Show Me the way Home

My week of visiting my parents, celebrating passover and training started with a 4 mile run around the neighborhood. It felt great and was I glad I ran down Ladue last instead of starting out with the hills. Yesterday we all went for a 3 mile walk and then I picked up my rental for the week- a Cannondale R800. I figured the ride home from Little Shark in the Loop would be no big deal- just 8 miles. Oh, I was in for a treat. Riding in the Lou is quite different from riding in Central Park or on the serene Path. I don't think the cars on Delmar expected to see me. Neither did the cars on Olive Blvd. All the times I did that drive to the Loop in high school to work at the photo studio, I never thought much about the hills on Delmar. Oh, but that street has hills- and they were brutal! What was I thinking? I huffed and puffed and made it home- all while keeping my cool and even good form! The guy at the shop gave me a pair of SPD pedals to put on the bike. The fabulous and very pregnant S gave me her cool Sidi T-1 tri shoes. I'm so excited to try them out- but I just wasn't ready to do it on my ride home. So i'll switch them out tomorrow or before my big ride with D on wednesday. Tomorrow is a 5 mile run and maybe a short ride. I hope to make it to the pool on Thursday so I can practice the 2-beat kick. Taking time to really train this week is fun and relaxing. Now, I just hope D doesn't take me on a brutal course that will make my legs burn even more!