12 year absence

 Hello!

It's been 12 years since I turned thirty and began tracking my daily bike rides for the year. It is so much fun to look back at that year and the adventures I had. 

It was a time of transition. In June I moved to camp and began what I thought would be my dream job. In a lot of ways it was. Alas, a lass pulled me away to MKE. This was another exciting adventure, but I didn't keep up on my writing. 

I'm back writing now because two years ago, when I turned 40, I wanted to complete another challenge. Similar to my 30 year old year when I rode every day. I thought I could do a triathlon every year on my birthday. It didn't happen. Kids were tiny... 5 mo and almost 2. 

Anyway, now that they're grown (2 and almost 4) I have time to tri!

Today, Sept 2 was my first go at it. Times are rough but fairly accurate. 

9:16 start time

750m swim: 21 min 14 second 

Transition: 15min 36 seconds

20k bike: 53 min 31 seconds

Transition: 6 min 27 seconds

5K run: 33 min 21 seconds

Total: 2 hours 10 mins 9 seconds

Moving: 1 hour 47 mins 57 seconds

   I swam at our Y's outdoor pool. It was pretty crowded and we ended up with 5 swimmers in my lane. I typically ONLY swim when I have my own lane. I'm pretty self conscious about knowing all the rules and not being in people's way. 

I'm not fast but was able to plod through without feeling completely spent. The transition to biking took some time. I did this on my own and had to manage a wallet and phone etc in addition to changing my gear.

 I biked up the Monon on Paul. My estimate was I would need to bike to 146th St and turn around to get the required 20K and return to my house. I was right on. The bike was pretty easy. I didn't try to crush it at all, but kept things moving. 

 

 

    The transition to running was pretty quick. Same socks, new shorts, shirt, and shoes. I decided to run laps in the neighborhood in order to have access to a water bottle I perched on the mailbox. 

     The small loop was just under .75 miles. On the third loop I took the longer path   which ended perfectly at my driveway. Running was by far the hardest part. I walked   several times and was averaging just under 11 minute miles. It was the only point I was putting in hard effort. 

    Swimming- I'm not sure I can improve more than a minute or so. But I'm pretty sure I can get it under 20 minutes.

    Biking- This is a strength and I was pretty conservative today. Strengthening my run will help make me more confident to bike harder. I also may ride Tony at some point.

    Run- This is where I think I can make the most improvements. 9 min miles might be a long way off, but I can get them under 10.

Don't hold me to it, but I might tri again in Sept. 

Humpty Dumpty

I've continued to ride to, during, and home from work.  This may need to be rethought as I took the worst spill of my cycling career today.

Bruce has low pressure in the front tire which affected handling significantly.  Coming down a paved hill while cornering, he slipped out from under me.  Scraped knuckels, forearm, knee, and back on my left side.  The brunt of the fall landed on my left shoulder.  Lesson learned: keep tires at pressure even if they are determined to be "good enough to get through today".

Gnarly (with a capital G)

Fin

Day 364, 8/29/15

LONG Hike with Courtney.    Tooled on her Specialized.

Day 365

Rode down to office in AM.  After work I mounted Tony and began 1.5 hour, 24 mile rideto return a Redbox movie.  The drop off isn't that far when taking a direct route, but you don't stumble upon cool looking A-frame cabins taking the direct route.

 

Day 366, August 31st

Final day of my year long challenge!  Going into this I was feeling a bit listless turning 30 and wanting to commit to accomplish something without drastically changing my life.  Riding a bicycle everyday for a year was challenging at times (weather, travel, forgetfulness) but overall it was a great reminder to make time for the things I love to do.

2015 was not a leap year, so I obviously made a mistake in my counting of the days.  Unfortunately, it wasn't the only mistake I made this year.  Examples I'm willing to talk about here will be cycling related.  First, there were some days I did not ride a bike.  2-3 times I would get back from out of town and count a post midnight ride as the previous days.  Also I can think of one example I simple forgot to ride until I was laying in bed.  At 1:30 AM I jumped up and completed a loop around Monument Circle.  In honesty, the most difficult part was writing a blog for no one but myself :)    Though imperfect (which I never claimed to be) the year was a success!

Today's ride was on Bruce to and from work and then to Big Woods for wings (I had pizza with Court 2 days prior), beer, and a board game with some friends old and new.

As a penance for my shortcomings I will continue to ride everyday until I don't.  Blogging will no longer be as important to me, but if anything interesting happens I will let you know!

Moon's Full

Day 361, 8/26/15

Start of a stretch of groups that will last through the weekend. Rode Bruce around camp.


Day 362

Biked to HR first thing to set up for Hanover's Xcountry group.  Had to fill in for a sick counselor at the pool.

Later, on a night hike, I was able to maneuver without a torch as the moon was shining bright!


Day 363

Filling in again for a sick counselor, I rode down to the office in AM.  My group responded super well to everything and we had a lot of fun!

I drove up to Indy for the night expecting to meet up with the Full Moon Ride, but I was 24 hours early.  Instead I rode with Paul and Kelly to Bakersfield and Rathskellar.  Polka Boy in the house!

Photos

Day 358, 8/23/15

Did some MTBing on Handies Trail.  Intentionally left my phone behind but quickly turned around for it as I stumbled upon a photo worthy scene.

Turtles mating.  More detail below.  WARNING: PG-13 rating

Night hike later that evening.


Day 359

Rode Bruce to work, lunch, and home before returning to the office to go on a road ride.

After installing new cleats and I finally got to hit the road with Tony.  His third chain ring was helpful in the climbs, but I had to learn the nuances of the set-up.  A stiff link gave me some trouble until I gave up on getting my hands dirty and broke it in a bit.

Old CYO signage north of camp.

Day 360

Rode Bruce to office and stopped at OPC to get hot water for my chai tea.
Around 4pm I gathered up some Post Office items and biked in on Ichiro.  I made it just as the office was closing and then continued to tool around downtown.

Coming down the Old 46 hill I was cut off by a PACK of wild turkeys!

20th, 21st, 22nd

Day 355  BIRTHDAY!

Paul came this morning and brought me breakfast.  He also brought me a super cool insulated growler.  What a thoughtful nice guy.

Speaking of nice, thoughtful guys: I said goodbye to Tom, my fixed gear Tom Masso frame.  Paul took it back to his brother Tommy who is moving to Chicago and in need of a city bike.  The frame hadn't gotten much use since I've moved down to BC (none) so I'm happy to give him a new home.

In memorandum:  May 4th, 2013- August 20th 2015

Unfortunately, Paul's presence on camp alerted staff to it being my birthday.  They were kind to not make a huge deal, but I was so close to flying under the radar!
Rode on camp and said good bye to the group I was working with.

Later I drove Irchiro down to Louisville where we met with Emma for the Langhorne Slim show.  It turned out to be Slim's bithday as well!  He's seen below donning the birthday crown.

Day 356  Same Age Day!

Checked out the Falls of the Ohio with Kristin.  Interesting to visit the commencement site of Lewis and Clark's journey, but the site was not especially beautiful.

Tooled a bit on Ichiro.  Ate pizza rolls and shot pool.  Kristin made delicious dessert.


Day 357  Matt's birthday!

Went to putt putt, batting cages, arcade.  Rolled with Irchiro before heading back to BC.

Camp Life

Day 352, 8/17/15

Day off!  Rode to breakfast and stopped in at the office.


Day 353

Woke up early for a run and swim.  Biked to last day of our often interrupted training.

All tied up in low ropes training.

Day 354

I am back on counselor duty today.  Before the group arrived I rode camp setting things up and cleaning cabins that were supposedly cleaned already!

Before riding back for the night we played Life and Death in the Forrest, a survival game based around groups being herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores.  First time playing and everyone seemed to love it.  Even the herbivores (my group) who got eaten repeatedly.  Exhausted and with no voice, I retired.