First race of 2012 is in the books – Surf City Half Marathon. The plan minimum for this event was to go below 1h 30min, maximum 1h 25min. I finished with an optimal result – 1h 26 min 36s.

I left back there on the road all I had, and at the end of the day this is what really matters the most. Now in the evening, still being high on endorphines, I am going through the race again. And again. And again… Happy… and in much more relaxed way – beyond the tunnel I was in, with its end marked by the finish line. Now I can realize that in fact I have run on the waterfront in Huntington Beach, with constant views on waving ocean and sky reaching palm trees sticked into the horizon there and there. I pushed so hard that I did not even realized how beautiful it was, not even seeing playful dolphins my friend reported from the race course. I can clearly picture them now, with the eyes of imagination. During the race my perception was limited only to the runners that were closest to me. The lost one and half minute does not matter anymore at this moment. Now I am flying. I am ready for more, to push above the clouds.

If only my calves become less sore.

This is why I race.

GMR switchbacks taken in April 2011. Last weekend there was no time for photo, but the weather was much better!

It is December now, the time of the year when one starts to think about mulled wine, heat coming from fireplace and how to decorate the space under Christmas Tree with gifts for the loved ones. It is also this time of the year when days are short, weather outside is dull, cold, wet or snowy… wait, wait, hold your horses  - I’m in Southern California, the place where elements decided to go for permanent sabbatical. What remains from the above list are short days. In fact, they are the only factor limiting frequency of my bike rides. After work it is already too dark to go somewhere, and before… oh well, I guess it really is December, when rectus abdominis six-pack disappears under fine cover of fat and does not provide enough muscle strength to fight the morning sleep-in. Weekends are left as the only opportunity to put some miles into the books. Saturdays, to be more precise, as Sundays come now with scheduled long run. One ride per week. How awful. It has, however, its own unique character. Every ride feels like the long dreamed Christmas gift. Dressing up in spandex on Saturday morning brings sensations of unwrapping the present from the paper with anxious curiosity to see what is inside. Hopping on the saddle just outside the porch feels like the final moment of lifting the box lid. And the first pedal stroke?… yeah, excitement of five year old kid getting hands on his toy.

This Saturday under my “bike-tree” a marvelous sunny day on Glendora Mountain Road awaited for me. GMR, as the locals like to abbreviate this ride, is a famous climb in San Gabriel range, 5% of average grade on 14km with couple of nice, wide switchbacks, part of 2011 Tour of California stage. I went out with Pasadena Tri Club and the theme of the ride was to put some effort on the ascent. Couple of guys took this somewhat seriously and we had a blast. Almost time-trailing up the hill felt great and I was surprised with my fitness and how the pain was not “I-am-totally-out-of-shape” painful. Hey, it is beginning of December, I’m riding bike once per week and I can still smoke the mountain showing decent performance? More such Christmas gifts please!

To let the moment of the weekend celebrations last, I switched the Sunday run for switchbacks of El Prieto Canyon Trail mountain bike ride with couple of buds. Just recently, I have tuned-up my single speed mountain bike putting slightly bigger rear cog and bigger front brake rotor. The new gearing set-up is just right in the sweet spot, I made the ascent in no time without usual pain in whole body and swearing in Polish on how idiotic it is to ride a single-speed bike, and carried by the wave of excitement bombed down the crazy El Prieto downhill unclipping only few times. Remember, remember the 4th of December!

Road to Convict Lake

…but it melts when sufficiently heated. I was on the edge of putting the bike aside and calling it a day. For the first time in my life I have stopped during the climb to reconsider what I am actually doing. It was just too hot – 40 degrees Celsius, third climb during what already has been a long day. Being as stubborn as a mule (and apparently as smart as one as well) I continued to bike to get to the top of Pine Creek Road, took the picture of what turned out to be not utterly picturesque scenery and descended down to ease the pain. All this for inner glory, own private battle, whole Tour de France in one day. Eastern Sierras is a truly breathtaking place for its steep long brutal climbs with gradients reaching 14%, roads on high altitude and really fantastic and unforgettable views of mountains and Mojave desert (well, Pine Creek road was unforgettable for other reasons). A hard, but rewarding spectacular riding.

The whole plan was baptized HATC – High Altitude Training Camp and it worked out great. I have climbed out of Bishop to South and Sabrina Lakes, finishing on Pine Creek Road, and headed out to Mammoth Lakes to do Tioga Pass and June Lake Loop next day. The cherry on top was suppose to be a shot of fresh proteins supplied by grilled trout I would catch in one of the lakes, but none of the zillion fish was stupid enough to eat my bait. Bummer!

Check the HATC Sierra gallery!