Mon - bike commute -70 min

Tue - I had jury duty on Tuesday so I didn’t bike commute that day but rode for 60min.

Wed - bike commute 70 min & walk for 30 min

Thu - bike commute (90 min - I took the long way home)

Fri - bike commute (80 min - added a 1 mile hill) & walk for 30 min

Sat - rode for 90 minutes, about 1/2 on dirt.

Today was a day of rest and I went to a car show to take photos.

I got my commuter bike back  at the end of the week so I’m back to riding that this week.

Slowly but surely…

Yesterday, I decided to go check out Marshall Canyon with my camera so I went for a 90 min “hike” on the trail in there.  Lots of mountain bikers and a herd of high school cross country-ers.  Boy, did they make me feel old the way they were flying up and down the trail and the girls were so tiny.  I’ve never been that small.  But it was good morning.  I heard lots of birds but only saw a few. 

This morning, I rode for an hour on the unpaved portion of the Pacific Electric trail which is part of the Rails to Trails program and is only feet from my door.  The portion that is southwest of me is still dirt, more of a fire road than a trail.  But it was nice and quiet, just one walker and other than that I didn’t see anyone.  I only rode for an hour because I had some errands to do today.

This is the start of the trail.

This is the view looking back north toward home.

This is looking out over the valley.  There is still a lot of stuff in the air from the fires.

Looking south.

Later, still looking south.  Not a bad morning.

I bought a new mountain bike yesterday and today she took her maiden voyage!  Of course, it was mostly road and just a little dirt.

She’s an entry level because I’m not sure how fearless I’m going to be.  But I’ve always wanted to try it so I took the plunge.  I felt like a kid again as I rode this morning.  It was a beautiful morning, 72 degrees, slight breeze.  A great day to be outside.

So…I didn’t do anything on the 4th except go to a parade and walk around town taking photos and then played a little horseshoes in the annual horseshoe tournament at Mondi’s (one ringer! woo!).  I also didn’t do anything on Saturday (except short rides to test out different bikes).

But this morning, I walked for 30 min and then went for an hour ride.   More of the same this week. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

 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.