The back battle continues…

Wednesday, September 26th:
Today included the same run up Lee Hill Road that I had done the previous week. Hill repeats up a steep dirt hill! (Hill? It’s the side of a mountain!) Oye. Joanna had a track workout that morning so we decided to warmup together until she split towards the track and I towards Lee Hill Rd. We were both procrastinating in getting going. I dreaded my workout knowing what it was like last week… finally we both said, “Ok, let’s get going!” We jogged up Hwy-36 until she split and I kept going to warm up. I ran about 45:00 before I began the first climb. Happily, I found the run this week to be better! I felt much stronger than last week, which helped my confidence.

Runners always say the descent down the mountain should be quicker than the ascent. They don’t take into account the wimpy way I pick my way down a mountain. I am slow and cautious, sure I will twist an ankle if...

The mornings….

Just when I had laughed at myself for bringing so much clothing for colder weather (I hadn’t yet needed it), things here in Boulder turned chilly. I am so used to the 90-100 degree days in Atlanta that the crisp mornings and cooler evenings here are a welcome change. The sky is a brilliant blue and the air is so clean I almost feel cleansed as I inhale…

Yesterday I wore a thicker jacket and leg warmers during my ride. Funny that 4 days prior I had been a sweating pig in my sleeveless jersey.

The last few nights I’ve been sleeping with the windows open to have woken up tightly wound in my blanket cocoon. I always sleep so much better when it is cold. But my body clock is seriously wacked. It has been soooooooo difficult to drag myself out of bed even by 7am here. I am always so tired. Each time I force my eyes to stay open I remind myself it is 9am at home… THIS motivates me!

So, last night – HILARIOUS....

It's all about the GLUTES

The weather has been beautiful in Boulder since the day I arrived over a week ago.

This morning it was pouring …. I mean the proverbial cats and dogs… it went on for hours. Unusual for Boulder – showers here move out quickly. Thunder, lightening, the works.

I wanted to swim and then JZ was going to show me some exercises to help build my glute strength. She had a hunch my glutes were likely pretty weak given my poor cycling strength and incredible back pain. She and I waited for hours for the rain to pass…. it wasn’t …. eventually we just got tired of waiting.

I went on ahead to Flat Irons as I wanted to swim a bit more than she… that way I would just get out when she did and we’d hit the weight room. Swimming…. swimming… swimming… as I was on my final 100m JZ swims into my lane in front of me … I pop up… “What?” .. “Lightening! And...

The weekend in Boulder…

Saturday, September 22.
I expected a tough day today. JZ invited me to ride 4 hours with her and I was eager to give it another shot after my new bike fit (which has seemed to be a miracle! I have felt so much better!). I was damned determined to stay with her for longer than 11min this time! I got the ok from my coach to “blow myself completely” to stay with her as long as I could hold on. Excellent.

She wanted to swim first so I decided to throw my bike in her car and bike home after our swim to get in a bit more bike warmup before she and I began our ride. I think I need a bit more juice before I can go high-octane immediately, which is required of you if you ride with Joanna Zeiger. I think the biking home was a smart idea but when I got back, I wolfed down a huge egg burrito and 2 pieces of toast with...