TOMRV Training update

Had a nice, relaxing long weekend.  Got a variety of things done, wish there would have been more time to do yard work and ride the bike, but some of both got done.  We rode 62 miles on Sunday, it was humid but cloudy so it was not bad, ideal weather really.  Since there was rain most of the weekend, both Friday and Saturday we had to take our chances Sunday afternoon or face 35 mph wind gusts on Monday.  We have down graded our TOMRV goals to the shorter route, so the 70 and 50 mile days rather than the 100+ and 90-something days.  It feels much more doable.  Mostly this is because some of the individuals going with us have not done much riding, one person has only been out less than a handful of times, glad it is not me.  I barely feel prepared.

I've been taking a TRX class at work.  It has  been the hardest, most challenging class I have ever taken.  I have not wanted to walk out of a class in I don't know how long.  It probably has been the best thing for me, but I'm not sure I will put myself through another session until the end of the summer.  I haven't quit and only have 3 sessions left, after that maybe some personal training to get stronger and try another session in the fall.......who knows. 

My spinning class at work will take a session off for the summer, to resume in the fall.  I really like teaching but will be glad for the break as I am going to start to train for the Des Moines Half Marathon this fall, that is the goal any ways.

So, after TOMRV maybe some half marathon training updates. 

TOMRV Training Update

Well, in my book we are way behind on our TOMRV training.  We did 55 miles Saturday.  We will do double that in one day of TOMRV.  I hope this weekend that we take the time to do 65 to 80 miles.  I will be honest that I really hate riding my bike after 80 miles, so the last 30 of TOMRV will be a challenge mentally as well as physically.  The good news is with the wonderful midwest winds it is just like climbing a constant 5% grade when the wind it blowing at you at 17 mph with gusts.  One time this weekend I slowed down to 9 mph, yes 9!!  The bf turns around and tells me not to stop riding, ummm..........I wasn't.........the wind caught me.  So a 11-13 turtle pace out to Redfield, but a nice 19-22 mph ride back.  So, all in all a nice ride once we turned around.    I have to keep remindng myself this is not a race.....it is a ride that is suppose to be enjoyable and fun.

Knitting is taking a back seat as it usually does this time of year, much to my dismay.  I really love to knit it is relaxing and just fun to make something.  I especially like to make things for other people.  Right now I'm working on a bunny for my niece, Lia.  I have not made her or sent her anything since she was born and I am feeling pretty bad about that.  I hope the bunny and the two books I got her will go over well.  Here is a picture of the bunny, it is a Susan B. Anderson pattern.  I love how she writes her patterns so you put it together as you go, saves the assembly later and it is fun to watch the progress.  I am finished with the arms, need to attach them and have started the legs.   I am pretty happy with it so far. 

Birthday Weekend

Ahhh the big three-eight.  The day came and went.  I relaxed, spent time with good friends and of course my love.  I got the food scale (for weighing yarn of course) that I asked for and got to splurge on some ice cream.  And got in a 45 mile training ride with the man (he is faster and stronger - I am going to attribute it to my fantastic spin classes he has been attending).

I am blessed in so many ways.  I may not have thought this is where I would be 10 years ago, but it is not a bad place to be.  I have great friends that are always there for me, I have someone in my life that loves me, and I'm in good shape.  I am gainfully employed and get to enjoy the things in life I truly love to do, knitting, cycling, listen to music, traveling, etc.

It is really easy to get sad or feel down about the things I have not accomplished, but that really does not help out.   So for the rest of 2011 and hopefully beyond it is my personal goal to really focus on those things that are positive and make me happy.  Clean my life out of the things that bring me down and facilitate focus on the negative.

So cheers to year 38 of my life.  Life truly does keep getting better.

And thank you to all who remembered and took the time to send me happy wishes, I hope it is returned to you 100 fold.

Bike Ride #1 planned for 2011

So far for this year we are planning to do a bike ride called TOMRV, Tour of the Mississippi River Valley.  This bike ride goes from Bettendorf to Dubuque (or Preston to Dubuque).  Of course we are doing the longer ride and starting in Bettendorf.  The first day will be 106 miles.  The second day we ride from Dubuque back to Bettendorf for another 90 miles, so in two days we will almost have ridden two century rides.  In Dubuque we will be staying at Loras college, I'm bummed we did not get into Clarke College where all of the activities will be, but there will be a shuttle.  And we are used to waiting in lines for shuttles from RAGBRAI.

I did part of this ride about 5 years ago.  The first day I had the flu, so I missed out on the hill called the Wall that goes into Galena. 

I'm super excited to be putting on a compact crank on my bike that I just purchased off of eBay, I think it will give me the extra gears I need to get through this rather hilly terrain and enjoy it.  I will miss my standard crank, but I am not as young as I used to be.  And honestly I am more for riding for the fun and exercise rather than to  break any records.

I will be going out there with Dan and his brother and dad.  All the other guys I used to ride with will be there too, but I am sure we won't seem them much of the ride as they are going to hammer it out.

Dan is really strong on the bike and we have fun riding together.  However, I do predict he will be riding up those hills better than me with his new awesome bike.  I'm okay with that.  I just have to keep the blood sugar even so I stay okay with that.  I really really really wish I could have talked a girlfriend into doing the ride.  The guys are okay but it would be nice to have someone else along, but alas I could not talk anyone into doing 196 miles of hill after hill after hill for two days.

I am hoping that the weather is nice, however, it is known to rain a lot of years on this ride, so I will be prepared for any type of weather.  The scenery will be nice so that will definitely help.

By the end of the month we need to be riding outside at least 3 days a week with a long ride 50+ on the weekends.

Had an awesome ride this past Saturday, the wind was strong but by sticking to the trails the ride was not a bad one.  22 miles down on the way to this awesome ride.

Friends

I wanted to dedicate a post to all my great friends.  I wish I had a picture of all of them to put here.  Over the years I have been very blessed with lots of great people in my life.  Right now I'm so very thankful for my knitting friends.  They are great shoulders when one needs a shoulder, they don't judge when one is having a rather difficult day, and they always make me laugh and help me to laugh at myself. 

And a shout out to one of my oldest friends here in Des Moines, Ms. Tallulah.  She is about the only person who tells it to me as it is and not as I want to hear it and although I may not always love it, in the end it is appreciated!

So thank you to all my great friends!

If you judge people, you have no time to love them." - Mother Teresa

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.   -Marcel Proust

Never explain - your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway.
Elbert Hubbard

Time flies....

Dan and I celebrated our one year anniversary on the 20th of November.  We had a really nice time.  We went to the playhouse to see Duck Hunter Shoots Angel by Mitch Albom.  It was really funny and a really nice thing to do.  We also went to the first restaurant we ever ate at which was Pagliai's in Johnston.  We originally met at GoodSons martini and panini bar in Beaverdale.  Then we topped off the night with jazz music down at the Des Moines Social Club.

All in all a really great night to celebrate our first year together.

Of course he has all the pictures on his phone so I don't have any to post right now, but will when I get one.

UNI Homecoming Weekend

Dan and I went to Cedar Falls for UNI's Homecoming game a few weeks ago.  Dan and all his friends from his dorm at college stay in touch and get together periodically.  So, I got to meet all of them.  We had a great time.  We decided to take Friday off and relax and go up to Waterloo and hang out for the day.  We wandered around downtown Cedar Falls.  I got to go into Crazy Girl yarn shop.  I got a skein of purple and gold for some socks later, much later.  After that we went to a museum in Waterloo and then met my folks for dinner at the Hickory House.  The ribs were delicious and I recommend the baked potato if you ever make it there.

The next day we met up with the college friends had lunch, did the book store thing, and wandered around campus before the game. Below is a picture we took while wandering the campus.

After watching UNI win the game we went back and hung out with the friends and kids until only the child-less people were left.  We then ended up back in downtown Cedar Falls where we enjoyed some adult beverages and some really good music, of course I cannot remember the name of the band.

All in all a great weekend!!  Much needed after the craziness of marching band season.