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Tour Teasers

I’m keeping it to only one picture and a brief summary for each day of our fabulous Florida coast-to-coast tour because I plan to have a full recap chocked full of pictures up on the blog on Tuesday. In the meantime, a little about our trip… this Florida coast to coast tour with our Dawn Patrol friends was originally planned for last year; however for various reasons we were forced to delay our adventure to this year.

Lots of planning by many people went into pulling off this adventure, specifically, our friend Chuck for overall logistics, my husband for route planning, and our friends Ed and Mary for sag support. Out of eight cyclists, five of us had flats, two had gearing issues, and three had unclipping problems. On the upside, no one got sick or injured.

 

Overview of the First Week: January 7 -13

Before discussing each day’s workouts, here’s an overview of my workouts from the first week. Scroll beyond the infographic for daily details…

 

Sunday

Drive from Charlotte, NC to Saint Augustine, FL

Walking: 1.6 miles
• Average pace: 18:43 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 0 feet
• Start time: 5:13 PM
• Location: Saint Augustine, Florida
• Weather: 52° and partly cloudy
• What I wore: capris, l/s shirt, and down jacket

After spending much of the day in the car, we were happy to walk around Saint Augustine to check out the quaint little town which was still decorated in its holiday splendor.

 

Monday

Cycling: 37.31 miles
• Average speed: 12.5 MPH
• Bike: Salsa Warbird
• Surface: mix of hard packed sand, rough grassy double track, and pavement
• Elevation gain: 302 feet
• Start time: 10:35 AM
• Location: Titusville to Playalinda Beach, Canaveral National Seashore loop
• Weather: 66° and mostly cloudy, climbing to 69°
• What I wore: bike shorts, s/s jersey, arm sleeves, jacket, and fingerless gloves (took jacket off two miles into ride)

My husband and our Dawn Patrol friends started the day with Day 1 of our epic bike ride across Florida. We parked our cars in Titusville, Florida and rode to Playalinda Beach at Canaveral National Seashore. The highlight and most difficult part of the ride was through the Blackpoint Wildlife Refuge where we rode on a packed sand road before turning onto about five miles of difficult double track through tall grasses covering gnarly roots. We saw lots of beautiful birds and ducks, but luckily, no alligators.

Once at the far end of the loop we dipped our back wheels in the Atlantic Ocean to mark the official start of the journey and enjoyed a tailwind on the paved road back to Titusville.

 

Tuesday

Strength training: 1 hour of total body

Stretching: 15 minutes

A down day from riding, we hit the gym at the Hilton resort for some lifting and stretching.

Later in the evening, just as we we about to head out for dinner, our phones started blaring with tornado warning alerts. Needless to say, we hunkered down until the warning had lifted before venturing outside.

 

Wednesday

Cycling: 52.48 miles
• Average speed: 13 MPH
• Bike: Salsa Warbird
• Surface: paved
• Elevation gain: 554 feet
• Start time: 9:22 AM
• Location: Titusville to Lake Mary, Florida
• Weather: 55° and sunny, climbing to 64°
• What I wore: bike shorts, s/s jersey, arm sleeves, jacket, ear warmer headband, and fingered gloves

Stretching: 10 minutes

Dressed to stay warm on a day that promised 9 to 11 MPH headwinds the entire ride, we gathered for our first official group photo.

 

Thursday

Cycling: 37.54 miles
• Average speed: 12.9 MPH
• Bike: Salsa Warbird
• Surface: paved
• Elevation gain: 1,093 feet
• Start time: 9:19 AM
• Location: Lake Mary to Clermont, Florida
• Weather: 50° and partly cloudy, climbing to 63°
• What I wore: bike shorts, s/s jersey, arm sleeves, jacket, ear warmer headband, and fingered gloves

Walking: 1 mile untimed roundtrip to dinner

Stretching: 10 minutes

We were happy for a shorter day sandwiched between two longer mileage days. Three of our friends had issues with flats or slow leaks so we had several more stops than planned, including a relaxing lunch at the Hangry Bison while a tire was being replaced.

 

Friday

Cycling: 73.61 miles miles
• Average speed: 11.8 MPH
• Bike: Salsa Warbird
• Surface: mixture of wet sand, packed shells, and pavement
• Elevation gain: 1,220 feet
• Start time: 8:07 AM
• Location: Clermont to Brooksville, Florida
• Weather: 64° and rainy, clearing off and climbing to 77°
• What I wore: bike shorts, s/s jersey, arm sleeves, jacket, ear warmer headband, and fingered gloves (removed jacket, arm sleeves, headband, and switched to fingerless gloves about 40 miles into ride)

Stretching: 10 minutes

Shoulder massage: 10 minutes

We knew this would be our most challenging day with rain in the forecast and our longest mileage, 18 miles of which were across the Green Swamp. We got lucky; however, and the rain moved out soon after we started. Unfortunately, rain moved back in just as we were encountering technical issues in the soft wet sand in the Green Swamp. Three riders opted not to ride through the swamp and to ride in the sag vehicle and another’s flat wasn’t fixable so he had no choice but to join the sag team. Out of the eight of us, four (pictured below) made it through the swamp on two wheels.

 

Saturday

Cycling: 51.14 miles
• Average speed: 13.9 MPH
• Bike: Salsa Warbird
• Surface: paved with dirt near the end
• Elevation gain: 600 feet
• Start time: 9:05 AM
• Location: Brooksville to Tarpon Springs, Florida
• Weather: 61°, mostly cloudy, and windy, dropping to 58°
• What I wore: bike shorts, s/s jersey, arm sleeves, jacket, ear warmer headband, and fingered gloves

Stretching: 10 minutes

I woke up as yet another team member to succumb to flat tire fever. My tire was perfectly fine when I rolled in from the previous day’s ride, but it was as flat as could be when I woke up. My husband added sealant and had me ride around the parking lot to distribute it by spinning, but my tire was flat before I completed one circle. Luckily, someone had a spare tube and the guys were able to get me back rolling in no time.

 

Overview of the Second Week: January 14 – 20

Before discussing each day’s workouts, here’s an overview of my workouts from the second week. Scroll beyond the infographic for daily details…

 

Sunday

Cycling: 38.72 miles
• Average speed: 14 MPH
• Bike: Salsa Warbird
• Surface: paved
• Elevation gain: 656 feet
• Start time: 9:13 AM
• Location: Tarpon Springs to Saint Petersburg, Florida
• Weather: 52° and overcast with a few rain showers, climbing to 55°
• What I wore: bike shorts, s/s jersey, arm sleeves, jacket, ear warmer headband, and fingered gloves

Stretching: 5 minutes

Walking: 2 miles untimed roundtrip to dinner

The coldest day of the tour, I never fully warmed up. Luck had been with me when I made a last minute decision to pull my winter gloves out of my bag. Even though my fingers were toasty warm, my torso and arms stayed cold except for when I was riding hard.

We didn’t let the cold stop us from celebrating finishing our ride, though, first with a picture of my husband and me; and then the entire team.

 

Monday

Strength training: 10 minutes of core

Drive back to Titusville to pick up our cars

Five of the eight of us had left our cars in Titusville so we piled into a large van for the ride back across the state, this time on four wheels. We were packed in like Ragnar runners only with bikes instead of running shoes and there were no 2 AM bike rides.

 

Drive from Titusville to Savannah, Georgia

 

Tuesday

Cycling: 12.67 miles
• Average speed: 10.1 MPH
• Bike: Salsa Warbird
• Surface: paved
• Elevation gain: 138 feet
• Start time: 10:37 AM
• Location: Savannah, Georgia
• Weather: 59° and overcast, dropping to 57° and rainy, before climbing to 60° with clearing
• What I wore: bike shorts, s/s jersey, arm sleeves, jacket, ear warmer headband, and fingered gloves

Strength training: 1 hour of total body

Stretching: 10 minutes

Walking: 1.7 miles roundtrip to dinner

What better way to tour a quaint southern city than by bike. After a relaxing morning, we headed out to check out the riverfront, several parks, and a few historical sights. Later, while my husband worked I lifted in the hotel gym.

 

Wednesday:

Drive home from Savannah, Georgia

 

Thursday:

Strength training: 1 hour of total body

Running: 5K
• Average pace: 10:10 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 128 feet
• Start time: 2:58 PM
• Location: neighborhood circle
• Weather: 33° and overcast
• What I wore: capris, s/s shirt, nylon shell, ear warmer headband, gloves, and mittens

Walking: 1 mile
• Average pace: 14:50 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 62 feet
• Start time: 3:43 PM
• Location: neighborhood streets
• Weather: 33° and overcast
• What I wore: capris, l/s shirt, nylon shell, velour jacket, ear warmer headband, gloves, and mittens

I waited until the afternoon for any black ice to melt and the temperature to warm up to a balmy 33° before heading outside for my run and walk. Talk about a shock to my body even though it was quite cool while we we were in Florida…

 

Friday:

Shoveling snow: 45 minutes

Snow started falling around 4 AM, totaling at least 6 inches by the time it wrapped up during the late afternoon.  I shoveled our driveway with the help of my husband and then moved on to my neighbor’s driveway to thank him for shoveling ours while we were in Florida.

 

Saturday:

Walking: 3 miles
• Average pace: 15:42 minute/mile
• Elevation gain: 136 feet
• Start time: 3:05 PM
• Location: neighborhood streets
• Weather: 25° (feels like 11°) and mostly sunny
• What I wore: capris, l/s shirt, down coat, neck gaiter pulled up on my face, ear warmer headband, ear flap hat, and heated gloves

I really didn’t want to walk on my treadmill (affiliate link) so I bundled up in my down coat and new heated gloves (affiliate link) and took it outside, walking cautiously the first mile until I was mostly confident that I could stay upright. My neighbors must have thought I was nuts completely covered except for my lower legs.

 

Last Week’s Blog Posts

In case you skipped checking in on my blog this past week, here’s what you missed…

 

Questions:
  • •  Do you plan your vacations around workouts and adventures? ~ Yes, often!
  • • Which workouts were your most enjoyable, toughest, and/or memorable? ~ ALL of our Florida rides were quite memorable and Friday’s Green Swamp ride was the toughest.
  • • Did you run in race this weekend? ~ No

 

And that’s my rundown… Have a great week!

 

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I’m linking up with Deborah at Confessions of a Mother Runner and Kim from Running on the Fly for their Weekly Run Down. Be sure to check out not only the hosts’ posts, but those of the other great bloggers joining in on the fun!

 

Disclaimer:  This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on the blue product link and then make a purchase, I will receive a small commission for referring you. You will pay no more or less for the product; however, Amazon will show their gratitude for my referral by paying me.