Fighting the Wind

Yesterday I fought the wind. I am telling you, it was a knock down, drag out, fight to the very end. But, in the end, I came out on top! Seriously, I was riding my bike in the absolute stongest wind I have ever ridden in yesterday. I could only go downhill like 13 mph...and that was pushing really, really hard. I almost decided it wasn't worth it, but then realized, this was one of those rare chances I had to prove to myself that I could do things I never really thought possible. I can do hard things! After the trial comes the reward, and when I turned around to go back up the hill, the wind was at my back. No kidding, I reached 30 mph going back up the hill! Hard work does pay off.

Today I celebrate the wind. My friend always says, "I love the wind, it makes me strong." I am feeling that today, and I guess I better really embrace this mantra, because I don't think the wind is letting up any time soon. (Gusts up to 50 mph expected today!) I love the wind, it makes me strong!

Keeping the Pace

It was last Wednesday I found out about the ride I will be participating in two weeks from now. Of course, I did what I always do, go crazy right from the start. Thursday I rode 30 miles (15 uphill), Friday I rode 20 (6 uphill), then ran 4, and Saturday I rode 40ish (20 uphill). I don't know how I will keep up with that this week. I wish I knew when, or how, to pace myself. How much is too much, how little is too little? Also, how do I get the miles in on the bike, while still getting miles in running. I train for triathlons and manage, but this is entirely different. Luckily, the race is only 12 days away so I don't have to worry long. I always seem to do better if I only have a couple weeks to train anyway. I don't burn myself out that way. The one good thing I got from last week is, I can ride a lot of miles back to back....therefore, I have some confidence. Now to do those miles and those hills in one day. Ideas about pacing would be greatly appreciated.


Today I celebrate flowers. They brighten my day and smell great. What more can I say. I can't wait to see them, and smell them as I run today. Life is great!

Ignorance is Bliss

I got some exciting, yet equally frightening news yesterday. Some friends and I signed up for a 4 person team ride earlier this year. However, we were put on a waiting list and didn't know our fate until yesterday. So, lucky us, we got in! By the way, it is 187 miles. We do not have to ride the whole thing, it is a relay, so we will break up that 187 miles between us. Easy right, but wait, there is more. Starting elevation for the ride is 2,785 ft. and the highest elevation is 8,464 ft. Yes, we will be climbing nearly 5,700 ft (hence the frightening). Here are four ladies just out to have a good time. Can you think of anything better for fun. We have known we had a chance to do this ride, and had great intentions of training hard for it, but...yeah, it is 2 weeks away. The truly sick part, I can hardly wait. Bring on the torture, bring on the pain. I feel like a little kid at Christmas.

Today I celebrate ignorance. May seem like a funny thing to celebrate, but I have no idea what I am getting myself into with this race; therefore ignorance is bliss. Mark Twain once said "All you need in life is ignorance and confidence, and then success is sure." Maybe this race will kick my butt, but right now, I don't know any different. I am just going to go ride for fun. Sometimes, the excitement of the unknown allows us to do something that, if we knew how hard it truly was, we would never begin in the first place. Yet, once we start, we just cannot give up. I'll take a picture at the 8000 ft summit! Wahoo!!!

Time for Time

What has gotten into me? These last two days I have actually ran somewhat faster. It has been a long time since I have actually felt strong. I still have a ways to go before I am back down to my goal pace, but I'll take it. Maybe that ride gave me confidence. I haven't taken a watch with me on my runs for a long time. When I first started running, I took my watch every time I ran and worked to run better ever time. I don't think this was ideal, and it made me dread running sometimes. Then, I started running without the watch at all. I became slower and slower. I know I need a somewhere in between. I will take my watch a lot more often then I have, just to keep myself honest. What do you do to keep yourself honest in exercise or just in life?

Today I will celebrate time. Sometimes when I run, I think to myself, " I will never get this minute back. Don't waste it." I waste too much time in my life, yet there are some eternal truths about time. It is always moving, stopping for noone. There is never enough of it and it leaves you always wanting more. It can make the strong weak, and the weak strong. It is always moving forward, never looking back. But in the end, time can help you forget the bad and remember only the good, it can heal old wounds, and it can make a sinner look like a saint. It is only what you make of it. I hope to make every second count.

Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something

stand in the way of your doing it.

The time will pass anyway;

we might just as well put that passing time

to the best possible use.

Earl Nightengale

My Secret Love Affair

100 miles! This has been a goal of mine every year since I started riding. However, I have yet to accomplish it, until now. I remember one New Year's Eve someone saying thier goal was to ride 100 miles in the summer. Most people thought that was a pretty lofty goal. I just rode 100 miles in a day, and I feel great! My body amazes me.

I must admit, 100 miles on a bike is nothing like 26 miles running. Maybe it is because in my marathon, I rested little, and was focused on time. This ride was totally for fun. We stopped at aide stations every 15 miles and joked, ate, and laughed. Our area has an amazing biking community, with some of the greatest people I know. Each week, people from this group help me become a better rider. Today I celebrate summer. I love summer. I love running and riding with my friends. I love going out at 5:30 in the morning to swim or ride. Summer, I am glad you have come back to me. My love for you has picked up right where it left off. Please stay much, much longer. I am so much happier when you are around.

I am looking for inspiration. What have you done that amazes you? What and who have helped you the most to become amazing?

Century

Wahoo! 100 miles down. Details later.

To Run or Not to Run

Wednesday I ran while pushing the stroller. I forget how hard that is. I was so used to it a few years ago, but now it hard. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right? Yesterday I rode with friends. Friends make everything better.

My quads have been extremely tired lately. What's up with that? Tomorrow is a century bike ride, and I am struggling between resting today, and running. I am really excited about the century. It is one thing I haven't done yet, I have never ridden a century. I did about 84 the first year, but didn't have enough time to finish the rest. I think my longest ride since then is 66, but it may be even less than that. I love being able to accomplish something new. I am hoping my quads hold up for me.

Today I celebrate choices. Isn't it great that we can choose. Now I just have to decide which choice is best. Should I run today?

Life as a Goose

It has been a long time. I have been struggling with running, weight, and life in general. I, like many, started running because I was overweight. I ended up losing 50 lbs. by training for a triathlon. I learned so much about myself and my strengths and weaknesses from running. I am in one of those lows, where I just want to quit. I am fighting to keep going. Maybe it is the weather. Today I read a blog about a lady who is on the same relative journey as I have been on. She talked about how she would never let herself be that person again who over-ate, who was heavy. I remember thinking that myself, but now, the numbers on the scale just keep creeping up. They are not jumping, but I am a good 10-15 lbs. (depending on the day) heavier then I was six years ago. I can't seem to remember what I did differently then. I am still exercising regularly. I have even picked up the pace, but the scale stays the same or goes up.

So, I was thinking about my ride yesterday, and how I need to incorporate that idea into my life. On Tuesdays, I ride with a road bike group. There was a relatively small group this week (maybe around 12), and they decided to do something they called pop and drop. Basically, when you ride, you can draft off of the person in front of you, making it easier to ride. (same idea as geese flying in a v formation) So we made two lines, the line on the right was the line where you drafted, when you got to the front of the line, you pulled the rest of the line for about 5-10 seconds, then dropped off to the front of the left line, which goes about 2 mph slower. You then stay in that line until you are last in that line, and pop back in the fast line. The idea being, you can ride faster together then you can alone. Why ride for 26 miles all alone, working hard to ride 18 mph, when you can work with others, allowing all to share the work, and ride 20 mph. So I ask myself why I am not doing that in my own life. I tend to try and do it all myself. Lately I have been reading many blogs, and they have inspired me. I have decided this may be one way to share the work. I will try again to post ideas and questions in the hopes that I can work with a group to accomplish a common goal. So my question for the day is, "What is the best food to refuel after a recovery run. When should I eat it, and how much?" Any ideas would be appreciated.

I still need to celebrate. Today I celebrate 60 degrees. Who knew 60 degrees could feel so wonderful. I am ready to pull out the swimsuit and jump in the river. However, for a few more weeks, I guess I will stick to running.