- Current plan: ZRQL Marathon Training Plan
- Today’s session: 18-mile, long run
- Comments: I did 18.4 miles @ 8:42 avg pace, avg cadence 95 & a run time of 2:40:14. [Strava]
- Weekly mileage: Running: 47.1 / Bicycling: 27.6 – Total: 74.7
- Current plan: ZRQL Marathon Training Plan
- Today’s session: Rest
- Comments: Rest and a quick trip to Monterey for lunch
Apologies up front: This, like my “first marathon” and “first ultra-marathon” posts, is a longer one…
This past Saturday, I rode in Foxy’s Fall Century out in Davis, CA. Foxy’s, an annual event hosted by the Davis Bike Club, dates back to the 1960s, so it’s an established event that draws 1500 riders of all ages and abilities each year. The event offered three distances: the traditional, 100-mile century, a metric century (100 kilometers or 62 miles), and a 50-kilometer (31 mile) Family Ride. A friend of mine invited me to ride the 100-mile distance with him in late summer, so I shifted my predominately running-focused training to prepare.
The weather was excellent: clear and cool at the start (~50 degrees) and it warmed up nicely as the ride progressed. I’d guess it was in the upper 70s when I finished.
The 100-mile course which, according to my friend and several blogs I consulted during my training, has changed slightly over the years (route and actual distance); but, at its core, the circular course departs Davis and makes its way through Solano and Napa counties – through Davis, farmlands, vineyards, rolling hills (including a climb up “Cardiac Hill”), 
and then back through the farms into Davis. There were three rest stops along the route, with lunch being served at Wooden Valley School (~mile 51.) The Davis Bike Club’s website describes Foxy’s as “the ideal first century ride” and I would agree. It was just the right mix of flats, rolling hills, and good climbs/downhills to make it challenging yet achievable for a newbie…like me.
Course and event management was excellent. There were tons of volunteers and CHP to ensure riders stayed on course and the roads also had signage just to be sure (color-coded arrows stuck to the road.) The rest stops and lunch stop were placed at perfect intervals and were stocked with a great selection of food and water/electrolyte drink (stop two was water/electrolyte only though.) Lunch was great, though I didn’t eat too much. The ride started and finished at Veterans’ Memorial Center in Davis, which was a great location. At the start, they had coffee and breakfast-type fare, though I didn’t partake (I followed my normal fueling regimen.) Riders were provided a pasta dinner at the finish…I didn’t pass that up! They also had a bike swap meet, which was nice as well – I picked up a jersey for my wife to give me at Christmas!
I am not an experienced cyclist, but this was an excellent event and one I’d definitely ride again.
My Ride
I spent most of my lunch looking through “mom pics” that I have on my various computers.
This one jumped out at me this time.
Maybe it’s the penetrating and loving stare.
Maybe it’s the understanding and supportive smile.
Maybe it’s the sense that her right hand seems ready to reach out and grab mine.
Maybe it’s the way she’s sitting such that she could either lean forward to listen closer or even stand up to hug.
For certain it’s that, after this was taken, she said, “I love you.”
There are probably many other things that made this particular “mom pic” jump out this time, I just need to stare longer.
Happy birthday, mom. I miss you so much.
Training Journal – 10/24/13:
- Current plan: ZRQL Marathon Training Plan
- Today’s session: 6-mile run
- Comments: I did 6.3 miles @ 8:13 avg pace, avg cadence 96 & a run time of 51:30. [Strava]
Just a few scattered things I read today and thought I’d share/post…
From an article titled, “Should You Be Coached?”
“Harry Chapin, in a song called Mr. Tanner, about a baritone from the midwest, penned the line, “he did not know how well he sang, he only heard the flaws.” Some of us train that way. We’re really hard on ourselves. It can be fairly destructive.”
“Golfing legend Lee Trevino is quoted as having said, “It’s not the arrow; it’s the Indian.” “
From a race website:
“Stadiums are for spectators. We runners have nature and that is much better.”
– Juha Väätäinen
I always stick this somewhere on each page of my training plan…it caught my eye again today:
“Do the work. Do the analysis. But feel your run. Feel your race. Feel the joy that is running.”
– Kara Goucher
Training Journal – 10/23/13:
- Current plan: ZRQL Marathon Training Plan
- Today’s session: 8-mile run
- Comments: I did 8.6 miles @ 8:39 avg pace, avg cadence 95 & a run time of 1:14:34. [Strava]
- Current plan: ZRQL Marathon Training Plan
- Today’s session: 5-mile run
- Comments: I did 5.4 miles @ 8:34 avg pace, avg cadence 95 & a run time of 46:18. [Strava]
Well, Foxy’s is past and today I reset to a running-focused training program in prep for a late fall marathon…by cross training with a ride!
It was on the plan…
Back to re-building my run base bright and early tomorrow!
GIDDY-UP!
Training Journal – 10/21/13:
- Current plan: ZRQL Marathon Training Plan
- Today’s session: 20-mile ride
- Comments: I rode for 1:15:15 for 21.8 miles @ 17.4 mph avg & avg cadence of 85 [Strava]
- Current plan: Foxy’s Fall Century Training Plan
- Today’s session: Rest
- Comments: Rest today – new training plan tomorrow!
- Weekly mileage: Running: 6.4 / Bicycling: 142 – Total: 148.4
Well, today was THE day: Foxy’s Fall Century. My first organized bike ride. My first century.
It was a great experience and I’m really happy with my results.
I’ll post a ride report this coming week; but, ahead of that: my moving time was 5:49:36 @ a 17.2 mph avg & avg cadence of 87. Total ride time, including three rest stops and lunch was 6:50:29.
GIDDY-UP!
Training Journal – 10/19/13:
- Current plan: Foxy’s Fall Century Training Plan
- Today’s session: Ride day!
- Comments: See above, more to follow [Strava]
- Current plan: Foxy’s Fall Century Training Plan
- Today’s session: 30-minute, easy ride and day two of carb loading for Saturday’s century
- Comments: I rode for 35:24 for 10.2 miles @ 17.2 mph avg & avg cadence of 83 [Strava]
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