June 24, 2008
Chug-a-lugging along...
My Monday ride home from the gym keeps getting curious-er and curious-er. Last night, I'm pulling up to a light near the Library of Congress and I see a woman power walking in the street next to the parallel-parked cars, not on the sidewalk. She's got fitness clothes and headphones on, which I notice because it's not safe to exercise outside at night if you can't hear someone coming up behind you. Anyway, she takes a sip from what looks like a water bottle in her hand. Then, I pass her and realize it's not water -- she's swigging a BEER! A Heineken to be exact. Last week, I encouraged the runner to "keep going," maybe yesterday I should have yelled "chug, chug, chug!"
June 23, 2008
Beautiful...
I had a rather beautiful weekend. Saturday, I got out early for a 3-hour ride before the temperature got swampy and the more leisurely riders hit the bike path to Mount Vernon. Don’t get me wrong, I tip my helmet to everyone who goes by bike. But, to paraphrase the guy flick Top Gun, sometimes I feel the need for speed. There’s this sweet, curvy rolling hill section through the woods that I love to see how fast I can power through. It’s exhilarating when done right.
The whole ride, it was pretty much me, a handful of other cyclists and tons of running groups training for the Marine Corps. Marathon. My sis, Jen, was out there somewhere too – she signed up to do the marathon! I can ride 100 miles; but I can’t even imagine running 26. Go Jen!!!
Anyway, on Saturday, I also wanted to pick up some new cycling gear. I remembered a WSD event Susan had done at Bella Bikes and decided to drive up to Ellicott City, MD to say hello and check out the nation’s first bicycle store dedicated to serving women cyclists. Bella is Italian for beautiful and that’s just how I would describe the store. Rows of WSD bikes line half of the space and the other half is racks full of cute clothes and accessories. I was in awe. Usually, you walk in to bike shop and there’s maybe a few different women’s jerseys. Bella has colors and patterns and sizes galore. That’s Bella’s manager, Patti, and sales diva, Sandy with me in the photo. Patti coaches the local Team in Training triathlon group and Sandy commutes everywhere on a 35-lb steel frame bike. They lead a “Hookie Ride” every Friday morning, alternating between road and mountain biking each week. [Do I feel a cold coming on, cough cough?]
Sunday, I met up with the guys for coffee like we always do. Then I went home and did laundry (how exciting). I’m traveling a lot this next month and my first leg starts tomorrow to San Diego. I’m hoping I’ll have some interesting tales from the road. It should make my tri training interesting anyway.
June 20, 2008
Whatever it takes...
That’s the inscription that Johan Bruyneel wrote for me when he signed my copy of his new book We Might As Well Win on Wednesday afternoon. Johan is the Director of the ASTANA Cycling Team and the man who coached Lance Armstrong to seven Tour de France wins and in the process turned pro cycling on its ear.
My friends at Revolution Cycles – the Clarendon, VA store – hosted the book signing and for a lunchtime event, I’d say there were at least 100 people there to meet the legend. Johan took questions from the audience first. Number one was whether he thought the ASO was going to allow Astana to compete in the Tour this summer. Johan doesn’t think they will reverse the decision and at this point, he has focused the team on winning other races including the upcoming Vuelta a Espana (Spain).
Johan also told us the story behind his book. After he retired from the pro circuit, Johan was trying to figure out what his second life was going to be when Lance Armstrong (after battling cancer and determined to make a comeback) approached him to direct the USPS team. They decided to concentrate on the Tour. Lance thought he could win a couple of stages, Johan replied, “If we’re going to do this, we might as well win.” Meaning, win the whole thing. And they did, because they believed they would win the whole thing.
I’m still reading the book and it’s engrossing and thought-provoking. I keep coming back to Johan’s message, “whatever it takes.” Sometimes, you just have to get through the day with whatever it takes. But, when you think about your personal goals and dreams, pursue them with whatever it takes. You’ve got to believe in yourself.
P.S. I ran into an old friend at the event, Rob “The Beast” my favorite spin guru. It was so great to see you and meet your family!!!
June 17, 2008
Clap for her…
I’m scootering home from the gym last night a little after 9 pm and I pull up to the stoplight near our house. While I’m waiting for the light to change, a plus-size woman in her late 20s is running on the sidewalk. Having just finished a run myself, I was really impressed by how she was chugging along. So as she goes to cross the intersection in front of me, I couldn’t help it, I just started clapping and whooping, “Way to go! Keep going! You’re doing great!” She started laughing and raised her arms in the air Rocky-style and kept running. I parked my scooter and I could see her down the block, still going strong. That made my day.
June 13, 2008
Swimmer's block...
I don't know if you're all familiar with a web site called Twitter. It's like up-to-the-minute blogging --- what are you doing RIGHT NOW. So, at this very minute, I'm sitting at my computer trying to come up with a good reason why I don't have to go swim laps tonight. Hmmmm. Hmmmm. Hmmmm. Can't. Dang it. Here's a photo though.
What is my problem? My training is in trouble. I'm cool for the bike. I could make the run. But, I have no desire to get in the water. Jeez. Esther Williams may be making a return engagement for the Accenture Chicago, if I make it.
June 11, 2008
Help me Trek Shop Girl...
I'm still extremely irked about my stolen wheel. Now what do I do? Will a new one fit? I'll tell you it's put a real damper on my bike commuting because clipping in and out of my road bike pedals to go 2 miles, stopping every couple of blocks for a traffic light is a real pain; and hauling Shady up and down the stairs is a pain too.
Hey Trek Shop Girl (aka Chris)! What's your advice? I don't know whether to replace the wheel (if I can) or get a new/used bike to commute on. Aggh.
P.S. Had a meeting in Sheperdstown, WV at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Conservation Training Center yesterday. Way cool place -- all eco-friendly design. It's not far from Antietam National Battlefield so I took a drive over to check it out. Here are some photos. Next time, I'll bring a bike. The rolling hills would be a lot of fun to ride.
June 6, 2008
Happy trails...
Tomorrow is National Trails Day –- why not celebrate it mountain bike-style. Sponsored by the American Hiking Society, National Trails Day aims to raise awareness and cooperation among all trail users at events across the country. I’m going to participate in a MORE event (Mid Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts) to learn more (hahaha) about trail-building and maintenance.
Use this interactive map to find out if there’s something happening in your neck of the woods. Happy trails to you, until I blog again.
June 4, 2008
Horsing around...
This past weekend, the guys and I (Russ, Wayne, Bill, and Russ’ 18-yr-old son, Eric) headed up to Harper’s Ferry, WV for our first camping trip of the summer. Harper’s Ferry is always a good place to ease into overnights in the outdoors because the campground has everything you need including electricity at most of the sites; super-clean bathrooms; a pool; a Wal-Mart and supermarket five miles down the road in case you forget anything or run out of beer; and Charlestown Racetrack about 8 miles away for some evening horseracing entertainment. It's also adjacent to Harper's Ferry National Historical Park.
We were a little worried about the weather since heavy showers were predicted for Saturday. Yep, our hiking plans were washed out; but, we spent the afternoon taking naps (nothing better than the sound of rain on a tent roof) and having our very own air hockey tournament at the campground’s game room.
That night, we went to the races. Wayne was the big winner, taking home about $100. I won a $1.34 on a horse named Fly-by. Later, we sat around the campfire and played the question game – like, what’s the first thing you’d do if you won the lottery (Wayne wants a villa); or what animal would you like to pet if you knew it wouldn’t bite you (Eric and a shark). So that I’d have at least one cycling-related thing to add to the blog, I asked, what’s the top place you’d like to go biking. The answers: 2 were for Italy, 2 for France, and I said the ring road in Iceland or across the U.S. Our next camping trip is back to Skyline in the Shenandoah Mountains at the end of the month. I think we’re ready for the big time though I'll miss the bathrooms.
June 3, 2008
Take it up on the Hill...
Trust me, riding up Capitol Hill can be challenging – getting good legislation passed on the Hill is even harder. Prior to Congress’ Memorial Day recess, the House passed H.R. 6049, the “Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008.” Why should you care? Because included in the legislation is a $20 per month transportation fringe benefit for bicycle commuters to cover costs of commuting by bike.
The Senate House finance committee is expected to take up this measure this week. The League of American Bicyclists is asking people to contact Senators who previously co-sponsored S. 858 (Bicycle Commuters Benefit Act 2007) to sign onto a joint letter, being distributed by Senator Wyden, to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Finance Committee asking them to adopt the House provision.
Take a moment to click this action link to contact your Senators and urge them to sign onto the joint letter. It’s easy, just fill in your zip code and follow the steps. Although bike commuting may not fit your life, please help the rest of us out with your support!
May 30, 2008
Green goddess...
[WARNING: If you get grossed out easily, you might want to pass on this one]
This is good, I guess, if not really disgusting. So, ever since I started my new job, I rarely drive my car. It just sits on the street day after day. Mostly, I ride one of my bikes or take the scooter if I’m crossing town or buying groceries. If it’s raining, I leave the house early and walk.
This past weekend, I had to drive to the MORE event and discovered that my car had turned into a wetland reserve. There’s a leak in the convertible top and rain got in and combined with some tree pod things that blew in the last time I drove. My interior was literally sprouting. I didn’t need a weed wacker or anything, but it smelled a little earthy in there. Gross. It’s clean now and Lysol'd like no one's business.
But, at least its evidence that my go-by-two-wheels lifestyle is having a green effect!!
P.S. sorry about the re-use photo. I should have taken one at the time
May 28, 2008
Gimme more...
I shoved Shady in the passenger seat and off I went on Monday morning to meet up with MORE, a cool, local mountain bike club --Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts, for a special Memorial Day ride at Shaeffer Farm in Gaithersburg, MD.
I met Tom Jackson, the ride leader and MORE Vice President, a couple of months ago at CycleFest 2008. He sent me a friendly email afterwards to help educate me about responsible mountain biking and how important it is to take care of trails and not ride on them when they’re wet. He also told me about all of the hard work MORE has done to maintain trail access in the DC area. I really appreciated his note. Since then, I’ve been trying to sync up my crazy schedule so that I could join a MORE event. When Tom emailed me about Monday – I was in for my third-ever mtb ride!!
But here’s the thing, I’m not very good at it (yet). So within 10 minutes, I had worked myself up trying to figure out what the h-e-double-hockey-sticks I was doing while worrying that I was slowing down the other 7 riders and making their rides less fun. I was swearing a blue streak so long it matched Shady’s paint color. Tom and the other riders were great and encouraging the whole way. I picked up a few tips from them I thought I’d share…
1) If in doubt, dismount – billy, don’t be a hero
2) Roll over it – for me that means stop overthinking and just go over the dang log
3) Keep your weight in the back – a balance thing
4) You are going to fall – but at least ground is softer than pavement
5) Look ahead, not right in front of you, don’t look at what you don’t want to hit – your bike is going to follow the line of your eyes, so if there’s a big rock in the way don’t look at it or you’re going to head straight for it. Learned that one the painful way.
It was a tough ride for me. You know us Type A’s we don’t like to suck at things. But, at least I’ll probably never be this horrifically bad again. I can only get better. I’ll be back for MORE!
May 26, 2008
Zzzzzz...
I go on an on about the Giro and what happened yesterday? I fell asleep and missed the coverage on the Versus network. I couldn't believe it -- Alberto Contador earns the pink jersey on Stage 15 and I was conked out on the couch while waiting for Cyclysm Sunday to start. Today, Alberto held onto the jersey.
May 21, 2008
Hand me that sports page...
I was in the office kitchen stalking the coffee pot when my boss, MH, walks in with the Washington Post. He says, “Here, MacLean, I saved you the sports page” and laughs. MH is a rabid Boston Red Sox fan. I’m a rabid Project Runway fan. To each newspaper section his/her own.
But today I said, “Hand it over, I’ll see how my guys are doing in the Giro.” “The what?” he replied. “Giro D’Italia. You know… big road race… Italy… Astana got in.” He shook his head in the funny way that he does whenever I talk about cycling. I laughed back.
Following the Giro and the competition for the maglia rosa (pink jersey) is fun. It’s even better than I thought it would be this year since the Astana team was invited to participate after race organizer RSC reversed its original February decision at practically the last minute. Looks like the “Let Levi Ride” campaign might be making a difference since the Giro is one of the world’s most important stage races after the Tour de France.
Anyway, Levi and his teammates, Andreas Kloden and Alberto Contador, are kicking it into gear and I can hardly wait for the coverage on the Versus network this Sunday.
I couldn’t tell you who’s leading the National League; but, I can still get some sports on. AND I can tell you which team’s jersey I think is the prettiest. How about that.
May 19, 2008
Bike rider v. cyclist...
What's the difference between riding your bike and cycling?
A while ago, I traded emails with a guy who considered himself a “happy kind of biker” who enjoys sunny days and ringing a bell and remembers putting playing cards in his spokes. He wrote, “I’m not in the same league as you.” That made me a little sad to tell you the truth because I’m pretty happy on a bike. Am I e-league-ist??
Then, I tried to think back to the last time I went for a non-commute ride when I wasn’t concerned about pace, form or distance. I couldn’t*. Plus, I own specially designed gear and I usually check out the rides of others on the paths. Are these the signs of a cyclist?
Mostly, I tend to think of myself as a Type A bike rider who rings her bell so that people will get out of the way. I mean, kindly move to the right so I can pass on the left**. Hmmm. Do bike riders get annoyed or is that reserved for cyclists?
Is your “league” (bike riding v. cycling) determined by your attitude or level of performance? Do you have to be "good enough" to earn a cyclist title?
What do you think?
*Technically, we rented bikes in Amsterdam to have fun and cover more ground/distance.
**I had a near-zero speed fall 2 weeks ago when a family blocked the path, wouldn’t move and I overbalanced getting my foot out of the pedal while veering onto grass.
>>>And just so I don't come off as a member of the jerk league -- I make it a point to give lots of warning and heads up when I'm going to pass and I say thank you. But, there's no need to give me a rude gesture because I've asked you to move over so I can go by.
May 16, 2008
Gutter bunny day...
gutter bunny n. a bicycling commuter.*
I am a rather soggy bunny on this, National Bike-to-Work Day. Rain showers happening here. I got up this morning, taught my spin class, and seriously contemplated whether I was going to honor my pledge to bike commute today.
On the one hand, I promised to hop to it. And on the other, ugh, I hate getting skunk butt, or whatever you call it, when mud and road gross-ness flings up from your rear tire onto your rear-end in a nice neat vertical stripe. Plus, I do worry about wiping out on slick streets.
But, I did it! I rode Shady since she’s got the grippiest tires of all my Treks. However, I decided to bypass the Bike to Work main event down at Freedom Plaza hosted by the awesome Washington Area Bicyclist Association. No breakfast and swag for me this year. That’s okay, it’s the biking that counts, not the free bagel and water bottle.
With any luck, I won’t be riding home in a down pour tonight.
*I didn't make this term up. Feel free to google it.
May 8, 2008
Commuting connections...
Bike commuting and I go way back. I guess you could say I’ve been a go-by-bike gal off and on since I was 7 years old and did my first ride to Hinsbrook Elementary School. By the time I was 17, I was bike commuting on a red 10-speed to my job as a lifeguard 5 miles or so from our house. The 10-speed didn’t survive my undergrad days; then again, neither did my waistline.
I got chunky and stayed chunky until I lost weight while I was getting my Masters. My graduation present to myself was that old Trek 930 in 1994. My first job was at a public television station and bike commuting--RT 25 miles--was cheaper than riding the bus. Then, I got a new job where I met Russ (who would later become my boss). And then I got chunky again; bought a cheap, used VW and hid the 930 in a storage closet until 2005.
When I started riding again, I decided to go back to my bike commuting roots. Round-trip was about 30 miles. Sometimes, Russ would ride up to meet me and we’d do the trip back together. When I changed jobs, I tried the commute route but it was just too much. Now that I’m close to home, biking to work is actually my fastest form of transportation.
There are so many great reasons to bike commute—better for your health, your wallet and your environment—and so many valid reasons why people find it daunting. Sweat, weather, distance and traffic top my list. But, where’s there’s a wheel; there’s a way. Here are my tips:
Sweat: If it takes more than 30 minutes, I wear cycling gear and carry my clothes and wash-up kit in a backpack. Luckily, I belong to a gym with locations all over DC and can shower up. A lot of office buildings have facilities now for commuters as well. Also check your local cycling organization because it might have deals with area gyms so that you can shower there too.
Weather: I confess, I don’t ride in bad weather. But, there’s all kinds of gear if you don’t mind it.
Distance: Do a trial run first. Maybe you start by parking and riding half the route. In most cities, there are racks on the front of buses for bikes and in DC, you can take them on the metro. Or, do like the Dutch and get an old bike that you keep on one end of the commute (i.e. train station to office).
Traffic: Safety is #1! I try out different streets to find the best ones and to maximize my time in bike lanes. I avoid major bus routes. I use hand signals and obey traffic lights. I don’t weave. I have lights if it gets dark.
Again, contact local bike organizations for more helpful info. You can find yours using this link from the League of American Bicyclists. Your regional transportation authority might have some good stuff too.
Next week is National Bike-to-Work Week and Friday, May 16 is Bike-to-Work Day and events are happening nationwide. If you can, why not give it a try. I ask you… what could be better than starting and ending your day with a bike ride?
PS> Here’s a neat web site, www.commutebybike.com. Check out the gas savings calculator, the Simple Guide to Bike Commuting and the Slackers Guide to Bike Commuting.
PPS> Hey bike commuters out there… post a comment and share your tips!
April 22, 2008
No boys allowed...
Guess what… Trek just launched a Women Who Ride Club. Whoo hoo! It’s an exclusive, members-only community for women riders. Like the title says, no boys allowed. For small annual fee, you will receive a super cute tech shirt, cycling socks, Trek water bottle, baseball cap and tons more.
Plus, there will be monthly sweepstakes where you can win Trek gear, even bikes; an e-newsletter, race entry giveaways, VIP treatment at select Trek-sponsored events (love that) and special apparel discounts. Also, if you register soon, you’ll get a chance to win a Trek Travel vacation (please take me with you!!!), Bissell products, a three-month training program or a brand spanking new Trek WSD bike. C’mon and be a Trek Chick too!
Check out the Trek Women Who Ride Club!!
April 11, 2008
CycleFest ditch diver…
It may have been cold and dreary last Sunday in Fairfax, VA’s Wakefield Park; but, who really cares when there are bikes involved. I met up with Chris, Dave and Jon from Trek at CycleFest 2008 hosted by the Bike Lane. Though Chris and Dave weren’t able to send people out on demo bikes because of rain, lots of folks visited us at the demo trailers to ask questions.
Here’s what surprised me… not everyone covets a Madone. In fact, almost all of the women Chris talked to while I was there wanted to know which bike would suit them best if they wanted to ride on a bike path or around with their family or friends. It seems the FX series is for Fairfax. But, I seem to remember Trek telling me that FX is the most popular everywhere. Heck, I’ve done 100-mile rides on a hybrid bike as well as 1 mile jaunts to get a cup of coffee. You can’t beat it for flexibility, speed and price.
Also, Mike Spinner and Nigel Sylvester from Mirra Bike Company were there to judge a competition at Wakefield’s Skate Park. Too bad it got rained out, but the Mirraco boys hung out and signed autographs for all the kids/teens. Spinner is the winner of the 2007 BMX Trick of the Year who just completed a triple whip over the hip and the 720 double tailwhip on the resi (say what???) and Nigel is a streetrider from NYC.
I got to spend some time with Spinner and Nigel, check out our “sick” photo in the gallery below. (Sick = totally rad if you’re a product of the 80s.) Anyway, the boys asked me where I like to party in DC. I think I looked over my shoulder to see if there was someone cooler-looking standing behind me cause my guess is that they didn’t mean “party” as in would you like another mini-quiche. Cripes, how did I get to be this old? They were nice kids and very respectful to the elder in their midst.
Anyway, after the event wrapped up, the rain stopped long enough for the Trek gang and me to go mountain biking on the Park’s trails. I took up the last position so that I could watch the others go over the obstacles. The mud was thick and within minutes we were covered. The first challenge for me was to ride over a log; I made it and let out a big whoop. I crossed ravines, rode over another log and started getting the hang of it. All the while, Chris would look over her shoulder to see if I was still there and to encourage me when the trail looked tricky.
Then, came a skinny bridge-thing which was probably about a foot wide and about a 3 feet above the ground. I'm sure there's a technical name for it. All I know is in trying to get up on to the bridge, I popped a wheelie, lost control and fell over into the ditch, landing with a gigantic thud. I sprawled there for a second to get my breath back. I'm sure Chris was thinking about where to hide my body after doing in a Trek Women. But, I got right back in the saddle and kept on riding. The second time we did the loop, I made it!!!
My thanks to the Trek gang and the Bike Lane for a great day!
March 21, 2008
Bike bug...
My thinking this morning was that even though I feel completely wretched, I’m not contagious anymore. No reason to cancel spin class. I wasn’t expecting a big group anyway since it’s the start of a holiday weekend, and only two gents from the Protocol office showed up. While we were setting up their bikes, I explained that I still felt too gross to ride, but I would take them though the workout. I had originally planned to perch on a tall platform, which lasted about 2 minutes into the warm up. I couldn’t do it; I had to sit on a bike. Not that I was going to ride, but it felt weird not to be in the saddle.
The second drill was a series of jumps and somehow, there I was demo’ing the action. My head was saying, “keep going, do the workout, you know you want to” – and my bod was saying, “knock it off, idiot, that’s the Dayquil talking.” I ended up taking all the resistance off and just pedaled slowly for the hour. The guys did great though.
I’ve definitely got the bike bug. I want to be riding outside now. If only my health and the weather would cooperate already.
March 12, 2008
Last one up the Hill is a rotten egg...
Wayne has thrown down the cycling glove. He thinks he can take me on the Hill. Well, my friend, just because you got that brand spanking new Trek Pilot 5.0, don’t for a minute think I’ll concede without a fight.
For the past six months, Wayne has been researching road bikes. He looked at Treks and non-Treks. At the time, I could have smacked him with a frying pan -– how could he not buy a Trek. Hello, I write a blog for the company. I threatened him, as in, I will never write about you again if you buy a non-Trek. Wasn’t much of a threat though when he replied, “Good.” Agggh.
Despite me, he did get the Pilot for the reasons I think all of us Trek-lovers buy our rides -– it’s the best bike for the buck. He loved the riding position, fit, gearing and the fact that it’s red. Color matters, people, and not just to us girls. But, when I asked him the #1 reason he chose the Pilot, he said “smoking my $%^ up Capitol Hill.”
Oh, it’s on.
P.S. Thanks to Mike Harris at Revolution Cycles for fine-tuning Wayne’s ride to his perfect fit.
March 4, 2008
She's got a point...
I’m talking to my friend Heather, she of the spooky suburban house fame. Heather joined Weight Watchers last week and was looking for some advice on how it all works. [Basics: every serving of “food” has a points value. You can eat what you want, just don’t go over your points, though you get 35 anytime points to use during a week.]
So Heather asks me, 3 days after joining the old WW… is it bad that I only have 4 points left for the week? “What happened?” I answer back. Girl Scout cookies. Her daughter, Rachel, is a Brownie this year and the household is chocked full of boxes. Me, I would have waited to start my diet ‘til the peanut butter Do-Si-Dos had square-danced right on down to my big rear end. But, that’s Heather for you. When she makes up her mind, it’s go time. I love that about her.
Anyway, I ask her how many Samoas make up a serving? She replies, “MacLean, I am sorry to tell you that a serving is not a sleeve. You only get two cookies for 2 points.” I could blow through some serious points in one sitting.
Fast forward to today, we’re chatting and congrats are in order because she lost 3.2 pounds. After her first weigh-in, she was on the phone with her Dad and he says, “Now you need to start exercising because in 3 weeks, you’ll have formed a new habit and you’ll learn to love it. Then if you skip a workout, you’ll really miss it.” Heather’s response, “Whaaat? Three weeks? It didn’t take me three weeks to learn to love booze and Little Debby cakes now did it.” She’s kidding. But I think Heather could learn to like if not love exercise. Maybe one of these days, we’ll get her out on a bike. Plus, you get extra points for working out!
P.S. I need to stop writing my blog when I’m hungry. Lately, my posts have been rather grub-heavy.
P.P.S. To my morning spinners, you are beasts! We did a looong attack-and-chase sprint drill where each rider got to drive an attack(s) and the rest of us “chased.” Those gals and guys were ruthless. I couldn’t be prouder.
February 20, 2008
Tri that again...
This past Saturday, I’m lying on the couch surrounded by a mound of wadded up tissues. I had succumbed to the office bug and felt horrible. The phone rings and it’s Becky telling me to turn on NBC, the annual broadcast about the Ironman World Championship in Kona was on. Raise your hand if you’ve seen it. This is must-see TV because it’s not about the grueling race and who came in first—though that’s pretty exciting. It’s more about the everyday people who step up to the starting line ready to show the world and themselves the kind of stuff they’re made of.
For more than an hour, Becky and I watched the show together over the phone, crying our eyes out for Scott Rigsby, the first above-the-knee double amputee to finish, and Charlie Plaskon, the blind 64-year-old grandfather, who ran and finished the race tethered to a guide to show his grandkids what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it. I was touched by pro, Rutger Beke (who finished #4 in 2006), suffering from the damage of a tendon injury, walked the marathon to place #898 instead of dropping out. He said, “I don’t think it’s very respectful of those people [the age-group competitors] to just quit when it’s not going your way.” By the time the last person crossed the finish line to beat the midnight cut-off, my tissue mountain was enormous.
Feeling inspired, I went online and officially signed up to compete in the Accenture Chicago Triathlon International Distance again this summer. I’d been thinking I was going to race it; but, hadn’t actually 100% committed myself to it. Honestly, I was kind of burned out after the event last year. Did I really want to dedicate my life to training like that again? Watching Ironman was just the motivation I needed. Now, I’ve got 185 days to get my stuff in shape. The starting line awaits.
February 19, 2008
Let Levi ride...
If you follow pro cycling, by now you've heard the news that Team Astana has been barred from competing in any race or event organized by the Amaury Sports Organization (ASO) in 2008, including the Tour de France. This means that the incredible Levi Leipheimer, who has never been associated to doping, will be unjustly sidelined.
The ASO cited the scandals of last year’s TdF as the reason behind its decision. Give me a break. The 2008 Astana Cycling Team has new direction under GM Johan Bruyneel (Lance Armstrong and 7 consecutive Tour wins); all new riders including Levi; and now the most rigorous anti-doping controls of any team in the pro peloton. As Bruyneel has said, the only thing left from last year’s team is the name of the sponsor. This house has been cleaned.
Although Team Astana will still compete in some top races this year, I think it’s a load of you-know-what to hold Levi responsible for the sins of the past. Yesterday, a new campaign launched to rally support called “Let Levi Ride”. Go to www.letleviride.com and sign the online petition to undo Levi’s unfair exclusion and save the 2008 TdF. The petitions will be sent directly to the ASO Director.
This whole ugly situation reminds me of a story my friend Joe M., the Olympic runner, once told me. Joe competed in Sydney and then underwent knee surgery and some heavy-duty rehabilitation to get back up to speed. He decided to try for Athens, even though many said he was done, and met with a respected coach to talk training. The coach asked him, “So what are you taking?” Joe said, “Nothing.” The coach asked him again, “No really, off the record, what are you on?” Joe said straight-up, “I don’t do that.” The coach replied, “Then you’re going to lose.” Joe made it to Athens (with a different coach). Although he didn’t medal, he competed on his own terms and that's a winner in my book.
There are outstanding athletes out there who don’t need drugs and steroids and human growth hormones or whatever else to be champions. Let’s reward the good ones and give them the opportunity to win.
February 15, 2008
Trike monster who rides...
My 2 ½ year-old nephew, aka the Paddy monster, did a Tour de Living Room for his Cranky Cupid Spin Challenge. Reports my sis, Becky, “[Paddy] did really well on his trike. He rode it through the living room and into the kitchen. Last summer he couldn't reach the pedals. Do you like his bike helmet? It is winter after all. Maybe Trek wants to use our design!” Way to go Paddy!
Also, congratulations Marie on your HUGE accomplishment yesterday –- 60 @ 60 in 6!!! If you haven’t read her blog yet, check it out. You trained hard for it and YOU DID IT! I remember my first 50-mile ride, and it felt like forever. For a new rider to face that much distance is pretty daunting and yet you didn’t let bad weather stop you from achieving your goal. I am so happy for you.
I did end up taking one more spin class last night, plus a little time on a recumbent bike. I went home, ate dinner and was out by 10 pm (rare for me). The hardest part of it all was getting up at 5 am to go teach my regular Friday spin class. There was a little part of me hoping no one would show up. But, I had a really fun group of guys and they made it all worthwhile.
February 14, 2008
Happy cranky cupid day...
How's the riding?
We had a great time this morning at CrnkCu HQ for our 3-hour spin-a-thon. I started the first spin class at 6 am 'ish with a bunch of tall, good-looking guys -- I'm not sure which Marine company they were from (the hotties from hottingham??). Except for the co. leader, they were all new to spinning. It was fun watching these really athletic guys feeling some hill burn. After a particularly devious (if I do say so myself) sprint drill, one of the Marines asked me "Ma'am, how often do you do this?"
SSgt Zoraida Rodriguez from the Marine Corps Band is a rock star –- she spun hard for a little over 2 hours before she had to go to work. She’s getting ready for the Bulldog Bike Race at Camp Pendleton coming up on March 1. She won her category last year and she’s going to kick some serious butt next month!
Folks dropped in to ride all morning, so it was drills non-stop. I pretty much only hopped off to adjust bikes for the newbies. I’m a little tired; but my legs feel fine. I guess I’m not as out of shape as I thought. We’ll see how cranky I get tonight though. I’m still thinking about doing some more time. Maybe a repeat of last night’s fierce Project Runway will be on!
Hey, if you’re taking on a CrnkCu spin challenge, don’t forget to snap a photo of you looking your crankiest! (I'm trying to look cranky in the photo above on purpose.) Send them to me at laura_maclean@trekwomenwhoride.com and I’ll post them in the gallery. Tell me what you did and what you watched if you’re riding in front of the tube. Happy Valentine’s Day!!
P.S. Thanks Trek for the 1 World, 2 Wheels water bottles -- they were put to good use!
February 12, 2008
CrnkCu koo ka choo...
Two more days, til we get CRANKY!!!
My challenge is that I'm going to teach a 3-hour spin class (yikes) from 6-9 am. Cranksters can do the whole class or just pop in for part of it. If I've got any legs left, I'm going to try to spin some more after work.
I'm also really excited because my Mom is going to be a Cranky Cupid too. She's going to ride her recumbent stationary bike. Go Mom!!! My sis, Becky, would be in to it too, but the girl is 7 months pregnant with twins -- she'll just do the cranky part. :)
So are you ready to ride?
February 8, 2008
Turning my freak off...
Admit it, when you ponder Oprah and her dramatic weight losses over the years, you always think to yourself -– well if I had a trainer, I could do that too. Thanks to Trek, I’ve got Coach Mary and Up & Over Fitness in my corner now and it’s kind of freaking me out.
If you look at my bio on the right, fast-forward to the end where it says “extremely organized, hard-working woman...” I always chuckle when I glance at it because you could translate that to CONTROL FREAK. Mind you, I’m not that way about everything. But, I do like to do what I like to do when I like to do it -- #1 benefit of being single.
With Mary, not only am I learning how to properly train my body, I’m also figuring out how to turn my freak off. Every month, she puts together an incredible workout schedule for me that balances biking, running and swimming with the other things that I like to do such as step aerobics and strength training. The thing is, I’ve been in charge of my fitness regimen since I started my weight loss journey almost 3 years ago and it’s not as easy as I thought it would be to have help. (Me and asking for help, that's a blog for another day.) And as ridiculous as it sounds, I freak out a little bit whenever I make a substitution to the plan or don’t really do a full recovery day that I’m letting her and myself down. I don’t want to waste this amazing opportunity to grow as an athlete.
I think Mary gets that about me –- it’s more than my physical self that I’m training. When I’m struggling, she gives great advice. She reminds me to relax, to take things in stride and to enjoy the workouts and not think of them as something to check off my daily to-do list. My control-freaky ways may be a thing of the past.
P.S. Mary sent me an email about the Cranky Cupid and our crazy spin-a-thon. She says, remember to drink plenty of fluids during your ride. She recommends 500-1000mls per hour and to water down sports drinks (50-50) if you use them. Also, make sure to have some calories - 100 cal/hr minimum. Does it count if my calories are chocolate, I wonder. Oh wait, that's probably not part of my pact with Russ. I may have to get an exception.
February 7, 2008
And the winner is...
Thanks to all who sumbitted names and voted!! The winning name -- The Cranky Cupid Spin Challenge -- comes courtesy of my co-workers; inspired by commenter, Sue.
So what's the deal, you ask. The first rule of The Cranky Cupid Spin Challenge is that there are no rules. No registration, no fees. It's your challenge to yourself to ride for some amount of time on some kind of wheeled apparatus be it your bike outside or inside on a trainer, a stationary or recumbent bike, a spin class, a big wheel, a combo of all of the above... If you would like to make it a fundraising event for your favorite charity too, go for it!
Take a picture, the crankier the better, of you doing the challenge and I'll create a post-event photo gallery. Tell me what you did, what you watched (if you're doing your challenge in front of the tube), and how you rewarded yourself.
The Marine Barracks are on board as our CrnkCu HQ -- we're going to do a 3-hour spin-a-thon from 6-9 am. I think it'll be fun, or at least painfully interesting for my young guys who don't believe in bike shorts.
February 5, 2008
I'm super thanks for asking...
I voted did you?
It's Super Spin Challenge-Naming Tuesday. Our candidates (see the blog post below) believe in super cooling (One World, Two Wheels check it out) and freedom from sappy commericals for diamond jewelry and sugary sweet eHarmony ads. Ooh, and what's up with that weirdo Hallmark ad with the talking "El Toro of Love" stuffed bull. I'd rather be single, thanks. Ugh.
To vote, post a comment or send me an email laura_maclean@trekwomenwhoride.com. The poll closes tomorrow night at 10 pm EST.
February 4, 2008
Cast your vote now...
Here's your chance to help name our anti-Valentine's Day indoor cycling challenge.
Pardon my polling set-up below, it's not very advanced. To cast your vote, send an email to me at laura_maclean@trekwomenwhoride or post a comment. Voting closes on Wednesday at 11 pm EST.
Thanks to all who sent in names!!!
- St. Valentine’s Day Crush
- No Candy A**es Valentine's Ride
- The Cranky Cupid Spin Challenge
- I Don't HEART Valentine's Day Indoor Spin-a-thon
- Sweet and Strong Hearts Ride
- Thumpin' Pumpin' Hearts Ride
- Strong Hearts, Not Candy Hearts Century Ride
- No Candy Hearts Here Century Ride
- Love's Labour Found
- (All's Fair) In Love and Lycra
- Passion and Pedal
- Roses are Red, Bruises are Blue
- The Red-Lining Century
- Epoch Spin
- Pre-National Cheap Chocolate Day Century
- Forsake the Chocolate V-Day Century Ride
- One Bike Stand
- V-Day Century Ride for Change
- The Slimmer Way to Spend V-Day Century Ride
- The Cranky Love Train Anti V-Day Spin-a-thon
Hey, it's easier than Super Tuesday!
January 31, 2008
What's in a name...
C'mon people, don't be shy. We need a name for our anti-Valentine's Day indoor spin-a-thon!!! Tap in to your inner snarkiness and send your ideas my way by tomorrow. You can either post them as a comment or feel free to e-mail them to me at laura_maclean@trekwomenwhoride.com.
I'll even sweeten the pot and the winner will get a cool Trek something-or-other.
January 29, 2008
This idea's got legs...
Trek Fit for Women Demo chick, Tori, is a genius! Last Thursday, she posted a comment on my blog that her Valentine’s Day plan is to bike an indoor century, which should take about 6 hours. If you haven’t checked out the thread yet, here’s why it’s so perfect for everyone like me who HATES Feb 14 with a passion. Says Tori, “Just think Friday morning when people snidely ask ‘so, what did you do for V-Day? You can say ‘rode my bike 100 miles...you?’ ”
Don’t you love it? Then, Jen Polo added in the married perspective –- you mean you aren’t all swooning over each other? And, Trek Demo chick, Ross, is in to it. (There’s also an interesting sideline about Project Runway if you’re interested.) Then, commenter Sue talked about a 400-mile by V-Day fudge goal she’s got going with her friends called “Shoot Cupid.”
I think we’re on to something! So, I propose that we initiate a First Annual anti V-Day indoor cycling challenge. First off, we need a sweet name for the challenge that snark-ily captures the essence of our ride. Post your suggestions as a comment by noon on Friday, Feb. 1. Then, we’ll vote.
Second, instead of measuring our soon-to-be-named ride in miles, let’s do something different. Regular century rides usually offer different distances: half-metric = 35 miles; metric century = 62 miles; and English century = 100 miles. I thought we could measure in time. Maybe for the soon-to-be-named Indoor Cycling Challenge, our distances could be:
> 1 episode of Sex and the City or guy-equivalent TV show
> 1 John Cusack movie or guy equivalent where things blow up
> Pride & Prejudice – the 5-hour BBC/A&E miniseries with Colin Firth – or guy equivalent miniseries
> Project Runway marathon (!) or guy-equivalent such as Ultimate Fighting Championship
> ______ your own guilty pleasure show or movie
Are you in?
January 18, 2008
Better by the dozen...
It was a sold-out spin class this morning. Yep, it was me and a dozen, 20-something-year-old guys psycho-cycling away at 6 am. I had a blast and I've heard from a couple people they thought it was a killer work out too. That's what I like to hear. I don't want to be the only one with burning hamstrings right now. I did a climb to the song "Gold Digger" and the Marines were singing along. Then, I made them turn up their resistance. Ha ha ha. I love being a beast.
I promise y'all, I'll write the Greece blog this weekend!
January 16, 2008
Very beastly indeed…
It’s 5:20 am and I’m tossing my bedroom in search of my bike shoes with the SPD clips, as usual. Found ‘em, under the suitcase I have yet to put away. Make mental note to not be such a slob in 2008. Chug a mug of instant espresso and head on over to the Marine Barracks to teach my very first 60-min indoor cycling class!
Boy, was I nervous. It took me about two hours to plan my ride with the music. As you all know from previous whinings, there’s nothing that I hate more than sucky music when I take a class. #1 goal: don’t suck. Then, I was worried no one would show up. But -- hooray -- I had five people come and for three of them, it was their first time spinning. They hung in there like, uhh, troopers. #2 goal: make it challenging and safe for everyone. Last, but certainly not least, after traveling for the past month, I’m feeling really out of shape. #3 goal: don’t suck wind and fall off the bike.
The good news is that I didn’t pass out and I think everyone had a fun work out. Though, we’ll see if anyone’s calling me a beast when we do it all again on Friday morning. (Mental note: set out bike shoes with the SPD clips on Thursday night.)
Spin junkies, if you’ve got a drill or tunes you love for climbing or intervals, post a comment with your favorites!!
December 19, 2007
Watch out for the she-beast...
There's a new, bonafide beast-ess in town and her name is Laura. Guess what I did on Sunday? I got certified to teach indoor cycling and now I'll be the new instructor barking orders at the Marines. Whoo Hoo!! I'll be teaching two mornings a week at the Marine Barracks starting January 8. I can’t wait to unleash my inner drill sergeant cause we're gonna ride hard.
There were five of us taking the certification class and it was interesting how differently we consider indoor cycling. I've always thought of spin as an extension of my cycling training. I started doing it in the first place because bad weather would keep me off the roads or I needed some more miles on my legs or I wanted extra hill climbs. I set my spin bike up as closely as possible to my Trek road bike so that it works my muscles the same. The others on Sunday weren't riders and they approached spinning as another type of cardio workout like kickboxing or aerobics. I really learned a lot from them about the business-side of fitness, which I hadn't given much thought to before. I think the most important lesson I learned is how to take my training experiences outside and apply them in the gym. This is going to be fun (she says with a maniacal gleam in her eyes)!!
December 13, 2007
Stressed is desserts spelled backwards…
I don’t know about you, but I’m stressed out. With all the holiday happenings, and finding the perfect gifts, and wrapping up end-of-year projects at work, and going to a million meetings, and resisting the basket of sugar cookies a co-worker put in the office kitchen and getting ready for our New Year’s trip, and trying not to feel guilty that I haven’t ridden my Trek in forever cause I’m a cold weather wuss, and…the list goes on and on and keeps getting longer by the minute. I’m about ready to run into the hallway and scream, “I’ve had enough!”
When I get stressed, my first inclination is to head straight to the grocery store bakery for carrot cake and comfort. Well, if I’m being honest, I’ll comfort eat when I’m happy, sad, so-so, bored… pick an emotion and I’ll eat to it.
So, right now, I’m going to take a deep breathe, maybe two. Join me if you like. Inhale/exhale. Now, I’m going to visualize myself at the gym tonight, taking a class with my friends, and feeling my body move, sweat, stretch and release tension. Hmm, feeling a little better, releasing the death grip on the sugar cookie.
When I’ve got an emotional hunger pain, like stress, I’ve learned that exercise helps me break the comfort-eating cycle. Getting out of the office or my house and doing something that’s good for me is a much sweeter reward than rolling backwards to old habits.
How are you all fighting stress this holiday season?
December 7, 2007
Mini me...
Mini quiches… I adore you. Mini cheesecakes… I dream about you. Mini hot dogs in grape jelly-based sweet and sour sauce… I don't like you that much, but I will devour you when the mini meatballs are no more. ‘Tis the season of good cheer and good eats and this weekend, holiday soirees get into full swing.
You might ask, Laura, after a party or two, don’t you get sick of eating artichoke dips, hot wings, pizza bites, all the same old miniaturized food. And the answer to that is no. I could stuff myself so full of baby cheese balls, I’d make a Wisconsin dairy farmer a millionaire. I love to eat, that’s my issue, especially in situations where I don’t know a lot of people. I shovel food in my mouth so that I’m not embarrassed when I can’t remember your name (I’m so bad at that). Or, when the host or hostess says, “I made this especially for you.” Sound familiar?
The key to facing potato skin pushers is to have a plan. Here are a couple of my favorite survival strategies and some we came up with at a recent Weight Watchers meeting:
#1 Work out the day of the party. Burn some calories and feel fabulous putting on your swanky outfit. Exercising also helps reduce my appetite.
#2 Plan your favorite work out for the day after the party. I’m less likely to overindulge if I know I’m going to get up the next morning and do a boot camp class or go for a good ride.
# 3 Don’t stand near the food. Duh, right. But, so many parties end up in the kitchen, it’s easy to start snacking on whatever’s in there.
#4 At cocktail parties, eat with your opposite hand. If you’re a rightie, put the plate/napkin in your right hand and pick up food with your left. It should feel weird and slow you down. (I think I’m an ambidextrous eater because this one doesn’t do much for me –- but give it a try.)
#5 Bring something you can eat. It might be hard to do at your official work party; but, if you’re going to someone’s house, bring a healthy, low-fat dish that won’t blow your diet. I make mean mini apple strudels.
#6 Alternate alcoholic drinks (wine, beer, etc.) with water or diet soda to cut down on calories and prevent you from doing something stupid that may involve falling down or flashing. And for the love of St. Nick, NEVER EVER drink and drive.
#7 Eat before you go. A lot of people say this works. I tend to end up eating twice as much. However, I’ll have a bag of 94% fat free popcorn to take the edge off.
#8 Survey the landscape. Before loading up your plate at the buffet, put your hands behind your back and walk around it. See what’s there and save room for the really good stuff.
#9 Fill up on fruit and veggies, hold the dip. Boring, but your bootie will thank you later.
#10 If the host/hostess has made you something special, have a taste. Enjoy it. Just don’t run to the garage with the entire platter and devour it by yourself. Take a friend.
Just kidding. Party on Trek people!
November 28, 2007
Return of the beast...
It’s 5 am and I’m tossing my bedroom in search of my bike shoes with the SPD clips, not the ones with the Speedplays that I keep tripping over. Found ‘em, under the laundry pile in the corner. Make mental note to buy soap. Chug a cup of instant espresso, down a gel (blech, orange, all I can find). It’s 5:12 am and I’m sprinting to the Marine Barracks.
The beast! The beast! The beast! You may remember me mentioning Rob, the “Beast”, from one of my early blogs. He used to teach fitness classes at the Barracks before he got stationed to Quantico this summer. He also did the Ironman Wisconsin in September and helped me out a lot with my triathlon training.
No one does spin like Rob. He’s brutal as in “I’m seeing a white light” but fun as all get out with awesome music. I would laugh the whole time, except when panting or whimpering. Back in the day, you could walk into his class and there would be no seats on the bikes. We’d do the whole class standing. Then, you’d spend the rest of the day sitting because your quads and hammies would be burning.
A couple of weeks ago, I endured a particularly awful spin class at my gym –- sorry, Grateful Dead, Flight of the Bumblebee and the 4 Tops don’t do it for me. I emailed Rob and asked him if he was still teaching, I was willing to drive anywhere for his class. He spoke with Jaime Morris, who is the Semper Fit Director at the Barracks and also a fellow devotee. They worked it out so that Rob could come up and do a class for us once a month. Today, he brought the beast back –- 5:15 am start, 75 minutes of spin, and no faking the resistance. Said Rob, “That means you, Trek girl.”
Side by side, Jaime and I sprinted, climbed, jumped, tempo’d, hovered, you name it, as the beast barked orders. We loved it! At one point, Jaime said that she felt like she was in the movie Chariots of Fire. I said our chariots were going to be on fire by the end. Then Rob said, “If you two can talk, you’re not working hard enough.” Dang, got me.
After class and our sweaty photo op, I asked Rob if he had a quote for the blog about his triumphant return. He responded with his signature cocky grin, “I’m disappointed no one puked.”
Next time, my friend. There’s always next time.
November 14, 2007
Ride your Trek, live long and prosper...
One of the great things about being a Woman Who Rides is hanging out with really cool Trekkies -– not the kind who say things like “Beam me up, Scotty” –- though if they do, I don’t judge. I mean the people who work for Trek, own Trek shops, demo Trek bikes and ride Treks. When I was home, I met Greg Neyspor who owns the Trek Bicycle Store in Downers Grove, IL, a few miles from my Mom’s house.
Greg kindly lent me a road bike to use while I was in town, in fact, the very same model I ride in DC (a sweet Trek WSD 5000). I asked him if he knew of any local cycling groups that I could ride with over the weekend. Greg joked that if I was able to get up early after partying the night away at my 20th reunion, there was a big biking event happening on Sunday called “Roll the Tollway” to kick off the grand opening of a new 12.5-mile extension of I-355.
Hosted by the Illinois Tollway and the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, the Roll offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to ride a 20-mile loop on an interstate toll road before it opened to traffic with event proceeds to help fund a trail connecting Chicago’s Southland communities. The slogan for the ride… “Go where no bicycle has gone before.”*
The Roll was sold out; but, Greg gave me the hook-up since his shop was providing bicycle repair at the event. Chicago is not called the Windy City for nothing and a strong, cold headwind made resistance futile. But, I rode at my warp-ist speed with the 5,000 other bikers, spotting Greg and his son as they were getting ready to leave. We chatted for a bit, and then I went in search of something hot to drink.
While waiting in line, this guy points my bike out to his girlfriend and asks me if I like my ride. Do I ever! I listed all the features that I love like the carbon fiber frame, the WSD design, and I happened to mention that this was a loaner bike. They were ready to buy it off me on the spot. Hopefully, they’ll stop by Greg’s store soon.
Ride your Trek, live long and prosper.
*Seriously, I did not make this up to tie in with today's Trekkie theme.
# of Star Trek references in this blog = 8
November 5, 2007
The accidental duathlon...
Always be prepared. Isn’t that the golden rule for Boy Scouts and bikers? Yesterday, we were bad little troopers because we set off on our Sunday spin without a tire repair kit among us. Russ, Wayne, Bill and I decided to do something different than a typical weekend road ride. We borrowed four new mountain bikes from the Marine Barracks and went in search of some dirt in Rock Creek Park. We’re zooming along the trail when we realize Bill had dropped back. We stop and he catches up, “Hey, I’ve got a flat.”
Uh oh. Now I know exactly where my repair kit is, strapped to my Trek at home. The guys, ditto. If we’d had a stick of gum and a straw, I was willing to give it the old MacGyver try, but no such luck. We started hoofing it and about a quarter of a mile later, arrive at a ranger station, hoping they would have a pump and patches given the huge number of cyclists that use the park. Nope. I remembered a Trek shop in the area and the ranger tells us that it’s about two miles up the road.
As luck would have it, we hadn't changed out our pedals, and I was riding in a pair of Puma sneakers, not clips. What can I say, the shoes matched my cute Trek bike jacket; the one I'm wearing in my bio photo. Anyway, I wanted to get back on the trail, not trudge, so I volunteered to run (okay, jog) with the busted bike. I got some pretty odd stares from other passing cyclists. Wayne said “It’s because you’re hot, girl.” Uh huh. I was hot because I was pushing the equivalent of a sofabed uphill.
The guys kept asking if I wanted to switch. But, I was in the “zone” despite the pedal frequently spinning back to whack me in the shin. I am strong, a woman who rides, an Amazon, I didn’t need no stinking padded running shoes to finish this accidental duathlon. It wasn’t until we reached The Bicycle Place and they fixed the flat tire, that my feet started to hurt. Ouch.
Take it from me and my tootsies… a tire repair kit, never leave home without it.
October 29, 2007
Not scary after all...
There’s something that I’ve wanted to do for a while; but I’ve been too chicken -– a group ride with a local DC bike club. Club riding is serious business in this town and most clubs describe their rides as moderate to fast on their websites. I’ve been afraid to try for fear that I would be too slow and get dropped (left behind). Would I be able to hang? How fast is moderate to fast? Would I end up in a ditch by the side of the road gasping for my last breath?
Yesterday, I decided to face my fear and do it. If I got dropped, well, at least I’d know and could work on it. I picked the Capitol Hill-based bike club, Route 1 Velo, for my inaugural experience, primarily because the ride started four blocks from my house. About 15 cyclists showed up for the 9 am start -– a smaller group than usual I was told because of the Marine Corps Marathon that took over the city. Three of us were newbies to the club and everyone seemed very friendly.
We set off and by the time we hit Georgetown, about 5 miles in, the pace seriously picked up. The group started breaking down into fast, faster and fastest. I figured so far, so good (I wasn’t in a ditch); why not see if I could stay with the three at the front of the pack. The fastest of all was Laurel, the ride leader -– a woman and a fierce cyclist!!! I pedaled with the “faster” riders on the climbs; but managed to catch up on the downhills and hold my own on the flats.
About halfway through the route, we briefly joined up with another DC club. Imagine over 100 cyclists whizzing through your neighborhood. Every once in a while, I would glance down at my bike computer; we were steady at 22-25 mph. Daaaaang! I’ve never ridden so fast for so long, EVER. It was an awesome two-hour thrill ride and I’m looking forward to biking with the club again soon.
In honor of Halloween, my fear factor list:
- Movies about demented clowns = scary.
- A milipede critter bug scampering in my bathtub = scary.
- Opening a Tupperware that’s been sitting in my fridge for a month (chili?) = scary.
- Group rides = not scary after all.
October 26, 2007
Achooo...
I got the flu. I hate being sick. Yesterday, I made it to the office then turned around and went back home to bed. The worst part, I didn’t even get the bug that takes away your appetite. I’m dizzy, achy, cranky and hungry. Not fair. Good news is (1) spent some quality time snoozing with our cat, Uncao, see photo; (2) I’m caught up on back episodes of 30 Rock; and (3) had enough lite whole wheat bread and fat-free American slices to make a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch.
Today, I’m back at my desk, trying not to exhale germ bombs on everybody. That’s how it goes when your sick leave and vacation hours come out of the same pot. I can’t spare an hour with all the travels I’ve got coming up. Hopefully, I’ll feel up to riding this weekend –- don’t want to miss out if the weather’s nice. I’ll just take it easy. And if not, cat naps and comfort food sounds pretty good too.
October 4, 2007
All's well at work...
It’s Health Awareness Week at the consulting firm where I work, Danya International, Inc. We do a lot work in educating people about HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, childhood obesity, mental health and more to help “shape healthy futures.” What I like is that my company is beginning to practice what it preaches through our new worksite wellness program for employees. Hence, this week’s focus on physical wellness, nutrition and emotional resilience through some really cool sessions like learning how to count calories and read food labels, guided imagery, simple fitness skills, yoga and tai chi.
In honor of the week, a few of us decided to do our own lunchtime bike ride. We couldn’t make it an official “Tour de Danya” event because of liability issues; but that really didn’t matter. It was a gorgeous day and my co-workers, Brett and Jeff O., and I did about a 40-minute ride on the Sligo Creek Trail. I’ve got to give it to Brett, he was working hard on his mountain bike. I got yelled at by the building security guard for brining my bike inside. I told him, “Pretend you never saw me.” Next time, I’ll sneak in the other door. Hah hah.
I’m hoping the lunchtime ride catches on and that we make it a regular event. It was fun!
Did you know… U.S. employees spend an average of 50 hours a week and eat about one-third of their meals at work. When polled, about 40 percent of these same workers also indicate that they feel “very” or “extremely” stressed at work. That's a lot of wasted energy.
P.S. I’m off to the airport now to go indulge my wanderlust. Russ, Wayne and I are heading to Reykjavik, Iceland for the long weekend. Details on Tuesday!
October 3, 2007
Belle of the bonk...
Did you know that you can bonk trying on bathing suits? I didn’t, until it happened to me Monday night.
If you’re not familiar with the term, “bonk” is used in cycling and other endurance sports when you suddenly lose energy and fatigue sets in. You essentially run out of gas. When I work out or do an event, I try to be mindful about staying fueled up and hydrated. During the century on Sunday, I was definitely en route to hitting the wall when I realized what was happening and got some extra carbs in me -– more than I usually need. That showed me big time that I could have used a lot more long distance cycling training prior to the ride. But, when it was all said and done, I felt fine and had a healthy dinner that night with a balance of carbs and protein to help my muscles recover.
Back to Monday. I was ravenous all day and ate something every couple of hours. A bowl of oatmeal, a piece of fruit, yogurt, a Lean Cuisine and green beans, a salad, more fruit, a bag of 94% fat free popcorn… it was good-for-you food, but I couldn’t believe I was stuffing all that in there and still hungry. I was drinking plenty of water too.
Usually on Mondays I take a Spin class followed by one hour of core conditioning at my gym. The thought of getting on a bike, even a stationary one, made my tush ache, so I went easy during a Step Aerobics class and did some low-weight arm exercises. Then, I drove over to a nearby sporting goods store because I needed a new bathing suit and they were having a sale. Mine has seriously deteriorated to flasher stage.
Anyway, I go in to the shop and it feels warm in there. I grab an armful of suits, head in to a changing room and I start getting a gross clammy sweaty feeling. But, I proceed to try on the suits cause dang it, I love a good sale; and secondly, I don’t want to be arrested for indecent exposure the next time I go to the pool.
I got dressed again and returned to the rack for some different sizes. Whoa, head whirl, clammy, a little shaky –- I needed to sit down. I went back to the dressing room, plopped on the floor and put my head between my knees. Full on bonk.
By this time, the announcements start coming over the loud speaker, “the store will be closing in 20 minutes… the store will be closing in 15 minutes… ” I’m having these thoughts that it’ll be like that episode of General Hospital when Luke and Laura get trapped in the department store overnight except, in my case, I’m Luke-less and that would be boring.
Well, I pulled myself together, went to the register and bought a gel and a Clif bar (since I am at a sports store), ate them in my car and waited for the energy to kick in. Feeling better, I drove home.
Oh, I also bought a bathing suit. I’d never let a little bonk beat a bargain.
P.S. Found this on the ironpower.com website: to fuel muscles during exercise, athletes should consume carbs at a rate of 30 to 60 grams per hour. If you weigh 100 pounds, that target is closer to 30 grams per hour. If you weigh 200 pounds, the target is 60 grams per hour.
For all the left-brainers out there like me, who will never be hired for their math skills, just remember to eat something and drink water. Personally, I like Accel chocolate Gel, Clif Cranberry, Apple, Cherry Bars and Clif Cran-Razz Shot Bloks. Experiment and see what you like and what sits well in your gut when you exercise. Some of my product test drives haven’t been pretty. ‘Nuff said.
P.P.S. You didn't really think I was going to show you a photo of me in my bathing suit right? Heck no!
October 1, 2007
Hit me like a cannonball...
Whooohee, I’m whooped today. Yesterday, Russ, Wayne and I rode in the 10th Annual Cannonball Century out in Virginia's Stafford and Fauquier Counties, our second time doing the event. We hit the road at 5 am to make the two-hour trip down South to farm country for the ride start. It was still dark out as we pumped up our tires and downed enough coffee to drown a cow. At 7:30 am, we took off with about 300 other cyclists to explore some of the prettiest back roads you ever did see.
The Cannonball offers three rides -– a half metric century (35 miles), a metric century (62 miles) and an English century (100 miles). Last year, I trained hard all summer to face the long distance. I had no idea what it was going to take to do 100 miles of rolling hills in a row, but there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I was going to finish.
This year, I trained all summer to do a triathlon. And though there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I was going to finish again, I was quite sure it wasn’t going to feel easy. Well, maybe easy isn’t the right word. Let’s just say I was really happy when my buns went numb around mile 45. Ah, sweet relief.
Russ has been fighting an injury, so he and Wayne decided to follow the metric century route, while I went on for the full 100. After a cruel little climb around mile 67, I could sense myself slowing down. My mind was saying speed up and my legs were responding with let’s not be too hasty there lady. Luckily, there was a rest stop ahead for us riders and I fueled up with a PB&J sandwich and a banana. Much better.
I got back on the course and caught up with a couple of gentlemen from the Reston Bike Club. I’d say they were in their 50s/early 60s and riding at a nice pace. (My apologies, I can’t remember their names). The next 20 miles flew by as we chatted about our favorite subject -- cycling. One of my new friends had put close to 3,500 miles on his bike over the last few months!
We split up at the final rest stop and I began the last push to the finish. Around mile 95, I flew down a hill and braked hard to go around a tight curve only to come face-to-face with a ginormous-looking incline. Oh [insert favorite curse word]!!! I was in the wrong gear without enough time to shift all the way down to the one I wanted. I stood up in my pedals and muscled my way up, legs burning. With about a mile left to go, some jerk in a Humvee honked and gave me the finger as he swerved wildly to pass me. Nice.
And then,the Cannonball was over. I met the guys at the car and we headed back to the city where I rewarded my effort with a bubble bath, then smeared about half a tube of Ben Gay on my knees, quads and hamstrings. Final thought of the day... you know you're getting old when you own Ben Gay. What can I say, that stuff works.
Anyway, a Way-2-Go Wheelie to the Fredericksburg Cyclists for hosting a great event.
P.S. On Saturday morning, I volunteered at the Nation’s Triathlon. It was cool to see DC’s very own Mayor Adrian Fenty do the race. That guy's fit!
September 27, 2007
Everything's not lost...
When I was in the middle of my dreadful swim during the Chicago Triathlon, the thought crept in to my head, “What if I can’t get through this?” I’d trained too hard to give up before I’d barely gotten started.
I tried to think of a song from my work out playlist and drew a blank. What came to mind at that moment was completely random and totally apropos – Everything’s Not Lost by Coldplay. I started singing the lyrics to myself and the irony of them made me giggle (and then choke, because I discovered that I can’t laugh and swim simultaneously). Coldplay kept me company throughout the race until I found myself at the finish line.
Everything’s Not Lost
When I counted up my demons
Saw there was one for every day
With the good ones on my shoulders
I drove the other ones away
So if you ever feel neglected
And if you think that all is lost
I'll be counting up my demons, yeah
Hoping everything's not lost
When you thought that it was over
You could feel it all around
And everybody's out to get you
Don't you let it drag you down
So come on, yeah
Oh, oh, yeah
Come on, yeah
And everything's not lost
At my monthly weigh-in on Tuesday night, as expected, I was four pounds up. That may not seem like a lot in the big scheme of things, but I worry that I’ll let the weight creep back on if I’m not mindful. I’ve worked too hard to get here to let old habits drag me down. So, I’m being careful about my choices and I’ll drop the weight gain. I can get through because everything’s not lost. Oh yeah.
Everything's Not Lost (Live)
