02-28-2015 Ride

Solo ride while staying for the weekend in Palm Springs.  We were staying in the Movie Studio neighborhood near the airport, and there wasn't much of a breeze at the start.  From Calle Ralph, I rode to Tachevah Dr, turning in a direction that I thought would take me toward downtown Palm Springs.  I guessed wrong and ended up turning right on Farrell Dr and riding down to Mesquite Ave, turning right and going to Sunrise Way, where I turned left and headed south.  I turned right onto Palm Canyon Dr, which got me going through downtown, to the split onto Indian Canyon Dr and heading north.  In the downtown area, I didn't notice a breeze, but as I got out of town I had to ride through a road closure where they were scooping the sand off of the road.  I started to feel the effects of the wind coming in from the west at this point, and I really felt it once I turned left onto Garnet Ave, right into the teeth of the wind.  This road might have a little bit of an incline, but the wind was coming into me at 30+ mph, so I dropped it to my lowest gear and was struggling to keep my speed above 10 mph.  I crossed over I-10 on Wall Rd and turned left on 20th Ave, heading back into the wind and really having to work hard.  This street turned into Worsely Rd when it heads north, and it has more of an incline.  This was hard work as well, since I had a quartering wind in my face as well as the slope to deal with.  I rode up to Pierson Blvd and turned right there for a very exhilarating slight downhill ride with a very stiff tailwind pushing me along.  It was a very fast 5 miles on this road heading into Desert Hot Springs, then I turned right onto Palm Dr, heading south.  It was still downhill and the wind was helping a little bit but also gusting across me, which made for some nervous times as it almost knocked me over.  Road turns into Gene Autry Trail, which I took to Vista Chino, turning right there and riding over to Sunrise Way and back to the house.  There was more elevation gain on this ride than I had originally thought there would be, a steady 1-2% incline for about 15 mi in the first part of the ride.

Avg speed = 17.9 mph. Total mileage = 33.4 mi
Avg heartrate = 138 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1160'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/641274786

02-24-2015 Run

Participated in the HP Winter 5k fun run/walk.  I was recovering from a cold and a kidney stone attack the previous week.  Got off to a slow start leaving the picnic area where it began, as I was setting up the MapMyRide app and putting it in my armband.  Once I started running, the crowd of people served as an incentive to set a fast pace.  On the first lap, I passed more people than passed me, and I eventually caught up to a group of people running at my pace around the start of the second lap.  It was pretty dry, which helped to dry my sinuses out.  On the last half of the second lap, I was running with a group at the same pace and working hard to stay with them.  At the final stretch to the end, another guy took more of a sprint pace, so I matched him and passed him to finish on a strong note.  Later, I calculated that I was around the 11th place finisher, and that felt like a decent accomplishment.  There were lots of snacks at the end and good conversation, so it was a really good event and grand time.

Total mileage = 2.96 mi
Total time = 22:15
Total elevation gain = 160'
Calories burned = 390'
http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/885187825

02-22-2015 Ride

Ride from home up to Jim's house to meet him for the time trial route.  I wasn't interested in a fast ride, which was good because I didn't have a lot of energy to put into it.  We took it fairly easy throughout the ride and didn't get rained on.  Finished in 1:10.

Total mileage = 17.9 mi
Avg heartrate = 132 bpm
Total elevation gain = 1050'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/624927576

02-21-2015 Ride

Solo ride in the morning, a little overcast and nice temperature.  I've been batrtling a cold, so I know it wouldn't be a high output day.  Headed through the neighborhood to RB Rd and out to Camino del Sur, riding to San Dieguito Rd and taking it down into Fairbanks Ranch.  Around the flats and over to El Camino Real, taking it up into Del Mar Heights.  I was initially at good speed on the climb here but slowed down about halfway up.  I stopped at the shopping center by Del Mar Heights Rd and had a coffee and a rest, then continued down to the 56 bike trail, making decent time to Carmel Valley Rd, where I slowed down.  On the 56 bike trail, I rode it to its end to the west, not very far from the connection at El Camino Real.  It was a slow pace up to Camino del Sur, where I picked up my speed a little bit to stay with another rider who was on the same road.  We rode together to San Dieguito Rd, where he turned and I slowed down again.  Headed through the neighborhood once I got to Paseo Del Sur, eventually connecting back to RB Rd and riding home via W Bernardo Dr.  It was a nice ride, no coughing and it helped to clear out some of the congestion in my sinuses.

Avg speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 35.6 mi
Avg heartrate = 127 bpm
Total elevation gain = 2560'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/637413956

02-19-2015 Run

Solo run in the evening after work, following the normal 3.5 mi route.  I've been battling a cold and as a result coughing a lot.  However, my breathing during the run was okay, not breathing through my nose.  I had a fast first mile and then slowed down, my stamina not enough to keep it going.  Decent finish, and the weather was ideal for running, although I built up quite a sweat.  I coughed a fair amount later in the evening but felt good on the following morning, still a little congested but not feeling the urge to cough as much.

Total mileage = 3.48 mi
Total time = 27:23
Total elevation gain = 260'
Calories burned = 460'
http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/880908335

02-17-2015 Run

Solo run in the morning, following the normal 3.5 mi route.  I had a couple of episodes with my kidneys giving me trouble on Sunday, and I was worried that it would affect my output.  It didn't, as far as I could tell.  I was able to cut about a minute off my last time, and it seemed that the improved time came more from being able to run faster in the second half than about keeping an overall faster pace.  I felt punky later in the day, not sure if it's a residual from the weekend or the onset of a cold or mild flu.

Total mileage = 3.44 mi
Total time = 28:01
Total elevation gain = 260'
Calories burned = 450'
http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/878410383

02-14-2015 Ride

Solo ride, initially, taking the pedestrian bridge over Lake Hodges and heading up BVP to Sunset Dr, then to Juniper St.  It was a little cool but warmed up fairly quickly.  Over to Washington Ave to get to Broadway, then I took it out to Village Rd to meet up with Joe at his house.  We took off and headed west on Country Club Ln, going over to Borden Rd and riding out to Las Posas Rd.  We turned on Mission Rd and jogged over to Rancho Santa Fe Rd to ride to San Marcos Blvd and then Palomar Airport Rd.  All the way down to the coast, where we headed south.  The wind was a nice tailwind on the way out, and it helped us a little on the coast as well.  We turned inland at Leucadia Blvd, taking it to Olivenhain Rd.  There is a short, somewhat steep climb up and over a hill before it drops down to El Camino Real, and I was able to keep my speed above 10 mph here, as well as for all of the other climbs in the route until the very end.  On to Rancho Santa Fe Rd to get to San Elijo Rd, where we rode up to connect to Elfin Forest Rd.  The wind was generally neutral here or working in our favor, as it must have shifted or died down.  Back Harmony Grove Rd into Escondido, turning right on Hale Ave and getting over to Avenida del Diablo, which connects to Valley Pkwy.  We took it down to Via Rancho Pkwy, staying on this road as it turned into BVP, retracing my route from earlier, with the exception of using Valley Pkwy to get from Juniper to Broadway.  I didn't follow Joe back to his house, turning instead on Iris Ln and riding back to Centre City Pkwy.  Normal route home, and I felt pretty good, just no push left in my legs for the last little climbs up by the park and by home.  Fairly fast recovery, no cramping and more tiredness than soreness in my legs.

I had pretty severe kidney pain the following day, due perhaps to dehydration or passing kidney stones.  My right kidney was still sore on Monday, so no riding on President's Day.

Avg speed = 16.4 mph. Total mileage = 70.5 mi
Avg heartrate = 144 bpm
Total elevation gain = 3880'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/633477078

02-12-2015 Run

Solo run in the morning, following the normal 3.5 mi route.  I hadn't been out in awhile, and it showed in my split times as well as the soreness I felt in my legs the next couple of days.

Total mileage = 3.45 mi
Total time = 29:00
Total elevation gain = 260'
Calories burned = 450'
http://www.mapmyride.com/workout/873621635

02-08-2015 Ride

Time trial ride with John, riding up to Jim's house to meet Dave.  I was feeling pretty good, not too tired.  But I kept my pace moderate, preferring to stay with Dave and John.  We made okay time on Pomerado Rd and Poway Rd, slowing down after that as we climbed gradually back into Carmel Mountain Ranch.  I had replaced the battery in my heart monitor watch, so I was able to track it on this ride for the first time in quite a while.  On the stretch of W Bernardo Dr after RB Rd, I pushed the pace to my maximum output but couldn't separate from John, who was riding well.  Finished in 1:05:00.

Total mileage = 17.9 mi
Average heartrate = 133 bpm
Total elevation = 1060'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/629304260

02-07-2015 Ride

Solo ride, following the normal route, over to John's house. It wasn't as dark as it had been at the start of previous rides, and the temperature at the start was cool but not cold.  From his place, we headed up to Sabre Springs Pkwy and headed down to Black Mountain Rd.  Then it was up to the 56 bike trail, with that tough little climb to have to navigate.  We then headed down to El Camino Real and rode over to Carmel Mountain Rd to get up to PCH.  I changed gloves and took off my jacket sleeves at the base of the inside route up Torrey Pines. So I had to ride nearly to the top of the steep part of the climb to catch up with John. I rode out ahead of him to get to Torrey Pines Rd, going by the golf course where a PGA tournament was being held on this weekend.  From there, we rode over to Miramar Rd following the normal route, then traded leads for the first two-thirds of the way to the freeway. John started to fall back around this point, and he was slower than usual on the gradual climb up Pomerado Rd.  I found out later than he was riding with a mild case of the flu.  We headed back to his house, where I had a quick break and a soda, then rode home the normal route.  On the gradual climb up to the hospital, there was another rider behind me, so I kept my pace strong to the top and felt pretty good, considering that I had already put in a few miles.  Then it was home without any other notable experiences.

Avg speed = 17.1 mph. Total mileage = 52.5 mi
Total elevation gain = 3130'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/628609888

02-01-2015 Ride

Time trial ride with John from home, meeting Dave at Jim's house. I was worn out from the previous day's ride, so I basically stayed at John's pace. Dave was riding a little slower but hanging in there. Finished in 1:06:30 but happy for the miles and the day.

Total mileage = 17.9 mi
Total elevation = 1050'
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/624927576