Did a bunch of riding this weekend, both road and dirt, does that count
as cross training?
You know that "snow" we get in the spring, like little styrofoam balls,
sort of like hail, but not hard? It is called graupel. I was hit with
graupel quite a bit this weekend, didn't know the word.
I rode a new trail for me, Alien Loop, down near Aztec. Alleged alien
crash site in 1948 (http://www.aztecufo.com/crash.htm). Went with some
friends, my wife and 10 y.o. son. Very fun ride, slick rock, dirt, a
little technical (yeah I know), but what I learned was that I was so
focused on my son, his having fun, not getting hurt ..., I hit all sorts
of branches with my handlebars, whacked my head on a large tree limb,
fell over twice ... I did more stupid riding tricks in that short ride
than I can remember all of last year. Somehow it added to my enjoyment.
I learned that I'm faster and better if I keep breathing under control.
For some reason, I felt that I needed to keep myself on the ragged edge
of my breathing, but somewhere in the 6 mile, 1600 ft climb at 10.6K, I
would blow up. Keep my breathing under control, and I can maintain, and
eventually get to the top faster.
There sure are a lot more things for me to learn, I guess 43 is not that
all old.
--
Craig Brossman, Durango Colorado
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