2/12/11 - 80 Mile Santa Cruz / PCH Ride

Man, it's been a while since I've posted anything to this blog. I have not been feeling good at all lately.  The last real ride I did was the Calaveras ride.  Last weekend (2/5/11), I did ride, but it was awful!  It was only a 50 mile "buddy ride" (non-TNT supported ride) but it felt like 200 miles. I started out really strong, trying to stay with the faster guys. Well, at about mile 20, both my quads started to cramp.  Nothing bad, but I did feel it coming on!  Not good!  So I kept a high cadence the rest of the way...but at like mile 48, both quads decided to totally lock up!  I was on Foothill Expressway in Los Altos and I just had to wait at a stop light and just try my best to stretch out my legs.  But just doing that wasn't easy since both legs were locked and it was difficult just to get off the bike!  Needless to say, I barely made the 50 miles.

7AM Start at Natural Bridges - Santa Cruz

So why the cramping at only 20 miles?  Dehydrated?  Went out too fast?  Nope, it was new medication that my doctor just put me on to try and get my blood pressure lower.  I've been having some blood pressure issues since last summer so my doctor has been trying to get me to get it under control, including different meds!  When he heard what happened to me on the ride, he took me off of the new meds right away.  It worked because I kicked butt on today's ride!  Yup, 80 miles and I felt like I could have gone another 80 when we were done.  Climbed about 4500 feet, so nothing totally big, but nothing to sneeze at either.

Pigeon Point - Site of our Last Rest Stop at Mile 54

All I could say was what a gorgeous day!  And the weather was fantastic!!  Enjoy the pictures.  Only two real rides left...a buddy ride next weekend and one more 80 mile ride...then the event!  Can't wait!!

H

Great Looking Team (H, Daniella, Dori, Coach Colin, Greg)