Garmin Connect - Knights Ferry / Woodward Loop

Garmin Connect - Knights Ferry / Woodward Loop (follow link for full Garmin route)

This ride was absolutely beautiful and the temps were perfect. The only issue with the route was that we made a wrong turn on to 28 Mile Road instead of heading to 26 Mile Road and it ended up shortening the ride by about 7 miles.

Next time I'm printing the map (just in case).

We started the ride at the Knights Ferry Recreation Area, a few miles outside of Oakdale. This is the same location as the Salmon Duathlon and 5k hosted by @OnYourMarkEvent (Next one is 11/7/15).

Perfect place to start

We probably could have started our ride closer to home, but the nice thing about starting at the Knights Ferry Recreation Area is that there is plenty of FREE parking, restrooms, and picnic tables. On top of all of that, if you are wanting to do a brick workout, the Salmon Duathlon run course is perfect.  You will also encounter other Stanislaus County parks along the way if you need a restroom break ;-)

Team In Training riders

The route we were on proved to be pretty popular as we crossed paths with many other riders.

Which way do we go?

Sort of lost (not really) but still having a good time.

Most roads were in good condition with little traffic

The locals were very curious

Oldest covered bridge west of the Mississippi

Trails for hiking too

@TrainingPeaks #ResultsStartHere 

Garmin Connect - Stockton-Lodi Loop

The Raley's at the corner of Hammer Ln and Don Av is a great starting point. There is plenty of parking and if you forgot anything, Raley's is sure to have it. Plus, there is a McDonald's in case you are feeling a little hungry after the ride :-)

Garmin Connect - Stockton-Lodi Loop

Looking north at the S/E corner of Thornton & W Kile Rd

Headed south on W Kile Rd

Intersection of Armstrong and Devries Rd

#ResultsStartHere #TrainingPeaks +TrainingPeaks

Say it Ain't So

One of the most painful parts of training is not my stiff muscles in the morning, it's not my feet cramping in the middle of a swim set, and it's not my aching bottom from hours on the trainer...it's the sores around my torso where my heart rate monitor strap has rubbed my skin raw.

On the bike it's not usually a problem. However, after a nice long run, I am sure to have some fresh spots. I can see the ones on the front and will rub some Vasaline on them first before hopping in the shower. Its the ones on my back, that I don't see, that are the worst. As soon at the hot water hits my back and washes the salty sweat down my back, it feels like someone is burning me with a hot poker!

I'm not the only one with chaffing problems 

When things get really bad, I stop wearing the HR strap until things heal up a bit. I have tried Glide and even Chamois Butter, but nothing seemed to help. The biggest problem is my HR strap sits right underneath my sports bra. Just a slight movement is enough to cause a problem over an hour or two run.

HS and I had even discussed a way to cut the strap and mount it to my sports bra with velcro or something so it would move with the bra and potentially cause less damage. One day I did a Google search to see if anyone had tried anything like that and I discovered that Victoria's Secret had beat me to the idea.

The Victoria's Secret bra, beside being comfy and supportive, had soft, built-in contact points. All I do to use the bra is snap in my Garmin sensor.

VS contact points on the bottom, Garmin plastic (warped)
contacts on top

Just snap and go

After trying out the bra for a week, I decided I needed to have more than one. I went back to the VS website and was horrified at what I found...

NOOOO!

Funny Thing

As I was writing this post, I did a Google search to see if I could find out why Victoria's Secret discontinued this bra. Most of the articles I had previously found (announcing the bra) were written late last year, so it wasn't like it had been on the market a long time. I re-read one of the articles and it noted the creator of the technology and some of the companies using it.

A couple more searches and I found one of the top rated sports bras that now offers a heart rate monitor bra! Yay!!!

#ResultsStartHere

Vineman - One Month Down, Six to Go

In anticipation of my coach's check-in questions, I am trying to summarize my first month of Vineman training...

Weight: Down 2 pounds
Resting HR: Up at the end of the month

When I first saw my calendar for January, I thought it looked a little too easy. HA! Boy was I wrong...the tale of the tape tells a completely different story. Compared to the previous months training, January 2015 marked the most time and distance. I'm now starting to get worried about the months to come ;-)

#ResultsStartHere

Garmin Connect - Speedstar

Not sure where the name for this route came from, but that's what we call it. It's a nice loop through the farms and vineyards surrounding Lodi. Bring a backpack and stock up at Lockeford Sausage before heading home :-)

This route starts at the House of Coffee in Lodi.

Garmin Connect - Speedstar

Grillin' up some Lockeford Sausage

#ResultsStartHere

Garmin Connect - Ride Around Lake Tahoe

Beautiful ride...take your time and do it on a week day when traffic is lighter. NOTE: You will have to ride on Highway 50 for a stretch.

Garmin Connect - Ride Around Lake Tahoe

Garmin Connect - Stockton to Elk Grove

If you are looking for a nice flat, out-and-back ride, this simple route from Stockton to Elk Grove is perfect (as long as it's not windy). If I ride from my house, it is roughly 60 miles. The attached route shows the distance leaving from Bear Creek High School which knocks the distance down to 53.5 miles.

What's nice about leaving from Bear Creek High School is that there is plenty of parking and you are very close to the city limits...which means there is not a lot of in town riding. About 1/2 a mile (and a couple of signals) into your ride, you cross Eight Mile Road and you are in the country on your way to Lodi.

Garmin Connect - Stockton to Elk Grove

Thornton Rd

Just north of the town of Thornton is the Cosumnes River Preserve. There are restrooms available. It's also a nice place to stop and just take in nature for a few minutes or to re-group with your riding partners.

Lots of ducks (and photographers) today

After the preserve is a long, straight stretch to Elk Grove. If you use Garmin Connect, you will find lots of other riders with segments posted.

Course segments are virtual race courses that allow you to compare your performances against all your past activities, your connections, your group members or the entire Garmin Connect community. You can find segments in your area, or create your own. 

The road can be rough in spots and if the wind is blowing, you are going to feel it as you head north. However, the ride back to Stockton is going to be glorious! With the wind at your back, you will feel like a superstar :-)

Our triathlon training group likes to use the Star Bucks at the corner of Franklin Blvd and Elk Grove Blvd as our rest stop. There is also a Raley's at this location (don't waste your money on their apple fritters...still disappointed LOL).

Short break before heading home

#TrainingPeaks #ResultsStartHere #HeyLets +TrainingPeaks