Day 1- Tucson, AZ

Day #1: Tucson Base Training Camp...

so I claimed that i would start to make this a training blog, well I think this is the third time i've claimed to make it that, nonetheless back to the point... you'll notice it is lacking some training logs. It is virtually impossible for me to blog everyday....and I guess most importantly, my training hasn't happened every single day. BUT......that will change this week.

Daniel and I spent 13 hours in the car driving to Tucson, AZ. I must add the drive through NM was long and boring.. Man, it was almost like KS, the exception was mtns. off in the distance otherwise, flat and brown for HOURS. We'll be doing this again on Friday. As soon as we hit AZ the traffic picked up a bit- but not bad, and the scenery became a bit more lively. I'm not a fan of the desert but Tucson is actually very pretty. A lil to brown for me, but surrounded by mtns. which leaves for a beautiful backdrop, sunrise, and sunset. Not to mention the 60-70 degrees weather with sunshine is a nice boost.

so onto day 1- 80 mile out and back ride to Mammoth, AZ.
I was completely nervous this morning as I haven't been on my bike in AGES. I truly mean AGES. I had a few bad runs on it the end of this summer and well.... got cranky. I felt like I wasn't making any gains so I just hung it up. With the half marathon in San Fran in October, it was early September (first weekend) when I decided to hang my bikes up for a few months. Well a few months turned into December 29th! yikes, that is almost four months. I have to be honest and admit- I jumped on my trainer one day about a week and a half ago for a matter of 60 minutes, and have done three spin classes throughout the entire fall.... Thats it. j

so... of course this morning, I was cranky. I was riding with a bunch of guys and females that ride their bikes regularly, put in long miles, have put in years, and... pretty much only ride.... Not to mention there was about 20 people, and i've only every ridden in a group twice. so i was set for a disasterous, disappointing day.

Luckly, the new garmin D got me for a Christmas did me wonders. I headed to breakfast, to the hour lecture, then back in the room to prep and get dressed. As i strapped the heartrate monitor around my ribs I thought..."what have i gotten myself into?" and I was very short with D. I haven't been that nervous in a long time. My goal was to get at least 50 miles in and keep my HR around 70% of my max. (yes, something I learned from the lecture this am).

plugged in and ready, I hit the pavement with about 19 other riders, this morning at 10am... returning 4 hours and 30 minutes, or 80 miles later! I was shocked I did the entire ride and wasn't feeling too awful bad. In the middle of the climb of the ride was a 12 mile climb. I started up the climb with the guys and one other gal. I quickly popped out "the back" of the group and was on my own... I decided to settle in at the slowest pace I could to make it up the hill, keeping my HR slightly above where it should be: 165-177. I decided this was the best I was going to do so for about 12 miles my HR sat a bit higher than 70% like I was adviced. Soon another guy caught up with me, we rode together for most of the climb. Then he decided to attempt to catch the group ahead. Without the group behind or the group ahead in sight, I was riding again on my own. I kept him and another female rider that had dropped out of the group within eye shot. Towards the top of the climb I got them within 300yds or so... I thought I would catch them but was also trying to be good and keep my HR where it should be. So needless to say, I didn't catch them. They disappeared out of sight at about mile 60ish or so.. then i looked behind me and I caught a glimpse of a rider--damn I didn't want to get caught but I also was tired for riding alone on a busy road... they caught me (a guy and a girl) at mile 68 and we rode the last 12 miles into town together. It was actually nice to be able to chat with someone again, as opposed to riding along a busy highway with weird wind by myself. I was surprised how well I felt today.

My garmin registered 4:35 for time, 79.82 miles, 3864 calories, and an average HR of 149. Not to shabby for my first day out in almost 4 months.

D and I then got cleaned, stretched, and headed out for Trader Joe's to buy some good healthy food instead of having to eat the fried potatoes, mushy waffles, and other food filled wtih high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils that the hotel is providing. My stomach just can't seem to handle that stuff anymore! in the midst of our grocery shopping experience I got a call from a long time very dear friend from middle school, Heath, she is engaged! I'm so excited for her I can hardly stand it. She asked me to be one of her bridesmaids and i'm so honored!!!! then D and I grabbed a bit to eat at Saffron- an Indian restaurant. it was yummy... I'm not going to say what i've done since then because it hasn't been much... i'm embarrassed to admit i've laid around all evening in the hotel room, rather than out site-seeing a new city.... oh well what can you do! If anything, i should have been working on the mounds of work I brought with me for Jan. 5th.. yikes again. it has been so nice however not having to worry about work for almost 2 weeks now!

Tomorrow is a 100 mile ride, i'm planning on attempting to put in 75--- so more to come on how may legs will feel after I wake in the morning!