Mach3Multisport.com

On my first venture into Saguaro East National Park since running a race there last September, I was pleasantly surprised that the recent rains have not affected the paving job that was just finished as of last year's race. In addition to my joy at seeing no destruction, I was thrilled to be riding a bike and not running up those famous hills. Until I actually tried going UP the hills.

A group of about twenty (I think there were three males present, including our very own Jeff of Mach3Mulitsport) met at the church on Old Spanish Trail and Houghton this past Saturday morning. Led by TriGirl April H. (please say her name with an Australian-tinged British accent that might actually be from Scotland) left from the church on our way to wind through Saguaro East and then on to Pistol Hill and beyond, making a giant circle back to the church. My plan was to stick with the group as far as possible for as long as possible and not be caught lollygagging. Or sucking wind.

My plan worked for the first few miles and then I was riding up that big hill in the park when a glance at my bike computer told me I was pumping out an astounding 5.8 miles per hour. A casual jogger passed with nary a word. I made it up that hill with my heart rate skyrocketing and my legs trying very hard to remember what they had done to so anger me.

Following the hills, it was smooth sailing (and I did pass the runner back, though it seemed like a hollow victory). The group fanned out and we were back onto Old Spanish Trail, passing a very uniformed group of cyclists at the exit and enjoying relatively traffic-free riding to the country store. At the first smell of coffee and toast, my slower companion and I headed back from whence we came, as we had to make the drive home and an appointment within the hour.

We ended up with a 22 mile ride, punctuated by a 28 mph descent through Saguaro East that was clocked by a ranger with a speed gun (I am unclear of her purpose, though, since she didn't pull any of us over). A good time was had by all and I was able to dust off the old bike shoes and cover more ground on my bike than I have since ... well, since Ironman (yes, really).

I really enjoyed the feeling of covering miles and seeing friends out and about, and have decided to continue to ride my bike- not just in races - and hopefully find harmony with my second least-favorite part of triathlon.

Happy training!

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment