What to do?

The registration for the 2011 MS 150 opens up on Wednesday and I'm at a complete loss of what to do. I would LOVE to do it again. I really would. It was so challenging yet rewarding even though I really hated it multiple times during the whole event. My problem is, we want to get pregnant again. So, if I do get pregnant, I wouldn't really be wanting to ride that far. If I don't get pregnant, I'll be super mad that I missed out on doing it. It's not an event to sign up for last minute either thanks to the money you HAVE to raise (oh yeah, and registration closes after so many people sign up). It really did take me 5 months to raise the dough this year. I already have a team I would ride with again too. Ugh! I just don't know. There are other MS rides throughout the summer also, that I guess I could join in on depending on what happens. I hate putting my life on hold on the chances that something may or may not happen.

Race for the Cure

The start (at the end!) We were totally in downtown Houston, which was really cool! I usually avoid this area best I can, but running in it was definitely an awesome experience!
Me getting ready to start! Thankfully I was close to the front, but we still didn't get off at a quick pace!
Getting ready to start. Check out all the people and the beauty of a sunrise in a ridiculously large city! (For those of you who do not know, from left to right we have Marnie, Monika, then myself.)

For years, I've had the goal of running in the Race for the Cure. Thanks to the motivation of Marnie and Monika in the branch--this year I actually did it! The event is crazy! This year there were about 35,000 people who signed up. Some for the family fun walk, the competitive run, the non-competitive run (that was me!) and then the rest to walk (Marnie and Monika!). Most participants were there in honor of someone. We were there for Sister Walker from the Branch.

For me, the race was slow, but the crowd was so crazy, I don't think I could have run much faster! It wasn't a bad route at all, only a 5k, and there were drinks and bathrooms at every mile. At a couple of points of the run we crossed paths with the competitive runners, and then near the end we passed all the walkers. The finish line was nothing amazing for us regular folk, but they had a survivor lane lined with cheering people that was great to watch!

I met up with Bret (Marnie's hubby) at the end of my race and we backtracked up the path to meet up with Marn and Monika and walk the last bit with them. It was cool to once again be surrounded by people doing something for a great cause! This disease has impacted so many peoples lives, and I loved being involved with something to help out!

I'll be honest, I'm totally hooked on these races/rides! Hmm . . . what should I do next?

Pioneer Day 5K

I ran my first 5k with my best friend Kalle Reynolds! It was in St. Anthony, Idaho and I was totally worried about the altitude difference but it was great! I ran it in record time thanks to my attempt to keep up with Kalle and ran it in 30 min 41 sec! I was averaging a 12 minute mile, so running it so fast was more than I could ever dream! Now I can mark it off my list of "to do's"!

I DID IT!

I did it! I finished my first tri! I'm still so excited and happy about it I could burst! I was #168 out of #500 based off of swim time. In the scheme of things, this really doesn't mean much if you are a fast bike rider or runner. Check out the results here.
Yeah, my swim outfit is quite astounding. My swim time was 6:41, which is lower than I was timing it during practice!
I'm not much of a runner, but my bike time was descent, averaging about 18mph-making it about a 39 minute ride. I thought I wanted to hurl by the time I hit the pavement in my running shoes, but still averaged under a 12 minute mile (which is my average!).
My lovely glamor shot. I placed 22 in my age group, and 105 overall in my gender (not including the Athena group). I'm quite pleased with my results! I wanted to finish under 1 1/2 hours, which I did with a total time of 1 hour and 25 minutes! I figure if I want to improve on my overall, my running would be the first thing. I had a lot of fun though! I definitely want to do it again!

Tomorrow!

I can't believe my first tri is tomorrow! I'm totally freaking out, but trying to stay calm. I'm number 168 so I'll have to wait awhile, but still have a whole lotta people behind me. My goals are simple:

Swim: about 7 minutes
Ride: 40 minutes
Run: less than 35 minutes

If I can do the whole thing in under 1 1/2 hours, I'll be happy! Let me restate that; If I actually do the whole thing and actually do it (run the whole time, mainly), I'll be happy! I am excited though! My transitions will no doubt be slow and I'll probably look like a lost puppy, but you've gotta have your firsts to improve on, right?

It's Getting Close!

These pass couple of weeks I've been focusing on my running and I'm proud to say I can now run 3 miles! Tonight I think I did my all time best running a straight up 3 miles in 31.5minutes. I have felt the need to puke since then, but what can you do! I did a practice tri tonight with running, then teaching my spin class, then going to the pool and swimming laps. It's a downer swimming at the actual pool because I was rockin' a 6 min 300m, and now I'm closer to a 7 min 300m which is what my original time was. I did get it down to about a 6 min 50 sec, but I doubt I'll get any closer to my goal. Oh well. At least I know I can hack each event! Jon and I changed my bike tire tonight--an adventure in and of itself. I need to pick up some more tubes. I think I may be out. Well, I should have one more. The race is on Sunday, I pick up my race pack on Thursday, and I'm already nervous! At least swimming I've met a lot of people doing this for the first time too!

Lack of training.

This week has started off bad, but ended okay. I went to the doctor on Monday for my knees because they have been consistantly hurting me. She gave me an Rx for an antiflamatory, which I don't know really help or not because I've been subbing like crazy. Monday I covered 3 classes, Tuesday I taught my two spin classes--then attempted swimming, but my swim bottoms would not stay up, Wednesday I ended up teaching 4 classes, Thursday thankfully only 1 (and then to the beach where I got fried), and Today I taught just one, and then swam some laps. I'm planning on swimming tomorrow before spin and before I officially put in my new swim time. Or maybe I'll just put it in.

Today's times:

6oom take one: 6 min 24 sec
600m take two: 6 min 3 sec

I think I'm going to put my time in as 6 min and 5 sec. Definitely quicker that my 7 min time I put in. If I can stay consistent . . . In other news, I got an email about swimming in the actual pool for the tri. I'm hoping I can pull that off a couple of times to get used to swimming 50m straight instead of 25m. I hope it'll help with my time. Who knows though. Next week I'm back to working on my running. I'm going to make Jon help me change my tire (the tube is basically a dud) and then maybe get some bike time in! I miss my bike and would really like to do well in that area also.

More Running

Today after spin I tried running yet again! I got 2 miles in (about 22 min) and then I walked/ran/sprinted the last mile which ended me at about 34.5 minutes. Really an improvement from my 40 minutes on Monday.

My knees are killing me, and I finally made an appointment for Monday to get them checked out. I'm hoping it's something simple like a shoe fix, or a good stretch. I don't want to give up my life, but I'm sick of the aching.

Improvement

I've only been training for about a week officially, but I've already seen some improvement (or maybe I'm just finally pushing myself a little more!) Today, after my spin class I ran, not a whole lot, but I ran for 1.5 miles in 16:30 (minutes) before I said I was done! This is a great improvement to the 1 mile stint I had on Monday (although I did run more)! Tonight I swam too, and here are my results:

1st 300: 6:17 (minutes)
2nd 3oo: 6:03 (minutes)

I'm hoping I can push that into the 5 1/2 minute range! Running, I'm still just making it a goal to run the whole thing--after that I'll shoot for a 10 minute mile! I'm hoping my knees will hold out! They gave me a lot of grief during the MS 150 and I haven't fully recovered since. My bike is really in need of some love. I took it out on Tuesday night, and realized the front tire is busted at the valve, and so that will need replaced, but I did get into my lower gears, so that's nice. It probably needs oiled up and cleaned up still. I think I'll focus on the tire first! I really need to get some ride time!

Training

My training has officially began! I went running Saturday after my spin class with a good friend Nathan. He is a fellow MS 150er, and I thought it would be a great idea. I was wrong! Running is not EVER a good idea! We took off from the gym and it was probably already 90*. I would like to think I got about a mile in before I totally wanted to die! I couldn't keep my heart-rate down, and I had pains in my ribs and hips. It was terrible! I ended up walking basically the whole route and still wanted to die when I got to my car! Not fun.

Today I decided to try it again. I left earlier (like 8 am) and it was like 80*. Not bad! I went to Tom Bass park basically here is the run down:
1st Mile: Ran the whole thing! (about 12 min)
2nd Mile: walk 1/4, ran 1/2, walk 1/4
3rd Mile: Ran basically the whole thing (walked maybe 1/8 for drinks)
Total Time: 40 minutes (oh, and 400 calories!)

I figure this is something I can work with! I just want to be able to run the whole thing. That's basically my goal. If I can accomplish that, then I will work on speed!

My game plan for this week for training. Parenthesis are the classes I'm teaching that will just have to be included in training!

Monday: Run
Tuesday: (Spin), Swim, (Spin)
Wednesday: (Kickboxing), Run, (Bodyworks)
Thursday: (Spin), Run
Friday: (Wateraerobics) Swim
Saturday: (Spin), and either bike, swim or run

I figure if I can run at least 3 times a week, and swim 2 times a week, I will be okay. My main goal is to get outside. The whole climatizing thing is nasty and it's only getting hotter. I need to get some bike time again too. I haven't even taken it down since the MS ride! It's been neglected!

Another First!

Holy crap! I just signed up for my first triathlon! It's on June 27th! What a great way to mark Teik's 2nd birthday! It's thankfully only a sprint, but I'm totally nervous already! The training has begun!

I DID IT!

Our day started at Katy High School at 5:15am Saturday morning. It was raining, and it wasn't looking like it was going to be a good day. We got on the road at 7am and miraculously the rain lightened up, and by the time we hit the 2nd rest stop (we skipped the first), it was totally warm and we were all peeling off our raincoats (those things don't breath!). The ride was gorgeous with fields of wild flowers all over the place and constant rolling hills (about 15 miles into our ride!) The best was riding through small towns. In Fayetteville, a lot of the people were out with bubble machines and speakers with music playing just cheering us on! We passed a guy with a ginormous Lassie looking dog and huge speakers on the edge of a field rocking music and cheering all the riders. It was people like that all along the way that kept it fun. Others left signs along the road to cheer certain riders that were hilarious!
I rode with the best group for the first half of both days! This is Saihbon, Kim, and Rob. We kept a nice pace, and took long breaks and chatted the entire time! It was way fun! I lost them about 20 miles out the first day thanks to a hill that I had to power up (I would power up the hill, and they would pass me on the down hill--it was a pattern that we kept nicely), but this last time I totally lost them. Later I found out that Kim got taken down in an accident, not once, but TWICE! Poor thing. I felt horrible. The last 20 miles I tried to push it, and I was doing okay until 3 miles out. I just lost all umph and I pulled over to drink some Gatorade thinking maybe I just needed some energy. I hopped back on and not 10 feet later I look down and notice a flat tire. Wow, that's what my problem was! Some nice St. Arnold's guys pulled over and changed it for me (I had no idea how to do it, and I'm really good at looking pathetic), and I finished my ride into La Grange!
La Grange is definitely interesting. There's lots of tents, lots of cots, and l ots of mud! I jumped on a bus to a local school to shower, and then we were basically camping. It was fun wandering around because I ran into a lot of my spin people! I tracked down my friend Liz, and her team lucked out because of the rain that was coming, they got to be moved out of a tent and into a building! Live bands were playing in a couple of spots, and there were lots of stands and bike shops available for help. Each teams tent had lots of food and people were everywhere! Our tent held about 40 cots and we were all snugged in there to sleep. The rain poured Saturday night, and none of us knew what to expect for Sundays ride.
This is a brother-sister duo on our Wellfit team. They were CRAZY but funny to hang out with in La Grange. Brittany is a fellow LA Fitness spin instructor, and so we met a lot of interesting people during our wanderings!
Lining up Sunday morning was brutal. A lot of our team had gotten massages the night before, but we were all sore, tired, and beat from sleeping on cots. The Caprock team wore our jerseys and it was really easy to see our team from the other groups!
I was trying to get a view of the incredible line-up just to leave that morning. We lined up at 7am and didn't get out of La Grange until 8am.
Here's day one's finishing line, and day two's start. See the sad dark sky. Yeah, we were waiting for rain, which thankfully really didn't come. We got a little, but nothing bad. Talk about lucking out weather wise! We had a slight tailwind Saturday, and a headwind and a little rain on Sunday. I totally believed we were blessed!
Leaving La Grange, we had two options, take the express or take the challenge. We opted for the challenge, but before entering the park with the killer hills, took a detour that bypassed it. We still had stellar hills, just not as intense ones! This was a good choice for me, because I am positive my knees would have fallen off, and I couldn't get my gears to work properly so I would had to fight it more than needed to make it up the hills. I couldn't believe how many hills there were on this ride. Austin is like the San Fransisco of Texas in more ways than one! But getting there is a constant rolling. Going downhill was fun and exhilarating, but going up was another story! I think I hit my own personal wall about 50 times on day two. I have never been so miserable in my life and debated constantly when to just give up! The rest stops I would feel okay, and I did finally discover the med tents and the icyhot like stuff to stick on my knees that helped with the pain.
These were the 3 guys that saved me from the lunch stop on! I met up with them where the paths merged from the park and the expressway, and ended up riding with them for the last half of the 2nd day. I don't think I could have done it without them! We rode in a pace line, and my goal was to keep up with them for 3 miles. Thirty-five miles later, we are rolling into Austin! They tried to keep me in the middle to block the head wind, and wouldn't let me fall behind. There was a crash right behind me and the guy behind me rode over a guy, and still we kept together! I'm a huge fan of riding in a group! I know I slowed them down, but was so thankful having people constantly pushing me even when I thought I couldn't go on. Rolling into Austin was one of the sweetest things ever! People were cheering and groups were cheering and it was a huge accomplishment just to roll through that finish line!
Me and the capital building. I think my knees, shoulders, and butt hate me, but I did it! I went farther than I ever imagined I could, and I don't know how soon I want to be jumping on my bike again, but I loved it and just want to get better!

End Stats:
Day One:
81 miles
3500 calories
7hr 30min total journey time
14.5 average speed

Day Two:
70 miles
3000 calories
7 hours total time
13.8 average speed

Next time . . . I need to do more hill training, and more longer rides. My longest ride was 50 miles before this weekend. Those additional 30 miles is all mental! I want to quicken my pace, and figure out my gears so my knees don't take the brunt. Yeah, I think I'll do it again!

It's here!

Tomorrow is the big day--what I've been "training" for (or at least stressing over) since October (or December . . . it's all a blurrr!). It looks like we'll be getting rain, and I really should be asleep right now because I'm getting picked up at 4:15 AM. (who do they think I am?!) I'm so excited and so scared, but I just pray all will go well, and I have to remember who this is for. Ever since I've signed up to ride, I've found out so many people I know have been connected with MS. Whether it be family members, spouses, friends, or whatever, their lives have been touched. It's these people I ride for and others I don't know. I'm overwhelmed with the sheer number of people who will be out there riding for this cause. It's AWESOME and I get to be a part of it! Next post will be how it went!

The Final Countdown

The ride is almost here! I can't believe months of waiting and all the sudden I'm not feeling so sure about it. I most worried about the rain, wind, and my knees and shins. My knees have really been bothering me lately and that's not good when riding 80+ miles two days in a row. I am excited about my team and actually the stay in La Grange! It sounds like it'll be a lot of fun!

I've been writing my to-do lists and editing my packing list, and I hope I'll remember everything, not pack too much, and not lose anything. It's only overnight, but it's amazing how long my list is. Everything from going out and getting a rain poncho/jacket thing, to a different type of knee brace, to remembering tylenol pm and shampoo! I don't know exactly what to expect, and I think if this was the 8th time I was riding it, I wouldn't know what to expect!

The Ram Challenge

Saturday I went to my last group ride before the actual MS 150 next weekend. It was the Ram Challenge and its' proceeds went to the Ram marching band (being a nerdy band member myself, I thought it was a good cause! This is me before the ride. There was a fantastic double rainbow and the sun was shining and it looked to be a gorgeous day.

Me and the other riders getting ready to start. Still sunny with a slight sprinkling of rain. Not bad, still looking okay.

First stop: 12 miles in. We had been rained on relentlessly. I don't know where the sun went, but it ran away and in its place came thunder, some lightening, and a lot of rain. I felt like I was riding in a wet diaper thanks to my padded shorts, and to top things off, my computer quit working. At this stop I debated on turning back, only doing the 35 miles, or begging SAG to drive me back to my car! I'm proud to say I went on and at the turn point to go 35 or the higher miles, I turned for the higher! The rain stopped, and we started drying up, and then it hit hard again. By stop #2 we had to wait while they decided what to do with us (the rain was pouring at this point). They finally decided to shut down the 75 mile route, and so people could take the 60+ mile route or the 44. I went for the 44 and was glad I did. We had a head wind the majority of the time, but the ride was really pretty with the gradual hills. Minus the occasional pelting rain which felt like hail stones, I finally basically dried up! Near the end of the ride my knees were burning from the fight with the head wind, but magically it warmed up.

This is a "glamor shot" of my legs post ride! Please note the white knees from my knee braces--that's not a tan, that's dirt--also to be seen at my ankles (nice mud ring around my sock line), and then my pruny feet from sitting in wet shoes for hours. I don't know if I'm exactly prepared for the big ride next weekend. I know I can handle rain for about 30 miles before it really starts annoying me! I also know I have a low tolerance for major headwind, and my knees hate me. I do know I love group rides and enjoy the people. Next weekend will be an experience to say the least! Worse case scenario, I know I've raised the money for a great cause and I'm riding for 2 people who totally deserve it! Whether I finish the ride or not, I've done what I can!

Ugh!

Today has kind of been a great and frustrating day. Great because Jon got off early and we went to Zoobilee and had a blast at the zoo. Frustrating because I retook my VO2 Max and it lowered. What?! Okay, it really was not surprise because I took 10 days off for a trip to Idaho where I only biked twice (once for 30 minutes of hills and the other for a 5 mile loop around our block). That was my grand total exercising for the trip when my body is use to basically 10+ hours a week. Anyhoo, I thought I would do at least a bit better, but my return to reality week this week made me realize how quickly I lose what I do! Oh well. I was kind of bummed. Tomorrow I'm doing the Ram Challenge and shooting for 75 miles. Stoked about this ride because the weather is suppose to be gorgeous (but possibly breezy). Next downer. I looked at the expected forcast for next weekend--the weekend of this ride I've been stressing over--mind you this weekend is like 75* and partly cloudy--next weekend, thunderstorms and 80* which means HUMID. Are you kidding me?! They had this issue last year and only got to ride one day (this wouldn't be that bad in my opinion!) but I was really hoping for good weather. Ugh! Please pray for nice weather next weekend!

The best people ever!

So, thanks to many friends and family, I have reached my donation goal! I'm so excited and touched by the generosity of people I'm surrounded by! I'm heading home to Idaho this week and am really hoping to get some hill climbs in. I'll be on my mom's bike, but training is training (that and I'm SOOOO excited to go home!). This ride is coming up quick!

Ride One: Revisited

Jon has spring break this week, and I've been meaning to make the most of it ride wise, but that never really happens. So today I decided to go out and redo the first ride around my neighborhood and the street just past our neighborhood. Last time, it was HORRIBLE! I saw multiple random dead things and the road was just aweful. This time was drastically different! From the month I rode on it last, they have completely repaved it! Way to go city! (there was a news report just after my little ride talking about how bad that road was!) Todays ride was pretty nice. It was the first time I wore short sleeves, and I didn't even get chased by a dog!

My Stats:

Mileage: 15.3
Time: 1 hour
Ave Speed: 16.6 mph
Top Speed: 19.8 mph
Calories burned: 485

Things I learned: Cement trucks do not look for cyclists. It's a good thing I had brakes! Cement trucks are fun to draft. They block all major wind. Riding around my neighborhood is about 1 mile, but it's not very entertaining.

All in all, good ride. Nice to get outside!

Shell Ride

I just got back from my second ride! It was back in Katy, starting again at Katy Mills Mall. Our options were a 46 miler or a 63 miler. I went with full intentions of riding 63 miles, but at the 20 mile break area, I was pretty sure it wasn't going to happen, and at the turn off for the longer miles, I had missed the cut off time for the suggested distance goers by 15 minutes, and no other riders were heading that way, so I knew I would inevitably get lost. As a result, I rode the shorter distance with my friend Liz (she's the reason I signed up for the MS 150) and it was really fun. We kept pace together rather well, and it was nice to chat with someone, making the time and miles fly by!

My stats:

Miles: 50 (I did some laps around the mall to make me feel better!)

Time: 3 hr 45 min (that's with the rest stops)

Ave Speed: 16.5 mph

Top Speed: 25.5 mph

Calories burned: 1950

I started out behind my friend Nate, and kept pace with him for about the first 15 miles. We were cruising at 2o+ mph and it was really fun, but after some time I was really starting to feel it. We hit a turn where a bunch of riders had to turn around (because they went too far), and we got split and then BAM the headwind kicked it. (It's truly amazing how nice a tail wind is!) Not long after I completely lost him, I ran into my friend Liz. And we basically rode together the rest of the way. It really is fun riding with someone. Keeping pace with the faster riders is excellerating and hard, and I can do it, but not for the whole time. It was cool seeing the difference from this ride from the last. I'm definitely more comfortable on my bike, and still have lucked out with no flat tires and no falls! I did nail my shin with my pedal, but I can take a bruise!

Under the weather with beautiful weather

This week has been absolutely gorgeous and what have I done? Nothing. I've been attacked by allergies or a head cold or a sinus infection or something and have felt like crap, taught my normal classes, and gone home hacking for the rest of the day/night. Now that it's cooling off again, I'm feeling a little better, but still not quite up to par. Am I cursed? Yeah, probably!

In other news, I've gotten some of my first donations for the ride! I'm so excited! It makes everything a little more real, and my goal a little closer! Like always, what have I gotten myself into?!

First Ride: Completed!

I did it! I woke up at 4am to go to Katy to ride my first REAL ride! It was for Ducks Unlimited and there were probably 3000 riders (my guesstimation). I felt sheepish breaking out my camera before, but I wish I would have taken a picture ride before we started! It was an awesome sight! Anyhoo--My stats:

Mileage: 48! (I know, I even amaze myself, but real troopers went 70!)

Time: I think I ended up just over 3-3.5 hours

Average MPH: 13.5 (before you laugh at my slowness, in my defense, there was a stellar headwind/crosswind, otherwise I was cruisin' at about 15-17 mph).

Calories burned: just under 2000

The ride was actually quite nice. We started out at Katy Mills Mall, and basically ended up in the country. I have a map-otherwise I really have no idea where we were at! There were a few hills--my favorite showing up after spending an hour with a headwind, just to find a hill, and thankfully a reststop not too much farther!

Things I learned:
-You may pass one or two people here and there, but when you get passed, it's by a troop of like 20 riders hauling.
-Reststops are amazing and incredibly unsanitary! We are talking food (M&M's!) and portapotties and no sanitizer. (note to self: carry hand sanitizer).
-My hands and toes never warm up. I think I knew this after years of skiing/snowboarding/snowmobiling--but it still shocked me that they still are tender 10 hours postride.
-Bike seats are not comfortable. Whoever thinks they are are insane.
-I need cushier shorts. (see above).
-Glasses are key when riding. Thank you Shawn!
-Biker shorts may go up to the ribs of most ladies, but guys have a tendency to plummer it.
-Bikers are funny people. They are generally nice, chatty, and courteous. The rude ones pass unexpected without calling out.
-I need a little boombox thing for my bike. A group passed me with one and I wanted to join (but there were like 30 people passing me and I get shuffled in a group that big).
-I now understand when people say they have ridden with thousands yet rode alone (that would be me today).
-I like to hold the low handlebars, but my hands fall asleep.
-I get extra momentum when I know I only have 10 miles left. I think it's motivating knowing I can give my rear a break and try to thaw my hands.
-I have been riding on flatish tires. It makes a difference when you air them up to the proper psi.
-I think I may have made a mistake for signing up for the MS 150. I like to ride, but I'm such a fair weather friend (ask any of my friends back home when it comes to snowboarding and waterskiing!). I don't like the cold, I don't like the wind (Hello, Texas), and I'm kind of a pansy. What have I gotten myself into?! I know in the end, I will love it. It's like now--I think of how miserable I was, but all I feel is the accomplishment of doing it AND NOT FALLING! (This was a prime goal!)

Anyhoo, with my first real ride under my belt, I do feel a lot more confident about the big ride. It really is fun riding with others, and even though I'll be hurting tomorrow, it could have been a whole lot worse!

My First Real Ride

My first real ride is coming up this Saturday. I'm just praying the weather will be good, and that I won't fall! I know it's probably inevitable, but I'm already scared to death as it is, that I think a fall would ruin me! I'm only signed up for 37 miles (I know "only" is a funny word, but I was too scared to sign up for the 45 or 70 mile), but I don't know if I can hack it. This will be a real eye opener to my dreams of being a biking star (aka-finishing the MS 150!).

I Think I'm Cursed

It's official, I'm cursed. Every time there is a day that I could easily get classes covered or kids watched, it rains or is freezing or something major comes up. I was planning on going on Friday. A real ride with a real group. Guess what the weather is suppose to be like? Cold and Raining. Of course. Since the weather has been amazing for the passed two weeks when I've been to busy to breath, now a cold front is coming in. I give. Maybe me training wasn't meant to be.

VO2 Max

I had my VO2 Max tested today! I know that makes no sense to many people, but basically it's how much oxygen a person can take in and utilize. I've been studying about for my AFAA cert and was stoked to actually get tested. I went up to the Sports and Fitness Therapy floor in the Med Center with my bike and shoes and they hooked me up to some machines testing my heartrate and speed and gear. Then they strapped this mask over my face (flashback of emergency c-section), and had me ride. The tester would add Watts every minute and I had to ride until I wanted to hurl. When I said 'stop', I really meant it, but afterwards thought, "maybe I could have gone longer?" Oh well. I will be tested again in about 10 weeks (before the big race), so hopefully I can improve. To give you an idea of the numbers, an average person has a VO2 Max of upper 20's-lower 30's. Lance Armstrong has a VO2 Max of 87. And now for my results:

VO2 Max: 49 ml/kg/min (I'm basically what he called a weekend warrior!)

HR Max: 193

LT %: 75.6 (this is how hard I have to work before my lactic acid in my muscles kick in).

Max Watts: 240 (we started at 75. This is the number I really want to improve upon)

Now I know I want to do more hills in my spin classes and definitely get on the road more. I also when to Sun and Ski Sports open house thing tonight to pick up my number and shirt for a ride on Feb 6, and picked up some more needed bike gear and tips for the ride. It was cool and nice to go by myself so I could soak it in. I have fallen in love with Cliff Blox. They are like a gummy energy treat. I'm excited to try them while working out!

Finally a Ride!

I finally went on a small ride today. At least I logged 5+ more miles on my bike, which practically quadrupled the original 1.5! The ride was definitely interesting. I went down a road by my house, and think I picked the pot-holeiest (it's a real word!) road in Houston. On the road, I passed a dead cow carcus, multiple trash piles (including a baby seat), and finished it off by passing 5 guys on horses. I was only chased by a pack of dogs once, which did lead me to screaming, but other than that, no major issues!

The new shoes were great, I had WAY more confidence clipping in (although my right foot does not cooperate), and I like being able to step out and not slide. It felt good being out there, even in the wind, and the horses! I now know the area a little better and am excited to go explore some of the other roads and neighborhoods around mine. I need to log a lot more miles before I will really feel confident, and I'm still scared to death with the idea of riding with a pack. But, it's a start!

Getting the Gear

I've been excited to start really riding on the street and go figure, this week has been FREEZING (by Houston standards!). I did get me some mountain bike shoes so I'm a little less afraid to clip in, and today I went out and got me some true blue biking shorts with the basically diaper butt! I'm becoming official! If only it would warm up so I can ride! I'm currently counting my spin classes as training, although we never stay in the saddle more that a few minutes. Maybe I should do an all seated class. I bet my Saturday class would love that! I've been really inspired by my spin classes--in every class this week (to date, I'm up to 3) I've had multiple people training. It's nice that I have people I know that will be out there on the bikes with me, so maybe I'll see a familiar face! Tomorrow I'm hopefully heading to another bike shop to get some tubes and hopefully some capri pants to ride in . . . and maybe a water rack. Then, I should be set (hopefully). How did I manage to pick such an expensive hobby. This a trait that runs in my family!

What Have I Done?

I may have been possessed when I decided to sign up for the MS 150. That's all I can figure out! I've been wanting a roadbike for a long time and I finally got me dream bike in October. Three months later, it only has 1.5 miles on it. I got the clip in pedals and I'm scared to death! I figured jumping in on a race would help me get over my fear, and so here I am, signed up for this huge ride in April, and scared out of my socks!

After teaching spin for a few years now, students kept asking and pushing that I should sign up for this event. But, it took a lady who has MS who takes my spin class, who is signed up for the race, to push me into doing it. I figure, if she is pushing herself to do this, I should count my blessings and do it too! I'm signed up with the Caprock Communications team, and I don't know what that really entails, but it's nice to be a part of a team!

My goal: 150 miles
Money to raise: $400
To donate: Click Here

The Game Plan: There are training series you can sign up for in preparation for the race, but frankly, our weekends are crazy and I didn't want to drop the money to join in without the sure knowledge that I could join in every week. So, I've signed up for a race at the beginning of February. It's the Puddle for the Ducks and I'm racing 37 miles. In March I'm planning on signing up for the Gator Ride and up the mileage, and then the week before the biggie, I'm going to sign up for the Ram Challenge and enter in the 75 mile race. Hopefully with these races, mixed with whatever rides and I can get in on, and my spin classes (4 a week!), I will feel remotely prepared for this thing.