TRAINING TO IRONMAN COEUR D'ALENE - DAY 1 SANTA BARBARA TO MONTEREY

The trip north to Idaho has begun! Day one (we drove to Santa Barbara from San Diego last night to beat the LA traffic) started with some breakfast down at Santa Barbara Pier. We were pumped for our first session on the road (a swim) but we were denied entry to the local pool (shut from 8am-noon .... what?!??!) So we headed to UCSB (University of Califorina Santa Barbara) and did our set there. 3km check ... now north to Solvang about 45 minutes north for our ride.

Solvang is a very touristy Danish town in the rolling hills of the Santa Ynez Valley. By lunch time the thermometer was topping 108 degree! The riding through the vineyards was beautiful although the heat was killing ous after a few cooler days down south. Two hours later we were back at the car and desperate for cold anything!!!

A quick walk around Solvang and through the local farmers market to pick up some dinner supplies we continued on to Lake San Antonio where the Wildflower Half Ironman is held. Did I mention it was hot?!?! Before we even contemplated running we dove into the lake to cool off. We headed out along the course but the dry heat was death on our throats and we were constantly looking for water (which wasn't easy to find!) One hour was more than enough before we were back in the lake to cool off!

As the sun set behind the Californian hills we cranked up the grill for the first time and made ourselves some pasta and had a glass of wine before we drove north to Monterey were we would sleep for the night.


Amanda at the UCSB pool

Riding in the Santa Ynez valley is awesome ... BUT HOT!!!

WILDFLOWER!

Perfect end to the day with dinner by the lake (Lake San Antonio ... Wildflower)