Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Holiday Weekend

Friday after work I rode a quick 2 miles, anticipating that Saturday morning we would get in a nice long ride. It was a lovely plan, however, the minute that we got to Shopko giant raindrops began to fall so we turned around and peddled our way home, for a total of 6 miles instead of 30. Sunday morning we woke up to more rain so after a quick breakfast we loaded up all the Memorial Day lights and went out on cemetery duty. Fortunately Sunday afternoon was lovely so we were able to get in about 11 miles before dinner.

Monday was the last day of my 30 rides in 30 days challenge so I was hoping to get our 30 mile ride accomplished. Sadly, we woke up to 20-40 mph winds with gusts near 50. I lobbied to ride and Brian decided we should ride South so that the ride out would be hard and the ride home would be easy. At the 2.75 mile mark I was miserable. My legs were tired, I was being pelted with sand and I was scared that if we made it out my legs would be too worn out to make it back in. The wind was making me feel pretty wobbly, and I was a bit nervous about the stretch that we would ride east and west on. We turned around at Rokeby Road and zoomed back home, I agree now that a fast wind is nice to push you back in =)

Tonight we'll celebrate Erik's 17th birthday, I swear to you he was just born a few weeks ago. These years have gone by so quickly! Hopefully once we get home we'll be able to get a ride in. Tonight I also have to decide what to do for my June challenge, there are SO many options!

Friday, May 27, 2011

Why I'm Not a Housewife

Yesterday I got off work a few minutes after 11, with my GIANT list of errands. I ran to the DMV, the bank, the credit union, the Social Security office, made phone calls for recycling and a handyman service and got the oil changed in Erik's car. After all of that, I mowed the yard, made dinner and went for a 12 mile ride. My legs are still a little tired this morning =)

I could never make it as an errand girl!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Chilled!

The wind last night was unbelivable so after work I jumped on the bike, and in a light mist I rode 2 miles. After dinner we worked on laundry and homework and I suspect tonight will be more of the same, only with a little sunshine.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Before the Storm

Yesterday when I left work it wasn't raining yet so I drove straight home, changed clothes and jumped on the bike. It was humid and windy but I made it through 12 miles. After dinner Brian got 6 miles done with several stops to make adjustments to the road bike.

Since we were gone all weekend, going to the grocery store was a necessity and we made it into the house right before the storms hit. Today there is more rain in the forecast so we'll see if I can get enough dry time for a short ride. There is only five days left of the 30 in 30 challenge and this weekend we'll go for a nice long ride.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Then the Police Called

Yesterday was one of those days where you can't be certain that you'll even get your name right if asked. I had a busy day at work, followed by a busy night at Southeast. Late afternoon the resource officer from the high school called me at work and left a "non-urgent" message for me to call him back. Like all parents I wondered what could have possibly happened to necessitate a call from the police! I had to go to Southeast for a band fundraiser and bumped into the officer before he could get the message that I called. The high school does a random look into student car windows in the parking lot to make sure that cars are locked and valuables are put away. If a student "passes" they are entered into a drawing for a cash prize and Erik won. So he has $50 to start summer break with!

After the fundraiser I zipped home, prepped tuna salad and egg salad for the vocal music banquet, rode 4 miles, changed clothes, and spent the rest of the evening at LSE. Erik now has three letters - Academic, Band and Choir. Tonight will hopefully be a little less overbooked and with any luck, the rain will hold off long enough for me to get in 10 miles and mow the lawn! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Monday, May 23, 2011

It's Only Water

Friday afternoon was officially the first time I've ridden in the rain. I left the house with an occassional drizzle, saw a few more raindrops at the turnaround for the 6 mile loop and just past Essex (the turn to go to Brian's parents) it started to really rain. By the time I got home I was pretty saturated and there was water dripping off my helmet. The only thing that really bothered me was that it made my peddles slippery.

Saturday morning Brian and I jumped out of bed for the 6 mile loop and then packed the car so that the three of us could leave for Denver. The U2 concert was fantastic, although I confess, I've never climbed so high for a concert. We were 6 rows from the top of Mile High Stadium, between the 40 yard lines. Evidently, the best seats at a venue are selected based on what they usually do (football as the case may be) and aren't re-evaluted for other types of events. The staging was awesome and Erik, Brian and I enjoyed our first major outdoor arena concert together. We met up with the Carlson's for the ride to and from the show and they had lots of fun too!

Sunday we drove home and Erik and I got to see Big Mac in Ogallala for the very first time. It is pretty impressive! When we finally pulled into the driveway we got out the bikes for a ride over to Brian's parents house to get the garage door opener for the Caliber. Tonight we have band stuff, the choral music banquet and we're responsible to set up the reception for an orchestra concert. I'm hoping to ride quickly a few minutes after 4. This is Erik's last week of school for the year so hopefully things will quiet down a bit soon!

With one more week in the 30 rides in 30 days challenge I have made it on to the bike EVERY day and I've racked up 172 miles since May 1, pretty cool, for a beginner =)

Friday, May 20, 2011

Close to Home

Thursday after work I zipped over to get an oil change for the Jeep and kept my fingers crossed that I would be able to get a ride in before it started to rain. Brian got home a few minutes after I did and we decided if we were going to ride we had to do it in a hurry so we loaded up the bikes and peddled over to Lincoln Memorial. 5.4 miles later it started to rain so we hurried home for dinner. Lincoln had terrible storms last night with heavy wind and lightning and 2 inches of rainfall! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for enough dry weather to ride this afternoon.

Tomorrow morning as soon as we get off the bikes we'll leave for Denver to see the U2 concert at Mile High Stadium. I can hardly wait!!!!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Congestion

It is definitely spring in Lincoln! The trails have been congested almost every night this week. Last night we gulped down dinner and then hopped on the bikes for a quick 2 mile ride so that we could make it to LSE in time to set up the ice cream social before the concert. Our amazing band volunteers scooped 150+ servings of ice cream and everyone seemed to enjoy the evening.

We will be going to Denver to see U2 this weekend so we'll need to pack, ride, clean and with any luck be all the way ready to leave before we slip into bed tonight. To keep up with the 30 rides in 30 days we'll either ride an exercise bike at the motel on Saturday or we'll go to a local bike store in the Denver area and test ride a few things. Tomorrow I'll ride as soon as I get off work and we'll plan to ride together Sunday when we get home from the concert. In some ways May has been so busy I wish that we could have done the challenge in April. Although I definitely wouldn't have wanted to ride in spring snow!

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Going the Distance

Last night we rode to church for a pizza party and bell cleaning and then back home for a total of 17.4 miles. I got off the bike with some leg cramps that are still lingering this morning. Brian assures me I'll feel better soon, and I'm having Powerade with my breakfast =) This puts me over 200 miles for the season and at 150 miles in 17 days (that's an average of 8.8 miles a day)!

Brian and I talked about training last night and how I just have to keep building up miles on the bike. We had a killer hill on the ride last night and my legs were screaming so I suspect next week he'll have me doing lots of climbing!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Quick Six

Even though I planned for 10 miles last night life got in the way and we only made it 6 miles. We had some last minute band commitments to take care of but the school year is almost done =)

I'm feeling a little like the tin man today. My right knee is a bit stiff and sore, my left shoulder has been hurting for weeks now and feels upset today and my right elbow just feels a little creaky. Hopefully a long ride tonight will stretch everything out and not make it feel worse!!!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Alright Goldilocks, Get on the Bike

I think it was Tuesday and Wednesday last week that it was hot and I was whining, Thursday afternoon my ride was sunny and windy, but I was done in just about 2 miles since it was trying very hard to rain. In the evening we went to the DelRay Ballroom to watch all three LSE Jazz Band's perform and had a great time. We ran to the car in a giant thunderstorm at the end 0f the night and it never really warmed up all weekend.

Friday I rode right at 12:30 when I got home, there was sustained 20 mph wind and the temperature was hovering in the 50's, so six miles felt like more than enough. After riding I met with the band treasurer, mowed two yards, made dinner and took care of the grocery shopping.

Saturday was Erik's adventure to Kansas City with Wind Ensemble. He left home a few minutes before 3 and the bus left Lincoln at 3:30. The kids had a GREAT time but he was completely zapped. We had planned to ride 30 miles Saturday morning but temperatures were unfriendly at best. We got on the bikes at 43 degrees with 20 mph sustained wind and 6 miles in I convinced Brian I had all that I could take. 12 miles wasn't a bad ride, but it was a long way from 30.

Sunday morning was the last Sunday for bells at church until fall, we played a jazzed up version of He's Got the Whole World in his hands at the 8 and 9:30 services and Erik sang at 11. In the afternoon the sun came out and Brian got out the road bike for it's first trip of the year. We did 6 miles at a good speed and it looks like spring will be back soon. Tonight we're planning a slightly longer ride and Tuesday we'll try for 20, riding to church to clean bells and eat pizza and then back home.

My odometer for the season is about 177 miles, with 127 of those being ridden in the last 15 days. We are officially over the halfway mark for 30 rides in 30 days =)

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Stretching

Last night we rode the bride ride, in the wind. Brian had a long day at work and struggled a little getting his rythm. At one point in the ride I was a little ahead of him and stopped at a major intersection to wait. I looked back and saw a cyclist on a blue bike with black shorts and a blue shirt and figured it was my husband so I went ahead and crossed to wait for him on the other side. Turns out I was tricked =) Brian was still back on the trail having a drink and getting a bug off his sunglasses. I felt pretty silly but how many guys could be wearing the exact same outfit on one stretch of trail?

My left hamstring was tight when we got on the bike and this morning I've had a few calf cramps. It looks like another rainy day so we'll ride whenever there is a break in the clouds. Tonight is also the LSE Band Jazz performance at the Delray Ballroom so maybe I'll even get in some dancing!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

And it was HOT

Our week is PACKED full (I know how much this surprises all of you!) but we're still fitting in rides. Last night we got on the Rock Island Trail and did 8.4 miles. The riding temperature was 95, I don't want to know what the heat index was, 95 was plenty hot!

After the ride we ate dinner, went to bell practice and then went to A Little Knight Music at Kimball Hall featuring all of the vocal music groups from Southeast. Erik sang with Court Choir and Do Re Migos - his octet. They did a fantastic job and we still have the Lion Sleeps Tonight stuck in our heads this morning.

There is rain in the forecast for tonight, if it's dry we'll shoot for 10-12 miles, if it's wet I'm thinking 4 might be plenty, guess we'll just have to play it by ear.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

30 Rides

Today marks 10 days into the 30 rides in 30 days challenge!!!!

Friday we had a wonderful date afternoon. The wine from Sugar Clay was wonderful and I'm trying to plan our next trip to the vineyard! After we got home and had dinner with Erik and my mom (Garlic Chicken Stir Fry) Brian and I rode 6 miles and then drank lots of water and went to bed early.

Saturday morning we got up and did a little housework before leaving for the ride. We are trying to incorporate errands into our biking so that it can be transportation AND exercise. We left our house at 9:30 to meet the Raef's and a band fundraising representative at 10:30 and made excellent time (even with the trail construction). At the 12.5 mile turnaround we realized it was just over another mile to the Dairy Queen and it was pretty warm here Saturday so we decided to go for it. (I highly recommend the peanut butter sundae for a hot weekend ride treat!) By the time we got off the bikes we had traveled 27.6 miles. We spent the rest of the day on homework and had my mom and Carol over for dinner.

Sunday was Mother's Day and with 2 services at church, lunch at Brian's parents, dinner at our house and finals for both of us we rode our bikes to lunch for a total of 4.2 miles.

Monday was another busy day with band and finishing homework for these classes so we used our bikes to take the gas and cable bills to be paid for a total of 4.4 miles.

Hopefully we'll be able to sneak in a quick ride tonight, we have bell practice and Erik is performing with three different groups at a Little Knight Music at Kimball Hall, should be a wonderful evening!

Friday, May 6, 2011

Bonkers

Yuck! I bonked for the first time ever last night. Just felt like I was running out of steam. Fortunately it happened during the last 2 miles. We completed our 10 miles and learned that the Press Box Bar is just over ten miles round trip from our house by trail. Today is date afternoon, we're heading up to Council Bluffs for lunch at Quaker Steak and Lube and then to Thurman, Iowa to Sugar Clay Vineyards. We bought the deal of the day back in February and now it's time to go cash it in for the cheese plate and 3 bottles of wine. I can hardly wait!!!!

Tomorrow we're planning a 25 mile ride, 10-15 of that with the Raef's. Alvin and Emily have much longer legs than we do so hopefully we can keep up! So far our mileage for this week is 23.8 so with a short ride tonight and Sunday, plus the long ride Saturday we'll be over 50 miles this week. Kind of unbelieveable!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Soloist

This week has been swamped with extra responsibilities and challenges. Brian and our neighbor Tom finished the fence last night. Over the weekend they put in some stone pavers that are REALLY awesome so that project is finally done, and it only took 2 years =)

Their project was taking a little longer than anticipated so I took to the trails by myself for a 6 mile ride and learned that Shopko at 27th and Highway 2 (Jeff and Brian can tell you the store number) is almost exactly 3 miles from our house. When they got done Brian went out for a quick 1 mile ride by himself. Lincoln had 15-25 mph wind yesterday with gusts up to 40 mph. While I'm sure my opinion will change once we're into the heat of summer, for the time being, I'm tired of wind training!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Oh My Hammy!

Last night we did 2.8 miles riding the cemetery loop. I decided to pull out the cruiser Brian bought me last year and now I have a sore right hamstring. I'm sure it will get stretched out today and tonight's ride will help too. We're trying to figure out how far a route is for a beer ride =) Three days down, 27 to go. Last week's cumulative riding distance was 38 miles. This week should be around 50. I can definitely see 62 in our future!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Go Go Go

Yesterday after I left work it just seemed like a night full of running! I changed clothes and went to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned. Ran to my mom's and mowed the yard, came home and made dinner. Then mowed our yard. When Brian got home he mowed at his parents and did a round of fertilizer there. Once all the yards were taken care of we used our ride to run an errand at the mall. Total riding time was 34 minutes and we traveled 5.6 miles. It's hilly on the way there and after our long ride Sunday it was a "recovery" ride. I was more stiff than I would have liked but I made it through!

My goal by the end of the month is to not go below 8 miles per hour on the big hill by our house. It's good for training but it makes me feel like a total pansy!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Biking During the Marathon

Let me first begin by saying that after this weekend, I wish I had taken a day off to recover!!! Friday and Saturday were our neighborhood garage sales and we did GREAT! Saturday morning Erik had local piano competition and Saturday night he went to prom. He looked amazingly handsome and we'll get pictures up this week! Sunday morning he made it home about 5 and crashed out! Brian and I jumped on the bikes about 7:30 (it was only 34 degrees!!!!) and rode 20 miles. It was my first long ride of the year, and honestly, it went much better than expected. We finished in 2 hours and 3 minutes with an average ride time of 9.6 mph. It's not a great speed but I never got off the bike and I rode the trail up the dam for the first time! Sunday was also the Lincoln Marathon, with 10,000 competitors. We figured we were safe since they only run a very small section of trail and the rest is roads, but we got caught up in the course right by Holmes Lake. I'm SO glad that only happens once a year. Next weekend we are trying to decide if we want to ride trials again or if its time to venture out onto the highway.

Sunday afternoon Erik had his piano recital with a celebration of 25 years of private teaching for the piano studio. This morning Brian is running band, tux, and school errands on his way to work and the bank and then hopefully we'll get back to a normal schedule. Tonight we are planning a very short ride, probably 5 miles or less (maybe I'll take the opportunity to run up and pay the gas bill), mowing yards, fertilizing, doing homework, and I get to go to the dentist! Tomorrow isn't quite as bad!