Mixing it Up

by Bill Wallace on October 11, 2009

Today was a cross training day for the Hal Higdon Novice Marathon Training Program (from hereon referred to the as the”HH”).

I enjoy running and changing modes hasn’t been in my psyche but we dutifully pulled out the bikes. Dusted them off and stashed them in the back of the car (Astra hatch). It was a good day but we did have a few hiccups along the way.

  1. We had to get the FBH a helmet so we ducked into cyclemania and picked up a nice black Adura
  2. I left the tyre pump at home so we forked out $27 for a new one. No big deal but it is quite thin and doesn’t fit into the catch on the bike frame. So I had to carry it for the duration of the ride. It wasn’t too inconvenient but the pump that does fit the bike is now clipped on!
  3. Bought a bike rack to save wear and tear on the inside of the car. Very good.
  4. FBH’s bike doesn’t fit on the rack! Crap!

Okay that’s the bad stuff, hardly catastrophic though and better planning and thought processes might help – just a tad!

The ride itself was around 50 mins and, as the FBH is just getting into this, we took a fairly leisurely pace.

There is riding, slow riding, leisurely riding and sleepy riding. I think we did all four! :)

But, the weather was good, quite breezy and cool but not unbearable and the pathways were pretty flat.

I’m shocking with stopping and taking pictures so here are some generic ones that other have taken but it gives you an idea about how great the place is to cycle, walk, run through. It wasn’t too busy today, probably because the intermittent showers but as the weather gets warmer I’m sure I’ll be ringing the bike’s bell a lot more often.

East Perth 1

East Perth 2

East Perth 3

(Disclaimer: The pics are from an commercial Apartment site but I have no connection with them. (just in case you thought I was freelancing! :) and, sorry if that’s cheating! )

Then the FBH and I headed to our local markets to have some berries, mango and yoghurt! OMG! Athena yoghurt would have to be the BEST yoghurt … in the world! (say that with a Jeremy Clarkson accent for the full effect! )

So, a good day in the end. The bike works, there are good paths to bike safely and, as the weather warms up, we’ll get out more and more.

According to the HH tomorrow is a rest day. Woohoo! Sorry, I mean “Dammit!”

Still might out to Jacob’s Ladder for a couple of reps!

Have a great week everyone! :)

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  • http://ajhblog.wordpress.com Andrew(AJH)

    You’re lucky that your FBH will bike … can’t convince mine to try!

  • http://www.billstrainingblog.com Bill Wallace

    I guess I am. It’s more me who has been reluctant, though I’m not sure why. Had a really good time today.

  • http://www.andrewisgettingfit.com AndrewE

    Looks like a great area to be in.

    My wife and I have bikes but we’ve only been on them twice this year!

  • David

    Dang, that looks like a heck of a nice place to bike at! I am very lucky, having a lake (with tons of trails around it!) very nearby my house, but it is a little too curvy and hilly to bike around much…
    btw, when does this marathon plan have you finishing by?

  • http://www.billstrainingblog.com Bill Wallace

    Mate, we are in the same boat. I got my bike fixed up for a Triathlon in March and haven’t been on it till last weekend! :)

  • http://www.billstrainingblog.com Bill Wallace

    Hi Dave, it’ll be about 4 months from now but with the Europe trip in there I’d say around the end of January. There’s not Marathon at the end of it though, unless I can find one locally. This is just to give me a goal to train to. There is the Perth Marathon in July next year so that’ll probably be a good one to do.