Showing posts with label cycling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cycling. Show all posts
Friday, January 25, 2013
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Why We Fall in Love with Cycling
I came across this great little blog article and wanted to share it.
As the ground is covered in snow, and we have to retreat to our basements to ride, it's nice to be reminded of why cycling is so wonderful.
Enjoy!
As the ground is covered in snow, and we have to retreat to our basements to ride, it's nice to be reminded of why cycling is so wonderful.
Enjoy!
Monday, June 11, 2012
Look, Mom, No Training Wheels!
The excitement and milestones just keep coming in this household. Yesterday, Bridget learned to tie her own shoes (on a pair of Chuck Taylors!). Then today, she learned to ride her bike without training wheels. So much excitement and growing up!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Happy Memorial Day!
Wonderful 18-mile bike ride with Greg through the Metroparks. About 14 miles into the ride, a police officer on a motorcycle pulled up next to Greg and me and explained we would need to pull over soon as the motorcycle brigade was coming through. I asked about how many there would be and the officer responded about a thousand. Sure enough, 15 minutes passed and we saw probably a thousand riders. Such a cool experience to see! I commented to Greg when we got home that I really smelled and needed a shower. Seriously, isn't that just the best? When you know you worked out hard enough that you know a shower is necessary?! Awesome morning.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Pretty Good Week, and You?
Not a bad week for fitness here at the casa. Managed to sneak in two lunchtime runs as well as a longish run on Sunday, banking 12 miles for the week. Biked around the block with my girls and even met up with one of Bridget's friends and her mother on our ride. Enjoyed a yoga class Saturday afternoon with Megan, and learned that I have let my core go to hell. Holding a plank nearly killed me. And my down dog? Geesh, heels no where near the floor. Got lots of work to do! But five days of activity makes me one happy girl!
And we're getting back to eating cleaner here. Meg and I are trying to limit our "processed" foods and up our fruits and veggies. We've even decided to adopt the Meatless Mondays movement. Got some great ideas and I think we're leaning toward a nice frittata with fresh fruit this Monday. Mmmm - sounds good!
Enjoy the week!
And we're getting back to eating cleaner here. Meg and I are trying to limit our "processed" foods and up our fruits and veggies. We've even decided to adopt the Meatless Mondays movement. Got some great ideas and I think we're leaning toward a nice frittata with fresh fruit this Monday. Mmmm - sounds good!
Enjoy the week!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
30 Days of Biking: Final Week
Three chilly rides this week. With the warmer weather right around the corner, I think we'll be out enjoying the evenings by bike more often.
This may be one of the sweetest pictures I've taken of my girls. We decided to ride our bikes to the library and I was trailing behind them. Bridget's getting very confident in her riding skills, but I still like Meg to take the lead, then I protect from the rear. I was listening to their conversation - Bridget was asking Megan if, when Megan went away to college, they could Facetime every day because she was going to miss her. Awww - I was seriously holding back tears from that conversation.
It was Saturday night, we had just gotten back from dinner (think full belly here), and Bridget reminded me that we hadn't gone for our bike ride yet. Are you kidding me?! I started this thing, so I had an obligation to see it through. Off we went for a ride around the block. As you can see from her hat, it was chilly!
I didn't snap a picture, but Meg rode alongside me while I ran 6-miles on Sunday. So Meg gets credit for Sunday's ride during this wonderful 30 Days of Biking.
Challenge completed!
Total miles this week: 9 miles
Total April cycling miles: 51.5 miles
This may be one of the sweetest pictures I've taken of my girls. We decided to ride our bikes to the library and I was trailing behind them. Bridget's getting very confident in her riding skills, but I still like Meg to take the lead, then I protect from the rear. I was listening to their conversation - Bridget was asking Megan if, when Megan went away to college, they could Facetime every day because she was going to miss her. Awww - I was seriously holding back tears from that conversation.
It was Saturday night, we had just gotten back from dinner (think full belly here), and Bridget reminded me that we hadn't gone for our bike ride yet. Are you kidding me?! I started this thing, so I had an obligation to see it through. Off we went for a ride around the block. As you can see from her hat, it was chilly!
I didn't snap a picture, but Meg rode alongside me while I ran 6-miles on Sunday. So Meg gets credit for Sunday's ride during this wonderful 30 Days of Biking.
Challenge completed!
Total miles this week: 9 miles
Total April cycling miles: 51.5 miles
Friday, April 27, 2012
30 Days of Biking: Week 3
This 30 days of Biking thing is still fun and exciting, but 30 days in cold Cleveland with work commitments, dinner to fix, and night falling within 2 hours of me getting home has made biking EVERY day not exactly easy. But we're still hanging in there!
Late night, 6-mile ride just as dusk was falling. It was such a cool picture to take of the traffic lights and overhead road lights.
I kind of cheated on Day 18 by taking a quick spin around the block after fixing dinner. I was too tired to take a long ride and knew it would be dark soon, so I hopped on the bike while Meg took this picture as proof. I'm wearing my new Terry Cycling dress that I bought as part of their Terry Mondays special. Love the comfort of the dress!
Day 20 was probably my favorite long ride so far - although, I only biked 9 miles. I took a ride during my lunch through the Metroparks and wandered along a new path/direction toward the Toboggan Chutes. I came across this great scene of Canadian Geese nesting. My picture doesn't do the scene justice as there were at least 20 ducks nesting throughout the large grassy area. Great stress relief to take a midday ride!
Total week 3 miles: 15.5 miles
Total April cycling miles: 42.5 miles
Late night, 6-mile ride just as dusk was falling. It was such a cool picture to take of the traffic lights and overhead road lights.
I kind of cheated on Day 18 by taking a quick spin around the block after fixing dinner. I was too tired to take a long ride and knew it would be dark soon, so I hopped on the bike while Meg took this picture as proof. I'm wearing my new Terry Cycling dress that I bought as part of their Terry Mondays special. Love the comfort of the dress!
Day 20 was probably my favorite long ride so far - although, I only biked 9 miles. I took a ride during my lunch through the Metroparks and wandered along a new path/direction toward the Toboggan Chutes. I came across this great scene of Canadian Geese nesting. My picture doesn't do the scene justice as there were at least 20 ducks nesting throughout the large grassy area. Great stress relief to take a midday ride!
Total week 3 miles: 15.5 miles
Total April cycling miles: 42.5 miles
Monday, March 5, 2012
30 Days of Biking Begins April 1
Tonight, Century Cycles posted about the 30 Days of Biking. I remembered reading about this last year, but was late to the party. So this time, I signed up right away and committed to riding my bike every day in April.
Go check out the challenge. It's not strenuous and could include a half mile ride around the block. This is the description on their page:
30 Days of Biking, whose third year begins April 1, 2012, has one rule: Bike somewhere every day for 30 days—around the block, 20 miles to work, whatever suits you—then share your adventures online. We advocate daily bicycling because we believe it enriches lives and preserves the Earth. A worldwide, thousands-strong community of joyful cyclists has been forming around that idea since April 2010—and will further amass in 2012. We ride our bikes every day!
Karen, this could be your perfect challenge for April!
Go check out the challenge. It's not strenuous and could include a half mile ride around the block. This is the description on their page:
30 Days of Biking, whose third year begins April 1, 2012, has one rule: Bike somewhere every day for 30 days—around the block, 20 miles to work, whatever suits you—then share your adventures online. We advocate daily bicycling because we believe it enriches lives and preserves the Earth. A worldwide, thousands-strong community of joyful cyclists has been forming around that idea since April 2010—and will further amass in 2012. We ride our bikes every day!
Karen, this could be your perfect challenge for April!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Was Your Weekend Busy, Too?
GNO. Friday night was Girls Night Out and we enjoyed a nice little meal at Sweet Melissa’s. Our food was great and Meg even tried tempting me by reading the beer selections off the chalkboard. When she read “Lagunitas” out loud, I thought I was going to have to cover my ears! I had a very busy Saturday planned, including a long-ish bike ride, and didn’t need a drink (or two!) to slow me down.
Cycling. That darn learning curve is huge! I am glad I had such a good cycling partner and friend, Karen, to ride with Saturday. Here is a sampling of things I added to my list of things I did not know:
1. You don’t need to look at the person behind you while talking. It’s hard to stop doing this because I’m all about eye contact.
2. If you go off the edge of the road (and you will), don’t jump back quickly. Find a gentle spot to re-enter.
3. Don’t shift to an easier left side gear until you go to the middle tension of your right side gears. I did this and it looked like my chain had parted because I was spinning air.
4. Tucking in saves you effort. It’s not a natural feeling position for me, but worth the “saved” energy.
5. Damn good cycling shorts are worth the investment. Your ass and girly parts will thank you. And hello chamois cream!
6. It’s good to have a go-to friend who will indulge you in all the endurance events craziness. Thanks, Karen!
College Visits. Meg is a senior and until Sunday wasn’t sure of where she wanted to go to college. She had narrowed down her choices, but was finally able to rank them as of 4:00 p.m. Sunday. Greg and I have laughed that, when these visits first started a year ago, she didn’t want to go to a small, quaint school. She preferred large, urban settings. Funny what a difference a year makes. Now, her top 3 schools are neither large nor urban. So we’re crossing our fingers that she gets in to her top 3 choices!
HBBC Progress. The weather here in Northern Ohio dampened my outdoor workout attempts, although I did manage to fit in a very wet 3.5 mile run during lunch Thursday, a beautiful long bike ride (before another flat tire happened!) on Saturday, and 3 strength training sessions during the week. I think that gives me 12 points for the week.
Phew, what an exhausting three days!
Cycling. That darn learning curve is huge! I am glad I had such a good cycling partner and friend, Karen, to ride with Saturday. Here is a sampling of things I added to my list of things I did not know:
1. You don’t need to look at the person behind you while talking. It’s hard to stop doing this because I’m all about eye contact.
2. If you go off the edge of the road (and you will), don’t jump back quickly. Find a gentle spot to re-enter.
3. Don’t shift to an easier left side gear until you go to the middle tension of your right side gears. I did this and it looked like my chain had parted because I was spinning air.
4. Tucking in saves you effort. It’s not a natural feeling position for me, but worth the “saved” energy.
5. Damn good cycling shorts are worth the investment. Your ass and girly parts will thank you. And hello chamois cream!
6. It’s good to have a go-to friend who will indulge you in all the endurance events craziness. Thanks, Karen!
College Visits. Meg is a senior and until Sunday wasn’t sure of where she wanted to go to college. She had narrowed down her choices, but was finally able to rank them as of 4:00 p.m. Sunday. Greg and I have laughed that, when these visits first started a year ago, she didn’t want to go to a small, quaint school. She preferred large, urban settings. Funny what a difference a year makes. Now, her top 3 schools are neither large nor urban. So we’re crossing our fingers that she gets in to her top 3 choices!
HBBC Progress. The weather here in Northern Ohio dampened my outdoor workout attempts, although I did manage to fit in a very wet 3.5 mile run during lunch Thursday, a beautiful long bike ride (before another flat tire happened!) on Saturday, and 3 strength training sessions during the week. I think that gives me 12 points for the week.
Phew, what an exhausting three days!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Great App for Cycling and Running
My husband is far more into apps than I could ever dream of being. I find it time consuming searching for that ultimate application and, besides, I get "menu anxiety" when there's way too many options to select. Good thing I have him to do the searching for me. His latest "find" was the Cyclemeter app, which can be downloaded from iTunes. We used this iPhone-friendly app for Eddy's Sweet Corn Ride and it was awesome. The stats it gives is incredible and it easily hooks onto your handlebars (you'll need to purchase the case first). I'll be trying it out on my long run this weekend and will definitely be using it on my 100k bike ride the end of October.
For more in-depth review, go here and here.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
My 32nd State - Fun Facts About Connecticut
Lots of excitement due to my upcoming race in Connecticut. First, it will mark the 32nd state for this family. Second, I am signed up for a sprint triathlon - a challenge for me with weak Open Water skills. And third, the girls and I will be making a little pit stop along the way to the Punxatawney Phil Groundhog Zoo to break up the monotony of traveling 9 hours along Interstate 80!
As with most of my races, I try to add a little fun trivia - watered down education, if you will. So, here are a few claims to fame for the great state of Connecticut:
1. Issued the first telephone book in New Haven with 50 names in February 1878.
2. They never ratified the 18th amendment (prohibition).
3. Home of the oldest U.S. newspaper still being published, the Hartford Courant, established in 1764. I'll definitely have to pick one up!
4. Home to the first hamburger (1895), Polaroid camera (1934), helicopter (1939), and color TV (1948).
5. First lollipop-making machine opened for business in New Haven in 1908. George Smith named the treat after a popular racehorse (did not know that!).
6. PEZ candy is made in the city of Orange (but they don't allow factory tours-bummer!).
The biking and running have been going quite well. I've been biking to work and pedaling more/coasting less, which is promising. I've been trying to get in an OWS, but each morning I'm free, the weather has not cooperated. Rain today, so Sunday must result in some valuable OWS time followed by a ride along the Towpath and a stop at Szalay's yummy farmer's market!
Hope your holiday weekend is shaping up nicely, too!
As with most of my races, I try to add a little fun trivia - watered down education, if you will. So, here are a few claims to fame for the great state of Connecticut:
1. Issued the first telephone book in New Haven with 50 names in February 1878.
2. They never ratified the 18th amendment (prohibition).
3. Home of the oldest U.S. newspaper still being published, the Hartford Courant, established in 1764. I'll definitely have to pick one up!
4. Home to the first hamburger (1895), Polaroid camera (1934), helicopter (1939), and color TV (1948).
5. First lollipop-making machine opened for business in New Haven in 1908. George Smith named the treat after a popular racehorse (did not know that!).
6. PEZ candy is made in the city of Orange (but they don't allow factory tours-bummer!).
The biking and running have been going quite well. I've been biking to work and pedaling more/coasting less, which is promising. I've been trying to get in an OWS, but each morning I'm free, the weather has not cooperated. Rain today, so Sunday must result in some valuable OWS time followed by a ride along the Towpath and a stop at Szalay's yummy farmer's market!
Hope your holiday weekend is shaping up nicely, too!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Running and Biking
What a great week so far! I completed an 11-mile long run on Monday. Should have knocked it out over the weekend, but too many Memorial Day activities prevented a Saturday or Sunday run. No worries - Monday worked just fine. Rest day Tuesday, then a hot, humid 3-miler during lunch on Thursday. Hello Summer - did we even see Mr. Spring this year? Wednesday and Friday brought some great cycling weather and I took advantage of it by biking to work. As I was carrying Violet (my bike) up the stairs at work, I actually had someone ask me if I rode that into work? The smart ass in me just wanted to reply, "No, it's Show & Tell week. Today we're on the letter B for bike!" The Metroparks is so zen in the morning. By the time I reached my office, I was in the best frame of mind. Beautiful, tranquil, and I could hear so much - the water rushing, squirrels dashing around the leaves and trees, and just enjoy the silence as well.
Sunday brings another long run of hopefully 12 miles. This training for a June half marathon certainly caught me off guard. I thought I had more time. Is it just me or do the weekends tick away far too fast anymore?! I have a 5k Girls with Sole race in the morning in which I'll be pushing Bridget in the jogging stroller. Doing so serves two purposes - it eliminates the hopes of a PR (what a relief there!) and it gives me quality time chatting with my 4-year-old while running. I'm going to try to complete most of my long run BEFORE the 5k (and before the spike in temps), then muddle through the race with kid in tow. With any luck, total running miles should equal 12 tomorrow. Pancakes smothered in syrup are going to taste soooooo good afterwards!
Oh, and let's not forget, I'll be celebrating my 7th anniversary with my better half! Can't wait till he sees the cool anniversary gift I have in store!
Have a wonderful weekend running, biking, swimming or just being still!
Sunday brings another long run of hopefully 12 miles. This training for a June half marathon certainly caught me off guard. I thought I had more time. Is it just me or do the weekends tick away far too fast anymore?! I have a 5k Girls with Sole race in the morning in which I'll be pushing Bridget in the jogging stroller. Doing so serves two purposes - it eliminates the hopes of a PR (what a relief there!) and it gives me quality time chatting with my 4-year-old while running. I'm going to try to complete most of my long run BEFORE the 5k (and before the spike in temps), then muddle through the race with kid in tow. With any luck, total running miles should equal 12 tomorrow. Pancakes smothered in syrup are going to taste soooooo good afterwards!
Oh, and let's not forget, I'll be celebrating my 7th anniversary with my better half! Can't wait till he sees the cool anniversary gift I have in store!
Have a wonderful weekend running, biking, swimming or just being still!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Cycling to Work
Now that the thunderstorms and rain clouds are no longer taking up residence in my little town on a daily basis, I can start cycling to work. My commute is a very doable 15 miles each way, but after making this trip a couple times already this year, I find good clothing and equipment more and more a necessity - no longer a luxury. Tonight, we all four walked up to Century Cycles to pick up some much-needed gear. I can't wait to wear my new cycling skort, which will double as my work skirt - shhh don't tell my coworkers.
I also picked up an affordable pair of Avenir cycling gloves made by Raleigh. I always thought gloves were for pretentious cyclists...until my hands got super-tired-sore from my last ride. So yeah, they're a bit more necessary now.
So here's hoping for sunshine and 70s - great cycling weather for my ride in to work!
I also picked up an affordable pair of Avenir cycling gloves made by Raleigh. I always thought gloves were for pretentious cyclists...until my hands got super-tired-sore from my last ride. So yeah, they're a bit more necessary now.
So here's hoping for sunshine and 70s - great cycling weather for my ride in to work!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
My First DNS
Today was the Cleveland Rite Aid marathon, half marathon and 10k. I was originally signed up for the 10k race. But after spending 6 days experiencing all the joys that rotavirus has to offer, I decided today would not be my day to run a 10k. Best. decision. ever. Feeling like a new person this afternoon and I've had the best 6 hours of my entire week. I'm on the mend.
Hopefully I'll have more to report this week on multi-discipline training. I am scheduled to swim 3 days, run 3 days and bike 2 days. I'll swim during my lunch hours, run during the evenings with Bridget in the stroller or Jameson on his leash, and hopefully bike to work at least one of the days and maybe a nice long ride with Greg on Saturday.
So what exciting kind of schedule do you have this week?
Hopefully I'll have more to report this week on multi-discipline training. I am scheduled to swim 3 days, run 3 days and bike 2 days. I'll swim during my lunch hours, run during the evenings with Bridget in the stroller or Jameson on his leash, and hopefully bike to work at least one of the days and maybe a nice long ride with Greg on Saturday.
So what exciting kind of schedule do you have this week?
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