July 28, Saturday

Surprisingly comfortable 11.5  along Ocean Avenue

I set the clock for 7 a.m. today with the goal of joining the Jackson Liberty cross-country boys practice on the boardwalk in Spring Lake at 8 a.m. I loaded up my bike and set out around 7:30 and arrived just in time to catch the boys getting ready for their long boardwalk run. Well, we had three coaches and four boys. The guys set out on their run, and I set out on my bike. I surprised myself by doing a leisurely 11.5 miles. That is far more than I anticipated for my first bike workout after last Saturday’s triathlon. However, it has been a full week and I guess I should be fully recovered.  Anyway I was happy to be able to get that much work in today. It was a very comfortable ride which took 1 hour and 8 minutes under overcast skies at about 75 degrees. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer morning along the beach.  I rode through Spring Lake and Belmar and Avon and Bradley Beach and Ocean Grove all the way to the Asbury Park boardwalk.  The boardwalk and the roads were bristling  with bikers and runners and walkers everywhere you looked. I could not help thinking as I rode along that this wholesome, peaceful atmosphere where everyone was cordial and courteous is exactly how things should be. We are lucky that situations like this can exist in cities and towns throughout the United States.

It was a coincidence that the out-and-back turned out to be 11.5 miles almost exactly the same as in my competition.  Riding my bike instead of Kevin’s bike and at a leisurely pace instead of a competitive pace I was 20 minutes slower than last Saturday.  That is just fine!

Stats-

Weight = #154

A.m. heart rate = 54 beats per minute

Sleep = 7 hours

Diet = 7/8. Lots of salads and fish this week

Index of morning discomfort in left foot still very high at about 7 for first few minutes. Pain in heel pad persists all day but getting a little better. I have slept with the foot brace on for the last two nights . Maybe that  is having some positive effect . Right foot has no issues and Achilles tendons are pain-free.