Five Boro Bike Tour

I’ve been sitting on this post for a long time now. I can’t seem to find the time to write about the experience because there’s so much to write. I had a great time. It was an amazing ride to experience especially for this country girl. The pedaling was not challenging or technical. It was fairly flat, no car traffic and a moderate distance of 40 miles. The environment, scenery and sheer number of cyclists make it incredible. I highly recommend the ride if you ever have the chance.

I’m going to keep it simple and do a quick view of the ride in pictures. Almost all of these were taken while riding. I tend to get caught up in the ride and forget to slow down to enjoy the scenery sometimes.

I woke up at 4:30am to get to the Staten Island ferry on time. Here is a line of cyclists waiting for the next boat.

I got there so early that I had to wait an hour for the start time. It was so windy and cold! The crowd grew thicker as the starting time drew closer. So many different bikes to look at….and did I mention cold! Goosebumps cold!

The cold wait.

I was also here the day before with my family. This shot of Radio City music hall was taken over the shoulder while riding. – Manhattan

Central Park – I felt bad for the people that were running in the park. They were overtaken by cyclists.

Bronx area.

Into Queens.

Heading into the Astoria Park rest area.

Love this bike! I wanted to compliment this bike to the rider, but he was busy conversing with himself, so I snapped a photo.

Brooklyn

Bicycle highway. What an odd experience to be on a major highway, cars going the opposite direction, but none going our way…..just a highway filled with bikes.

The Verrazano bridge. This was the only steady climb of the ride, but it was nothing compared to the hills of PA….. Windy.

Crossing the line at the Staten Island finish festival

I Ride for Boston. I was glad to be able to contribute to Boston One Fund.

(a picture of) My complimentary photo at the finish festival.

Day 20

Day 20 of 30. Today’s 6 miles of biking make it my shortest day so far, but I haven’t missed a day of riding.

I’ve been busy lately. I’ve been riding over 100 miles a week during this great weather and 30daysofbiking, but I haven’t been running much. I went from 18-22 miles per week to 10-15 miles of running. I got out of the habit of running in the morning and with the nice weather I only want to ride my bike all evening. I’m also leaving for work earlier in the morning to ride further. I have bike events coming up, but no running races until a June 10k.

This past week I did two morning runs. My body wanted to lay in bed for as many extra minutes as possible, but I had to run. I felt the need to run after hearing about Boston. The morning after the marathon I struggled to get up early to run. I managed to get up early enough to run 2.62 miles. The next day was the day to #runforboston. I wanted to run in the morning so I could ride later because it was a beautiful day. I ran 5k before going to work.

Running for Boston was a great thing to do. It made me feel as if I were doing something for them and showing my support. At first I felt sad for the people that were affected, horribly injured, lost their lives and the families of the ones that were lost. Then I felt fear about the upcoming Five Boro Bike Tour and having my family in a similar setting. But I knew I would still ride ( though I’m still hesitant to have my family there )…. Bicyclists bike just as runners run. I still feel sad that there are such sick people out there that cause so much destruction and devastation.

4-16-13. Showing support for Boston.

Run for Boston day turned out to be a beautiful day. I rode 33 miles that day. It was leisurely riding with lots of pictures of the flowering trees.

Today I ran 5 miles and only biked 6 miles. It feels like a rest day for me. I’m on pace to ride more this month than I ever have. Last year at this time I was recovering from surgery, now I’m giving my legs a recovery day on my way to a 500+ mile month.

I did do a running event this month, by the way. I did the Believe in Hope 5k on the 13th. I decided to do it at the last minute. It was only a couple miles from my house, so I rode my bike there. I hadn’t run much that week and when the race started my legs were saying I don’t think so. It was the first race where I started arguing with myself because I really didn’t feel like running. I told myself to stop running and walk the rest. I ran the whole thing, but felt sluggish the whole time. It was also my worst race time. My Garmin showed 3.21 miles in 31:02. A little over 5k, but still slow.

Rain, rain go away!

Day 10…….

Today’s riding included a 6 mile route to work, home for lunch, to the health food store, then home. All day long I was waiting for the rain to fall, but when I arrived home from work it didn’t start yet. After I got home and dropped off my work stuff I tried to get out for a ride before the rain. I got about 1.5 miles away and it started raining…a steady rain, so I headed home because the sky was very dark. The rain stopped but the dark sky moved closer. I started cooking dinner and then the storm arrived. It poured!

Jacob wanted chicken Alfredo for dinner (definitely not vegan) so I worked on that and cut up some veggies for me. I made a sandwich on sprouted bread with chipotle hummus and the roasted veggies. It was delicious! I finished the Alfredo and then decided to relax. I didn’t run today and didn’t feel like running today. My miles have tapered off a little. I’m at 12-15 miles a week for the last couple weeks. I was doing 18 – 20. I think it’s because the weather is getting nicer and I’m riding over 100 miles a week. Today I feel run-down and like I’m getting a cold. I’m going to sit and relax for the night. I’ll run tomorrow. I haven’t even decided on a run for this month yet; though there are several to choose from.

Last night when my husband got home from work he told me that one of our neighbor’s yelled at him yesterday. He said that one of the elderly neighborhood women told him that she didn’t think it was right that we made our son ride his bike to school. And to make him do that when it’s raining, snowing, icy and cold was wrong of us. Now, my son does not ride his bike to school, but I do ride my bike to work everyday. If she were looking out her back windows she would see my son go to the bus stop everyday, but she’s watching out her front windows where I ride past on my bike every day. She thinks that it’s our son riding by and not me.
My husband told her that it’s not our son riding, it’s his wife riding to work, she looks like a kid on her bike and he couldn’t stop me if he tried. She was still not convinced.
I saw her lurking on her porch this afternoon while I was at the end of our road on my bike. I purposely took off my helmet and flipped my long curly hair back so that she could see. I guess it was kind of petty of me, but I don’t know who should be more insulted by her mix up……me for passing as a teenage boy on my bike, or my son for being mistaken for a middle age woman? And why does she think it’s so bad to ride a bike to school? It’s not even 5 miles to his school! I guess it’s good that she has something to keep her busy. I should just go talk to her.

Did you get rain today?

Milestone

#30daysofbiking
April 9…Day 9…99th day of the year…999….Hysterversary. Is that a word? I got an email today from Hyster Sisters, a forum that I visited over a year ago for information when I was scheduled to have a hysterectomy. Today is the one year anniversary of that surgery. I can’t say that I really miss my uterus or my ovaries. They were a huge source of pain for me.

I’ve said it before, but I could barely run for 10 minutes in a row last year before I had a hysterectomy. I didn’t have energy, I didn’t have any stamina, I was usually exhausted from being in pain. Endometriosis sucks! But one year later and I feel like a different person. Energy! I ride my bike almost everywhere, I can run for an hour and a half (maybe more) and I’m in pain about a fraction of the amount of time I was over a year ago. I questioned my decision to have the surgery up until the surgery. Now I know it was the right decision. Thanks to my doctor for helping me make that decision and helping me get my life back.

And so on this 9th day of 30 days of biking I started by taking a 7.5 mile route to work (which is 1.5 miles away). Half way into the ride I didn’t need my wind-breaker; it was t-shirt weather. I left work a little early to take some packages to the post office. Eight boxes in the panniers and on the rack.

I think I rode past the covered bridge at least 3 times today. It’s not that far away, but it’s a nice bike route.

This small dam is just up the creek from the covered bridge. Nice local scenery.

I rode home to see if Jacob wanted to go for a ride. While waiting for him I hopped on the treadmill and ran 5k. Hot! I miss the cold weather ( just a little bit ). Now I’m over-heated, full from dinner (leftover roasted veggies) and sitting here typing. I think I’m done riding for the night. I’m in awe about how different my life is on my hysterversary. (that word makes me laugh a little each time i type it) Had I not made the decision to have the surgery, I think I would still be miserable and in pain. Would I be biking? Would I still be (trying to run) running? I traded the heating pad and ibuprofen for running shoes and a bike. Good deal!

Was it warm in your area today?
Any milestones in your life recently?

Check out my rack!

Get your mind out of the gutter! I got a rack for my road bike. Gasp!!! Disclaimer: not my ashtrays.

It almost feels like I committed a sin by adding a rear rack to a road bike, but I’m already getting a sweaty back from hauling my backpack. I couldn’t imagine carrying it in the summer, so I got a rack. It definitely added some heft to the rear end, but I think it will work out great.

Day 4, 30 days of biking…

Looking through the Rupert Covered Bridge

I got to work in the morning and knew I wanted to leave as soon as I could. It was too nice outside to work all day. I got out around 2 and rode to the credit union to make a deposit. When I walked inside the guy asked me if I was there for a car loan. Haha.

My last stop before heading home was the health food store. This trip was another argument for adding a rack to my bike. My shoulders ached and my back was sweaty from hauling my backpack. It wasn’t even 60 degrees and it was a relatively short trip….definitely need the rack.

Day 5, 30 days of biking….

Bloomsburg University

Jacob wanted to head to campus….which is all uphill. I guess he was in the mood for a rewarding downhill ride. The campus has changed a lot since I went there.

Mount Olympus, upper campus

The photo doesn’t do the view justice. The little speck of a town down below in the background is where we came from. I took two short water sipping breaks on the way up. Coming down was awesome!

Danny Hale football field.

The press box by the football field.

Bike lane to nowhere

On our ride today I discovered Bloomsburg has a bike lane. I wanted to check out a road that said No Outlet….it lied. It was an alternate road connecting upper campus to the hospital parking lot area. The really odd part was that there’s an awesome bike lane through part of the road.

Jacob rides his first bike lane.

Jacob turned around and went back up the hill via the bike lane…his first bike lane. I had no idea Bloomsburg had a bike lane…too bad it’s not in a practical location.

Jacob walking his bike across the walkway connecting the hospital parking lot to campus. He has always liked this cross-walk.

I love this shot of Carver Hall. It almost looks surreal with the deep blue sky.

My bike parked in the basement complete with rack and one pannier (for now….).

How’s the weather in your area?
Planning any big weekend rides?

30 Days of Biking

#30daysofbiking
So far in 2013 I have not driven to work, but there have been a few weekend days that I didn’t ride (you know….long run days). April 2013 I am doing 30daysofbiking .

April 1, Day 1:
I rode to work. This is in front of my workplace in the morning.

I rode home for lunch and then after I rode home from work I picked up Jacob, switched bikes (hybrid with panniers for hauling) and we rode to Staples.

April 2, Day 2:
I rode to work. The morning ride was strange weather. It was windy and chilly but part of the sky was sunny and blue, then there was a dark section of ominous clouds. I stopped to snap a picture and as I arrived at work it started snowing while the sun was shining.

April 3, Day 3:
I rode to work. I stretched the morning ride to 6.2 miles. Some of my friends at work wanted bagels for lunch. They know I’m always willing to pick up food (bonus ride for lunch), so here I am parked out front of the bagel shop.

Nothing interesting yet this month, but 27 days to go and an excuse to ride everyday. It’s also going to keep me on my toes here.

Are you signed up for the 30 day challenge?
Is it really windy all the time in your area?

Columbia County Bicentennial 5K

Second weekend in a row with a 5k race. I felt like I had a lazy week running; since Monday I only ran 4 miles. I guess my body needed some rest.

The Columbia County Bicentennial 5k started at the Bloomsburg fairgrounds. It was a little chilly because of the wind, but good running weather. The tank below fired its gun to start the race.

A loud boom from the tank and we’re off and running. I checked my Garmin after about a quarter of a mile and my pace was around an 8:30 mile; which is fast for this old gal. I slowed down a little bit but kept a faster than normal pace and felt good. The first half of the race was gradually and then (somewhat) steep uphill. I slowed more than I normally would on the steep part but was still on pace for a good time (for me). Running downhill felt great and then it was fairly flat back to the fairground where a short lap had to be done before the finish.

Here I am crossing the finish line at 28:33. My official time was later posted at 28:31. I’m also wearing my Endometriosis Awareness bib for the second weekend in a row. Brian had the weekend off so he was there to cheer me on and take pictures.

There were no race bibs for this run. We had stickers pinned to us on a piece of plastic that went right onto this board. I’m number 97…I broke into the top 100.

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The awards being given out for the top 3 overall and top 3 for each age group.

Amazingly, I placed second in my age group (40-44)! I was a little shocked considering how slow I am. Maybe I should rest my legs more often.

I was glad to have Brian there with me.

Commuting in the snow

Yesterday I received two envelopes from Mom in the mail. They each had a handful of these yellow ribbons….nothing else, just yellow ribbons. Thanks Mom. You know it’s Endometriosis Awareness month….

Yesterday morning the roads were clear and dry. By the time I got home for the day this is what it was like outside. The snow came fast and it was just enough to make for a slow and interesting ride home. I always enjoy the different weather challenges, but let’s face it….I don’t want to fall and break a hip. It was big fat snow flakes that stung my face a little bit and almost looks like fake snow because it piles up so fast.

I made it home safely without slipping, sliding or falling. My tires and brakes were caked in snow. Pardon my dingy basement parking area.

It was still clear at lunch time so I rode in to town to pick up some delicious Columbia County Bread & Granola flax granola. They were generous enough to give me free granola because I mentioned them as my favorite product at a local health food store on Facebook. I’m stocked up on the Fruit & Berry and the Apple Cinnamon varieties now. I’ve been hoarding the stuff because they were recently featured on the Dr Oz show and they became so swamped with orders that it was almost impossible to get the stuff for a brief time. Yay for them! I highly recommend trying their granola and their bread. They don’t use any flour; it’s all sprouted grains and tasty.

All that snow made for a sloppy wet ride this morning. I wore my son’s cheap rain pants. I have to pull them way up and they look and sound ridiculous on me because they are too big. Yes, i said they sound funny. They make a horrible noise when walking in them because they are so baggy and plastic-like. Oh well…. I stayed a lot more dry than I would have without them.

It’s funny that I don’t even think about driving to work anymore. I automatically think of how I need to dress for the weather. Lucky for me I didn’t need the plastic pants for the lunch ride or the ride home. It was dry again, but that damn wind was back.

Another day of work in the bowels of hell completed…did I ever mention I hate my job?
I got in a 4 mile run on the treadmill, ate some leftover roasted veggies, now I sit here typing and thinking about a snack.

Tomorrow is the first day of SPRING! Will you be going for a bike ride or run? I’m riding to work and plan on a 3-4 mile run after work.

How’s the weather in your area? Are you riding to work?

Leprechaun Loop 5k

It was Saturday morning and wow did I just want to sleep in all morning. Saturday was the St Columba Leprechaun Loop 5k…at 9am. I woke up at 6:40 even though my body was begging to be lazy and SLEEP. Registration was in the school part of the church and there were students greeting everyone at the doors.

I wore this race bib on my back for the Endometriosis Awareness 5k that I registered for as a virtual runner. I plan on wearing the bib again next weekend when I do another local 5k.

I drove the course after picking up my registration packet. It was a straight shot down Market St, running along the River, turning around and back up Market Street. The snow flurries started around mile 2, but they were very light. The run felt good, fairly flat with a slight uphill at the end and lots of decked out in green runners. My time on my Garmin was 29:54. I’m not getting any faster, but not slowing down either. Maybe I should work on speed…..

Here’s the race swag: a green t-shirt, a National Guard bag, a green race bib and the Endo awareness bib I wore.

Did you race over the weekend?
Are you getting faster, slower or staying the same speed?

Almost Spring

What have you been up to?
Last weekend we went shopping and I bought some new running shoes. Green of course….I got Brooks Adrenaline GTS 13. So far they have about 17 miles on them and I love them! My 14 year old son also wanted some new sneakers. He got Adidas high tops……size 13! He likes his new sneakers too.

The weather is slowly getting nicer. My commutes to work this week were a little longer than normal. I’ve been going further out of my way because it’s a little warmer.
Today it was beautiful outside. I went over 40 miles today and had my first (over) 100 mile week in a while. Blue skies!

Heading back to Bloomsburg from Danville. I rode to Brian’s work to see him before he started his work day.

Is that real bamboo? Seems a little out of place.

I did the first 28 miles solo. Jacob says that’s too far. He joined me later in the day for the last 14 miles.

I took Dory along for the ride. Just keep swimming riding.

Jacob stopped for ice cream where the cow was ready for St. Patrick’s Day.

An old train bridge in Rupert.

It was such a nice day. I can’t wait until we have long warm days.

Why a hump and not a bump?

Another sign of Spring…drunken college students on the roof tops all over town. Yes, I remember climbing on to many roof tops while inebriated.

Did you get drunk and go out on a roof today?
Did you go for a ride today?