Share the Road - Training #20

June 14, 2005

A road block on PCH kept me to a shorter jaunt. I could have gone up Temescal, but I got the workout in I needed to. Talking to Gary yesterday he said it's time to reel it in a little bit to make sure our bodies are rested as possible for the trip. I have had a lingering cough that I want to make sure is completely kicked by next week, so I'll take tomorrow off. I meant to add this a while back: The line between working out or not is extremely thin -- there are always going to be voices in one's head giving the negative chatter and excuses as why not to go. The difference between working out or not is often a goal -- hope/inspiration. Without these things, we are merely spinning our wheels. June 15-17, 2005 We're in to the "maintenance" rides at this point. I'm doing shorter stints to keep my energy tight. The training has happened and now it's just getting out there enough to feel the road and keep myself warm. It's just a great way to start the day if nothing else. T-minus one week from San Diego. June 18, 2005 What I think I'll vs. what I actually end up doing  is an interesting comparison. This morning, I rode up Sepulveda to Mulholland. It's a good hill and on a Saturday, a pleasant ride as the morning rush is not there. So up on top I'm at the point, once again, where Mulholland ends and the "death hill" of Encino Hills begins. I call it that because the grade is STEEEEEEEEEP. The steepest and longest (save for Mt. Diablo) that I've been down. The first time I went down it, I was concerned -- would my brakes melt down? Would there be some crazy driver pulling out of a driveway (very residential)? Etc.... This time I had the feel for the hill and I wasn't worried, but I did want to find Mulholland's continuance. According to the map -- and I've studied this thing as closely as I can, it connects just a short jaunt down the hill to the left. Au Contraire, mon frier (sic). Before even braving the hill to find out, however, I went up a dirt path to the right as there appeared to be aroad that crested the Mulholland hill -- wouldn't that just rock? Rock, being the key word, in actuality, as it was a lot of them and this trail was for Mountain bikes and hikers. I went a 1/2 mile riding, then a half-mile hoofing, saw some beautiful lookouts and decided it wasn't worth the effort of seeing where it let out. Back down the hill. Back to the judgment spot. It didn't take me long to say "screw it, we're going for it". Down the hill. Going to find Mulholland for sure - good ride and good times coming. And we're picking up speed... No Mulholland. Yes Wayvenhurst, aka, the bottom of the hill. Shiznit. So I cruise down Hayvenwurst, hoping for a connector road. I run into Escalon which sounds familiar and looks hopeful. I don't want to ride through the valley on the traffic-laden Ventura, so I'll give it a shot. Besides, there are some bikers up ahead on this road. That's a good sign, right? Up the hill...up the hill...up the -- oh my goodness. I should have checked these bikers credentials before I chose to follow them -- or their sanity level at least. Mind you, these weren't the world-class riders I do see from time to time on the road (as they blow by me -- I can now say I'm a good rider, but not nearly in that class). They were older gentlemen, actually, and they were quite on the mission to conquer this death hill that I swore against a moment ago, just on a slightly western-placed version of Encino Hills. Damn it. I know my ego too well to think I'm going to do anything but ride this hill. Nose down, go. I didn't check the time or the distance, but my heart rate was a steady 182 -- that's working, ladies and gentlemen. At the top of Escalon...there was another choice -- more hill up to the right (pointing back to L.A. - home - or downhill to the left back to Encino. I am not   giving back what I just made up. Up Encino Hills Dr to -- hey! What do you know? There's Mulholland Dr. after all. Making it to the top was quite satisfying, actually. From the bottom of the hill: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/51916184/ The total miles for today were not huge, but the challenge and the accomplishment made for a great ride.