Slow and Steady

I ran in a 5K race yesterday and for the first time ever, managed not to stop and walk part of it. What blows my mind that even though I kept running, I ran my slowest 5K ever. I mean, I am always slow and that is fine, but wow. I looked back at my times for a 5 mile race I did back in July where I walked at least half of the course and per mile, I was only 8 seconds faster at this 5K. So, while I am proud I stuck through and kept moving, I am slightly disgusted at my times. If I am honest with myself though, I do have to admit that I have been a slacker when it comes to running lately. And by lately, I mean always. I would just rather be on my bike but that is just going to have to change so I am going to focus on getting several runs a week in even when I would much rather be riding and see what I can do to build up my endurance and my speed.

After the race I was supposed to meet up with a friend to ride but it started to rain so we bailed on that and rescheduled for today. It was still pretty wet out, but we decided to go ahead and go and it was really pretty nice...until we hit the turn around and got the full effect of the wind in our faces. It was pretty miserable, but I was able to get a good workout in by fighting that wind uphill. I think we only got in about 20 miles, but it felt like so many more!

It is still pretty dreary an rainy outside so I have spent the afternoon being a bum and am currently wishing I had more to write about so I could put off cleaning the house just a little bit longer!

3 Days and Counting

My mind is constantly spinning as I am trying to get completely and totally organized to go to the Hotter N Hell 100 this weekend. This is the one event I make sure I do every year although earlier this week I was certain I was going to back out. Now, midweek, I am starting to get excited and nervous and just flat out ready to be there.

I remember doing this race when I was probably 7 or 8 with my parents and one of my brothers. My dad and brother were doing one of the longer distances and mom and I did a shorter one. Most of the event from when I was a child is very fuzzy, but it is something as an adult I have loved going to.

This will be my fourth year and each year I have drug another poor unsuspecting person along with. The first two years, I got a brother to go with me but those two seemed to have warned off of the others (Four brothers total. I know, it is rediculous) because systems of communications always seem to come to a halt whenever I start talking aboutit. Last year, a friend went with me for moral support and this year my boyfriend gets the honor. I love taking new people just because it is kind of awe inspiring to see how many people come out for the event, all of the vendors, and just all of the crazy bike people in one location.




Did I mention I don't get a hotel room because A)they require a two night stay and B) they are all totally booked by January and C) I am cheap. So we are camping. :) Luckily they do let us camp anywhere we can find space and there is not a problem finding a good spot. They also have plenty of showers and restrooms so it is really not a bad deal. I like to think it adds to the whole flavor of the event. You know, that flavor of sleeping on the ground all night and then getting up and biking 100K. Why do people not think this is fun??

Thank you to everyone for the pedal/shoe advice! I have decided not to do anything until after this race and then I am going to start a dedicated search to find my perfect combination so that way I have plenty of time to get used to whatever I choose. Unless I see something at the consumer show that I fall in love with, and then all bets are off.

Look for more frantic posts as the event gets closer! It is amazing how much stuff it takes to get me to one little bike ride!

Pedals/Shoes

Don't you hate it when you are outdated and have no clue? I have pedal/shoe issues. My bike and shoes were hand me downs from my brother. I love my bike, but the shoes are not exactly...feminine. So I have been on a shoe hunt for awhile. I impulsively bought a pair of Carnac shoes off of ebay that I love and they fit perfectly....except they are old ones that require adapter plates which I finally hunted down and ordered. I got the ones for SPD's, but when I got them...they did not look quite right. Apparently I have an old type of two screw SPD's?

Please forgive my ignorance here....I know nothing about pedals or cleats. I thought all SPD's were the same but after a google hunt I realize I was wrong. So, so wrong. So basically I am going to need new shoes, cleats, and pedals? I have no clue what kind of pedals to get. Shoes should be simple and I have had my eye on a pair at the bike store....but the pedals are making me stop and think. Suggestions? What do you guys ride in?

I will be doing some looking at the bike stores, but I need a place to start. Not to mention the fact last time I went to one of the bike stores to look at shoes, the guy looked me up and down and then asked if I need shoes for spin class. I probably should not have taken offence to this but I kind of did. I informed him that they were for my road bike and he looked visibly startled. Seriously, I realize I am not thin and lithe like most cyclists, but that is really not a good reaction for a store clerk to ever have. Ever. I have not been back to that store since. Luckily, there are several others and when I go looking time, I want to know exactly what to say and what to ask for so even though I may not look like a typical cyclist, I can at least sound like a knowledgeable one! The Hotter N Hell 100 also has a huge consumer show so I am thinking that I could always pick up stuff there as a reward for finishing the race!

I will....

I will go swim.
I will not be insecure about my swimming.
I will not be intimidated by the "real" swimmers.
I will remember that no one is paying attention to what I am doing but me.
I will stop putting this off.

In other events, I loaded up my bike and went to a local park to ride. It was gorgeous with several small hills to practice on. The bike routes were not really long enough and after a couple laps, it got boring so I think I will ride there next time in order to get enough miles in. It was a nice change of pace though and next time I will remember to take my camera since it is just about the only scenic ride I have been on in awhile.

Besides the swimming goal, I am also going to learn ride without my camelback and be able to reach down and grab a water bottle without becoming one with the road. Or on the road. You know what I mean. I have been riding long enough to have the balance to do it so it is time! I keep reminding myself how much cooler I will be without the camelback and that is helping to motivate me.

I have also figured out that my 10 year high school reunion is the same weekend as the Sprint Tri I had wanted to do. It was supposed to be my first and I am loath to put it off, but it keep going back and forth. Obviously a reunion is only held every few years and they have triathlons all the time, however I do spend a lot more time working out and thinking about working out than I ever do thinking about people from HS. Hmm....still time to work it out. If I can find one in the area the weekend before or after I guess that would help make up my mind.

The Beauty of My Cruiser

So, I know whenever the serious bike snobs see me riding past on my cruiser, they turn their nose up, but I really love riding to work on it and I have found out something wonderful. After weeks of riding this 45 lb + bike....getting on my road bike was incredible!! I cannot believe the difference riding that clunker that made in the speed I can now ride my road bike in. I have been concerned I was not going to be able to be ready for any bike races this year, but now I have no fear! I love my cruiser!! And I really love and appreciate my road bike for how wonderful and fast and LIGHT it is!

Catching Up

I have not been very good about blogging lately, mostly due to the lack of interesting things to write about. I have been running although somewhat grudgingly as after the first few euphoric runs parts of my body started to HURT. I was very indignant over the whole thing but apparently when you first start running it happens. Who knew. So I have cut back the lengths a little and then will build back up. There is a "Lunar Lope" next Wednesday that is a 5K that I am considering doing but I know there is no way I can run the whole way. Do they frown upon walkers? I really think doing this 5K will help motivate me to continue training and get me kind of excited about it, but you hate to be the last one plodding in at a walk. There is actually a 1 mile course that I know I could run the whole thing. Any thoughts? Advice?

Yesterday I found a scrap of paper with all of the bike races I had planned on doing this year. I was sad to see I had already missed two of them. Biking has always been my favorite sport but now it has been thrown to the wayside as I tried to strengthen my weaker events. Now I am realizing I really need to start training seriously because the one bike ride that started it all is in two months, the Hotter N' Hell 100. ( http://hh100.org ) I love this ride. If you have ever talked to anyone about it, they will say it is a religious experience and they would be right. There is something about lining up with 12,000 other cyclists of all ages and abilites and having one massive start with jets flying overhead before the cannon goes off that just gets into your blood.. If you don't get chill bumps, you must be dead. Anyways, the point is, it is time to get serious!! That ride is not for the weak as the temperatures usually do soar into the 100's which is a great motivator to get done quickly. So now begins the hot weather training. Egads.

Once upon a time.....

I am a 27 year old female living in Texas. I began road biking a few years ago, but not seriously at all. I decided that biking was going to be my hobby that I enjoyed when I wanted to with no pressure to really succeed. I have enjoyed it and when I don't, I put the bike away for awhile. I have been very slowly learning more about biking, but decided this year instead of just doing long distances, I wanted to try my first sprint triathlon. I have a few tentative dates for ones I would like to attend, all depending on how training goes. I am determined not to stress too much about this and just enjoy the experience. Of course, there have been times when I was biking that I repeated a mantra of "If I live, I will never do this again". Luckily, I did not follow through when it came to this.
I feel like there is more I should say, but I plan on this just being a record of my training and experiences. I tend to take a slightly sarcastic approach to most things so you have been forewarned. Please do not take me seriously! This whole thing makes me slightly nervous so joking about it seems to help, or at least convinces me that I am really not as petrified as I feel like I should be. Wish me luck because I may need it!