Ok, well I didn't stop exercising or watching Biggest Loser or end up in a hospital..... I just allowed someone else to use my computer and they signed me out of hotmail/windows live and I couldn't figure out my login.  Ooops!!  I kept thinking it was the name of our site.  Finally I realized hubby and I have separate logins....and THEN I remembered what mine was.  Thus are the hazards of letting your computer remember you so that you don't have to login every time.

 

So what's new.....

 

Hmmmm... I crashed my bike and survived.  One of the wheels didn't and I had lots of scrapes and bruises, but it's all good and I'm pretty much healed now.  It was the MOST fun ride ever, until I crashed.    Jane and I rode from Mt. Laguna to Julian.  Ok so Jane rode all the way to Julian and I stopped (crashed) a few miles short of the destination.  Thankfully Josh (my son) was our support vehicle and he rescued me.  I'm still not sure exactly what happened.  We think maybe the tire blew out and then I overreacted with my brakes... All I know is that I felt like I went down into a hole that didn't exist and I remember mashing my brakes... won't be doing that again anytime soon.  Unless I'm wanting to practice my acrobatic skills.

 

On Monday I rode 40 miles!!!!!  Then I got back on the bike on Tuesday for my normal commute and I won't say that it was "easy," but it was much less hard!!  Today, I'm resting.  I'm pretty darn sore so I'm taking a wee little break.  I still have weightlifting tonight so it's not a complete "rest" day.

 

And.... My foot is feeling AWESOME!!!  I'm not quite ready to resume walking or hiking, but the pain has decreased significantly.  It was barely sore at all this morning!!  Hallelujah!!  I am sooooo glad I listened to my intuition and looked for a solution that didn't involve surgery!!

Haven't had much time to post because we are in the final preparations for my son's Eagle Court of Honor.  Family flew in today, hubby came home this morning, we have a family dinner tonight, set-up at the church and then the big shindig is tomorrow.  Who knew it would be so much work??  Ok, so maybe it wouldn't have been as bad if I hadn't forgone housecleaning for so much bike riding the last few months.   

 

At least all I have to do at the ceremony is sit back and watch. 

Last week feels like a blur to me.  I went to work and I tried to do everything I was supposed to do, but I was like a zombie.  Between the headache that would not die and all the meds, I just kind of drifted through life.  This week is going MUCH better.  I still have a bit of a headache, but now it's more in my ears and for some reason that's more tolerable.  The best part is that I feel like me again.  I have energy and I actually want to do things.  We even cleaned the carpets on Sunday!  Last night I rode the whole way home AND still did the dishes and worked on some other projects (compared to climbing in bed and staring at the tv all night).

 

My ride home last night was soooo much fun!  The weather has finally turned here and it's not so oppresively hot.  There was a Santa Ana yesterday so it was warm, dry and windy but as soon as the sun started to go down it cooled off.  I could literally feel the temperature dropping as I rode home.  At one point I thought I might have to stop, when the wind was blowing straight at me and almost pushed me off my bike.  Thankfully it tends to come in gusts and it stopped quickly.  Then I turned and the wind was pushing me along.

 

When I got to my "big" hill at the end of my ride, I absolutely loved it.  The sun had pretty much gone down and the full moon was HUGE.  I slowly pedalled up the hill and just enjoyed the weather.  The weirdest thing was that I could  feel the cold creeping up from the ground.  Loved it!!!

 

Not only did it feel good to completely finish the ride after all the mishaps lately (sick, forgot lights, chain came off, last-minute meeting...) but I felt really good and strong the whole way.  I remember when I would get winded at the beginning of my ride and wonder how I would possibly make it.  Now I just enjoy myself. 

Even though I battled my headache all day yesterday, I felt great during weightlifting.  I used to get out of breath walking down to class and doing some of the excersises, but yesterday it all felt good.  I increased some weights.  I breezed through my workout and I felt good and energetic when I was done.  I was excited for my bike ride and rightfully so.  It was one of those days when everything was easy and smooth and fast.  I was barely sore from the Tour de Poway.  I flew down the big hill and then suddenly my headache went into overdrive and I knew it wasn't safe to ride the rest of the way home.  Josh picked me up and I called Kaiser.

 

Long story short, I didn't end up having to go in (they were all booked up).  I answered a bunch of questions, described my pain and what I had tried and they gave me a long list of things to do and called in some prescriptions for me.  Works for me!  I didn't relish the idea of sitting around at urgent care or the ER with my head pounding. 

 

I'm feeling better this morning and I'm hoping I can get my sinus' to drain enough that I can ride tonight without any problems.....because the rest of my body is loving it and ready to go!!

I should probably wear a sign today that says "caution, likely to break down."  I'm feeling frustrated and annoyed.  Before I start my pity party let me say that I know I have improved a ton.  I love riding my bike and I have no intention of quitting.... but..... I am so stinkin frustrated!!!!

 

The bike worked fine yesterday.  No rubbing.  I loved my ride to the lake.  I felt good and strong and the hills are getting easier... but then I met up with my friends and they just keep getting faster and faster and I am not improving.  I absolutely cannot keep up and it's to the point now that I can't even see them in front of me.  At one point Candace was coasting along and waiting for me.  I was pedaling and pedaling and pedaling and I still couldn't keep up with her.  Finally Jane switched bikes with me and even though she still took off and was way ahead, I was able to easily keep up with Candace.

 

I can think about it rationally and I can list all the reasons I would be slower, but it still STINKS!!!  None of us have expensive bike store bikes, so we're pretty even as far as that's concerned, but I do have my pannier on because I come straight from work, plus I'm heavier than they are...but still.... Candace and I used to be pretty evenly matched.  So what changed?  I ride more than she does.  Grrr.....

 

Jane had two suggestions.  My bike seat was too low and I need to switch to a regular seat.  (I have the big booty seat.)  So... today I put the smaller seat on and I'll use my odometer to see if I increase my speed.  If not... I just might not be able to ride with them anymore.  I can't stand it.  I'm tired of holding them back and I'm tired of working my butt off and not being able to keep up.

 

I should say that I have absolutely amazing friends.  They never make me feel bad, they don't get all "you can do it...", they wait for me at designated spots and they give me an opportunity to rest before we start again.  I feel absolutely no pressure from them, it's all me.  I can't stand it.  I'm definately competitive.  I don't need to come in first or anything like that.  I'm not a spoiled sport, but I will not give up and I'm determined and I have tried everything I can think of and I'm just frustrated and I think I may be pms'ing....so it all feels amplified right now.

 

Sorry for the pity party, but I feel like I need to document my whole journey.  The good and the bad.

 

No wii for me yesterday.  I had weightlifting class and I rode home ....almost... I forgot my lights so I had to be picked up about 1 mile away.  I still rode 7 miles, so that's good.

 

Have you ever taken your car in for something and had the mechanic say they "couldn't duplicate the problem?"  Well, that's been the saga of me and my bike.  I'll ride it and it will feel like something is rubbing.  I'll spin the wheels, check the brakes and I just can't figure it out.  Josh has adjusted the brakes for me and checked it all out and nothing....  Meanwhile I am the SLOWEST of our group.  I pump and pump but I can't keep up.  It's been driving me crazy...

 

Well.... last week Joshua rode my bike home when I was sick and when he got home he said it was the worst ride ever!  We have the same bike, but mine is the girl version and I have the big booty seat.  He said he thought it was the seat, but then he still had trouble when he was standing up.... 

 

I am absolutely paranoid about the Tour de Poway on Sunday.  It will be the hardest ride I've ever done and I just can't afford to work any harder than I need to....so last night Joshua and I made one last ditch effort to check the bike out ourselves.  The wheels were a little off, so he trued them, he adjusted the brakes and today we shall see if it makes a diffference.

 

Otherwise, I'm stopping by the bikeshop tomorrow to see if they can work a miracle by Sunday.....

Ooops.... I took some unexpected time off with a stinkin cold. What's up with that?  Everyone I know has been coming down with a strange cold....in September??  That's an odd time around here.  It must be because school started.

 

Either way, I ended up taking a week off the bike.  I took my scheduled days off and THEN got sick.  I never intended to take a whole week off, but here's something very interesting....

 

When I was riding I was gaining weight.  I tried not to get all crazy about it.  I found it kind of humorous.  I knew I was eating better.  I knew I was exercising 1-2 hours per day/5 days a week.  I planned to just wait and see what happened.  And then I got a cold and lost 6.5 pounds!!  I'm not sure how that happened.  I ate horrible food.  Seriously!  I ate ice cream, pasta, oreos, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter toast....  I didn't eat big giant amounts but I certainly didn't count calories.  I just couldn't muster the energy to go to the grocery store or cook, so I ate what was easy and when I did go to walmart for more cold medicine...somehow the oreos jumped in the cart, along with the ice cream.  Granted it was the no sugar added/low fat chocolate mint chip, but still....it was ice cream!!!

 

I was truly terrified to get on the scale yesterday, but then it was five pounds down.  Hmmm.  Ok, maybe the cold medicine dehydrated me.  24 hours later, no cold medicine and I'm down another 1.5 pounds.  Strange! 

 

The only thing I can think of is that I am no longer sore so maybe I finally flushed all the lactic acid and extra water retention out of my body. 

 

All I know is that I'm back to work and I'm riding home tonight and I'm ready for the crazy scale to jump back up now that I'm doing the RIGHT things.

 

Craziness!

 

For the most part I felt fine all day.  My legs felt more stiff than sore and I had to keep finding reasons to leave my desk because my legs felt twitchy and I couldn't stand sitting still.  I even resorted to moving files for my boss.  I looked forward to my ride home because it was my short 6 mile ride to accupuncture day and I didn't have to be there until 6:30.

 

So I went to my weightlifiting class and breezed through it.  The teacher created a program for me and now I'm ready to go.  It's mostly upper body and just a few leg things until my legs get used to the ride home.  One leg excersize is already being tossed....My accupuncturist said no more calf raises.  My muscles are already too tight and it made my foot worse.

 

So I hopped on my bike, ready for a nice leisurely ride and whoa baby!!  I was sore!!  Good thing I wasn't in a hurry.  I loosened up a couple of miles into the ride and I enjoyed myself but boy was I slow and I definatley used lower gears than normal.  The ride ended a block or so early when my chain came off.  I decided to just walk it so that I didn't have to take the bags off and put them back on.

 

Today is a rest day because my cycling buddies and I are taking a bike maintenance class at REI.  I'm thinking it's probably a good thing I'm taking a rest day.  Sunday beat me up more than I realized. 

 

I am still completely loving my rides.  I look forward to my journey home more than I ever did when I drove.  I feel good and I feel empowered.  I'm glad that I'm saving a little gas and in my heart of hearts I know that this is a turning point for me.  I know that I have found something that I truly enjoy and that I will continue to add more cycling and less car driving to lots of activities... but there is a downside... Right now it's hard.  I'm exhausted at night and I don't really have any time to do other things.  Once I get home it's dinner, dishes, prep my bags for the next day, pack a lunch, ice my foot and go to bed.  I need a full eight hours of sleep and that's more than I used to get.  I kind of feel guilty about all the extra time I'm spending on myself and I worry that I'm not keeping up on housework and other things in my life and yet.... I'm not willing to change it.  I just have this feeling of "this too shall pass."  I think I need to stick with it, adjust my schedule and in time it will get easier. 

Bike the Bay, Walk the Bridge... haha.  Ok, so the ride was really called "Bike the Bay," but I figured that the title I came up with more accurately represents how I approached the ride.

 

Unfortunately I didn't start the day out real well.  I woke up feeling awful.  I had horrible cramps and it was like my body was in overdrive.  I was cold/clammy/sweaty/anxious and short of breath.  It was the oddest thing.  I got winded just on the short ride from the car to the beginning of the race and then I got anxious because I was so out of breath....  At that point I think I was battling a mental and physical battle. 

 

I calmed down a little bit while we stood around waiting for the beginning of the ride.  It was fun to see all the different groups and the cool jerseys.  We marveled at those who were riding the "fixies" and the beach cruisers.  We needed every single one of our 21 gears. haha!  Finally the ride got started and we were off.  We barely got going and we hit the beginning of the bridge.  No time to settle in and relax.  I didn't even make it up the entrance ramp.  It was a sharp turning ramp.  It was even hard to walk it.  Then I was huffing and puffing and freaking out in my head.  "What the heck?  I can't even make it up the ramp?"  I caught my breath and rode some more and stopped again.  Mentally, I think it's easier to stop the second time.  It was like I was defeated.  I was so upset and so worried.  I kept walking, but I was going over every possible scenario.   Could I quit?  How would I let Candace and Jane know?  Would I be able to live with myself if I quit?  Physically, could I possibly go on?  I honestly thought I was going to puke and cry and pass out all at the same time... but I kept walking.... and then finally I got back on my bike and started riding and it was EASY!!!  I mean seriously.  Granted I got back on when the slope wasn't so bad, but I was still shocked at how easy it was to pedal...  I finished up the slope of the bridge and then calmed down as I rode down the other side.

 

By the time we made it to the first pit-stop (about 3 miles into the race), I knew I could continue on but I still wasn't feeling real good.  I took some ibuprofen at the pit stop and Jane gave me a shot blok.  I drank some water and had the pit crew adjust my seat a little bit and we were off... A few miles later I finally started to shake it off.  Candace gave me another shot blok at the next pit stop and I was finally able to stomach the idea of food.  I ate a couple orange slices, a piece of banana and more water....and from that point on I absolutely loved the race.  I made it up every single hill and I had fun. 

 

At the first pit stop Candace was frustrated with herself too and said she was going to do the ride next year and she was determined to make it up the whole bridge.  I said "have fun, I'm never doing it again.  I'll be lucky if I finish this one."  (you should know, I'm generally miss I can do anything!!! so this was totally out of character.)  By about 15 miles I knew I would do the ride again....

 

But during the last couple of miles Jane looked up and saw the bridge and she said "do you see that?"  and I said "Yea, it's that ugly bridge" and we burst into a fit of giggles.  I may have been enjoying the ride, but I hadn't befriended the bridge yet.  Give me a few days and I might be able to look at it and remember that I did indeed conquer it....even if I walked part of it.  Just wait until next year.

 

And here's my little shout out for Shot Bloks!!  They are made by Cliff bars and they look sort of like little jello blocks.  I think they help replace electolytes or something like that.  I've experimented with what to eat before, during and after a ride and these really are my favorite.  At first I didn't really like the idea of them.  They seemed like empty calories, but for me they work!  I can't deny that I feel so much better when I eat a couple of them on the long rides and I truly think they saved me yesterday.  So of course, I bought a few more packages after the ride so I wouldn't have to get handouts from my friends.  (I still don't think I'd eat them, just to eat them...still not so sure about the whole empty calorie thing...)

My biggest fear while riding my bike is.....hills.  They absolutely kill me.  I purposely choose routes that have less hills or more manageable hills and that's why I've been a little fearful about the Bike the Bay ride on Saturday.  In order to build a bridge across water, it has to rise above it.  There's no way to cross the Coronado bridge without climbing a hill. 

 

Yesterday I got the brilliant idea to ride down to the Lake to meet my cycling buddies.  It seemed easier than riding to Jane's and then going through all the effort to load my bike in her car.  After all it's only a short 4 mile ride and it's mostly downhill, right?  I remembered there was a hill leaving campus and another hill at the beginning of the ride, but then it was all downhill.....right?  So I took off.  I was a little nervous, but then I went up both hills pretty easily.  I never even considered stopping and I didn't even say "I'm gonna die."  I just kind of giggled to myself because it was so easy.  Then I got to go down, down, down.....lovely breeze.  Wait, what is that up ahead?  Another stinking hill?  It looked huge.  How could I forget about it.  The closer I got, the smaller it seemed and sure enough I pedaled right up.  Then another down, down, down.... and what?  another hill.  By this point I am totally laughing at myself.  How could I have forgotten all of these hills.  It's probably a good thing I forgot, because I might not have tried it and I'm oh so glad I did!!!!!  I loved every minute of that ride.  It was hilarious.  I laughed at myself and surprised myself and I finished it up with 12 miles around the lake.  All said and done I rode 17 miles yesterday!!  Good thing I have a meeting today and someone is giving me a ride...I think my legs might need a rest day.

We had a great weekend.  Hubby ended up being home the whole weekend so we took advantage of it.  We ran all of our errands Saturday, including a trip to the bike store.   I got a back rack and a shoulder bag/pannier that hooks onto it.  I like the bag much better than the backpack!  I'll try to take a picture when I get it all loaded up tonight.

 

Then on Sunday Rick, Josh, Bre (Josh's new girlfriend) and I took a picnic and went for a ride on Coronado.  It was so fun.  The weather was a lot cooler down there by the beach.  Hopefully we helped Rick get the cycling bug!  They installed the folding pedals on his bike while he was home, which makes it much easier to get it in and out of the truck.  We also went on a couple of rides and now he knows he can ride much further than he realized.  And....he's just a wee bit competitive.   I can't imagine that he'll let me push too much farther ahead of him. 

 

Yesterday Rick went back on the road and I attempted to go on a nice long bike ride by myself.  I ended up doing about 40 minutes and half the distance I planned.  I forgot my gloves and my hands were killing me!!!!!  The bummer is, the gloves were in the back of the car the whole time!  If I'd known, I would've doubled back and then continued on.  Oh well.  It was pretty hot and I still got a great workout.  I'll just have to attempt the ride another day.

 

I'm really starting to see how much my life has changed.  I didn't spend the weekend sitting around watching t.v., napping or eatting.  We got a lot done, I rode a lot and I still feel rested and happy. 

I survived my first full week of bicycle commuting and I absolutely loved it!!!  I think all the thought, prep work and trial rides really paid off.  Everything went smoothly and I don't really need to change anything.  I might switch from a backpack to panniers, but it's not totally necessary.

 

So here are my observations of the week

 

Despite finding that I get extremely hungry - I still lost weight

It was fun seeing and talking to people along the way.

Love the smell of the pine trees on campus and on one of the bike roads.

Hills are getting easier.

People think you are amazing when they find out you ride your bike home.

 

I do have something I'm trying not to be nervous about....apparently somebody was asking about parking "success" stories and I was discussed.  I'm supposed to be expecting a phone call.  Perhaps I can convince them to interview me at the end of the semester.  I think it would be more fun if there was a great before AND after shot.  I'm feeling a little shy about being called a "success" so early. 

I almost rode the entire way home yesterday!!  Woo Hoo!!  It felt good, but my quads were burning.  It's funny.  When I drive it in the car, I don't really notice the hills.  I thought that most of my ride was downhill but I'm finding that I have one big downhill, but the rest is pretty much a long slow incline until I get to the last killer hill right before I get home....and that is where I stopped yesterday.   Hey, I gotta leave a little something to celebrate later, right?

 

Jumped on the scale and I lost another 1.5 pounds.  I think that's five pounds in less than 2 weeks.  Considering I have eaten whatever I want, I'm thinking that was quite the bonus!!  Imagine if I'd eat better too. haha!

Oh my gosh, I totally and completely forgot about my space here!!!!  Seriously!  I didn't mean to stop writing.  I went on two back to back vacations in July, then I got really sick.  I got a new boss at work. School started....and somewhere along the line I just forgot!  I didn't remember until I just saw a link to live spaces....  I guess I am starting to get old.  haha!

 

I can't wait to go check everyone's spaces and see what you're all up to...

 

Here's my little update....

 

I started commuting by bike!!!  Ok so I'm only riding home for now and well I haven't made it the ENTIRE way, yet...but my time will come.  My chiropractor, dad and accupuncturist are all about 2/3 of the way home, so I've been stopping there for now.  I intended to try to ride the whole thing yesterday, but hubby is in town and he tracked me down and offered me a ride.  I was hot, sweaty and tired and he pulled up with an air conditioned car...hmmmm...... I could either get in or let him stalk me the rest of the way home.

 

I'm also taking a weight lifting class on campus.  I was excited about it, until I found out we have to take a fancy schmancy test that measures our fat and the entire baseball team is in the class.  I'm sure I'll end up having fun and the kids seem great, but it's just a little intimidating.  I'm definately the biggest person in the class and now I have to bring in the little print-out that gives all those glorious numbers...grr.... On the other hand, like I told my son, I will probably end up being the model student.  There's no way I won't be dropping pounds and inches!  I'll be cycling 40-60 miles per week, weightlifting twice a week and I have to bring my lunch because I don't have a car on campus.... I'm thinking I'm heading towards an easy "A." 

 

My buddies and I rode the Midnight Madness bike ride around San Diego a couple of weeks ago and we loved it enough that we signed up for Bike the Bay, a 25 mile bike ride that includes riding over the Coronado Bridge.  The ride will be easy, the bridge might kill me.  Not only is it UPHILL, but I heard it shakes when you are on it....hmmm....... why am I doing this?

 

And the only bad news in my update???  My foot still sucks!  I have tried everything.  I switched podiatrists and found one that is much more helpful and I'm following all of his instructions.  I start physical therapy on October 16th (not sure why it takes so long to get the initial appointment!!)  In the meantime I'm seeing a chiropractor and an accupuncturist.  I just started seeing them last week.  No miracles yet, but they are working hard to get my muscles to relax and I have noticed a bit of improvement so let's hope it works!!  Otherwise I have to have surgery...grrr...

 

Ok, well I'm off to check on my friends...hopefully you all haven't deleted me yet!!

Yep.  It took me almost 3 months but my bike odometer finally reads over 100 miles.  I've probably ridden closer to 125-145 miles but the magnet and sensor keep moving when I put the bike in the car so sometimes I don't actually get credit for the miles.  I'm starting to get the hang of lining it back up so hopefully it won't happen as much now.

 

My new "routine" is...

 

Tuesday - cycling around Lake Murray

Thursday - cycling around Lakeside

Saturday - a longer ride.  This week we're planning to ride the Silver Strand (16 miles)

 

 

Now if I could just get the eating thing down.....