Marine Drive

23 Mile tempo ride with a few above tempo pushes out on Marine drive. Only had to fight the cross wind a bit on the return. Nice night for a ride, cool, breezy, just right for a mid week ride. The sun was starting to go down, partly cloudy, pretty sky. Nothing like a ride to clear the head. Good clean fun. Now where has that beer gone to.

later.

Trail run.

Busy day at work. But I still kept it to 8.5 hours. I had packed up my running gear before work. After work I changed and head over to forest park for a run on Wildwood. I did the section from Lower Mc Cleay Park. They had done some trail maintenance on the the Lower Mc Cleay trail that leads to Wildwood, smoothed out and some fresh cedar split rail fence. It had rained yesterday and and the trail was damp no dust and the cedar smelled great. I proceeded onto Wildwood; I have not run this section of Wildwood trail in a while. It was a nice tempo run, 8 miles. The forest was green and damp and the fresh rain had heightened the evergreen aroma from the trees. It was cool, clean and fresh. It is great to have this so close to the city. The really nice thing is with my schedule I can leave work and have a run in before 5 pm grab some dinner and I still have a whole evening in front of me. Life is good.

Post Canyon Mtn. Biking

Headed out to Hood River area to Mtn. Bike at post canyon with Ben and Mike. I have not been on the Mtn. Bike in a couple of weeks. There was some good climbing, technical single track and a big play area of ramps and jumps. I actually attempted some the ramps and bridges. Went well and good times. I really only crashed once, kind of endo'ed, could not get my second foot out but was able to put my other foot down before the bike went over the top of me. Ben and Mike got a good chuckle as did I. As a friend of mine says about their experience with Mtn. Biking, "my fitness level far exceeds my technical skill" and so it goes with me. Got in a couple hours of riding. The descent back to the car was a blast you can really bomb that stuff. The best part of going to Hood river to Mtn. Bike is the essential post ride trip to one of the breweries for liquid refreshment. We headed over to Double Mountain for some tasty Pilsner and and Pizza. A fine way to spend a nice August Sunday, certainly beats church. Although the outdoors is my cathedral.

later

Massage

One of the prescription for my shoulder issue is massage therapy. I did my first session last Friday. Nice!!!. My health insurance has a pretty liberal alternative medicine policy. I can pretty much get a massage every week with a co-pay. I had a full body massage with concentration on my shoulder and rotator cuff. It was heaven. I have some pretty good knots in my shoulders. It will take a few visits to work those out. I have another appt. next week. This is going to be good medicine.

78 Miles and damn hot !!

Rode 78 miles today. Rode to Seth's house and then we took off for a warm up to Council Crest then down and over to Joel's. From there we went out to the Stark Street Bridge to get to the Gorge Highway. Instead of heading to the Falls or up Larch Seth suggested a route out towards Bull Run and up over to Sandy. He was not kidding about up. Lots of good climbing (glad I warmed up on Council Crest :P). When we hit Sandy it was really heating up about 98. We had replenished liquids in Springdale and again in Sandy including a small Coke slurpee, mmmm sugar and caffeine. From Sandy it was a cruise into town. The sun was sapping us but no more climbing and we spun it into town. I have not ridden that distance in some time, but seemed to handle it well. Recovered with a cool shower and a protein smoothie with banana, OJ, and fresh blueberries from my yard.

There are a lot of idiot drivers. The three of us are respectful cyclist stay over to the right, signal, stop at traffic signals and signs. We had one guy drive way to close to us for no reason as he passed by us. Another person yelled at us from his convertible as we rode single file in a bike lane. Another driver swerved over very close to me for no apparent reason. And they wonder why there is tension between cyclist and drivers. Get a clue people, try sitting where I am from time to time you might think twice about it being good sport to intimidate cyclist. Someones going to get hurt.

Bike Commuting

So the boy has had the car the last couple of days so I was left with no option but to Bike commute. I really like it but at the hour I get up I often have just enough time to let the dog out and feed him, drink some Orange Juice, hop in the car. At least that is what I tell myself. I usually get in one or two days of bike commuting. It really is perfect weather for it no need for any extra layers in the morning and I get a sweat in on the way home; guaranteed 40 minutes (that is round trip 20 each way, 15 if I push it) of exercise with a bit of a climb on the way home usually ridden hard. I need to do it more. I just really need to get up ten minutes earlier. Even rode over to the pub on my bike the other night as well. With gas prices it only makes sense.

Here is to the Bike.

beers found and AC

Well I had beers but opted for the local watering hole, Concordia. they have AC and a good selection of beer. I will run tomorrow, probably after dark when it has cooled down.