Coaches

[Veronica]

I was whiny this morning about riding. I hate to sit in traffic, which I'm going to have to do one or another if I want to ride in Marin. I didn't want to ride so far when I wasn't sure how I was feeling, blah, blah, blah...

Before Thom left for work he put on his coach "hat" and told me to ride Diablo then. It's a climb I know really well and it would give me a good idea of my current fitness level after the NS tour. I really didn't want to do that either. So I called him on his cell and asked if I could do hill repeats, 'cause I really didn't want to drive to Diablo either. It would be hot by the time I got there. He got this exasperated tone and told me to do what I want.

That's my clue that the coach isn't happy, and I better do what he wants and stop whining. So I drove over and rode Diablo. It was hot, but I feel better about my ability to ride in the 90s, now that I've done it.

I just got his check in e mail asking did I ride. Of course I rode! The coach told me to. That's part of the deal. If I want his advice, I have to take it. Which isn't as bad as it sounds. He understands that when I say I can't do something, I really do mean it. Like Sunday, when if I let my HR get as high as I'm supposed to on a training ride, I would have barfed or passed out.

He's been so great about all this training I'm doing. It keeps him from doing some things he wants to do. He really helps to keep me focused. And he gets that sometimes riding just needs to be fun and forget about training for a day.

V.

[chickwhorips]

good job! and you feel so much better that you rode. though the name of 'diablo' sounds a bit scary.

'coaches' can be funny like that. i'm the same way. bf tells me what i should do and i whine, but know i have to do it if thats what he says otherwise he'll never give advice again.

[Veronica]

though the name of 'diablo' sounds a bit scary.

Not scary at all. Just 6.5 miles of sustained climbing, average grade of 4 - 5% with pitches to 9% in the section I did today.

The upper half, which is closed right now, is harder. It's 4 miles with an average grade of 6%. Then a quarter mile of 17%.

But I ride it a lot. It is a good benchmark to see where I am. It's also the reason I have a tiny front chainring.

V.

[Adventure Girl]

Did he make you take the rocks with you?

[Veronica]

No, no rocks. Although he's been hinting that maybe I should ride with the bob trailer. It weighs about the same as the rocks. It's still at Cindy's. I'm in a real hurry to get it back - NOT!

V.

[Selkie]

Just be glad he doesn't sit on the bob and make you pull him along!

[spokewench]

I lived in the Bay Area for years and know Mt. Diablo Well, both on and off road. It's a GREAT climb. THey used to do a Mt. Diablo hill climb every year. Do they still do that?

I have two second place and one first place jerseys for that climb on the mountain bike (on the road).!

That's one of the places I miss in the Bay Area! That and the pizza place in Oakland/Berkeley and a couple of mexican restaurants in Hayward!

[maillotpois]

The do that ride, I believe. I think it is put on by the Lung Assn. or something. You've got great results!

[jobob]

So V., which part of the road is closed? From the junction to the summit?

[SadieKate]

Amici Veloci my axe !

You one funny girl.

[snapdragen]

You one funny girl.

Did you see I was greeted at Healdsburg with "Amici Veloci my A**"?

[SadieKate]

Yes, I did! That was Marty who also went to the Little Red Riding Hood. Did you get to talk with her at all? I haven't seen her for a while. She works from home now.

[jobob]

I think it was a friend of Marty's

[SadieKate]

Was she wearing an AV jersey? On an aqua blue and black Seven? Mid-50s?

[Veronica]

So V., which part of the road is closed? From the junction to the summit?

Yep - the summit road is supposed to be open on weekends. You can ride to the Junction from either side.

V.