Putting it off

I have been meaning to do a long ride for awhile now and finally went at it today (or at least what I consider a long ride).  With the week coming to an end, May fast approaching, and the distant thoughts of my last long ride last September, I figured I better get 'er done.  Good thing I waited until today, when the weather took a turn from the 70's a few days ago to the 40's and rain.  After an unsuccessful attempt to convince my classmate Pat to ride with me, I hit the roads for close to 3 hours.  I held a good pace for the last 40 miles, and the ride surprisingly felt easy.  Only now am I feeling tired...For my post-workout meal, I met some friends at CiCi's, a pizza buffet.  While some of my friends (Sam?) would be disgusted by eating so "unhealthy" (I disagree), it is much easier than cooking a massive meal.  

The semester is winding down, with only 10 days left (and 5 tests).  And then back to MN for the summer.  

Day Off

The weather has been unbelievable the last few days, consistently in the 60s and 70s now.  It doesn't leave much (any?) motivation for school which is what made today even more enjoyable.  We had a mandatory lecture this morning at 8, but it was basically a joke to tell us that we had the day off.  There was a scavenger hunt that they wanted us to do (finding the architectural "O"s around Omaha), followed by a picnic.  My "scavenger hunt" consisted of getting on the bike, riding 40 miles, and then heading to the picnic to take down 4 Panera Bread sandwiches, chips, a burger, and an ice cold coors light.  The only thing that would make this day better is a lake and a beach.  Unfortunately, those are few and far between in this area.  

Back at it and "The Prarie"

Im writing this while sitting outside, enjoying the 65 degree weather.  Unfortunately, I have to cram 50 lectures of neuro for Monday's exam so this weekend won't be that much fun.  I have resumed running this week and managed two 6 mile runs after a month off.  Nothing stressful, just making sure the motions are still there.  

After spending 8 months in my closet, I took my triathlon bike (a yellow Cervelo Dual) for a spin.  The last time I touched it was at the Brewhouse triathlon at the start of August, two days before moving to Omaha.  The narrow roads in the city make it easier to use a road bike so I have stuck with that.  (I'll write more on the difference in lifestyles between Minneapolis and Omaha another time).  The first ride back was on the trainer and I definately felt a little rusty.  But I made my way outside yesterday for a hard workout, on a great route with amazing scenery north of Omaha that I call "The Prarie".  I named it to sound easy, but it is far from it.  

When I moved to Omaha, I expected a lot of flat and windy rides.  I was wrong, at least about the former.  The first few miles are spent getting out of Omaha, but then you hit about 15 miles of constant thigh burning hills that have you out of your seat more often than not.  At this point, you enter flat land for an additional 15ish miles.  While it is nice to be cruising with the bluffs in the background, more often than not, the wind is hitting you dead in the face at 25 miles an hour.  And when you finally enter the shelter of trees on the way back , you get hit with a couple more long hills.  At this point, 30 miles in, you have two options.  Option A: go straight for an easy 10 miles back home, ending with 2 long hills.  Option B: add on a 3 or so mile loop, including about a three-quarter mile long hill (that is a hell of a lot more fun to cruise down at 40+mph) and ending the same way as choice A.  Needless to say, my quads are not feeling so jumpy today...