Week 10 Bike - 5 mile bike + 1.2 mile run x 4

Yesterday was my 3rd brick workout where a bike and run workout are combined. We rode 5 miles in Carlsbad to a transition spot. Then we got off the bikes, ran a circular 1.2 miles back to the bike, got back on the bike and repeated the whole thing 4 times. Our previous bike rides have been pretty easy routes to navigate as they've all been on one or two roads. This route was through a residential area with a good amount of turns. The first time out on the bike was with the whole team. By the time the first bike route and run were finished, we were pretty well spread out, so I started out on the 2nd bike route by myself. I remembered most of the route, but at one point wasn't sure whether to go right or left. I chose to go right. After about a minute I was at the top of a hill with the very best riders coming up the hill towards me. Shoot! I had made a wrong turn and shaved at least 1.5 miles off the route. So I was now at the very front of the team with the really hard core bikers. It ended up being a good thing (besides the time and effort my shortcut saved) because I rode much faster than I usually dare in trying to keep up with them. I'm usually with the beginner group at the back of the pack and haven't really pushed myself (or wanted to) to see how fast and how hard I could ride. A few other people got lost too, but they weren't as fortunate to find a shortcut like me. My 3rd and 4th bike rides were on the correct route and since I had ridden half of it with the real bikers, my rides were the best yet. The runs were fine and overall I finished with the first half of the team, which was a new experience :) Some of it was due to the shortcut on the 2nd ride, but I think more of it was the confidence on the bike on my 3rd and 4th rides.

I signed up to run in the Super Run 10k on January 31. The whole team is racing, so we can get real race experience. It's at Mission Bay, so if you'll be in the area, come to cheer us on!

And yes, this afternoon is the first ocean swim. I heard the waves are 8-10 feet today. Fabulous! I figured I better get this blog entry done before the swim, just in case...