Wetsuits keep you warm when the water is cold, but they sure are cumbersome, not to mention, difficult to get out of when they are wet. They imply winter because they exist. I've been wearing a 5-4 since November, and I'm definitely ready to revert back to a 3-2 or a springsuit. I've been hearing how great the waves can be if you are in the water just as a norther goes through. I haven't been there at the right time though. I'm either surfing just before it comes through or just after it starts to calm down. I only got to surf one day last weekend, and I didnt' get to surf today (Friday). Last Sunday's surf was odd. I wasn't mentally in the game, and my new pop-up prevented me from getting a good ride. However, I think in the long run that my new pop-up will pay off. One mishap with Brian's board, though, left me badly bruised. He let it go to tell me something just as a wave pushed it into me. He felt bad about it, but not as bad as I felt when it pounded me in the kidney. The purple bruise covers part of my lower back and feels sore, but I know it will heal.
I should have listened to my heart last week and stayed out of the water. I think another kind of workout would have been better for me. I debated whether to go down today or not. Waves were rough most of the morning, but when the north wind came through, the waves were good...or so I heard. In the end, though, I'm glad I didn't go. I had to work later than usual, and I had errands to run. I wish I had some great philosophy to share about knowing in one's heart when timing is off, but I don't. However, I guess "to thine ownself be true" works. I need to always remember to listen to myself.
SUNDAY (2/28) update -- No surf today! The south winds didn't kick up enough surf. So, I rode my bike instead. It was a great ride.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Two dud weekends
Last weekend was a total wipe out for surfing. While Brian has promised that the winter surfing was the best, it certainly hasn't lived up to his awesome description. The other day he told me that he's never seen it this bad before this year. I'm not sure what to think! I had a few good Galveston surf days during January, but February has been flat. Unfortunately, the weather hasn't been cooperative for cycling either. Cold wind and rain just doesn't make it safe or fun to ride. Last Saturday (2/6), though, I was determined to ride. It was cold, but it was sunny. Rob opted for spin class, but I joined my cycling buddies in the Bike Barn parking lot. Because of the wind direction, we went to the Monument, before crossing the ferry to Baytown and riding back across the Baytown Bridge. I rode with the 21mph+ group and had a fantastic ride. By mistake, I left without any gu or powerbars, but someone took pity on me during the ferry ride and shared his power bar. I got dropped by several while crossing the bridge, but maintained a steady pace. Three of us were able to take a short cut by turning on a feeder rode and joining our group by the railroad tracks before heading to La Porte and Morgan's Point. I ended the ride with 52 miles, and it felt good. Sunday, I opted for the gym as I did today because of the bitter cold.
I spoke with Brian and he said there were some nice, little waves. However, because of the Mardi Gras crowds, he didn't think it would be worthwhile for me to drive down. He said it was crowded on the beach and bitterly cold. A late afternoon note from him said that he decided to surf for a couple of hours, but even he had trouble with crowds on the Seawall (and he only lives a few blocks from the beach). He said only one other surfer was out. I'll be waiting for my Sunday update from him in the morning. Then I'll know if I should head to Galveston, or, once again, to the gym.
I spoke with Brian and he said there were some nice, little waves. However, because of the Mardi Gras crowds, he didn't think it would be worthwhile for me to drive down. He said it was crowded on the beach and bitterly cold. A late afternoon note from him said that he decided to surf for a couple of hours, but even he had trouble with crowds on the Seawall (and he only lives a few blocks from the beach). He said only one other surfer was out. I'll be waiting for my Sunday update from him in the morning. Then I'll know if I should head to Galveston, or, once again, to the gym.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Great weekend for all my sports!
Surfing Friday, cycling Saturday and surfing again on Sunday. It just doesn't get much better than that. The weather was absolutely beautiful; with temps in the mid to upper 60s and lots of sunshine. I had some decent waves on Friday and there were quite a few people out, including several short boarders. I try to just stay out of their way. Texas experienced some warm weather for the whole weekend, which made my sports even more pleasant. Don't misunderstand: I still needed my 5-4 wetsuit because the water is so darn chilly; but at least the air temps were in the 60s and low 70s, which made it a lot more pleasant to change out of the wetsuit while standing on the seawall.
Saturday proved to be fantastic on the bike. Many cyclists were out and, because the wind was out of the south, we were able to cycle our summer route to Wee Mart in Liverpool. It was a great ride! I rode with the 21 mph group and got a good workout.
Sunday brought me back to the beach and into what was left of the waves. They were fading fast, but Brian, Bryan and I were able to get some surfing in. I only had a couple of rides, but Brian said I was definitely becoming an intermediate surfer. Not sure if I believe that yet. I still have alot of work to do on catching waves. I seem to miss them. I notice other surfers do the same thing; just not as often. What happens is that I see the wave coming; get into position; start paddling; and then, just as I think the wave is going to catch me, I fizzle out. I'm not sure why. I don't think I'm paddling hard enough, which has now made me decide I need to add some more machine activities into my workouts at the gym. I need more lat strengthening (at least that's what I think the muscles are called behind my shoulder). And, more practice, practice, practice.
Saturday proved to be fantastic on the bike. Many cyclists were out and, because the wind was out of the south, we were able to cycle our summer route to Wee Mart in Liverpool. It was a great ride! I rode with the 21 mph group and got a good workout.
Sunday brought me back to the beach and into what was left of the waves. They were fading fast, but Brian, Bryan and I were able to get some surfing in. I only had a couple of rides, but Brian said I was definitely becoming an intermediate surfer. Not sure if I believe that yet. I still have alot of work to do on catching waves. I seem to miss them. I notice other surfers do the same thing; just not as often. What happens is that I see the wave coming; get into position; start paddling; and then, just as I think the wave is going to catch me, I fizzle out. I'm not sure why. I don't think I'm paddling hard enough, which has now made me decide I need to add some more machine activities into my workouts at the gym. I need more lat strengthening (at least that's what I think the muscles are called behind my shoulder). And, more practice, practice, practice.
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