Rites of Passage

The trailer park where I live is like a small community.  A lot of my neighbors think of themselves as my grandparents and sometimes think their role is to protect me.  So many of them remember when I was falling off the bicycle this spring and summer and coming home with bumps, bruises or landing in the hospital.  They have been telling me I need to give up the sport, however they don't know about the times, or don't remember the times, I have ridden without falling.  Many of them haven't experienced the thrill of the wind in their hair from riding something they themselves have powered.  I've enjoyed it too much and finally come to a place where I'm comfortable riding.  This week I've longed to be on the bicycle, even though it's been cold and windy. 

Learning how to bicycle has been fun and challening.  The November Bicycling magazine published their list of 109 rites of passage for bicyclist.  Rites of passage often mark important events in our lives, whether it's the first day of Kindergarten, getting keys to our first car or getting our first job.  Rites of passage on the bicycle have been markers for me in transitioning from being sedentary to an active woman. 

So, here's the list of the rites of passage from the magazine I've crossed. 

• When "thanks for the ride" goes from something you overhear to part of your lexicon 
• Bonking so bad you don't think you'll be able to make it home
  
• You embrocate 
• You get stuck in your pedals and topple over at a stoplight
• You wake up to find the sheets stuck to your road rash-and still feel excited about riding that day 
• Wondering how the biggest local hill would rank on the Tour de France climb classification 
• Rolling through a stop sign-and knowing it was the right thing to do 
• Your first ride with a jersey instead of a T-shirt 
• Following a favorite pro racer-besides Lance Armstrong
• Finding out your favorite pro racer was doping 
• Crashing and immediately asking, "How's my bike?"
• Waving at a cyclist coming the other way and being ignored 

Many of the magazine's rites of passage deal with group riding and racing.  I hope to get better at holding the bike steady when changing gears so that I can start riding with some groups.  I joined a local cycling group that offer lots of opportunity for group rides.  Alot of the other rites of passage listed in the magazine deal with racing.  Last spring and summer I visited a couple of the local bike races.  I may never be fast enough to compete.

I'm off to ride

Super Heroes

I went on a bicycle ride with a friend recently. He said something that really struck me and has stuck with me over the past couple of weeks.  He said he likes dressing up in cycling gear because he feels like he is dressing up as super hero.  Cycling gear is typically spandex and the shoes are often shiny, making great dress for a super hero.  I replied that shopping for cycling gear is like shopping for a swimming suit.  "Does this make me look fat?"

For a variety of reasons I have found myself thinking about body image this past semester.  It would be great if I could adopt my friend's perspective instead of the ideaology that it will show and reveal every flaw of my body.  Wouldn't it be even better if we lived in a society that accepted every body shape and size for what it is and not what it could be or what we want it to be?

I've begun a countdown on my calender, a countdown to bikini season.  Female superheros typically seem to be in bikini like attire, think of Super Woman or was it Wonder Woman?  Maybe this spring I'll feel more like dressing up as a super hero.

Bike Fit

My physical therapist suggested I go for a bike fit to make sure my increased time riding was not the cause of my recent knee pain. I had a friend who had been to Music City Cycles and learned how important a good bike fit is for the shop owner. So I contacted Music City Cycles and scheduled an appointment. All I knew about a bike fitting was it would make sure the dimensions of my body would fit on my particular bicycle and there might be some adjustments made.

I showed up the bicycle shop a little early to change into my bicycling clothes and put the pedals on my bicycle. Music City Cycles owner, David, uses a system known as Quick Fit. This has various sticks that measure a variety of things. Several of them are light weight poles with another pole inside that are spring loaded. David started with measuring two forms of flexibility. I still wonder how flexibility is used on the bicycle, maybe balance? He measured my inseam standing up and again sitting on my knees. Measured my torso, the width of my hand, the length of both arms and then measured various places on my bike. He plugged the numbers into a computer system and the system showed optimal placement of things like the seat and the handlebars. He showed me proper pedaling technique. One position in the bicycle has not been comfortable at all for me. He looked at the optimal placement of a stem and was able to determine the stem is the wrong angle and wrong length. I ordered a new stem. It's worth a little bit more money to be comfortable and not injured. The stem was recently replaced when I had my bicycle repaired in July after my fall.

David says the customers who have come to him end up being some of his most loyal customers. They come back often and sometimes end up buying a custom made bicycle with the measurements taken. I expressed that it takes a special person to measure an inseam. He also said his wife's friends have made comments that he can talk about a women's crotch and it's not crass.

It was a painless process and I'm glad I did it. I'm thinking about taking it out to a state park this weekend for a ride. Last Sunday I put it on the trainer my friend has let me borrow. That was the first time I've ridden it since the fall in July. It was a hard workout. Although the temperature was pleasant it was humid. I was dripping with sweat and left a pool of it on the patio. I didn't go nearly as long a period of time as I would have liked, but I seem to have lost some of the strength in my lungs (VO2 max?) since i had the fall.

She who always falls

Sunday I had some friends participating in a triathlon near where I live. I found a place where I could ride the bicycle and then stand and cheer. I was looking for a place where I could safely stand out of the way, hopefully had shade and the participants could use some moral boost. Sunday I rode my bicycle to this predetermined place. Some of the ride was on closed road because of the triathlon. It was almost 5 miles from the house, a nice short ride among the hills.

Since I would be cheering for a while I decided to take a captain's chair or a camp chair. One of those chairs that has a bag and you sling it over your shoulder. On my way to this predetermined spot I struggled with the chair. I had trouble finding a "sweet spot" where it was out of my way and not causing me trouble. It would bump my knee or leg while pedaling and on one occasion it came around in front of the steering column and was riding on top of the tire. I contemplated turning around and taking it back home, but just knew I would need it to sit down while cheering.

Once I made the predetermined spot I had fun cheering for my friends and the other participants. Many of them seemed to appreciate the support and smiled or waved back. I drank my water and ate my cliff bar. When the bicycle traffic waned and most of the participants passed I mounted the bicycle to return home. I didn't want to get in the way of the participants and there were hills which I have struggled with.

That's the last thing I remember. At some point on the ride home I fell off the bicycle. When I think of the "fall" I actually perceive myself flying off the bicycle. Some of the race support staff found me unresponsive and called for an ambulance. I had worn my new fancy helmet. It did it's job in protecting my head. There is an imprint in the foamy soft portion from where I hit the ground. I vaguely remember laying on the ground and standing up to get into the ambulance after help arrived.

At one point in the venture an EMT was preparing a piece of gauze and said, "You have an abrasion on your cheek. We are going to treat it." I responded, "That's not an abrasion, it's a zit." EMT in his smooth all knowing demeanor said, "No, your zit is back here." I replied, "OHhh." It's hard to know exactly what hurt, but the part of me that I remember hurting was the lower back quadrant of my ribs. I told the EMT's to take me to a particular hospital where my doctor has admission rights. Eventually they did. They took my bicycle to the triathlon store that was a major supporter for the triathlon. I am not certain they knew the chair was with me, because it was not with me in the ambulance or my bike. By the time I drove the route where I had cheered the chair was gone. Good riddance!!

Once at the hospital they put me in a neck brace and took me to x-ray. They say I had a concussion since I hit my head, have no recollection of the fall/wreck and was non-responsive. No long term brain injury and no broken bones. Still I feel bumped and bruised up pretty good. I actually feel like I've been hit by a Mac truck, but I'm pretty sure it was not anyone who hit me. I feel certain the chair is the culprit. I won't be doing that again!

Since Sunday I've been staying with a friend. The first 24 hours I needed someone to make sure I was not talking out of my mind any more than usual, developing a fever or anything else. I have needed help getting dressed and changing the bandage on my shoulder. I have an abrasion on the top of my shoulder that is about 3 inches in diameter. It's relatively superficial. My neck and shoulder feel like they took the brunt of the impact. I have been to see the chiropracter twice. He was a participant in the triathlon. Today I went to see my primary doctor who reset all my buttons (really). Muscles have reset buttons and he hit the muscles reset buttons.

Saturday I leave to visit family in the New Orleans area. I have been looking forward to renting a bicycle and taking it out on Tamany Trace, a rail to trail system there. I am excited about getting back on a bicycle, but I do not think it will be for a couple of weeks. Maybe I'll take my newphew out in the stroller. For those of you who have never been on the Trace, it's one of my favorite places. Parts of it are along a creek bed and most of it is tree covered. It's 31 miles long so there are often groups of bicyclist. The bicyclist are much friendlier than those in Austin. The person upfront politely announces themself, which side they are coming on and how many of them there are. I've tried to do the same and it is hard to do without scaring the walker/runner.

In the last week I have said I would not go to NOLA to visit unless I could dress myself. I may have to burn the bra!! I do not want to be more trouble for the family than help. They have a two year old and another one due in November. I plan on helping them lay electrical fence to keep the "puppies" in the yard and weather stripping in the Airstream. I'll be playing and keeping the nephew busy so R can finish the wedding dress she's been working on. I will be going down with R's mom. We haven't worked out the smaller details. I am looking forward to getting away from work and sitting at a computer all day. Since the fall I have not been able to work too much.

CAM and I picked up the bicycle on Monday. I really didn't know what to expect. As you can see from the photos the fork is pretty bent. It needs to be replaced. The headset also needs to be replaced. The tires are relatively bent, not as bad as I envisioned. I broke the brake cables and housing in the process. Repairs to the bicycle will run approximately $100. CAM suggests I might be able to ride it through winter while saving money for a newer bicycle.

Inspired by Urban Runners

A couple of weeks ago I set a goal to do the same number of push ups as my age. So, if I was 15 I would be doing 15 push ups. I have yet to make that goal so I am hoping that if I write about it I'm more inspired to follow through with it. For me it is a matter of carving time out and remembering to do it.

Today I went to my local running store that was hosting a local parkour group meeting. Parkour is an urban form of running. I hear it started in Paris, thus the French name, and there is a Texas Chapter. These people are phenomenal!! They have so much strength and agility. Parkour uses one's own body to get around. They jump over obstacles, such as walls, fences and ramps. They climb walls twice their height. Some groups climb up balconies or jump from the first floor of the parking garage and then roll out in to a street and then keep going as if it was nothing more than a three foot jump. Only one of the people in tonight's group was a trained gymnast.
Here is a link to a video a friend told me about that does a cool job demonstrating what they do.
http://www.topgear.com/us/videos/more/207-vs.-parkour/ I'm inspired by watching them to again try to do my push ups.

In watching their conditioning and warm up exercises I would like to add some of them to my semi-normal routine. They did these push ups but their feet were closer to their hands so their rump was in the air. They did a plank form, so they were on their elbows and toes, and then moved their body in one fluid motion in a circle. They did butt kicks where they were on their hands and toes and their knees were on their elbows and then they kicked their feet up in the air. Some of them think nothing of spending five minutes in a hand stand. I may never be that strong, but I'm gonna try some of their strengthening exercises. Here's a link to a video showing a guy doing some of what the conditioning looks like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsjcW_NruTY&feature=related

So I'm inspired. One of the guys at last nights Parkour meeting said he has trained people from 5 years old to 53 years old. I am intrigued! I am awe struck by their strength, agility and ability to face their fears head on. They see an obstacle and have to face their fear to get over that obstacle, or around that obstacle in the most efficient means. We all have fears when confronted with obstacles, regardless of what that obstacle looks like.

Never Give Up

Sunday was a race I thought I was prepared for. I had a difficult week leading up to the race and was looking forward to putting all my frustration and anxiety out in one mile. I was hoping to have the race of my life! I was stoked!

I stepped up to the start and there was "Gremlin". For a year I've said, "She not just fast, she's damn fast." She was in my heat (heap?). It was a one mile race. One mile, easy right? NO!! It was all out, everything you've got in one mile. For some reason at the start of the race I found myself saying, "Stay in her (Gremlin's) foot steps. Stay in her armpit." I can't do that. There's no way on this side of the sun I could ever stay in her footsteps!! I got to the 1/4 mile mark in 1:28. My goal was 2:00.

Shortly after that mark things went downhill both literally and figuratively!! I began thinking "I can't do this...I can't finish this race... I can't do this." I was not prepared for the mental "game." The week before and particularly the few days prior were full of disappointments and frustrations and I mentally played in to the "can't." For most of the race I found myself contemplating a DNF (Did Not Finish). On one occasion I stepped off the course as if to say that's it, I can't finish this race. Someone on the sideline encouraged me to walk through the intersection and then pick it back up. I finished, two minutes behind the leader.

Likely most of the people in that race typically run 8 minute miles. I haven't obtained that standard yet. I don't know if i ever will and can't really say that's my goal. My goal is to continue to run, continue to learn from the previous runs and have fun.

A friend found this in a magazine ad for Garneau and it has become my latests montra: "I train....not for the podium. Not for the medals. Not for the status. I train for me. For the passion. For the desire. For the knowledge that I will: Learn from yesterday. Live for today....Never give up." (The author isn't listed.)

May the wind be at your backside

The bicycle was finally ready for a ride on Sunday morning a week ago. Last time I rode my goal was 7 miles. I have been looking at trying to ride with a group and it seems the shortest distance was 12, so this time I set my heights on a 12 mile goal.

My original plan was to ride with a local group of women associated with Luna Bar. After some contemplation I decided not to ride with them this trip, but look forward to catching them on another ride. I have never ridden that distance, never ridden in a pack, and did not know any of the women associated with the group. (Three strikes and you're out.) Sunday CAM and I rode together. We rode to the west side of the large local university for breakfast. We then rode to a new local bicycle shop for a water cage. My bicycle does not have the pre-drilled holes for a water cage so I'm in search of one that will clip on to the frame. The bicycle shop is downtown. CAM and I were both surprised by the amount of traffic out that time of day. Often there were no bicycle lanes so we rode on the sidewalk. Sometimes the sidewalk ran out and I was forced to face my fear of riding in the lane of traffic.

I fell quite a few times. CAM offered to loosen the cleats before we started the ride. I thought the first fall was a lack of experience and I would eventually "get it." I said that after three falls I would let him loosen my cleats. I figured three was a good number to establish I needed more time for training. I fell numerous times!! The first couple of times it was rather humorous. I had an on bike first aid kit and kicked it up to "battle wounds."

The battle wounds were healing nicely until I decided to ride again the following Sunday. Early on in the ride I fell and opened up the largest and most significant wound from the previous ride. This time there was no humor!! We had hoped to take a dip in the local springs before they started charging, but by the time I got the wound somewhat cleaned up they started charging. We went to breakfast and I raided the restaurant's first aid kit. It's one thing to walk in to an eating establishment wanting food, but then another wanting food and oozing stuff that should not be oozing.

I know that eventually I will get the hang of this!! I think I can! I think I can! So this came to me in my sleep last night:
Bike Shoes: $50
Bike Pedals: $50
Doctor Bills: $30
Mastering the task: Priceless

Making it rideable

I recently obtained a vintage 12 speed bicycle. A friend (CAM) and I have been working to fix it up so I can ride it. Well, truth be told CAM has been working on it and I've been watching or lending an extra hand. We started with new tires, tubes and rim clothes. Of course we've also replaced the brakes. CAM has also packed the bearings. He's also replaced the handlebar wraps. Saturday we went in search of a rear derailleur that clips on to the frame. I need to take it to a shop to get the rims true so they stop rubbing on the brakes.

The process brought back a flood of memories of my first bicycle. Dad and I worked on it for months. It was a bicycle Mom had ridden when she was a kid. Dad and I sanded it. I remember it taking a long time to sand the frame. We went to the store and picked out paint and I chose some metallic slate blue. I think I was confused when we first painted it a dull red (primer). I remember going to pick out new tires and a seat. Back then I chose this slim cresent moon shaped seat.

My siblings and I used to ride around the neighborhood where we lived. It was a one stop town so there weren't blocks like most cities. We also lived about two doors down from a semitruck business, so there was lots of semi traffic. The town used to have annual reunions and there would be a parade through town. We used to dress our bicycles up with ballons and crete paper ribbon and ride down the street. It was a huge affair for a small town.

Road Rider

I have been biking more this week. I have been learning about bike riding too. Now I have ridden before, but not much more than kids riding through the neighborhood.

Sunday I went with a friend on a bike ride. This friend has been riding bikes since he was knee high. I felt privileged to go with this person. He allowed me to set the pace and the mileage. Thanks!! I was hoping to go about 6-7 miles and we may have gone about 6. We rode at a nearby park and street bike route. The people in that part of town are used to seeing bicyclist and there are several bike lanes.

I finally had the opportunity to ride with someone who knew what they were doing and tap their expertise. I lock my elbows, so I guess that's why shoulders hurt the day after a ride. This bike is also too small for me. Even if I were to raise the seat it's still too small a frame for me. I bought this bike several years ago at the UT Bike Auction for $1.

Later that day we went shopping for bicycling shoes and new pedals. With the eventual goal still to do a triathlon one day, this is a good time for me to begin learning how to do what some call push pull. With clipless pedals you can push down on the pedal and then pull up so you are getting more forward movement. I found shoes and pedals on sale at decent prices. I decided to give the clipless pedals a try. My friend put the pedals on his bike and then put his bike on a trainer so I could get some experience putting my foot in the pedal. It takes some getting used to.

Monday I decided to venture out on my own to get some practice with the new pedals and new shoes. I had to get help taking the rusty pedals off my bike and then putting the new ones on. I went around the trailer park all geared up with my helmet, gloves and bicycling shoes. (These shoes are far from stylish!!) I did alright, until I got to the intersection and had to stop. There was nothing for me to hold on to. It was almost like a cartoon strip, a fall in slow motion and I felt like there was nothing I could do to break the fall. I got a nice piece of road rash on the knee and a colorful imprint of a pedal on my leg. I took this virgin voyage around the trailer park knowing that if I fell someone would see me and call 911.

Thursday I met another friend at a local park and we went for a bike ride. It's been about 3 years since I've been to this park. I remembered it being a paved path. Once we got there it all came back to me. I think this park is around the Onion Creek. The trail took us over the creek river bed, down the creek bed and back up the creek bed and over tree roots. I felt the sense of adventure. Ahh the fresh air. The feeling of the air in your face and the success of riding over the tree roots. I also caught myself thinking, "You are going to lose some skin Today!!" AHHHHH!! I felt like screaming. Both like a little kid doing something new and fun and OMG I'm so scared!! This trail was more of a challenge than I was up for on the new pedals. I found myself stopping in the middle of a hill and having trouble starting again. I kept telling the friend I was with that I felt like a "girly girl". I'm not often that "girly girl" but I sure tapped that spirit during this ride. I am glad we did it. It's a park that's gotten popular since I was last there. I did fall once, going up the river bed. I tried to come up off the saddle and fell. Since the bike is too small for me I don't have as much control when I do that. Some how I didn't lose any skin.

After I returned home I had a friend help me take the pedals off. (Because I store my bike outside I will be taking the pedals off after every ride.) As I was stepping off his porch I fell and bit the dust. That's when I lost the skin. A big chunk from the tip of my big toe and the other knee. The toe has been the hardest piece to loose. I ran in a local race on Saturday and that part of the foot hits the shoe with every step. I wore a callus cushion around the chunk of missing skin to cushion the wound.

About a year ago I met a runner who said, "I'm a road runner, not a trail runner." I've taken that and morphed it to, "I'm a road rider, not a trail rider." Maybe someday I'll venture out on the rough trails again, but not any time soon.

Right now I cannot afford a new bike. I've been talking to Dad about taking a bike he might have stored among his piles. The way he describes it, the bike is too tall. I'll see Dad next week and we'll see if he has a bike that's a good fit for me, or even a better fit. If not there are other options.

RV travel idea

Hill Country Running Store is one of the few retail places where the some of the staff have become friends. When I am in the geographic location of the store I stop by to say hi and see what is going on. Last weekend I stopped by to ask questions about wetsuits because many of their staff also train and compete in triathlons. The staff set me up with some connections and gave me some ideas on shopping for wetsuits. Today their training group had a sale and I found a bargain on a wet suit ($25, that's cheaper than a pair of jeans!!). I cannot wait to try it out!

The sale was held at the training group's office and they had a 2005 Airstream in the drive way. I got to visiting with Jamie and he said he and his wife will take the Airstream to races. Jamie and his wife compete in Ironman races around the nation and often finish in top of their age group. The races are often held in parks where they can park the RV and it's within 100 yards of the start line. There is something to be said for getting a good night sleep and sleeping or waking up in a familiar setting. Maybe after I find a job and decide to leave the RV lifestyle I have found an alternate use for the RV.

http://www.hillcountryrunningcompany.com/

First Half Marathon Race Report

This was the first half marathon for me and the first time I have ever run this distance (13.1 miles). I had a difficult week prior to the race and saved my frustration, anger and fear to fuel me for this race. It sure helped!! I was not nervous about the race itself.

My goals for this race were

1. Finish
2. Run hard
3. Have FUN!!
   

I did finish with a time of 2 hours 18 minutes. It was faster than I expected since the last time I ran ten miles in two hours. I am elated about this race time, even almost a week later!! I ran more of this course than I expected. I thought I might be walking at least a mile, but think I walked 100 yards. Towards the end of the race I found myself running faster to get out of the shade of the buildings. Because of the cool temperatures the buildings shades some of the course and it was cooler in the shade. I was motivated to run faster to get back in to the sun.

The weather was great for this race. It was not too hot and was not too cold. There was very little if any, wind. Temperatures were cool, in the upper 30's or low 40's at start time and then up into maybe the 50's later in the race. I am no weatherman so that's a guess based on my own impressions and I'm sure there's someone out there who would love to research it and correct me (I have better things to do.)

I was very grateful for the crowd support. There were people along most of the course that were cheering or rattling cow bells. Thanks guys!!! These crowds were happy or maybe moving more because of the cold. One guy stood outside with a box of kleenex. It was a hoot to see the disposed kleenex for 25 yards down the street. Thanks man!! Cedar Fever has hit this area hard because it's been dry. There was a female spectator who got real excited when she saw one of her friends. My brother refers to this ritual as the "spin cycle." She yelled, screamed and jumped up and down as if they had not seen each other in years. That was so motivating. We all laughed!!! During the Nike Human Race the spectators looked miserable and were unmoving.

I have a tendency at the end of a hard run to pick up the pace too far from the finish and sometimes I am unable to maintain that pace. During this race I picked it up maybe 300 yards from the finish and kept it up. I do not know how I was able to pick it up that much and sustain it!!

As I began to train for this race I said I would give myself two weeks after the race to decide if this was a distance I would enjoy and continue to particpate in. Although it's not been 2 weeks I think it is a distance I would do again. Even in October I found a 10K a challenge so I am looking forward to my next 10k (Cap 10K) to see how I have improved. Because of the cost of a half marathon I will not be competing in many. I was able to compete in this one because Team Zen has sponsored me for the races they are participating in.

Thanks to DV for posing the challenge of training for a half marathon. Thanks to Team Zen and all the participants for your motivation and running with me. Thanks to the Robert Mueller Airport runners for running with me in the evening. Thanks Kim at Hill Country Running for helping outfit me for this race. Thanks Ron Burnett at Inner Sun for the encouragement and fixing my numerous ailments, including the numb foot!! This was not possible for me to six months ago.

Prep for the First Half Marathon

Today I felt the effects of poor choices I made yesterday. Yesterday I was able to get a lot of errands marked of my to do list. In order to get it done I had a hamburger, fries and a soda for lunch then a turkey sandwich for supper. Not a good idea, really. I chose these foods as a matter of convenience and economically it was cheaper than going in somewhere to sit down and eat. I could feel my food allergies all awry today. My bones aches and my legs felt like moving lead. I write this so maybe next time I say it won't matter I'll be more likely to remember.

Last Saturday was my last long run as I prepare to taper down for this race on Sunday. I did 10 miles, that's my longest run. I've learned to fuel around mile 8 with honey and water so I won't "bonk" or give out before I'm finished. I'll take honey with me on the race next weekend, but have been advised to take it at mile 4, 8 and 10. I learned from listening to a the Zen and the art of triathlon training to get the honey packets at Whataburger because they are 100% grade a honey. Thanks for the tip!! I'll fuel this week by eating rice noodles, sweet potatoes and rice, but not too much or I'll gain weight.

After the group run on Saturday a friend who is also running the 3M Half and I drove the course. It's predominantly downhill, but yet there are still some hills. It's not an out and back course, so we start on the north side of town and end in South Austin. There will be a shuttle to take us back up North.

After this race I plan on doing some speed work and continuing to build my base. Until recently I was not able to run 6.2 miles without walking. I'll work more on improving this and hopefully I'll be able to drop some more weight. I'm sure that if I eat fewer sandwiches and fast food I'll drop more weight.

School starts next week and I've always been challenged to find foods that are convenient, cheap, fit in my diet and yet fuel my runs/workouts. I had finally gotten good about taking salads for lunch, but they don't give me enough fuel for an afternoon run. Tacos would be great, but they are a pain to assemble in a small cafeteria and all the bowls to wash that night create a nightmare. I'll be in San Marcos on Wednesday and Round Rock on Thursday. Thursday's are late night and Friday's I'm back at work at 7 am.

Tri Training

After volunteering at a local triathlon over the summer I decided to start training for one. Realistically I've given myself two years of training before participating in one. I'm not a good swimmer at all and really need to work on my technique and endurance in the water. The last time I was on a bike was as a child in the neighborhood. I struggled with how and where to train. I've been training as a runner since January.

I joined a gym close to where I attend school. I'm in that community twice a week and have groups I run with twice a week. My first fitness class at the gym was a spin class. It was my first class of this nature and I had a blast!! I've never had to ride a bike on a hill and never had training on how to do it, so this was a first and it was hard work but I felt so good. I didn't have my shoes strapped in tight enough so my foot fell off the pedal during a climb a couple of times. Lost some skin to the ol pedals, but hey it really felt good. I've been to class two weeks now and I feel like even that little really helped my running. Crazy? Maybe.

I'm uncertain whether I'll be able to continue to participate in the spin class since I have school responsibilities an hour after class is finished. In that one hour I have to shower, dress professionally and get my sore butt to class in a presentable fashion. I'm gonna try to keep it up!! A local coffee shop has a bicycling team and I've tried to get some information on that. I don't think I'm at a place where I can join a team unless it is full of beginners. I also recently took a look at my bike. It's been tied to a tree since I got to the park. I rode it 1/2 mile and the tire went flat. It dry rotted. Now I need to learn how to change the tires. I've been with a friend to pick out the tires and tubes, trying to find time to change them has been the hardest challenge so far. Once I get this midterm out of the way it'll happen.

My running seems to be going ok. This summer I struggled with pushing myself and wanting a faster pace and more endurance. Once I let go of that things seemed to get easier. I just finished listening to a podcast, "Zen and the art of traiathlon" and the topic was the art of letting go. Now I get it, I let go of this desire to go farther and faster and it became somewhat more natural.

Swimming is the one aspect of training I have not been able to improve on. The gym's pool is under construction and it won't be open until December. I'm really excited about it opening up.

My birthday is coming up and I've been thinking about what I want to do to celebrate. I want to get in the water and I also want to take a run. It would be so worth taking a run on the trail and then a dip in the local springs. Anyone wanna join me?

I've been bummed lately because my school work and responsibilities have taken me from the things that inspire me and rejuvenate me. I've struggled with how to get them to fit in, because they need to fit in otherwise I'll be a bitter and angry ol hag!

Fitness Initiatives

This is the time of year so many people re-evaluate their lifestyle and set goals to make changes. I'm no exception. I'm very goal oriented. Living in a trailer my size does not lend itself to buying fitness equipment that will serve as a coat rack or clothes hanger. There's barely enough room for me to do sit ups in the kitchen and I only do them then when I feel up to being a bit claustrophobic. I am fortunate enough to be parked in a place where there is an accessible fitness room with weights and three pieces of cardioequipment. I'm going to learn how to run on a treadmill without falling off. Sounds easy enough doesn't it. Well you try it:) I have joined a group of folks that meet every Saturday morning to run. It's coached or led by a trainer, which is cool and it's only an hour a week, which is also cool. They serve free food after the run, which is even better! It's a group for all levels of runners.

School started last week. It's going to be a packed few months with 3 classes, 3 nights a week and work 5 days a week! Running is one of the ways I de-stress. It took a year for running/walking to not be a stresser in and of itself, but it has been well worth it!!

Did you make any fitness goals for the year?

The Past Two Months in a Nutshell

Spring semester is behind me. I am not able to take Summer classes because work clashes with the summer classes offered. In exchange for not taking classes I've been reading through old journal articles and getting rid of what will not be helpful or unnecessary. My brother calls this fodder. It also was consuming valuable room in the crowded storage unit. My plans for the summer were to visit the family and the beach. Since I began jogging two years ago I've wanted to jog along the beach. Recently my sister in law, her brother and I went to visit the beach. This was my first visit to the beach since 1998 or so. Although the water was filled with brown seaweed it was a great visit. I got burnt to a crisp, as always.

I've moved to another park and lovin' it! This is my third park since I bought the trailer.

After a couple of visits with friends, my next big goal is to compete in a triathlon. The next step in this endeavor will be to take summer lessons next month. Anyone else looking for a training partner?