Cyclin' Missy

Into a new training plan

2012-02-05T14:54:00.002-05:00

I'm finally getting into a new training plan as I work towards the trail half in April. Back in 2002, I ran a road half marathon in something like 1:50, so my goal for the trail half is to finish in under 2 hours. That means running approximately 9 minute miles on the trail, and therefore, faster miles on the road in training. I'd also like to increase my mile pace so I can run with a new running buddy, Colleen, that I met recently. We did our first run together on the Riverwalk downtown. While I was killing myself, she seemed just fine...though she was gracious enough to slow down for me anyway!

So, I'm starting to build some mileage now and measuring where the upper end of my pace is. What feels fast right now is a little under 9 minute miles, so I have some work to do, but it's not as bad as I thought it would be after running such a slow pace (11 minute miles) for the marathon in October. Though I tell myself that I can take it easy right now, my body is really into the exercise and wants to push. I guess I won't argue with that!

This week:

Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012
Run - 2.5 miles

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012
Run with buddy - 3.5 miles

Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012
Cross Training - Dodge ball league - 1 hour of cardio

Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012
Hard/long run - 4.25 miles (total time 37:44, mile pace 8:51)
[Also a 0.9 mile walk with the hubby]

Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012
Run - 3.1 miles (total time 27:42, mile pace 8:56)
[Also a 1.2 mile walk with the hubby]

Post-Op Pizza? No no no no no!

2012-02-03T07:41:00.000-05:00

The hubby's tonsillectomy went really well yesterday! No problems during the procedure. He wasn't even groggy when he woke up. He did thrash and bite his tongue due to a bad dream, but the nurses woke him up and he was fully coherent right away. Kind of a bummer, since I was ready with the video camera to capture some post-operative gold. ;)

His throat hurts, of course, and he had trouble sleeping last night due to mucus and saliva collecting in this throat and making him feel like he was choking. But overall, he's doing well. The worst part of recovery will be in about a week when the scabs come off the wounds.

And though his tonsils are now gone, his love of pizza is still intact, as you can see from this post-procedure video. "Pizza" was his first word as a baby. Some things never change!

Snowy Bacon Run

2012-01-30T09:49:00.000-05:00

We got about 4-6 inches of snow this weekend, which produced beautiful snow covered trees and not-so-beautiful slush covered sidewalks.

My Back Yard

But Saturday breakfast called for bacon (which we did not have in the house), and the sun kept peaking out through the clouds, so I put on a small backpack and ran to Meijer.

The going wasn't bad at all. Things were a little sloppy in the lower areas, but nothing I couldn't step through and avoid splashing road slop onto the tops of my shoes. I hate that and try to avoid it as much as possible! I always thought it was ironic - and by ironic I mean aggravating - that my socks could be otherwise dry and then get soaked by one splash of liquid onto the meshy top of my running shoes. Arg!

So 2 miles to the store. Picked up bacon and some bananas. Then 2 miles back. I got my run in and my shopping trip at the same time. After being mildly sick this week, it felt good to get out there again.

Though I ran very few miles last week, I'm ready to pick it up over the next few days. I'm actually eager to start doing some speed work. I met a new running buddy who's pace is faster than mine, but I'm confident that I can catch up to her pace with a few weeks of effort.

Also, please send your healing vibes and well wishes the hubby's way at the end of this week. He's getting his tonsils out on Thursday!

Dodge Ball Action Shots

2012-01-24T09:12:00.000-05:00

My friend and teammate, Cat, wrote up an awesome report of our dodge ball experience so far. You should seriously go check it out here! She's awesome.

The amazing staff of the Grand Rapids Sport and Social Club also takes great pictures of the league as we play and then party together. Thanks, Anna!

Me trying to survive on the court in week 2 with one good hand

The hubby in mad action

Grab those balls!

Cat and I (in the background) having fun with the gang after week 1's game

Registered: 2012 Running Fit Trail Half Marathon

2012-01-23T13:59:00.001-05:00

It's official! I've registered for the Running Fit Trail Half Marathon on April 28, 2012. It's on my work calendar and everything, so hopefully my boss won't send me to a customer site that week. ;)

I've put together a training plan combining elements from several that I found online. I sort of meshed together a half marathon plan and a 25k plan. The longest run on the plan is only 11 miles. I'd actually like to go longer before the race because it's going to be a very hilly trail - 1275 feet of elevation change - and most of my training will be on roads. But there's a lot of speed work in there, so that should help with the required surges and maintaining speed when I'm tired.

I'm actually pretty excited that I'll be travelling to a customer site in South Carolina again in March. This is where I found the Anne Springs Close Greenway when I was working out there a few months ago. It's a fantastic system of trails that I fell in love with. I'll be working second shifts out there, so I should be able to make it to the trail during daylight hours any day I don't feel too tired. That will be my best opportunity for trail running before the race.

I'm looking forward to a long trail race in the beautiful Michigan spring!

2012 Events List

2012-01-23T13:48:00.002-05:00

I've decided that creating a 2012 events list on my Grand Rapids Events page would be more work than it's worth this year. But I still wanted to at least post the events that I plan to take part in. So if you are looking for a race that at least one other person on the planet thinks will be fun in the Grand Rapids or general Michigan area, check out the list!

I keep my feelers out there for cool events of all kinds in the area, so if you are looking for something in particular - a road run, an obstacle race, a triathlon, a bike tour, an urban adventure race, etc. - let me know. I'd love to help you find an event to get excited about!

Off hand throw

2012-01-20T08:29:00.003-05:00

Last night was the second week of our dodge ball league. My sprained right thumb from last week’s game is still healing, so I taped and wrapped it and played using my left hand.

What a spectacle! I was useless with my off hand. My throws either shot off in a direction that I was not aiming or fell limply to the floor six feet in front of me. I think the opposing team took pity, because after creaming us for 20 games, we spent the rest of our hour playing rounds of non-standard configuration such as all women and all men. One such configuration was throwing with your off hand only. I didn’t feel so awkward then!

From what I read online, a sprained thumb takes 2-3 weeks of immobility and a couple more weeks of gentle stretching to fully heal. Mine feels better every day. I’ve kept it wrapped to protect it. The swelling is gone and the bruising is fading. I still feel a little twinge of pain if I jerk the thumb the wrong way, but it’s not bad. I’m confident in a quick and full recovery. In the meantime, my left hand is learning to do many things that it could not do before.

About the time that I regain use of my right thumb, the hubby will be getting his tonsils out. So I’m going to need full hand functionality to run our blender. I’ve threatened to make spaghetti smoothies. Sounds delicious, right?! LOL

Unbreakable: The Western States 100

2012-01-16T11:21:00.001-05:00

Last night, the hubby was playing League of Legends with friends, so I sat down to watch Unbreakable: The Western States 100. This documentary tells the history of this 100 mile trail footrace through the mountains of California juxtaposed with the story of the 2010 competition. I LOVE watching this stuff! The people who attempt the run amaze and inspire me, and those who compete to win are truly incredible. While I have no desire to run 100 miles, I do love putting myself in the runners’ shoes as they weave through the trees and bound down the switchbacks. Even in their exhaustion, you can see the joy in their eyes.

I had been thinking about signing up for the Fifth Third Riverbank Run 25k here in Grand Rapids in May. Since the marathon in October, I’ve been wanting to do a half marathon or similar distance race. But I wasn’t truly excited about the 5/3 run. Then, watching the Western States movie reminded me that I’ve also been wanting to do a trail half marathon for some time now. That’s the ticket!

I’m thinking about doing the Running Fit Trail Half Marathon on April 28 in Pinckney, MI. I’ve been there before; that’s where I did the Ann Arbor Triathlon a couple years ago. It’s a tough, but fun trail. It’s only a couple hours from home, and I can stay with my mom just a few miles away before the race. Oh, and it’s only $39 to enter until March.

I haven’t committed to it yet. I still need to decide if I want to spend February through April training for a race. But it’s kind of an exciting idea to me right now.

On a whole different topic, I went for a run yesterday on the bike path near my house. The path and all the trees and bushes were covered in snow. It was so pretty! If I get out there again today, I’ll take pictures.

Dodgeball League

2012-01-13T08:25:00.000-05:00

The hubby, my friend, Cat, and I joined an adult dodgeball league with the Grand Rapids Sport and Social Club. Our first game was last night. What a blast! Much like kickball, dodgeball is so much more fun as an adult than it was as a kid in gym class.

We played one of the best teams in the league and got our butts handed to us, but they had such a positive attitude, that it was still a great time. After the games, the club goes out to a local bar for cheap beer and food. There are about 400 people signed up for the league right now. Wow! We met so many new people, and even learned a new drinking game. Fun stuff!

I did, however, sustain a minor dodgeball injury. One of the guys threw a ball at me pretty hard, and I was able to block it with the ball in my hand. Unfortunately, in the process, I bent my thumb back really hard. It hurt immediately, and I dropped the ball. I was out. But the guy who hit me was super sweet, and made sure I was OK after the game ended.

My thumb is all swollen and starting to turn purple, but I'm sure it will be fine in a couple days. For now, I'm trying to train myself to hit the Space Bar with the other hand. Crazy hard to do! LOL!

Warrior Dash Coming to Grand Rapids

2012-01-11T15:43:00.002-05:00

In addition to the Mt. Morris, MI edition of the Warrior Dash, in 2012, there will also be a race in Grand Rapids!

To be held on September 15 at Millenium Park, this race brings the Warrior Dash to my city! The hubby and I are already signed up.

Exciting! Come out and join us for a really great time with the mud, obstacles, beer, music, and furry hats!

Warrior Dash Grand Rapids 2012
Warrior Dash Mt. Morris 2012

Note from Missy:
Sorry I haven't gotten around to compiling a 2012 events list yet. Have you used my Grand Rapids Events page in the past years? Would you like to see it again? Or would I be wasting my time putting in the hours to create it this year? Let me know in the comments.

Hike at Stanaback Park

2012-01-09T12:52:00.000-05:00

I’ve been looking forward to doing some snowshoeing, but this winter has been so mild so far that we haven’t had much snow. There is no snow on the ground right now at all! I’m certainly not complaining. In fact, instead of snowshoeing, the hubby, our friend, and I headed over to our traditional snowshoe spot yesterday for a hike instead.

The park where we stomped around is a nice wooded area with tons of hills and a quaint little creek running through it. We hiked around one side and then followed the river back to one of the bordering roads – I’m guessing about 5 miles in all.

I expected the ground to be pretty muddy, so I took my poles with me for a little extra digging in. It ended up being pretty solid, but I still appreciated having the poles for extra leverage. And they made good balancing sticks when I crossed the creek on a fallen log.

I’m in no rush for the snow. It will get here soon enough. So in the meantime, I’m happy to take advantage of the clear sidewalks and trails.

How has winter been in your areas?

Happy New Year!

2011-12-30T22:16:00.002-05:00

Hey, all! It's been a crazy end to the year 2011 in Cyclin' Missy land. I've been travelling basically since Thanksgiving. First for work, then on vacation. Workouts have, therefore, been sporadic. I did get out for a trail run in Georgia, a bike ride and some weight lifting in Florida, and a run back in Michigan. Not much, but I'm sooooo ready to have some time at home and get back into a routine come January.

As for 2012, there are TWO Warrior Dashes coming to Michigan this year! One in Mt. Morris again in July and one in our lovely city of Grand Rapids in September! The hubby and I are already signed up for the GR race.

We also want to do a Tough Mudder in the summer somewhere.

Other than that, I have no big race plans for 2012 yet. I'm confident that I'll do another marathon, but not this year. Still too many new things to try!

What are all of you looking forward to in 2012? Do you have any big goals or event plans?

We have a winner!

2011-12-05T21:19:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to Melanie P! Our Wayfair rep will be contacting you soon to hook you up with your prize.

Enjoy and have a great holiday season!

Second chance for free stuff

2011-12-03T10:31:00.001-05:00

While I had some responses to the Holiday Shopping Season contest, no one actually entered it. Boy, my traffic must be down! LOL!

Anyway, I'm going to give you guys a second chance to win the $65 item from Wayfair. Be the first person to email me with the subject line "I want free stuff", and you will be the winner. If no one claims the prize by Friday, December 9, 2011, I will just have to keep it myself.

Not that I won't accept it, but I'd love to give something away to someone out there.

So email me ASAP!

Holiday Shopping Season Contest - Last Hours...

2011-11-30T20:56:00.001-05:00

If you are still planning to enter the contest, there are just a few hours left! Go here for the complete details. And good luck to all!

Contest Reminder - Maybe the Last...

2011-11-27T11:13:00.001-05:00

Note from Missy: If you are planning to enter the Holiday Shopping Season Contest, don't forget to email me your entry by November 30 (that's Wednesday)!

Full contest details are here.

Update: I need to make one correction to the prize details. Rather than a gift certificate for $65 to use on the Wayfair site, they will actually send you the item of your choice of up to $65 value. So it's like you'll order your prize item right from our lovely, lovely Wayfair rep when she contacts you. If you're the winner, of course. But you can't win if you don't enter! So email me those thankful stories!

Contest Reminder

2011-11-23T12:51:00.001-05:00

Note from Missy: Just a reminder to enter the Holiday Shopping Season Contest for a chance to win a $65 gift certificate to Wayfair. Enter by November 30!

Full details are here.

Holiday Shopping Season Contest

2011-11-22T13:01:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I have to say that it’s been a good 2011 here in Cyclin’ Missy world. I have a job that I enjoy, and the hubby found a great new job this summer after being laid off at the beginning of the year. I got to participate in several muddy running adventures. I got to do some mountain biking. I completed my first marathon. I have great family and friends that share these joyous times with me. And I am lucky enough to be able to go out and buy new running shoes, plan a vacation to Florida, and give a couple Christmas gifts to my hubby.

Since I have so much to be thankful for already, I thought that I’d pass on some of the love to you out there. Wayfair is working with me again this year (you may remember them as CSN Stores) to reward the winner of a contest.

Thus, introducing the Holiday Shopping Season Contest!

The winning contestant may choose an item of up to $65 in value from Wayfair.com to get yourself something that you didn’t put on your wish list yet or to get a gift for someone special just in time for the holidays. To give or to receive…it’s up to you how you spend that $65!

Maybe you want to give your cat an automatic feeder for while you’re gone on vacation. Maybe you’re an active new mom or dad, and you want one of those cool jogging strollers. Maybe you need some hot boots like these. Browse the site, pick out your prize, and then enter the contest!

Here’s the deal:

To enter, send me an email telling me about something that you’re thankful for in the year 2011. It can be brief, but give me the story. Be sure to include a basic bio about yourself. Include a photo/drawing to illustrate your story, too, if possible.
The contest is open to US and Canadian residents only. (Sorry overseas readers!)
Entries will be accepted through November 30, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. I will put the name of each entrant in a hat and choose one at random.
I will announce the winner by December 2, 2011. Then, our lovely, lovely Wayfair rep will contact you by email, and she will get your $65 item of choice shipped out to you.

Have fun and good luck!

Post Recovery News: Pseudo Shoe Review

2011-11-08T09:21:00.001-05:00

First, I am very excited to report that I have purchased a new pair of running shoes and so far I love them. Number 1 reason...they don't damage my toes. Yaaaaaah! No more runners toe! I got a half size larger than my last pair in a brand that I don't usually buy and made sure there was lots of room in the toes.

The thing is, so far, these are all around really comfortable running shoes! When I was trying on pair after pair of shoes at the store, I asked the sales girl about the model - Nike Vomero 6. I'm told this is the top of the line Nike running shoe. She was wearing them. The first thing she said was that these are her very favorite running shoes of all time. The down side...they are at the high end of price at $130 and they wear out quickly. She put 3 or 4 months at 20 miles a week on them and the bottoms were already worn half way up the treads.

Courtesy of http://www.midwestsports.com/

At this point, I just want a quality shoe that is going to do my feet right. I'm despirate. I tried the next model down - the Pegasus - in case I could get nearly the same quality for a lower price, but the Pegasus has the lower model insole and it is not as comfortable as the Vomero. So, I'm thinking it'll be worth it to wear these more expensive shoes through the winter months and maybe have to buy another pair in the spring. I don't care. They feel good. And no blisters or bruised toenails.

Despiration has overcome Dutchness.

On a totally different topic, the Iceman Cometh Challenge was this past weekend. I did not ride in the race this year, but I think I did benefit from the event. I went riding on Saturday at Luton Park and it was half as busy as I expected on a sunny, fall day. I'm thinking that most of the area mountain bike riders were up in Traverse City for the Iceman. I have no proof, but that's the story I'm going with.

It was a great ride, and I hope we have several more weekends of dry weather before the snow comes. I want to get some more riding in now that the marathon is over. After that, I'm looking forward to some snowshoeing again this year!

Finally, I have to give a shout out to my friends Cat and Melissa who ran the Hot Chocolate Race in Chicago this weekend. They are just too cute not to share in their chocolate themed costumes. I will have to do this next year!

Cat and Melissa at the Chicago Hot Chocolate Race

Annie and Tibbers

2011-10-30T11:21:00.000-04:00

The hubby and I planned, made, and rocked elaborate Halloween costumes this year. Last night was our adventure in downtown Grand Rapids!

We went as Annie the Dark Child and her demonic teddy bear, Tibbers - characters from the video game League of Legends.

Annie and Tibbers

The costumes took months to put together. My co-worker and I made my dress from scratch, and I cut and styled a long wig to match Annie's look. But my costume was easy compared to the hubby's.

Cutting and Styling the Wig

I built the head and paws of the bear myself over hours and hours of evenings and weekends, and the hubby designed and made the body of the bear. We were drowning in craftiness...and loose fuzz from the many yards of fur fabric! The Tibbers costume ended up weighing a ton and was about 120 degrees inside even out in 30 degree weather.

Putting Fur on the Head

Wire and Fur Ears

Aftermath of the Build

Why am I posting about this on a primarily athletic related blog? Aside from the geeky coolness of these costumes that I just had to show off, the hubby said that I could call this cross training. With the work he did to walk around town in that costume, he's right!

Everyone loves to hug a teddy bear...even an evil one!

Recovery

2011-10-26T14:46:00.001-04:00

Hey, everyone! I think I can safely say that I am recovered from the marathon. The muscle soreness only lasted a couple days. Blisters and chafing took a little longer to heal. And my worn out knees took a little longer than that to feel back to normal.

I tried going for a run a couple days after the race, and it felt awful. My body had nothing in the tank even if my desire to run was there. So I cut it short and headed home to rest some more.

A few days after that, I rode my bike home after dropping my car off at the shop. Then, this Sunday afternoon, it was so beautiful out that I had to spend some time outdoors doing something. So I went for an 18 mile ride on the bike paths going wherever I felt like and however fast or slow. It was wonderful, and I feel like a normal, functioning person again. Not like my knees were 75 years old. That's a good thing!

I'm glad I didn't sign up for another distance race within a week or two of the marathon. I wouldn't have been ready for it. But I'm ready to get out there again now. I just need a new pair of running shoes...

Chicago Marathon 2011

2011-10-10T13:25:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, I successfully completed my first 26.2 - the Chicago Marathon!

Finish Time: 5:00:35
Half: 2:30:19

Full breakdown of splits:

Overall Place: 23728
Women's Place: 8833
Age Group Place: 1653

The start of the race was pretty crazy. 40,000 people crammed into a few blocks of the road at Grant Park first by seeded corals then by mile pace. If you didn't get into the corral in time, they closed it off until the masses moved through! My friend, Cat, and I got in just in time somewhere around the 12:00 mile mark and moved up to around 11:00 where we couldn't get any farther ahead. When the race officially started, we slowly moved forward for almost 25 minutes before reaching the start line.

Then we were off! We passed a lot of people in the first few miles. I tried to keep a slow, steady pace, but it seems like we did a little surge every few seconds to make our way past a group or through a hole. It was tiring! And the crowd of runners never really thinned out. I was starting to hurt by mile 9 or 10 - way before I expected to! I thought that I would be feeling good until about 16 miles and then struggle, but the mental fight began much earlier than that. Somehow, still, I kept on running.

Our friend, Melissa, met us at multiple points along the route and gave us amazing support and encouragement! It was always something to look forward to knowing she was going to be popping out of the crowd somewhere in the next couple miles! Thanks, Melissa! You rock!

The energy of the race was also amazing. It was an almost full time distraction to read the funny signs that people made, to listen to music, or get pumped by all the cow bells and horns. And the runners were just as amusing. We ran near super woman, Wolverines, Spartans, and cavemen who grunted in character during the entire race.

At around mile 12 or so, we caught up to the 5 hour pace group and decided to try to stick near them as long as possible. But just before the halfway point, Cat had to stop to use the porta-potties, so we lost a few minutes there, and the group went past us by maybe half a mile. My legs were starting to get tired, so I was afraid we wouldn't catch up to them again. But the break waiting for Cat gave me a second wind.

We never did see the 5:00 pace group again, but when we saw Melissa at mile 20, she said that we had picked up our pace. I was surprised, because a couple miles before, we had adopted the rule to run between aid stations and then walk through them. I needed the walk breaks, and they must have really helped because despite slowing to walk, we were running faster. As you can see from the half and finishing times, our pace was remarkably consistent for the first and second halves! This also gave us the time to really stay hydrated and consume some needed calories.

Cat was a beast. She hadn't really trained for the race, but she was an inspiring bundle of endless energy for almost the entire run. When I started to struggle, she jumped right in with advice, encouragement, and concrete plans. She really got me through the middle of the race when my legs wanted to just stop.

In the last few miles, Cat finally hit the wall, and then it was my turn to help her along. I got energy from knowing that we might be able to beat 5 hours, and together we kept moving from one aid station to the next. One at a time.

With all the energy around us, the miles seemed to go by quickly. Soon we were in the final mile, the crowds cheering and pushing everyone forward. We turned a corner with about 600m to go and had to climb the only long hill on the course. Then we turned another corner and could see the finish line about a 1/4 mile ahead. All we had to do was keep running. Just finish this last stretch. And we did it! We crossed the line hand-in-hand. I looked at my watch and we had done it - 5 hours flat!

I had run my first marathon!

The finish corral was long but had everything we could desire - water, Gatorade, snacks, icy beer, foil blankets, cold wet towels, and finally after exiting the far end, shady grass to sit down on.

I'm very satisfied with my first 26.2, and I think that I will do it again some day. Not today, but some day. ;) It was a beautiful, warm, sunny Chicago Marathon, and I had a great time. I am proud to say I've done it.

Three days till marathon!

2011-10-06T10:29:00.002-04:00

Only three days till the 2011 Chicago Marathon! I run a marathon in three days. OMG

Wooo!

Happy Birthday, Josh!

2011-10-03T12:50:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday to my awesome, sexy, fun, supportive, amazing hubby!

I love you, baby.

Dirty Dog Dash Pics 2

2011-10-03T12:41:00.001-04:00

And we have liftoff!

Like a gazelle! lol

Dirty Dog Dash Pics

2011-09-28T22:13:00.000-04:00

It took me a while to post these, but thanks to my mom for taking pictures at the race. And a super big thanks for going through all the hastle to email them to me! Love you, Mom!

Registration as we wait in line behind a team of lumber jacks in cut off denim shorts. Hot.

The hubby and I at the starting line ready for the race to begin. Notice that we are clean. Also notice that our "Team Awesome" and "Team Not So Awesome" shirts are looking less and less white after subsequent mud runs.

On the run in the woods! That's us back in there coming up on the mud pit.

Into the mud we go! This was the largest concentration of mud that we saw during the whole race, and it was right at the end. So sad. But we did get to hurdle a flaming log. Nice.

The hubby and I after the race. Notice that we are wet but still mostly clean. So sad. But bonus points for the cool band they had playing at the end of the race and also for the free cup of beer. Deduction of points for the bad pours they got from the kegs. Foamy beer in styrofoam cups. What?!?

Also room for improvement for next year: this was the cleanup facility. Yes...that's a dribbly hose. A single, dribbly hose. But since we didn't get that dirty, no big deal right? ;)

While there was room for improvement at the first ever Dirty Dog Dash: Hell Survivors edition, it was a great trail run and a lot of fun. Offering the Groupon for half off registration was a brilliant move. I hope they do that again next year! *wink hint hint wink*

Anne Springs Close Greenway

2011-09-24T20:13:00.001-04:00

I'm in South Carolina for two weeks for work and making the best of the extended southern summer to keep up with my marathon training. Today I went to the Anne Springs Close Greenway, which is a large network of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails in Fort Mill just south of Charlotte.

It took me some time to find the trailhead to the section that I wanted to run, but once on the trail, I was in heaven. So much so that I developed a theory that trail half marathons may be my calling. I don't know if that's true, but this was a great trail.

I made it about 2.5 or 3 miles into the Blue Star trail when I missed a marker and went the wrong way for a while. I didn't care. I doubled back, found the proper way again, and continued on. I loved the woods. I loved the suspended bridges over the creek. I loved the hawk that took flight right in front of me with a snake in its beak. I loved the little country landmarks like the old mill and the train trestle.

Because of my little detour, I decided to turn around before reaching the southern most terminus of the Blue Star trail. But I plan to go back tomorrow and start at the opposite end to run the piece that I missed. If you love trail running, this is a fantastic system. With summer rain filtering through the trees and damp leaves brushing past my legs, I ran with a smile on my face and felt amazing.

Here is a link to the trail map. I started at the top of the map at the Dairy Farm and Greenway Headquarters (letter G on the map) and took the Blue Star trail south to the east. I turned around near the Webb Grist Mill (letter J).

I may have to find a trail race in Michigan after the Chicago Marathon is done. So much fun!

Tapering and the Dirty Dog Dash

2011-09-18T20:26:00.000-04:00

I'm now officially in the taper period of training for the Chicago Marathon. The hubby asked me how far I was going to run today. I said, "10 miles". He replied, "That's a short run for you now!" I said to that, "It's a very doable run, but I still wouldn't call it short!"

Yesterday the two of us ran the Dirty Dog Dash - a 3-mile mud run much like the Warrior Dash, complete with a beer for finishing. I love that! The course was a hilly run through a wooded paintball play field. It was a fun run, but there hardly any obstacles, and hardly any mud. Even the announcer kept teasing the runners that no one was finishing very dirty.

But, it was fun and certainly not bad for the inaugural running. If they do it again next year, I'm sure it'll improve and grow in size.

I was most impressed by the hubby during the run. We took turns taking the lead on narrow trail sections. When I ran ahead, I pushed the pace a little and heard the hubby keeping right up. He has gotten in great shape this summer, lost some weight, and had a lot of fun. I'm so proud of him! (Photos to come...)

Everyone is out for fall rides

2011-09-14T07:41:00.004-04:00

The hubby and I got out mountain biking for the first time in over a month last night. We rode the 8 mile trail at Cannonsburg State Game Area. It was a fantastic night! It’s getting cool out – fall seems to be coming early. And everyone else, it seems, thought it was a good night to ride, too. The parking area was full, and 20+ cars spilled over on the sides of the road nearby.

It felt good to do a hard workout that wasn’t running.

Also, it’s funny how I’ve gotten used to workouts that last for hours without stopping. Riding the trail for less than an hour felt so FAST!

I look forward to way more biking after the marathon is over. It’ll be a good fall!

By the way, the hubby and I are running the Dirty Dog Dash in Pinckney this weekend. It’s another mud run like the Warrior Dash. And it’s on my mom’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Mom!

20 Mile Training Run

2011-09-12T08:33:00.000-04:00

Well, I did it. I survived the 20 mile run. I ate adequately and drank fluids. I even tried proteins. My energy was good throughout the run, even if my pace was slower than I would have liked. My average mile pace for the run was 11:15. Man! I've gotten slow. I guess that's OK though for such a distance.

I don't care what my time is for this first marathon. Well, OK. I do care...within reason.

Though my expectations keep changing. My goal keeps getting slower. At this point, I’ll be happy to finish under 5 hours. I’m not saying that’s a bad time. It’s 26.2 freakin’ miles after all. It’s just that reality is setting in. I have trained for distance. NOT speed.

Anyway…I digress.

I tried consuming proteins starting right at the beginning of the run to try to avoid the leg pain that developed on my 18-mile run around the 16 mile point. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. I felt great right up to 16 miles, and then the pain began to develop in my feet, then my knees and hips…pretty much all over my legs. But mostly in my feet and knees this time. I also lost my appetite, and it got harder and harder to keep my legs moving.

I willed myself to keep going for the last 4 miles, but can I do that for 10 miles? TEN? How slow are those last miles going to be?

I’m concerned about this. I think I will have the will power and energy to keep running through the pain. But what if my legs just shut down? What if the signals from my brain just stop getting through and my muscles go on strike? What can I do to prevent this?

I’m going to try posting to some forums out there to see what running experts have to say. I got some good advice last time I posted about this on Cyclin’ Missy, but I need more. Any advice is welcome.

Even so, I’m excited for race day to get here. Another month seems like a long time to wait. Bring on Chicago!

Penulimate long run day

2011-09-11T11:14:00.001-04:00

I'm having some kind of problem with my internet at work that is not letting me compose posts. Blarg. But it seems fine at home. Anyway, that puts a damper on the frequency of posting for me.

Nevertheless, I had to get online and post an update today. Today is the day of my 20 mile training run. This will be the longest run I do before the marathon on October 9. I've planned a route that loops back by my house so I can stock up on liquids and calories part way through. It should be a lovely evening for a run - ranging from 75 down to 65 degrees F and sunny until the sun goes down.

Wish me luck!

Pepper Spray: A Subtle Message to Potential Creeps

2011-08-25T11:36:00.000-04:00

Last night I had to work a couple hours late, and then I was starving for dinner, so I didn’t get around to running until after it got dark. Have you noticed, by the way, that it’s getting dark earlier? Waaaah!

Anyway, I decided to take my pepper spray along. I feel completely safe in my neighborhood, but that’s what I have it for right?

My spray canister came with a Velcro strap that wears comfortably around my hand so that the can sits right in my palm. Easy access for a quick defensive shot, but I can still use my fingers to start my stopwatch, grab my water bottle, etc.

So I was running along with pretty much no one around for most of the run. Then, a man approached from behind me on his bike and politely said excuse me. I assumed he was just going to pass me, so I moved over waiting for him to go by. But he got closer and asked me a question. I couldn’t understand him since my ears were facing ahead and his voice was coming from behind, so I stopped and let him catch up.

Apparently, he was just looking for directions, so I helped him out.

After he took off, I realized that I had unconsciously scratched my forehead while thinking about his directions request with the hand that had the pepper spray strapped to it. Kind of like I was subtly saying, “Hey buddy. I’ll help you out, but keep in mind that I will cause you excruciating pain if you mess with me!” He looked anxious talking to me and eager to get on his way. Maybe he was late to meet someone. Or maybe he didn’t want hot pepper juice in his eyes. Hard to say.

High mileage pain: what to do?

2011-08-23T13:22:00.001-04:00

After so many overheated runs in the 95 degree California dry heat last week, it was great to get back to running in Michigan. The weather is still summery here at 80-85 degrees, but it is cooling down significantly in the evenings. It’s lovely outdoor sports weather.

On Sunday, I did my 18 mile training run in the evening. I can’t tell you how much easier it was to run in 70 degree air than it was in the California desert heat! I had so much energy. I was able to run the entire 18 miles without walking. I hydrated adequately and ate enough during the run, so it was a great confidence boost in most respects.

But one thing about the run worries me. I felt great the whole time until the last 3 miles when everything started to hurt. I still had energy, but pain just started to grow in my tired feet, hips, knees, and legs. Toward the end, every step hurt and my legs got heavier and harder to move.

I completed the training run, but what’s going to happen on race day when I still have 8.2 more miles to go at that point? Will one more long training run at 20 miles prepare me to push that pain off as long into the race as possible? Or is this what every marathoner faces at high mileage?

Can I just push through it, or will it get so bad that I just can’t keep running? Should I be eating more or taking walk breaks? Are my electrolytes low? Should I be doing more base mileage on my shorter days?

Marathoners (or other endurance athletes - thanks Donna!) out there…I need your wisdom!

Completing two marathons in 10 days

2011-08-20T00:56:00.000-04:00

When I arrive home tomorrow evening from my 10-day business trip, I will have completed two marathons. Not the running kind, but the work kind. Two all-nighters of work + travel with no sleep in between.

(See how I lured you in there with what sounded like a feat of athletics but was really just a plea for pity?) ;)

I am not a stay-up-all-night-and-into-the-next-day kind of girl. When I'm tired, I want to sleep. Sleeeeeepppp...

Oh...uh...sorry. I'm awake.

Hiking Mt San Borgonio

2011-08-13T23:43:00.000-04:00

This is the first time I've travelled to California for work and had a day off to do something fun. So I decided to do some hiking in the San Bernardino National Forest. There are dozens of trails in the forest - miles and miles of climbing mountains, crossing creeks, and camping out. So it took some work to choose the trails that I would spend my day exploring.

My co-worker told me about a quick hike to Big Falls in the Barton Flats/Mill Creek area of the park. Big Falls is the highest falls in California, so I couldn't resist the 10 minutes it took to see it.

After making a stop at the Mill Creek ranger station to pick up a map and an Adventure Pass, I drove through the adorable mountain side town of Forest Falls to find the Big Falls trail head. I parked and walked along the creek for a short distance, crossed it, and soon found the falls. Very cool.

Then, I headed for the fantastic Vivian Creek trail. I walked a rough path for about half a mile along the south side of the creek until crossing over to the Vivian Creek trail head.

This trail is a steep hike up Mount San Borgonio - the highest peak in southern California - for the first mile. It is full of switch backs and the first of the mountain's spactacular views. It is also home to bears, lizards, and chipmunks among other creatures. I made a friend. Just a small, non-bear type friend, fortunately.

After that first steep mile, the trail weaves through the San Borgonio Wilderness, which is gorgeous. Over 7-8 more miles, the trail leads to two camp sites and ultimately the summit of the mountain at 11,500 feet.

Unfortunately, hiking the wildnerness area requires a permit that I did not have, so I couldn't explore it very far today. I loved it so much, though, that I desperately want to come back to hike to the summit and camp out for the night enjoying the sweeping vistas.

After heading back down the mountain - which is hard on the knees, I might add - I checked out the Momyer trail accessed back in the town of Forest Falls. I parked at a very full parking lot and made my way down to the creek again. I paused to sit on a rock in the middle of the creek to enjoy the small rapids. The water was cool and clear.

Momyer is much less intense than the Vivian Creek trail (at least in the short distance that I walked) but still beautiful. It would be a great walk with kids.

At this point, I decided that I was hot and tired and ready for more to eat than the snacks that I carried, so I headed back to my car and drove down out of the mountains again. I didn't touch my gas pedal for about 2 miles. Awesome.

I love love loved the hike on Vivian Creek. I hope I can return soon to do the whole trail. Next time, I'll apply in advance for the Wilderness Permit and plan an overnight all the way to the top!

Bike Maintenance & Repair Classes?

2011-08-11T00:07:00.001-04:00

The hubby and I are looking for a place that offers bike maintenance and repair classes beyond the old "how to change a flat" stuff. Does anyone know of a place in the Grand Rapids, MI area?

Other suggestions are also welcome.

Thanks everyone!

@Scott - Yes, all of those things, as well as derailleur/shifter and brake adjustment. Shoot me an email when you have things set up and we'll think about coming out. Thanks!

Local woman will attempt to swim Lake Michigan

2011-08-08T08:20:00.000-04:00

In the local feats of athletics category, I point you to this inspiring woman from Jenison, MI - Ashley St. Andrew - who plans to swim across Lake Michigan starting in the next few days. If successful, she will be the first woman to accomplish this swim.

Read the article here.

Good luck, Ashley!

How to cool off during a summer run

2011-08-07T19:29:00.003-04:00

I did a 16 mile run today. It was hot out, mostly sunny, and humid. I felt pretty good until I got to an area with little to no shade and started getting overheated. I had plenty of fluids to drink, but it was still just humid and the sun was inescapable. During the last half of the run, I needed to walk every once in a while and started searching for ways to cool down.

First, I looked up ahead on the bike path around mile 10 to see my friend Jair riding his bike toward me. What luck! He happened to be out for a ride enjoying the Sunday afternoon, too. We both stopped and chatted for a minute, then I asked if either of the bottles in his cages had plain water in them. Score! Jair let me use some of his water, still cold in an insulated sports bottle, to wet my head. It felt amazing! I was reinvigorated...for about a quarter of a mile.

That cool down didn't last long, but I knew that a mile or so down the road was a gas station. I hoped to go in and top off my own water/sports drink mixture with cold water and grab some ice. The soda fountain machine did not have a water tap, but I grabbed a handful of ice anyway. I rubbed a few pieces on my face and neck and dropped the rest down my shirt. That kept me going for a little while longer.

Then, I knew that if I could make it another mile, I'd enter another bike path that was graciously shaded by trees for an entire mile and a half. I was able to keep up a slow running pace in the shade without needing to walk any of that section. Then, it was a matter of just finishing the last mile and half and I could collapse in front of my air conditioner or hop in a cold shower.

On hot days like this, I've found a few strategies that help me beat the heat. I'm not always smart enough to employ them sufficiently, but some methods are:

Run in the morning or evening. Avoid the hottest hours of the day.
Wear sunscreen to avoid burning.
Pre-hydrate for several hours before the run and carry sufficient liquids for the run itself.
In case you do run out of beverage, know where the sources of liquids and ice are on your route (gas stations, fast food restaurants, drinking fountains) and plan them in if necessary, or stash iced bottles of fluids along the route before you run. You may want to carry a couple bucks in cash in case you have to buy something. If all else fails, knock on the door of a friendly looking house and ask to borrow their hose.
Soak your shirt or shorts in cool water before you leave the house.
Wear a handkerchief or other clothing that can hold an ice pack near, but not directly on your skin.
Have a buddy bike with you to carry extra supplies.
Run through a sprinkler. It's just a fun as when we were kids!

What other methods have you used to avoid overheating on summer runs?

Hiking in So-Cal: Recommendations?

2011-08-05T08:11:00.002-04:00

I’m going to be working in the Riverside, CA area over the next couple weeks, and I may have a day or two free one weekend to do something fun. I’m thinking beach and/or hiking. I’m really leaning toward the hiking, if I can’t do both.

I’ve been taking a look at the various parks and trails within an hour drive of my hotel in Moreno Valley. There are some beautiful places to hike. I’m considering either the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park or the San Bernardino National Forest.

Can anyone recommend a good place to hike in this area?

Also, where can one buy pepper spray? Since I’ll most likely be out there alone, I want to have something to protect myself.

Thanks all!

Warrior Dash - Caught on Video

2011-08-02T13:34:00.001-04:00

Sadly, there were some injuries at the Warrior Dash this weekend. There was a girl just ahead of us who landed wrong somehow when jumping over the fire logs and broke her leg. And there was the Hope College student James Sa who is now paralyzed from the chest down after an injury from diving in the mud pit. My thoughts and prayers are with these unfortunate athletes.

But while reading the news about James Sa on mlive.com, my co-worker noticed me and the hubby crawling through the mud pit in the first video below the article. Look, Ma! I'm on TV!

Courtesy of mlive.com video

Watch it here. We start crawling through at 00:09.

On a Mud Run Kick

2011-08-01T14:18:00.000-04:00

The hubby and I are on a mud run kick right now. Last year we did two and sort of fell in love with them. Obstacles on a 3-mile trail run? Mud? Beer? Food? Music? Even non-runners love these races!

We just completed the Warrior Dash in Flint, MI this weekend. We are Warriors! It was a great day out there. Not as muddy as the Warrior Dash in Joliet, IL last year (which was hilarious and downright epic), but still a fun time. Our friend Jair ran, too, and he did great! All the mountain biking he has started doing this year has really helped his fitness.

We are also planning to do the second annual Grand Rapids Mud Run on August 27. It's just a few miles from our house, which is super convenient. The course last year was a little bit disappointing since you had to run the loop twice. But we'll just see how they improve upon their first attempt this time around!

And I'm trying to sign up for the Dirty Dog Dash: Hell Survivors run on September 17 (my mom's birthday!) in Pinckney, MI. There's a Groupon for half off the entry fee. What a great registration deal! If you can do the race, you should jump on that Groupon.

Some day I'd like to grab a partner and do a Muddy Buddy. These are events for teams of two who alternate mountain biking and running over a 6-mile course.

And finally, the hubby and I are considering doing the Tough Mudder next April. This is the utimate in mud runs with more challenging obstacles over a 10-12 mile run. As their website says, this is less of a race and more of a challenge just to complete the entire course. It sounds wet, cold, hard, and awesome. I'm so in.

These are great events that appeal to a wide range of runners of all ability levels - especially adults (since most serve alcohol and involve obstacles that could be difficult for small kids). And if you like dressing up in costume for running events, this is a great place to show off your style.

See you in the mud!

The Refuge Freeride Mountain Bike Park - Video

2011-07-27T22:51:00.001-04:00

This weekend, the hubby and I and a crew of our friends checked out The Refuge - a freeride park in Fremont, MI. The trails near the entrance were a bit overgrown with some thorny bushes, but once we got deeper into the woods, it was wild!

The Refuge is an amusement park of well-built bike stunts designed for riders of a high skill level. We only tried some of the less intimidating obstacles - a pump track, some raised platforms, a teeter-totter, some stepped ramps...for we are not riders of a high skill level. But many more stunts were break-your-neck scary! Not for the timid or noob mountain biker! That said, this park is awesome.

It's a good thing we were smart enough to stick to the stunts that we did judging by the bruises and scrapes that we came away with. I've got a couple nice purple streaks up the back of my leg from falling off a 4-foot high platform after stalling out on the way up the ramp. At least I wasn't on the 10-foot high rollers or the jump that dropped into a valley below. Wow.

I may not have ridden too many obstacles myself, but I did take some video of my friends attempting them. Below is my first try at editing a video with the FlipShare software. Definitely room for improvement, but a fun video to watch. (By the way, the guy in red is the hubby!)

I hope you enjoy the crashes. ;)

Music: "Right Now" by SR71

Losing a Toenail from Running

2011-07-27T15:25:00.000-04:00

Years ago, when I was training for a half marathon at the end of my senior year of college, I had a pair of running shoes that did not quite fit me right. As a result, I developed blisters on the ends/tops of both of my second toes (the ones next to the big toes). Eventually the nail on both toes turned purple and came off revealing new nails underneath. This was not particularly painful, but it was a mildly disturbing experience nonetheless.

Apparently, this is very common among runners. Losing a toenail is generally caused by damage to the nail due to impact from one’s running shoes. This often happens when the runner’s second toe is longer than the big toe, as is the case with me.

I bring this up, because it’s happening again – though only on one foot this time. I just bought a new pair of running shoes a few weeks ago, and I haven’t been completely happy with them. After trying several different models on, I wasn’t super excited about how any of them felt, but my old shoes were badly worn out, so I settled on this year’s version of the shoe I had last year. It should be the same shoe as far as fit goes, but it is not.

The best way to prevent toenails from falling off is to wear running shoes that are a half size larger than you would normally wear. This increases the space in the toe box decreasing the amount of impact of the toes on the ends of the shoes. I thought I had selected a shoe with lots of room in the toe box, but my purple nail now tells me that it wasn’t enough.

The problem is that your feet swell when you run. This is not a big surprise, but it means that if you try a pair of shoes on after you’ve been sitting at your desk at work all morning (yah…that was me), they are not going to fit the same as when you run in them. Perhaps the lesson here is to go for a run before trying to buy my next pair of running shoes.

But now that I am stuck with the shoes I have (at least temporarily), I have been looking for ways to prevent further damage to my toes and to possibly allow this purple nail to heal up without falling off. I’ve tried different socks, petroleum jelly, and Band-Aids. Yesterday, I bought a gel toe protector that slides over the toe like a glove finger and provides some cushion. I did a short run with it, but I haven’t decided whether I like it yet or not. Does it take up too much of the precious space in my shoe, or does it protect my nail more? Is it too tight or is some compression normal? Only further trials will tell.

Have you ever lost (or almost lost) a toenail from running? What did you do to prevent it from happening again? Has anyone run with a gel or silicone toe protector before? Share your toenail treatment secrets!

My Mom's Kidney Walk 2011

2011-07-25T08:21:00.001-04:00

I try not to use this blog to solicit for charities. There are so many meaningful causes out there deserving of our hard earned dollars. But for one organization, I make an exception.

Each year, I post a link to my mom's fundraising page for the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Walk in Ann Arbor, MI. My mom received a kidney transplant 6 years ago, and has been healthy and blessed ever since. I am so thankful for that. So, you can see why this particular charity holds personal meaning for me.

Me and My Mom

That's why I post this link every year.

My mom is one of the lucky ones to receive a good organ match while she was on dialysis. But there are many people still suffering from kidney disease that are awaiting a transplant. The National Kidney Foundation offers information, and support to kidney disease sufferers and their families in this challenging time. It is a wonderful organization. My mom herself has served as a mentor to other patients awaiting transplants. It means so much to them to connect with someone who has been through their experience and can share with them what to expect in such a scary time.

So if you would, please consider donating to my mom's fundraising page. And thanks for taking the time to read this.

Saturday, July 23, 2011
Run 4 miles, Bike 3.6 miles
Race for the Rock in downtown Grand Rapids followed by riding at The Refuge in Fremont, MI. This was a crazy freeride park far above my skill level, but it was awesome to check out! I've got some spectacular bruises to prove it.

Sunday, July 24, 2011
Run 14 miles
Did my long run this week with my friend Cat. We walked a little bit due to Cat's calves cramping up, but I didn't care. It was great to spend the time catching up and enjoying the summer evening!

Antsy to move

2011-07-20T08:06:00.000-04:00

How is it that I can run 12 miles on the weekend like it’s nothing, and then a few days later a 3 mile run feels so hard?

Also, I have read that when people train hard for an event and start their taper in the weeks before the race, they feel antsy like they are not doing enough physical activity. I’m not in a taper yet, but I’ve been training for the marathon for about 3 months now running or mountain biking most days of the week. Now on the days that I don’t exercise, I have the urge to go run. My body has gotten used to being consistently active. It doesn’t feel right when I’m not.

I was talking about this with the hubby last night, and he is experiencing the same feeling right now. I’m stoked for him. He’s gotten into the habit of exercise, and he’s in the best shape he’s been in in years. I really hope I can help him keep up the pace. His doctor’s going to love it. And I love having a partner who is into the things I do.

The hubby actually proposed doing the Tough Mudder together in the spring. This race looks intense! It’s a lot like a Warrior Dash (coming up on the 30th in Flint, MI by the way!) with more challenging obstacles…and it’s 10-12 miles long! That’s right…the hubby proposed doing a run together that is 10-12 miles long. Oh. My. Gosh. Yes. The race looks cold, wet, scary, and hard. But I’m so in.

It’s a strange experience having that antsy desire to be active every day and also have the days that feel like you’re dragging your lead weight of a body down the road when you finally get out there. I’m excited now to have the Tough Mudder in mind for the spring. It will motivate the hubby and I to maintain our fitness during the winter, which can be so hard to do in the long, cold, grey season of death here in Michigan. I may have to drag my body out into the snow, but it’ll be so worth it.

Running with Headphones

2011-07-18T09:58:00.002-04:00

I know that some people swear by running with headphones. Some almost can’t handle running without them.

I however am generally a no-headphone kind of runner. I like feeling in touch with my body while I run. I like hearing what’s going on around me – when I run outside in particular. I want to hear vehicle traffic and bicycles coming up behind me.

I also feel like the music that I listen to affects the pace that I run, which feels strange to me when the tempo changes from song to song.

However, once in a while I feel like having something to think about other than running. For example, last night I did my long run – 12 miles – the longest yet in my marathon training, and I wanted some distraction. I almost had the hubby come along with me on his bike, but he was busy with other things that I didn’t want to take him away from. So I wore my MP3 player.

Right now, my player is loaded with up-tempo songs that are great to work out to – some rock, some techno, some club, some R&B. I think the music really motivated me, and the pacing seemed to be relatively consistent.

I was really cruising along at a 9:38 mile pace, which is good for how my long runs have been going lately. Not my fastest for the same distance, but very acceptable and maintainable. Since I’ve been running 10+ minute miles on my long runs this summer (especially on really hot days), I was happy.

I don’t know if it was the cooler weather of the evening that helped or the tempo of the music, but I it was a good run. I enjoyed listening to the peppy songs. Too bad MP3 players aren’t allowed at the Chicago marathon. I’ll have to depend on all the craziness going on around me to keep me distracted from the pain. That is one of the reasons that I chose Chicago over a marathon close to home – all of the bands, shows, crowds and hullabaloo that the Chicago race has to offer its participants along the route.

Update: I just read that the ban on headphones has been lifted for the race (except for those competing for money). Sweet!

I ran happy and energetically last night rocking out to my tunes. That is until the MP3 player died at mile 8.5. I was crushed by the loss! But I recovered and finished the last 3.5 miles strong.

The hubby even decided to ride my route backwards to meet me and make sure I was OK. I ran so fast, that I met him in the last quarter mile turning into our subdivision.

How do you feel about running with headphones? Pros? Cons? Have you done a marathon without music?

Taking the in-laws mountain biking

2011-07-17T14:11:00.000-04:00

My in-laws are very active people. They both run and bike several times a week. So it was kind of cool when they asked to go mountain biking with us this weekend. They don't do much trail riding, so we chose to take them to Luton Park, since it is a great trail for beginner mountain bikers. Fun, but not too hilly and not too scary.

My mother-in-law, Helen, had a really bad crash on her road bike last year when her rear tire blew on a fast decent and threw her over the bike onto the pavement. She's still recovering from that scare psychologically, and I can't blame her! It took me a while to regain my confidence after getting hit by the car a couple summers ago. I even have a day here and there where I'm just not feeling brave. So Helen took her time and just rode at her pace, which was great. She was out there doing it. Go her.

My father-in-law, Eric, is a pretty good athlete. He does several running races and a triathlon every year. His goal pace is about 7 minutes per mile running on the road, which is a pretty good run for a guy in his fifties. So at Luton yesterday, Eric was right on top of things. I'm sure he could have ridden faster than me, but he chose to follow me to see what lines I chose on the trail. Whatever I did, he did - no matter the obstacle. It was great for me, because I felt flattered by his confidence in me, and it pushed me to ride a little more aggressively than usual. I actually slid out a couple of times and when down, but I got dusty - nothing more.

After a while, we lost Helen on one of the trails and assumed that she had made her way back to the parking lot, which she had. Next time we all go riding, we'll have to bring some walky-talkies so we can communicate.

It was fun having the parents go for a ride with us!

After mountain biking, he hubby and I rode motorcycles with our friend, Jair, to the Muskegon Bike Week festival. I've never been to a motorcycle rally before. It was cool to see it! It was also great riding passenger with Jair on his sport bike. What a blast! I love the motorcycle that I have, but there is still a part of me that just feels right on a true crotch rocket. Maybe I'll upgrade someday.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Short run - 3.1 miles
Fast run at about 8:20 mile pace

Thursday, July 14, 2011
Fartleks with the hubby - 3.5 miles
A short warmup plus 30 minutes of Fartleks with the hubby. Three minutes fast plus two minutes slow for a total of about 33 minutes. Also...it was freakin' hot out!

Saturday, July 16, 2011
Mountain Biking - 9.5 miles
Riding at Luton with the in-laws, the hubby, and Jair

C9 by Champion Women's Ventilated Running Skort Review

2011-07-14T07:51:00.000-04:00

I admit it. After reading this month’s issue of Runner’s World, I was drawn in by the fun, feminine, yet practical style of running skorts. I have wanted to try one out for quite a while, but I never searched very hard to find one that fit me well. Until now.

Inspired by Runner’s World, I investigated several brands online. Most running skorts are priced around $45 or more from the brands that specialize in stylish women’s athletic clothing. In the end, I decided to go the inexpensive route for my first try with a running skort, so I picked up a C9 by Champion Ventilated Running Skort for under $20 at Target.

Image Courtesy of Target.com

This skort is short (but not too short) and cute. The cut looks really nice on my body complementing my hips and long legs. The shorts underneath the skirt fit much like bike shorts and make me feel confident that I’m maintaining my modesty even in such a short skirt. As a nice little touch, the inside back of the skort has a small pocket that would easily hold a key or some cash. I don’t think it would not be large enough to hold a driver’s license or credit card.

Image Courtesy of Target.com

I love the look of the skort and have generally been comfortable and happy wearing it for running and playing tennis. I think it would be good for biking, as well, if you do not care to have padding in your shorts.

Image Courtesy of Target.com

However, there are two things that I have not been impressed by. First, even though the underneath shorts hug my thighs, they do not stay in place. They creap up my legs and bunch up at the top. This is not a huge deal, since they are not too uncomfortable this way, but I find myself wanting to tug the legs down all the time.

Second, I’ve worn the skort on some really hot and humid days, and it does not breath well. I feel no air flow to keep me cool, and I get all sweaty in the entire shorts area. This was a definite surprise to me, since I thought that a skirt would be more breezy. On days with a more moderate temperature, this will not be a problem.

So to summarize – the C9 by Champion Ventilated Running Skort from Target is cute, fits well, is comfortable for days that are not swelteringly hot, and comes at an unbeatable price. However, the legs of the undershorts do not stay in place, and the material does not breath.

Considering what I got for the price, I would recommend this skort as a decent inexpensive option.

When I decide to upgrade, I think I will try my favorite option from my online research – the Ultra Swift Skirt from runningskirts. It is priced at about $48 right now on their website.

Image Courtesy of runningskirts.com

This skirt looks cute, soft, and comfy and has the adorable runningskirts log on it. The cut looks flattering, and the Ultra Swift has a brief style liner instead of a shorts style liner. There’s no way a brief can bunch up, so I think this skirt will be more comfortable and offer more air flow than the C9. This skirt also has two velcro pockets on the hips and a velcro pocket in the back. This should allow for more carrying capacity for running essentials like an ID and maybe a gel. I also like that this skirt has reverse seams to prevent chafing.

Image Courtesy of runningskirts.com

I think the Ultra Swift will be comfortable, cool, and cute. I am willing to give it a try for the higher price hoping that the quality will be much higher than that of the C9. Now I just have to wait until they have my size in stock…

I might have to go with the very similar Running Skirt, which is currently carried in my size. The only differences between the Ultra Swift and the Running Skirt styles, it seems, are the lack of the rear pocket and regular seams on the Running Skirt. Otherwise the cut is the same.

Has anyone else found a running skort or skirt that you love?

A bent wheel and customer service

2011-07-13T09:04:00.001-04:00

My friend, Jeff, who recently bought a brand new Trek 29-er mountain bike took it out for his first ride at Luton Park last week and experienced a bent wheel just over a mile into the ride. Not cool. He took it back to Kentwood Cycle and Fitness, where the first thing they asked was, “What did you hit?” Nothing that should have bent a wheel, that’s for sure. So, they trued up the wheel for him, and sent us on our way.

Throughout this week, Jeff has been riding the bike, putting it through the bumps and surges that should be well within its tolerance. Then yesterday, we headed back out to Luton to try to boldly finish the trail. Unbelievably, Jeff’s wheel bent again after just a couple miles.

The loops of the Luton Park trail are ranked Easy, Intermediate, and Advanced by the MMBA website. We were on an intermediate trail when the wheel failed. However, I would not consider any of the loops at Luton particularly intense. There are no big drops, no big climbs, no big rocks. There are no logs to bunny hop over. There are some small roots and lots of twists and swoops and narrow passes between trees. In fact, I would consider Luton to be the easiest biking trail in the West Michigan area – technically speaking. Don’t get me wrong… It’s interesting to ride, but it doesn’t present anything that should cause damage to a mountain bike.

With the wheel bent a second time, we left Luton without completing our ride AGAIN, and returned to Kentwood Cycle. When Jeff walked in the door, the sales guy again asked, “What did you hit?” I’m not impressed. You sell a bike for mountain biking (not the bottom of the line either, just to be clear). You know the area trails and what obstacles they offer. And you question whether the bike you sold can handle it? Not cool.

But they redeemed themselves when they turned around and offered to replace the wheels with a better model (through the Trek warranty, of course). That was the thing to do to make this right by Jeff. I’m eager to see how the new wheels hold up when he gets the bike back in a few days.

If Kentwood hadn’t upped their customer service, I was ready to take Jeff straight to my preferred bike shop – Village Bike Shop. Charlie and the guys at VBS have treated me extremely well over the past few years, and I swear by them. But I’ll give Kentwood Cycle a chance to see how these new wheels perform. If they fail, VBS is getting Jeff’s business from now on. If not, I’ll speak well of Kentwood’s customer service.

The quality of the stock wheels on this bike model is still questionable, however. :)

Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Mountain Bike turned Road Bike - 17.1 miles
Started out mountain biking at Luton Park and had to cut the ride short due to Jeff's mechanical issue. We then returned home and went on a road bike ride to get some more exercise.

"I'm not alone in my craziness"

2011-07-10T21:47:00.000-04:00

I went out for my long run today on another hot day this summer. It was about 89 degrees F out, humid, and sunny. I wore a good coat of sunscreen and carried my water and sports drink.

It was a recovery week, so my long run distance was decreased this week. Since it was a recovery workout, I didn't feel bad taking walk breaks and running a nice easy pace. I took full advantage of any shade I could find along my route and endulged in a couple sprinklers along the way. Is there anything better than a sprinkler on a hot summer day?

As I ran down the street near my house, a slim, somewhat pale man with no shirt on approached running in the opposite direction. As we passed, he said in a thick, possibly German accent, "I'm not alone in my craziness!" That's right! I'm crazy about running. So crazy, that I'll do an 8 mile run on an 89 degree day. Oh yah! I was in good company out there today.

Friday, July 8, 2011
Short run - 3.5 miles
Trail running at Plaster Creek. I think I picked up some poison ivy while mountain biking earlier this week...or it could have been while running. The hubby and our friend Jair got it, too. Washing my sheets as I write. LOL!

Saturday, July 9, 2011
Tennis with the hubby

Sunday, July 10, 2011
Long run - 8.1 miles
Hot, humid, sunny!

Bike Shorts

2011-07-08T16:17:00.002-04:00

The hubby has finally tried and fallen in love with padded bike shorts.

Victory!!! :)

Impromptu

2011-07-07T07:41:00.000-04:00

I was going to take yesterday as an off day and get a couple more runs in at the end of this week before my long run. But fate intervened (a friend called) and we all ended up going on a 20 mile bike ride instead. Oh well. Just more "cross training", I guess! ;)

Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Biking on paved trails
20 miles

New Recruits

2011-07-06T08:31:00.000-04:00

A second friend, Jeff, has now joined the ranks of mountain bikers. More new recruits! He bought his new bike yesterday.

The hubby, Jair, Jeff, and I headed out to Luton Park for Jeff's first ride on his new 29-er. After the first loop, I caught up to Jeff just before a bridge and he said that his wheel was wabbling. Sure enough, it was bent. I don't know if it was due to some loose spokes or a bent rim, but he decided to cut the ride short and take the bike back to the shop for repairs. After less than 2 miles of riding!

The hubby and I continued on for another loop, but we were forced to stop short as well, because his rear tube kept loosing air. We also hit the road for the bike shop to pick up a new tube, because I had already used my spare a few days before.

Once all of the bike repairs were taken care of, we headed home and set out on bikes to ride the paved and dirt trails near home. We rode about 17 miles in all, salvaging the remainder of the daylight.

Funny how mechanicals come in swarms!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Mountain biking
17.25 miles

STP

2011-07-05T12:46:00.000-04:00

I did my long run yesterday - 11 miles. I ran during the hottest part of the day, so I wore sunscreen. Nevertheless, I still managed to get a slight hint of sunburn. I guess I perspired the sunscreen right off. Go summer.

But as my post title reveals, my main purpose in writing right now is to say that I JUST GOT TICKETS TO SEE STONE TEMPLE PILOTS! They're playing at the Rock the Rapids festival on August 9. I am excited.

Monday, July 4, 2011
Long Run
11 miles

Fort Custer

2011-07-04T11:13:00.001-04:00

The hubby, our friend Jair, and I went riding at Fort Custer yesterday. It was our first time to this trail system near Kalamazoo, MI. We rode the red loop, which is the advanced trail, and...wow. There was one section that was a bit more technical than I prefer. I was a little scared! But in the end, it was all fun riding and great to try out a new place.

Also, I love summer. I just had to throw that in there. :)

Today I will do my long run for the week - 11 miles. Wish me luck!

Happy Independence Day!

Sunday, July 3, 2011
Mountain Biking
Fort Custer Red Loop - 9.82 miles

Monday, July 4, 2011
Long Run
11 miles

Update: I can't seem to comment on my own blog. Wierd. Anyway...

Jann - Fort Custer is a system of mountain bike trails. There is a yellow loop, which is considered an easy cruise around the park - nothing technical - but still dirt. The blue loop rides around the lakes. The green is moderate and the red is difficult.

Social Dancing

2011-06-30T11:04:00.000-04:00

The hubby and I have been taking social dancing lessons - Cha Cha, Tango, Waltz, and other ballroom styles. It has been a blast! One of the things I like about the studio that we're going to is that they show you how you can do these traditional dance steps to modern music. This stuff isn't just good for weddings and formals. We can do it at clubs, too!

Sadly, we found out last night that our personal coach is moving on to a new opportunity, so he will not be teaching us again. Next week, we will start with a new coach.

In addition to dancing last night, I commuted to work by bike and ran to the mechanic's shop to pick up my car. It was an active day!

Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Biking 7.2 miles
Running 2.6 miles
The run felt cruddy. You have good days, and you have bad days. It was still cool to run with the hubby.

Bicycling in Grand Rapids Meeting Wednesday

2011-06-28T14:13:00.000-04:00

Coming up from 7pm-9pm on Wednesday night at the Wealthy Theater, there will be a meeting to discuss efforts to make the city of Grand Rapids more bicycle friendly. It will begin with a ride to the theater that starts at Founders Brewing at 6:30pm.

For full details, see the article here.

I also postponed my long run this weekend until Monday so I could go mountain biking with friends at Cannonsburg State Game Area on Sunday. It was great! I fell over once in a thorn bush, which was kind of hilarious.

Then I successfully ran 9.7 miles last night. It was supposed to be a 10 mile run, but my route turned out to be a little short. I was still proud of myself, though. The last couple miles were largely up hill. I ran the entire distance and felt much better than my first truly long run a few weeks ago. I am slowly getting stronger.

Sunday, June 265, 2011
Mountain Biking
12 miles at Cannonsburg SGA and Plaster Creek

Monday, June 27, 2011
Long Run
9.7 miles (9:53 mile pace)

+3 Network

2011-06-24T16:56:00.000-04:00

I just signed up for the +3 Network as a member of Team Fatty (the Fat Cyclist's team)! What is the +3 Network, you ask?

Basically, you sign up and designate a charity that you want to support (in this case, Team Fatty is moving for World Bicycle Relief). Then, whenever you exercise, you log your activity on the site and earn money that is donated directly to your selected charity. If you use a GPS enabled device to track your runs/bikes/hikes/etc., you can upload the information automatically. All kinds of activities count - even things like P90X, yoga, and injury rehabilitation exercises.

It costs you nothing. So, if you're doing the exercise anyway, why not let it count for something more?

Are you training for a race? Commuting to work by bike everyday? Just working to get into better shape? I encourage you to sign up and log those workouts.

For step-by-step details on how to sign up for the +3 Network as a member of Team Fatty (or just on your own), Fatty's post (link here) is great.

Thursday, June 23, 2011
3 Mile Short Run

Exploring new paths

2011-06-23T10:35:00.000-04:00

I've gotten two runs in this week while I'm working out in California. That's a record! If I run tonight, too, I just don't know how I'll cope! ;)

I always find it fun to explore new areas on my runs and bike rides. I usually plan out a route when I'm training for a particular distance or time. But sometimes I just go out for a run and let myself take that little path that I ran by last week or go down that cute street with the flowers along the walk.

My run last night was kind of like that. Not only did I run in an unfamiliar town, but I deviated from the one bike path that I know and let myself roam where the sunshine led me. It feels so freeing to do that sometimes. I enjoyed the fragrant bushes as I ran up a quaint neighborhood street. I passed kids learning to play soccer as I circled a local park. I learned that the corner grocery store is out of business.

The hubby back home has been doing some exploring of his own. He and a friend took off on mountain bikes a couple days ago and let themselves wander down barely-there paths in the woods. They returned home with muddy bikes and itchy legs, but they are eager to go back and go farther. I can't wait to join them when I get home!

Thank goodness for letting go of expectations and just running free.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Short Run
3 Miles

Wednesday, June 22, 2011
30 minutes Fartleks plus 10 minutes easy
4.3 Miles total

The miles are getting long!

2011-06-22T10:39:00.000-04:00

My job has been super busy, and I'm travelling in California again this week, but I've been able to get a little more consistent with my running plan. I've been doing a workout at least 3 or 4 times a week plus taking social dancing lessons with the hubby. So fun!

My long run coming up this weekend is 10 miles. The long runs have been hard for me. I feel the lack of a mileage base that I'm working with right now. But I'll keep pushing forward and getting stronger (I hope!). In a few weeks, I'll surpass my longest run ever (a half marathon), which is totally crazy to me.

I also feel the effects of being lazy about my hip exercises. It doesn't feel as weak as it did before I did PT, but my hip flexors and IT band on my right side get pretty tight sometimes. I need to be better about taking the time to care for that.

On a blogger note, I just enabled the cool new mobile device version of this blog, so you can now choose to view Cyclin' Missy in the web or mobile version on your phone. Cool!

A change in plans may be in order

2011-05-27T17:53:00.000-04:00

So.

I'm supposed to be about two months into marathon training. I'm securely NOT two months into marathon training. Time-wise...yes. Mileage-wise...definitely no.

I ran once this week while out here on business in California on the night that I had the time and energy after work and felt recovered enough from the cold I've been fighting off.

I say again, So.

I'm beginning to think that I'll have to start looking for a 4 month marathon training plan instead of a 6 month one. Because I've kind of blown the first 2 months already.

Anyone out there ever been in my shoes?

Lololololol!

Still here...and there...

2011-05-20T19:44:00.000-04:00

Been enjoying the spring running, biking, and now the weekly kickball league. When I can get it, that is. With two weeks of travel and one week of a nasty cold this month, I have felt much less active than I would like to be. But summer is coming, my tomato plants are getting sunned on, and my grill has been in use. I love it!

I'm heading out to California again next week, but I'm training the customers this time, so I hope I'll get a few more hours of daytime to take care of myself this trip. Like buying some groceries and going for runs. Ahh, that would be wonderful! I don't ask for much.

Also, the candidate for my old position at my job accepted our offer, so she'll be starting the day I return to the office. Woo hoo! My transition into project coordination/management continues! I moved my cubicle today from the front desk to the engineering area. It felt wierd but great.

Oh, yah...the hubby is in the process of getting hired into a new job, too. Onward and upward!

HOME!!!

2011-05-07T21:59:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited to be home from my business trip. This is my first full day back, and some friends and I went down to Yankee Springs for a great mountain bike ride. Even though I felt low on energy - I'm still recovering from 140 hours in the past two weeks - it felt so good to be moving. I love riding through the Michigan woods, burning up a tough hill, soaking in the sun.

I still need to sit down and figure out how to catch up on my marathon training, but I'll start with a nice long run tomorrow. The hubby volunteered to bike along with me to keep me company. How can I turn that down? :)

Saturday, May 7, 2011
Mountain Biking - Yankee Springs
11.5 miles

Warehouse Cargo Bikes

2011-05-01T22:36:00.000-04:00

Cargo bikes in the warehouse where my company is installing a sortation system. I really, really, really want to ride the pink one around the facility!

In California for work

2011-04-30T12:15:00.000-04:00

I've been in the sunny state of California for business all this week and next. It has been beautiful out here! Unfortunately, I've been working really long days and have not had a chance to really go outside. I haven't gotten out for a run once since I've been here. There goes two weeks of my marathon training!

Oh well. It's early yet. I'll just have to work out some catch up plan when I get back home to Michigan.

Off in the morning

2011-04-24T10:43:00.000-04:00

On Thursday, the hubby and I went mountain biking at Luton. It was fantastic as always! Practicing at Plaster Creek allowed me to hit some obstacles at Luton that I've never conquered before. That felt great.

Saturday was a long run.

Early tomorrow morning, I will board a plane for California. I mentioned to my coworker who has been to this customer's location before that I plan to run while I'm there. He told me about a nice paved bike path right near the hotel that I'll be staying in. Perfect! I can't wait to run in the sun!

Thursday, April 21, 2011
Mountain Biking
9.5 miles
Luton Park

Saturday, April 23, 2011
Running
4miles
Long run at easy to moderate pace

Portal 2

2011-04-20T22:55:00.000-04:00

For the geeks out there...

It's not often that I like a video game so much that I don't want to stop playing it. Seriously, almost never. I'm not that big into gaming. But right now I'm 2 hours into Portal 2 and wishing I didn't have to get up for work in the morning, because I'd keep playing the campaign right through to the end. And when that was done, I'd drag the hubby away from playing co-op with his friend so he could play co-op with me.

If this is all Greek to you, no worries. I'll get back to speaking bikes and runs tomorrow. ;)

Fartleks

2011-04-20T20:00:00.001-04:00

My run today was a series of Fartleks. As Wikipedia says, the word Fartlek is Swedish for "speed play". In running, this involves a series of time spans at different intensities (or speeds) that incorporates both aerobic and anaerobic exercise into the workout. These varying intervals could be fast running, slow running, walking, sprinting, or even hills in a repeating cycle for the desired amount of time.

Some Fartlek workouts are rather structured - more like tempo runs, really - such as run 4 minutes fast, run 1 minute easy, and repeat 4 times. Other Fartleks are fun and free and random - truly at the whim of the runner at any given moment. I picture playing soccer or flag football or doing Parkour. (Not that I can do Parkour... I'm just saying.)

In any case, the benefits of Fartlek workouts are many. They can be fun and freeing. They teach your body what it feels like to give a surge of speed. They get your body used to maintaining a harder effort when you're tired. They simulate varying terrain or even obstacles.

For my workout today, I gave the more structured version of Fartleks a try: 4 minutes fast, 1 minute slow for 20 minutes. I really focused on maintaining the fast pace during those 4-minute periods, and let me tell you...it was a hard workout! This is how you get stronger and faster in running - pushing outside of your comfort zone.

The feeling that I worked hard today was encouraging. I'm still doing low mileage in only week 2 of my training plan, but I feel that I'm doing the right work to improve my endurance for the longer runs to come.

Running
3 miles total of Fartleks
Warm up, 4 minutes hard/1 minute easy for 20 minutes, cool down

Just a run

2011-04-20T07:49:00.000-04:00

I don't have much to report today, other than my run on Monday. Just a 3-miler at a quick pace as my training plan indicated. Tonight...Fartleks!

Next week I'll be travelling to the warm, sunny land of California for business. It's supposed to be in the 70's and 80's and sunny every day. Joy! I will be working extra hard to prioritize getting out there for my runs despite the long work days.

Run
3 miles (short type run)
Warm up, 2.5 miles at moderately high intensity, cool down

Didn't think we'd do it, did ya?

2011-04-16T14:09:00.000-04:00

Yesterday after work, the hubby and I went for a run. The hubby was running significantly faster than normal. So much so, that I was having trouble keeping up. I asked him where all this speed was coming from, and he said that his quads are feeling stronger since we've been mountain biking and that's just how fast his legs wanted to go. Well, OK...cool!

Later in the evening, our friend Jair (who just got the new mountain bike) called taunting us about when we were going for our next ride together. It was super windy, cold, starting to rain, and getting dark, but Jair suggested, "why not tonight?" Despite the weather, we were up for an adventure and said, "why not?" I don't think Jair though we'd actually agree to go for a ride right then and there! When the hubby told him to grab his gear and come over to our house, it took a second for the reality of that to sink in!

At this point, the creative streak in my hubby kicked in and he started rigging flashlights to the stems of our bikes. He was so adorable. He was excited that he had come up with such an ingenious idea for make-shifting a light on a bike. He started talking about product ideas and how I just had to blog about this! I almost couldn't bring myself to tell him that the flashlight thing has been done before.

Then the hubby also grabbed his oversized camping headlamp and attached it to his bike helmet. I put my flashback on my hydration pack and pulled out my windbreaker. When Jair arrived, we were ready to go to Plaster Creek!

I definitely prefer to be able to see what's coming in front of me on the trail, but as long as I took it slow, the ride was fun. I know that many people mountain bike in the dark...with much better lighting equipment than what I have. I don't think I'll be investing in that stuff anytime soon, though. ;)

Also of interest, the strong winds of the day had knocked down several trees in the woods. Two of them fell across the trail in one area. We tried to move them off, but they were too heavy. So we ended up clearing a path around the fallen trees in order to complete our ride for the night. The city will have to come out with a chainsaw to finish clearing the trail at some point.

After about 5 miles or so, our legs - already tired from the afternoon's hard run - started to protest, and the rain started to pick up, so we headed back home.

I love these little athletic adventures!

Running
2.5 miles total
Warm up, 2 miles at moderate to high intensity, cool down

Mountain Biking
5 miles total
In the dard and rain

Remember...this is supposed to be fun!

2011-04-14T08:15:00.000-04:00

Last night I did my scheduled training run – just a short 2 miles with warm up and cool down – 2.5 miles total. But it was one of those runs that felt terrible. I don’t know if my body was tired from mountain biking Tuesday night or if I just didn’t have any gas in the tank (I was super hungry right after work). But those days happen sometimes.

This is the last easy week I’ll have for a long time. Training will just continue to ramp up throughout the summer and into the fall until race day on October 9. I’m a little nervous about such a long training period. I’m nervous that I’ll go biking when I should be running, and I won’t be ready for a marathon. But this is something I’m committed to doing this year, and I will do the marathon no matter how slow. I’m not planning to aim for a fast time – just to enjoy the experience. So I should worry less this early in the game and remember to enjoy the summer.

Running
2.5 miles total
Warm up, 2 miles at moderate effort, cool down

A night of firsts

2011-04-13T08:45:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned yesterday, our good friend, Jair, successfully bought his first real mountain bike yesterday! He went with a Trek mountain hardtail 29-er – I believe it’s one of the 6 series bikes. It fits him really well, and he loves the 29 inch wheels! They just roll right over stuff.

So, right from the bike shop, Jair came over to our house to go for a ride. Since it was already 6:30, we decided to ride down to the Plaster Creek trails near our house for an introductory ride.

First of all, Jair is a natural! He immediately started exploring the capabilities of his bike and trying every obstacle in front of him. Jair and the hubby teamed up to encourage me, too, as we stopped and practiced log pyramids and steep drops over and over. The energy of the group was great, and I rode obstacles that I’ve never done before on any trail!

We had so much fun that we were out until dark. I look forward to a summer of riding with our new recruit.

I’m also excited because Jair has wanted to get in better shape. He’s the one who owns the P90X system and has been doing it with the hubby and me. But when he runs or does the P90X workouts, he gets overheated really easily. So we thought that Jair would enjoy mountain biking as a form of exercise for several reasons. The variety of terrain would hold his attention and prevent boredom. The constant room for technical improvement would appeal to his analytical personality. And the flow of air while riding at speed would help keep his body at a manageable temperature. It seems like we’ve found a good fit so far!

This is the first person I’ve truly had a hand in introducing to the sport of mountain biking. And it feels good to help someone find a form of exercise that fits them well. If Jair really takes to riding this summer, I think he’ll see an increase in his fitness and be very encouraged!

And now back to doing new obstacles for the first time… I’m so proud of myself. I was terrified to ride over log piles for the first time. They totally look like little walls of wooden death. But I watched the guys do it, and I knew it was possible. That moment just before your tire actually hits the first log…oh my gosh! Scary! I took me several run ups before I just committed to giving it a try. The first time, I stalled at the top of the pile. But on the next try, I was over and down the other side! Woo! After that, I rode all the other log pyramids in the park without hesitation. It just takes a little speed and a little lift of the front tire.

The same went for a steep downhill drop. I’ve done lots of downhills before, but this hill looked particularly intimidating. However it was short, and I knew that all I had to do was shift my butt behind my saddle and let gravity do the work. With my friends cheering me on, I mustered the courage and rode the hill like a pro.

Now I’m ready to hit the log piles and steep hills on other trails, too! I love that about mountain biking. Once you’ve tried a skill for the first time, it’s not so scary anymore and you can do it anywhere.

Last night was a great night of firsts!

It’s going to be a tough summer – choosing between marathon training runs and mountain bike rides. What a hard life, huh? LOL :)

Mountain Biking
11.8 miles
Plaster Creek Trails

New recruit

2011-04-12T14:26:00.000-04:00

I'm super excited! The hubby and I talked a friend of ours into trying out mountain biking. He's buying his first real mountain bike today (a Trek hardtail 29-er). Another rider enters the fold!

I'm not a doper

2011-04-11T08:19:00.002-04:00

It’s good to be sore.

On Friday night, the hubby and I did the P90X legs and back workout. This thing is an hour of alternating leg exercises and pull ups. It was hard! I knew I’d be sore the next day, but I was determined to go with some coworkers Saturday morning for a mountain bike ride on my favorite trail, which finally opened up for riding this week. So with sore quads and gluts, the hubby and I bravely rode Luton Park on Saturday. Our legs were fried after just once around the loop, but it was so worth it.

Sunday, the rest of the sore muscles started showing up. It was kind of funny. This week sometime the hubby made a comment that you know someone is taking steroids if the muscle along the side of their back is big. It’s a muscle that doesn’t generally get developed without steroids because it’s hard to isolate in a workout. But apparently we do use this muscle when doing pull ups, because mine are sore. And no, I’ve never taken any kind of performance enhancing drugs. LOL!

Though it’s hilarious to wince like an 80 year old when I stand up from the couch, I kind of enjoy a certain level of muscle soreness. I feel like I’ve done something to get stronger.

And the timing of feeling stronger is good because this week I start my mildly intimidating, 26-week marathon training plan. Though I have a running schedule laid out that should prepare me for the 26.2 in October, my goal is to remain flexible enough to ride my bike when I feel like it or take a few days off when I’m getting burned out and not obsess over doing every workout on the schedule.

Ready, set, go! The journey to my first marathon now begins!

Sponsored link:
If you are interested in learning more about muscles and pain management, check out the best nursing schools.

The Detroit Dorais Velodrome

2011-04-08T08:52:00.001-04:00

I was reading my copy of Bicycling magazine last night, and suddenly I was looking at a picture of the abandoned Fisher Body 21 plant in Detroit. It was the article, “Off the Beaten Track”, about the uncovering of the old Dorais Velodrome in Dorais Park near this old GM plant.

I grew up just outside Detroit in Redford Twsp, and I never knew about this bike track. Of course, it hasn’t been used I was a little kid, it was 25 miles away from my house, I didn’t know anything about cycling at the time, and the neighborhood was really rough back then. So no surprise that I didn’t know of its existence.

But last summer a group called the Mowergang cleaned up the track and now bikes and motorcycles can use it again. It’s full of huge cracks and weeds, so it’s rough now just like the neighborhood that bore it. But it’s there! It’s full of graffiti, too, which is kind of a cool way to mark the history of the place.

When I’m back in the Detroit area this summer, I hope I will be able to check out the rediscovered Dorais Velodrome – now renamed the Thunderdrome. I’d love to ride a few laps around a race track in a historical spot in the drastically changing city of Detroit.

It’s funny how a little bit of the love that built this track in the 60’s is coming back to the city with more people riding bikes and groups like the Mowergang who are fixing up abandoned public parks.

Here are a few more cool links about the Dorais Velodrome:

Thunderdrome Blog

Video of bikes riding on the track

Video of the track and some motorcycle racing

Google maps satellite view

The Struggle

2011-04-05T08:46:00.001-04:00

Our friends often marvel at how much the hubby and I have in common – values, life experiences, things that make us happy. We enjoy doing so many of the same activities for fun, too.

It’s fantastic. We hardly ever run out of things that we want to do together.

However, it’s a rare thing when we enjoy doing the same thing for the same reasons.

Take mountain biking, for example. The hubby likes to go fast. To push hard. To try the obstacles he doesn’t know he can do yet without fear even though there’s a good chance he’ll crash. I prefer to ride steady and long. I work up the courage to try new obstacles after several passes. I prefer to keep the rubber side down.

Or playing board games. The hubby likes to compete. To analyze every possible strategy. To play again and again even though he loses. I prefer to just play and have fun. I’ll look back at mistakes I made and ways I can improve, but in the end I just want to enjoy the time with my friends.

In most activities, the hubby likes competitiveness, aggression, and energy. I do, too, to some degree. But I tend toward the stable, consistent, dependable.

In most cases these differences aren’t a problem as long as we’re both having fun. I’m comfortable having different reasons for enjoying the same things. But the hubby sometimes doesn’t get what he wants out it – that energizing experience that you get when you’re along for the ride with someone who’s just freakin’ jazzed passionate about their hobby.

I can manufacture that jazz once in a while, but it’s not my regular state of existence like it is for the hubby.

Does anyone else out there struggle to strike this kind of balance with their partner? What have you tried that helps solve the problem for you?

Hip update and first MTB ride!

2011-04-05T08:19:00.001-04:00

Last week I completed my prescribed sessions of physical therapy for my hip. I can definitely say that it’s better. It feels stronger and doesn’t hurt in some of the situations that it used to.

It’s not perfect yet, so I’ll continue to do my exercises and stretches at home. After another month or so, if I’m still having problems, I’ll check back in with the PT to look for the remaining missing pieces to my hip rehab.

In the meantime, I’ve been doing short runs with the hubby a few times a week. Even though he hates running, we’ve been having fun working out together. I love that, and I hope he’ll continue to run and ride with me when I start marathon training in a couple weeks.

And last night we even went for our first mountain bike ride of the season!

It was so cute! The hubby was all excited about these trails that he found while out for a walk with his buddy. He took me to the trail entrance that he found tucked behind a Valvoline and a Burger King. Funny thing is, I realized as soon as we arrived that I’d ridden these trails before. It was part of the Plaster Creek system! Only I usually enter the park from the other end near our house. It was fun and satisfying to explore all the different loops and off shoots of these familiar trails with the hubby for the first time.

After that, the hubby did succeed in introducing me to a new section of paved bike path northwest of the Plaster Creek trails. We didn’t ride the path all the way to the end, but I think it might head up toward the Grand Rapids Bike Park. I will definitely have to explore that area this summer!

So temperatures are starting to rise and despite the April showers, trails are starting to dry out. I am SO ready to take spring and run with it (pun intended)! ;)

FlashBack Review Part 2 - Visibility at a Distance

2011-04-01T08:55:00.000-04:00

For this second part of my review of the FlashBak, I enlisted the help of the hubby as my cameraman. I hopped on my bike last night after dark and rode down my street wearing the FlashBak. At the end of the road about a quarter mile away, the flashing lights were still visible, even when competing with an oncoming car.

While you can never prepare for that driver that just isn’t paying attention to the road, the FlashBak will certainly get the attention of someone driving up behind you at a far enough distance to give them warning that someone else is on the road.

So far I can honestly give the FlashBak a high recommendation for ease of use and visibility.

Check it out for yourself at their website – www.flashbakonline.com.

FlashBak Review - Part 1

2011-03-12T13:16:00.000-05:00

Recently, the cool people at FlashBak sent me one of their products to take for a spin. Last night, I gave the FlashBak my first test. I went for a night run wearing the FlashBak wrapped around my arm. I thought that this would give me visibility from at least three sides rather than just the back, which would make sense for riding a bike on the road, but I wanted to be seen by cars on all sides for my run.

The FlashBak

Clipped to itself to wear on my arm

Setting the FlashBak up was easy. The small attachment clips look like toothy alligator mouths and will grip securely onto clothing, bags, bike luggage, and even the FlashBak itself. The battery pack slips easily into a bag or pocket. The main power switch is on the battery pack, but a secondary on/off switch clips onto your body wherever you find convenient to easily start and stop the flashing. The switch itself flashes, so you can see whether it’s on even if the whole FlashBak light array is on your back. Its construction also appears to be water resistant (though I haven’t tested it).

Little alligator clip - these things are strong!

The first thing I noticed when running with the FlashBak was that I could see the lights reflecting off of surfaces around me – the pavement, the snow, street signs, windows. I saw a few heads turn – in and out of cars – so it definitely draws attention and seems to be bright enough even in more lit up areas. Everything stayed comfortably in place without slipping or detaching from my clothing. And if I had stopped at a store or to talk with a neighbor, I could have easily turned the flashing off during the pause.

Here is a video demonstrating the flashing of the device taken in my dark basement. I make no claims of awesome editing, and I haven’t done any public speaking in a long time. Please don't count how many times I say, "Umm"! ;) So anyway…here it is.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where I will hop on my bike and record the FlashBak at a distance to test the visibility farther away on the road.

A little P90X

2011-03-08T10:04:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend, a friend brought over his P90X videos for the hubby and I to try out with him. We did a fighting workout on Saturday, yoga on Sunday, and then went running on Monday.

I have definitely been a little sore, but not too bad! The P90X workouts are challenging and fun. I’m eager to try out some of the weights oriented videos to see how they go.

As I look ahead to my fast approaching marathon training period, I think I’ll add some P90X as a cross training option along with road and mountain biking, tennis…whatever I can fit in.

The only down side to doing exercise videos with my hubby in our basement, is that he’s so tall he can’t lift his arms all the way over his head – let alone jump – without hitting the ceiling. Hmm. Maybe we can set up a DVD player in the garage when it gets warmer out. Ha! What a show for the neighbors that will be!

PT Update

2011-03-04T09:15:00.005-05:00

I’ve gone to three sessions of PT so far now, and it’s going well. I’ve been diligently doing my exercises and stretches at home. My basement is starting to look like a mini gym with the various bands, weights, and foam rollers that I’m collecting!

My hip has felt sore or fatigued from all the work, but strangely it also feels like it’s getting stronger. It hasn’t really hurt during running. It actually feels uncomfortable most often when I’m sitting with my legs at a bad angle – in my car, in my desk chair at work (my feet don’t rest flat on the ground), on the couch with my feet up on the coffee table – or laying down with that leg bent slightly to the side.

I need to increase my running frequency and see how it handles that.

I’ve got five more PT sessions, and I assume that somewhere in that process we’ll reevaluate where I’m at.

On a side note, I’d love to work in this PT facility! It’s like a combination doctor’s office/gym. I’d love to learn all the biomechanics necessary to diagnose a patient’s problem, suggest the best treatment plan for them, and then walk them through the steps to recovery. Cool job!

Sponsored link:
If you want to help people to live a healthy life, check out medical assistant schools.

First PT Appointment

2011-02-21T15:08:00.000-05:00

I hurried in to the physical therapy center this morning after a flurry of preparing my office for a group of customers visiting this week. I was the first patient there at 7:00am before all but one of the staff – a great physical therapist with a leaning towards sports medicine.

He walked me through a number of tests to check for imbalances in strength, leg length, flexibility, and posture between my two sides. As I expected, there were several little things that were off. A slightly longer leg, a tight IT band, some weaker muscles. But nothing stood out as THE cause of my hip pain.

He had me do a few sets of exercises and showed me several more to do at home along with some stretching and work on a foam roller. I’ll be back on Friday to see how things are going. If these exercises do the trick, I won’t have to back off on running and I’ll be ready for marathon training in April.

So far so good. I look forward to seeing how this goes!

On a side note, this is my 300th post on Cyclin’ Missy. I’m so happy to still be here on the journey with all of you!

2011 Event List Updates

2011-02-19T12:14:00.000-05:00

Hey, everyone! I just made a ton of updates to my 2011 Grand Rapids Events list. I corrected or added dates for a lot of events that were previously missing. More updates will come in the future.

If you know of any other fun events in or around the West Michigan area, or you see any errors on the list, please let me know!

If you plan to do any of these events, let me know that, too. It would be fun to meet up for a celebratory beer or some food after a race!

Hip pain update - X-rays normal

2011-02-17T08:54:00.000-05:00

I heard back from my doctor’s office last night, and the x-rays of my hip looked normal. That means no bone or cartilage issues. Yah!

I’ll be going to my first physical therapy appointment on Monday morning. I’m looking forward to hearing their diagnosis and learning the techniques that I can use to heal and prevent further problems in the future.

I’ve got a lot of years of running still ahead of me! Let’s do this!

Hip pain

2011-02-15T12:54:00.000-05:00

Since I started running in high school, my right hip has occasionally felt like it goes out of alignment when I stand up from a squatting position. I notice it when I first try to walk normally upon standing up. I just have to move the hip around a bit and then I can walk on it normally again. It never “pops” like it’s going in or out of the socket. It just doesn’t feel right – like that joint is suddenly weaker.

Then last spring as I started training for a triathlon, I began running again more frequently. The year before, I ran very little but did a lot of cycling. So when I started having some minor pain in my hip during or after a run, I figured it had something to do with weak hip flexors or some other weakness that developed from not running for an extended period.

It could also have been a result of working with a personal trainer during the tri training. One of my goals was to correct a minor outward swing in my right foot during my running stride. Maybe my body was adjusting to the new, straighter form after being adapted to the bad stride for so many years.

I’ve continued running throughout the year since then, and the hip pain still occurs sometimes during, but mostly after, running. It’s not bad – just a little bit of an ache once in a while. If I use or otherwise stretch that joint in unusual ways (like in yoga or skiing), it will hurt a little, too.

I’ve tried some exercises and stretches to correct the problem on my own, but it isn’t going away. I’m not super concerned, but at the age of 31, I’m not ready to give up one of the most important activities in my life due to an injury that can be corrected. Or to continue doing the same things if they are just going to make it worse. If this pain is due to long term use or something more permanent like arthritis or tendonitis, I will live with it. But either way I want to know.

I especially want to know as I approach the beginning of a marathon training plan. That’s going to be a lot of running miles.

So, I decided to see my doctor and find out what she thought. I saw her yesterday, and she didn’t think that the problem was anything that some ibuprofen and ice couldn’t address. But we took some x-rays just to be sure, and she wrote a prescription for some physical therapy. I’m eager to hear the results of the x-rays and to see the body mechanics experts.

I’m actually really excited to see a physical therapist! If I ever go back to school for a career change, it will be for PT. I’ve considered shadowing a PT just to get a better feel for the field, but now I get to experience it first-hand as a client!

I’ll update with more information when I find out about the x-rays and see the PT for the first time. Until then, I’ll be enjoying the unusually warm weather for more snowshoeing and yes – running!

50 in 5

2011-02-08T07:24:00.000-05:00

According to a Grand Rapids Press article this past weekend (see the article here), the Michigan Mountain Biking Association is planning to build 50 new miles of single-track in the next 5 years in Grand Rapids. This initiative will include new trails within the city (rather than on the outskirts) and routes connecting existing trail systems.

“The Grand Loop” is planned to connect the Grand Rapids Mountain Bike Park with four other city parks where trails will be built. One of the potential locations on the loop is Ken-O-Sha Park near my house. It would be awesome to be able to ride to a substantial dirt trail system from my home instead of having to drive somewhere.

The “50 in 5” initiative, it is hoped, will move the city of Grand Rapids closer to being a candidate to someday host the IMBA’s International Mountain Bike Summit.

Bring on the snowshoeing!

2011-02-07T08:42:00.000-05:00

Since the “blizzard” hit West Michigan last week, the hubby and I have subsequently tried for the first time, tried several more times, and fallen in love with snowshoeing.

For our first time out, we ventured out of our house the day after the storm before the side streets had been plowed and trekked down our road. We climbed to the top of every giant snow pile created by a plowed parking lot or intersection that we could find within a quarter mile of our house. Our neighbor said, “I bet you never thought you’d need to use those in town!”

We’ve taken several more walks around our neighborhood since then.

But my favorite outing so far has been to Stanaback Park about 1.5 miles from our house. In the summer, I’ve enjoyed running or cycling on the park’s paved path through the woods. But on our snowshoes, we ventured off the path and explored the forest following game trails, examining deer bedding areas, and walking on the frozen creek. I loved feeling lost in the woods, making our own trail through the fresh, powdery snow.

The hubby has really taken to this new hobby, which I’m super excited about because I’m loving it, too. It’s great exercise and makes the deep, snowy winter way more fun. For the first time in years, I can say, “Bring on the snow!”

Happy Blog-Birthday

2011-02-03T15:57:00.000-05:00

I can hardly believe it. Today is the two-year birthday of my little Cyclin' Missy blog!

I have met some great people through this blog, and I've received some really meaningful stories, advice, and encouragement from all of you.

Thanks for reading about my expriences and for sharing this adventuring with me!

Winter Traction Review

2011-02-02T11:22:00.001-05:00

I hear many people say that they avoid running in the winter due to the cold temperatures and slippery surfaces. With the right clothing, the cold has never been much of a problem for me. But icy pavement can be hazardous and frustrating.

This winter, I’ve been trying a few different inexpensive products that strap on to the bottom of my running shoes to provide more traction on the snow and ice. None of these are perfect, and they certainly aren’t meant for extreme conditions like climbing. No matter what type of traction aid you use, you should still be careful when walking and running on slippery surfaces. But products like these do make me feel more confident on my feet and more efficient as I push off the ground.

The first product that I tried is a set of Magic Spikers by Eisen. These are made of rubber with a set of metal spikes (AKA crampons) concentrated at the ball of each foot. I picked these up on clearance at a shoe store a couple years ago for about $10-15.

Pros: The ¼ inch spikes are robust and dig in to thick snow (fresh or packed down) really well. They offer good grip on ice, too (though I don’t trust them to do all the work – I’m still careful). They fit snuggly on my shoes, and the spikes have lasted well without any bending.

Cons: Since the spikes are inflexible and concentrated at the ball of the foot, they can be a little uncomfortable on clear sections of pavement. They would be better if there were some spikes on the heel, too, to even things out.

The second product that I’ve tried is a set of YakTrax Pro. Instead of spikes, the YakTrax use sets of crisscrossing rubber straps wrapped in wire coils. You basically get a diamond of coils under the forefoot and one under the heel. They cost me about $18 online.

Pros: Since the coils cover the whole length of the foot, my footfalls feel even on both snow and clear pavement. I like that I get some traction on the heel of my foot as well as at my toes. The YakTrax fit around my shoe with an additional Velcro strap across the top of the foot for extra security and adjustable fit.

Cons: The coils provide traction all over the foot, but they don’t dig in very deep. I miss the feeling that crampons provide when they grab pavement under the snow.

My hubby was actually the guinea pig for the third product in my review – a set of STABILicers Lite. While running together, he saw that I could stride more easily wearing my various types of spikes and asked for a set of his own. STABILicers Lite are made of rubber with traction pads (like on the bottom of snow boots) and small metal spikes at the balls of the feet and on the heels. They cost me about $15 online. There are other versions of the STABILicer with more robust spikes, so if they interest you, check out their website.

Pros: The STABILicers Lite seem to offer a little of both worlds. They provide spike traction both at the toes and heels and are comfortable on clear pavement. They fit snuggly on shoes. Note: After reading online reviews of the product, I decided to buy a size larger than what was recommended on the website. I’m glad I did, because they don’t stretch a ton.

Cons: The small spikes on these don’t dig in super deep, but they still make a difference in traction.

Overall, my preference is torn on these products. I have ended up choosing either the Magic Spikers or the YakTrax depending on the conditions that I plan to run on. That has worked well for me.

A whole array of similar products exist in stores and online, and I’d recommend giving one of them a try if you want a little more confidence running on slippery surfaces in the winter. Very few obstacles truly have to stop you from running. Low traction is certainly an easy and inexpensive one to overcome.

What solutions have you found for increased traction in the winter? Have you come up with any home-made options? I’d love to hear about them!

And if all else fails…you can always try a set of these...which I plan to do today, by the way. ;)

Ride the Divide and Outside

2011-02-02T08:41:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday, a showing of Ride the Divide - a documentary about the Tour Divide mountain bike race - came to Grand Rapids. I was so excited to see it after following several bloggers doing the race over the past couple years. The film was fun. I'm glad I had the opportunity to see it in my city.

The cyclists of Grand Rapids packed two screens for the film at the Wealthy Theater, which produced what the Tour Divide folks claimed was their biggest crowd yet. If that's true, I'm a little proud.

After the movie, someone mentioned that Grand Rapids was designated the nation's best town for mountain biking by Outside Magazine. See the story here. I was surprised to hear that when I think about places like Crested Butte or Moab. But GR is a pretty good place to ride. We have miles and miles of trails from easy to highly technical within 30 minutes of anywhere in the city. It's inexpensive to live and ride here, and the spring/summer/fall seasons are beautiful. I'm not sure #1 is deserved, but the mountain biking here is pretty sweet. Thanks to Outside for the visibility!

Registered - 2011 Chicago Marathon

2011-02-01T08:44:00.002-05:00

It’s official! My 2011 is starting out with big plans. I am now registered for the 2011 Chicago Marathon. This will be my first marathon ever, and I am excited!

Time to start running!

Flashbak coming soon!

2011-01-16T20:01:00.000-05:00

Over the past year or so, I've looked into a variety of options for reflective materials and lighting that can easily be worn for cycling and running in the dark. To be useful for a variety of sports, a light would have to catch attention from a good distance, be light-weight and comfortable, and be easy to attach to different clothes, backpacks, bike luggage, etc.

One of the products that I have been impressed with (at least from reading about it) is the Flashbak. The Flashbak is a set of strips containing ten bright, flashing LED's that can be seen up to a mile away. It can be attached to almost anything and runs on 3 AA batteries, which I think would give it great flexibility and potential longevity.

Here are some pictures from the Flashbak website:

A few months ago, I left a comment on the Flashbak website asking a question about the product, and the awesome Brad contacted me about trying one out.

He's going to send me one to put through the ringer and report to all of you how it goes. I'm eager to try it out for commuting by bike in the mornings and for running in the late evenings. In addition to attaching it to my back or a backpack, I hope to try wrapping it around my traffic-side arm, as well.

Check out the website at http://www.flashbakonline.com/ for more information about the Flashbak and watch for a post in the future detailing my experience with this visiblity option.

The hubby on a penny farthing

2010-12-26T12:22:00.000-05:00

My birthday was last week! I turned 31. As my gift, I asked the hubby to take me to the Bodies Revealed exhibit at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

The exhibit was fascinating! I would highly recommend seeing it. Just avoid the examples of diseased organs if that sort of thing makes you squeamish.

Our ticket to the exhibit also gave us general admission to the museum, which I had never been to before. It was fun to see lots of Grand Rapids history.

And I couldn't resist snapping a shot of the hubby riding this penny farthing. Looking snazzy and really cruising down that street, isn't he?!

Fitness Photo Contest Winner

2010-12-17T12:03:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to JJ, the winner of the Cyclin’ Missy Fitness Photo Contest! JJ has won a $60 gift certificate to Wayfair.

I love this picture! It shows so much fun, humor and determination. I’ll let JJ tell the story…

Photo by Leonard Johnson at hotfootphoto.com

I can see why! Thanks for sharing your story and for the inspiration to laugh and keep going when we fall down.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the contest! You sent in some really awesome shots. You all deserve to win!

I decided to try racing cyclocross this year for the first time, despite the fact that I had never ever biked off road before. Road biking, I've been doing that for years, feel comfortable at it, etc. Off road? Mud? Gravel? Not so much. Terrifying. But the races I'd attended as a spectator had made me want to try it, and with a bit of encouragement from some friends, I decided to give it a go.

This picture is one from my 2nd ever cross race (the Battle at Barlow) and my first time biking in mud. Serious mud. Slippery, thick, goopy mud that more often than not gummed up my fork and brakes and wheels so I couldn't even ride. Mud that made me fall more times than I could count. Including once into a soccer goal. I had just cleared a set of barriers, was thrilled to be back ON my bike, then promptly bit it on the edge of the goal, and got tangled up in the net. Lay there laughing at the utter ridiculousness of it all (this race also included a run-up in the woods that involved a staircase made out of railroad ties, sized for a giant), debated quitting and never doing it again. Lucky me, someone was there with a camera to capture my favorite picture from the season.

And I did get up, and I finished the damn race. And I wasn't dead last. (It wasn't until the State Championships last month that I took that honor). I did 10 more races after that one, and the mud got more intense as the season went on, but with each race, my bike handling skills and confidence increased, and I don't think I will end up in that goal next year at the Battle at Barlow. At least I hope not.

I've got lots of pictures that I love from this season, but this one is the one I keep going back to, and it always makes me smile. :)

Fitness Photo Contest - Last Day to Enter!

2010-12-16T08:04:00.000-05:00

Reminder: Today is the last day to enter the fitness event photo contest for a chance to win a $60 gift certificate to Wayfair. Enter by 11:59pm EST today!

The winner will be announced tomorrow.

For full details on the contest, see here. If you are looking for the email to which to send your entry, it is here. Good luck everyone!

Fitness Photo Contest Reminder

2010-12-14T08:17:00.000-05:00

Reminder: The last day to enter the fitness photo contest for a chance to win a $60 gift certificate to Wayfair is Thursday, December 16, 2010!

For full details, see the rules here.

Fitness Event Photo Contest

2010-12-09T13:36:00.001-05:00

I love fitness. I love hearing people’s fitness stories and seeing the joyful pictures of the athletic events that they have participated in or helped make possible as a volunteer or supporter. That’s part of why I read cycling and running blogs!

I also love shopping. But I’m constantly frustrated by the fact that sport-specific gear is overpriced. It’s a real turn off and causes me to make do with what I have and activate the Dutch heritage in me to seek out good deals.

But there is something better than getting a good deal on quality stuff. Getting that stuff for free!

To share the love, I’m holding another contest with Wayfair to give away a $60 gift certificate to use on any of their sites.

If you win, you could use the money to pick up a gift for the holidays or maybe buy yourself something you didn’t get. And while you could use this $60 for fitness gear, you don’t have to. They have lots of sites: luggage stores, housewares stores, tool stores, furniture stores, outdoors stores, and lots more (click here to see the full list of options).

So here are the details:

To enter, email me a photo from a fitness-related event or activity that you took part in (or served as a volunteer, helped on someone’s support team, etc.) in 2010. Include a brief description so I know what I’m looking at.
The contest is open to US and Canadian residents only (sorry overseas readers!).
Entries will be accepted through December 16, 2010 at 11:59pm EST.
For my last contest, I chose a winner randomly. This time, I’ll pick a favorite photo, so be creative and have fun!
The winner will be announced on Friday, December 17, 2010.

Looking forward to your entries!

Still in the game

2010-12-04T15:25:00.000-05:00

While I've been out of the blogging habit lately, I have not been inactive.

The hubby is still doing great on this exercise plan, and it has been a true pleasure to work out with him multiple times a week.

Winter officially hit Grand Rapids this week leaving snow on the ground and temps in the 30's F. It's only going to get colder. And sadly, we now endure the one downside of living just east of Lake Michigan...grayness. The lake effect leaves the skies cloudy and dark so much of the time that we start contemplating trips to the south and full-spectrum light bulbs.

The coming of the snowy season has also shifted my exercise choices. Less biking, more clothes when running, and more time at the gym. I've been really enjoying focusing on some weight training with the hubby before I start getting more serious about marathon preparation.

I've decided to do the Chicago Marathon this year, and I can't wait for registration to open up. My awesome friend, Cat, has agreed to run it with me. I think this will be her 4th time.

Goals and staying active have helped both of us combat the depression of the season and the stress of busier work schedules. I have to say I'm thankful because my company recently informed me that they want to replace me and move me out of my office manager position and into more of a project management position with the opportunity to learn some of the engineering side of the business. Awesome!

The same day, the hubby learned that his job will be ending in December instead of March as they had previously told us. Not exactly the Christmas present I was hoping for, but we'll find him a new opportunity soon, I'm sure.

So that's what's new in the Cyclin' Missy world. Happy belated Thanksgiving, everyone, and let's keep it moving!

2011 Event List

2010-11-14T14:59:00.000-05:00

The Cyclin' Missy events list has been updated to include 2011!

This is a list of races and events in cycling (road and mountain), running (road and trail), adventure racing, triathlon, duathlon, X-Terra, etc. in the Grand Rapids area and beyond. If you're looking for a fun event to try in 2011, check out the list!

If you know of any cool races to add, let me know by comment or email.

And 2010 is not over yet! There are still fun things to do before the year is out.

Iceman Cometh 2010 Video

2010-11-09T11:24:00.000-05:00

Thank you to the commenter who sent me the link to the Iceman Cometh 2010 video! I didn’t get pictures on the course, but this will definitely give you an idea of what it was like.

Check out the video on veloepic here!