I planned to ride this morning approx 15 miles, but when I got out at 9am, it was drizzling then seemed like it got harder, so I bailed out of cycling.  I was already at the route also, but I am just not confident enough on the bike to ride in drizzling rain and windy conditions.

So, instead, I did my 12 mile run, which I am supposed to do tomorrow but did it today.  The route was RWC / San Carlos, around the neighborhood (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3489041 – minus 1 mile, I returned sooner than my planned route).  The beginning was a hill going up Farm Hill Road, then back down.  The second part has a slight hill up Alameda to San Carlos.

There was no pain on my foot, but it took probably 4 miles before I warmed up, and at that point I was already climbing the hill.  My shoes did feel like I’m already touching the ground when running, but then again, I want to also buy those Vibram Five Fingers and train in those – like barefoot running.  I think I still need a new pair of running shoes though.

Tomorrow may be a swim day but if it is raining hard, then I might just go do a spin class.  It’s seven more days till my sprint triathlon!

Total distance = 12 miles (approx 11 min pace)

Total time = 2:13

HR = 164 avg bpm

Ran during lunch at work today, around Los Altos hills, for ~40 minutes.  It was sunny but probably in the high 60’s.  I did some sprints for 5 minutes – running fast/sprint every 10 seconds then slow down to a jog/ normal pace.  In the beginning my feet felt heavy, had some slight pain / discomfort on the inner arch of my left foot, and a little on the right foot.  Otherwise, I felt good after the run.

Total time = 39:59

Total distance = 4 miles

HR = 168 avg bpm

I FINALLY went out and rode my bike on the road, after 7 months of not riding outdoors!  I had to ride outdoors because I have a sprint triathlon coming up on April 17 – and had no biking in my training at all so far till now.  As usual, since I am not confident on the bike, I was a bit scared for the first couple of minutes – I rode in the parking lot first, to get used to it again.  Then off I went on the bike path. 

I started from the bike path accessible by going to Ryder County Park in San Mateo.  The plan is to go 14 miles, first a mile out north to Coyote Pointe then back to where I started, then south to Foster City then back.  I went after work, that was around 6-ish pm (wheels rolling by 6:30), and the park closes its gates at 7:30, so I thought to myself, “I have exactly one hour to do 14 miles, that’s about my average speed, if I don’t stop.”  The ride going south to Foster City was a little scenic; I was going from 10-17 miles/ hr (cant go too fast because there were some people).  The path wraps around the Bay, I saw a golf course, rode underneath the 92Fwy in Foster City, saw some people in the water, not swimming, not scuba diving since I dont think you find anything underneath the Bay, but some sort of sliding thing, and they had this huge piece of “tent” looking thingy in the water.  They were wrapping up whatever they were doing so I didnt really see their activity.  A portion of the road on this path, right by where I saw those people in the water, was rough, and it felt like I might get a flat on that terrain.  I prayed the whole time I was riding on that approx 2 mile stretch of bad terrain, on my road bike.  Same thing on the way back, had to pass through that road again.  After I passed that path, right by the golf course and maybe about 1 mile away from the parking lot where my beater is parked, I felt it.  I had a flat tire.  I stopped, checked it out, and remembered that I did not have a spare tube.  I thought at this point, it’s only a mile away, I can just walk my bike back to the car.  One guy saw me walking my bike and asked if I had a flat.  I said yes and also didnt have a spare.  This was at a parking lot by the golf course.  Luckily, the guy said that he may have one.  He opened the trunk of his car, he had a lot of sports junk and workout clothing.  He did find an unopened box of spare tube so he helped me change my tire – and pump the tire with my small hand pump (luckily I carried my tools, but no spare tube).  I thanked him for helping me out, then off I went back to the Park and parking lot.

It’s a little dusk at this time, and I got back to the car at 7:45pm, and saw the park ranger cleaning, then about to close the gates to the park!  I hurried so I can leave before he leaves – and I did just in the nick of time, I was the last car out of the park.

Total time = 1:15 (Total ride time ~1:05)

Total distance = 14 miles (approx 13 miles/hr)

Total time changing flat and figuring out and chatting = ~10 minutes