Not so noob anymore...well, maybe still pretty noob

As a new blogger, I'm pretty excited that I've reached a milestone today - my 100th post! One hundred posts says to me that I've remained dedicated to my cycling hobby and have actually written posts relatively consistently. And it must not be too boring to read about this Grand Rapids woman's experiences learning the ins and outs of cycling, because I have 17 followers (I realize that's nothing compared to the Fat Cyclist or Bike Snob NYC or Let's Go Ride a Bike, but I'm kinda proud). Even if my main reader is my mom - hi, Mom!) and I have been quoted in other blogs (well actually, only one blog - Lunicycle. Thanks, Luni!)

I feel like I've learned a lot about the sport since I got my first road bike this spring. I've had many first experiences - my first group ride, my first (and second) century, my first time trial... I've also stretched out into areas of the sport that I didn't think I'd ever get into, like mountain biking. I've contemplated attempting a criterium race (which I'll probably try next year) and, since I've been starting to run more again, a duathlon.

On the subject of duathlons, I got an email from active.com yesterday. That's a website that allows people to search for sporting events in their local area and register for them. In this month's installment of upcoming events, I noticed a link for the Dunes Duathlon 2009 on September 26. Taking place in Saugatuck, Michigan, the Dunes Duathlon includes a 5 mile trail run through the Saugatuck Dunes State Park with a view of Lake Michigan followed by a 17 mile bike ride on the nearby roads. I think this sounds like a blast! I'm confident that I'll be strong in the bike portion, and I think that one month will be enough to get me ready to complete the run. I'm pretty comfortable at about 3 miles on flat terrain right now, so over the next few weeks, I'm sure I can increase my running distance to 5 or 6 miles. I don't plan to win this thing...I just want to go out there and enjoy it! I also like having a new goal to keep me focused.

My friend, Cat, who rode the 100 Grand century with me lives in Saugatuck. I'm hoping to rope her into doing the duathlon with me!

So, I'm pretty excited about this race - completing a duathlon would be another first for me. Sand dune running, here I come!

Does anyone have suggestions for what kind of shorts to wear that have a pad for biking but that will still be comfortable for running? I've heard that triathlon shorts are good, so if anyone can recommend a pair that is comfortable and reasonably priced, I'd appreciate the tip!