The First "Run" (...er...shuffle?)

After shelling out for the trail runners today, I felt like I couldn't let them just sit in the box, so I went for a test run this evening. I hoped a positive attitude would get me through it and the biking fitness might carry over a bit.

I optimistically picked a route mostly off road. It turned out to be 4.30 miles (I posted it wrong on Twitter and Facebook earlier). I ran some of it, jogged slowly for most and walked a few bits like the muddy areas and some of the hill at the end.

My aerobic fitness was fine as my legs couldn't go fast enough to cause me to have any breathing trouble, LOL! I really felt it in my feet and I guess groin to hip, some muscle there was not happy. Trail running is hard too because I had to pick up my feet so far and place them somewhat carefully and try not to have too much lateral movement which I am not used to at all. There was crushed stone that got tiring as it made me slip back a little with each step.

The trail was very pretty. Here are a couple of turn stiles by a cow pasture.

Boardwalks and bridges keep you out of the worst of the mud.

Have you ever noticed that it's impossible to take a pic of your own foot that doesn't make your leg look weird? The shoes felt really good so far.

After the exercising, I thought it would feel good to wade in the cold ocean, so we took the dogs over to the town beach. It's very rocky there, but we had a good time. Silas even saved one of my flip flops when a wave took it off my foot and started to carry it away from shore! Then, he thought the flip flop belonged to him and barked at my feet, wanting it back!



I'm not sure how much of a rest I'll need after today's run, but hopefully I'll get out there on my feet again soon!

Melty Snow

The snow is melting quite a bit today and I'm hoping there won't be more! But I have to say, it is fun to play in the snow with the dogs when the air temperature is relatively warm. The melting snow is the perfect consistency for snowballs.

There is all that snow in the yard, but the only snow they want is the snowball I'm holding!

One snowball is not enough! Saffy misses most of it as she tries to avoid a collision with Silas.

She's so happy when she finally gets one to herself.

We'll be back to mud season soon...just imagine what these two dogs look like after play time then!!

Catching Snowflakes

The dogs do love snow!

What a quick change back to winter weather. Yesterday was sunny and warm, but today is gray, windy and snowy.

Is it a frozen pond?

No, it's actually my driveway. See why I'm not biking outside? This makes the trainer look great!

Saffy found the one small patch of ground and stood there squinting in the bright sun and snow glare. Silas is a bit foolish and trots and slides around on the ice.

I think I need an ice ax and crampons...

The Dog Days of .. Winter?

I am doing well with my trainer rides, but they do not make interesting blog fodder! When I am posting infrequently, you can always check for signs of life in my sidebar where you will see an increase in my trainer mileage total after each workout.

We don't have much snow, but what we do have is hard and icy and treacherous. The dogs definitely have an advantage when we go out as they flair their toes and dig in with their toenails. Their exercise is undisrupted and they are very fit and strong. Their favorite activity is tug-o-war.

I am the referee and sometimes I have to step on the old flattened football and call a time out. Don't be fooled by these big puppy eyes...Silas gets the most penalties! He gets time outs for putting a paw high on Saffy's neck and shoving and for rough body checking.

Despite an ominous, gray sky, there was no precipitation earlier today.

Happy Christmas!

I got my Christmas wish...the snow melted so Jeff and I could ride! After 5 days off, I was feeling achy. It wouldn't have been so bad if I had been able to walk or jog, but we had treacherous ice and I didn't want to risk falling. Everywhere I went I hobbled around like a penguin. Today, it felt so great to get on the bike. It always feels so light and responsive after a break. But, it took me about 10 miles to work out the kinks in my muscles. Jeff and I did 33.34 miles in all on the cx bikes. It was really windy, but it was a fairly steady wind so it wasn't knocking us off our line much.

We opened our presents this morning and the dogs opened theirs as well. Saffy knows what to do on Christmas and gets very excited for it. Silas is more reserved about it. He's a bit neurotic, to say the least, and new stuff can make him nervous.

Silas slowly worked his way into his present and really seemed pleased with the tire toy.

Saffy tore into the paper, and found her stuffed, squeaky hedgehog to add to her increasing collection of soft toys. That was fun to play with, but she also had to shred all the wrapping paper into tiny pieces.

After shredding and playing with hedgehog, she set her sights on the tire and stole it from Silas.

After all the excitement and treats, they are sleeping soundly now.

Snow!

The snow accumulated quickly yesterday evening and overnight. The dogs were so excited and had to dig to find their toys in the backyard.

It's going to be awhile before the roads are clear again for riding out of the way of cars as you can see in this picture I took on our way home from the grocery store today. This is one of the main roads, so it is in much better shape than the side roads which are still snow covered. I would love to have a chance to snow bike, but there aren't any car free places that I know of around here.

I'm glad I was able to ride a bunch earlier in the week. I did 6 days of riding and 168.11 miles. It was good to make use of all three bikes this week, the old mtn bike doesn't get out of the barn much these days.

I'll take a day or two off and then get the trainer set up!

It had to happen sometime...

...a rest day.

I have a supply of coffee and a stack of magazines for reading. And, of course, I'll be spending time out in the yard with the dogs who love snow. They never seem to tire of catching snowballs.

Here's Saffy, actually begging for the snowball Jeff's holding, while Silas plots how he's going to get it before she does.

Cold Enough For Ice

I keep forgetting that shiny pavement is ICE this time of year! Fortunately I haven't skidded!

I was so happy to have company today on the coldest ride so far this season. Lynn had emailed me last night to say she'd meet me. It makes such a difference to have company.

Yesterday, I did a solo ride and the temperature was a comparably balmy 37-40F with winds between 12-20 mph. It seemed like a hard ride!

Today, the temperature ranged from 29-33F (though the wind chill was 18-25) and the wind was 8-19 mph, but it seemed easier than yesterday. It must be the occasional chatting that helps, along with the chance for drafting.

Do I really look like this?! Ack! I'm hesitant to post this photo, but it explains why my two dogs are freaked out when I've got all my gear on! I was braced in the wind, taking a moment to collect myself for the bash into the wind the rest of the way home.

I am wearing a balaclava AND a skully! I have a heavy jersey, Barrier jacket and the yellow shell on top. It's a wonder I can move at all really. I had thermal fleece tights over shorts, wool socks and the Calientoes over my shoes. Oh, gloves too, of course. The trick is to get all that on and get out of the house before I start to overheat! Then, I need to ride enough to make all that process of getting dressed worth the effort! I was actually comfortably warm today.

My dog Silas, didn't want to pose for a pic with me even after I took the balaclava off. He was still looking all around in case that was someone else, I guess!

Saffy wasn't nervous anymore, but apparently thought she had better things to do on the other side of the yard, then pose for a pic.

So, I still have 11 more days for the November 30 days of riding challenge and a few more to hit 60 days in all. The good news is that Jeff is taking the week of Thanksgiving off work and will be available to ride with me every day! I hope he's as excited about that as I am =)

12/15/07 Weekly Ride Report

The weather lately has made for interesting photo ops and happy dogs, but has not been so conducive to biking.

We had an ice storm on Monday and I took these pics of the ice glazing berries in the privet hedge and a dried stalk of Joe Pye Weed.


Thursday, we had snow which the dogs absolutely love. Saffy makes Jeff and I play soccer with her. We have to use a basketball since it takes such a beating!

She invented this version of the game and puts a lot of energy and muscle into it and expects us to do the same.

Jeff and I can get quite a workout keeping up with her. She loves to try to steal the ball away from us and then wants us to try to take it from her. She loves 'fake outs' and is really good at doing it to us. She'll hold the ball with one paw, start to send it one way and then quickly change and go the other way!


Yes, I'm trying to distract you from my lack of cycling content for this post. I was so psyched up to ride after watching the cx race Saturday, but didn't get out until the brief warm up on Wednesday.

I had a really good ride with my fresh legs. I can't remember the last time they felt that fresh! They felt strong, even twitchy, which was a good feeling since I definitely have more bulky muscle than quick twitch fibers. I was on the 'cross bike, but it felt so light and connected to me. I guess that was the benefit of being so physically well rested.

The temperatures got up to 45-50 so I could go with my lighter clothes. Although a few splatty raindrops landed on me at the start of my ride it cleared a little. The wind was mild at first, though it got pretty strong toward the end of my ride.

My (meager) total for the week was 1 outside ride of 32.81 miles on the cross bike.

Rest is nice to a point, but if all this 'rest' continues I'm definitely going to start to atrophy, so workouts will be picking up again one way or another.