Another cold ride - Just do it!

Winter riding can be miserable. Getting warm and staying warm can be difficult. To continue training for surfing, I must keep up my normal activities, so although it was quite chilly, I managed to bundle up for a 60-mile bicycle ride today. Arm warmers, knee warmers and a vest made the start of the ride a little more comfortable. About ten miles in, though, I had to get rid of the vest. The wind was cold, but every once in awhile, the sun would peak through just enough to warm me up for a few moments. The group was big, probably because of those training for the upcoming MS150. A bigger group means more people to help pull in the paceline. We definitely go a little faster as a group. Although I managed to stay with the 21 mph group most of the way, I eventually pulled out to wait for friends. Today's ride was definitely about finding the right spot in the line. Being too far back, can easily cause a rider to be dropped. That's what happened to my friends. They weren't able to find the right spot in the line. I suspect that catching a wave while surfing will also have to do with timing. Throughout life, much of what happens can have to do with where you are at a particular moment just like in the ride. Finding the right spot at the right time is sometimes beyond one's control, but, often times, we have the ability to choose our spot. I need to remember that being in the right place at the right time can, occasionally, be up to me.

Fits like a glove?

"Wetsuit tops and/or spring suits are worth packing if you are attending the camp anytime from November to April." So says the Surf Adventure Camp Survival Guide from my surfing camp director. Sounds easy. I'll just drive over to my local surf/sport shop and buy one. I call Sun & Ski and the clerk who answers the phone says they have them. Shortly after 5 p.m. I head that direction. I enter the store and ask where I might find the wetsuits. The young man points to a corner of the store. I find myself in front of one rounder full of various types of wetsuits. Full body, short suits, suspender suits and a few shirts. I find a shirt. The tag says "Large." I look at it and think that it looks awfully small. I take the X-Large wetsuit top and some light blue board shorts into the dressing room. The shirt goes on easy enough. It doesn't look bad, but maybe I should ask if it fits correctly. I walk to the counter where four guys and one gal are standing. I'm the only customer at the moment, but they seem "busy." I ask if the shirt I have on fits. One of the guys speaks up and says "No, that shirt is way too big. You want it to fit tight 'cause when it gets wet it will stretch out." What??? The shirt is not way too big. At least, I don't think so. I walk back over and find a medium. After a few moments of struggling, I walk out of the dressing room like Frankenstein. I hobble over to the counter, which has now only the young woman standing behind it. How does this fit? She says, "I think it's better." I CANNOT MOVE MY ARMS. I buy it anyway. Eventually, the other clerks return and agree that it is supposed to fit that tight. I'm counting on it to "stretch out" in the water. It reminds me of the Levis 501 jeans I used to wear in high school -- size 28/38. Washed and dried, they were tight! I would lay on the bed to button them. But, once I moved around, they always felt much better. I'm sure that's how the wetsuit top will be. Fits like a glove? That's what we are always looking to find, right? Not just in clothing, but also in friendships, spouses, etc. They fit snugly at first, but allow for growth and exploration. hmmmm...

My guide also suggested some conditioning exercises, including one I hadn't thought to do. Pushups! It suggests 5 to 10 pushups a day for at least a month. I just did 10. I definitely need more practice.

Pumpin' Iron

To train for my upcoming surfing adventure trip, I've been lifting weights every other day. I had at least one person say that building muscle will be detrimental to my swimming, but I can't help but think that it will be helpful. Muscle adds strength and how can strength hurt a person in any endeavor? I've increased my overhead press to 20 lbs. for at least the first two 10-count reps. I revert back to 15 lbs. in the third set simply because by then my arms feel as if they can't lift one 20 lb weight, let alone two. If I give myself a rest between the second and third set, I can lift the 15 lbs. without a problem. I also increased the other two weight programs with 12 lbs. rather than 10. I just hope I can keep it up and that it will benefit me when I fall off the board in the Pacific.

We, newbie surfers (me and the other gals that will be learning to surf at the camp), received an e-mail from our instructor telling us what we need in the way of swimming gear. I plan to be ordering my spring suit/rash suit online when I finish my blog. We also received the most fabulous photos of the place my fellow surf camp participants and I will be staying while in Nicaragua. Our home-away-from-home looks wonderful and more like a resort than a rustic farmhouse in the countryside. (See photo above.)

Other training this weekend included a cold and windy ride to the San Jacinto Monument. Since my friend Bev was riding for the first time in a very long time, I decided to ride with her at a slower pace. We rode the 48 miles together and had a great time. I'm glad I got a ride in before the rain started on Saturday afternoon.