26 January, 2009

Click

Time to get ready!

About a week ago I clicked into bike race mode. Time to get into shape. I don't really know what the catalyst was but that's ok. It is not like I am in poor shape. I have been playing outside lots, doing all kinds of fun activities. But now I am ready to train again. Still do all the activities, just maybe more of them, without days separating them. All I need to do is keep things under control and have fun while training. To intense now will burn me out later.
Enjoying myself thoroughly is still of outmost importance

Today (Sunday) was quite a good day. I decided to go do the xc ski race that was happening in Duluth on this extra brisk day. Showing up in my Clown suit I took off like it was a cx race and ended up getting a group of 3 of us way out front, then at 4k into the 13k race I got tired and had to slow. The start was enough to bring home the bronze though. For not being very close to race shape I am very pleased with my performance, the two guys I was with for a bit are very fast skiers.
(Hopefully I can find some pictures)

After hanging out at the ski race, enjoying the post race food and chatter I came home and decided I had not had enough. Word on the street is that the Big Lake was rideable, so part of bike practice took place down on the ice. My plan was to work on turning on the ice to prep for next weekend, but the big cracks and all the noise freaked me out, so I just cruised. The ice was plenty thick, there are fish houses and all out there, but riding on the ice suspended over the largest freshwater lake on the planet (which is awfully cold, especially in Jan.) just did not allow for relaxation...

Plenty safe, but still...
Kinda deep here already.
Darkness below...

After bumming around for a good 20 minutes I decided to go ride around hockey rinks to practice my corners, at least if I broke something on one of those I was close to something.
I had a good time testing the limits of the studs.

Then I rode some trails, going up this staircase included. Winter riding is so much fun. Everything is open.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I hope the weather is a bit warmer next time Meg and I make it up. I'm not sure that riding on the lake would be a good idea or not. I am with you on the sketchy noises and all that, it's a little much for me. I hope I can get some riding in up there yet this winter though. Even cruising around town with the hills would be enough to get me a workout. I here you on the training thing, even shaved my legs today. Kind of an ever present reminder for me to try and kick it into gear! Here's to spring, it'll be over 35 here this weekend. Are you going to be around for a ride Sunday?