Balance, balance, balance

I have been whining during the past six or seven posts about how the waves always come during the middle of the week when I can't surf. I am thinking that I might need to find a beach to travel to again real soon. Until then, all I can do is read the surf reports, watch the webcams and wish for better waves. I can also practice. I have read about the proper form and follow numerous surfing sites on social media so that I can constantly see photos of the world-class surfers catching the big waves. I also continue to cross-train by running and cycling. I've got several half marathons coming up in the next few months. I briefly considered running another full marathon last weekend, but decided against it. I digress. The cycling and the running keep my cardio strong, which is always a good thing, especially for paddling out and setting up for waves.

My pop-up always could use a little help, so I've been practicing on my living room floor. I lie prone and then jump up as if I'm about to catch a big wave.  I've also

Me on a balance ball at the gym.
It's the closest thing I've had to
surfing since returning from
Costa Rica in January.

been practicing my balance on the balance ball at gym. The hardest part of that workout is actually getting on the ball without falling. I try to maneuver and mimic surfing. It definitely requires being close to the wall…having something to lean on for support. Hmmm…finding support? How often we all need support for all the things we do. I'm fortunate that I have it most of the time from those who love me. I feel sorry for those who don't have it.

I was hoping to get out in the water this past weekend. Friday (3/7) was flat so I pinned my hopes on Sunday. A few waves kicked up on Saturday afternoon, but they were too weak to surf. They hadn't built much strength by Sunday morning; however, after visiting some of the webcams, I noticed a few of the diehard G-town surfers went out and now I regret not going out to give it a try. The waves were incredibly weak and the water is very cold, but I still wish I had ventured out. This is the beginning of spring break for area colleges and even I will get this Friday off. I have a few surfing buddies coming to town, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the weather and the waves will be good on Friday, even if it means pulling out my 5-4 wetsuit for the 50-something degree water. I'm ready for spring!

Cold, Flat Days and Missed Opportunities

Cold front after cold front keep pushing through Texas and make it to Galveston usually on a Tuesday or Thursday between noon and 4 p.m., meaning that the good waves are happening during WORK HOURS.  Many times, I can see it on the G-townsurf website, and it just makes me want to cry. In fact, last week as I was sitting in the waiting area of the dentist's office, I made the mistake of visiting the G-town page to see some pretty waves rolling in. A cold front was pushing across the coast. If I had realized that the front was passing that afternoon, I guess I could have packed a board, bathing suit and wetsuit, but when I had looked at the forecast the day before, the front wouldn't be passing through until much later. However, at around 1:30 I noticed the waves rolling in and the Galveston surfers were out in droves. I would have loved to have gone out, but by the time I finished my dental appointment, it was getting too late for me to go home, get my gear and drive to Galveston before the sun was setting. And, when I looked at the cam at 3 p.m., it was already getting flat. By 4 p.m., it was too flat to surf. All of the locals had packed up and gone home. It was also quite cool. The water temperatures have dropped to 46 degrees, which is colder than I have remembered it for the last three or four years. Those out surfing were not only wearing thick wetsuits, but also gloves, booties and head coverings. Although I have the 5-4 wetsuit and booties, I don't own the gloves. As for the head covering, I would have probably just worn a wool hat.

I wish Santa Teresa was
close enough for a weekend trip. 

Of course all this cold weather has me longing for another trip south. I really enjoyed my time in Costa Rica. I wish I was a little more skillful at surfing so that I could really appreciate the waves, but I'm grateful for the surfing I could do while I was there. I need to figure out how to pop up quicker than I am. I'm working on my balance by standing on the balance ball at the gym. Not completely sure it will help, but it certainly can't hurt. I'm practicing my pop up too. Although, I'm not sure that popping up on the floor in my living room will translate to popping up on the board in the ocean's waves, but, again, the practice can't hurt me. I've stated it in my last post, but I will re-state just how forceful the waves in Costa Rica were. I need to not only practice popping up fast, but also gaining the nerve even though I might fall and suffer a little pain. No pain, no gain, right? In my last post, I think I explained that when I went for a wave in CR, I freaked out looking at the bottom where I would drop. It seemed so far away, and I didn't have much time to change my mind or correct any of the moves I was going to make. I wish I had a little more time  in the Central American/Pacific wave to test out my pop-ups, nerve etc. I definitely "chickened out" when I was there.  The balance ball needs to be something I do more regularly. Maybe by spring, I can figure out how not to be scared of the bigger waves. Maybe, I'll have mastered completing the pop up quickly and, maybe, just maybe, I'll have a little more balance on the board.

Marathon Completed and a Little CR Action

A week ago Saturday (1/18) was a very crazy day for me.  Because I was running the marathon the next day, I had opted not to run on that Saturday, although many runners like to do a warm-up 5K. I needed a little bit of a workout and chose a 15-mile bike ride to loosen the legs instead. The weather was perfect, so I rolled out early and snuck it in to my busy day. I went to the expo later, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and then spent the afternoon with Mom in the hospital because of her emergency hip surgery the day before. I got a little packing done later that night because my plane for Costa Rica was leaving early Monday. Pshewww... it was a very busy Saturday.

My Sunday run began strong. I ran the first half in 2:01, which isn't a record for me, but probably was a little too fast considering I had another half still to run. I felt it in my thighs at about mile 15, and by mile 17, I was also experiencing some pain in the bottom of my foot. I finished at 4:36, but had trained to finish by 4:15. So, despite my proclamation that Houston would be my last full, I will have to find another marathon to run just so I can better my time. Yikes! An article I read stated that is what always happens to runners. They always think they can do better no matter how much they train. Another friend of mine wants me to do some adventure triathlons with her that include mountain biking, trail running and swimming, but I'm just not crazy about having to squeeze swimming into my workout. I know it will be getting warm soon, but I still do not have the time to add another sport, especially with another marathon in my future. I could just make swimming in the Gulf part of my surfing ritual, but I don't always feel like swimming when I'm finished surfing. What's a gal to do???

Sun and surf provided the perfect
marathon recovery.

When I first realized that the day after my marathon was going to be a holiday, I decided to take a quick trip to Costa Rica to recover. I knew I wanted to go to a place that was warm and since my surf buddy Robin had moved there almost seven months ago, Costa Rica seemed like the most natural place to go. I also thought that surfing would be a good way to recover my aching legs and strengthen my skills. I was right AND wrong. The warm weather in CR definitely helped lift my spirits right away and rejuvenate my tired legs, but the surfing just reminded me of how much more practice I needed. Santa Teresa, CR, offers wave action just about all year. I had received a report the week before I headed down that the waves this winter were small. Although once I got there, I realized that the "small" waves were still much bigger than the ones I was used to surfing. Waves in Galveston can get big, but they just don't seem as forceful as the ones in CR. I watched my friend/hotel manager Don easily catch everything that came his way, but I, on the other hand, would back out of every wave on the outside I paddled to catch. I surfed a lot of a white water, which is pretty powerful stuff in CR and I even caught one true wave with a drop, but I need so much more practice. I know I don't surf often enough to be the greatest of surfers, but just as I am about to feel a little confident, I go to a place like CR and realize I HAVE SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN.  Well, I guess it's back to the practice field, also known as the 43rd street jetty...just as soon as it warms up a little.