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Being outside

"This isn't your typical winter storm. It's a little more intense than usual," warned National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Tentinger. "If you don't have to be outside, I wouldn't be outside." – sfgate.com

There is no bad weather, only bad clothing. – Swedish proverb

I spent a lot of time outside this weekend. Staying inside wasn't an option that appealed to me. I have seven weeks to cram for Ironman Arizona and I feel like I can't afford to skip a long ride or run.

I headed out on the bike with a friend yesterday, hoping to ride 80 miles. We knew dumping rain was predicted, but the roads were still dry in the morning. So we started riding, agreeing that we'd turn around if it started raining hard. The sky was gray and ominous but the raindrops were few and far between. We got all the way to our turnaround point, 40 miles from the cars, and had just started riding back when the sky opened up.

Forty miles in steady, driving rain and brutal wind meant it took us six hours to cover 80 miles. Ugh. We both had tights, booties, and good rain jackets, but our soaking-wet hands and feet were numb. As soon as we got back to our cars and stopped moving, we both started shivering hard. I turned on the car and cranked the heat and stripped off my soaking clothes in the back seat. (I'm warming my soggy feet in the photo above.) I did not feel bad about skipping my post-ride run. I was very, very happy to have gotten in my 80 miles and to be warm and dry at last. I was especially relieved that we had started our ride in Sausalito, which meant that I did not have to ride my bike back across the Golden Gate Bridge in 50mph crosswinds and sideways rain.

It rained through the night. This morning another friend and I headed out for a 2.5-hour run. That was fun. No, I really mean it. We had on-and-off showers, a few gullywashers, and some moments of howling wind as we ran the beautiful trails from the Presidio along the cliffs to Ocean Beach. We got muddy and enjoyed stunning, dramatic storm-swept scenery. There was some masssive surf at Baker Beach and Ocean Beach. By the time we finished the skies were starting to clear.

We had started and finished our run at the Y, so after eating a little something I got into the pool and swam a quick 2400 yards, feeling amazing despite having already run for a good chunk of the morning. I did a timed 500 yards in 8:35, which I'm very happy with. (I did a lot of sprinting to get around a clueless woman in my lane who kept pushing off right in front of me. Grrrr.) My swim fitness is coming back much more quickly than I expected. Did I mention that I swam 4000 yards on Friday? I felt fantastic. The range of motion in my left wrist is still not great, but the strength is coming back.

The weather is supposed to improve this week. If I decide to ride 100 miles next weekend, I sure don't want to do it in weather like we had this weekend.

February 24, 2008 6:03 PM