I have never had problems with my weight. My Mom and Dad are slim folks and apparently the genes carried through. As a teenager, I was a very late bloomer. I'm talking no growth spurts at all -- I weighed 98 lb. on my graduation day and fit into kids clothes. Little kids clothes. I finally got boobs when I turned 22 -- go figure. I went from a 32A to a definite bra-wearing 36B a few weeks after my 22nd birthday. Go figure.
Sorry guys if this is freaking you out, but hey -- I'm freaky and I know it!! LOL!!!!!
Anyways, I always worked out -- but really started when I was 19. I never really had any program or anything to follow -- I would just go for a bike or a run or go to the gym. Since I've started this triathlon thing -- I have seen my body go through HUGE changes. It's like it must take a few years before you start getting definition or soemthing - because it is only this year that I have noticed definite changes in the old bod.
You know how when you see someone every day, you don't notice the incremental changes in weight loss as much as you would if you saw them only sporadically? Well, for some time now I have been noticing my ass has been tightening up. LOL!! But not enough to really see it, you know -- just enough to think that it is shrinking.
Also, my legs are transforming -- now this is the weird part. I have been noticing that my socks have been getting loose around my ankles -- LOL!! I am not joking about this. These are my tight-fitting running and cycling socks. The changes were small at first but yesterday --- KAPOW!!!!
I bent over to stretch a bit before my brick run and my socks were freaking LOOSE around my ankles. I could stick a finger in the gap between my ankle and my sock...WTF???
LOL!!!!!!!
As for the bum ... like I said I am not trying to lose weight or anything, just tooling along like I normally do, but for the first time in forever, my jean size is different. I always fit into size 6, and I was at this awesome second hand clothing place the other day and saw this pair of Halogen jeans size 4. Looking at them, I thought, I think these might actually fit me.
I held them against my body, then would look at them, hold them against my legs, until I thought to myself -- just buy the frigging things! You see, you can fit as much as you want into an Overwaitea shopping bag for $5.00 -- and the ladies are very generous about filling it up -- Lets's just say that I had that bag stretched beyond measure with stuff spilling out of it. I also bought a new backpack (mine got a big tear in it from Saturday's mountain bike ride) and a purse for $0.50 each!!!
:) :) :)
I got home and tried the jeans on and they totally fit!! Hmmmm.. now I need to buy some new pairs of socks!! LOL!!!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Congratulations Cath and Steve!!!
My very good friend in the UK just raced her first tri (sprint race in Blemheim) of the season and she did so awesome!!!!! She is an amazing swimmer -- like Jenna and Kelly, she went through 4-6 hours of training a day when she was just a little tyke. She hadn't swum for 20 years when she decided to do her first triathlon in Elkford, BC -- where we first met.
Cath and her hubby Jase are going to become Canadian citizens!! YAY! They have purchased and renovated a home in Fernie -- for their dream of running a B&B. Let me tell you -- it is a beautiful home and they are beautiful people. They are back in the UK until next spring tying up loose ends and making a bit more coin, but their papers are clear and the only thing that Canada is missing is them!! :) :)
So -- onto Cath's race report -- There were almost 200 people in her age category and she was first out of the water and first off the bike!!! Then her legs went kaput and she ended up in 6th place for her AG!! All this after she had a terrible hacking cough that had plagued her for weeks -- Cath I am so proud of you!!!!
(Also - when we drove by your house, Cath, on our way to the bike trail, I pointed it out to Char and Stuart and gave them a condensed version of how wonderful you and Jase are!!)
Her brother-in-law also competed in his first triathlon ever!!!! He had just learned to swim and had a great day as well! Congrats Steve -- when is your next race?? ;) LOL!!
OK -- I have gratuitously lifted the pics from Jason's Great Bear Blog. Heh-heh-heh! Don't sue me Jase!! LOL!!!
Congratulations again you guys - I AM SO PROUD OF YOU BOTH!!!!!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Mountain Bike Odyssey
Yesterday I was torn between driving up to Vulcan to see Keith compete in his first ever triathlon, or to go mountain biking with Char and her hubby. As I wrote Susi in an email, I decided to "be selfish" and go mountain biking instead -- Sorry Keith!! :P
Of course, as it turned out, the race was canceled so I didn't feel so bad at missing the opportunity to meet Keith. Besides, I'm going to go up to Calgary this summer (whenever the hell it stops raining!!) and bike the Road to Nepal with you guys. :) :)
Saturday is my day off training, but I couldn't resist christening my new mountain bike. It was pouring down rain as I left the house, but it lessened a teensy bit by the time we got to Fernie. Char's hubby had looked at Google Earth to find old logging roads cutting through mountains to determine our route. We started biking up and up and up and up. Then we started climbing and climbing and climbing and climbing. My legs were toast from the hill repeats on Tuesday and the Highwood Pass on Thursday -- but I was having the time of my life!!
I had a hell of a time trying to clip in and out of my pedals though -- I could get my left foot in OK, but my right one caused me no end of grief. We were biking up stuff I have never biked before -- stuff I would hike! So, every stop to get water (I don't have a camelbak yet) was a nightmare of trying to unclip and then trying to clip back in.
The trail was really steep and it was so freaking hard to force my right foot into the stupid pedal! My quads were killing me from trying to force my foot into the pedal -- I finally just gave up and left my right foot unclipped. I'm taking Crash into Gord's tomorrow to get that clip adjusted!!
We biked way up and just past the tree line when Charmaine started to get really cold. About 5 minutes later the cold hit me too -- the steady rain had turned into steady snow and we were both drenched. Stuart actually said to Charmaine that he was getting cold too -- and this is from the guy who has summited 4 of the world's 8000 meter peaks -- Char told me afterwards that he NEVER gets cold. Hahahahaha!!
At this point we turned around and blasted down the mountain. Note to self -- always wear sunglasses when mountain biking. There was so much mud that splattered all over my face and clothes and eyes -- this morning I still had little grains of dirt coming out of my eyes!!
I'll tell you, that is one way to get introduced to riding downhill fast -- get freezing cold and then you don't care what the heck is on the path you just let 'er rip!!! :) :)
We got changed at the car and then drove back to Sparwood where I had a bath at Char's!! They are such awesome friends, I am just bursting with warm fuzziness!! Stuart even washed my bike for me as I soaked in the tub!!! I couldn't believe it!!
Mind you,I had been plying them with Kelsey's protein bars (which they LOVE, by the way!!). I had to give them a copy of the recipe too. :) :)
We were out there for 5 1/2 hours!! My legs are stronger than they have ever been, and although I was POOPED I felt GREAT!! :) :)
Today, I only ran 60 minutes ez -- I was actually surprised I could run at all!! LOL!!!!
Of course, as it turned out, the race was canceled so I didn't feel so bad at missing the opportunity to meet Keith. Besides, I'm going to go up to Calgary this summer (whenever the hell it stops raining!!) and bike the Road to Nepal with you guys. :) :)
Saturday is my day off training, but I couldn't resist christening my new mountain bike. It was pouring down rain as I left the house, but it lessened a teensy bit by the time we got to Fernie. Char's hubby had looked at Google Earth to find old logging roads cutting through mountains to determine our route. We started biking up and up and up and up. Then we started climbing and climbing and climbing and climbing. My legs were toast from the hill repeats on Tuesday and the Highwood Pass on Thursday -- but I was having the time of my life!!
I had a hell of a time trying to clip in and out of my pedals though -- I could get my left foot in OK, but my right one caused me no end of grief. We were biking up stuff I have never biked before -- stuff I would hike! So, every stop to get water (I don't have a camelbak yet) was a nightmare of trying to unclip and then trying to clip back in.
The trail was really steep and it was so freaking hard to force my right foot into the stupid pedal! My quads were killing me from trying to force my foot into the pedal -- I finally just gave up and left my right foot unclipped. I'm taking Crash into Gord's tomorrow to get that clip adjusted!!
We biked way up and just past the tree line when Charmaine started to get really cold. About 5 minutes later the cold hit me too -- the steady rain had turned into steady snow and we were both drenched. Stuart actually said to Charmaine that he was getting cold too -- and this is from the guy who has summited 4 of the world's 8000 meter peaks -- Char told me afterwards that he NEVER gets cold. Hahahahaha!!
At this point we turned around and blasted down the mountain. Note to self -- always wear sunglasses when mountain biking. There was so much mud that splattered all over my face and clothes and eyes -- this morning I still had little grains of dirt coming out of my eyes!!
I'll tell you, that is one way to get introduced to riding downhill fast -- get freezing cold and then you don't care what the heck is on the path you just let 'er rip!!! :) :)
We got changed at the car and then drove back to Sparwood where I had a bath at Char's!! They are such awesome friends, I am just bursting with warm fuzziness!! Stuart even washed my bike for me as I soaked in the tub!!! I couldn't believe it!!
Mind you,I had been plying them with Kelsey's protein bars (which they LOVE, by the way!!). I had to give them a copy of the recipe too. :) :)
We were out there for 5 1/2 hours!! My legs are stronger than they have ever been, and although I was POOPED I felt GREAT!! :) :)
Today, I only ran 60 minutes ez -- I was actually surprised I could run at all!! LOL!!!!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Rim OK!! Mavic makes them tough!
I took my bike into Gord's today to make sure I didn't destroy my rim -- and guess what? After a bit of tweaking it's fine!! LOL!! Who knew? The biggest thing for me was to control my fear and deal with the problem instead of freaking out! Whew.
Gord looked at my tire and it was my own fault -- a rookie error: pinch flat. Two of them. He sat me down and had me change a tire 5 or 6 times in a row -- without using a tire iron to get the tire back on. He can change a tire in less than 30 seconds -- it's awesome to see. He showed me some tricks,like how to roll the tire on with the heel of my hands instead of forcing it in with the tire irons. I'm not as fast as Gord, but I'm a hell of a lot faster than I was yesterday!!! LOL!! And a lot more confident.
Charmaine came up to the Pass today as we planned to hike Turtle Mountain. It was bloody cold and windy, but we headed up chatting as usual. This woman is unstoppable!!! She charged on up like a mountain lion -- is there anything this gal cannot do?? LOL!! About 45 minutes into the hike, she suddenly stopped and turned her head. It turns out being out on the boat for 5 years has made her hyper-sensitive to any shift in the weather. She looked towards the horizon and pointed out a weather system that was going to reach us before we reached the top.
Therefore, we went for about another 35 minutes just to see if the weather was going to turn to crap. It got SO windy and the air was like an arctic blast. My eyelids were aching -- weird! We climbed up to this one point that overlooked Frank and sat down for a few minutes. I pointed out my house and the different roads, and then we decided to head back down as the wind was just BLASTING now. We joked that it would not be cool to have to be rescued from a piddly little mountain like Turtle!
We descended quickly and quite suddenly it was much warmer -- tree cover!
For those of you who don't know yet - I've been toying with the idea of running an ultra as my next goal, and I am planning on doing one next year. There is a race that is coming through the Pass this year: The Sinister 7. You can do it as a relay or alone -- of course, next year I want to run the whole 135km on my own. I've made a couple of posts on www.runnersworld.com and have made a couple of connections with people who are willing to mentor me. One guy made the transition from Ironman racing to ultras too -- so I am so excited about this!!
I figure if I hike/run/crawl either Turtle and Crowsnest Mountains once a week, I will boost my tri fitness as well as get a head start on training for my ultra. Charmaine told me how she used to train by running up mountains with a pack of rocks on her back. She started off running for like 1 minute and walking for 10, and then gradually built it up to running right up. Holy Crapola!! This girl can move -- I just have to laugh -- she is in such great condition and still says she is so out of shape!! Hahahahaha!!
Tomorrow's agenda? Mountain biking in Fernie with Char and her hubby. Oh yeah, that is my other big news!! Madge has a new baby brother... Crash!! I'll have to post some pics of my new mountain bike!! YAHOOOO!
Thanks for all the positive comments in regards to my adventure guys -- it really means a lot!!! :) :) :) :)
Gord looked at my tire and it was my own fault -- a rookie error: pinch flat. Two of them. He sat me down and had me change a tire 5 or 6 times in a row -- without using a tire iron to get the tire back on. He can change a tire in less than 30 seconds -- it's awesome to see. He showed me some tricks,like how to roll the tire on with the heel of my hands instead of forcing it in with the tire irons. I'm not as fast as Gord, but I'm a hell of a lot faster than I was yesterday!!! LOL!! And a lot more confident.
Charmaine came up to the Pass today as we planned to hike Turtle Mountain. It was bloody cold and windy, but we headed up chatting as usual. This woman is unstoppable!!! She charged on up like a mountain lion -- is there anything this gal cannot do?? LOL!! About 45 minutes into the hike, she suddenly stopped and turned her head. It turns out being out on the boat for 5 years has made her hyper-sensitive to any shift in the weather. She looked towards the horizon and pointed out a weather system that was going to reach us before we reached the top.
Therefore, we went for about another 35 minutes just to see if the weather was going to turn to crap. It got SO windy and the air was like an arctic blast. My eyelids were aching -- weird! We climbed up to this one point that overlooked Frank and sat down for a few minutes. I pointed out my house and the different roads, and then we decided to head back down as the wind was just BLASTING now. We joked that it would not be cool to have to be rescued from a piddly little mountain like Turtle!
We descended quickly and quite suddenly it was much warmer -- tree cover!
For those of you who don't know yet - I've been toying with the idea of running an ultra as my next goal, and I am planning on doing one next year. There is a race that is coming through the Pass this year: The Sinister 7. You can do it as a relay or alone -- of course, next year I want to run the whole 135km on my own. I've made a couple of posts on www.runnersworld.com and have made a couple of connections with people who are willing to mentor me. One guy made the transition from Ironman racing to ultras too -- so I am so excited about this!!
I figure if I hike/run/crawl either Turtle and Crowsnest Mountains once a week, I will boost my tri fitness as well as get a head start on training for my ultra. Charmaine told me how she used to train by running up mountains with a pack of rocks on her back. She started off running for like 1 minute and walking for 10, and then gradually built it up to running right up. Holy Crapola!! This girl can move -- I just have to laugh -- she is in such great condition and still says she is so out of shape!! Hahahahaha!!
Tomorrow's agenda? Mountain biking in Fernie with Char and her hubby. Oh yeah, that is my other big news!! Madge has a new baby brother... Crash!! I'll have to post some pics of my new mountain bike!! YAHOOOO!
Thanks for all the positive comments in regards to my adventure guys -- it really means a lot!!! :) :) :) :)
51 km on a flat tire...
I think I set a blogger group record yesterday -- for distance traveled on a flat tire.
I'd been eyeballing the weather network all week and planned to ride the summit of Highwood Pass yesterday. As it turned out, yesterday was chock full of lessons for me.
First of all, I was woefully under-dressed. I had my sleeveless jersey and bike shorts, and it was only a last minute just-in-case urge that made me bring my arm warmers. Thank God!!!
I parked at the Highwood River Inn again and the weather was warm but very cloudy and windy. I was glad I had decided to put on my arm warmers. With the wind, it took me an hour to reach the road barricade, so I had a pretty thorough warm-up!
I climbed and climbed and climbed and eventually saw two riders coming down. We chatted for a bit -- they said it was raining and snowing up top. I jokingly said, "Well,I better get moving so I can keep warm!" Egad.
I was determined to get to the summit no matter what. The weather was deteriorating. The clouds rolled in and I rode through a bit of rain and a bit of snow too. I was pretty frigging cold but just kept moving.
I passed Mist Creek, and then the spot where I turned around last week. I kept chugging away, Storm Creek, Mount Lipsett, Lost Lemon Mine sign, and past the "Entering Peter Lougheed Park." There were BANKS of snow on either side of the road and it was really frigging cold.
It was about this time that for some reason I decided to stop and check my rear tire. As I was climbing, I had turned to look back a couple of times at various wildlife. I noticed that I had a tough time controlling the rear of my bike, but hadn't thought anything of it...
Now, however,I saw to my horror that I indeed had a flat. OK -- here I am going to apologize for my profuse use of profanity. I am making a conscious effort to minimize the amount of swears I use, but not for this story!! I was really scared because I was way the f*%k up in the middle of nowhere and I was FREEZING. My teeth were chattering, my core temperature had fallen and I was scared s$%tless. I have never used a CO2 cartridge before and didn't want to f&*k things up and be stranded. There was NO ONE around at all and it was snowing and freezing.
OK, I decided to go for it. I said a plea to God (Yes I am on of those people who don't think much about religious Brouhaha until the s$#t hits the fan.) and methodically changed my tube. I couldn't find the puncture -- a Kelsey flat -- even though I ran my fingers along the inside of the tube. I even cleaned along the inside of the rim - so I just assumed I had fixed the problem. I used theCO2 and it worked no problemo!! The tire was fully inflated and rock hard.
I put it on and promptly decided to hammer it back home. I had been riding for 3:08 and my teeth were really chattering. I let 'er rip, and then rode the brakes a bit because something didn't feel right. Sure enough, when I stopped and felt the back tire, it was a little softer. I had to pee so bad at this point, but knew I had a limited amount of air to get the f&^k down to a lower elevation where I could get warmer.
I said to myself, "Julie, you can pee now and spend the night right out here in the f&#king cold where you can pee 'til your heart's content -- JUST GO!!" I took off and descended rapidly. But there was no way I could out ride the escaping air. Pretty soon it was flat again and although I was a LOT lower, I was still scared.
There was no way I could walk 50 km back, so I decided to just take it easy and ride slowly back to my car. Have any of you ever ridden on a flat tire? I was terrified of riding around on a flat, but as km after km ticked by I grew more confident and was fricking chugging along like there was no problem. I can tell you the various stages of sounds a flat will make if you keep riding on it:
1. At first there is no sound at all, just a kooshy feeling -- a little wobbly until you get into it.
2. Next a soft hiss occurs every once in a while.
3. Then, the KOOSH begins -- this is quite an alarming sound at first, that only intensifies the farther you go.
I had gone quite a ways back, when I sent another plea to God. I was still very nervous about riding on the flat and was hoping I would see someone, ANYONE to help me out. For a nanosecond I felt the tug of a full-on drama queen meltdown, but surprised myself with an instantaneous rejection of that course of action. There was a time in my life where something like this would have broken me, but here I was scared sh^#tless, but dealing with it, and not bawling about it.
Up ahead I saw a dark shape coming down a hill -- another cyclist!!!! I immediately hopped off my bike and asked the man as he approached if he had another tube. He was riding a mountain bike, and said No, but he did have a patch. He offered to find whatever it was that was inside my tire and then patch my tube.
I was tempted but at the same time scared to take his offer -- what if he couldn't find it either? At least my tire was on now and I was able to ride it. He told me it was another 11 km to the road barricade. He was only going up a little further (Trout Ponds) and then would sit around and take some pictures. I asked if I could get a ride with him back to my car which was still a hell of a way away. He seemed a bit reluctant, and I told him, well, just take your time, it's your day too -- if I can find someone else to give me a ride I'll take it.
It's strange, but it was after this encounter that I grew much more confident riding on my flat. I upped my speed and was moving along quite nicely -- but only as fast as I felt I could control the bike. Pretty soon,I reached the barricade and thought, "F%@k it!!, I'm just going to bike to my car."
From the barricade to my car, my poor bike started a whole other orchestra of sounds. Believe it or not, the flat tire became even flatter!!! I had been lucky before without appreciating it, because now when I stopped to check it, it was COMPLETELY flat. Not an ounce of air in there at all.
No more kooshing noises for me. Now, the tube, held in place by the presta valve only, started to bunch up along the inside of the tire and make this horrible thwocking sound: THWOCK, THWOCK, THWOCK. It was so LOUD!!!
I didn't really have to pedal at all -- the wind was pushing me back just fine, and I didn't want to go any faster what with all the thwocking noises going on. I was getting closer and closer to my car when the bike began it's final round of noises. This time, it was like a jackhammer was hitting me sideways every time the tire made a complete rotation
THWOCK and hang on for dear life as the bike gets hammered from the left, and repeat. I was white-knuckling it.
FINALLY I made it back to my car -- I was only gone a total of 5:38 but the adrenaline and fear had worn me out. Fear is a great motivator, eh?
I am skipping my swim today and am going hiking with Charmaine instead. Later on this afternoon, I'm bringing my bike into Gord's for him to take a look at it. He was the first one I phoned when I got back!! He told me that once that happened to him only on his mountain bike, and three mountain ranges over. He stuffed his tire with grass to make it home. LOL!!!
I am just so frigging glad I made it out of there okay!! After I phoned Gord, I had this deep urge to call Susi -- for some reason I wanted to call her and tell her all about my day!! LOL!! Well, you're off the hook this time Susi, but next time, I'm picking up the telephone!! LOL!!!
I'd been eyeballing the weather network all week and planned to ride the summit of Highwood Pass yesterday. As it turned out, yesterday was chock full of lessons for me.
First of all, I was woefully under-dressed. I had my sleeveless jersey and bike shorts, and it was only a last minute just-in-case urge that made me bring my arm warmers. Thank God!!!
I parked at the Highwood River Inn again and the weather was warm but very cloudy and windy. I was glad I had decided to put on my arm warmers. With the wind, it took me an hour to reach the road barricade, so I had a pretty thorough warm-up!
I climbed and climbed and climbed and eventually saw two riders coming down. We chatted for a bit -- they said it was raining and snowing up top. I jokingly said, "Well,I better get moving so I can keep warm!" Egad.
I was determined to get to the summit no matter what. The weather was deteriorating. The clouds rolled in and I rode through a bit of rain and a bit of snow too. I was pretty frigging cold but just kept moving.
I passed Mist Creek, and then the spot where I turned around last week. I kept chugging away, Storm Creek, Mount Lipsett, Lost Lemon Mine sign, and past the "Entering Peter Lougheed Park." There were BANKS of snow on either side of the road and it was really frigging cold.
It was about this time that for some reason I decided to stop and check my rear tire. As I was climbing, I had turned to look back a couple of times at various wildlife. I noticed that I had a tough time controlling the rear of my bike, but hadn't thought anything of it...
Now, however,I saw to my horror that I indeed had a flat. OK -- here I am going to apologize for my profuse use of profanity. I am making a conscious effort to minimize the amount of swears I use, but not for this story!! I was really scared because I was way the f*%k up in the middle of nowhere and I was FREEZING. My teeth were chattering, my core temperature had fallen and I was scared s$%tless. I have never used a CO2 cartridge before and didn't want to f&*k things up and be stranded. There was NO ONE around at all and it was snowing and freezing.
OK, I decided to go for it. I said a plea to God (Yes I am on of those people who don't think much about religious Brouhaha until the s$#t hits the fan.) and methodically changed my tube. I couldn't find the puncture -- a Kelsey flat -- even though I ran my fingers along the inside of the tube. I even cleaned along the inside of the rim - so I just assumed I had fixed the problem. I used theCO2 and it worked no problemo!! The tire was fully inflated and rock hard.
I put it on and promptly decided to hammer it back home. I had been riding for 3:08 and my teeth were really chattering. I let 'er rip, and then rode the brakes a bit because something didn't feel right. Sure enough, when I stopped and felt the back tire, it was a little softer. I had to pee so bad at this point, but knew I had a limited amount of air to get the f&^k down to a lower elevation where I could get warmer.
I said to myself, "Julie, you can pee now and spend the night right out here in the f&#king cold where you can pee 'til your heart's content -- JUST GO!!" I took off and descended rapidly. But there was no way I could out ride the escaping air. Pretty soon it was flat again and although I was a LOT lower, I was still scared.
There was no way I could walk 50 km back, so I decided to just take it easy and ride slowly back to my car. Have any of you ever ridden on a flat tire? I was terrified of riding around on a flat, but as km after km ticked by I grew more confident and was fricking chugging along like there was no problem. I can tell you the various stages of sounds a flat will make if you keep riding on it:
1. At first there is no sound at all, just a kooshy feeling -- a little wobbly until you get into it.
2. Next a soft hiss occurs every once in a while.
3. Then, the KOOSH begins -- this is quite an alarming sound at first, that only intensifies the farther you go.
I had gone quite a ways back, when I sent another plea to God. I was still very nervous about riding on the flat and was hoping I would see someone, ANYONE to help me out. For a nanosecond I felt the tug of a full-on drama queen meltdown, but surprised myself with an instantaneous rejection of that course of action. There was a time in my life where something like this would have broken me, but here I was scared sh^#tless, but dealing with it, and not bawling about it.
Up ahead I saw a dark shape coming down a hill -- another cyclist!!!! I immediately hopped off my bike and asked the man as he approached if he had another tube. He was riding a mountain bike, and said No, but he did have a patch. He offered to find whatever it was that was inside my tire and then patch my tube.
I was tempted but at the same time scared to take his offer -- what if he couldn't find it either? At least my tire was on now and I was able to ride it. He told me it was another 11 km to the road barricade. He was only going up a little further (Trout Ponds) and then would sit around and take some pictures. I asked if I could get a ride with him back to my car which was still a hell of a way away. He seemed a bit reluctant, and I told him, well, just take your time, it's your day too -- if I can find someone else to give me a ride I'll take it.
It's strange, but it was after this encounter that I grew much more confident riding on my flat. I upped my speed and was moving along quite nicely -- but only as fast as I felt I could control the bike. Pretty soon,I reached the barricade and thought, "F%@k it!!, I'm just going to bike to my car."
From the barricade to my car, my poor bike started a whole other orchestra of sounds. Believe it or not, the flat tire became even flatter!!! I had been lucky before without appreciating it, because now when I stopped to check it, it was COMPLETELY flat. Not an ounce of air in there at all.
No more kooshing noises for me. Now, the tube, held in place by the presta valve only, started to bunch up along the inside of the tire and make this horrible thwocking sound: THWOCK, THWOCK, THWOCK. It was so LOUD!!!
I didn't really have to pedal at all -- the wind was pushing me back just fine, and I didn't want to go any faster what with all the thwocking noises going on. I was getting closer and closer to my car when the bike began it's final round of noises. This time, it was like a jackhammer was hitting me sideways every time the tire made a complete rotation
THWOCK and hang on for dear life as the bike gets hammered from the left, and repeat. I was white-knuckling it.
FINALLY I made it back to my car -- I was only gone a total of 5:38 but the adrenaline and fear had worn me out. Fear is a great motivator, eh?
I am skipping my swim today and am going hiking with Charmaine instead. Later on this afternoon, I'm bringing my bike into Gord's for him to take a look at it. He was the first one I phoned when I got back!! He told me that once that happened to him only on his mountain bike, and three mountain ranges over. He stuffed his tire with grass to make it home. LOL!!!
I am just so frigging glad I made it out of there okay!! After I phoned Gord, I had this deep urge to call Susi -- for some reason I wanted to call her and tell her all about my day!! LOL!! Well, you're off the hook this time Susi, but next time, I'm picking up the telephone!! LOL!!!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
6 minute bike, 25 minute walk
Yesterday I drove to Sparwood to get whipped by the drill sergeant, Charmaine. We have a mew girl that has decided to join our Tuesday and Thursday gruel sessions! We were, grunting, lunging, squatting, and doing sit ups all between bouts of laughing. Good times!!
I had planned on biking in K-Country, but the weather looked too formidable and I decided to do hill repeats on the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre hill instead. I was going to bike to Coleman first, as I had to go to the bank, and then go to Gord's for another bottle cage (I stupidly broke my other one!). A mere six minutes into the ride I heard a giant HISSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!
My rear tire was slashed open by some horrible thing lying on the road (Never found it). FRIG! I turned around and walked Madge back all the way to my house -- I'm glad the wind wasn't with me on the bike, or I would have had a much longer walk!!
Fortunately I had a spare tire --a nice kevlar one at that, so I got to work and changed my tube and tire. My second attempt at riding was much better and after a good warm up, I headed back to Frank to do some hill work. I was going to meet some people about mid-way up the hill for a hike at 5:30pm, but there was no way I could make it -- I still had 50 minutes of cycling and then a 30 min. brick when I checked my watch at 5:35pm.
As it turned out, there was only one vehicle waiting at the cattle guard, so I introduced myself to a girl that was waiting there -- maybe next time! The clouds were pretty ominous in the sky, and I think the dark, rolling blackness frightened off any other would-be hikers.
My workout went really well, but it was long past my supper before I was done. I still had to clean up and then dash to Sobey's -- they take 10% off your purchases the first Tuesday of each month,and this is when I buy my frozen strawberries for my morning shake!! Gotta save that moolah!! LOL!!
I'm planning on biking the Highwood Pass on Thursday --I have been religiously checking the weather network's site and it looks like Thursday will be the hottest and driest day this week. So, I have primed my water bottles full of Carbo-pro and Gatorade and I am chomping at the bit to get out there!!!
I had planned on biking in K-Country, but the weather looked too formidable and I decided to do hill repeats on the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre hill instead. I was going to bike to Coleman first, as I had to go to the bank, and then go to Gord's for another bottle cage (I stupidly broke my other one!). A mere six minutes into the ride I heard a giant HISSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!
My rear tire was slashed open by some horrible thing lying on the road (Never found it). FRIG! I turned around and walked Madge back all the way to my house -- I'm glad the wind wasn't with me on the bike, or I would have had a much longer walk!!
Fortunately I had a spare tire --a nice kevlar one at that, so I got to work and changed my tube and tire. My second attempt at riding was much better and after a good warm up, I headed back to Frank to do some hill work. I was going to meet some people about mid-way up the hill for a hike at 5:30pm, but there was no way I could make it -- I still had 50 minutes of cycling and then a 30 min. brick when I checked my watch at 5:35pm.
As it turned out, there was only one vehicle waiting at the cattle guard, so I introduced myself to a girl that was waiting there -- maybe next time! The clouds were pretty ominous in the sky, and I think the dark, rolling blackness frightened off any other would-be hikers.
My workout went really well, but it was long past my supper before I was done. I still had to clean up and then dash to Sobey's -- they take 10% off your purchases the first Tuesday of each month,and this is when I buy my frozen strawberries for my morning shake!! Gotta save that moolah!! LOL!!
I'm planning on biking the Highwood Pass on Thursday --I have been religiously checking the weather network's site and it looks like Thursday will be the hottest and driest day this week. So, I have primed my water bottles full of Carbo-pro and Gatorade and I am chomping at the bit to get out there!!!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Boundless Energy Bars
I finally made Kelsey's protein bar recipe and is it ever GOOD!!! It's nice to know exactly what you are putting in your body -- and the taste is unbelievable!! For those of you who haven't made it -- you HAVE to try it. Here is her recipe: http://ctapp2007wiens.blogspot.com/2008/04/boundless-energy-bars-for-julie.html
The only warning I would add is that these bars clean you out. Let's just say these bars could also be called Boundless poop bars. LOL!!!!
Yesterday, Mike, Jake and I went fishing at a local lake. I brought Diva and Toby along much to the chagrin of the other fishermen. It's like I could read their minds -- "Oh great, Here's a girl bringing her dogs. They are going to splash around and swim, and bark and scare all the fish away."
I walked around the lakeside path to this little inlet and then let the babies off their leashes. Toby went swimming right away and Diva tried to muster up the courage but kept barking this high-pitched yelp in frustration. She wanted to go swimming so bad, but since she's become blind, she is just too afraid. Poor little girl. She had a fun time splashing around though.
I took the babies back past where Mike and Jake were fishing and thought I'd keep them close by. Toby swam out again, but this time she kept swimming to the left and right towards the Dog Daddy (Mike). OOPS!! LOL! Then she got out and shook all over Jake. See,I don't mind when the doggies shake their water droplets all over me. They only go swimming when it is hot, so I don't mind having a bit of a cool down too. :P
Needless to say, I had to bring the babies back home. :(
Yesterday was also the inaugural meeting of this new all-female club in the Pass: The Outsiders. Six of us showed up and I am thrilled to report that I had never met any of them -- No small feat in this town!! There are a number of other girls that couldn't attend for various reasons but I'm excited to meet ANYONE who likes exercise and the outdoors. For all you lucky Calgarians out there -- you don't know what it's like to live in a rural community where the majority of dog owners are too lazy to actually walk their dogs, and opt to drive alongside them instead!!! This is not an exaggeration!!
For me to connect with other activity-minded individuals was just awesome. Sad to say there were no triathletes there, but hey, not everybody's perfect! LOL!!!!
Our first scheduled event is to hike Turtle Mountain -- this is the Frank Slide mountain. I won't be able to make it with the group as it coincides with my Wasa race -- so I am hoping I can talk at least one other girl into hiking it with me this Saturday. I know there is one girl that was a bit nervous at the prospect of the hike, so I am going to target her first -- Hee-hee!! I'm a good guide and motivator and would love to help her overcome her fear. Even If I can't find anyone, I'm going up anyways!! :) :) :)
Sounds like Susi and Keith targeted Jenna pretty hard this weekend!!! Can't wait to read how Jenna liked all those hills... and if it is true that Susi has devil horns!! LOL!!!
The only warning I would add is that these bars clean you out. Let's just say these bars could also be called Boundless poop bars. LOL!!!!
Yesterday, Mike, Jake and I went fishing at a local lake. I brought Diva and Toby along much to the chagrin of the other fishermen. It's like I could read their minds -- "Oh great, Here's a girl bringing her dogs. They are going to splash around and swim, and bark and scare all the fish away."
I walked around the lakeside path to this little inlet and then let the babies off their leashes. Toby went swimming right away and Diva tried to muster up the courage but kept barking this high-pitched yelp in frustration. She wanted to go swimming so bad, but since she's become blind, she is just too afraid. Poor little girl. She had a fun time splashing around though.
I took the babies back past where Mike and Jake were fishing and thought I'd keep them close by. Toby swam out again, but this time she kept swimming to the left and right towards the Dog Daddy (Mike). OOPS!! LOL! Then she got out and shook all over Jake. See,I don't mind when the doggies shake their water droplets all over me. They only go swimming when it is hot, so I don't mind having a bit of a cool down too. :P
Needless to say, I had to bring the babies back home. :(
Yesterday was also the inaugural meeting of this new all-female club in the Pass: The Outsiders. Six of us showed up and I am thrilled to report that I had never met any of them -- No small feat in this town!! There are a number of other girls that couldn't attend for various reasons but I'm excited to meet ANYONE who likes exercise and the outdoors. For all you lucky Calgarians out there -- you don't know what it's like to live in a rural community where the majority of dog owners are too lazy to actually walk their dogs, and opt to drive alongside them instead!!! This is not an exaggeration!!
For me to connect with other activity-minded individuals was just awesome. Sad to say there were no triathletes there, but hey, not everybody's perfect! LOL!!!!
Our first scheduled event is to hike Turtle Mountain -- this is the Frank Slide mountain. I won't be able to make it with the group as it coincides with my Wasa race -- so I am hoping I can talk at least one other girl into hiking it with me this Saturday. I know there is one girl that was a bit nervous at the prospect of the hike, so I am going to target her first -- Hee-hee!! I'm a good guide and motivator and would love to help her overcome her fear. Even If I can't find anyone, I'm going up anyways!! :) :) :)
Sounds like Susi and Keith targeted Jenna pretty hard this weekend!!! Can't wait to read how Jenna liked all those hills... and if it is true that Susi has devil horns!! LOL!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)