Fitness Training News

Monday, March 17, 2008

Snow in Boulder. It just is-go and enjoy it!

It snowed a lot last night. Good thing it was today, because I needed a few days off from training. Not that I can't take a day off when it's warm and sunny, but a snow day doesn't hurt and it's good for the ground, trees, and water levels.

I've been riding my bike for most of my life. I started racing when I was about 27 and, yes, DV8, I am close to 50. Not that close, but close enough. Close enough that I can be proud that I've stayed riding my bike for a very long time. Proud that I have good genetics and good training in these legs, heart and lungs.

I started riding because it was fun and a good way to stay in shape. I started racing to see where my very competitive nature could take me. I decided to stop racing (for a while, at least) in order to step back from the structure but continue to train as if I was still racing-just in case that cool race crosses my radar.

I've been able to travel all over the world, win a lot, and learn a lot. I even came back after pretty severe injuries. broken ankle, broken wrist, broken nose, cheek, elbow and foot-all from one race, dislocated shoulder, herniated discs, and more. It sucks to have to rehab while still trying to maintain training. It sucks to be derailed from the things you love. But you, at least I did, always learn from an injury and you always find a way to come back.

I ride because I love it. I don't care if I ride the same route time and time again. I ride because its' fun. It doesn't bother me if the temperatures are below 40, even 30. I rode this winter when it was in the 20s. I'll ride in rain and wind and snow. I raced in all of these conditions, too. I've never stopped doing something fun because the weather wasn't what I wanted it to be. Don't get me wrong. I like 75 degrees and sunny. But I'm not staying home because the weather wasn't perfect. In fact, when I lived in Portland, I'd tell my family (living in Florida) that it didn't rain that much. too funny-it rains all of the time in Portland. But I rode, hiked, and climbed in all weather conditions. Life it too short.

I love racing, touring and commuting. Each gave me (and gives me) something different. All good and all experiences. I love road and mountain. Never done track.

I think I like moving and riding is moving. Hiking is too, I guess. Climbing-well, more slowly. I love hiking my dogs and spending time with Steve. I love being in the mountains most. Desert's good but I really like the hills and mountains.

Not sure why I got on this tangent. Maybe because I hear about people derailed from riding, racing, hiking or something else. Maybe because people think they have to be the best at a sport to really love it. That conditions have to be perfect in order to be the best at something. Nope, ya just need to like it. Maybe I look at it like life. It just is-go and enjoy it. Maybe that's a better slogan than -"just do it". How about it?

And here I was going to write about how I rode over 100 miles this weekend. That I feel great and had great friends and Steve to ride with this weekend. That my dogs loved the hikes we went on. That I find it funny that the warm ups for my rides are hiking my dogs in the mornings. Well, guess that's for another day.

I do want to remember to thank Tony Brooks, from New Zealand. He wrote me the kindest email today about training for a fast century in an article in a magazine he read that I wrote. Way to go Tony-you rock! # posted by Michelle Grainger @ 10:10 PM 0 Comments

Sunday, March 16, 2008

rode and snowed

The past week has been a buy one. With my vertigo gone, I was able to take long hikes with the Girls. Steve, the Girls, and I found a few more trails. A good thing as there is still a lot of grading going on around "our" trails. Don't think that will change , as the county, the fire department and land owners feel its' progress. Better to save the structures in case of fires.

Speaking of fires, someone has left cigarette butts on the trails, this past week. I think the landowner and dog shelter owners have been hiking the trails and it is not a good sign that the butts are left behind. First time in 18 years I've seen a cigarette butt on the trails near the house. Need to find out if it is the new land and home owner up near Sunshine. Can't have the woods on fire.

I logged a little over 200 miles this week. It shows. I'm dog tired. today's ride was a little over 50 and my quads screamed every little hill. Need a couple of days to recoup.

The views from the ride today. About 4 hours later, it snowed.

Two beds are better then one. # posted by Michelle Grainger @ 11:30 PM 0 Comments

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Pink Poodle Day Nope, no photos of Boulder's famous pink poodle. Give me a break. Maybe some folks need to ride their bike more often, instead of telling others what they can and cannot do.

While the pink poodle was strutt'en her stuff around town, spreading the good word about breast cancer awareness, the Girls and I (and not pink hubby) went hiking in the woods at the hood (tan and not pink, but may like that coat color). The hike in the hood woods was awesome. Warm and sunny and green and tan and all the other cool colors of early spring.

L-Girl, aka Newbie, stayed close to us on the trail. She preferred not to get her feet dirty today, or maybe she was trying to tell us she wanted a new hair color. Gladly, I'd say. I don't like the taste of beets but I bet they make a great hair color.

Special-K, aka, Wiggins, had fun running all around (woops, another Boulder no no) and explored bunny hopeful holes and other critter hood hangouts. Never very far, just far enough away to avoid any flying pink beet juice. Of course, always close enough for a quick, studious, instantaneous recalls. She IS very good like that. I think she actually likes to stay just far enough off the trail to think she's more bold than L-Girl.

After the most awesome hike in the hooded woods, we were able to sneak in an hour ride. Well, an hour and 15. Just Long Neva, with a detour through North Boulder. A nice easy ride- wattage around 150.

After the most excellent warm and sunny quick ride-it was off to work. Life is good, Day Light Saving Time is here (or maybe un-here), and Spring is around the corner. # posted by Michelle Grainger @ 10:22 PM 0 Comments

Monday, March 10, 2008

Miles miles and then some

I've been trying to ride as much as possible. I'm riding about 175-200 miles a week. Now that the weather is nice, I'm off the trainer and on the roads. The coldest ride I've done was 24 degrees, but not too bad because it was sunny. It all depends on how much work I have but I've been able to do a lot of 50 mile rides. The highest ride at 65 miles. It's really nice now to have longer days and warmer sun.

I've been riding to get ready for the Women's Pac Tour Arizona riding Camp. That's the second week of April and should be loads of fun.

Work is starting to calm down as I have two clients out of the country for a month. That, of course, frees up time to hike the Girls and ride with Steve.

Only other plans after camp is a Fleche. In a flèche, club members form a team (of 3-5 riders), design a route of at least 360km (224 miles), and complete it in 24 hours -- riding the final 25km (15 miles) within the final 2 hours of the 24. Un peu d'histoire - "Flèche" is the French word for "arrow" -- this ride format is based upon the French Flèche Vélocio, where teams plot out point-to-point courses which converge, like arrows, upon a common bullseye. The epitome is the Concentration Pascale de Provence (Easter Rallye of Provence) where teams converge upon the Riviera (Côte d'Azur) city of Nice on the morning of Easter Sunday.

As US participants in a "winter" stae, we are allowed to do out Fleche in May. This should be a blast.

No other plans yet. # posted by Michelle Grainger @ 11:09 PM 0 Comments

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