Short bike ride (3 miles)

I just wanted to get something in today and ride through a patch of sunlight. Nothing much--also wanted to see how the knee felt when I was on the bike--as it is sore when I run

Short bike ride to West Portal

Maybe this blog should be renamed Riding across Iowa since I have now completed Alcatraz and am thinking about trying to do the Ragbrai ride now.

Today I just rode my bike to the bank at West Portal and back--no more than 6 miles. They say you have ride 1000 miles to get ready for Ragbrai--only 994 to go.

On Saturday I swam in Aquatic Park. The family came down and helped me get ready. I put about 40 minutes in the water--although I really think I need to get in an hour now--40 minutes doesn't really seem like enough. This time I swam the lanes (back and forth) twice and added on a little mileage swimming towards the historic ships. I am feeling more comfortable out there and even getting the courage to swim away from the lanes and out a bit toward the opening (but not too far). Afterwards we took the kids to Ghirardelli Square and I carried around my wetsuit while we perused the stores. My feet got a little colder this time--but I tried kicking a bit to warm them up.

Sunday I rode on my bike for 1:35--out to Stonestown and then to Lake Merced and then out to John Daley Blvd--and made my way up the steep slope of John Daley to Mission/San Jose then to Alemany then under the 280 freeway to Glen Park and up O'Shaughnessy to Laguna Honda and down 7th Ave.

I took this route just to shake things up a bit and see the souther part of the city. It was good to be near the lake (but it's actually to ride on the bike path since there were so many walkers and joggers) and I liked getting to John Daly. I got a little lost in Daly City but figured it out. John Daly Blvd is a bit of a grind and the hill up to Mission is not fun. I liked riding down Alemany and there is a great bike path--but there are a lot of lights along the way, especially at Geneva and Ocean and so it is hard to take advantage of the downhill (it might be better to ride up Alemany). The ride up O'Shaughnessy isn't too bad and then the way down Laguna Honda and 7th is great--newly paved and a good bike lane.

I'm tired now (the next day) from the ride--even though it didn't seem like much when I was on it.

I love the corner of Rousseau and Still streets near the freeway--it's the best way to get under the freeway--it is a little forlorn out there, with 280 on the other side of the street.

To LA and back

I've been in LA for the last four days--but I managed to get in a nice swim at the West Hills (in the valley) and do a mile and a half in the pool. I looked up the closest JCC before I left and made a call about getting in. The West Hills JCC is about 15 minutes from Jason and not as fancy as the San Francisco JCC, but it was a pleasure to go. This JCC has even more security than the one in SF--although in 2008 someone tossed at Molotov cocktail at the door of the newly opened/refurbished West Hills JCC.

There were a lot of lessons going on in the pool but I was the only person swimming laps. I don't know why this was the case, but I had a lane to myself in the shallow and warm pool. Afterwards I met everyone for dinner in Agora.

Last night I swam 100 lengths in the JCC pool--just after we made the drive back. I had to keep and eye on the kids, so I had to get out of the pool every 20 laps or so--but I'm proud that I could get in a swim after the long drive up from LA. Some of the 10 lengths seemed to be around 6:10.

This morning I biked the ship monument route in 1:03. So I seem to be getting faster.

Two swims: one yesterday in the pool; today in Aquatic Park. I had to hurry to get any sort of the swim in--we were running errands and the pool at the JCC closes on Saturday at 6:45. I got in 52 lengths--which was good enough. I was surprisingly sore--and my shoulder was a little tight. I didn't expect this since I took Friday off. But it was good to get something in--and I'm trying to get in work now since I'm going to take a few days off next week as we are in Los Angeles.

Today I swam in the morning in Aquatic Park. It was a beautiful morning (yesterday was overcast throughout the city) and I had very little problem getting in (it makes a huge difference to have a cap) and I swam two laps around the buoys. I felt great and wanted to swim more--perhaps to the historic ships. But I kept in the lanes and swam for about 42 minutes, or about .75 of a mile. My wetsuit zipper stuck at the top again and I had to have someone help me out. I need to practice with this. Today Alcatraz seemed possible.

Quick ride out the Panhandle and Fulton and McAllister to Market and then the Embarco and around Chrissy Field and up Presidio Blvd. and back Clay to Arquello. This is about 13.5 miles.

I made this run eastward to see if I could get out of the fog--but it was cold, overcast, and windy the entire way. It was a hard ride, just because the number of stops along the way. There are plenty of tourists in town and that makes Market and the waterfront difficult. This was a little longer than the previous ride out to the Legion. It's good to get out in the middle of the day--but I need to explore getting out in the East Bay and on territory where I can stretch out and push myself.=

Back in the pool

Yesterday swam a mile and a half (100 lengths of the pool) in the afternoon. Had to get in just before picking up the kids at 4 pm. It was a good swim and I hit the mile mark at 42:53--and swam a lot of 6:15 ten-length splits. It's great to have prescription googles--but now I can see all of the crud that is at the bottom of the pool--band-aids, paper, who-knows what.

Going to take today off from swimming--but ride the usual loop.