The day I decided to do a half iron man will always be remembered with a bit of my skin crawling. This has GOT to be the most physically demanding sport I've ever gotten myself into and I will forever blame Stephen Schneider for this one. The half consists of just over a mile swim, 56 mile bike and 13 mile run. This weekend, Reed and I decided instead of driving like civilized people down to Encinitas to see the fam, we wanted to ride our bikes.... yes that's right, I didn't stutter.. RIDE OUR BIKES. The longest ride either of us had done was about 25 miles. I remember doing the Central Coast Adventure Challenge in San Louis Obispo and I wanted to die after 25 miles of mountain biking with hills too steep to even walk up, let alone ride up. Reed has been talking about biking down south for over 4 years so he as adamant about finally doing it and why not? It would be good training for the hellous race we have in July up in Sonoma for the Vineman Iron Man 70.3 (I honestly cringe every time I say "half iron man")
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| Trying to fix my computer |
The ride to Encinitas is 65 miles of non-stop hills and it doesn't help to do it on a Saturday when there are cars on all sides of you. We left at 10:45 and we had already made 3 stops before we got to Newport so I knew this was going to be a long day. By the time we got to Corona del Mar, I thought, "no way in hell can I make all these climbs." The hills aren't the most steep, but they are soooo long. We found out early that I was much faster than Reed going downhill (he says to me: "you're afraid of trains, and I'm afraid my front tire is going to fall off when I'm flying down a hill, get over it.") However, after I flew past him going downhill, he was quick to pass me with a cocky grin going uphill and I thought to myself "har har, he's going to gas his legs by the 2nd hill") What do you think happened? I hate to say "I told you so" but who am I kidding, I LOVE saying that to him.
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| 2 life saving beers at Pizza Port |
By the time we got to San Clemente, we were ready for a pitcher of beer and a pie at Pizza Port. We were dreading the hill up to it because this one was steep AND long but there was gold at the end of the rainbow in the form of beer so we gave every last bit of energy to get there. The sad part was that both of us thought it was closer than it actually was. I can't think of anything more discouraging than being a quarter of the way up a steep hill THINKING you're at your destination and only finding out you still have about 6 blocks to go. We were both fooled by a white building that we thought was Pizza Port but really wasn't even close. After chugging a pitcher and a Hawaiian with jalapeño pizza, we were on our way.
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| Empty road |
The best part of the ride was going through Camp Pendleton. It was the most peaceful ride with very minimal cars. The roads were more rolling hills but not nearly as bad as Laguna/Dana Point. The guards joked around with us, one saying "man I'm way too big for that bike, good luck." I told him it wasn't a good idea to get into biking, it would only drain your legs and your wallet. One of Stephen's friends told him "So you guys bike AND snowboard? Could you pick 2 of the most expensive sports?" It's no joke, they both wear on the checking account.
The worst part of the ride was Oceanside. Super sketchy people and roads were no bueno either. I was dodging so many pot holes and mirrors and people opening doors. The only good part of making it to Oceanside was knowing we were almost home. We walked in the door (more like stumbled) at 5:15 which was just enough time to shower and get to the Wise's house for Taco Night.
The next day we were going to jump on the train back home. PSYCHE! We get there and the Amtrak only has 3 racks for bikes which were all reserved. There were 2 other bikers there trying to get home also, ironically they live 2 blocks away from me. The only difference is they made the ride that morning and did not want to ride at all back. Once we gave up all hope, we were on our way (biking) home.
We saw a bus that said San Clemente so we jumped on right as it was about to take off. Our new friends had to pay the bus fare because Reed and I are rookies and didn't have cash. Once we get through Pendleton, they dropped us off in the middle of NOWHERE still on the base and I couldn't believe it because they are super strict on where you can and can't go in there.
The 4 of us separated somehow and Reed and I biked to the Carl's Jr on Cristianitos thinking we might reunite with them there at the next bus stop. They weren't there but we met another biker who made us feel like the biggest wimps ever. The guy asks me "Do you know where I can find the train to Oceanside? I blew out my knee and can't ride anymore." Come to find out, the guy lives in Canada, has been biking for 3 WEEKS and is making his way down to Baja. Never again will I complain about a 65 mile bike ride when this guy has a blown knee and has been biking for 3 weeks straight. He reminded me a lot of my friend Andrew who is constantly on an adventure and is probably the most free-spirited person on the planet.
The bus came, and after Reed surprised me with some beef jerky and 2 small Jose Cuervo shots- hey it was going to be a long ride, we were on our way home. We got through Dana Point and came to a bus stop and I hit Reeds arm waking him up. Our biker friends were at the bus stop fist pumping so excited to see the bus and our bikes in front because that meant we made it and were on the bus also. The fist pumping came to a quick hault because this bus driver was not so cool as the last one who let us bring our bikes on the bus and hold them. There were only 2 racks in the front of the bus and since ours were on them, the driver wouldn't let these 2 on the bus. Reed and I immediately sucked then because not ONLY did they already cover 80 miles that day, they had to pay for mine and Reed's fare and THEN couldn't get on the bus because the 2 idiots they had to pay for were taking up the bike racks. We never did see them again but if we see them on 2nd, we owe them a beer.
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| Learning how to walk with her stylish hat |
We got back home at 5 (left at 1) and couldn't wait to walk downtown and relax. Oh wait, what's that? Reed took my brother in law's keys so we have to drive out to La Verne and return them? Of COURSE we do... This is why we love Reed, because of all the dumb things he does and I can't ever get mad about it- I laugh instead and think "yup, sounds about right."
To top the night off, as we are walking out the door, I decide I want to go pee one last time before the long drive home. Reed has no idea how it happened but he managed to lock the bathroom door and sis and I spent the next 5 minutes sitting on the stairs watching the boys try and figure out how to get in the bathroom. Ryan was victorious and Reed still doesn't understand how he did it or if he even DID do it. We all know he did :-)
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| "Really? How did I do that?" |
Ryan, my brother in law told Reed once, "it seems like everything you guys do together turns into an adventure." That was probably the best compliment I could ever hear about our relationship. It's been an adventure since the very first day I met him and I'm sure this won't be the last time you'll hear a good story. There's a new song out with Drake and there's a line he says at the end of his verse that says "Everybody dies but not everybody lives." This made me stop and think about what I'm doing in life and I also smiled because I think Reed and I do a pretty good job at living.
“One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure.” — William Feather
