Here we go again

So, I started this blog earlier this year to keep me motivated to get healthy and reach my goal of being in the best shape of my life by my 40th birthday next January.  I'm not really a writer and blogging is not my thing, but it was fun and helped keep me focussed.  But somewhere in July life got busy.  I haven't posted since the end of June.  July and August were not healthy months for me!  So, I've realized how important regular posting was to keep me focussed and motivated.   And now with only 20 weeks until my 40th birthday I can't afford "not healthy" months.  I must stay focussed and motivated.  Fortunately I have some friends who are eating healthier and losing weight so I've been re-inspired by their success.  And fall weather is here, which means I actually desire and look forward to go out and run or ride a bike.  So, here we go again.....

Colorful Summer Salad

I know I need to eat more fruits and vegetables.  So this weekend, I decided to make a fruit salad that would be handy for snacking.  I used watermelon and blueberries (because a friend recently told me they were great together) and grapes (because my mom was in town visiting and had some left from her drive).  The result was a beautiful and refreshing fruit salad!

The colors make the salad so pretty and much more enjoyable to eat.   But there's more - colors of fruits and vegetables are natures way of telling us what health benefits that particular fruit or vegetable has.

Based on some info I got from an article in Taos News, this salad has the following health benefits :

Grapes - Green produce indicates antioxidant potential and may promote healthy vision and reduce cancer risks.

Blueberries - Purple and blue produce may have antioxidant and anti-aging benefits and may help with memory, urinary tract health, and reduced cancer risks.

Watermelon - Red produce may help maintain a healthy heart, vision, immunity and my reduce cancer risks.

Consistency leads to Success

I've been working towards getting into the best shape of my life for 23 weeks now.  I've run and biked 1171miles and I've lost 17 pounds.  I've been exercising more and have learned some tricks for eating healthier.  I'm proud of what I've accomplished.  But I've lost less than 1 pound per week.  The truth is I have probably lost more than 17 pounds, but I have lost and gained the same pounds over and over.  I have had weeks of healthy eating and working out followed by weeks of lying on the couch and eating fast food.  If I had been consistent, I could have lost up to 46 pounds.  I can't undo the past 23 weeks, but I can make the right decisions day in and day out for the next 23 weeks. 

Bike Out Hunger

I'm not the best when it comes to counting the cost.  I'm not sure I would have committed to participate in Bike Out Hunger if I had really realized how difficult and painful it would be.  But I thought it sounded like fun and a good cause and I jumped right in.  And truth be told, even after all the pain and difficulty I'm glad I did it.  I just had no concept of how difficult all the hills in East Texas would be.

I joined almost 30 others who were crazy enough to commit to riding our bikes from Beaumont to Texarkana to raise awareness and money to help those who are hungry.  Over the course of the 6 days I rode over 400 miles, saw some beautiful scenery, met amazing people (some who were part of the ride and some I met along the way), and burned a bunch of calories.

DAY 1 - BEAUMONT to WOODVILLE (65 miles78 miles)
I'd been preparing for and anticipating the ride for a couple of months now.  It was hard to believe it was finally time to begin.  We started from Buckner.  The day before the ride, I had the chance to meet some of the other riders.  I was very intrigued by Morgan and Ryan who had participated in last years ride after giving their cars up for lent.  Here's their story

Early in the ride, we took a wrong turn that added 13 miles to our ride - heck of a way to start.  It was a long, hot day.  The ride ended at the America's Best Value Inn in Woodville, TX.  I could see our hotel, but was forced to stop at a stop light one block before it.  As I stood waiting for the light to change I could feel darkness coming on and told Brandon (the guy riding beside me) that I thought I was about to pass out.  But there was nothing we could do since we were in the middle of the road and the light had just turned green.  So, I sucked it up, started pedaling, pulled into the hotel, and laid on the ground to rest.  I eventually got up to take a shower, ice my legs, and go to dinner.  The first day was complete.  The heat and the hills made it harder than I expected.  But I made it.

DAY 2 - WOODVILLE to NACOGDOCHES (67 miles)
My legs were sore from the first day.  But as I pedaled on, my muscles stretched out and I settled into the rhythm of riding again.  It was a beautiful day.  I loved picking up speed as we raced down the hills; I dreaded pedaling back up them.  I've often complained about living in Texas and the lack of trees.  But there is no lack of trees in East Texas.  The roads were lined with gorgeous pine trees.  I rode with a guy named Steve for a long portion of the day and had some great conversations.  The last 10 miles seemed longer than they should have been and were rough, but I made it.

DAY 3 - NACOGDOCHES to TYLER (80 miles)
I expected this to be the toughest day.  I told myself, if I could get through day 3 I could make it all the way.  There were lots of hills and it was the second longest ride of the week.  Of course the scenery was beautiful and the hills were even bigger than the previous days.  But amazingly, I felt wonderful throughout the ride.  I really enjoyed the country roads we were riding on and was mesmerized by all the different types of fences and how each one was beautiful in its own way.  It was a rough day for some of the other riders in our group and there were lots of flat tires in the beginning of the ride.  As a result I saw some of the faster riders during the ride and at the first rest stop.  When I finally made it into Tyler, I was encouraged by a fellow rider to take an ice bath.  Apparently, it helps with muscle recovery.  So, I got 4 buckets of ice from the hotel ice machine and piled it in the front of the tub.  I turned on the cold water and waited for the freezing water to rise and cover my legs.

DAY 4 - TYLER to MARSHALL (62.11 mils)
This was initially a longer day.  But because of safety concerns we loaded our bikes on the trailer and drove  miles out of town to start our ride.  Because of the low mileage and the pride I had in having accomplished the previous three days rides, I thought that today would be easy.  But it was still 62 miles!  It ended up being my most difficult day.I can't even begin to tell you how happy I was to reach Marshall.   I was wiped out.  The hills were even bigger than the previous days.  But still I made it.

DAY 5 - MARSHALL to TEXARKANA (84.69 miles)

I had 4 days under my belt.  My body ached.  And it was time for the longest ride of the week.  Really?  We headed out from the dorm at East Texas Baptist University and immediately came upon a hill.  My legs ached.  Then we had a nice stretch of beautiful relatively flat road.  And then the hills came.  I hate to sound like a broken record, but these hills were bigger than the previous days!  In addition, there was a headwind.  Ugh.  I struggled up the hills.  For a few of the hills Steve came alongside me and put his hand on my back to give me an extra push up.  But the hills kept coming and getting bigger.  Even worst, I felt like we were always going up and not getting the thrill of racing down the hills.  We were less than 20 miles into the ride and I was beginning to bargain with myself about getting to the rest stop and taking a break to ride in the truck to the next rest stop.  A couple of my fellow riders had already called it quits and were riding in the sag wagon.  And then my chain came off.  It would have been easy enough to put it back on and I did.  But I also decided that this was the perfect time to take a break.  So, we loaded my bike in the trailer and I took a break in the air-conditioned truck watching the hills continue to get bigger and bigger.  I had told myself not to give up and that I would only be disappointed if I got in the sag wagon.  But I must admit as I watched the hills get larger and larger, I had no regrets in taking a break.  At the rest stop, I and a couple of the guys who had also taken a break decided to get back on our bikes and give it another try.  I'm so glad we did.  I had a great time for the rest of the ride.  We rode along a mile long bridge crossing a beautiful river.  And the group I was riding with seemed to be working together so well.  We rode in a group calling out warnings from behind like "car back" and warnings from ahead like "hole"  The weather was perfect and we were happy on our bikes.  We just kept pedaling and covered the rest of the miles.  Texarkana came quicker than I expected.  And unlike the other days, I had a rush of adrenaline and plenty of extra energy at the end of this ride.  I had made it from Beaumont to Texarkana!  It had taken us all day and we were arriving around 5:00 so traffic was busy.  Fortunately for us, we had a van in front of us guiding us to our hotel and a truck behind us protecting us form traffic.  We made it!

DAY 6 - ASHDOWN, AR, Ride for the Cure (30 miles)
We had one more ride before heading back home.  We were participating in a local ride in Ashdown, AR.  The distance options were 12, 30, 40, or 65.  I was pretty tired and didn't really feel like going far so I decided to ride the 30 mile route.  There was a group of 5 of us that rode this distance and took this opportunity to practice riding in a paceline.  We rode in a line with our wheels as close to each other as possible taking turns being in front.  The person in front breaks the wind and essentially pulls the other riders along.  By riding in a paceline, cyclists are able to go faster while expending approximately 20% less energy.  We flew past the first rest stop - we were going faster then we had previous days and feeling good.  We stopped at the second rest stop, which consisted of two older women sitting in a front yard working on crosswords near the table with homemade cookies, snickers bars, and a cooler with water and orange juice.  The woman informed us that they are also part of the volunteer fire fighters for their community.  I loved the small town hospitality.  But we still had just over 13 miles to go so we got back on our bikes and in our paceline to finish.  We finished the race putting my total at 404 miles for the week!

A FEW LESSONS I LEARNED ALONG:
1.  It was critical to have a good supply of water and gatorade on my bike and drink it regularly.  The more water I drank the better I felt.  And it is not just the amount of water you drink, it is important to drink the water consistently through out the ride.  Keeping plenty of water on the bike and drinking it consistently is far better than drinking a couple of bottles at each rest stop 2 miles apart.    This experience gives me deeper meaning to the fact that Jesus is our Living Water and that I need to be spending time with him in a consistent manner.      

2.  Hunger ministries provide help and hope. One day I was struggling to get in the miles.  I was hungry and thirsty and anxious for the next rest stop (well, let me be honest, I was always anxious for the rest stops).  And then I saw one of the ride support staff who told me that the rest stop was five mies ahead.  Just knowing that the rest stop was coming in five miles gave me the hope that I needed to press on.  There are thousands of people in Texas and even more around the world who need to know there is someone who cares and will direct them to their next meal.

3.  Suffering is tough, but its worth it.  It was not easy to ride 404 miles.  And there were many times that I wondered what I was thinking when I signed up for the ride.  But I can't begin to explain the feeling of riding into Texarkana and knowing that I rode my bike from Beaumont!  It is never fun to suffer, but in the end it is often worth it.


 

MS 150 - together we're unstoppable!

Sandy and I participated in the MS 150 this weekend.  It was an amzing experience and a reminder of the powerfulness of working together.  Almost 3,000 people lined up to ride our bikes from Frisco to the Texas Motor Speedway and then on to Sundance Square along a 2 day 153 mile route.  We raised $1,249,848.45 for the National MS Society (you can still donate at MS 150).

As the MS 150 website claimed:

Individually we can move; Together we are a movement

Individually we can make a difference; Together we're unstoppable 

We decided to drive out Friday night and stay at a hotel so we would be there for the early start at 7:00 am.  We left my car at Sundance Square so it would be there at the end of the ride.  But we needed someone to drop us and our bikes off in Frisco.  Fortunately for us, Erin Trahan was willing to help.  So, from the very beginning we knew our ride would not be possible without the help of others - thanks Erin!

Lining up to start the ride.
We were near the Dr Pepper and Cisco teams.

One of the unique things about the MS 150 is the team dynamic.  Different companies form teams to ride and raise money together.  The teams design and wear matching jerseys.  At the end of the first day, each team has a tent where they can gather, eat, and get massages.  Its good to ride with a team.

The weather was perfect as we started the ride.  It was cool but not cold and we had a tail wind.  All was well - we were feeling so good that Sandy and I decided to skip the first rest stop that was at 14 miles and decided to wait for the second rest stop at the 18 mile mark.  We were both pleasantly surprised by how good we felt and how quick of a pace we were keeping.  We were definitely ready for a break at mile 18.  At the rest stop we ate some orange slices, a banana, Grandma's Peanut Butter cookies and filled my bottle with Gatorade to give me the energy I needed to continue.  I am so thankful for the volunteers who made this stop and others along the way possible.

We continued to pedal and put more and more miles behind us and continued to be surprised with how good we felt.  We also enjoyed the scenery and open fields along the country roads.  Who knew there were so many ranches, fields, and open spaces just north of the metroplex.  As we rode past Lake Ray Roberts, the view was so nice, I couldn't resist the photo opportunity.  While stopped to take a picture, many of the support crew stopped to check if we needed help and make sure we were okay.  It was good to know that if we did have a problem, help would come quickly.

We continued turning our legs in the repetitive motion, enjoying the sights along the way, and stopping to refuel at the rest stops.  It is fascinating to meet people along the way and hear their story.  There were several people wearing jersey's stating "I have MS and that is why I ride" - so inspirational.   Each person on the ride has a story.  And it is natural to start a conversation and here their story along the road or at the rest stops, unlike when standing in a elevator.  Maybe it is because we are all bonded by the fact we are wearing spandex shorts.

There were a few teams who passed us as they rode together in a pace line.  It was a beautiful thing to watch a group  of 5 men riding the same speed in a line wearing matching jerseys.  They were so in sync.  And as they rode together in this fashion they were able to draft off of each other and save at least 15% of their energy.  Its the beauty of a shared effort - working together to meet a common goal.

At 3:30 in the afternoon, 8 hours after our early start in Frisco, we arrived at the Texas Motor Speedway.  Day One was complete.  We were worn out, but very satisfied with the day!  We ate some dinner, got a massage, and found the shuttle to take us to our hotel.  After a walk to a nearby convenience store for tylenol and snacks we made a quick trip to the hotel hot tub and were in bed by 9.

Severe weather caused Day 2 to be cancelled

We were hopeful the weather would hold out and we would be able to ride for day 2.  We took the shuttle back to the Texas Motor Speedway at 5 am just to find out they had cancelled the ride because of the severe wether.  Then we realized the logistical nightmare that was beginning.  In the midst of all the bad weather, MS 150 volunteers had to find a way to get everything packed up and get bikes and people back to Frisco.

But we didn't want to go to Frisco.  Our car was parked less than 30 miles away at Sundance Square, where we were supposed to be riding to that day.  So, we relied on a friend once again.  We called Xergio Chacin because we thought he would be up that early and he had an SUV to fit our bikes.  While we were waiting for Xergio to pick us up strong winds and storms forced us to take shelter in the bathroom.  

Sandy reading the comics while
seeking shelter in the bathroom
 

Posing with our rescue crew
after loading the bikes

I had a great ride and was honored to be one of the many riders and volunteers who gathered to play their part to work together to find a cure for MS.  There is something special about being a part of something so much larger than myself.  Thanks to everyone who encouraged me along the way, donated money, and helped make this possible.

All this talk of working together reminds me of a video I saw several years ago.  Its a great video about a father and son team.  It is beautiful and well worth watching again and again.  Enjoy!
 

Where does the time go?

I've been spending a ton of time on my bike lately to prepare for my up coming rides (MS 150  and Bike Out Hunger).  The past two weekends I have spent almost 10 hours on my bike each weekend.  And that's just the time I spent on my bike - that doesn't include the time spent getting all my gear together or putting it away or napping and eating afterwards to recover.  The bottom line is that most of my free time lately has been focussed on biking.  And it has caused me to reflect on how I'm spending my time.  Sure I am spending alot of time on my bike, but I am also reaping many benefits:

• I feel better because I am exercising regularly
• I'm soaking up the Vitamin D and enjoying some great spring weather
• I've enjoyed and have almost covered the entirety of the trinity trail system 
• I am a part of something bigger then myself - the chance to commit with others to ride and raise money for great causes
• I am making progress towards my larger goal - to be in the best shape of my life when I turn 40

So, I think this has been a good use of my time and given the choice, I would do it again!  Now, I need to consider all the ways I spend my time when I'm not biking.  Am I being a good steward of the days the Lord has blessed me with?

If we would only give the same amount of reflection to what we want out of life that we give to the question of what to do with two weeks’ vacation, we would be startled at our false standards and the aimless procession of our busy days.” 

— Dorothy Canfield Fisher 

 

What a ride!

Monday evening Sandy, Lauren, and I decided to go for a ride.  It was a little windy, but other than that it was a perfect afternoon for a ride.  We rode from Lauren's house to Trinity Park.  We had to cross University, which at the time seemed like the most dangerous part of the ride.   We followed the trail north to the stockyards.  Then we backtracked a couple miles and headed west to Gateway Park.  We had gone about 15 miles and were feeling great.  The sun was still up, the river was full, the sky was perfectly blue with white accents, and we practically had the trail to ourselves.  As we headed home, we approached an area of the trail that formed a "u" with the bottom of the "u" going under a bridge.  The three of us were engaged in conversation and riding in a clump as we curved under the bridge.  We were stunned to find two men heading straight towards us.  The next few seconds was all a blur as 5 bikes tried to share a space made for 2.  Lauren had to maneuver towards the right to avoid a collision.  She didn't quite make it and hit one of the men and was flipped over her bike and onto the ground in front of me.  I swerved to avoid her.  Sandy wasn't able to avoid Lauren and went down as well.  I got off my bike and stared at Lauren and Sandy in shock and disbelief.  My moment of frozenness was broken by Sandy asking me to get the bike off of her.  So I did.

Showing off Sandy's scraped knee and my hand

Then one of the 5 homeless men who had been sitting under this particular bridge enjoying the weather and the river, jumped down and screamed emphatically "Oh my gosh!  Are you okay?  I've got a cell phone you can use" repeatedly.  Then the men who we had collided with, who seemed to have fared better than us, came to assess the damage, apologize, and help.  Lauren fell mostly in the grass and didn't have any scrapes, but bruises and swelling quickly followed.  Sandy's leg and knee were scraped and covered in blood.  One of the men rushed to get the water bottle from his bike and began squirting her leg down.  Then one of the other homeless men offered Sandy some antiseptic.  Is it "Hydrogen Peroxide?" she asked.  "Well, its just like it" he answered as he rushed off to where he had been sitting under the bridge to retrieve it.  He had a hard time finding it and Sandy decided she didn't really need it anyway.  I was shocked when I looked down and saw my hand covered with dark red blood.  I asked for some of the water to squirt my hand off and wondered aloud "Why am I bleeding - I didn't fall off my bike?"  After much discussion, I realized one of the guys' bikes or possibly Lauren's bike must have brushed me and cut my hand in the chaos.

Lauren and Sandy had the worst injuries, but they were still
willing to pose for a picture as we waited for a ride 

Amazingly there were no broken bones.  So we rode off and debated whether to ride the full distance back or cut through downtown.  Lauren's bike was making a strange noise and was difficult to ride so we stopped to reevaluate.  When we tried to spin her front tire, it went less than 1/100th of a rotation.  Her wheel was bent and therefore rubbing against her brake.  The men had turned around, saw we were stopped, and came to help.  They were able to loosen the brake and make the bike rideable.  So, we began pedaling again when Sandy called out, "I have a flat."  We decided that about 15 miles was plenty long enough for this ride and called a couple of friends to come pick us up.  Thanks Janel and Brooke!