This last one is a riot. The trail mainly runs behind people's home and such, so these folks decided to get clever. Take a close look at their setup (sorry I couldn't get it to rotate!):
Showing posts with label Biking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Biking. Show all posts
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Scenes from the Trail
I had taken some pictures on a bike ride I went on over the summer that I wanted to share. These are from a paved rail trail that's near our house, which I've talked about a little bit before. I love a the scenery and I love seeing different animals. Plus, the trail is flat which makes it a nice, speedy ride. Here are some of my favorite scenes from the trail:
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
New, New, New!
As I hinted, there have been lots of changes going on around here. I feel like now I can share some of them with you.
In the world of exercise in fitness, I had my bike tuned up (that was probably waaaaay overdue). I also got a new helmet and new cycling jersey. Check it out:
We also got a new car! We survived the past year with just one car. It really was great in terms of saving money on gas and insurance and because I was going to school close to home and Patrick was working close to home, sharing the car wasn't an issue. However, it was time for a second vehicle. This is our brand new Mazda 3. We are totally in love with this car (especially the color, notice a trend?):
The real reason we needed the second car is because I got a big-girl job. Hooray! It's at an environmental lab in Massachusetts. I have to commute about 45 minutes and I'm working second shift. That would have made sharing one car a little more difficult. Poor Patrick would be stuck at home a lot. I worked my first full week at my new job last week. Unfortunately the hours have been long and things may be changing again soon. We shall see. In the meantime, it's nice to have a job that pays more and has benefits. I can't wait until the 4th of July - it will be my first paid holiday!
What's new in your world? Fill me in!
In the world of exercise in fitness, I had my bike tuned up (that was probably waaaaay overdue). I also got a new helmet and new cycling jersey. Check it out:
We also got a new car! We survived the past year with just one car. It really was great in terms of saving money on gas and insurance and because I was going to school close to home and Patrick was working close to home, sharing the car wasn't an issue. However, it was time for a second vehicle. This is our brand new Mazda 3. We are totally in love with this car (especially the color, notice a trend?):
The real reason we needed the second car is because I got a big-girl job. Hooray! It's at an environmental lab in Massachusetts. I have to commute about 45 minutes and I'm working second shift. That would have made sharing one car a little more difficult. Poor Patrick would be stuck at home a lot. I worked my first full week at my new job last week. Unfortunately the hours have been long and things may be changing again soon. We shall see. In the meantime, it's nice to have a job that pays more and has benefits. I can't wait until the 4th of July - it will be my first paid holiday!
What's new in your world? Fill me in!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Three Things Thursday
1. Summer has hit full force here in NH. I feel like we just skipped spring and ran straight into summer! It was a glorious weekend for running and biking and that's just what I did. I cycled 13.6 miles on Saturday, ran 3.1 miles on Sunday, cycled 19.6 miles on Monday, and ran another 3.1 miles yesterday. And through my travels over the weekend, I scored a new bike helmet and cyclying shirt. I'll share pictures soon, I promise!
2. Happy National Running Day! Unfortunately I will not be out running today. After four straight days of exercising and the weather being on the uncomfortable side, I'm taking today off. Are you getting out there for a run? Put in an extra mile for me!
3. Did you enter my Allied Medal Display giveaway yet? Because you should. Your odds are pretty good so far!
Happy Thursday!
2. Happy National Running Day! Unfortunately I will not be out running today. After four straight days of exercising and the weather being on the uncomfortable side, I'm taking today off. Are you getting out there for a run? Put in an extra mile for me!
3. Did you enter my Allied Medal Display giveaway yet? Because you should. Your odds are pretty good so far!
Happy Thursday!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
27 Miles Too Many
First off, Happy Easter to those of you who celebrated. Had I been nearer to family, I would have been celebrating, but I was all by my lonesome today. So I celebrated with some Peeps, some bunny shaped mac and cheese, and a long-ass bike ride. Considering this is supposed to be a healthy living blog, I'm long overdue on a post about something healthy!
It was supposed to be 60* and sunny today. I was looking forward to the chance for a long bike ride. The one problem about this area is that there are a lot of rivers and not a lot of places to cross them. I've figured out a 13 mile loop, but I wanted to go longer today. I tried mapping out a route, but the next highest mileage I could get was 27 miles. So I decided to go for it.
Supposedly, it was over 55*, but it was overcast and it felt rather chilly. My route followed the river most of the way so it was a bit windy. I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but this was a long, miserable ride. My sciatica has been bugging me so both my hips were out of whack the whole time. It also took me a lot longer to get to the turn around plan than I thought. For awhile, I had thought I had taken a wrong turn. When I finally saw that bridge, I was going up a hill and downshifting. I got so excited that I started shifting the other way and dropped my chain. I had to stop and fix it.
My original plan was to stop at (what I thought) was the halfway mark at a park and eat some trail mix. But I was cold and I was afraid that if I stopped I wouldn't want to get back on. So I trooped on. There were some tough hills at the end, but I made it (like I had a choice!), 27.05 miles and 1:52 minutes later. I spent the rest of the day in sweatpants, watching movies. I figured I'd earned it.
What did you do this weekend?
It was supposed to be 60* and sunny today. I was looking forward to the chance for a long bike ride. The one problem about this area is that there are a lot of rivers and not a lot of places to cross them. I've figured out a 13 mile loop, but I wanted to go longer today. I tried mapping out a route, but the next highest mileage I could get was 27 miles. So I decided to go for it.
Supposedly, it was over 55*, but it was overcast and it felt rather chilly. My route followed the river most of the way so it was a bit windy. I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but this was a long, miserable ride. My sciatica has been bugging me so both my hips were out of whack the whole time. It also took me a lot longer to get to the turn around plan than I thought. For awhile, I had thought I had taken a wrong turn. When I finally saw that bridge, I was going up a hill and downshifting. I got so excited that I started shifting the other way and dropped my chain. I had to stop and fix it.
My original plan was to stop at (what I thought) was the halfway mark at a park and eat some trail mix. But I was cold and I was afraid that if I stopped I wouldn't want to get back on. So I trooped on. There were some tough hills at the end, but I made it (like I had a choice!), 27.05 miles and 1:52 minutes later. I spent the rest of the day in sweatpants, watching movies. I figured I'd earned it.
What did you do this weekend?
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Three Things Thursday
1. Probably the most exciting news is that I literally just sent copies of my thesis to my committee. Hence why I have been absent from blog land. I defend a week from tomorrow. Puke. I can't believe that this phase of my life is coming to a close so fast. It's exciting and terrifying all at the same time.
2. It was nice enough today that I broke out my trusty steed and went for a ride. It was so refreshing not to be couped up in the gym biking to nowhere. It was sunny and gorgeous and just what I needed. It was the perfect break from the thesis work. I think this is the earliest I've ever been out in the season because my bike usually stays in NH. This year it's here in ME with me because I have a place to put it. This weekend is supposed to be even warmer and I'm looking forward to getting in a run and a bike. Glorious!
3. As of Monday, Patrick and I are apart for a month while he works and I stay in ME to finish school. It's been a real bummer, but I'm trying to make the best of the situation. I'm using the 5 weeks to focus on exercising and eating healthy. So far, so good! I've done a great job staying on track with my eating despite the stress. I'm kind of looking forward to my weigh-in on Saturday. It really helps that the only food I eat is what I bring home from the grocery store. There's nothing in the apartment to tempt me.
How's everyone else doing?
2. It was nice enough today that I broke out my trusty steed and went for a ride. It was so refreshing not to be couped up in the gym biking to nowhere. It was sunny and gorgeous and just what I needed. It was the perfect break from the thesis work. I think this is the earliest I've ever been out in the season because my bike usually stays in NH. This year it's here in ME with me because I have a place to put it. This weekend is supposed to be even warmer and I'm looking forward to getting in a run and a bike. Glorious!
3. As of Monday, Patrick and I are apart for a month while he works and I stay in ME to finish school. It's been a real bummer, but I'm trying to make the best of the situation. I'm using the 5 weeks to focus on exercising and eating healthy. So far, so good! I've done a great job staying on track with my eating despite the stress. I'm kind of looking forward to my weigh-in on Saturday. It really helps that the only food I eat is what I bring home from the grocery store. There's nothing in the apartment to tempt me.
How's everyone else doing?
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Your Questions Answered!
Brittany asked: I'm inspired by your triathlons! I'm a big runner, but haven't done any tri's. I mainly worry about the swim portion because I have never swum competitively and have no idea how I'd be at it (I can swim though). Maybe you could give some competitive swimming tips for newbies?
I feel like most runners are afraid of the swim. I was a swimmer in high school, so I'm more afraid of the run! The swim is the shortest part of a triathlon, so I don't try to view it competitively. Even if I can get ahead in the swim, I'm usually quickly passed in the bike or the run. For someone who knows how to swim and is thinking about doing a triathlon, I think the most important thing to do is to build up endurance versus speed. I say this because there are so many people swimming at the same time in a triathlon that it becomes difficult to go fast.
I actually recommend getting good at the breaststroke. I've found that if you do freestyle, it's hard to see and you need to keep your eye on the buoys so you stay on course. Breaststroke is easier and your head come out of the water after each stroke so you can adjust your course if you need it. No matter what stroke you use, you need to get comfortable with putting your head in the water. If you constantly try to hold your head up, you'll get tired fast.
If you have a friend who had good form, it wouldn't hurt to have them come to the pool and watch you swim and give you some pointers on your form. I'm sure there are some great videos on the web too, but I'm not familiar with any.
Theresa @ Active Eggplant asked: When training for triathlons, do you normally swim in a pool? Or are you able to get in open water swims?
I normally train in a pool, either at the Rec Center here in Maine or at the local YMCA when I'm in New Hampshire. I don't usually get in any open water swims. I think the bigger challenge with the swim in a triathlon has more to do with the number of people around you versus the fact that you're in open water. And unfortunately, there is no way to prepare yourself for swimming with that many people at once.
I should also say that the triathlons I've done have only been in rivers and lakes. If I were to do one with an ocean swim, I would definitely try to get an open water swim in. In the ocean you are battling the current and needing to get adjusted to wearing a wetsuit, so I would make that effort.
JenniferLeah asked: What do you like best about living in Maine?
Well, I guess I need to confess that I don't really care for living in Maine. I came here for school because I was impressed at how nice everyone was when I came to visit. But honestly, there isn't much here for my husband and I. The job market isn't great and I miss being close to my family. It's also hard become there are very few things to do up here and our restaurant choices are limited to chain restaurants. We are hoping to move back to New Hampshire after I graduate in May. I will say that Maine is really nice in the summer, but we're not usually in the state to enjoy that.
Julie @ Hotlegs Runner: What kind of bike do you use for your triathlons?
My trusty stead is my mom's Bridgestone road bike circa 1986 (or something like that!). Anyway, it's old, but it works. It's a road bike and it gets me from point A to point B. Would I like to upgrade? Heck yes! But when I started doing triathlons, I decided that I would do my first one with whatever equipment I had and if I loved doing triathlons, then I would consider upgrading my gear. Unfortunately upgrading my bike isn't in the card right now. If I'm going to upgrade, I want to do it right and get exactly what I want (i.e. paddle shifters, clip in pedals, and something that's going to last). However, this can get pricey. So in the meantime, I'll keep logging miles on my mom's bike because it really isn't so bad.
For more triathlon tips, see my post HERE or check out the links on my sidebar.
I feel like most runners are afraid of the swim. I was a swimmer in high school, so I'm more afraid of the run! The swim is the shortest part of a triathlon, so I don't try to view it competitively. Even if I can get ahead in the swim, I'm usually quickly passed in the bike or the run. For someone who knows how to swim and is thinking about doing a triathlon, I think the most important thing to do is to build up endurance versus speed. I say this because there are so many people swimming at the same time in a triathlon that it becomes difficult to go fast.
I actually recommend getting good at the breaststroke. I've found that if you do freestyle, it's hard to see and you need to keep your eye on the buoys so you stay on course. Breaststroke is easier and your head come out of the water after each stroke so you can adjust your course if you need it. No matter what stroke you use, you need to get comfortable with putting your head in the water. If you constantly try to hold your head up, you'll get tired fast.
If you have a friend who had good form, it wouldn't hurt to have them come to the pool and watch you swim and give you some pointers on your form. I'm sure there are some great videos on the web too, but I'm not familiar with any.
Theresa @ Active Eggplant asked: When training for triathlons, do you normally swim in a pool? Or are you able to get in open water swims?
I normally train in a pool, either at the Rec Center here in Maine or at the local YMCA when I'm in New Hampshire. I don't usually get in any open water swims. I think the bigger challenge with the swim in a triathlon has more to do with the number of people around you versus the fact that you're in open water. And unfortunately, there is no way to prepare yourself for swimming with that many people at once.
I should also say that the triathlons I've done have only been in rivers and lakes. If I were to do one with an ocean swim, I would definitely try to get an open water swim in. In the ocean you are battling the current and needing to get adjusted to wearing a wetsuit, so I would make that effort.
JenniferLeah asked: What do you like best about living in Maine?
Well, I guess I need to confess that I don't really care for living in Maine. I came here for school because I was impressed at how nice everyone was when I came to visit. But honestly, there isn't much here for my husband and I. The job market isn't great and I miss being close to my family. It's also hard become there are very few things to do up here and our restaurant choices are limited to chain restaurants. We are hoping to move back to New Hampshire after I graduate in May. I will say that Maine is really nice in the summer, but we're not usually in the state to enjoy that.
Julie @ Hotlegs Runner: What kind of bike do you use for your triathlons?
My trusty stead is my mom's Bridgestone road bike circa 1986 (or something like that!). Anyway, it's old, but it works. It's a road bike and it gets me from point A to point B. Would I like to upgrade? Heck yes! But when I started doing triathlons, I decided that I would do my first one with whatever equipment I had and if I loved doing triathlons, then I would consider upgrading my gear. Unfortunately upgrading my bike isn't in the card right now. If I'm going to upgrade, I want to do it right and get exactly what I want (i.e. paddle shifters, clip in pedals, and something that's going to last). However, this can get pricey. So in the meantime, I'll keep logging miles on my mom's bike because it really isn't so bad.
For more triathlon tips, see my post HERE or check out the links on my sidebar.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Weekly Check In
Want free stuff? Only a few more days to enter my giveaway!
I've seen a lot of other bloggers do this I think I need to start doing this for some personal accountability. If this kind of stuff bores you to death, I understand and won't be offended if you skip it. But I exercised 4 times last week and I am wicked excited because I think I only exercised twice as many times in the entire month of September. I'm not techincally training for anything right now, but I've been thinking about doing our local Thanksgiving race.
I did this with Patrick and we just did the ride to enjoy ourselves.
First run in about a week. I had to walk a bit, but I felt pretty good. You can read more about it HERE.
Beautiful day, beautiful ride. You can see pictures from my ride HERE.
The legs felt great on this one. Ran the whole thing! You can read more about it HERE.
How did everyone's workouts go this week?
I've seen a lot of other bloggers do this I think I need to start doing this for some personal accountability. If this kind of stuff bores you to death, I understand and won't be offended if you skip it. But I exercised 4 times last week and I am wicked excited because I think I only exercised twice as many times in the entire month of September. I'm not techincally training for anything right now, but I've been thinking about doing our local Thanksgiving race.
Monday
Nothing - I was probably just being lazyTuesday
Normal Rest Day Wednesday
5.99 mile bike - 27:47 min - 12.9 mphI did this with Patrick and we just did the ride to enjoy ourselves.
Thursday
3.12 mile run - 40:00 min - 12:49 min/miFirst run in about a week. I had to walk a bit, but I felt pretty good. You can read more about it HERE.
Friday
Rest Saturday
10.31 mile bike - 43:39 min - 14.2 mphBeautiful day, beautiful ride. You can see pictures from my ride HERE.
Sunday
3.00 mile run - 37:39 min - 12:32 min/miThe legs felt great on this one. Ran the whole thing! You can read more about it HERE.
How did everyone's workouts go this week?
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Another Weekend Down
Another weekend down! And it was actually a productive weekend. Here's a little recap:
Yesterday afternoon we went to a wedding! I really love weddings. The wedding was by a lake (pretty, but a little cool and windy) and the reception was in a church basement. Here's the happy couple:
Here's Patrick and I looking fabulous:
And here are the awesome favors I made for them as a gift (need some? I think I may need to start a business):
What did you do this weekend?
Friday
I actually spent some time analyzing data for my thesis. This is super important and really should be the focus of all my attention, but it has been really hard to get my thesis advisor to give me stuff to do.Saturday
I woke up earlier then Patrick and I headed out for a 10 mile bike ride while he continued to sleep. It was sunny and cool (thank goodness the heavy rain had let up!). The legs felt good and I averaged a strong pace (~15 mph). Here are some pictures from my ride:
Yesterday afternoon we went to a wedding! I really love weddings. The wedding was by a lake (pretty, but a little cool and windy) and the reception was in a church basement. Here's the happy couple:
Today
This morning I got out for a three mile run. And I ran the WHOLE THING!!! Yay! This really hasn't happened in quite some time. The time wasn't stellar, but who cares? I love this time of year because it is perfect running weather. This afternoon I've gotten my homework and lab reports graded so I am ready for the week ahead.Tuesday, June 29, 2010
A Dress, Ikea, and Mine Falls Trail Race Week 3
Tuesday already? I've been meaning to post all weekend, but somehow the time got away from me. How does that happen? Well, I kicked off the weekend with a 16 mile bike ride. The weather was gorgeous and it got me feeling good for my final dress fitting. That's right, the dress is done. I think it came out pretty good. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait until the big day to see the final product. It's still all a bit surreal and I'm struggling to be super excited about it. They do have to adjust something at the bust, so while it's technically done, there is one final stitch to be put in.
Saturday night Patrick and I headed into Boston for the evening. We were really in need of a night out. It has been a busy couple of weeks trying to get the wedding stuff done. And between that, him trying to find a job, and family stresses, we needed to get away for a bit. We strolled through Boston Commons and down Newbury St. (i.e. shopping galore) and just took it all in. Then we headed to the North End for some yummy Italian food at this place:
On Sunday I went to Ikea for the first time. That place is like Crate and Barrel on crack. Seriously, that place is out of control. I've never seen anything like it. Personally, I don't think Ikea fits my personal shopping style, but it was an experience. My friend and I kicked the trip off by indulging in a cinnamon bun for $1. It sure was worth the dollar, but maybe not the calories. Oh well. I did have to restrain myself from spending a ton of money. I ended up with just a couple things for our bathroom in our new apartment for about $30. It's probably a good thing that our new apartment is going to be tiny because there's less room for me to fill with crap we don't need.
And finally, last night was week 3 of my trail race series. It was another hot and humid evening. There was even a heat warning in effect, but I hydrated all day and figured I be ok. Final time: 35.43 minutes. However, I did stop about a half mile in to help another runner out. The poor girl was on the side of the trail and having an asthma attack. A bunch of other people ran by her, but no one was stopping. That just seemed absurd to me. So I stopped, gave her some water, and got her walking. Finally, a friend of hers caught up to us and took it from there. Talk about scary though! I was just so surprised that no one was stopping to help. I mean, it's only a trail race. I would feel so guilty if I had just kept going and found out something really bad happened to her. So all you runners out there, listen up: if you see a runner hacking on the side of the road or trail, stop and give them a hand.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
A Miserable Ride
Today is the last day to enter my giveaway! Winner will be announced tomorrow.
Today's post was going to be about being happy while running. But then I went for a bike ride this morning and I'm just not in the mood to write about happy things. This bike ride was one of the most miserable bike rides I've been on in a long time. Warning: the rest of this post is pretty much just me whining. Proceed at your own risk.
My eyes popped open at 8am and the sun was shining. I was thinking that it was perfect for a bike ride. I didn't really get to ride this past week because I had two races. Well, by the time I did a few things around the house and got ready to go, I was in less than a good mood and it was starting to look overcast. A quick check of the weather showed that rain was heading our way, so I figured I'd better get moving!
Although it was overcast, it was a lot more humid than I expected. I set out for a 20 mile loop. Yeah, my quads were tight for about the first 15 miles. Awesome. About 30 minutes in I had to stop and stretch because they were so tight. This has never happened to me before, but I'm guessing it had something to do with the races. Just a guess. Then the rain started. At first it was just a little bit, but then it started picking up and it was biting. In my eyes. Because this was the one ride I decided not to bring my sunglasses. Bad choice.
Thankfully the rain never got too heavy. The last 5 miles weren't too bad, but that was probably because I knew how close I was to being home. Overall it took me 1:16.58 to finish the 20 mile loop. I'm just glad it's done and I'm looking forward to my next ride being better. I know everyone has their off days, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating or discouraging. It still makes you wonder, "Why am I doing this to myself again?" Then, by tomorrow, we forget and we do it all over again.
Today's post was going to be about being happy while running. But then I went for a bike ride this morning and I'm just not in the mood to write about happy things. This bike ride was one of the most miserable bike rides I've been on in a long time. Warning: the rest of this post is pretty much just me whining. Proceed at your own risk.
My eyes popped open at 8am and the sun was shining. I was thinking that it was perfect for a bike ride. I didn't really get to ride this past week because I had two races. Well, by the time I did a few things around the house and got ready to go, I was in less than a good mood and it was starting to look overcast. A quick check of the weather showed that rain was heading our way, so I figured I'd better get moving!
Although it was overcast, it was a lot more humid than I expected. I set out for a 20 mile loop. Yeah, my quads were tight for about the first 15 miles. Awesome. About 30 minutes in I had to stop and stretch because they were so tight. This has never happened to me before, but I'm guessing it had something to do with the races. Just a guess. Then the rain started. At first it was just a little bit, but then it started picking up and it was biting. In my eyes. Because this was the one ride I decided not to bring my sunglasses. Bad choice.
Thankfully the rain never got too heavy. The last 5 miles weren't too bad, but that was probably because I knew how close I was to being home. Overall it took me 1:16.58 to finish the 20 mile loop. I'm just glad it's done and I'm looking forward to my next ride being better. I know everyone has their off days, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating or discouraging. It still makes you wonder, "Why am I doing this to myself again?" Then, by tomorrow, we forget and we do it all over again.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Fueling a Brick
Yesterday turned out to be a pretty rainy day, but I managed to squeeze in my workout without getting wet. I decided that since I didn't get my ride in on Saturday I would get my ride in. Then, my mom asked if I would want to walk or run ro my grandparents house. This turned into the perfect opportunity for a brick workout. For those of you not familiar with triathlon training, a brick workout is a bike ride followed by a run. It's meant to get your legs used to transitioning from biking to running in a race. And trust me, you need the practice! Anyway, this worked out perfect because my mom is a slower runner, but with my legs being tired, I figured we'd be right around the same pace.
So I headed off on my bike to get a 15 mile ride in. I was also testing out the new triathlon shorts I picked up the other day (I'll review those after my next triathlon). These shorts do have nice pockets for gels and gu. I had a couple of Hammer Gels that I had gotten in a swag bag and I thought maybe I should give it a try. After all, you're supposed to consume some sort of nutrition if you plan on exercising longer than an hour. So I stopped at the 40 minute mark on the bike and took the gel. Since this was my first encounter wit a gel, I was a bit surprised by the texture. By the end of the packet, I had gotten the hang of just kicking it back. I don't know how you runners out there eat all this stuff because honestly, is was kind of gross. But I think it's something that I could at least get used to. The flavor, however, was pretty good.
When I got back to the house, I grabbed my new handheld water bottle and my mom and we set off. I was surprised by how good my legs felt. Maybe it was all in my head or maybe taking the fuel during the ride really worked. But I felt great through the whole run. I also felt like I could have run faster, but I didn't want to leave my mom behind. I'm thinking that I'm going to need to work some fuel into my next race and see if it improves how I feel during the race. I always thought that because I wasn't as fast as the elites that I didn't need to consume anything other than water, and in most road races I don't even do that. Now I'm reconsidering and thinking that maybe it's something my body needs.
What do you use to fuel your long runs and workouts? I'd love some recommendations. (I also don't mind free samples!)
And don't forget my giveaway!
So I headed off on my bike to get a 15 mile ride in. I was also testing out the new triathlon shorts I picked up the other day (I'll review those after my next triathlon). These shorts do have nice pockets for gels and gu. I had a couple of Hammer Gels that I had gotten in a swag bag and I thought maybe I should give it a try. After all, you're supposed to consume some sort of nutrition if you plan on exercising longer than an hour. So I stopped at the 40 minute mark on the bike and took the gel. Since this was my first encounter wit a gel, I was a bit surprised by the texture. By the end of the packet, I had gotten the hang of just kicking it back. I don't know how you runners out there eat all this stuff because honestly, is was kind of gross. But I think it's something that I could at least get used to. The flavor, however, was pretty good.
When I got back to the house, I grabbed my new handheld water bottle and my mom and we set off. I was surprised by how good my legs felt. Maybe it was all in my head or maybe taking the fuel during the ride really worked. But I felt great through the whole run. I also felt like I could have run faster, but I didn't want to leave my mom behind. I'm thinking that I'm going to need to work some fuel into my next race and see if it improves how I feel during the race. I always thought that because I wasn't as fast as the elites that I didn't need to consume anything other than water, and in most road races I don't even do that. Now I'm reconsidering and thinking that maybe it's something my body needs.
What do you use to fuel your long runs and workouts? I'd love some recommendations. (I also don't mind free samples!)
And don't forget my giveaway!
Monday, May 31, 2010
What I've Been Up To
Well, it's been quite the holiday weekend in my world. I started the weekend off by getting in a run on Friday, after work.
Miles: 3.13 miles
Time: 34:34 minutes
Pace 11:01 min/mile
It was a nice day for a run. A little warm, but I didn't walk at all and I felt like I really pushed it at the end. Patrick and I ended up going out for Chinese food with my family and my aunt and uncle. We then all went bowling together, which was hysterical. I haven't been bowling with my family in years. We split up into teams and played against each other and just had a good time.
On Saturday I did some serious shopping. My bedding from my registry went on sale big time this weekend. My mom had the receipt for the stuff that my grandfather bought me. In the end I was able to get $163 back. Is that not insane? And that is exactly the reason why you should never pay full price for anything. If you can wait, it will eventually go on sale. I was able to pick out a bunch of other stuff, so major score!
Yesterday I got in an awesome bike ride on the local bike trail. I actually used it to ride down to Patrick's aunt's house where we were celebrating his mom's 50th birthday. Here's how the ride went down:
Miles: 15.7 miles
Time: 1:02.15 minutes
Pace: 15.1 miles/hour
The party was really nice. I got to visit with some family and friends. I was really good and only really indulged on a piece of cake (yum!).
Today we're going to visit my grandparents. Other than that I've been catching up on sleep, reading my book, reading blogs, and generally just relaxing. I'm trying to just enjoy it all before the wedding stuff starts consuming my life. What's everyone else been up to? And do stay tuned - I'm hosting a giveaway this week!
Miles: 3.13 miles
Time: 34:34 minutes
Pace 11:01 min/mile
It was a nice day for a run. A little warm, but I didn't walk at all and I felt like I really pushed it at the end. Patrick and I ended up going out for Chinese food with my family and my aunt and uncle. We then all went bowling together, which was hysterical. I haven't been bowling with my family in years. We split up into teams and played against each other and just had a good time.
On Saturday I did some serious shopping. My bedding from my registry went on sale big time this weekend. My mom had the receipt for the stuff that my grandfather bought me. In the end I was able to get $163 back. Is that not insane? And that is exactly the reason why you should never pay full price for anything. If you can wait, it will eventually go on sale. I was able to pick out a bunch of other stuff, so major score!
Yesterday I got in an awesome bike ride on the local bike trail. I actually used it to ride down to Patrick's aunt's house where we were celebrating his mom's 50th birthday. Here's how the ride went down:
Miles: 15.7 miles
Time: 1:02.15 minutes
Pace: 15.1 miles/hour
The party was really nice. I got to visit with some family and friends. I was really good and only really indulged on a piece of cake (yum!).
Today we're going to visit my grandparents. Other than that I've been catching up on sleep, reading my book, reading blogs, and generally just relaxing. I'm trying to just enjoy it all before the wedding stuff starts consuming my life. What's everyone else been up to? And do stay tuned - I'm hosting a giveaway this week!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Three Things Thursday
1. Yesterday:
My mom and I waited until after dinner to go for a bike ride. It was over 90 degrees here for the second day in a row and it was still pretty hot when we went out at 6:30. It was good to get a ride in though because on Tuesday the heat totally zapped my motivations and I didn't exercise. It could have been the same story yesterday, but I'm pleased to say that I got out there. The only tough part is that when I go with my mom I have to remember to go slower so I don't leave her behind. I'm used to cycling alone, so it's hard. It can also be frustrating when you know you're going to stop for ice cream at the end and you just want to get there and she's dragging behind you. See that, I'm so mean that I care more about ice cream than my own mother!
2. Today:
This afternoon I have my second dress fitting. My maid of honor is coming with me and we're going to hang out and grab a bite to eat after. This is nice because at my first dress fitting I drove the 30 minutes to the shop only to put on the dress and take it off within 15 minutes. It was kind of silly how short the appointment was. I'm hoping I get back early enough so I can squeeze in a run after dinner. We'll see what happens. If not, I'll just have to do a couple extra laps around the mall.
3. Tomorrow:
Tomorrow is Friday. Which is so very welcome because it's a 3 day weekend! My plans include sleeping, exercising, and generally sitting around and doing nothing. Tomorrow Patrick returns home from a short trip to Maine that he had to take to finish up his student teaching. I'll be very happy to see him. And with any luck, I'll be able to get in a longer bike ride tomorrow.
My mom and I waited until after dinner to go for a bike ride. It was over 90 degrees here for the second day in a row and it was still pretty hot when we went out at 6:30. It was good to get a ride in though because on Tuesday the heat totally zapped my motivations and I didn't exercise. It could have been the same story yesterday, but I'm pleased to say that I got out there. The only tough part is that when I go with my mom I have to remember to go slower so I don't leave her behind. I'm used to cycling alone, so it's hard. It can also be frustrating when you know you're going to stop for ice cream at the end and you just want to get there and she's dragging behind you. See that, I'm so mean that I care more about ice cream than my own mother!
2. Today:
This afternoon I have my second dress fitting. My maid of honor is coming with me and we're going to hang out and grab a bite to eat after. This is nice because at my first dress fitting I drove the 30 minutes to the shop only to put on the dress and take it off within 15 minutes. It was kind of silly how short the appointment was. I'm hoping I get back early enough so I can squeeze in a run after dinner. We'll see what happens. If not, I'll just have to do a couple extra laps around the mall.
3. Tomorrow:
Tomorrow is Friday. Which is so very welcome because it's a 3 day weekend! My plans include sleeping, exercising, and generally sitting around and doing nothing. Tomorrow Patrick returns home from a short trip to Maine that he had to take to finish up his student teaching. I'll be very happy to see him. And with any luck, I'll be able to get in a longer bike ride tomorrow.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Three Things Thursday - Triathlon Style
In honor of my triathlon this coming Sunday, I'm going to post an update on each of the three components.
1. Swimming
So I came home to find out that my parents canceled the family gym membership at the local Y. That would be where I swim. So that's kind of a problem. Fortunately, I was a swimmer in high school and the swim is my strong suit in the race. Therefore, I'm not too worried about it for right now. I think I'm going to look into a summer membership because I can't go the whole summer without swimming.
2. Biking
I'm feeling pretty good about the bike. I think I am in better shape than I thought I was. Considering I'm only going to have two or three rides under my belt before Sunday, I'm not terribly worried about it. I'm more worried about getting my water bottle in and out of my holder. Although, at my last triathlon I drank a lot of water on the ride because that's what I read everywhere. But once I got to the run I had to pee the whole time and it was kind of painful. I think I'm going to take it a little easier on the water this time.
3. Run
Yesterday my dad and I went for a run. Mind you, I haven't really run in about a week. Well, my dad really likes to try and "push" me to go faster. It's like he's trying to train me. It's actually kind of comical. He stays just enough ahead of me so I have to chase after him. Sometimes he slows down so I can catch up, but then as soon as I get there, he speeds up again. We did a little over 3.5 miles at about a 10:30 pace. I was pretty happy with that. My goal is to keep my legs loose for Sunday.
1. Swimming
So I came home to find out that my parents canceled the family gym membership at the local Y. That would be where I swim. So that's kind of a problem. Fortunately, I was a swimmer in high school and the swim is my strong suit in the race. Therefore, I'm not too worried about it for right now. I think I'm going to look into a summer membership because I can't go the whole summer without swimming.
2. Biking
I'm feeling pretty good about the bike. I think I am in better shape than I thought I was. Considering I'm only going to have two or three rides under my belt before Sunday, I'm not terribly worried about it. I'm more worried about getting my water bottle in and out of my holder. Although, at my last triathlon I drank a lot of water on the ride because that's what I read everywhere. But once I got to the run I had to pee the whole time and it was kind of painful. I think I'm going to take it a little easier on the water this time.
3. Run
Yesterday my dad and I went for a run. Mind you, I haven't really run in about a week. Well, my dad really likes to try and "push" me to go faster. It's like he's trying to train me. It's actually kind of comical. He stays just enough ahead of me so I have to chase after him. Sometimes he slows down so I can catch up, but then as soon as I get there, he speeds up again. We did a little over 3.5 miles at about a 10:30 pace. I was pretty happy with that. My goal is to keep my legs loose for Sunday.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Oh, Just a Few Things
It has been an absolute whirlwind since Thursday of last week. Hence why I have not been blogging. I'll try to give you the shortest version possible of what I've been up to.
Thursday:
I handed in my last assignment for the year. Surprisingly, I didn't feel as relieved or excited as I think I should have. Oh well. We also tried to get some packing done. Let me rephrase that. I tried to get some packing done. I was mostly successful and got a lot done. Stupidly, I packed up all my workout gear and was unable to exercise until Sunday.
Friday:
This is where the madness really began. I spent the morning packing the rest of my stuff. When Patrick came home we loaded up his car and waited for out parents to get into town. Once they showed up, we kept loading up, racing the clock to be done by 5pm. We made it and we said good-bye to our first apartment. For dinner we hit up Margarita's. After a long day of packing, a margarita was definitely in order. We spent Friday night in a hotel with my parents. The beds sucked and I got a crappy nights sleep.
Saturday:
We got up bright and early and headed over to the college for Patrick's graduation. We beat all the traffic, but had to sit in the arena for 2 hours waiting. The ceremony was pretty typical for a graduation ceremony. Patrick graduated cum laude. Yay! Then we had a 4 hour ride home. Followed by a cookout in Patrick's honor. That made for a late evening.
Sunday:
I spent Mother's day unloading my stuff and with my mom, of course! We went on a 16 mile bike ride from place to place visiting all our family. I love that we can celebrate with exercise instead of just eating! It was a little chilly out, but I was so happy to be on my bike. I really missed it and I was nervous that I would be super out of shape. Luckily, that was not the case.
Monday:
I started back at work. I am so very grateful to have a job and a paycheck. I've been feeling very poor lately and it's nice to have money flowing in the other direction for a change. I also had my first dress fitting. Let's just say that it did not go as hope. Thank goodness seamstresses can work magic.
Tuesday:
I did a 15 mile ride and really tried to pick up the pace from Sunday's ride. My first triathlon of the season is this Sunday and I'm scrambling to make sure I'm prepared. After my ride, I hopped off and ran over to the baseball field to volunteer with the special needs baseball team. I love those kids and I love helping out with them. They're just so dang cute! The transition from the bike to the run was a little rough, but after about a half mile of running everything loosened up and I felt much better.
So that's it, I guess. I'm just happy to be home and with my family. And I'm looking forward to all the fun things to come this summer!
Thursday:
I handed in my last assignment for the year. Surprisingly, I didn't feel as relieved or excited as I think I should have. Oh well. We also tried to get some packing done. Let me rephrase that. I tried to get some packing done. I was mostly successful and got a lot done. Stupidly, I packed up all my workout gear and was unable to exercise until Sunday.
Friday:
This is where the madness really began. I spent the morning packing the rest of my stuff. When Patrick came home we loaded up his car and waited for out parents to get into town. Once they showed up, we kept loading up, racing the clock to be done by 5pm. We made it and we said good-bye to our first apartment. For dinner we hit up Margarita's. After a long day of packing, a margarita was definitely in order. We spent Friday night in a hotel with my parents. The beds sucked and I got a crappy nights sleep.
Saturday:
We got up bright and early and headed over to the college for Patrick's graduation. We beat all the traffic, but had to sit in the arena for 2 hours waiting. The ceremony was pretty typical for a graduation ceremony. Patrick graduated cum laude. Yay! Then we had a 4 hour ride home. Followed by a cookout in Patrick's honor. That made for a late evening.
Sunday:
I spent Mother's day unloading my stuff and with my mom, of course! We went on a 16 mile bike ride from place to place visiting all our family. I love that we can celebrate with exercise instead of just eating! It was a little chilly out, but I was so happy to be on my bike. I really missed it and I was nervous that I would be super out of shape. Luckily, that was not the case.
Monday:
I started back at work. I am so very grateful to have a job and a paycheck. I've been feeling very poor lately and it's nice to have money flowing in the other direction for a change. I also had my first dress fitting. Let's just say that it did not go as hope. Thank goodness seamstresses can work magic.
Tuesday:
I did a 15 mile ride and really tried to pick up the pace from Sunday's ride. My first triathlon of the season is this Sunday and I'm scrambling to make sure I'm prepared. After my ride, I hopped off and ran over to the baseball field to volunteer with the special needs baseball team. I love those kids and I love helping out with them. They're just so dang cute! The transition from the bike to the run was a little rough, but after about a half mile of running everything loosened up and I felt much better.
So that's it, I guess. I'm just happy to be home and with my family. And I'm looking forward to all the fun things to come this summer!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Rail Trail
I think my knees are hating me a bit right now after last night's bike ride. That's probably because I haven't been on my bike in over a week. But I couldn't exactly take it with me on the plane to Indy and I probably would have gotten lost anyway. So yesterday I got back into the groove of triathlon training with a 16 mile bike ride.
I rode on the lovely Nashua River Rail Trail. It's an old railroad bed that is now paved for bikers, walkers, and runners to use. I left from my house and picked up the trail and took it almost to the end. Patrick and I are dog sitting for his aunt and uncle who live in Groton, MA and literally live right next to the trail (I'm only a little jealous of that). So I just biked to their house and fortunately I beat any nasty weather.
I really love the rail trail because it is FLAT and there are no cars! And to top it off, it was almost 90 degrees out and super humid yesterday, but the trail was shady almost the whole way! I wish I lived a little closer to it because it's a great ride. However, from my house, it is 7 miles away and then the trail is 11 miles long so if I wanted to go to the end and back I would have to do 26 miles. I could probably do it, but I think I would get bored. Either way, it was a nice way to mix it up. And only 10 more days until my triathlon. Yikes!Tuesday, July 21, 2009
New Routes = Happy Trails
So I have less than 3 weeks to go until my triathlon. I'm starting to get really excited about it. This also means that I'm getting up to the higher distances in my training plan.
On Sunday I did a 5 mile run! I use an exclamation point because I'm impressed with myself. The week before I thought I did 5 miles, but I didn't. I only did 4.75. So this week I made sure that I did 5. I've never, ever run that far at one time in my entire life. I don't think I ever even thought that I could do that. It is a bit reassuring though because I have the Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women in October, which is 6.2 miles. I have another 5 mile run and one 6 mile run left on my training plan and these runs are giving me the chance to get a taste of what my 10K training plan will be like.
My bike rides have gone up to 20 miles. I tried out a new route yesterday that I was very satisfied with. My family and I have another 20 mile route that we do on occasion, but I've used that route as the basis for almost all of my rides so far this summer. Needles to say, I was getting a bit sick of the scenery and wanted some new stuff to look at. Not only did I find new things to watch whizz by, but the routs was also pleasantly flat (the other route is notoriously hilly.) The trade-off was that there was a lot more traffic. That was ok though because there was a nice, wide breakdown lane. It was like having my own personal bike lane on the highway.
I was worried about all these longer distances, but in the end I think that it has all worked out for the best. While tried and true trails can be nice, a little adventure never hurt either.
On Sunday I did a 5 mile run! I use an exclamation point because I'm impressed with myself. The week before I thought I did 5 miles, but I didn't. I only did 4.75. So this week I made sure that I did 5. I've never, ever run that far at one time in my entire life. I don't think I ever even thought that I could do that. It is a bit reassuring though because I have the Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women in October, which is 6.2 miles. I have another 5 mile run and one 6 mile run left on my training plan and these runs are giving me the chance to get a taste of what my 10K training plan will be like.
My bike rides have gone up to 20 miles. I tried out a new route yesterday that I was very satisfied with. My family and I have another 20 mile route that we do on occasion, but I've used that route as the basis for almost all of my rides so far this summer. Needles to say, I was getting a bit sick of the scenery and wanted some new stuff to look at. Not only did I find new things to watch whizz by, but the routs was also pleasantly flat (the other route is notoriously hilly.) The trade-off was that there was a lot more traffic. That was ok though because there was a nice, wide breakdown lane. It was like having my own personal bike lane on the highway.
I was worried about all these longer distances, but in the end I think that it has all worked out for the best. While tried and true trails can be nice, a little adventure never hurt either.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Rules of the Road
It always amazes me how inconsiderate some drivers are. When I go cycling to train for my triathlon, I normally bike on roads with the cars. I have to do this to be able to get my mileage in. If I stayed in my neighborhood, I would only be able to get a mile in! When I do bike, I try to wear bright colors (think hot pink or neon green) and I even use my fancy hand signals along with making eye contact with drivers. Still, many try to just ignore me.
What irritates me most is when a driver passes me and it's as if they get closer to the shoulder and the speed up. There have been some times when I was pretty scared as some large SUV sped past me. It especially eats me up when there is no one coming in the other lane and the driver passing my doesn't move over.
I also love it when people yell at me to get off the road and onto the sidewalk because "I'm not a car." Actually, it's illegal for a cyclist to be on the sidewalks and a bike is considered a moving vehicle. I know, I'm just inconveniencing the masses by my traveling in the shoulder.
Don't get me wrong. There are plenty of nice, considerate drivers out there who let me get into the lane that I need to get into or let me go before pulling out onto the main road (Thank you!). Some people don't look when they pull into an intersection (or don't stop at the stop sign) and thereby almost run me over when I have the right of way. It would be on thing if I was travelling slowly, but I tend to ride between 15-20 MPH and for me, stopping takes longer.
I guess my point is that we should all be a little more considerate to riders and even joggers and walkers. I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir here, but being surrounded by 3000 pound boxes of steel while on a 10 pound bicycle is pretty intimidating. And really, I'm just trying to get a good workout, not piss you off.
What irritates me most is when a driver passes me and it's as if they get closer to the shoulder and the speed up. There have been some times when I was pretty scared as some large SUV sped past me. It especially eats me up when there is no one coming in the other lane and the driver passing my doesn't move over.
I also love it when people yell at me to get off the road and onto the sidewalk because "I'm not a car." Actually, it's illegal for a cyclist to be on the sidewalks and a bike is considered a moving vehicle. I know, I'm just inconveniencing the masses by my traveling in the shoulder.
Don't get me wrong. There are plenty of nice, considerate drivers out there who let me get into the lane that I need to get into or let me go before pulling out onto the main road (Thank you!). Some people don't look when they pull into an intersection (or don't stop at the stop sign) and thereby almost run me over when I have the right of way. It would be on thing if I was travelling slowly, but I tend to ride between 15-20 MPH and for me, stopping takes longer.
I guess my point is that we should all be a little more considerate to riders and even joggers and walkers. I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir here, but being surrounded by 3000 pound boxes of steel while on a 10 pound bicycle is pretty intimidating. And really, I'm just trying to get a good workout, not piss you off.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Fun Stuff
Despite the rather rainy weather, I was still able to get out for my bike ride yesterday. Patrick came with me, which was really nice. He said that he'd like to come on all my training bike rides with me. I don't mind at all because it's nice to have a biking buddy. While we were out we stopped at Goodale's Bike Shop here in Nashua. They were having a sale so I finally broke down and bought myself one of these babies:
This is a bike computer. It has a clock, an odometer, a speedometer, a stopwatch, a pace function, and a couple of other functions I can't remember. I'm hooking it up tomorrow so I can use it on my ride on Wednesday. I also got a new holder for a water bottle and a spiffy new water bottle to go in it. My old one was Velcro and the bottled that came with it had Velcro on it and it was quite handy. Except that now the water bottle has bitten the dust and I couldn't find a new one, so I just got a new holder instead.
Another recent purchase was this lovely handbag made by Fossil:
I bought this for losing 10 pounds. I figured I deserved it. I had seen it and really liked it, but I held off and made it a weight loss incentive. It just screams Summer!
This is a bike computer. It has a clock, an odometer, a speedometer, a stopwatch, a pace function, and a couple of other functions I can't remember. I'm hooking it up tomorrow so I can use it on my ride on Wednesday. I also got a new holder for a water bottle and a spiffy new water bottle to go in it. My old one was Velcro and the bottled that came with it had Velcro on it and it was quite handy. Except that now the water bottle has bitten the dust and I couldn't find a new one, so I just got a new holder instead.Another recent purchase was this lovely handbag made by Fossil:
I bought this for losing 10 pounds. I figured I deserved it. I had seen it and really liked it, but I held off and made it a weight loss incentive. It just screams Summer!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
I Want To Ride My Bicycle...
I want to ride my bike! Every time I go for a bike ride, I can't help but thinking of that Queen song. Patrick introduced me to this song and it just cracks me up. I did get to ride my bike yesterday and it was beautiful. My dad went with me and we did our favorite 20 mile loop through Hollis.
I love this ride because the second half of it has three big downhills. It just feels so awesome to be going so fast. Of course, on the way out there are several miles of gradual uphill that always kill me, but it's great for training. It also really helps to have someone to ride with. My dad can really push me, which is great. And I enjoy getting to spend some time with him.
The website I use to figure out the distances of my rides is called MapMyRun.com. This is a great tool to figure out a running of biking loop with out having to go through the hassle of driving all around town. I highly recommend it to anyone who runs, walks, are bikes.
I love this ride because the second half of it has three big downhills. It just feels so awesome to be going so fast. Of course, on the way out there are several miles of gradual uphill that always kill me, but it's great for training. It also really helps to have someone to ride with. My dad can really push me, which is great. And I enjoy getting to spend some time with him.
The website I use to figure out the distances of my rides is called MapMyRun.com. This is a great tool to figure out a running of biking loop with out having to go through the hassle of driving all around town. I highly recommend it to anyone who runs, walks, are bikes.
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