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...