Team USA Kit

My Team USA kit showed up in the mail today so of course I had to try it on. It fits great! Not sure when I will try it out, but I will need to put a few miles on it to make sure there isn't anything weird about it.

Based on what is going on in the world, I give this like a 50% chance of actually happening, but always hopeful!

New Radar

The weather was not very nice today. The temp was around 48 when I left but it was overcast with a strong gusty wind out of the west. My legs were a little cold but otherwise I was fine.

My first ride with my new Garmin Varia radar installed on the bike. Much of my riding is on roads with wide shoulders but 3/4 of today's route was single lane, no shoulder roads and the radar was really nice. The radar is really nice. I like it a lot actually. I think it will come in handy later this summer on my longer rides.

When I finished my ride and was pushing my bike up my driveway I noticed that my rear brake was dragging. I wonder how long that was going on? I probably lost 5-6mph because of that? :-)

 I hope the weather improves soon.

New Running Shoes

I noticed that my running shoes had a small hole starting. I don't put on a lot of miles on my running shoes so they tend to last a long time. I went back into my stats and my shoes had 300 miles on them but they were also 19 months old! As I said, I don't run much.

So I ordered up a new pair of blue Hoka Bondi shoes and took them out for a short run early this week, and then my long run today. Somehow I seem to be faster than I was, so it must be the shoes right?

99 bottle of beer....or mini's

My wife and I are both working from home full time now and our kid is also doing distance learning. So we are stuck in the house all the time now. We have begun to go out for walks a couple of times a week just to get some fresh air.

Today the wife and I went and walked on the road I have been doing my long runs on. It became clear that someone had a great party and didn't invite us. Along a one mile stretch of road we found dozens of mini bottles of various flavors. We also found a couple of empty larger bottles too.

Things I don't notice when I am running, but become apparent at the much slower walking pace.

Tri Bike Outside Finally

Well it wasn't the warmest day outside today but I decided to take the tri bike off the trainer and go for a ride outside. It was 41 when I left. I probably should have worn one more layer but it was ok. As I sit here 20 minutes after I finished, I can tell that my legs got cold because I can feel them starting to warm up.

A couple of legs of out and backs on roads I know are in good shape. I need to take a drive on a couple of my loop roads to ensure they don't have huge pot holes or lots of post-winter gravel.

It was great to get outside and feel the wind on my face and go fast!

COVID-19 Quarantine

So I am lucky enough to have a job that allows me to work from home which I have been doing now for two weeks. But it is amazing how little I move around while working at home. My step count is 1/10 what it was, I never use the stairs etc.

With the Y closed, no more swimming, and all my running has to be outside. That has gone ok so far since it has warmed up some and the roads are at least clear of ice. Spring really hasn't arrived quite yet, and temps are still hovering around 40 degrees for a high.

It seemed warm enough the other day to actually bike outside. I didn't feel like getting my tri bike off the trainer though so I just pumped up the tires and checked the brakes on my road bike and set off for an hour+ ride. Now I haven't ridden my road bike outside in at least a year. I haven't ridden it all since October. It is just different. Different position, no electronic shifting etc. Plus my butt was not used to that saddle or position either. My road bike doesn't have a power meter on it, or even a cadence sensor so it was a "naked" ride with just HR.

But it was good to get outside even if the temp when I started was 40 degrees. My fingers got a little cold after a while, and about an hour in my feet also started to get cold. But it was fun to feel a breeze on my face that didn't come from a fan.

I am going to need to change up my routine some more. Add a walk or extra easy bike ride to my schedule just to get some extra exercise. The home "cafeteria" is too convenient to my office and everything is free there! Too many temptations.

Like everyone else, races are cancelled, my move to Phoenix which was supposed to happen next week is now on hold permanently. I give a less that 50% chance that the Amsterdam race will happen in September too.

But we are all in this together. Trying to stay healthy, flatten the curve, and survive this until we find a cure or vaccine and a sense of normalcy can return.

Longer Outdoor Run

I got out of the house and did this run. It was like 10 degrees colder than last week when I ran outside so I threw on one extra layer and added a hat and I was perfect. I am still battling this cold though, that coupled with the cold air meant my nose was running like crazy! Ugh.

I choose a different route to run today. Actually it is the start of my normal bike route. It was a good choice because the road had been swept and was free of gravel! So an out and back and it went well.

I kept the same HR goals as I have been all winter and that ended up with a slower pace than I do on the treadmill, but it is what it is.

So good run today.