Mohonk Weekend

Hi Folks!

Here's a late recap on my  3/12-3/13 training weekend up in New Paltz.  We had a great time but unfortunately it didn't end the way I planned!  Simon and I drove up there Friday night and we stayed at the Minnewaska Lodge.  It was a really cute B&B that was nestled right below the Shawangunk Ridge.

Not a bad place to spend the weekend!  We slept in to a late 9am on Saturday then went downstairs to enjoy breakfast and the beautiful view.  I wasn't feeling so hot and was a bit congested but that wasn't going to stop me from conquering the Gunks on my bike!

We geared up and got ready to go!  The photo above is at the top of the lodge driveway.  It was a bit overcast but the sun would be out for most of the ride.  So the route I wanted to ride is 1 loop of the American Zofingen Duathlon course.  What's better than celebrating turning 30 (in part 1 of 3 by the way) than by biking two mountains with over 2000 feet of climbing?!?  Yeah, I never thought I'd want to do that either.

Off we went on our Mohonk Adventure!  The ride started off great with rolling hills mostly going down.  It felt great to be on my bike in a new place and even though I was congested I just enjoyed the beautiful scenery and the company of course!

About 5 miles in the ride got hard... real hard!  It was the beginning of the first mountain climb.  We went from 224 feet elevation to 1,106 in just over 2 miles!!  Yikes - those were the slowest and steepest miles I think I have ever ridden!! For those of you who have ridden the Mooseman course in 2010 - this was steeper and harder!  After we slugged up the mountain we took a reconnaissance break then continued on.

I was leading the way since I had the map and after descending for a couple of minutes I looked behind me and I didn't see Simon.  There was a sharp turn up ahead of me so I stopped to wait for him.  I relaxed, took a swig from my water bottle and waited.  After a few more minutes went by than they should have, I got worried so I decided to ride back up the hill I just came down to catch up with with Si.  I got to the top and he wasn't there.  Then I heard my phone ring.  Uh oh.
"Where are you??"
"Where are you?"
"I biked back up to get you and you're not here!"
"I turned down Clove Road"
"You were't supposed to turn down Clove!"

Argh - so after a few minutes of figuring out where he was compared to where I was we decideded to meet at the next intersection.  I would go the right way and he would take a quick diversion to get there.  I get to our meeting place and I'm waiting.  And waiting. And waiting.  Finally I called him and he realized he went right instead of left so rode 2 miles out of his way.  So I had to wait for him to get to our appropriate meeting place.  **what's with men and directions?!? xoxo Si! Needless to say, that little snafu added about 45 minutes to our ride!

Miles 10 to about 17 were rolling hills and my legs felt good but my energy level was down.  Little did I know that the next big climb was right around the corner.  Literally.  This climb was longer, higher but not as steep as the first climb.  This time the elevation went from 295 ft to 1,407 in about 6.5 miles.

This was about 3 miles up the climb.  It was a beautiful scenic stop.  But I wouldn't be celebrating for too long....

'Cause we had this sucker to climb and this didn't stop for another 3-4 miles!

After this monster of a mountain, we were able to enjoy the downhill coast, including a 90 degree hairpin turn, and made it back to our lodge!

"Welcome home indeed!  I'm so tired..."

"Ok, I admit, it was an epic ride!"

So we survived the Shawangunks and come mid-May, I have the pleasure of running a 5 mile hilly trail run, riding that same bike course THREE times, then running 15 hilly trail miles!  Sometimes I wonder what is wrong with me! hah.

After a huge lunch at a German place across the street, we decided just to rest at the lodge since I wasn't feeling well.  I was achey, coughing and sneezing so I knew I was getting sick.  Later that evening we drove into New Paltz and had a delicious Italian dinner in a restaurant that was built inside an old rail station.  Very cool and Simon likes trains so he was happy!

The plan for Sunday was to wake up early, eat, then go running for an hour and a half.  I wanted to check out the run course so we were going to drive there.  But when I woke up, I was covered in sweat with chills and the only thing I was running was a fever.  Ugh - I bagged the run and texted my Coach letting her know that I had to skip my long run.  It was my very, very first missed workout since January 3rd and I was bummed!  I also have that thing called Catholic guilt, so it's like I kinda needed her approval to not run. Quite like when I call my Mom when I'm sick to make sure I should take off work.  **yes, I know, I'm hours away from being 30 and it's silly to get my Mom's OK to stay home!

So Sunday turned into a later breakfast, packing, then we decided to take a scenic drive.  We drove up the mountain we came down the day before and parked by Lake Minnewaska.  It was so beautiful up there and the pictures don't do it justice!

I felt like we were in the Ice Age 'cause it was just so random to climb up a mountain and find this big, beautiful frozen lake!  We decided to take a little "hike" around the lake since it was just about 1.9 miles around.  I wasn't feeling great and it was cold out but I really wanted to get some fresh, clean air.

We did not expect to hiking along a snowy trail!

Despite the cold and snowy conditions it was a nice little hike!  We continued on our drive and basically drove the bike course we did the day before but the opposite way.  What beautiful scenery and it really was a great ride despite how hard it was.

So overall the weekend was great and I'm excited to get back up there!  Oh - the other thing I forgot to write was that I had a Wassner Twin sighting before the first mountain climb!  Simon thinks I "stalk" pro triathletes but I like reading about them and how they train etc... Becca Wassner happens to live up there so it was cool to see her out on her bike!

Unfortunately for me my cold lasted a lot longer than I planned.  I didn't workout again until Thursday where I did a short swim.  So that's 4 missed workouts.  On the grand scheme of things, it's not so bad, and I lucked out cause this happened to be a rest week so I didn't miss any key workouts.

I'm really looking forward to training this week!!  Oh yeah... I turn 30 TOMORROW!! Eek! So weird! Get ready or not W30-34 age group, there's a new kid in town!!

Happy Training!