more and more
UNlikely (but never say never!) that I will be capable of running the half-marathon in two weeks. If I can't, I am sort of considering trying to solve my hip issues very diligently so I can run a 10-miler in the fall. (I have found an amazing stretch!) Since people donated to the MS Society in support of my running goal, I would like to deliver. But maybe I'm not supposed to be more than a casual runner and should try to do something ambitious on my bike. (Hmm.)
This running respite has allowed me to focus a bit more on cycling, which is good, since our June Belgium trip will involve a hilly, 7-day ride and I haven't ridden hardly at all this season.
After my San Diego meeting ended, I had a free afternoon and didn't want to sit in my hotel room, despite its amazing view.
So I rented a bike, wearing sweat-inducing jeans and a backpack, and did this ride after being talked out of riding to and through Coronado Island. I found some hills (with very respectful cars) in Balboa Park before riding in the most industrial, trafficky "bike lane," which had a fair amount of debris. The cars were very respectful there, too (except for one bus), which is evident by the fact that I'm still alive. On the way back from the southernmost point where I took the photo of the water, the bike lane evaporated and I had to ride the bike as fast as I possibly could because I was taking the full lane and it was rush hour. The bike's front brakes were slightly on for most of the ride, the right pedal had a concerning "gonna fall off?" squeak, and my handlebars were slightly twisted off center. It was still a great ride though. I was tired and had a delicious dinner.
I got home mid-afternoon on Thursday and, that night, did the women's ride that I started doing last summer, led by the super encouraging, super optimistic, super friendly Laura.
I'm not sure when she took that photo of me riding, but despite my goofy mouth, I like it. I like seeing my form is pretty decent after I got my bike re-fit last summer.
I was very focused on self-care this weekend, but did go out for a ride after the rain stopped today. I tried to find hills on a short 25-miler. The first climb was on Highway 13 to Cherokee Park (are they renaming that?) in West (?) Saint Paul. Highway 13 felt a lot harder than it looks on that elevation chart. You can't tell from the map, but I went down Ohio Street, turned around, and went up and down Ohio Street again. I then skipped the gentle grade of the MRT from Lilydale to Mendota and went up the big hill that probably has twice the elevation of the gradual uphill trail. Some decent hills without going far. Good thing I did a bunch of hill training in 2019 and know where they are hidden for future rides.
When I was at my meeting in San Diego, I gave out these cute animal affirmation cards.
I highly recommend them. There were only about 5 dumb ones in the box of 50 and they will totally make you (or others) smile. I credit them for enabling me to just regroup a bit this weekend before I leave town again to help my mom for her knee surgery.
Here's hoping my hip mobility improves so that I can walk her dog without too much pain. Ideally zero!
