Sometimes even I think I'm crazy!

I went on a group ride with the Fremont Freewheelers Saturday morning. This 30 mile ride out to Alum Rock Park in San Jose was rated a 1 (mostly flat terrain) with a T speed (touring=10-13 mph). We were meeting at (of all places) REI in Fremont. LOL I decided to ride the four miles from home to work to make this closer to a 40 mile ride for me. About 15 riders showed up.

Once we started, I took a spot up front behind a couple on a tandem bike. These guys were hauling ass! I was having trouble keeping up with them for a while. That was until the first "hill" up Scott Creek Road. A-ha! All that weight is hard to carry up a hill. I had to stay behind them though because I didn't grab a route sheet and had no clue where I was going. Our first re-group was at mile seven. After that, we didn't stop until we got to the top of Alum Rock Park, mile 15. The route was tougher than I anticipated, with lots of rolling hills. I was with a couple of people that were keeping their pace between 16-20 mph the majority of the ride. When we got into the park I was greeted by a running creek and fields of wildflowers.

There were a lot of people enjoying the park on mountain bikes or trail running shoes, along nice trails like this:

After waiting for everyone to show up at the top, we headed back down and into Milpitas for a coffee stop. Once again, underestimating the ride time, I didn't bring along any fuel. I mean, c'mon, how hard is it to carry a Gu or some Clif Blocks on my back? When we finally stopped for food (coffee) at mile 25 I was starving!! I bought a toasted bagel with cream cheese and wolfed it down, along with a chocolate milk, in a matter of seconds. Naturally, this gave me a HUGE side ache for the rest of the ride home. Gah! I will learn. I have to, or I'm going to pass out on one of these rides sooner or later.

Saying goodbye to everyone as they pulled into the REI parking lot, I was wishing I had driven there earlier, instead of riding my bike.

I came home and let Boomer out in the front yard while I was stretching and relaxing. I was thinking about Alum Rock Park and how beautiful it was, with the trails, flowers, creek, trees. Hard to believe it's only ~20 miles from home and I've never been there. Then I remembered a sign I saw. It read "NO DOGS ALLOWED IN PARK".

What? No dogs allowed?

Aaaaah, no wonder I've never been there. No worries Boomer, no running or hiking for me in a place that doesn't allow doggies.

Thanks Mom. That's what I like to hear.

Sunday morning, Lori and her sweet pup Mikey picked Boomer and I up at 7:30. We picked up Bella and we all drove to Lake Chabot in Castro Valley where a couple other gals and one more doggie met us for a run. Yes, a place dogs are allowed!

Abbie, Kate, Lori, Me

We ran the inner loop there, which is 8.74 miles. My legs were a bit sore from the bike ride Saturday but I just kept on as well as I could. It was a beautiful morning.

After our run, Lori and I took the dogs to Jamba Juice back in Fremont and Lori was kind enough to buy me a protein smoothie and the dogs a turkey sandwich. We sat and chatted for another hour or so. Thanks Lori! For the run, the smoothie, the conversation and the friendship.

You'd think this would be enough abuse (I mean exercise) for one person for a few days, right? Not for this girl! I got a text message from one of the bony-ass boys about a 40 mile bike ride yesterday morning and I said "YES." So, I drag my butt out of bed early again yesterday and ride the three miles to meet up with the boys. Only one of them end up showing but that's okay, we still do our planned route. We rode Niles Canyon to Polameras Canyon, into Dublin and back on Foothill Road to Niles Canyon again. OMG, this did it to me! Finally, I was SPENT! That is a very tough ride, especially with what I had done the two days prior. Bryan and I saw peacocks, turkeys, cows, goats, deer, horses (two with babies) along the route. When I got home I drank a big glass of soy milk, ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and took a two hour nap! The only reason I got up when I did is because I had to work at 5:00 last night. That was the longest 4.5 hour shift I've ever worked.

All good things must come to an end though. This morning I woke up with a killer headache and a sore throat. I took a couple of Advil and went back to bed for a while longer. It's been raining all day anyway. I am feeling better now, just a little light headed when I stand up. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to attempt a class at the gym or just take Boomer for a two mile walk tonight.

"MED2010" Accountability:

04/22 - 5 mile run

04/23 - 2 mile walk

04/24 - 40 mile bike ride

04/25 - 9 mile trail run

04/26 - 40 mile bike ride

Until later............