Category Archives: April

Mileage Recap ~ 27 Apr – 25 May

Posted on by

I always tell myself I’m going to be a better blogger in the sense of keeping up with my blog.  But these last few weeks have been a bit of a blur.  I started a new adventure, my daughter came home from college for the summer and I saw the Grand Canyon…Oh my!

The new adventure ~ I quit my old job to become and follow a different path.  Yes that’s right, I started aesthetician school.  I plan to somehow integrate that into yoga and eventually my own business.  Needless to say the pace has been very fast and lot’s of homework which didn’t leave a lot of time for running and cycling.  I will tell you though I love it.  I love serving others and this is a fun and rewarding way to accomplish that.  Scary?  Most definitely.  I left a good paying job and at times I cringe…but I feel this was a good path for me.

Daughter came home after the Sophomore year at college, absolutely love to have her here.  We’ve been busy and I’m excited for all the adventures she’s having.  She’s on her way to Canada tomorrow to work and explore!

Grand Canyon ~ on a quick whim we decided to go.  It’s only 4-1/2 hours away so why not?  I have to say I don’t think I’ve seen anything more amazing.  I’ve been to a lot of places in this beautiful world and the Grand Canyon is in the top 3.  We all see it in pictures, but when you really see it…I couldn’t stop saying wow.  It was utterly amazing and I hope to revisit soon and go down into the canyon and explore.  I enjoyed seeing all of the people there too!  It was wonderful to see all the different people from many countries enjoying one of the United States wonderful treasures.  A few pictures to share:

2015-05-17 17.20.19 20150517_123420 20150517_123429 20150517_123435 20150517_123739 20150517_124223 20150517_124858 20150517_125034

Mileage for this time-period is 55.87, a combination of running and cycling, with 9,080.14 happily remaining.  As a veteran on this Memorial Day, I say thank you to all the soldiers that paid the ultimate price.  Life is certainly a gift and they paid the ultimate price.  Happy miles to you.

 

Mileage Recap ~ 20 -26 Apr

Posted on by

I’m enjoying the last few days of cooler weather here before it starts to get hot…or so I’ve been told.  We’ve even had a few good showers and there are clouds in the sky today.  Nice weather to get some good mileage.  This week has been the best so far for mileage.  I was able to get in a total of 46.85 for the week.  I ran one day and cycled the rest.  My run was a short 3 miler but I was able to get my pace down to 9:30.  I did experience some of the same hip pain the next day.  That put me back on the bike the remaining days.  Which is fine by me.  I extended the long ride to 23 miles this week.  Inching up the distances slowly.  I have a route that I use and three laps covered what I wanted to complete.  Not bad, but I need to find another route.  It gets a little boring passing something two or three times.  I did see a dead rattlesnake in the road, but that’s as far as the excitement went this week.  I will venture out and try to find something a different route soon.

This week's long ride.

This week’s long ride.

If you are on Garmin Connect you can find me at soar11315miles.  As it stands I’m at 162.89 miles for the month.  I think I will make a short goal and see if I can achieve 200 miles this month.  I hope this post finds you well and achieving your goals ~ 9,136.01 gratefully remaining.  Happy Miles To You!!

Mileage Recap ~ 6 – 19 Apr and the Most Annoying Ride Ever…Or At Least So Far

Posted on by

Happy Sunday!  Doubling up on this weeks mileage update.  I was able to get in a couple of runs,walks and plenty of cycling.

First the runs.  As in street running not “the runs” that would be gross.  Runs still continue to be a little allusive and a struggle.  I continue to have a trouble getting used to the weather.  I’ve come to the conclusion that early morning runs are where it’s at right now.  I tried both, one in the morning and one in the evening.  The morning run wasn’t bad at all.  It’s still dry but cool.  My body didn’t demand that much water.  The evening run was uh shall we say…interesting.  I broke out the old water belt.  I planned to run only five so surely I only needed one pod.  Surely.  Well, here’s another lesson for the desert.  If your belt fits two pods then by all means, carry two…because you’ll need them.  Don’t listen to that little devil on the left shoulder.  You need them and if it turns out you don’t then water a plant.  Maybe throw on a little lip balm too!  I felt like one of those characters stranded in the desert trying to crawl back to civilization.  Lips all chapped and cracked, smiling too much because I don’t want my lips touching because they’re so dry.  Which by the way caused me to want more water…need I go on?  Whenever I’m doing this type of stuff I get paranoid when people drive by.  What are they thinking?  “Look at that dumba** Mabel”!  What do I care if I pass out they can get my address from my Road ID.  Just do me a favor and count the mileage please!

Cycling was good these past weeks.  I made the move and took my bike to a local bike shop in the neighborhood.  The back tire has been losing air way too often.  The mechanics on site were really great.  They replaced the inner tube of the rear wheel and checked the air pressure.  So don’t laugh because I’m fairly new to cycling, but I think my tires have never had the correct pressure.  It’s amazing how better you ride when the tires are at the correct pressure.  Damn.  Then I asked ~ well I should know how to do this myself.  I was promptly handed a brochure on available classes that teach how to change your inner tube and other bike maintenance.  Definitely going to take part in that training.  Anyway, I began to pick his mind about clubs and races.  I’m looking for a nice introductory race.  He said something quite interesting ~ he told me that I should participate in group rides before ever doing a race.  New cyclists need to learn how to act in a group, i.e. cycling with people close to you.  He said it was a good place to start because new cyclist can cause, well injury to others because they don’t know how to react.  I never really thought of that, but I consider it sound advice.  I will start off with their beginner/intermediate rides and go from there.

That brings me to my most annoying, which happened to be a ride.  Some days it just doesn’t pay to get up.  I decided to get in a quick 10 one morning and nothing seemed to go right.  Got myself out the door into the garage, forgot the sunglass.  Sunglasses check.  Get the bike out, close the garage and realize left water bottle and phone.  Open garage.  Get said items close garage begin down the street.  Something just isn’t right….helmet.  You gotta be kidding.  To make matters worse I thought heck I’m going to have my helmet on so I didn’t do anything to the doo.  It literally looked like this:

Monkey with hair standing up

I mean really.  I go back, open garage get helmet.  I was beginning to wonder if this might be a sign to stay home.  Saddled up and moved out!

I was able to extend the distance on both of my long rides; one at 21 and today’s at 22.  Running is about 5 miles a stretch right now.  I was able to finish 62.15 for this time period already 10 miles ahead of last month.  I hope this post finds you with plenty of peace and love ~ 9, 182.8 gratefully remaining.

 

Mileage Recap ~ 1 – 5 April…Help Support RADD or BADD!

Posted on by

April already…where is the time going?  Too fast it seems.  The weather this past week has been great.  Not too hot and nice cool breezes in the evening.  I went on two rides and one walk this week.  My first ride was on Wed ~ April Fools Day!  Just a short ride of 10.69 miles.  Not a bad ride until I came out of this neighborhood and was making a turn at a 4 way.  There was a jeep that looked like it just came off of safari.  As I was making the turn he obviously was upset I was taking too long and decided to hit the gas as a scare tactic.  You have to wonder about people.  That extra two seconds to let me cross the street.  I hate to tell you buddy it takes a lot more than that to scare this gal ~ “Namaste”.  Especially if I’m going uphill.  It doesn’t matter if you are cycling or running.  Some people like to irritate or are just plain mean to people on the street.  The guy I used to buy my running shoes from in Illinois said his theory on why some people get too close is interest, like a moth to a flame.  They’re driving and they become “mesmerized” so to speak and get close.  Ok, I sort of buy that.  But can we all agree that there are some real jokers out there, who for whatever reason have something against folks getting out and doing something?

Therefore I’ve decided to start a group.  Sort of like DADD ~ Dads Against Daughters Dating.  My group is:

BADD

Runners Against Douchebag Drivers or Bicyclists Against Douchebag Drivers.  Whatever you happen to be doing at the moment.  I mean really can I get an Amen here?

My walk ~ was ok until I had to go to the bathroom.  I went back out though and completed 6.82.

My long ride was on Easter Sunday.  I started off on the normal route then I decided to try something “new”.  New meaning I decided to follow this one street around this time.  The first part was fairly flat and as I rounded the corner to turn the bike path ended.  Normally that doesn’t bother me but here there really isn’t a place to ride if you don’t have the bike lane.  So I make the turn and it’s a climb 4 lane road with median.  I’m about halfway through the climb and I’m feeling the burn.  Probably the steepest I’ve done on the bike.  I get to close to the curb and my right pedal hits the curb and I bounce to the left.  I was lucky I got my foot out of the stirrup to break the fall and a car wasn’t coming.  It would have been a nasty day.  Oh the lessons we learn.  I was given a pass…someone knows I have a long way to go.  35.44 miles for the week with 9,263.46 safely remaining?  Happy Miles to You!

Mileage Recap ~ 20 – 26 April

Posted on by

Phoenix is a wonderful place. When I was here last year it was 117 degrees in August and I’m not sure how I really felt about the place. I’m used to green and rain not brown and dusty.  I’m looking at this place with a new set of eyes and see beauty everywhere. I really love it. So, traveling has put me back a bit on my blogging and running.

I’m one of these people that need to change it up…often. When I started this blog I knew that if I was going to concentrate on mileage it had to be more than running. I also think that it is imperative to switch it up so you don’t overuse the same muscles, cause overuse and injury. I’m classic for overuse so I’ve been trading my runs in for spinning lately – and I’m loving it. I didn’t get around to buying a bike last year but last week I took the big plunge!  I can’t wait to get back and actually ride it!  I bought it then traveled so I haven’t even had a chance to test it out.

Mileage for this week equaled 20 with 10,105.16 gratefully remaining.

Mileage Recap ~ 6 – 19 April ~ I’m A Stubborn Soul

Posted on by

Happy Easter to all of those who celebrate!  I hope everyone is doing well and finally beginning to get some nice Spring weather temps!  Today was a lovely day here.  It was…dare I say it ~ almost hot.  I think we’ve finally rounded the corner and the cold weather is in the rearview mirror.  Thank goodness.

Last week was my second yoga teacher training session.  It reminds me of weekend military training.  One weekend a month ~ lol.  It proved to be another tough weekend.  Friday night we had a four hour training with the head yoga teacher.  Not sure if I mentioned it before, but she’s got to be at least 20 years older than me.  She gave me a run for my money.  Slept well that night.

Saturday morning we have anatomy.  I love my yoga anatomy teacher.  You know how you just instantly connect with certain people?  That’s how I am with her.  She has the most pleasant voice.  I know that sounds crazy, but she just glides.  That’s the perfect word for it ~ glides.  She knows her stuff and she presents it well.  I find it very easy to retain and I carry that with me through the following week.  Just a pleasant person to be around.  The only issue I have is there really aren’t any breaks per se in her class.  If you have to go to the bathroom or throw down a sports bar you do it on your own time.  So, from 0800 to 1300 we’re busy.  Now, I don’t know about you, but I eat many small meals during the day ~ around 1000 I’m getting hungry.  Around 1100 I’m about to chew a hole in my mat…around 1200 I’m about to gnaw off my arm and close to 1300, well the gal next to me was looking like a hotdog from one of those old cartoons.  1300 comes around and finally we get released for lunch.  I decide to go to the Schnucks down the street.  It’s a really nice grocery store.  What’s the golden rule here…never go to a grocery store when hungry?  I saunter into the fruit section…nah keep walking.  Ooh fried chicken..keep walking…I find myself in the cookie isle.  Hmmm, Luna bars…okay that’s healthy.  Yes, coconut and chocolate…sure why not.  Oh and look there is a twelve pack of Nutter Butters!  Well…heck yeah!  I reach for the Nutter Butters and I’m like whoa back this train up.  I put the Nutter Butters back and just purchase the Luna bars.  I need to go to a restaurant.

Exiting the Shnucks I scan my sector.  Irish pub, Chinese, Bagels…okay I’ll try the bagel place.  I walk into the bagel place, wearing yoga pants, ahhh that’s acceptable right?  Immediately, I see the “lighter fare” menu and of course I order the broccoli and cheese soup and large ham and cheese bagel.  Mentally, I remind myself that I shouldn’t eat so heavy as our afternoon teacher just got back from training in India and will be showing us some new intense yoga moves.  I eat everything.  The soup was thick enough I could have filled holes in drywall ~ not to worry I was hungry.

Get back to the studio and I’m already wishing I didn’t eat all that food ~ yeah this might not be pretty.  I see the teacher and right away I know I’m in trouble.  We start the class and proceed to practice all standing positions.  Downward dog, triangle pose and cheese and broccoli soup.  Yeah, oh yeah.

Still experiencing some left knee niggles.  It’s unfortunate and most likely overuse.  Running and starting to bike along with yoga and crossfit might be putting a little stress on the ‘ol knee.  I’m in full protection mode right now.  I haven’t gone to get it checked out yet but it has my full attention.  I saw this quote a few days back ~ one of these inspirational things and it said, “Do you have the strength to stop” or something close.  The moral here, are you listening to your body.  I am listening, but I’m stubborn and determined.  So I’m being careful, but not stopping.  I was able to do a combination of elliptical, bike and run these past two weeks.  Total mileage was 29.5 with 10,125.16 miles happily and stubbornly remaining.  I’m a happy soul that even through the pain I can continue.  Here’s to happy, stubborn, determined souls ~ Happy miles to you!

Running Angel ~ Blog Brag

Posted on by

Here’s a Monday blog brag.  Congratulations to my sweet little neighbor Katlyn.  She was part of an after school running program.  She participated in her first run ~ Go St. Louis!  She ran 1 mile without stopping!  You can tell by the smile on her face that this is a special achievement.

??????????

These types of programs are great for kids because it teaches so much more than running.  Kids learn how to set a goal, practice then achieve ~ lessons that are important in every day living.  Let’s face it…a little running bling doesn’t hurt either!  Fantastic work ~ we’re proud of you!!!

New book review: The End of Back Pain: Access Your Hidden Core to Heal Your Body

Posted on by

I’m looking forward to reading this thanks Healthy Runner Wife!

Healthy Runner Wife

20140406-162401.jpg

I absolutely loved the knowledge of the author in this book, The End of Back Pain: Access Your Hidden Core to Heal Your Body. I was also impressed that he doesn’t just want to perform major back surgery on patients that could potentially be unnecessary. He thoroughly explains how to treat back pain with exercise. I highly recommend this book for anyone with back pain, personal trainers, doctors and physical therapists. This book can change your outlook on proper treatment of back pain.

This book is scheduled to be released this week on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 in both print and ebook. Here’s the link to purchase it: http://www.amazon.com/The-End-Back-Pain-Access/dp/0062197746

20140406-163245.jpg

Here’s an excerpt from the book:

The Power of Exercise, Yes, and The Power of YOU
By Patrick Roth,
Author of The End of Back Pain: Access Your Hidden Core to Heal Your Body

Perhaps, the most significant hurdle we need…

View original post 638 more words