My New Backpack July 2, 2008
Posted by vollenda in : General, Bike Commuting , 1 comment so farOne of the reasons I haven’t wanted to get in the pool is my left shoulder. It’s been achy for so long, I can’t remember when it wasn’t. It started to feel better when I stopped riding. Then when I started up bike commuting again, it started up with the not-so-fun aching. I figured it must be because I use a messenger bag and it’s always over my left shoulder.
What are my choices? Let’s see…
I didn’t want to go the panniers route.
A rack wouldn’t be bad but still not perfect.
So I decided to go back to a backpack. I found this one by the Banjo Brothers and ordered it. It arrived today! Woo! And I used it on my ride home.
The two grey stripes are reflective stripes. And the little tab in the lower right is a tab for a bike light. It’s also comfy and roomy and waterproof. Ok, I know we don’t get much rain around here but it COULD rain. Some day.
By the way - I walked yesterday (with 30 sec run intervals) and today (just walk) and rode both days.
I’m feeling pretty good.
One Step At A Time June 30, 2008
Posted by vollenda in : General, Bike Commuting , 3 commentsI took Saturday off, but I didn’t sleep in. On Sunday, I went for a walk with some run intervals and then a 45 min ride.
This morning I walked for 30 min then rode to/from work. It was a little hot today, but not bad. That’s the plan for the rest of the week too. Slowly but surely, I’ll come around.
No plans for swimming yet. I have no desire to get in the pool right now. Not really sure what to do about that.
Week One June 27, 2008
Posted by vollenda in : General, Bike Commuting , 2 commentsMy first week back to bike commuting is done. The weather was great this week and I feel pretty good. Not too many sore parts. Just tight muscles which means I need to start stretching again. So sad how easily you, well I, fell out of the good life.
I didn’t walk yesterday. Today I walked with a good warm up and then 1 min walk/30 sec run intervals. I bought the book Running for Mortals which arrived today. I want THIS time to be the time that sticks with no injuries.
Guess what? I’m going to Maui! While I was away, I turned *gasp* 40. The family is all going to celebrate it in Maui in October. I arrive in Maui on October 11th! (yes, I just like saying it) I was thinking too bad I couldn’t pop over to Kona to see all hubbub. Weird to think I’ll be so close, yet so far away. 
But I’m going to Maui! So who can complain. 
Getting Back into Routine June 25, 2008
Posted by vollenda in : General, Pictures , add a commentI’ve been waking up at 5:30 lately and going to sleep earlier. I’m trying to get back into a routine with everything: sleep, exercise, eating, etc.
Yesterday was my first day back at bike commuting in a while. I missed it. I forgot how good it felt and how energizing it is. I’m not sore…much. Nor am I tired. It’s just a matter of getting used to it again. The weather has been much cooler than it was last week although we are getting some of the smoke from the fires up north so the air is a bit gucky.
I walked to the store this morning instead of my usual walk on the bike/hiking trail. I enjoy the trail more because of all the birds and the people walking their dogs. Mostly I see wrens, blue jays, mockingbirds, doves, hawks, and one little pair of Killdeers who are always scolding me.
It is awesome to hear them singing in the morning as the sun rises. This is a tower of hawks that live by me on the trail. I see them almost every morning. 
I’m back June 23, 2008
Posted by vollenda in : General, Bike Commuting , 5 commentsI think. I hope. I am. Amber brought me back from the great couch potato land. I have become a serious slug and I hate it.
But I’m starting over from scratch. From zip. No, I haven’t even been bike commuting…for months now. I haven’t run in months. I haven’t been swimming in even longer than that. Sigh. I’m not going to go into excuses since none of them are really worthy.
So, I’m taking it slow. Tomorrow, I start bike commuting again. I’ve been walking for the past two weeks and tomorrow I will also start to sprinkle in some runs so it will be mostly walk/little bit of running and gradually increasing the running portion.
That’s it for now. I just wanted to post some goals and throw them out here. So I will be accountable.
Bummed Knee September 9, 2007
Posted by vollenda in : General , 7 commentsKinda bummed this week because my left knee is bothering me this week. Luckily it was a cut back week (although when you aren’t doing very much it feels like cheating). I also cut out the Saturday run this week and the bike on the weekend. It feels stiff. Maybe it’s just old age? This is what I did this week:
Mon, Wed, Sat - Yoga/Pilates
Tue - 30 min run
Thu - 30 min run
Sun - 35 min run
Bike to work - Tue-Fri
Bike - 60 min on Monday
On a good note…I watched Tim and Bolder race IM Wisconsin today and that was very, very cool. Yeah Tim! Yeah Bolder! You guys rock!
I also went to the fair on Saturday and took lots of photos. Mostly of Barrel Races and the horse racing. You can see some over here on my photoblog.
Bike Trail Times September 2, 2007
Posted by vollenda in : General , 2 commentsBefore summer started, they said it was going to be a hot one. But it was actually pretty mild. Woudn’t you know, now that September is here, it’s blazing. Over a hundred this past week. Yesterday and today, 106+. The forecast for today said it could get to 112. Yikes. I’ve been drinking water like it’s going out of style. It wouldn’t be so bad if there wasn’t some mugginess to it. There was even lightning on Thursday’s run but I didn’t hear any thunder so I thought it was safe.
This week’s workouts -
Mon, Wed, Fri- Yoga/Pilates
Tue - 30 min run
Thu - 45 min run
Sat - 30 min run w/a 60 min ride after
Sun - 45 min run w/ a 60 min ride after
Bike to work - Mon-Fri
Both weekend rides and all runs on the new bike trail. It has almost the same feel as the river ride. Except for the underpasses. Oh yeah, and no river. Other than that, it’s pretty nice. These photos are from the “end”. Which is just the end of the (mostly) completed part.
Running trail is starting on the right (packed dirt). The bike path is on the left (paved). It’s kind of nice that the runners & cyclists don’t have to worry about each other.
The view looking south.
The old side.
And the view looking north. Bummer about the new houses, huh? Spoiling the view. Sigh.
Patience August 26, 2007
Posted by vollenda in : General , 7 commentsNo aches and pains to speak of. Increases are working well for me. I feel like I could make a big jump but I’m not going to. Was checking on Kylie & Mike & BBB & the others through out the day. Wish I was there because Ironmanlive really sucks. But also, I wish I was there crossing the line.
This week’s workouts - seem so piddly…
Mon, Wed, Sat - Yoga/Pilates
Tue - 30 min run
Thu - 35 min run
Sat - 30 min run
Sun - 43 min run w/ a 50 min ride after - reverse brick
Bike to work - Mon-Fri
Must have patience with myself. I’ll get there.
Summer Days August 19, 2007
Posted by vollenda in : General , 2 comments
But of course, I’m not lazying about. And the best part is that I don’t want to.
Last week was pretty good. All planned workouts in, 10% increase on the previous week with the running.
Mon, Wed, Sat - Yoga/Pilates
Tue - 30 min run
Thu - 30 min run
Sat - 30 min run
Sun - 35 min run
Bike to work - Mon-Fri
This week I want to add a bike on the weekend.
The Path to Eugene, Oregon? August 12, 2007
Posted by vollenda in : General , 4 commentsAnyone ever been to Eugene, Oregon?
This week was pretty good. I successfully hit all work outs as planned:
Yoga/Pilates - Mon, Wed, Sat
Running - Tues (25min), Thu (30min, Sat (25 min), Sun (35 min)
Bike to work - Monday-Friday
I’m starting to feel a little lighter so I might have lost a tiny bit of weight or at least begun to tone up. Which I can feel in my clothes. Haven’t confirmed with the scale because it’s currently lifeless and I have no urge to resucitate it yet. I should.
So running is going great. Everything feels good, better than I expected. So much so that I’m even revisiting a goal that’s been swirling in the back of my head for a while - a marathon before I turn 40. I know what you’re thinking…”what happened to her just enjoying running?”. I’ve asked myself the same question. I don’t know why 40 is the magic number for me. I know there will be many running years after that. I think I picked 40 because it was close (WAY too close now, gasp!). It helps me to have finite goal to reach and just saying I’m going to run a marathon leaves it open to when and that makes it more vague? Don’t you think?
I’ve been looking at marathons close to my birthday next year. To sort of make it a birthday present trip/marathon. I want it to be one some place far away, yet not too far. Since I may be going on a cruise for my birthday too. Anyway, I saw there there is one in Eugene the first weekend in May. Oregon has always been high on my list of places to visit and I like that Eugene is a bike town. It would be a bonus to do some photography exploring around there.
It’s not definite yet, of course. I’ll have to see how the running goes as I continue to increase but I think it’s enough away that I’ll be able to work up to it slowly. Slow being the key word right now.
P.S. This is the bike path/trail I’ve been running on. Before and during construction. Which is still ongoing. It’s supposed to go for almost 30 miles, if I remember correctly. Most sections will have a seperate bike (paved) and trail (dirt) paths which is nice.
I’ll miss the untouched, naturalness it used to have.
This is the section right above where I live. I’m hoping they’ll add the dirt trail to it still.
One block over and the bike path splits. You can see the dirt trail on the right edge.
It’s not exactly open yet, but it’s getting tons of use.