I only got in a very slow 5 mile ride today. I might go out in a bit for another ride, but I took my 9yr old daughter with me to some trails that I found today and we explored there a bit, not very long trails...we managed to ride about half a mile through the woods. So we rode to the beach and stayed there a bit. Not long enough, but quality time with my daughter!

Kim, I have no idea yet what kind of bike I'm going to get. Hubby and I just recently started talking about getting road bikes. We're getting tired of being passed on the bike trail by "bike gangs" on road bikes! Though I've noticed they don't seem to pass us as quickly as before, because we're faster now. So you may see me on the other site, though I will probably just lurk for a while.

And Kim and Courtnie, a "short" ride is better than no ride. Which will be me (no ride) until the weekend. Need to start working on swimming and maybe running. Will probably do that during the week and ride on weekends.

Sherry - swimming would be so nice! I used to swim like 6 days a week, I was on a local team. It was soo fun! But I partly blame my HUGE calf muscles on that, and I mean HUGE! At least they are all muscle, the only non-fat area of my body, lol. I hope I can get in lots of swimming this year.

I did 33 km this morning weeeee

"Janis, I bet the parade miles do add up! How many parades do you do a year? That would be a fun way to get exercise!"

60+ parades & performances a year with this group (whew!) It would be more fun if some of the parades weren't 90 degrees while wearing 3 layers of wool and a polyester "powdered" wig. It gets kinda hot. I've been doing it for 20 years now. Parade folk are one step up from Carnies.

After the 2 parades on Monday, we went back to the Director's house for a picnic. They told us we'd have a meeting first thing, so go their directly after the parade (they live in the same town as the parade). So, I went directly after the parade. 4 hours later, we got to the meeting part. If I had known it would be that long, I would've gone home and rode my bike there, as it's sort of along the bike trail, and I've done it before. (Albeit it's a 30 mile round-trip). But, I was feeling energized, and it was a beautiful day. A bit hot, but I was already sweaty from the parades, so I wouldn't have cared so much.

I did get in a lousy 5.5 miles on Sunday, though. After several hours of homework, I needed a break, and didn't have anything to eat at home, so my boyfriend & I went out to a restaurant to eat. However, I rode my bike and met up with him there. Not a long ride, but it was nice, because it was cooler and towards sundown. It's actually the toughest half of my ride to work, but it seemed really easy. Probably because I didn't have my 25 lbs of backpack filled with laptop and school books on me.

When the bike store suggested getting a rack for the back of my bike, I thought it was a bit excessive, but they're right - in the summer, you don't want stuff sticking to your back. Ew. And you don't feel as gross after riding if your shirt isn't sticking to you.

Glad to see everyone's out there working to catch up! I'll need to get going if I'm going to stay ahead!

--Janis

Got in 19.1 miles today. Nice, brisk ride for me! I upped my avg speed a good bit. It was 13 for the first 10 miles, but overall it was 12.6...not too bad considering I've been doing 10-11.5 or so. I've found the best route for me to take most days! Not too hilly, but not totally flat either!

Janis, wow...lots of walking through the year! I bet your legs are in great shape! HEHE...I bet it does make a difference riding with about 25lbs on your back vs nothing! Hey, least that's more calories you're burning everyday, huh? I must be odd because I love to feel sweaty. I guess not the feeling itself, but the...I dunno, the fact that I've worked up a REAL sweat! I just can't get over the fact of what I'm doing lately with the biking...lol. I don't like the sweaty feeling of the backpack though...I can't wait to put water bottle cages and a seat bag on my bike so I don't have to carry the backpack for my cash, water, and cell phone.

Courtnie, your legs sound like mine. My legs are my favorite part of my body though, because they're muscular and powerful...do you feel the same way? I mean, they'll never be lean and girlie, but they look like...well, a cyclists or runners legs!

sf40 (Sherry?), keep me posted on what kinda bike you're gonna get! I'm researching now. Won't even let myself walk into the bike shop though. I know me, I'll spot 'the bike', pitch a fit and make hubby buy it for me, and then feel bad because I didn't wait to research and didn't buy it myself! If I don't get this job, I'll let him buy it...lol.

Know what you mean about getting passed by roadies! I hate it too. One scared the mess outta me the other day! I was riding along, at the end of 16 miles, so I was riding sorta slow to cool down before I got off the bike....zoned out, looking from the road in front of me to the trees beside me...he came up behind me and spoke 'how ya doin' to let me know he was there and I jumped a MILE! I must have gasped or something cause he slowed and looked at me...we both laughed after we realized what was going on. I'm just glad to see friendly roadie's around here and not bike snobs!

Wow...that was a long post...lol...not wanting to go to bed!

Hope everyone is doing great!


Kim

I want nice girly legs But hey, guess I can't have it all. The tops are flaby, least I could lost some there and tone them up. It is just hard to buy pants, lots of times they are too tight in my calfs! So I have to get like super flare.

I did 32km today. And I am getting sick I might have to skip tomorrow and sleep in... but then I feel guilty all day!

Courtnie, I'll be right there with ya on the guilty thing! I got in a sad lil 6 mile ride today, and just gave up! Something happened with my gears (think my mind just wasn't connecting what I was doing really) and I hit my knee on the top tube of the bike, so I turned around and went home!

Was feeling not quite right when I left for the ride, but pushed myself to go...now I'm making myself take at least a day off riding, see if I can get to feeling better with a good rest!

So, yeah, I'll be sleeping in and feeling guilty right along with you tomorrow! Not sick though, and I hope your day of rest makes you feel better! Don't push yourself too hard! Rest when you're tired.

Hope everyone is doing well!

I didn't sleep in - got 25km in Still sick tho - sore throat is gone but I am all stuffed up.

Courtnie, I reallyhope you're feeling better soon! Seems like a rough time of year. My hubby was sick a week or so ago. Allergies maybe? Good to hear that your sore throat is gone though!

I didn't ride today, just couldn't make myself get out there for some reason. Will tomorrow though!

I figure I got my exercise today...had to go grocery shopping with my 3yr old...that's always fun...lol. Get a workout from putting stuff back on the shelf as fast as she can put it in the cart!

I'm starving tonight! I'm gonna have to go find something relatively healthy to snack on!!

Kim

Starting to feel better... thankfully. I know it is a cold and it sucks because my grandmother is in the hospital and I don't want to go visit until I am better. She is not doing very well at all and if I got her sick... well I don't even want to think about it.

I am dead tired and just wanted to sleep! I got in 33.80km this morning - phew- but not I am at work counting my 8 hours left until I can go home

Hope you gals are feeling better! From one who has over-trained and gotten sick because of it, take the time you need to get rested and recovered. You will be surprised to find that you maintain your strength and endurance.

Good news -- got the job that I recently interviewed for and really want. Start next Wednesday so I've been busy adding to and updating my working wardrobe. I can now seriously research a road bike, so Kim I'll let you know what I find out. Though it might be a couple of weeks, don't know how busy I'll be at work.

We got in a short ride today, only 13 miles, but I'm glad we didn't go any farther because it's so hot and sticky. We were drenched at the end of the ride. Ick. Some sweat is ok, but being soaked is a bit too much. We are riding along the beach tomorrow and plan an earlier start in an attempt to beat the heat.

Courtnie, glad to hear you're feeling better! I hate to hear that about your grandmother...hope she's better soon! Sending good thoughts!

Sherry, congrats on the job!!!! What are you gonna be doing? I still haven't been called for my job. Guess I'm not getting it, although the guy said that I pretty much had it! It was cashiering at Walmart on 3rd shift, good pay...I called last week to find out what was going on, since he said he'd call me at the beginning of that week and the lady said they were waiting on my background check to come in and they'd call. Still no call I know my background check and drug test was clean! Can't figure out why they wouldn't hire me. Oh well, I can try elsewhere! Looks like for 3rd shift they'd take whoever they could...it's not a shift that many people ASK for, ya know?

No riding in the last 2 days here! As soon as I started to go yesterday (literally, was putting my backpack on to walk out) it started raining! Could have been a good thing though, there was a plane crash right where I ride around the time I was going to ride. Hoping that I'll get to ride tomorrow....rain rain go away!

Kim

That is one good thing about using an exercise bike! No worries about rain! I got in 31km yesterday. I will ride later today I am sure. Still sick now with an AWEFUL headache. Thank god it hasn't started yet today but I am sure it is coming

Thanks, Kim. First let me warn you that I am a geek. I will be working as a consultant for a consulting firm that provides land use, real estate, and environmental services to public agencies and private companies. I'm really excited by the work because it's multi-dimensional and very interesting. And the company seems fabulous and I think it will be a perfect fit for me in terms of work-life balance.

Regarding Wal-Mart, you should call again until they tell you no. Be nice about it, not a pest; sometimes people get busy with other things and hiring decisions might take a temporary back seat. Also shows you have initiative! Good luck!!

Hope the rain goes away and you can ride again soon. And hope no one was seriously injured in that plane crash. Good thing you weren't around when it happened!

Courtnie, hope you and your grandmother feel better soon.

We got up early this morning and rode 10 miles along the beach. Is supposed to even hotter today and is very sticky. I'm really excited because I was riding up a hill and a chick on a road bike was not able to pass me! Yay! Someone mentioned big, powerful thighs ... Well I have them too and they sure come in handy at times like that. Though I wish they weren't quite so huge and flabby at the top that they rub together when I walk. Sigh.

I'll try to peek in during the week but don't have any rides planned until next weekend and will be busy with the new job. Hope everyone has a great week!

Still no ride...lol. I think I overdid it last week and I just keep looking at the bike knowing that I need to ride and I want to ride, but can't make myself do it! Sad. I am going to TRY to run again though, and I'm fixin to start with jogging in place here in the living room in a few. I was gonna go around the block tonight, but sat here till too late and hubby didn't want me out with him sleeping and if something happened he wouldn't know I wasn't home till morning.

Good luck with that job! Sounds interesting. I was just having a pity party a bit ago because I didn't finish high school and college and all that, knowing I had potential and I had to rely on Walmart for a job! Now I see nothing wrong with working at jobs like this (I waitressed at a Waffle House for a few years and I'd go back to that job in a MINUTE...it was fun, I made good money and was a good waitress and gave people a smile alot of times when they needed it) but I wish I could get a higher level job. Maybe one of these days I'll get back to school! I guess I'm blessed that I don't have to work, and that I'm looking for a job for extra money...so many others have to have 2 parents working to make ends meet.

This has turned into too much huh? LOL.

Courtnie, I think I'd ride all of 10 minutes on a stationary! I've got an elliptical machine and I just can't make myself use it on a regular basis because of the boredom factor! I need to though..it's great cardio! It's a great thing though that you can deal with it! Do you read or watch tv or something while on it?

Hope your grandmother is improving!

Yes, sadly, 2 people died in the plane crash, but 2 people walked away. They were landing at our tiny airport. I feel awful for their families.

Hope everyone is doing well! I'm off to make myself jog in place! LOL.

Kim