I chose to ride instead of run at lunch today. Part of that is because I need to put in more miles to prepare for STP in July. I think the Strava Junedoggle challenge may have played a role as well. No matter what got me to do it, I’m glad I did.<\/p>\n
I decided to try the 3 Witches climb at the end of San Dieguito Road. I have heard a few people talk about it, but I’ve always turned off San Dieguito at El Apajo to head north. Today I didn’t turn. I rode San Dieguito all the way to the top, then headed south on Camino Del Sur until I hit Carmel Valley Road. I took that to Del Mar Heights Road and took that the rest of the way home.<\/p>\n
It was really windy today. It was blasting me as I headed down El Camino towards San Dieguito. I wasn’t sure if it would be a cross wind or a tail wind until I made the turn onto San Dieguito. The wind was at my back and I used it. I wondered if I could beat the time we set going up San Dieguito as a group last Saturday. I pushed hard all the way to El Apajo. I knew I didn’t have anything to compare against past that, so I let myself relax a bit. Well… I was dead tired and the road starts the 3 Witches climb right there, so there really wasn’t much rest to be had. But I did slow down quite a bit and didn’t push myself quite as hard.<\/p>\n
The climb itself wasn’t that bad. There was some construction going on, and I found myself riding next to a concrete barrier part of the time. I don’t remember if that was on San Dieguito or after I turned south on Camino Del Sur, but it’s amazing how much motivation a concrete barrier can motivate you to ride fast until you’re past it.<\/p>\n
When I turned onto Carmel Valley Road, it was like turning into a wind tunnel. I was going down a steep hill, but had to peddle hard to keep moving. Then when it changed to a hill climb, I had no strength and even less motivation. The wind stayed in my face all the way home.<\/p>\n
It was still a really fun ride. I’m sure I’ll do that same loop again sometime in the near future.<\/p>\n