Find a Friend and RIDE

So how have things been going ladies?  How have your group rides been?  Have you had several people show up?  Do you need to start a group ride?  What a great way to keep you motivated through the summer. . .riding with a group/club.  It is also a great way to meet new and exciting women in your area.    So how do you start a club ride?  Let's talk.

CLUB RIDE:  Bicycle clubs provide women information on new places to ride, a body of like-minded women to ride with, a source of answers to cycling(and life) questions and a united front to help promote bicycling.

So how cool is that?  All you need to do is start by calling some close friends and inviting them on one of your favorite rides.  Usually the word will spread like wildfire, and the next time you go out to ride you will be surprised at how many new women have come to join in the fun. What a great way to meet new people.   

You can be a catalyst to the process by contacting interested people, distributing leaflets (usually where there are concentrations of cyclists) and posting notices (physical and cyber) to let people know what is happening.

It might be fun to meet together (with food) of course beforehand.  Talk about (with food) some fun rides that you would like to do for the year.  Share your goals (with food) for the season. What a funner way to spend a couple hours.  Good friends, good food! 

My good friend Beth has a true love for cycling.  Everywhere she goes she shares that love with other women.  She pretty much has cycling written on her forehead. 

So, women in my neck of the woods -

we will continue to have our weekly rides

every Tuesday evening at 6:00pm. 

A Little Slack

So I have been getting after Brian lately for not updating his Kelson blog. Why have a blog if you're not going to ever update it?  Well, come to find out - he has been a little bit busy.  I went to check on him to make sure he wasn't out fishing on such a nice day, and this is what I found.

Freak, I guess

I'll give the poor guy some slack.

oh and take the rest of the day off to go fishing.
xoxo your wife

Back in the Saddle Again

It honestly makes me hurt just looking at Stephs feet.  How many miles have you pounded out this season?  How many Advil have you taken?  I am amazed at the mental power many of you have just being able to run and bike such amazing distances.  You ladies inspire me each and every day. 

Back in the Saddle Again - Featured Writer Stephanie Hancock

Three weeks ago I finished a 20 mile run by stepping wrong and twisting my back just around the corner from my house. Then I spent the morning washing floors, vacuuming, and cleaning bathrooms. My back took issue with that, and by the time I was done I was sweating - not from housework, but from back pain. I learned my lesson: housework is evil.

Over the next two weeks I hobbled through two uninspiring runs and two pointless swims. I found myself at the chiropractor on an almost daily basis. He was very helpful, but there was no quick fix. I went to a physical therapist a couple of times which was awesome. He found out things that were wrong with me that I didn't know about. And those things all tied into other things (muscles) which pulled me forward and to the right and ... well, let's just say there was a lot of work to be done.

My second marathon of the season was just days away when I went to the physical therapist again. He refused to give me the go-ahead to run. I begged, I cajoled, I bribed, but he wouldn't say yes. No running. Dang it. So I tried something else. Housework, I said, really should be put on my do-not-do list. He refused to say "No housework." I begged, I cajoled, I bribed, but he wouldn't say no. No getting out of housework. Dang it. I thought about grabbing some letterhead and forging my own doctor's note excusing me from vacuuming, but my conscience overrode my good idea.
So with housework in my future and running not in that future, I walked out of the office a very gloomy lady. When I went to pick up my race packet the day before the race, I mumbled the news that I wouldn't be running. Ugh.

Well, they said, we can transfer your registration to next year. Shock! You mean all was not lost, just merely delayed!? It was like a lightbulb turned on. I could still do it - just later! And, they said, you could stand at the finish line and hand out finisher's medals. Delight! I could still be part of the race-day atmosphere! Things weren't how I'd planned them, but this new path I was taking wasn't so bad after all.

One week ago now, the race was held, and I was there, handing out medals to half-marathon and full-marathon runners. The coolest part was placing the medal over a friend's head, welcoming in another friend, and getting a big hug from yet another running friend. As I watched the runners come in I knew they had worked hard and it was gratifying to finish. I also knew that I had worked hard, but although I wasn't running I was grateful to be there. Besides, the pain on their faces made me think about how much more fun I was having at that moment than they were. It was a great way to spend a Saturday morning. But of course, when I got home, housework was waiting for me.
I should have stayed at the race.
It's been three weeks now since my injury. Friday my Physical Therapist sort of said I sort of could try a run. So I sort of covered three miles by walking, jogging, stopping to stretch, and repeating. I was sort of happy. It would've been much nicer if it hadn't hurt at all, but it didn't hurt too much. I ran the last 1/4 mile barefoot, which made my back actually feel better than ever (probably because I was so focused on every little rock I stepped on, wincing at my tender feet instead of my tender back).
While I struggled with three miles Saturday I couldn't help remember almost exactly one year ago struggling with my first run after a tough miscarriage.  I know this is a story many women can tell, and it always amazes me what strong, tough, and resilient creatures women are.  We make it through one pain or heartache or another, and keep on moving.  Running was my out, my way of dealing with the trauma, and I wanted my body to be strong again.  But with three miles being almost insurmountable a year ago, I thought I'd never be able to do a marathon again. But work and patience gets you far. This spring I've run marathon distances at least four times, with at least that many 20+ mile training runs. Now once again, I'll have to work and be patient and get through another setback. Every time I have a setback, I lag a little, then pick myself up, and finally get going again, all the while singing to myself, "Back in the saddle again..."

Speaking of saddles, with this injury I haven't even been able to bike outside - I can only bike sitting straight up. My bike trainer has been my best friend lately. Hooray for cross-training! And, interestingly, although walking and running hurt, I can go up and down stairs without pain. So I've been climbing up and down the local university's stadium stairs. I've spent only about 30 minutes on the stadium each time, but HOLY COW! There have only been two other times in my life that I've been so sore - the first time up the Grand Teton (an entire day) and my first marathon (4+ hours). Thirty minutes on the stadium is awesome. I LOVE the soreness. It means I found a weak spot that I can work on.
Swimming, which I generally love, hasn't saved my sanity. My Physical Therapist said to avoid the front strokes (I always do the front crawl) and to do backstroke instead. B-O-R-I-N-G. And, for me at least, dangerous. I don't swim very straight, I splash water up into my nose, and I hit my head on the edge of the pool. Hmm, I guess there's something else to work on.
By the way, this past Saturday afternoon after my sort-of-3-mile-run, while I was washing the floors with the hard-floor washer/scrubber/vacuum thing, I noticed something: it wasn't sucking up the dirt. I took it apart and guess what? It's broken. Hee-hee. :) Until my husband fixes it, I've got my excuse from at least part of the housework. (I think I'll hide it from him). Besides, when I'm on the trainer or at the stadium or swimming in the water, I don't see the spots on the floor anyway.  I only see that I'm recovering...that I'm back in the saddle again.

New Passion

Alright, so I have been a little bit out of the loop lately.  I guess that is what THREE busy boys will do to you during summer.  We have just been having a blast together, but when it comes to getting any work done . . . . it's just not happening.  We just finished baseball season - full time job in itself.  I have also been pursuing a new passion that has kept me extremely busy. 

I had to share with you some of the pics from my last photo shoot. 

My mom and I had such a blast. 

These girls were just adorable. 

All I do is eat, sleep, and breathe photography.  My amazing mother is a photographer.  My cool dude brother is a photographer.  So, I guess that is just the thing to do . . . right?  Well, for now I am having a blast!  That's what life is all about.  Living and loving every day. 

Chewy Granola

When it comes to hiking, I LOVE the snacks.  My favorite snack would have to be chewy granola (with lots and lots of m&m's and nuts - shhhh don't tell).  I LOVE the fact that you can just grab a handful and go.  Or just grab a handful and sit.  It also works well to throw a handful or two in your jersey pocket for those long or short bike rides.  Just don't forget the water bottle.   

Chewy Granola Recipe

INGREDIENTS

•1/2 cup sesame seeds

•1/2 cup almond slivers

•1/2 cup sunflower seeds

•1/2 cup dried cranberries

•1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

•1/2 cup flour

•1/2 cup dry milk powder

•4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted or at least softened

•2 tablespoons raw organic coconut oil

•2 tablespoons safflower oil

•2/3 cup honey

•2 1/2 cup oats 

•pinch of sea salt

Preheat oven to 275.

Mix all ingredients until well integrated.

Pour granola mixture onto a baking sheet. Don't spread it out too much, keep it clumped together near the center of the pan. (I put my oven rack close to the top of the oven so that the bottom doesn't brown too quickly.) Bake for 20 minutes.

Then take out granola, mix and spread out more evenly over the entire baking pan. But don't break up the clumps too much, we want those chewy clusters later. Bake another 8-10 minutes, mix granola again to insure even browning.

Bake 8 -10 more minutes and you should be ready. The granola should be only golden brown, not too dark. Try to wait until it is cooled before indulging in a bowl. As the granola cools its wonderful texture emerges, becoming chewy and delicious.

If you are willing to part with a little granola,

pack up a jar or two and share it with all of your cycling friends.

BE THANKFUL

So, I woke up feeling pretty amazing today. . . . until I got a call from my mother saying that my brother Cortney had been hit by a car while riding his motorcycle home late last night.  How can this be?  How crappy of luck can one kid have?  Now, many of you know Cortney and know that he lives for the outdoors and his family.  He is such an amazing person.  Actually, he must be some kind of angel because he really shouldn't be alive at all - several times over.

It makes me think of just how lucky yet ungreatful I am.  It seems that I often complain about the weather.  If it's raining - too much rain.  If it's snowing - too cold.  If it's blowing - way too windy.  It also seems like I often complain about not being in top shape.

Why do we do this?  Why aren't we just satisfied with the conditions or body we have?  Why does it take a death or accident to realize that we haven't said "I LOVE YOU" in a really long time?

  

So, today I am thankful. 

Thankful for my life.

Thankful for my healthy body.

Thankful for my family.

Thankful for my brother.

Thankful for the Gospel.

So tomorrow, wake up - feel the fresh air on your face, and appreciate life.  No matter what the weather. No matter how those jeans are fitting.  Say I LOVE you to those who walk out the door.  Because you just never know if you will get a second chance.

NEW ADDICTION - Jennica Hirrlinger

It wasn't until I graduated from High School (many, many years ago) that I fell in love with the sport of rock climbing.  We traveled a half hour each way to get to some kind of rock that was climbable.  Yeah, it was an everyday occurance that I thrived on.  We even ended up building a rock wall in our downtown bike shop.  It was an addiction.  A good addiction.

I love hearing about so many of you and your cross training programs.  Sometimes life makes you want to get off the bike for a while, take off those running shoes and try something new.  I get chills when I think about climbing.  It always really makes me smile.
 

NEW ADDICTION - Jennica Hirllinger

I once ran behind my friend Mohammed on the sand dunes. Mohammed is a nomad from the Sahara and a wicked fast runner. He and his brother have been competing in and often winning a 6 day stage race called the Marathon d' Sable and he is, quite literally, at home on the sand. Because of his lifestyle, Mohammed weighs about 90 lbs and crosses the dunes leaving hardly any foot prints. He can read the sand like a map and knows how to cover ground quickly. It's amazing to watch and try to figure out how he does it.

I have been a little burned out on running and training lately. Actually, a lot burned out and I've been searching for ways to get a good workout and to occupy me enough that I don't just sit on the couch and eat reese's peanut butter cups because doing so has caused me to gain about 15 lbs and I'm starting to get anxious about the fact that my daily wardrobe consists scrubs or pajamas and even those are beginning to get a little snug.

I've been getting into rock climbing over the last couple of months and I've spent a few days bouldering. I haven't climbed very much but it's been enough to wedge a new obsession into my brain. I find it super challenging and I am inspired by watching talented climbers make sense of the giant masses of rock littered near the old Teton Dam Site. I spent part of Memorial day with Dean and Heather and found myself feeling an odd sense of polarity. On one hand, I felt like an oaf following Heather on these routes. Much like Mohammed in the sand, Heather leaves hardly a footprint. I could rarely get passed the first move and I still have not learned the language...But on the opposite side...I felt like I belong. It felt good to be there, looking at rocks and testing those foot holds. It feels like with time, and good friends to learn from, I could get better and that's exciting to me.

I have a ton of fear to overcome, a lot to learn about how to move my body efficiently, and I'm not "rock climbing strong" yet but I am loving it. The diversion from pounding the pavement is nice right now and it feels like just what I need to direct my attention away from the Reese's. I do have a problem though, I'm dreaming about routes attempted and not yet conquered. Dean said that means it's an addiction.

If that's true, save the intervention folks, I don't want to be cured.

Map my RIDE

Have you recovered from the weekend? 

Wowsers!

 Good times. . . . good times!

So, I found this really cool website that I think many of you are already aware of.  I however, was not aware of it until recently.  My brother-in-law was showing it to me and I thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread.  It lets you plot your bike rides over mountains (view elevation), through the woods (topo maps), and speeding through the city (street level views) with just a few mouse clicks. Once your cycling map is complete you can quickly view it in 3D, satellite form, or share it with friends.   How totally cool is that?  Here is a ride that Brian and I mapped out over the weekend.  Give it a try.

This could seriously get addicting.