Over the winter holidays the family and I travel down to a really great place just outside of Sarasota Florida. It's kind of a pilgrimage of sorts as all of Sandra's family go to the same place for some or all of the two week block. It can be kind of crazy with everyone together, but I must say that it's great to have two weeks with just the kids and none of the home stresses to get you preoccupied.
Another reason why floriday is great is because it's a chance to get out of the basement and be outside on the road doing a little running and bike riding. Yes I bring my bike down... It's a great way to get out for a short while just to spin the legs and see the Island. From bridge to bridge it's just over 15km so I had a number of opportunities to get out and see how I've improved from year to year.
Running: Because we've been going to the same place for the last number of years, I've been able to see improvements over time. I don't know why I use florida to measure this but I do... So the distance from our place to one end of the island 6km and change. I remember years ago it taking me close to 36min. Last year I believe it was 32 or 34min. This year I ran it consistently in 31. This means that in nice weather I'm running a consistent low 5 min km and at the same time keeping my body in check..
I was also, for the first time brave enough to run the other way towards the Longboat key club. It was about 9km so in a 100 min run I was able to get 18+ km. Aside from races and the fact that was December, that was a personal best and a feeling to know that it's only December and I'm feeling great!!!
Cycling: I was able to see a lot of similar gains this year as I did with running. I knew that with my compact crank I've been getting stronger and sacrificing a little speed for a more well rounded performance. This year, knowing that the island was 15km each way and 30 round trip, I should have been consistenly in the 1hr range to finish a loop. Many days I felt great out on the bike and saw that the 1hr was more like 55 min for just under 31km.
The island is really funny, because one way is a terrible head wind and the other is a very fast tail. Into the wind I wanted to spin over 90rpm and try to stay over 30kph. With the tail I was consistenly able to see numbers close to 38 if not more.
I need to remember that these speeds may not be terribly reflective of me but the important thing is that the goal of getting stronger is definitely happening.
I was also brave enough to meet up with the boys from Ringling cycle. Anually they have a ride that many call the first race of the season or the last race. Either way these guys go hard and they push.
The day of this ride, it was colder - probably close to 12degrees and the winds were pushing close to 35kmph. Normally the guys had told me that there are usually 200 riders for this ride but today 50-60 - cool none the less. The first 20 min were light and easy. At some point they went from 28 to 36+ with the crazy wind. I got dropped pretty fast but so did a bunch of other riders. We all stuck together and luckily for me I was able to stay with them. The funny thing (or scary) about in land Florida is that it all looks the same. Thankfully I stayed with these guys because I'd probably be still out there had I gotten lost. We ended up with 45 miles (70km ish) in 2:20 keeping to a 30avg. The whole rest of the day I was dizzy.... Wow that was I hard ride.
