The heat wave continues, and continues to break all sorts of records. the weathermen continue to be gleeful as record after record falls. As for me, I simply observe more and more patches of brown everywhere. Since most of Houston is under a water restriction/watering ban, I can rightly feel somewhat superior about our brown lawn as I ride by green lawns watered by people who aren't observing the restrictions. I will admit I had a very hard time keeping my mouth shut the other day as I rode by someone washing down their driveway at high noon on a non water day though.
We are a month into daytime temperatures of 95 or better, and in our third week of triple digit daytime temps. Since the night time temperatures are rarely below 80-85, one can automatically assume that the day time temps will be 20 degrees higher. That is the air temperature. Feels like temperature is another thing all together and since it depends on the humidity, tends to vary a bit more. Last night at 6 pm it was 91 degrees out but the feel like temperature was still 103.
If I were really motivated, one of these mornings before I ride, I would weigh myself geared out. Then I would weigh myself when I got back from the ride, and the difference would indicate the weight lost to sweat, so I would know how much I have to drink to replace it. I guess this might be an interesting factoid to have, but as it is, I drink before I feel thirsty, when I feel thirsty and after I feel thirsty so the math would only complicate things. I much prefer the "pee" rule from the cross country ride which was that unless you were stopping to use the facilities or bushes every 90 -120 minutes, you aren't drinking enough. Since I cruise at 16 mph, this means a stop at about 25 miles or so, or ususally about midpoint in my training circuit. Theoretically I could also go by the "in the bowl at home color" but since I take a lot of vitamins and supplements, this is a less than accurate guideline. As it is, I am starting to ride with a hydro pak so that I can carry enough to go more than 15 miles before I require a total refill break. As part of the summer so called training, I am trying to build up to longer distances between breaks. This is as much a mental change as a physical change. I am in a rut of having set places where I stop, get off and walk around or use the facilities, and I am trying to break that habit or at least extend the distances, and the hydropak will help with that. There is also the iffy benefit of the ice in the hydro pak keeping my back cooler, which depending on the ride temperature can be nice or icky clammy.
Since the AC in the house is less than effective, and I have no AC in the car, most days it is actually cooler to be riding, at least if I can get out before the heat of the day, and if there is a bit of a breeze, than it is to be stationary in the house. Of course this changes as I come in from a ride, when cessation of motion results in a sudden feeling of being totally immersed in a blast furnace while feeling your melting body run down you face and body in rivulets and leave puddles on the floor. It also strikes me as oddly ironic that I go to work out at the gym,overcrowded and stuffy as it is, to cool off.
Along with the heat I am fighting muscle issues. Several weeks ago I had my achilles tendon and lower calf muscle cramp up severely during a training session. I immediately stretched and pressure rolled it, and switched to core and upper body with passive legs exercises to prevent further stress. I spent the next two days giving it the "rice"(rest, ice, compression, elevation) treatment, and although it seemed to feel better, it has since seized up twice, leaving me stumbling around like a lopsided steer both times. I can feel it when I ride but it doesn't seem to make much difference in the looseness or tightness, so I am hoping that the gentle stretching and use on the bike will eventually loosen it up to the point where I can do complete workouts again and walk around without feeling it pull at every step.
In the meantime, I suck down vast amounts of liquids, try to balance my electrolytes and generally hope and pray for rain, cooler weather and that all of this upper body and core work will not leave me looking like Popeye. I'm thinking that the upcoming century ride could be a real challenge both physically and mentally but at least the memorial t shirt is really amazing, and the entry fee goes to a good cause.
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