Riding in the rain

Headed out for a ride yesterday with Paul from work. We were both a bit worried about the weather as it has been drizzling on and off, and sure enough after about 5k it poured down - dam. Cycling in the rain is no fun - water runs down into your shoes, you can't see because your sunnies are all wet, you get sprayed from your mate when cycling behind them, you get cold etc.

The rain didn't last long and the sun even came out at one point. Paul is training for Gold Coast HIM and based off his running form I was expecting to be a stonger cyclist than him - boy what a mistake. The plan was to do West Head return which is about 75k. I hadn't been out to West Head for a while and thus forgot about the relentless hills - none of them too bad, but just constant hard work.

We reached West Head in a little over 1.5 hours and stopped for a drink/eat etc. A cute little Wallaby/Kangaroo was hangin around.

We took off again and I stacked it trying to get my foot in the pedal - not once but twice - once on the left and once on the right. Putting the pedal in on an up hill is harder than I thought - how embarrasing!

On the way home, the hils really started to sting. I seemed to be fine and strong on the flats, but when there was a slight incline I had nothing. Once we came down from the hills, I took a ride on the back of Paul for about 5k and the rest seemed to perk me up. After another downpour, we added a few extra k's by coming home through Dee Why/Harbord etc. for a total of just over 80k. I knew as I walked up the stairs to my front door that I was complete T-O-A-S-T. The longest ride I have ever done, and I was pushing it hard pretty much the whole way. Just like last weeks ride - too fast. I think I need to do my next ride by myself and keep the intensiy in check.

All up 80k in 3:16 @ 24.6 (154)

Today saw another 2k in the pool in 48:30. Splits were:

11:20 (0:40 rest)
11:35 (0:55 rest)
11:30 (1:00 rest) and
11:30

Small improvement again which is pleasing. Last 200m wasn't such a struggle as the last couple of swims. All good signs. My sister in law leant me the book "Total Imersion" which I have heard a lot about.

Tomorrow = long run. Don't you just love long weekends!