Who said Santa doesn't come in March?

Well, March is here and we launched forward to Daylight Savings Time...at least some of us did. I think Arizona doesn't play that game? Tell me again why we change time twice a year? For farmers or something? Anyway, I wish we could stay this way all year long! Yes, I love that it stays bright till it is time to go to bed. Great for a night owl like myself, bad for the 3 kids whom I am trying to convince that it is time to go to sleep.
March is also when we have our First Day of Spring....YEAH! Despite these wonderful signs of Spring, Winter is still here. Santa had a delayed visit to our little house in Boise, Idaho. He said something about checking his list more than a few times to see if I was naughty or nice. I prefer to be naughty, but deep down inside...I am really nice....or so I like to think. Now I understand Santa's dilemma???
Long story short, back in December of 2008, I asked Santa for a new road bike. After many deliberations, I came upon a used 2008 Giant Bike, TCR-C1. It was the stores "Team Bike", but it fit me like a glove and road fantastic, even though is has another girls name on it....HMMMM. Anyway, finally got my bike on Saturday. I felt like I was a kid again and rode it up and down the street with a hugh a$$ grin on my face. All I was missing was the little bell and some cute pink barbie ribbons.
So I rode on Sunday for about 8 miles and it felt great other than the snow that started falling about mile 5. I was quickly reminded that it is still March and I live in Idaho, not California anymore. Needless to say, I was a bit cold and snow covered....but I still had a blast...note that my grin was still there, just not as big. :-]
So my bike is pretty cool, although I really have not bought a bike for the last 20 years, so in perspective....anything would have been cool. It is a carbon frame and has Shimano Ultegra components and a Dura-ace Derailer. I still don't have road bike shoes and clipons....I need to have the store order my size and I really am not sure which road shoes I want? Any advice on shoes is welcome.....so in the meantime, I have some regular pedals until I get some new shoes.
Me being a newbie to this entire Tri process. I have many questions??? I rode my bike today again, just because it was a beautiful day. Blue skies with some white puffy clouds and a bit brisk, but I was able to dress warm. I rode a little over 12 miles today and I ran into a few obstacles....DOGS...I love dogs except when the gate that is suppose to keep them in their yard is wide open and they deceide to chase me and bark and continue to chase me as I ride as fast as I can down the street. My heart rate on my Garmin watch kicked up significantly. I hit that fight or flight and my adrenaline was released into my vasculature. The funny thing is that not only did one dog chase me, but two dogs chased me within a matter of 5 minutes. I know that I will avoid that stretch of road in the future. But what would you have done? Idaho is a right to carry firearms state, but that is going above and beyond...not to mention I don't think it would make me so aerodynamic. The bottom line is that I got safe and sound and my biking tights had nothing more that the padding to cushion my butt. Good thing!
Sorry no pictures, not feeling in the picture taking mood, but will try and take some of my bike very soon. Today was the first day of my 10 day stretch of work. Yes, I work everyday from today till next Wednesday. In fact, Wednesday is my in house 24 hour OB call. So don't think I will get to blog until sometime late next week.
I am feeling better and I started to work out once again. That cold I had really kicked my butt. I did get a chest x-ray and thankfully I didn't have pneumonia because that would have kept me out of commission for several months. I got in the pool on Saturday and did about 20 minutes. I didn't want to overdo it. Later Saturday night did some light weights and some core work. Incorporated more push-ups and felt the pain in my pecks the next day. It felt good!
Until next time.....
.....FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION!