Random thoughts of the last few days... In summary: YIKES!

I knew that a photographer was on the SF “Day On The Ride” route, so yesterday I finally remembered and got a chance to find the pictures on the web. I found myself. Here is the picture. Honestly, I was horrified when I saw it. I look very puffed up and tired and marshmellow icky. And I'm trying not to be vain and full of myself but damn, this picture is gross! The jacket was all puffed up I guess due to wind, I don’t know. But there is no explaining those massive legs... The look on my face is classic all out effort. I have no idea what part of the route that was... So I was curious to know how much we climbed that day (this was April 29th). I found out that the total climbing we did was 5300 feet. That's a lot of climbing for one ride. This led to a search for the elevation we climb on the ride itself. Here are the feet climbed per day on the last two AIDS/LifeCycle rides (ALC3 & ALC4). The route changes a bit each year which explains the differences. (AlC2 and earlier rides had a hella hella climb the 1st day which I am glad they now avoid -"Skyline Drive" -RT 34?.)

ALC4 2005
Day 1 - 4980
Day 2 - 2700
Day 3 - 1960
Day 4 - 4060
Day 5 - 1960
Day 6 - 3160
Day 7 - 1280
Total - 19470

ALC3 2004
Day 1 - 4314
Day 2 - 2621
Day 3 - 2503
Day 4 - 3730
Day 5 - 1873
Day 6 - 3068
Day 7 - 1864
Total - 19973

Anyway. My picture sucks. And it depressed me. Then last Friday I strained or pulled my left hamstring at the gym. The next day I hiked with the dogs in the morning and then ripped up a garage full of cardboard boxes so that all of the cardboard pieces could fit into the recycle bin. After that I ate an entire cow and did my normal ride thinking I was OK. I was, as far as I could tell. The next day I helped host our fundraising party and all of us were up and down all day. We danced even! One song was ABBA "Dancing Queen" -try keeping your tush still during THAT song, ya can't do it! (YOU CAN'T!) Monday and Tuesday I was in real pain and freaked out a little, walking to Starbucks I thought I’d need a ride home the pain was so bad. Then at home I got a grip and took some Advil, got some ice for awhile and later went to the gym for the Jacuzzi and the pool for some R&R. Today I felt much better and I did 25 miles and the Jacuzzi and the pool routine again and I feel pretty good. That hamstring pain gave me a real scare. The only reason I was at the gym Friday was because I was getting bored on the bike and needed a change of pace. I tried too much I think, you don't even want to know. (e.g. one entire hour at 7% grade followed by machines.) So now I know maybe now is not the time for huge change. I felt solid today though so I hope to do some quick climbing intervals this weekend. All is well, I am very thankful to our supporters who are TD friends and family. Now all we have to do is work and ride...