Well I guess it's that time of year in Florida. It beautiful, warm and always sunny. As you ride around communities you find people walking their dogs, walkers, joggers and bikers. But the warm weather brings out the Crazies! It is those seasonal people who come to Florida for vacation or the season and don't know how to drive. It not just old people either. Crazies are the people who do really stupid things around people riding on bikes, therefore I call it Crazies Season.
Take this morning. It was a beautiful morning 68* and sunny. I saw two otters crossing the road to get into the lakes. The birds were singing and the yup the crazies were out already at 7 am! I was just going along minding my own business enjoying the morning cruising along at a comfortable 20 mph when all of the sudden a green Mercedes pulls out of a driveway in front of me. Like he didn't even stop or hesitate or anything from garage door to street non-stop! Ok I'm happy its a nice morning I just saw two otters playfully cross the road.
As I follow the green Mercedes I'm about two car lengths behind him just keeping up with him when we come to a T intersection. You know the kind you either go left or right and straight is not an option. I notice the green Mercedes has no turn signal (perhaps Chyrsler didn't put turn singals on that model or it was an option) so it's guess time. Where is he going? My vote is left towards the country club to play golf because it's that time of day and that's were most men who are awake at this time of the morning are headed. But it's just a guess.
As I'm contemplating how to get thru the intersection without unclipping my shoe from the pedal, I notice there is a man walking on the other street carrying his golf clubs. Now this is strange. Strange because first of all no one walks to the country club carrying golf clubs...It's just not done! Put the clubs in a car drive the mile or use an electric cart and drive but don't walk. Second it's strange because he is actually carrying the the clubs.
Well as I approach the intersection I move to the right because I assumed the green Mercedes was turning left. But low and behold have now pulls to the right curb on to the shoulder then the grass a stops and opens his trunk all in one motion. He's blocking the intersection with an open trunk, I on the right, thinking I'm going to pass on his right as he turns left, so I now move to the left to pass him on the left when he throws open the drivers door into my lane! Smooth move exlax!
Why did he stop? to pick up the guy carrying his golf clubs of course! Why did he open the trunk? To put said golf clubs in the trunk. Why did he open the door? To stand at the rear of his car while the other guy put the clubs in. Or to make me dodge his door!
So...Stay awake because it is Crazies Season!
Friday, November 19, 2004
Monday, November 15, 2004
Another Fall
This morning while doing, my 2 mile warm-up lap on my bike, I hit a slippery patch of road while trying to go around a speed bump I went down. I noticed my left pinky finger was making a left turn. Assessing that it was dislocated and not broken, I pulled it back in place. Now it's just purple! I also have road rash on the left side of my body.
Steve joined us for our ride today. While it's nice to have another person pull into the wind, Steve is stronger and faster than me so it was quite a workout. Often we were going 22 -24 mph. Hey he's also 20 years younger.
This past week has been a slow week in training, although I feel like I'm getting a little faster on the bike. My ave speed has gone up and I recover faster. Now if I could just get faster on the run.
Saturday after my run and swim, I met up with Joanne and took a tennis lesson. It's a lot of fun chasing the ball around the court. My hamstrings don't seem to like it though.
Sunday I met up with Tony for our LSD ride. Although I feel like we are not going slow but jump in going as fast as we can. We did the Pelcian Sound Loop then debated given the pending rain on going out on the roads. We decided to stay in and modify our course adding extras to the various circles we go around. I ended with 40 miles with an average of 18.4 mph.
This weaks totals:
Bike: 130 miles
Run: 17 miles
Swim: 6,200 yards
Weights 2 xs
Pilates 1xs
Hours total 19
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Weather Has Changed
This week the weather has really changed. Friday we had a brief shower, during my ride of course, and a cool front go through. The humidity has dropped, I've turned off the air conditioner and opened the doors. It's so pleasent to have the breeze go thru the house. The day time highs are about 82 and lows about 62.
This week Tony had a home show and was not suppose to ride on Sunday so I had planned a long slow ride around my community about 6 loops for 60 miles. But Tony did make a brief appearence which help me get thru my ride. After my ride I planned tennis for an hour which was a good change for my muscles.
Saturday was the Florida Ironman, which meant the registration for next years race, which I wanted to do, opened on Sunday. It filled in 9 hours! Yup, I was to late to register. Back to the drawing board.
Weakly Totals:
Bike: 150 miles
Run: 17 miles
Swim: 6,200 yrds
Weights 2 xs
Pilates 2xs
Hours total 21
I'm concerned about my running totals give the approaching half marathon in January. But I don't want to back off on my bike since I have the century race in January. I'm thinking about doubling up on my run days to have two run workouts. While this adds miles, I'm not sure about the long milage and on one run to develop the slowtwitch muscles. I guess I have to increase my long run as well.
This week Tony had a home show and was not suppose to ride on Sunday so I had planned a long slow ride around my community about 6 loops for 60 miles. But Tony did make a brief appearence which help me get thru my ride. After my ride I planned tennis for an hour which was a good change for my muscles.
Saturday was the Florida Ironman, which meant the registration for next years race, which I wanted to do, opened on Sunday. It filled in 9 hours! Yup, I was to late to register. Back to the drawing board.
Weakly Totals:
Bike: 150 miles
Run: 17 miles
Swim: 6,200 yrds
Weights 2 xs
Pilates 2xs
Hours total 21
I'm concerned about my running totals give the approaching half marathon in January. But I don't want to back off on my bike since I have the century race in January. I'm thinking about doubling up on my run days to have two run workouts. While this adds miles, I'm not sure about the long milage and on one run to develop the slowtwitch muscles. I guess I have to increase my long run as well.
Monday, November 01, 2004
Swimming with Dolphins
I went to St. Pete Beach Thursday thru Saturday. I was able to run before I left on Thrusday but I missed my ride on Friday, instead I swam 1/2 mile in the open gulf off St. Pete Beach. While swimming I stopped to adjust my goggles and there was 3 dolphins about 10 ft away! How kewl is that? I guess they were wondering about this old guy swimming or maybe there were keeping the sharks away.
In the afternoon I went to register for the Suncoast Triathlon to be held Saturday at Ft. DeSoto. It was a limited sprint triathlon for 300 athletes. With USTA registration and race registration it was $90. Since I would probably finish dead last I decided to save the $90.
Saturday which was suppose to be my race, I took a long ride along the beach at St. Pete Beach down to Pass-A-Grille and then over the bridge toward Ft. DeSoto. At about 20 miles from the hotel, I picked up a screw in my rear tire. Yup another flat tire one of three in four weeks! UGH. I tired to patch it but ended up putting in a new tube. After changing the tire, I headed back. On the way I saw a pack of roadies (about 20) and not one waved to me on my tri-bike. Snobs?
Tony and I did our usual Sunday ride to Coconut point and back. I got my 50 miles but I was tired.
Weakly Totals:
Bike: 130 miles
Run: 12 miles
Swim: 3,200 yrds ??? not sure since I swam about 1/2 mile in the gulf
Weights 1 x
Pilates none
Goals for this weak:
1. Eat more healthy foods and staying on my nutrition plan... 4,100 calories
2. Drink more fluids..I feel a little dehydrated....1 gal of water per day!
3. Stay with my training plan... Increase Saturdays run to 12 to 15 miles.
In the afternoon I went to register for the Suncoast Triathlon to be held Saturday at Ft. DeSoto. It was a limited sprint triathlon for 300 athletes. With USTA registration and race registration it was $90. Since I would probably finish dead last I decided to save the $90.
Saturday which was suppose to be my race, I took a long ride along the beach at St. Pete Beach down to Pass-A-Grille and then over the bridge toward Ft. DeSoto. At about 20 miles from the hotel, I picked up a screw in my rear tire. Yup another flat tire one of three in four weeks! UGH. I tired to patch it but ended up putting in a new tube. After changing the tire, I headed back. On the way I saw a pack of roadies (about 20) and not one waved to me on my tri-bike. Snobs?
Tony and I did our usual Sunday ride to Coconut point and back. I got my 50 miles but I was tired.
Weakly Totals:
Bike: 130 miles
Run: 12 miles
Swim: 3,200 yrds ??? not sure since I swam about 1/2 mile in the gulf
Weights 1 x
Pilates none
Goals for this weak:
1. Eat more healthy foods and staying on my nutrition plan... 4,100 calories
2. Drink more fluids..I feel a little dehydrated....1 gal of water per day!
3. Stay with my training plan... Increase Saturdays run to 12 to 15 miles.
Trick or Treat!!!!!
I had 8 kids visit this year for Halloween! There were scarey Orks and beautiful Princesses..... and some funny looking parents too!
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