Running, Cycling, Surfing, Bowling, SUPing

Until I bought an SUP about three weeks ago, the surf has been flat. So an SUP was the way to go. With my birthday a few weeks back, it was easy to decide what gift I was giving myself. I did a little research and decided to check out the sales going on at a store located near me called West Marine. Not only did they have a full selection of SUPs, the prices were pretty good. I dropped by the store to look at them, and I fell in love with a JimmyStyx 10' epoxy SUP that was covered with a pink design and a huge pink painted ribbon representing breast cancer awareness. I lifted it and found it more manageable than some of the other boards I have seen, lifted or used. I went home to think about it. I bought it two days later. I loaded it myself inside my vehicle. The hatch didn't close all the way, but I tied it down with bungee cords. The next day, as I was showing a picture of it from the website to someone in the office, I saw that the SUP was discounted even more. I immediately called the store and found out that would be getting $100 back. Not only did I get the SUP I wanted, but I got it even cheaper than I first thought.

Love my new SUP!
Thinking about naming
her Penelope.

I called my SUP friend and she and I decided to take out our SUPs on the following Sunday (two weeks ago now). She would be purchasing hers from a beach dude in G-town that day. Although the day was perfect for SUPing, getting hers purchased took a little longer than first planned. So, we played on mine for a little while. What a blast! Once hers arrived, she got out in the water for a little while and we practiced fighting current and attempted to catch some of the waves coming to shore. We had a ball. We've since gone again, but in Taylor Lake…close to home. The current was strong on that occasion, but we still had a blast. I had to maneuver getting on and off the board from the pier, which I managed to do without falling in the water. The only problem that day was that I jabbed my hand pretty hard with a nail on the edge of the jetty. But the blood and pain didn't last long at all, and I made up my mind that launching there should always be fun and easy.

Since starting this post, the waves came back for a short while. I surfed twice…once last Sunday morning (at 43rd) and once Thursday evening (at 25th). Both times, the current was strong and the waves were unpredictable, which made paddling out a little more difficult. But, both times, I caught waves. My Thursday evening surf this past week was, for the most part, out past the jetty, but on the inside of the waves. I caught a couple as they were breaking, but caught most after as forceful whitewater. Had a ball though! On Thursday night, I stayed out until it was almost too dark to paddle. It was great to be in the water and helped ease the stress of a crazy week, and I'm very glad I went.

Mixed in with all the fun water sports was my usual running and cycling. I continue to train for my next marathon, which isn't until early next year, but still requires training…lots of it. My cross-training includes hard rides on the bike, which I try to do at least twice a week. Finally, this week, I even went bowling and know that I should NEVER consider a career on the professional bowling circuit. I love staying busy, and I'm always looking for the next adventure.

Oh No, Not Again!

I haven't been surfing in over two weeks now! Just when I think some waves are building, I look at the webcams on Friday and realize there is no way I'll find waves -- not Friday, and probably not Sunday. I'm desperate for waves and surfing these days. I have some stressful things taking place these days and could really use some waves to help me unwind. I kept/keep hoping something will change, but it hasn't. Not only was there no waves on Friday, but the forecast for flatness continued today. After looking at SwellInfo and reading the forecasts on g-townsurf.com, waves should come back one day this week. I just hope that when they return, I'll be able to squeeze in an hour or two of winter surfing one evening.  

The only wave in Galveston
lately is the one painted on
this bench located on the
seawall.

Although I didn't get to surf, I am glad to report that I was able to participate in my other sports, though I must admit in a rather limited way. Heavy fog didn't stop me from getting in an early morning five-mile run on Saturday, but it did stop me from cycling. I was forced to spin at the gym instead of cycling outside with my cycling club buddies. Of course, I was set to go out on my bike alone after the fog lifted, but as I was walking to the back of the house to put on my cycling clothes, I heard a large popping noise and hissing. I ran back to the front, panicked looking everywhere, but finally realized that it was my back wheel. Not really sure why it popped/flatted, but decided it was probably a sign to skip cycling. So, instead of taking 30 minutes to change the  back tire, I opted to go to the gym and finish the last 30 minutes of a 9:30 a.m. spin class.  I was so glad I made it, but even more glad that the fog was gone by this morning (Sunday). I was able to actually get in a quick 26-mile ride today. But, oh how I wish I could have surfed! I need/needed it.

Back to the Murky Waves of Galveston

I had beautiful waves in San Francisco, but I was definitely ready to return to my home break this Friday. After all, even though the sets/waves wouldn't be as pretty as San Fran, I definitely wouldn't have to put on a wetsuit. I probably won't need a wetsuit in Galveston until November and, even then, it probably will be only a springsuit until late December when I wear my 3-2. I won't need my 5-4 again (I HOPE) until mid-January. Dude B. says the water is cooling in Galveston, and I found that hard to believe until I went down on Friday afternoon. It is a little cooler...by Galveston standards.  By cooler I mean that instead of feeling like I was stepping into a murky bowl of steaming soup, it felt more like I was actually stepping into a pool. Water temp is about 86 degrees.

Dude B. called on Friday to say that the waves were pretty decent despite the picture that was appearing on G-Town Surf. He said the sets were fairly clean and breaking outside of the camera picture. When I got to the 43rd St. jetty, I saw what he was talking about. I think the sets had slowed considerably, but they were still there. I unloaded Roxanne and took her out. I caught a wave right away, but it fizzled. I got a ride though and even tried to extend the ride by stepping forward on the board. However, I either didn't step forward quick enough or the wave really was fizzling out, 'cause I couldn't extend the ride. Oh well! I caught several waves that day, and received some compliments. The planets must have been aligned for my success, 'cause while one of the lifeguards was walking out on the jetty to do a water check, he saw me paddling back out and stopped to talk to me. He said it looked as though I was the only one at the time that was catching any waves. I wasn't sure. I saw several surfers out, but only noticed one who seemed to catch quite a few waves. By the time, Dude B. made it out again to surf with me, I was catching waves quite consistently. They were very small waves, but waves nevertheless. The second compliment of the day came from one of the little boys playing in the water. I had seen him a couple of times when I was making my way in to catch the rip current back out into the waves. He turned to his mother and said, "I want to surf like her." Now, I would like to say that I had a stellar day! But, it wasn't the greatest. It certainly wasn't the worst, but things must have been just perfect when people saw me surf. The waves were small, and I'm guessing that those watching were just excited 'cause ANYone was able to surf them.  I paddled hard to catch them.  And, I missed many. I certainly didn't catch as many as Dude B., who manages to catch just about everything he attempts to surf. All in all, I had a ball and it was great getting back out.

By today (Sunday), it was flat again. Later this afternoon, I noticed that the waves were building but, by then, it was too late for me to load up and get down to 43rd. Oh well! I had a full weekend. I ran and cycled (more than 95 miles) this weekend. And, I'm looking forward to next weekend. 

As good as...

My mother made everything a competition when I was growing up. I know I've mentioned it before, but my mother used a "game" technique to get my brother, sisters and I to do the things we needed to do. Because I was second in the line of kids, most of my competitions were with my older brother. When it came to sports, I could rarely beat him, but when it came to him having to learn spelling words or his multiplication tables, I could win. My brother, a sports nut his whole life, needed motivation in school. He was smart, but just not interested. In order to make him do his homework, my mom devised ways to make it a game. Knowing that he was interested in football, she could get him to memorize grammatical rules if she could turn it into a football play. She also knew that if she could get him to compete with me, she could also coax him to learn things. So, consequently, I learned my multiplication tables a year early (since I was a grade behind him in school), and spelling words that were beyond my grade level. I could beat him in those games, and I loved it since I was never quite as good as him at throwing a ball into a basket or racing across the yard. This competitive spirit has stuck with me through the years. I'm not sure that's always a good thing.

What does this have to do with surfing (or running or cycling)? Well, one of the problems with being so competitive is the inability to just have fun sometimes. This week, the water was too rough and the weather too miserable to go surfing. With ESE gusty winds that turned to WSW winds, the surf report was rather dismal. According to G-townsurf.com, a couple of surfers braved the winds to go out, but you could tell they were a little more experienced than me and could dance around on the rough stuff. However, that's where my competitive spirit becomes an issue. When I don't go out, I feel like I'm stepping backward in my training. Yet, I'm not sure what that even means. If I'm surfing to just have fun, what difference does it make? Also, I have a bad habit of comparing myself to others. This can be rough for me, since some people are just more genetically gifted for certain sports that, perhaps, I'm not "designed" for. Surfing happens to be one of those sports. However, like many before me, I refuse to give up. I'm tall for a female surfer. Other tall surfers have succeeded though, so, really, what it means is that I just need to try harder. But, I have to try harder because I want it, and not because others are better at surfing than me. Let's face it, I will never qualify for professional "status" in any sport. 

This same competition problem comes into play with my other sports. I've been cycling for almost 20 years (wow! I just did the math in my head and I can't believe its been that long).  I cycle with a very competitive group of people, mostly guys. So, in years past, I've really pushed myself to be as fast and as strong as some of the guys cycling. And it's hard to tell just how strong a cyclist someone is by just looking at them. I've seen people who don't look particularly fit, ride strong and fast. The same goes for running, which is my newest sport. I go to runs and think I should be able to keep up with or pass certain other runners and then they leave me in their dust. In reality, it shouldn't matter. I'm doing it for fun, not for competition. My running friend M is very realistic about his running. He recently completed his first marathon, and has no great expectation that he will finish in a certain time. He sets a personal time for himself that has nothing to do with other runners. I ran in a half marathon this morning, forgot my Garmin, and then tried to stay with some 8:40 milers for the full 13 when, in reality, I should have just run my race and not thought about the time. Instead I let it bother me when they left me, as well as when another outstanding runner (a woman I know who was running her first half) passed me. Why shouldn't she beat me in? She trained properly, ate the right food the night before (I ate Mexican food last night, which is not exactly the right food for a run) and had the good sense to cycle yesterday with a slower group (not me; I left with my usual gang INTO A STRONG WIND).  She was particularly upbeat and positive for me when she passed; running for the love of it. (This reminds me of the book "Born to Run," which the author notes that the tribe he was following always smiled when they ran 'caused they loved to run.) 

I just need to remember to smile more when I'm surfing, cycling, running or just living. It's not a race!!!

Good days and not-so-good days

I guess no day could be really bad that included surfing (or running or cycling for that matter). However, today was quite trying for me anyway. I didn't really feel like I had my game on when I made it to Galveston bright and early this morning. I had a fantastic day yesterday. I participated in the Saturday morning run in Kemah with a great group of positive, upbeat runners and got in a 5.2-mile before heading over to my cycling club ride and cycling 60 miles. It was fantastic! I had a pretty decent run and ride. I opted out of the 25 mph group at mile 40, but I can honestly say that I chose to leave the group. I might have been dropped after that, but I didn't get dropped at that time. I dined with some good friends last night, which ended the day in a wonderful way. However, Sunday was a slightly different story.

I woke up ready to surf. However, I was quite sluggish in getting ready and didn't make it down until 9 a.m., which is almost two hours after I usually make it down. Once there, the waves looked weak, but rideable. They were quite sloppy, but I made my way out. Brian had some lessons, Robin was helping with photos and all of his assistants were at work, so I was out without the others. A few people were already surfing, including some annoying shortboarders. I tried to take the rip out, but it was difficult, which should have been my clue. I could never find a break in the waves. In fact, no matter where I tried to get out, I had a hard time. Once out, I had even less success. I caught a few and even managed to successfully turn to avoid some swimmers. (I still need a lot of work with turning.) But, my mind wandered! I watched another young girl catch wave after wave successfully. However, I was feeling discouraged about surfing as well as some other frustrating events in my life. I didn't have a clear mind. I wiped out several times, which is something that hasn't happened to me more than once every third session in a while. In one particularly bad wipeout, I got hit by "Sunshine's" fin. It was disastrous. I surfed the next wave, but decided that the wipeout and subsequent "finning" was a sign for me to call it day. After all, I'm running a half-marathon next weekend, which won't be good if I can't even walk. I'm a little bruised, but it could have been much worse. I'm also a little bruised mentally. I want to surf better! I also don't want to look like an idiot when there are so many others at the beach.

I decided to investigate/google "mental game." I just haven't had a good mental game lately. I've found a website from a life coach, but other than a few testimonials and a Mental Game Power Quotient quiz, I don't really see anything useful. I found several golfing sites also. I found one thing on one of the sites, that I thought could help actually. It said: "The most important thing you can do mentally to give yourself the best possible chance of success is to focus your attention on what you want to have happen." I guess it's similar to some surfing advice I heard, which is " Look where you are going and you will go that direction." I need to keep my attention and my eyes looking down the line of a wave and imagining that I can surf it.

Flat water, SUPs and a full weekend

We are definitely in the doldrums (no waves), although SwellInfo is predicting a comeback this Thursday (2+ waves...yes, we/I get excited about 2+ waves...sad, but true). I was determined to get into the water this week, so when Friday afternoon rolled around, I arranged to go stand up paddleboarding after work. When I arrived in Galveston, I realized, though, that I should have brought my 9'. I think I had enough to do a little surfing. The waves were breaking on the inside of the jetty, but they were somewhat consistent, arriving in sets. I didn't have a board though. Brian said he would go home and trade in the paddleboards for surfboards, but I told him it wasn't worth it, that I could get the workout I needed on the paddleboard. Well, what an eye-opening experience that was! I hadn't SUP'd in very rough waters before. It had always been flat and calm, but, like life, the unplanned, choppy water made things a little difficult. I got out and up, but trying to catch waves with the paddle proved hard to me. I was bounced off numerous times, and I was lucky not to lose my cap or my new surf sunglasses. Again, like life, I think I need a lot more practice.

My weekend was a busy one. I cycled to work on Friday, went SUP'ing in the afternoon, rode 42 miles early Saturday, ran 4.4 miles mid-morning Saturday (note to self: it's too darn hot to run at 10:15 a.m.) and then cycled another 66 miles on Sunday at the Tour de Braz. Although, surfing and cycling are my passions, I need to start making running more of a priority as I train for the San Francisco Half Marathon (7/31). I need to increase my distance and somehow work it into a regular training regimen. I bought a Garmin to help me track my times and distances(note pic above). But, more than a Garmin, I need discipline when it comes to running. Again, in comparison with life, I have to learn that the things we want don't come easily, that they require an investment of time and hard work. Ummm...is it possible that cycling and surfing are favorites because I feel better while doing them and because I can't be as contemplative? Is it possible that I have too much idle brain time while running and, therefore, am forced to think about uncomfortable things?

Oh well, I need to figure all these things out. Maybe, surfing uncertain waves will help me do that in a way that running cannot. I'm just all over the place with this post. ummm...

Recuperating muscles -- not for long

Although some of the bruises are still visible and the aching in some of the muscles continue, I still look forward to trying to surf in Galveston. I've researched several surf sites through Google, and I have a few names to call. Until then, I'm continuing my pre-trip training except for the 5 a.m. swim. I put it off another week because of a cold I seem to be fighting. My workout routine will include cycling, yoga, spinning and weights. I got back on the bike for the first time in two weeks today. The air temperature was very nice... in the 70s. The wind was low, and the sky was very clear. It felt like spring. I'm glad I waited until the afternoon. The morning was quite cool and a ride then wouldn't have been as pleasant. Hopefully, I'll get to ride sometime during the week; maybe even with the bike group on the Tuesday night 20-mile loop.

I am also continuing my pop-up practice, as well as push-ups several nights a week. But most of all, I'm continuing my "study" of the art of surfing by reading and watching others in the sport.