A Pleasent Surprise

Ride Day

time- 1:56
distance- 32mi

Once more into the breach, dear friends.
That was how I felt leaving the house yesterday morning on my bike. The plan was the same as two weeks ago, down to Haliewa, around, and back up Pineapple Hill. For a lot of advanced riders, Pineapple Hill does not pose a huge challenge. But its rough enough for me. And it kicked my ass last time I did it. I'm a few weeks stronger now though, so I was feeling hopeful that it wouldn't be so bad.
It was great.
I was shocked. I didn't fly up the Hill, and I wasn't pushing myself very hard, but I went right up with little to no hating of life. Huge confidence booster, that. I felt pretty good when I was down in Haleiwa, and felt so good when I got to the Dole Plantation (home of pineapple mazes and pineapple smoothies) that I decided to tack on a few miles by going down through Wahiawa before heading home. Ths has me very excited about getting in to my century training. A century which I haven't signed up for yet because I'm still waiting for them to email me back about a few things.
Also on the registration front, I've registered for the Waikiki Rough Water Swim on September 5th, Labor Day. Why? Because I forgot it was happening until Kepa, the Tri-N-Hawaiian, asked me about it. Oh yeah, an event happening on the island I haven't signed up for yet. Ok, I'm in. And you can't beat a swim around Waikiki. I did this course once when I came out here with my college swim team (UOP! Viva la Tigers!) and enjoyed it. More than the North Shore Swim Series events, the bottom really drops away and you are in the Big Blue. And let me tell you, it is big. And blue.
The only upcoming swim I haven't registered for yet is the one mile Duke's Oceanfest Open Water. And I haven't registered for that because they have not yet joined us in this century and I have to download the registration form, fill it out, and mail or fax it. Who does that any more? It's only $25 but I may have waited too long and its full now. We'll see.