I'm sure my doctors would be none too pleased, but I had a score to settle on Mt. Hamilton today. In 2007, I started an annual tradition of climbing Mt, Hamilton every 4th of July (or thereabouts) and I've done that ride every year since except last year, when I just couldn't fit it in. The slowest I ever rode up & back this 37.1 miler with 4,600' of climbing was that first year, when I did it in 3:45. My fastest time was in 2010 when I did it in 2:59.
The last time I did this climb, in 2011, it took me 3:38 - my second-slowest time ever. I don't ride for time but when I saw how pathetic that time was that back in 2011, I wasn't very happy. It's not about the time; it was an indication that I was not in very good shape. That I didn't like one bit, and I remembered it today.
I started pretty hard this morning (against medical advice) knowing I wanted to do better than 2011. I didn't check what those previous times were until I got back home today but I knew I had done pretty well. Physically, I felt strong the whole way. Turns out I did it in 3:00, which is pretty much a dead heat with my best time, and 23 minutes faster than my third-best time. It feels good to settle that score and it feels even better knowing that I'm rounding into shape for the big ride. A month and a week until I roll out of Swartz Bay, British Columbia!
The last time I did this climb, in 2011, it took me 3:38 - my second-slowest time ever. I don't ride for time but when I saw how pathetic that time was that back in 2011, I wasn't very happy. It's not about the time; it was an indication that I was not in very good shape. That I didn't like one bit, and I remembered it today.
I started pretty hard this morning (against medical advice) knowing I wanted to do better than 2011. I didn't check what those previous times were until I got back home today but I knew I had done pretty well. Physically, I felt strong the whole way. Turns out I did it in 3:00, which is pretty much a dead heat with my best time, and 23 minutes faster than my third-best time. It feels good to settle that score and it feels even better knowing that I'm rounding into shape for the big ride. A month and a week until I roll out of Swartz Bay, British Columbia!
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