It took until March 23rd, but the temp finally broke 60F today. Sun, no rain in sight (first time THAT’s happened in about, oh, five months), and I have the day off.
I also was due up in Bellevue for a meeting in the morning, so I lugged by bike, and running shoes, and all the other CRAP that goes along with being a triathlete (OK, I’ll list it: hat, helmet, sunglasses, contact lenses, fluid, glasses case, HR monitor strap and watch, 3 water bottles, HammerGel, Shot Blok, bike shoes, socks, biking bib shorts, shirt, jacket, Road ID, leg warmers, bag to carry it all, little case for $, ID, phone, and key … let’s see, I think that covers it) with me, and got to pick from all the great places to ride in King and Pierce Counties.
I was doing my weekend ride, as I hope to run a 5K race on Saturday. So I needed to do about 90 minutes of biking, including 40 minutes at a hard pace, and another 30 at a mod-hard pace, followed by a 30 minute run at a mod-hard pace. I chose the South Sound shore route.
My favorite for spring days, exposed to the afternoon sun, with views of the Olympics, and no real traffic issues. Park at Chambers Creek Golf Course, site of the 2025 US Open (or some year far in the future). Warm up thru Steiliacoom, then start the hard stuff up the hill to Ft. Lewis. Pound it on the out and back to Solo Point, and continue towards Dupont, Easy pedal for 4 minutes, start up again back thru the firing range and up the hill again. Then a gentle ride through town, and ramp up for a steady ride along the Sound, up the easy hill, and along Grandview Drive and back again to the car.
Numbers: intervals at an intensity factor of 96 and 99%, with a total IF for the ride of 87%. 28 miles, an hour an a half. It feels good in the sun!
Now, for the run. The Chambers Creek Golf Course is set in an old quarry, with sandy rolling links snugged up against a Palisade cliff side. So the run is first a mile along the cliff top, then a half mile DOWN. Next, along the sound, with a detour over the RR tracks and back on the new pier-like pedestrian bridge jutting over the rocky “beach”. Watch the duffers for a mile while I huff uphill and puff down. Then, the Piece d’ Resistance: climb 3/4 mile back up on switchbacks, some as steep as 22% (I walk that part). Finish strong, and make it to the car, doing 3.6 miles in 28 minutes.
It’s nice to run in shorts and a shirt, feel the sun on my skin, and be SWEATY afterwards. I haven’t done that for half a year, and forgot that I actually LIKE doing this kind of stuff. The whole time, I don’t feel my finger tinglies and numbness, I forget that I can no longer swim, and don’t even notice my chronic elbow tendinosis pain. I am reminded, though, that I still can’t swallow well, as every time I try to drink, it’s a major production to finish the job. I’ve got to learn how to do that better.
But that’s a minor glitch. I’m biking and running, in the sun, feeling strong, and raring to go long. It’s a big part of what I live for.
Funny what a little sun and warmth can do for us!!!!!!!!