over the weekend I completed 3 rides, two 10 milers and one 20 miler, The 10 mile rides were the stroke recovery route both took me about 45 mins each and provided a good work out. Then on Tuesday did 5 w/ ABC--Austin Bike Chix. But what kicked my butt was the 20 miler on Saturday w/ Alison! we did Parmer out & back, going out was great! coming back I stared at Alison's butt for 10 miles as she pulled me back home!
It was awesome riding w/ A again! She's sch a good bike rider and you can tell she's been training, she's strong!
Can't wait for the cap 10K to be over on Sunday so I can start riding home from work!
The ABC ride went well, I hope Elizabeth isn't too mad at me! Can't believe we had 20 riders, of course E had the majority of them and sounds like the weakest ones, I'll have to let her lead next week! ABC is a good thing!
Miles for these rides this week: 45
Roadkill for this ride: an o'possum, a deer which was lunch for about 15 buzzards, just glad it was far off the road!
Total miles for the month: 81
Total miles for 2011: 166
Miles to go: 1334 to hit 1500!
Miles to go to 10,000 on the speedometer: 25
20110323
20110315
my first century of 2011
I finally hit the 100 mile mark for the year! It only took 72 days! or 2.5 months, and I can't wait to finish my next 100 miles! It might come sooner considering I have tendinitis in my right foot & probably shouldn't be running, so I just might not run until the Cap 10k, that means I'll need to bike.
So the ride on Sunday was 25.14 through the hoods of Austin, we started North of Hyde Park, cut through Crestview, then North of Allandale, thru Allandale, over to Far West and Northwest Hills, back to Allandale, down to Tarry Town, then to the Lance Armstrong Parkway to Downtown to UT, Hyde Park and back to north of Hyde Park.
The route included a few hills, but like all the rides in town, too many stops!
Miles for this ride: 25
Roadkill for this ride: don't recall, I was still asleep
Total miles for the month: 36
Total miles for 2011: 119.72 (those 10ths add up)
Miles to go: 1381 to hit 1500!
Miles to go to 10,000 on the speedometer: 71
So the ride on Sunday was 25.14 through the hoods of Austin, we started North of Hyde Park, cut through Crestview, then North of Allandale, thru Allandale, over to Far West and Northwest Hills, back to Allandale, down to Tarry Town, then to the Lance Armstrong Parkway to Downtown to UT, Hyde Park and back to north of Hyde Park.
The route included a few hills, but like all the rides in town, too many stops!
Miles for this ride: 25
Roadkill for this ride: don't recall, I was still asleep
Total miles for the month: 36
Total miles for 2011: 119.72 (those 10ths add up)
Miles to go: 1381 to hit 1500!
Miles to go to 10,000 on the speedometer: 71
20110307
at least it was something
I decided to start doing my long runs on Friday night so I could have Saturday to play and Sunday to ride. Well, I didn't run til 8, and that didn't make for a good night's sleep, so i was tired on Saturday, which kinda spilled over to Sunday, or maybe it was the oak pollen? Either way, I didn't wake up early and enthused to ride on Sunday.
After the duck tour, I did ride the Stoke Recovery 10 mile loop. Meant to do it backwards, but my bike (mind) was on autopilot, maybe next time. So, when I'm on boring routes like that, I try to do more of a work out, this time I put the chain into a harder gear.
I prob should have done an urban adventure to Zilker for the kite festival, but I hate going to things like that by myself and wasn't sue if MB & Lance would still be there. Either way it still felt good to get out on the road bike!
Miles for this ride: 11
Roadkill for this ride: almost Lance-O and his momma (from a heart attack) no homeless sleeping under the bridges, we did see a jogger who fell
Total miles for the month: 11 (hope to add more next weekend...is the cap 10k done yet?)
Total miles for 2011: 94 (those 10ths add up)
Miles to go: 1406 to hit 1500!
Miles to go to 10,000 on the speedometer (no it's not the same speedometer, and it's on 2 bikes, but it is a total of my road biking career): 96 (hope I can do it this month..will be tough)
After the duck tour, I did ride the Stoke Recovery 10 mile loop. Meant to do it backwards, but my bike (mind) was on autopilot, maybe next time. So, when I'm on boring routes like that, I try to do more of a work out, this time I put the chain into a harder gear.
I prob should have done an urban adventure to Zilker for the kite festival, but I hate going to things like that by myself and wasn't sue if MB & Lance would still be there. Either way it still felt good to get out on the road bike!
Miles for this ride: 11
Roadkill for this ride: almost Lance-O and his momma (from a heart attack) no homeless sleeping under the bridges, we did see a jogger who fell
Total miles for the month: 11 (hope to add more next weekend...is the cap 10k done yet?)
Total miles for 2011: 94 (those 10ths add up)
Miles to go: 1406 to hit 1500!
Miles to go to 10,000 on the speedometer (no it's not the same speedometer, and it's on 2 bikes, but it is a total of my road biking career): 96 (hope I can do it this month..will be tough)
20110302
My ride with Lance
On Sunday I had a rare opportunity, so I took advantage of it! I got to ride w/ Lance!
Ok, not THE Lance in the biking world, but the Lance-O who actually is my favorite Lance.
Lance-O has recently learned to ride his bike, so his mom & I took him to Pease Park to ride some trails.
I made the mistake of taking the rougher part of the trail (I forgot about the downhill and sharp turn), he made it around the sharp corner on the steep part, I heard his mom screech, then Lance-O fell! Oh crap, I did it again, got a kid hurt on their bike! (Lance-O's sister buster her chin and required 3 stitches when we went out 7 years ago! and blood always seems to be involved when Lance-O, his mom & I venture out--I busted my head at E-Rock 5-6 years ago, no stitches required) So, I just knew this was going to be bad. He was sprawled out, face first heading down the side of a cliff! I picked him up, no busted lip or chin, no scraped knee, no scraped hands (thanks to the gloves), minor bark damage on his left shoulder. I think I told Lance I was disappointed there wasn't much blood, his mom laughed. I was very impressed, Lance got up, we walked the bikes til the trail got easier, then he hopped back on! Come to find out it was the rock sticking out about a foot from the wall that got his shoulder, poor kid.
Once we got past the bridge at 29th street, the trail was paved, this made Lance very happy and his momma happier!
Then we came to a really rocky part, Lance-O wove through the rocks and puddles (from the spring) with ease.
It was so cool to watch this kid pedal through the trees, you could just see the freedom he felt by being on a bike.
No other incidences occurred on our 5 mile journey, we had to walk a few hills and take a few water breaks, but Lance-O did really well. Next time we will start at Pease and skip the mean rock that juts out and knocks 8 yr olds off their bikes and ride down to Mellow Johnnys (Lance-O was asking about it.
Miles for this ride: Another Urban Adventure in kilometers, though I did find the instruction book to figure out how to change it
Roadkill for this ride: almost Lance-O and his momma (from a heart attack) no homeless sleeping under the bridges, we did see a jogger who fell
Total miles for the month: 21 (rounding)I need to ride some more...been running...can't wait til the cap 10k is over so I can get back on the road bike more and continue the urban adventures
Total miles for 2011: 82
Miles to go: 1418 to hit 1500!
Ok, not THE Lance in the biking world, but the Lance-O who actually is my favorite Lance.
Lance-O has recently learned to ride his bike, so his mom & I took him to Pease Park to ride some trails.
I made the mistake of taking the rougher part of the trail (I forgot about the downhill and sharp turn), he made it around the sharp corner on the steep part, I heard his mom screech, then Lance-O fell! Oh crap, I did it again, got a kid hurt on their bike! (Lance-O's sister buster her chin and required 3 stitches when we went out 7 years ago! and blood always seems to be involved when Lance-O, his mom & I venture out--I busted my head at E-Rock 5-6 years ago, no stitches required) So, I just knew this was going to be bad. He was sprawled out, face first heading down the side of a cliff! I picked him up, no busted lip or chin, no scraped knee, no scraped hands (thanks to the gloves), minor bark damage on his left shoulder. I think I told Lance I was disappointed there wasn't much blood, his mom laughed. I was very impressed, Lance got up, we walked the bikes til the trail got easier, then he hopped back on! Come to find out it was the rock sticking out about a foot from the wall that got his shoulder, poor kid.
Once we got past the bridge at 29th street, the trail was paved, this made Lance very happy and his momma happier!
Then we came to a really rocky part, Lance-O wove through the rocks and puddles (from the spring) with ease.
It was so cool to watch this kid pedal through the trees, you could just see the freedom he felt by being on a bike.
No other incidences occurred on our 5 mile journey, we had to walk a few hills and take a few water breaks, but Lance-O did really well. Next time we will start at Pease and skip the mean rock that juts out and knocks 8 yr olds off their bikes and ride down to Mellow Johnnys (Lance-O was asking about it.
Miles for this ride: Another Urban Adventure in kilometers, though I did find the instruction book to figure out how to change it
Roadkill for this ride: almost Lance-O and his momma (from a heart attack) no homeless sleeping under the bridges, we did see a jogger who fell
Total miles for the month: 21 (rounding)I need to ride some more...been running...can't wait til the cap 10k is over so I can get back on the road bike more and continue the urban adventures
Total miles for 2011: 82
Miles to go: 1418 to hit 1500!
20110221
The Austin Marathon
The Austin Marathon is always fun to watch, especially in a gorilla suit. I talked MB into going with me. I carried the camera, bananas, wig & cowbells. MB carried the gorilla suit, bike locks and sketchpad and complained about how heavy it was! after picking up the bananas, I felt like we were on the Amazing Race, but we were just headed to the split in the marathon.
Locked the bikes to a street sign, walked across the street & set up shop. MB wrote out her sign & proudly displayed it while ringing her cowbell. I put the gorilla suit on, had a little trouble with the shorts, MB got me all straightened out, put my number on and grabbed a cowbell.
Loved how runners would 'high five' me, want their picture taken w/ the Gorilla! One guy even ran up, put his arm around me & did self portrait!
MB saw Christie run by, then she saw Margaret run by.
Saw Christi & Margaret
Then there was the cowbell incident. The guy sitting on the truck apparently thought that going to a marathon was the way to listen to live music in Austin. He kept telling us to move away and not ring the cowbells so he could hear the band! Dude, this is a marathon, not Antone's, we are cheering on the runners. So, I asked the runners to wave their hands in the air if they liked the cowbells, most of them within earshot did. Eventually we won and he left.
Yung came running up. He stopped and talked with us for a bit. I went to go get his banana since he had commented on FB that he hoped the gorilla would bring him a banana. On my way back to the course, I had 3 bananas w me, one for each of us, a marathoner ran bad and said she'd love to have one, so i gave her one, seconds later she was back saying she didn't mean to take someone's banana, we made her leave with the banana. So, Next year, more bananas!
Miles for this ride: not sure, the odometer is in kilometers and I didn't look, guess I could map my ride it, but then again, I don't think I'll count the urban adventures for the total miles...
Roadkill for this ride: lots of runners..joking
Total miles for the month: 21 (rounding)I need to ride some more...been running...
Total miles for 2011: 82
Miles to go: 1418 to hit 1500!
Locked the bikes to a street sign, walked across the street & set up shop. MB wrote out her sign & proudly displayed it while ringing her cowbell. I put the gorilla suit on, had a little trouble with the shorts, MB got me all straightened out, put my number on and grabbed a cowbell.
Loved how runners would 'high five' me, want their picture taken w/ the Gorilla! One guy even ran up, put his arm around me & did self portrait!
MB saw Christie run by, then she saw Margaret run by.
Saw Christi & Margaret
Then there was the cowbell incident. The guy sitting on the truck apparently thought that going to a marathon was the way to listen to live music in Austin. He kept telling us to move away and not ring the cowbells so he could hear the band! Dude, this is a marathon, not Antone's, we are cheering on the runners. So, I asked the runners to wave their hands in the air if they liked the cowbells, most of them within earshot did. Eventually we won and he left.
Yung came running up. He stopped and talked with us for a bit. I went to go get his banana since he had commented on FB that he hoped the gorilla would bring him a banana. On my way back to the course, I had 3 bananas w me, one for each of us, a marathoner ran bad and said she'd love to have one, so i gave her one, seconds later she was back saying she didn't mean to take someone's banana, we made her leave with the banana. So, Next year, more bananas!
Miles for this ride: not sure, the odometer is in kilometers and I didn't look, guess I could map my ride it, but then again, I don't think I'll count the urban adventures for the total miles...
Roadkill for this ride: lots of runners..joking
Total miles for the month: 21 (rounding)I need to ride some more...been running...
Total miles for 2011: 82
Miles to go: 1418 to hit 1500!
20110215
5.8, 7, 34, wtf
I was chicken proofing the garden, time was running out, so I could continue working & run later or bike and shower before I had to meet Da Queen at 5. Not knowing what to do, I wrote 'ride' on one side of a scrap piece of wood and 'run later' on the other side, tossed it in the air and it landed on 'ride.' So, I picked up the tools, etc, changed into my super hero outfit, aired up the tires & off I went for a 30 min ride.
30 mins doesn't leave you many options...I could do the 6 mile loop on Shoal Creek or 2 loops of Hancock, Shoal Creek & Bullcreek, OR I could 'be like Lance' and ride the hills on Balcones!
Balcones is a 2 lane winding road w/ steep hills. I managed to avoid the steep hill heading out (I followed the bike route signs the safer route) made it to Pecos, decided to turn around and head back. the last time I remember riding Balcones was in 2006 when I was inspired by Lance and going up the steep hill on the way back, my mantra was "I'm not Lance", so on the way back this time, I thought taking the bike route would by pass the "I'm not Lance" hill. And as far as i know it did, but either way, Balcones now contains two "I'm not Lance" hills, or at least my 5.8 mph going up the hill before the bike route turns is now the "I'm not Lance" hill and I'm kinda afraid to not take the bike route from here on out...
It was a short ride, but got the heart rate up high and made me use muscles I hadn't in a while, that or building the garden fence really strained my hamstrings!
Miles for this ride: 7
Roadkill for this ride: a squirrel with meat showing
Total miles for the month: 21 (rounding)
Total miles for 2011: 82
Miles to go: 1418 to hit 1500!
30 mins doesn't leave you many options...I could do the 6 mile loop on Shoal Creek or 2 loops of Hancock, Shoal Creek & Bullcreek, OR I could 'be like Lance' and ride the hills on Balcones!
Balcones is a 2 lane winding road w/ steep hills. I managed to avoid the steep hill heading out (I followed the bike route signs the safer route) made it to Pecos, decided to turn around and head back. the last time I remember riding Balcones was in 2006 when I was inspired by Lance and going up the steep hill on the way back, my mantra was "I'm not Lance", so on the way back this time, I thought taking the bike route would by pass the "I'm not Lance" hill. And as far as i know it did, but either way, Balcones now contains two "I'm not Lance" hills, or at least my 5.8 mph going up the hill before the bike route turns is now the "I'm not Lance" hill and I'm kinda afraid to not take the bike route from here on out...
It was a short ride, but got the heart rate up high and made me use muscles I hadn't in a while, that or building the garden fence really strained my hamstrings!
Miles for this ride: 7
Roadkill for this ride: a squirrel with meat showing
Total miles for the month: 21 (rounding)
Total miles for 2011: 82
Miles to go: 1418 to hit 1500!
20110208
Hello February!
February came in like a lion! it was roaring cold last week! I figured there would be no way I would ride over the weekend, but this is Texas and the weather likes to change quickly & dramatically! Saturday was gorgeous, but I had already ran (4 miles!) and thus ran out of spoons after doing work around the house.
But on Sunday I managed to find time before the Superbowl to get some miles in...14.4 to be exact. I took one of my favorite routes just outside my hood. It has smooth roads a few hills, sometimes lots of deer, but more importantly a yellow house with blue trim! (next time I'll take a picture of it!)
So after the hill & the blue house, I found myself on a street (West Rim) that brought back post stroke biking memories and I was once again reminded of how far I've come. I remember I was training to go ride in France, so this was Spring 2009, I think it was very hot, but I'm not sure. As I was riding down the street, I noticed I was having a hard time catching a jogger ahead of me. When I finally caught up to him, he wasn't a jogger, he was a runner, he was running about 8 mph! Slow in the biking world but fast for distance running (esp for someone who looked to be in his 30's) Well this time I was taking it easy at 13 mph and when I noticed I was going so slow, I kicked it up a notch!
On my way home on Shoal Creek there's a hump in the road that when I was tri training I would try not to let my speed dip below the speed that I was traveling at the bottom by the time I got to the top. So, I haven't been following my stupid rule (oh and you can't shift either) and today I picked 16 as my number (that was my speed when I crossed 2222) as I approached the hill, I was at 18.something, so 18 was then my new number..almost made it...speed dipped to 17.9, but I brought it back up to 18 to finish.
I keep wondering if I was upset w/ myself for being so slow that day when I finally passed the runner, but now looking back on it, I'm glad I have that memory, cuz it gives me a milestone for every time i ride on West Rim.
Miles for this ride: 14.4
Roadkill for this ride: a big rat!
Total miles for the month: 14 (rounding)
Total miles for 2011: 75
Miles to go: 1425 to hit 1500!
But on Sunday I managed to find time before the Superbowl to get some miles in...14.4 to be exact. I took one of my favorite routes just outside my hood. It has smooth roads a few hills, sometimes lots of deer, but more importantly a yellow house with blue trim! (next time I'll take a picture of it!)
So after the hill & the blue house, I found myself on a street (West Rim) that brought back post stroke biking memories and I was once again reminded of how far I've come. I remember I was training to go ride in France, so this was Spring 2009, I think it was very hot, but I'm not sure. As I was riding down the street, I noticed I was having a hard time catching a jogger ahead of me. When I finally caught up to him, he wasn't a jogger, he was a runner, he was running about 8 mph! Slow in the biking world but fast for distance running (esp for someone who looked to be in his 30's) Well this time I was taking it easy at 13 mph and when I noticed I was going so slow, I kicked it up a notch!
On my way home on Shoal Creek there's a hump in the road that when I was tri training I would try not to let my speed dip below the speed that I was traveling at the bottom by the time I got to the top. So, I haven't been following my stupid rule (oh and you can't shift either) and today I picked 16 as my number (that was my speed when I crossed 2222) as I approached the hill, I was at 18.something, so 18 was then my new number..almost made it...speed dipped to 17.9, but I brought it back up to 18 to finish.
I keep wondering if I was upset w/ myself for being so slow that day when I finally passed the runner, but now looking back on it, I'm glad I have that memory, cuz it gives me a milestone for every time i ride on West Rim.
Miles for this ride: 14.4
Roadkill for this ride: a big rat!
Total miles for the month: 14 (rounding)
Total miles for 2011: 75
Miles to go: 1425 to hit 1500!
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