Hugo Gives Us More Climbing

Distance 71.4
Moving Time 5:21:51
Elevation 4,885ft
Avg Speed 13.3mi/h
Max Speed 37.1mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 122bpm Max 156bpm
Calories 2,278
Temperature 70

Thank you AIDS/LifeCycle volunteer Training Ride Leaders (TRLs) Hugo, Angelica, Uzziel, Don, Jessica and Greg.

Team EDNA were represented today with team members Hugo, Angelica, Lisa, Orly and Art.

Today seemed to go on forever, but riding with Mark Tidyman and David Lozes made yet another climb bearable. After yesterday's, if my legs could talk, they would be saying, "Really?"

TRLs in cahoots - we'll tell 'em the route is flat

More cahooting

What's Ric saying to David?

David strikes a pose

Me, too

Mini Team EDNA - Art, Angelica and Lisa

Kathy and Greg smiling at Don being a ham

with Orly

I did get a picture of Mark (in the white top left)

The all-important Safety Speech

A barn in Crockett

David in action

Mary's Up, Up, and Up the Hills Training

Distance 51.3
Moving Time 3:52:42
Elevation 4,564ft
Avg Speed 13.2mi/h
Max Speed 42.3mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 143bpm Max 166bpm
Calories 1,874
Temperature 66

Thank you ever so much volunteer AIDS/LifeCycle Training Ride Leaders Marcy Vencill, Dawn Two, Sam Kimbrel, Deyon Johnson, Ron Marshall, Tom Kocon, Don Brown and Margaret Simon. And special thanks to Dawn and Tanner for leading the group warm up with a dance and song.

We were prepared for a hot day and we were lucky to cycle in mostly overcast weather, otherwise, we all would have been burning up with all the wonderful hill climbing we did today.

Just as I did with last Saturday's ride, I chased, with all my might, Sam, Christine, Vincent, Leo, David, Matt, Alf, and Nate and had a blast challenging my legs.

You know that on a clear day that you could see forever, but not so today; therefore, no photos capturing breathtaking vistas, only selfie mugs.

Don being captured capturing a photo

with Deyon (Team EDNA), Don, Kathy

with Emily (Team EDNA)

David doesn't want you to see that he doesn't have his beard

Got it - not the best pic, but in person, Oooh la la :)

Will the REAL Queen Mary smile

with Margaret and Ron

with Diana, Stephanie (both with Team EDNA) and Alf and Jeff photo bombing

There - our own selfie Alf and Jeff

Mini Team EDNA with Claire and Ali

with Team EDNA Co-Captain Thomas

Christine's Tramps (Christine's Photo)

I like the satellite view

Sunday Training Ride with Hugo and the Gang

Distance 73.0
Elevation 3,671ft

What the ___? My Garmin didn't capture today's ride, but it's similar to the one from March 9, 2014.

Thank you volunteer AIDS/LifeCycle Training Ride Leaders Hugo Sosa, Angelica Reyes Sosa, Aaron Lewis, Stephen Shum and Greg Nicols. I enjoyed every, well almost every, minute of the ride from El Cerritos to Orinda and doing the Pinehurst Loop via Skyline and Redwood Road.

A not-so-early 8:15 a.m. meet time. I strolled (cycled-in) at 8:40 a.m. in time for route review, warm-up and safety speech.

Lots of climbing and pictures to prove only that we were silly.

Hugo and the Gang

Selfie Ramona - Start of the Ride

With the warm-hearted Aaron

Selfie Ramona - First Rest Stop in Orinda

Greg enjoying his coffee

I waited for all riders to cycle-in

Mini Team EDNA

Selfie Ramona - Second Rest Stop

With Steven and Ramona at Sibley

Rhonda surprised

Rhonda poses

Juan and Francisco feeling accomplished

A lone rider from Columbia

Geisha Art and toothless Aaron - so much for an artistic photo with a tree in the foreground

Selfie Ramona - Third Rest Stop (she had just taken a bite of her delicious sandwich)

Look Ma - Aaron has teeth

Hungry Riders - Juan, Angelica and Rick

Gotta get Francisco in the picture, too

Chasing Alf, David, Eli, Sam, Vincent and Christine ALC Training Ride

Distance 53.0
Moving Time 3:29:33
Elevation 3,199ft
Avg Speed 15.2mi/h
Max Speed 37.8mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 141bpm Max 164bpm
Calories 1,857
Temperature 70

You wonderful volunteer AIDS/LifeCycle Training Ride Leaders George Head, Deyon Johnson, Scott Hirsch, Sam Kimbrel, Dawn Tso, Guru Swamy, Deanna Tanner, and Ali Mirzazadeh -- thank you so much for your time to train us riders. Deyon, sharing your story about why you started AIDS/LifeCycle many years ago was very touching.

This morning I woke up 4:45 a.m., 15 minutes before my alarm, and changed my alarm to 5:30 a.m. I then at 5:15 a.m. changed the alarm to 6:00 a.m. At 5:58 a.m., I jumped out of bed and quickly started my routine of getting ready for my training ride.

Breakfast was a savory steel cut oats concoction with brussel sprouts and a poached egg, which reminded me of the Chinese porridge, jook. While my main meal was being heated, I had a mandarin orange and made my protein-packed sandwich -- wheat raisin bread with peanut butter and walnuts.

The time after breakfast was dedicated to 20 minutes of rolling out my legs and warming up my leg muscles. And, I was ready to get dressed for cycling and decided on three layers (which was a bit much for today's weather) - that took about 10 minutes. Away I go after packing all the nourishments into my jersey pockets and hopping on my bike.

I literally was chasing Alf, David, Eli, Sam, Christine and Vincent (a newbie to ALC). I was challenged to keep up with them. While I was hundred of yards behind at times, I was able to keep my average speed at 15.2, a pat-on-the-back accomplishment. Thanks to these speed demons (or as Sam would say speed queens) for pushing me.

I got to see Michael Hardin (a wonderful caring man) before riding out and Margaret and Hector at the first rest stop. Yay!

The best surprise to cap today's training ride was coming home to a $1500 donation from Clinton Yara and Brett Geist. Woo-hoo!!!

Dan and Joe - Happy soon-to-be Dads to twins -- sorry, I meant Uncles

Alf gives Christine a pep talk

Mini Team EDNA at Rest Stop 1 - Margaret and Hector

Stopping for a photo op

A Huge Donation

Many thanks to Clinton Yara and Brett Geist for supporting AIDS/LifeCycle 2015 with a $1500 donation.

Getting back into training mode

Distance 70.8
Moving Time 4:57:19
Elevation 3,953ft
Avg Speed 14.3mi/h
Max Speed 34.0mi/h
Heart Rate Avg 142bpm Max 168bpm
Calories 2,247
Temperature 66

Thank you volunteer Training Ride Leaders Hugo Sosa, Angelica Reyes Sosa, Jeff Adamus, and Greg Nichols for your time and motivation.

Since the car accident at the end of January, I have not been able to get back into the swing of training. While I did do a back-to-back last weekend, I needed every ounce of energy to get up and out last weekend. Yesterday, I skipped the Saturday training because of this and that and told myself I'd be riding Sunday anyway. What I do love, is that once I get to the training ride and see all the smiling faces and supportive people, I'm all revved up and ready to go.

I remind myself why I'm fundraising and training -- it's not for me, it's for those who need the services that the San Francisco AIDS Foundation provides. So I shall get back to my motivated self and be up bright and early every Saturday and Sunday.

I appreciate David, Mark and Pallav for a great pace today.

with Amy

with Mark in front of the cafe where we first met in Benecia last year

for my Vallejo relatives

Ships in the background

failed group selfie

with David, Pallav, and Mark

Back in El Cerritos

Team EDNA Sports Basement Happy Hour Fundraiser

Please come join Team EDNA at Sports Basement in Walnut Creek to meet the team behind EDNA's unforgettable smile.

Sports Basement

1881 Ygnacio Valley Road

Walnut Creek CA

Wednesday, March 11

6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Sports Basement will have light refreshments for us, AND ...

you can also enjoy a 10% discount on all you purchases just by mentioning Team EDNA. The discount is good all day, so don't fret if you can't see us between 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm.

Not only do you get to take advantage of a 10% discount, Sports Basement will give an additional 10% of your purchases to AIDS/LifeCycle - now how great is that?

Feel free to extend this discount to your friends and family and let us know if you can make the Fundraising Happy Hour.