The FeMan is Humbled

Prologue

In July, 2000 The FeMan had the opportunity visit his inlaws in Northern California for an extended stay. With hilly roads for riding and lots of trails for running it seemed an ideal opportunity. What follows is a diary of this training week.

7/21

Did a long ride today with much hills.

Started out foggy and cool, but warmed up crossing the ridge. The interior of Marin County was much warmer.

After circling about and losing my way once I hit a tremendous headwind in my last climb back to the coast. The onshore winds were fierce, even when I was going downhill. However, the last 35 miles were heaven, with a tail wind much of the way. Just sailed along.

The 25 miles from Point Reyes were tremendous: quartering wind, roller hills, a couple out of the saddle spots, some nice downhill sections. It took me just over an hour for that section. My ride ended up at about 80 miles; a good day.

7/23

Yesterday was devoted to family stuff, with just a little trail run in the A.M.

Today I finally completed a run that has had me intimidated for years: ran the Dipsea Trail from Stinson Beach to Mill Valley and back. Distance is somewhere between 14 and 15 miles with lots of ups and downs. The section from Steep Ravine up to the top of the ridge above Muir Woods is a bit over 2 miles as is the section from Muir Woods back up to the ridge high point.

Just continuous uphill, sometimes a little steep, most often just steady. My quads were whining about the work on the last downhill section, but it was wonderful overall. Woods, open rolling hills, streams, sun, fog.

Pandemonium in Muir Woods as the cars circled the parking lots like buzzards trying to locate some carrion, then blessed peace as I left the area.

Tomorrow I will try to swim with the seals.

7/25

Oh, blessed tiredness.

Yesterday was an easy day -- rode about 30 miles from the end of Point Reyes back to the Hotel Oliver. Modest hills, some wind and bumpy road.

Today rode about 55 miles in the interior of Marin County. Explored some new roads and routes and had my own Alpe de Fairfax: a 10.5 mile climb up over Bolinas Ridge. Reached the ridge crest really tired and then had to descend to sea level. The road is really bumpy and windy so I could never build up much speed and had to be continuously on my brakes.

My hands are really beat up: both thumbs just ache.

Still haven't swum with the seals, but I have a few more days.

7/26

Today was an easy day.

First day swimming while here, but didn't get with the seals.

Trude (Janet's mother) arranged for me to get into Sea Drift (a gated community) so that I could swim in the inner lagoon. It's a long finger of salt water completely surrounded by sandy beach and houses. Water about the same temperature as Lake Washington, but lots of crabs on the bottom near shore. Swam about 45 min and it was really pleasant.

1 hour run in the PM on the beach with Janet. I hoped to go when it was hot out, but the ocean breeze kept it cool.

There's a salmon run going on now so there were lots of trawlers out in the bay south of Bolinas. I guess the fish attract the pelicans because there was group after group of them flying along, into the wind. Also saw a seal playing in the surf as we ran along the beach.

Saw a seal two different times and I assume it was the same one each time as it was pointed in the direction we were going.

Tomorrow is my last bike ride of the trip (boo-hoo).

Hope to ride 80+ miles taking a different route up the interior of Marin County and getting as far north as the town of Tomales.

7/27

Had my last ride in Marin today.

Ended up with 78 miles and it seemed brutal.

It's unbelievable how that wind can howl in off the ocean -- and it always seemed to be a headwind when I was grinding uphill. I was really beat by the time I returned. Even so, my average speed was 16 mph with all the hills and winds.

Tomorrow I hope to swim with the seals. They've been lying out there on there sand/mud every day this week, just tempting me to get into the water

Hiked on Bolinas Ridge. Vistas to the horizon.

7/28

Rest day

7/29

Swam with the seals.

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