12-30-2014 Ride

Solo ride initially over to Dave's house, taking the BVP route to Sunset Dr and over to Escondido Blvd.  I rode to Felicita Ave and then to Centre City Pkwy, going to Dave's house via Montview Dr to Alexander Dr.  We met up there and then rode back to Centre City Pkwy the same way, taking a U-turn and heading north, all the way to Deer Springs Rd.  I kept pace with Dave through town and got some distance on the little climb up to this road.  Then we rode together down to Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy, taking a right on Buena Creek Rd and riding it over to Santa Fe Ave, basically staying together.  I got out ahead on the climbs on Santa Fe Ave and waited for him before we got onto Mission Rd.  Again, we rode basically together on the flats here.  We took it all the way to Centre City Pkwy, and we were battling a headwind that slowed us down.  The headwind got stiffer as we turned south and rode back to his house.  The wind was kicking up, and it was looking dark with rain threatening.  Right on Felicita Ave, then a left on Redwood St to get over to Montview Dr.  I didn't hang around long at Dave's place, just turned back to get onto Centre City Pkwy heading north and retracing our earlier route up to Mission Rd.  This time, the wind was at my back, and I made good time.  The wind helped quite a bit once I started heading west on Mission Rd, taking it all the way to San Marcos Blvd, where I turned into the wind and had to ride into it on the last stretch to the auto repair station, where I picked up my car and put the bike in the back.

Avg speed = 16.5 mph. Total mileage = 43.3 mi
Avg heartrate = 135 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1820'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/604248444

12-29-2014 Rides

I drove over to Joe's house with my bike in the back seat of my Spyder, and we headed out from his place up Centre City Pkwy to Deer Springs Rd, then rode down to Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy.  I kept up a decent pace but didn't really push it, preferring to ride with Joe more at his pace.  We rode down to Borden Rd and turned right there, heading up behind Palomar College and riding to Las Posas Rd.  We turned left there and rode over to San Marcos Blvd, then took a right and over to Discovery St, riding it to Craven Rd.  Then it was over to CSUSM, riding Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy to Barham Dr and then to Woodland Pkwy.  Then it was over to El Norte Pkwy for a short time to get to Country Club Ln and back to Joe's house the normal way.  He rode pretty well over this short distance.

Avg speed = 15.5 mph. Total mileage = 21.3 mi
Total elevation gain = 1100'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/603730528

From there, I drove over to San Marcos to drop my car off at George Buchheim's auto repair shop, then I rode home from there.  I rode to San Marcos Blvd and followed my earlier route to Barham Dr, then staying on it over to Mission Rd.  I was pretty tired by this point, so I couldn't push the pace like I would have wanted to.  Then I followed the usual route via Tulip St over to Valley Pkwy and then to Quince St, then home the usual way.  I did okay on the uphill sections, so my leg muscles weren't cramping, just tired.

Avg speed = 16.5 mph. Total mileage = 15.0 mi
Total elevation gain = 600'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/604146690

12-28-2014 Ride

Initially, I planned on riding the time trial route with Jim, meeting him at his house.  It was cold when we started out, but I had my better gloves on.  As we got rolling, Jim was experiencing the cold more severely than me.  We got to Pomerado Rd, and he was complaining that his fingers were numb and painful.  We rode up by the hospital and took some time to warm our hands.  After that, Jim's hands were still cold, so we turned right on Twin Peaks Rd and headed back toward home.  I was okay, just a little cold in my hands.  On the downhill past work, both my fingers and toes got cold and numb, so it felt like the right decision to go for a shorter ride.  I warmed up pretty quickly at the end of the ride, but Jim's fingers took some time to stop hurting.

Avg speed = 14.1 mph.  Total mileage = 10.7 mi
Total elevation gain = 750'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/603055676

12-27-2014 Ride

Solo ride from home to John's house via the normal route, other than taking Azucar Way up to Duenda Rd.  It was warmer on the ride over, and I kept my pace slower, knowing that I had a longer ride ahead of me.  It was dark enough at the start to need my front and rear lights.  I kept it slow up the last little climb to John's place but still was able to stay above 10 mph.  That was the last good effort I had on the day, where I just didn't have a lot of energy.  I met up with John and Dave, and we rode back down to Poway Rd, heading over to the 56 bike trail.  We took it down to El Camino Real, and it was really cold down by the creek, so much so that my fingers were burning.  Then it was over to PCH and up the Torrey Pines climb, where I rode really slowly, again no energy to draw from.  Down to Genesee Rd and over to Miramar Rd via Eastgate Mall.  I just kept a grinding pace on this section, staying basically with John and Dave except near the end, when I rode out a little ahead of them.  Stayed with John on the stretch up to the top of Pomerado Rd except near the end when I got out ahead of him.  We met up at the top and then rode back to John's house, where I stopped for a break and a soda.  From there, it was a slow ride, normal route, back home, and I was sure glad to be finished.

Avg speed = 16.0 mph. Total mileage = 51.1 mi
Total elevation gain = 2940'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/602600456

12-26-2014 Ride

Ride from the parking lot on Carmel Mountain Rd over to John's house, taking the normal route.  It was really cold, with frost on the ground, and my hands were particularly cold.  When I got to his house, we met up and rode to the top of Pomerado Rd, then rode down to get onto Kearny Villa Rd and Ruffin Rd, taking it over to Aero Dr.  We rode up to Santo Rd, taking a left there and riding up to Tierrasanta Blvd.  There is a steep section on Aero Dr that slowed me down.  We turned left on Colina Dorada Dr, which has a climb of about a mile, with a steep section of about a quarter of a mile that was a trial.  Over to Calle de Vida, riding it to Rueda Dr and taking a right there and using it to get over to Clairemont Mesa Blvd.  We took it back to Ruffin Rd and from there retraced the route back to John's house.  I stopped very briefly and then headed back to where I had parked the car.  It was a decent ride, not super fast but a good steady pace.

Avg speed = 16.6 mph. Total mileage = 41.1 mi
Total elevation gain = 2500'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/601956646

12-25-2014 Run

Run in the morning with Laura while she was home for Christmas.  We took the normal route, without the little loop at the cul-de-sac.  It was a steady pace, with only a couple of places where we walked, on the W Bernardo Dr section.

Total mileage = 3.58 mi
Total time = 38:00
Total elevation gain = 260'
Calories burned = 480'
http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/825065825

12-24-2014 Ride

Ride in the morning with John, a little chill in the air but it quickly got to be nice riding weather.  We headed up to Jim's place to see if he was riding (no), then headed down to W Bernardo Dr.  From there, we essentially followed the same route that I took on Saturday.  I felt a little stronger, and it helped that John was there to help set the pace, particularly on the flats.  I had a pretty good section climbing up El Camino Real, and I was able to keep it above 10 mph on the Three Witches climb on San Dieguito Rd, but this took a big effort for me near the top, more mental than physical.  Felt just fine at the end, and John and I had a smoothie.

Avg speed = 17.2 mph. Total mileage = 35.5 mi
Total elevation gain = 2500'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/601118936

12-23-2014 Ride

Solo ride over to Joe's house, taking the pedestrian bridge over Lake Hodges and heading out BVP to Sunset Dr.  Up to Juniper St, taking it over to Washington St and then onto Broadway.  I kept a decent pace, considering my fitness level.  It was cool at the start and cold riding by the lake.  Standard route from there to Joe's house, where we met up and headed over to Centre City Pkwy, going north up to Deer Springs Pkwy.  As soon as we got onto Centre City Pkwy, the temperature seemed to increase by about 5 deg, and it was warm enough after that, with the temperature being nearly ideal for the second half of the ride.  Down to Twin Oaks Valley Pkwy, where I set a pretty good clip going slightly downhill, and Joe was able to keep up the pace.  To Borden Rd, riding back behind Palomar College to Las Posas Rd and taking it over to San Marcos Blvd.  Then we rode on Discovery St back toward CSUSM, getting onto Barham Dr and riding over to Woodland Hills Pkwy.  This is a nice road we used to get over to El Norte Pkwy, turning left to get onto Country Club Ln and back to Joe's house.  He was slow on the minor climbs but hung in there on the rest of the route.  I took the normal Centre City Pkwy route home, feeling pretty good and enjoying a little bit of a tailwind.  Felt fine at the end, no cramping, just tired leg muscles.  This was a pretty flat ride.

Avg speed = 16.3 mph. Total mileage = 41.4 mi
Avg heartrate = 136 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2000'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/600708890

12-21-2014 Ride

Time trial ride in the morning with Jim, meeting him at his house.  I kept my pace slow throughout the ride to match his speed.  My legs were a little tired from the previous day's ride.  Finished in 1:11, a very easy speed.

Total mileage = 17.9 mi
Total elevation gain = 1050'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/599770734

12-20-2014 Ride

Solo ride in the morning after not having ridden much lately.  I could really tell I was out of cycling shape.  Headed through the neighborhood over to Matinal Rd and then to W Bernardo Dr, taking it up to RB Rb.  Followed this up to Camino del Sur and then rode out to the 56 bike trail.  All at an easy pace.  Down to El Camino Real, taking it north.  At the light by the highway, another ride passed me by, so I hung on his wheel up to nearly Del Mar Heights, where he turned off.  It felt good to be able to match his speed, since he was moving pretty well.  Continued on up and then down into the flats, staying on El Camino Real until Via de la Valle.  I rode over to Calzada del Bosque and used it to get over to Via de Santa Fe, where I caught up with a group of riders getting ready to ride up San Dieguito Rd.  I rode with them for a short while and then got up to the lead rider, pacing him and trading leads up to the top.  It wasn't a fast ascent for me, but my heartrate was going full blast at the top.  Back onto Camino del Sur, riding over to Paseo del Sur and taking it through new neighborhoods (Potomac Ridge Rd, Nighthawk Ln, Del Sur Ridge Rd) to Lone Quail Rd and back onto RB Rd.  From there, it was home at a pretty slow pace on the climbs, as my legs were worn out.  Longer route down to W Bernardo Dr then home.  Felt fine on the ride, a little longer than I had planned, and I could tell my cardio is way out of shape.  More riding this week should help.

Avg speed = 16.1 mph. Total mileage = 36.0 mi
Avg heartrate = 143 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2500'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/599364516

12-09-2014 Run

Run in the morning, not much exercise since I returned from Israel.  My pace was noticeably slower as a result.

Total mileage = 3.47 mi
Total time = 28:40
Total elevation gain = 270'
Calories burned = 450'
http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/814400227

12-07-2014 Ride

Time trial ride solo this time. I took the pace easy, not having ridden in a little over a week. Felt fine, a little down on cardio fitness.  The weather was a little cool and foggy, with some evidence of rain overnight.  Finished in 1:02:55.

Total mileage = 17.8 mi
Avg heartrate = 145 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1050'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/593505678

12-01-2014 Run

Run while staying at the Leonardo Hotel in Rehovot.  Left in the morning, heading over the bridge by the train tracks and going toward Rehovot.  I had a decent pace, not scorching but okay for not having run much lately.  I ended up running a loop and finding my way back to the area I was familiar with.  Because of the flatness of the route, I ended up with a pretty good time.

Total mileage = 3.60 mi
Total time = 26:51
Total elevation gain = 120'
Calories burned = 480'