Since I learned that hills and I do not get along so well the other day, I decided to try and do something about it. Yesterday Josh and I found a nice hill on Beacon Street... not too steep, but a nice steady incline in which I proceeded to run up and down eight times. The first few were a bit hard, but once I got into the rhythm of things, it wasn't too bad.
After feeling somewhat more accomplished, but still not too tired, we walked back to the apartment with plans of going to the gym after getting some water. As soon as we walked in my phone started ringing and it was a girl who is actually on the trip with me this summer. Her name is Frannie and she lives about a half hour south of Boston. We had exchanged some facebook messages with plans of riding together sometime before we meet in Providence for our summer adventure. She wanted to know if I wanted to ride, and even though those hills were no fun to have just run I said absolutely. Josh let me borrow his car and I made the trek down to a cute state park, which turns out it used to be a World War II training grounds for our soldiers (pretty cool). We went for a nice little less than 30mile ride, which is all my body could handle by this point having already ran and only have eaten a bowl of cereal and banana all day. The towns we rode through were so cute though, it was an extremely scenic and pleasant time. We were riding by the water most of the time with beautiful views of the ocean, rocky coast, and I even saw a couple lighthouses. It was very Cape-esque which if you have never been there is super cute.
The ride ended with excitement of getting to see each other again shortly in Providence (5 days!) and I headed back to Boston. Dinner was awesome. We made chicken fajitas and rice and beans and two smores, which we roasted the marshmallows over Josh's flame gas burners. Later that night I was still kinda hungry (hey, I didn't really eat lunch and biked and ran hills) and so Josh made me some waffle french fries that were sooo yummy.
A couple of the other Bike and Build routes have already left and I read some of their journals last night. Seems like they are already having an awesome time. The Appalachian Mountains are tough though. As nervous as I am about the whole hill and mountain thing, I just keep telling myself that I will be ok. I know no matter what I am going to make it through this and end up in Seattle a very happy and proud woman. I am so ready to get this thing started and conquer it!
Tomorrow Josh and I are going to the Sam Adams brewery to see how they make beer and get some free samples at the end. =) I am making him go back with me since last summer we went and I forgot my ID and was not allowed to partake in the samples, which sent me through a variety of emotions... There was denial at first that I could be this stupid. Then came anger, sadness, remorse, and finally I think I accepted it on the T ride back. But that was only because I ended up losing my phone on that subway ride back... oh man that was a bad day. Anyways, tomorrow will be much better.
Sunday I am going on another hilly ride up and down Comm. Ave. with Darcy. She called me her mini-me today and that made me smile. I find that to be a huge compliment I must say. Oh, and I am pretty sure that I am going to be bringing my laptop on the trip with me. As long as I can fit it in my tiny bag it will be along for the cross country journey. I just can't bare the thought of not being able to post on my blog.
Counting the days till departure...
Friday, May 30, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Hills are Not a Friend of Mine
Finally got out on my bike in Boston... I know, it took me quite a while. My first bad decision in this outing was going with Vic, BU's strength and conditioning coach training to be an Iron Man... yeah, he's insane. Thankfully he took it REALLY easy on me, but the hills still kicked my butt and probably could have all the way back to my beautifully flat state. This 35 mile adventure through Boston and the outskirt town of Weston definitely opened my eyes to what exactly I am getting myself into this summer, which is approaching rather quickly... Although I still think I will be fine, I definitely am getting a little nervous about the hills. Hopefully I adjust to them quickly
I went to the mountain and hiking store yesterday and bought a bag to carry my life in over the next couple months, a sleeping bag, a head lamp, a quick dry towel, and a compression sack. Turns out I bought the wrong temperature sleeping bag, so I will be exchanging that in the next couple days. Everything else is going ok. Got out to a red sox game, one game too late and missed the no hitter by Lester. Went on the famous Duck Tours, quacked at people, and got to drive the boat in the Charles. Ate in the North End. Walked all through the city. Am learning a whole lot hanging out with Darcy in the Varsity gym.
She taught me full Olympic lifts and the progession of teaching them to others the other day which was really cool. She showed me a dvd of when she competed as an Olympic lifter and it was pretty crazy to watch. Some of those girls in the upper weight divisions were beasts! I started reading the chapter in my strength and conditioning book yesterday on nutrition for my discussion with Darcy on Tuesday and am trying to make myself a diet according to how many calories I should be consuming according to my activity, and the ratio of proteins, carbs, and fats that should be included. It's really cool actually seeing how changing those details can improve your performance. I am making a spreadsheet that I put formulas and such in so I can manipulate the numbers depending on how many calories I want to eat and what kind of activity I am engaging in. I think this will be really helpful for my cycling trip so I can make sure I am eating the right foods to help keep me energized.
Looking forward to starting this trip, but not looking forward to the altitudes I know are going to be coming with it. I definitely think I need to get out on the bike a few more times before I leave for this trip to try and get used to it a little more. On a completely different note, it's suppose to be 80 degrees here tomorrow... yay!
I went to the mountain and hiking store yesterday and bought a bag to carry my life in over the next couple months, a sleeping bag, a head lamp, a quick dry towel, and a compression sack. Turns out I bought the wrong temperature sleeping bag, so I will be exchanging that in the next couple days. Everything else is going ok. Got out to a red sox game, one game too late and missed the no hitter by Lester. Went on the famous Duck Tours, quacked at people, and got to drive the boat in the Charles. Ate in the North End. Walked all through the city. Am learning a whole lot hanging out with Darcy in the Varsity gym.
She taught me full Olympic lifts and the progession of teaching them to others the other day which was really cool. She showed me a dvd of when she competed as an Olympic lifter and it was pretty crazy to watch. Some of those girls in the upper weight divisions were beasts! I started reading the chapter in my strength and conditioning book yesterday on nutrition for my discussion with Darcy on Tuesday and am trying to make myself a diet according to how many calories I should be consuming according to my activity, and the ratio of proteins, carbs, and fats that should be included. It's really cool actually seeing how changing those details can improve your performance. I am making a spreadsheet that I put formulas and such in so I can manipulate the numbers depending on how many calories I want to eat and what kind of activity I am engaging in. I think this will be really helpful for my cycling trip so I can make sure I am eating the right foods to help keep me energized.
Looking forward to starting this trip, but not looking forward to the altitudes I know are going to be coming with it. I definitely think I need to get out on the bike a few more times before I leave for this trip to try and get used to it a little more. On a completely different note, it's suppose to be 80 degrees here tomorrow... yay!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Boston and a Broken Chain
Got to Boston yesterday and Josh came to pick me up at the airport. It was nice to have someone with a car come get me. I can only imagine the horrid events that would have occurred if I had to try and get everything onto the T.... bad news. Anyways, we immediately stopped at Chipotle and ate a burrito (which I some how managed to get for free... I have no idea, the guy working there was kinda strange) and then I stopped at Glenn's Gym on the way home to see the old strength and conditioning coaches. It always feels so nice to be back in that gym! I love it so much. I saw Darcy, Glenn, Vic, and the old assistant coaches, chatted for a while and set up a loose schedule of when I should come in to learn how to write programs and train. Vic, who is training for the Iron Man (crazy!) also informed me of a group ride that he was going on later that night and invited me along. I was pretty excited to get out there and conquer Boston on my bike, but knew that it was still sitting in Josh's car in a bag not put together so I decided to try and fix that.
Well, needless to say trying to put that stupid thing back together was a huge ordeal which ended in me covered in grease and taking it to the local bike store and asking for help. The guy working there was super nice. I asked him about my chain since it seemed to be extremely dirty and after taking a look at it he told me that I had worn it out and it was stretched. Yes, weird I didn't know chains could stretch either, but apparently they can. So after setting me up with a new chain and telling me he would put the darn thing together properly and give it a nice tune up, I said thanks and will be picking it up on Thursday. Which is good... it gives me today to figure out who to ride with this weekend. Until then, Glenn's Gym will provide some nice treadmills and of course the dreaded aerodyne bikes to at least stay in a some what conditioned state and not be a lazy bum.
Also, just an interesting fact that kind of made me a little worried. Exactly 3 weeks from today I will be in Providence for the start of this trip... wow. I'm starting to get a little nervous now. I will let you all know how the hills of Boston treat me since Florida is so freakin flat. Hopefully, I learn quickly... oh man 3 weeks...
Well, needless to say trying to put that stupid thing back together was a huge ordeal which ended in me covered in grease and taking it to the local bike store and asking for help. The guy working there was super nice. I asked him about my chain since it seemed to be extremely dirty and after taking a look at it he told me that I had worn it out and it was stretched. Yes, weird I didn't know chains could stretch either, but apparently they can. So after setting me up with a new chain and telling me he would put the darn thing together properly and give it a nice tune up, I said thanks and will be picking it up on Thursday. Which is good... it gives me today to figure out who to ride with this weekend. Until then, Glenn's Gym will provide some nice treadmills and of course the dreaded aerodyne bikes to at least stay in a some what conditioned state and not be a lazy bum.
Also, just an interesting fact that kind of made me a little worried. Exactly 3 weeks from today I will be in Providence for the start of this trip... wow. I'm starting to get a little nervous now. I will let you all know how the hills of Boston treat me since Florida is so freakin flat. Hopefully, I learn quickly... oh man 3 weeks...
Monday, May 12, 2008
Boston Here I Come! (1 step closer to B&B)
After much stress (since I LOVE packing so much), dust, boxes, tape issues, small narrow spiral staircase near disasters, and lower back pain, I am officially all packed up and ready for the first part of my summer. My flight leaves for Boston at 8:30am tomorrow and I am so excited to get this thing started. Three weeks in Boston to hang with some old faves in a great city while learning how to write strength and conditioning programs and train BU's athletes is definitely a great way to start off my summer.
Claudette (aka Bacardi lady) was awesome once again in a clutch situation and not only helped me take my bike apart and pack it all up, but also lent me this awesome bike travel bag. It's pretty cool. Oh and by help I mean she pretty much did it all and I fumbled around with tires and tools and had no idea what I was doing. So, yes, once again she has offerred much more help than was required or expected and I truly appreciate her for it.
Now I am hoping to get to Boston with a bike that is not broken and get to a bike store for them to put it together for me since I am sure when I try to do it myself it is going to need some adjustments so as not to fall apart while I ride it. I will let y'all know how the training on Boston's hills goes in the near future.
Claudette (aka Bacardi lady) was awesome once again in a clutch situation and not only helped me take my bike apart and pack it all up, but also lent me this awesome bike travel bag. It's pretty cool. Oh and by help I mean she pretty much did it all and I fumbled around with tires and tools and had no idea what I was doing. So, yes, once again she has offerred much more help than was required or expected and I truly appreciate her for it.
Now I am hoping to get to Boston with a bike that is not broken and get to a bike store for them to put it together for me since I am sure when I try to do it myself it is going to need some adjustments so as not to fall apart while I ride it. I will let y'all know how the training on Boston's hills goes in the near future.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Pictures from MS 150 ride with Team BACARDI
Before Day 1 Start (I was pumped up and ready to pedal my heart out)
Lunch Break Day 1 (At mile 50)
After the Key Largo Bridge Day 1 (at about mile 60 out of 75)
Bacardi VIP Tent after Day 1 Ride (I survived the first 75 miles!)
Before Day 2 start (I'm just hoping I make it back to Miami!)
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Lap around Homestead Speedway on Day 2 (Those walls were steep!)
After seeing the pictures, I have come to the conclusion that I look pretty ridiculous on my bicycle hahaha. I don't care, I still love it =)
Monday, May 5, 2008
MS 150
My weekend ride was awesome. About 3,000 cyclists started at UM's Bank United Center and rode 75 miles down to John Pennekamp Park in Key Largo on Saturday, where we stayed overnight and then rode the 75 miles back on Sunday morning for our grand total of 150 miles in two days. I rode with team Bacardi, thanks to Claudette aka "The Bacardi Lady", and there were about 50 people on the team. Our jerseys and shorts were awesome. Hopefully I'll get some pictures from Claudette in the near future and can post a few.
Although there were 50 of us on the team, people ride at different speeds and therefore you end up breaking up into groups of 5 or 6 with others that you feel comfortable riding at the same speed with. The ride on Saturday was good for the most part. We ended up leaving like an hour later than we thought we were going to leave, which led to me having to pee really bad for the first 25miles of the ride. When we stopped, I bolted for the port a potty (gross). I thought I was going to die around mile 40 before we stopped for lunch at mile 50 due to getting into a riding group going at an average speed of 20mph into a head wind (not so fun). I survived though, had lunch, a nice rest, and finished the last 25 with minimal issues. I say minimal though because I got my first flat tire around mile 65. I heard a pop, the sound of a deflating tire, and seconds later felt it. I pulled over to the side of the road and the group i was with came back to help me change it (thankfully because it would have been a struggle alone due to the fact I really did not know what I was doing).
When we got to John Pennekamp, it was really cool. Bacardi had a VIP tent set up for us with food and free booze (of course haha), and a couple massage therapists. I ate my face off, had a drink, and massage and felt ready to pedal back to miami (but that might have been the relaxed muscles due to the massage and alcohol talking). After hangin at the camp site for a while, we went back to the hotel we were staying at and I changed into my bathing suit, which I was looking rather sexy in with my fantastic spandex tan lines hahaha, and hung out on the beach and in the hot tub. It was really nice to relax and keep the muscles loose before dinner. Dinner was back at the park and consisted of ribs, chicken, pasta, and brownies. I was in bed with lights out by 10.
Sunday morning the alarm went off at 5am and we were out at the park by 6. I picked up my bike from bike parking where they keep the thousands of bikes overnight. you go in, find your bike, and on the way out they check to make sure your rider number that you wear on the back of your jersey mathches your number on your bike that way they know you aren't taking someone else's bike. I had to wait in line for about a half hour to get my tire pumped up since I had the flat the day before. When you fix a flat out on the road, instead of having to carry a pump with you which would really suck, you can buy these CO2 canisters that hold enough gas to shoot into the tire to fill it enough to get you through your ride. The thing is that it is a gas, and deflates, so my tire was deflated when I pick it up in the morning. By this point I stuffed down a pancake, filled my camelback with water, and hit up the bathroom before the ride started.
The ride back to Miami started off well. The first 25miles were a breeze. I was feeling really good and the wind was on our side for the most part. After that, I somehow managed to get myself into a group that was haulin ass. We started out having about ten Bacardi people riding together, then around mile 35 I realized we had dropped everyone else, and it was just me and four guys left. Well, we didn't go below 20mph pretty much the entire way back to Miami. I really wasn't sure I was going to be able to hang with them the entire trip back. But they pushed me to my limits and when we did get back I layed on the grass outside the Bank United Center in the shade under a palm tree for a good half hour and just kept saying "I think I'm going to throw up" over and over again. It was a good time haha. I couldn't even eat for a good couple hours after I finished the ride cause I was feeling sick. We left Key Largo at 7:45am and got to Miami at 12:15pm... 75 miles in 4 1/2 hours with two stops... we were haulin ass. And in case you forgot, I've been riding for 2months compared to these guys who have been riding for years. I'm too competetive to say no and join a slower group hahaha.
One of my professors, Dr. G, was having an end of the year bbq at his house, which I went to and again ate my face off cause by this time I was starving and at the point of passing out. It was good. I pretty much didn't move from his couch and watched hockey with Fonzi, Tim, Mike K., and Tory along with some short appearances from some other faves. All around it was an awesome weekend and has only made me that much more excited about my trip!
PS - my new butt cream I bought is call "Butt'r" HAHAHA ohhh man, it never gets old
Although there were 50 of us on the team, people ride at different speeds and therefore you end up breaking up into groups of 5 or 6 with others that you feel comfortable riding at the same speed with. The ride on Saturday was good for the most part. We ended up leaving like an hour later than we thought we were going to leave, which led to me having to pee really bad for the first 25miles of the ride. When we stopped, I bolted for the port a potty (gross). I thought I was going to die around mile 40 before we stopped for lunch at mile 50 due to getting into a riding group going at an average speed of 20mph into a head wind (not so fun). I survived though, had lunch, a nice rest, and finished the last 25 with minimal issues. I say minimal though because I got my first flat tire around mile 65. I heard a pop, the sound of a deflating tire, and seconds later felt it. I pulled over to the side of the road and the group i was with came back to help me change it (thankfully because it would have been a struggle alone due to the fact I really did not know what I was doing).
When we got to John Pennekamp, it was really cool. Bacardi had a VIP tent set up for us with food and free booze (of course haha), and a couple massage therapists. I ate my face off, had a drink, and massage and felt ready to pedal back to miami (but that might have been the relaxed muscles due to the massage and alcohol talking). After hangin at the camp site for a while, we went back to the hotel we were staying at and I changed into my bathing suit, which I was looking rather sexy in with my fantastic spandex tan lines hahaha, and hung out on the beach and in the hot tub. It was really nice to relax and keep the muscles loose before dinner. Dinner was back at the park and consisted of ribs, chicken, pasta, and brownies. I was in bed with lights out by 10.
Sunday morning the alarm went off at 5am and we were out at the park by 6. I picked up my bike from bike parking where they keep the thousands of bikes overnight. you go in, find your bike, and on the way out they check to make sure your rider number that you wear on the back of your jersey mathches your number on your bike that way they know you aren't taking someone else's bike. I had to wait in line for about a half hour to get my tire pumped up since I had the flat the day before. When you fix a flat out on the road, instead of having to carry a pump with you which would really suck, you can buy these CO2 canisters that hold enough gas to shoot into the tire to fill it enough to get you through your ride. The thing is that it is a gas, and deflates, so my tire was deflated when I pick it up in the morning. By this point I stuffed down a pancake, filled my camelback with water, and hit up the bathroom before the ride started.
The ride back to Miami started off well. The first 25miles were a breeze. I was feeling really good and the wind was on our side for the most part. After that, I somehow managed to get myself into a group that was haulin ass. We started out having about ten Bacardi people riding together, then around mile 35 I realized we had dropped everyone else, and it was just me and four guys left. Well, we didn't go below 20mph pretty much the entire way back to Miami. I really wasn't sure I was going to be able to hang with them the entire trip back. But they pushed me to my limits and when we did get back I layed on the grass outside the Bank United Center in the shade under a palm tree for a good half hour and just kept saying "I think I'm going to throw up" over and over again. It was a good time haha. I couldn't even eat for a good couple hours after I finished the ride cause I was feeling sick. We left Key Largo at 7:45am and got to Miami at 12:15pm... 75 miles in 4 1/2 hours with two stops... we were haulin ass. And in case you forgot, I've been riding for 2months compared to these guys who have been riding for years. I'm too competetive to say no and join a slower group hahaha.
One of my professors, Dr. G, was having an end of the year bbq at his house, which I went to and again ate my face off cause by this time I was starving and at the point of passing out. It was good. I pretty much didn't move from his couch and watched hockey with Fonzi, Tim, Mike K., and Tory along with some short appearances from some other faves. All around it was an awesome weekend and has only made me that much more excited about my trip!
PS - my new butt cream I bought is call "Butt'r" HAHAHA ohhh man, it never gets old
Friday, May 2, 2008
SUCCESS!!
Just wanted to share with everyone my excitement on reaching my fundraising goal today of $4,000 for my trip! I am really happy, relieved, and overwhelmingly grateful for everyone's support of my journey. These generous people's willingness to donate will help make a difference in the afforable housing crisis in the US, and that is essentially the entire purpose of this bike trip. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED!!!
I also went and picked up my rider numbers today for the MS ride I am doing this weekend. I know it will be a great experience, and can't wait for it to start. Which isn't hard since I'm sure 5am when my alarm clock is going off will come soon enough ;) I will let y'all know how the 150 miles in two days goes when I get back. Have a great weekend!
I also went and picked up my rider numbers today for the MS ride I am doing this weekend. I know it will be a great experience, and can't wait for it to start. Which isn't hard since I'm sure 5am when my alarm clock is going off will come soon enough ;) I will let y'all know how the 150 miles in two days goes when I get back. Have a great weekend!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Training My Butt
So I am a month away from the start of the big show, and starting to get really excited and nervous and even more excited! Fundraising is getting close to being done, needed supplies are almost all done being purchased, and I am now just trying to train my butt as much as possible to get used to being on a small and narrow bicycle seat for many hours on end.
I am riding this weekend in the MS ride, which leaves from UM's very own BankUnited Center (PS- Josh just got his job officially with Bank United and I'm really proud of him) and goes down to John Pennekamp Park in Key Largo. It will be 75miles there, we will stay over night in a hotel Saturday, and then the 75miles back to school on Sunday. I am really happy to be participating in this ride since it will give me some good experience for my cross country craziness coming up rather quickly. Claudette (or as Josh likes to call her - my "Bacardi Lady") has been so awesome in helping me in my training and lack of bicycle knowledge. She was kind enough to squeeze me onto the Bacardi team for this ride when one of the riders dropped out. It is going to be super fun! We are leaving around 6:30am on Saturday, so if you're around you should definitely come find me and wave me off. I'm sure some of you are going to be up still from a long night on South Beach hahaha. ;)
For those of you who are not cyclists, let me just say that getting your butt used to being on a bike for many hours and miles is a hard process. Thanks again to many of my new cycling buddies, they have introduced me to butt cream, which is way helpful. You can buy it at any cycling store and it truly works wonders. You rub some onto the inside of your spandex or right onto your nether regions and it helps cut down on the friction between the padding in your shorts and your sensitive private parts to prevent rubbing and chaffing and soreness. Good stuff. The best part of my whole experience with the butt cream (besides that is really does help cut down on soreness) is that one of the samples Claudette gave me to try had a brand name of "As-Master". HAHAHA nough said
I am happy to share that after my one fall into a car, which thank god the car was there and broke my fall, I have had slim to none negative clipless pedal experiences. Whooo! I am actually really starting to get the hang of this cycling thing. I do learn something new every time I go out and ride, which is good. But most of all it is so so so fun! I can't really describe it, but it is challenging and takes a lot of focus, but is relaxing and exhilerating at the same time. For those of you who do not already know, I am having a love affair with my bicycle... which right now is good since I will be spending a long 2 1/2 months with it this summer. Lets just hope it turns into a long term relationship, and not just a fling I want to avoid half way through my trip.
I will let y'all know how the 150miles this weekend goes when I get back Sunday night. Enjoy your weekend!
I am riding this weekend in the MS ride, which leaves from UM's very own BankUnited Center (PS- Josh just got his job officially with Bank United and I'm really proud of him) and goes down to John Pennekamp Park in Key Largo. It will be 75miles there, we will stay over night in a hotel Saturday, and then the 75miles back to school on Sunday. I am really happy to be participating in this ride since it will give me some good experience for my cross country craziness coming up rather quickly. Claudette (or as Josh likes to call her - my "Bacardi Lady") has been so awesome in helping me in my training and lack of bicycle knowledge. She was kind enough to squeeze me onto the Bacardi team for this ride when one of the riders dropped out. It is going to be super fun! We are leaving around 6:30am on Saturday, so if you're around you should definitely come find me and wave me off. I'm sure some of you are going to be up still from a long night on South Beach hahaha. ;)
For those of you who are not cyclists, let me just say that getting your butt used to being on a bike for many hours and miles is a hard process. Thanks again to many of my new cycling buddies, they have introduced me to butt cream, which is way helpful. You can buy it at any cycling store and it truly works wonders. You rub some onto the inside of your spandex or right onto your nether regions and it helps cut down on the friction between the padding in your shorts and your sensitive private parts to prevent rubbing and chaffing and soreness. Good stuff. The best part of my whole experience with the butt cream (besides that is really does help cut down on soreness) is that one of the samples Claudette gave me to try had a brand name of "As-Master". HAHAHA nough said
I am happy to share that after my one fall into a car, which thank god the car was there and broke my fall, I have had slim to none negative clipless pedal experiences. Whooo! I am actually really starting to get the hang of this cycling thing. I do learn something new every time I go out and ride, which is good. But most of all it is so so so fun! I can't really describe it, but it is challenging and takes a lot of focus, but is relaxing and exhilerating at the same time. For those of you who do not already know, I am having a love affair with my bicycle... which right now is good since I will be spending a long 2 1/2 months with it this summer. Lets just hope it turns into a long term relationship, and not just a fling I want to avoid half way through my trip.
I will let y'all know how the 150miles this weekend goes when I get back Sunday night. Enjoy your weekend!
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