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Meet Abby

June 26, 2010 by heatherdaniel

I’ve wanted a dog for a long time, but the situation was never right. My apartment was too small, my hours were too long, and the cost seemed too high.  But folks,  that has all changed. I recently moved into  a new, bigger apartment. Unlike my previous studio, this apartment has a bedroom and a bathroom with a tub that doesn’t clog every 20 seconds.  Now when I’m ready to go to bed I have to go to an entirely different room. I feel so adult-like. The best feature about my apartment has nothing to do with the apartment itself. Located 92 seconds from my sofa is the best running haven in all of Portland – a gigantic 100+ acre forest with over 50 miles of running trails.  It’s like having Disneyland in your backyard. Except better.

Then last week I met a dog. Well, not just any dog. This dog

Abby the Super Dog

Abigail is an Oregon Humane Society rescue dog and was in foster care at a local dog boarding/day care facility. I decided it wouldn’t hurt to have a look. What was the worst that could happen? It’s not like I’d immediately swoon over her cuteness or anything, right? It wasn’t like I’d actually get her, right?  I mean, she seemed so small and I figured I’d eventually end up with a big pointer mix or something – you know, a dog that could hang with me on my runs.

I went to the doggie daycare, pulling along my boyfriend and his daughter. They brought out Abigail who immediately jumped up on all of us, tail wagging and tongue lolling around. We took her for a long walk and all agreed that she was 1. ridiculously cute and 2. very energetic.

The next day I went back by myself. I brought along my running shoes and some dog biscuits. This time we didn’t walk, we ran. Let me tell you, this dog, despite her small stature, is a runner! We went for 30 minutes and while she clearly doesn’t have the endurance yet, she is all go, go, tail wagging and everything. I returned after 45 minutes having a much better idea of her personality. Then I quizzed the staff. Did she get along well with other dogs? How about people? Was she aggressive?  With proper training could she be a distance runner? They assured me that with her energy level and body structure, she could be a great running companion.

I chewed it over with my boyfriend and we agreed. Abby seemed like a great fit. Unfortunately I was scheduled to fly the next day to L.A and wouldn’t be around to fill out adoption paperwork or get the necessary dog-owning equipment.  My boyfriend stepped in. While I worked in L.A. he filled out the paperwork, purchased a dog crate and dog food and worked with the dog boarding facility to keep Abby until I returned.

I picked up Abby Thursday afternoon, put on her new collar and took her home. So far things have been going smoothly. She’s gone on a 1/2 hour run with me, spent 1/2 day at work with me and gone on many many many walks. My overall impression is that she is a high energy dog that can go from 0 to 60 in no time. What is remarkable as well is that she can also go from super excited to loving cuddle bug in minutes. As I’m writing this, she is curled in a ball next to me snoozing away. Here are some pictures of my new super dog.

Posted in dog, portland | Tagged , , | 4 Comments »

2010 Timberline Trail Marathon Race Report:

June 5, 2010 by heatherdaniel

This morning I ran a gnarly gnarly  trail marathon. This evening I ate my weight in the best of Portland pizza, demolished an old fashioned glazed donut and several (six) Newman’s Ginger-O’s. Now I am sitting here with a happy belly, sore legs and  a glass of red wine. For these reasons I feel that I’m adequately prepared to write this epic race report. Let the report begin!

Note: OK, so maybe you won’t sit through this entire race report, but you really should because I placed SECOND PLACE in the womens’ marathon and generally I really kicked ass. Here’s how the race went down:

But first, did you know that today’s race was  my eighth marathon, and for many reasons (broken bones and stress fractures and a new job) my nervousness was near-overwhelming. I about scratched the race yesterday morning. But when my boss said on Friday, “hey, good luck at the race tomorrow” I knew that I couldn’t, shouldn’t and wouldn’t back out.

Backstory: It’s been over a year since I ran my last marathon -thirteen months to be exact. My last marathon was a major victory at the Eugene Marathon where I placed third. Since then I’ve been hit by cars, twice, survived unemployment, landed a dream job as a producer at a dreamy interactive design studio. If that wasn’t enough, I also moved to a new apartment last week. It’s been a hectic year. In critical moments of stress Running has been shoved to the back burner. Running was none too pleased that our relationship had been downgraded to “friends”  that sometimes “hooked up”. I felt bad about it too, I missed Running and without a race to train for it was difficult to maintain a running schedule.

Fast forward: Today’s marathon was a litmus test; I was interested to see where I stood in my training and get a gauge of how it felt to run a marathon after such a long hiatus. I chose the Timberline Marathon because A) it’s close to Portland B) it’s a trail marathon and C) I heard the medals were cool.

This Morning:

4:07 AM: The alarm goes off, I kick my leg out from under the covers and announce. “Legs, you know! It’s race day. ” OH NO!!!” The Legs replied. I shuffle out to the bathroom, take a shower, shave my legs, pack my bags and ready my things. I am too nervous to eat my usual breakfast of sardines. Of course I should have eaten them. Sardines are the perfect pre-race food.

5:15 AM: My race support/cheerleaders crowd consist of a gentleman who likes to ride bikes and a his seven-year old daughter. Both are very sleepy but somehow still excited about sharing the day with me. We drive out to the Mt. Hood Forest where today’s race will be held.

8:15 AM: We arrived at the race start. I picked up my number, attached my timing chip and slathered myself with Body Glide. The race is just about to begin.

Prepping for the race

Start: The race is downhill from the start which gives me  an ill-founded sense of optimism. I feel like I could run all day, and all night. I charge down the hill and wonder, “Why does everyone think that marathons are soo hard?”. I remember that while the first 2 miles may seem great, marathons can be very long and very, very ugly. Hang tight, Heather, we’ll see how you feel in mile 22.

Miles 1 – 3: There are very few marathoners in the race this morning; maybe 50 or so. The marathon course loops twice around Timothy Lake. The trail is in good shape and it feels so fast. I’m flying, literally prancing over rocks-  I realize I’m running way too fast, but what can you do when you feel fantastic, the sun is shinning and your legs feel so perky? I try to slow down, really I do. But it’s a lost cause. I’m just too damn eager.

Miles 4 – 13: An ultra runner from Utah joins me for much of the first loop. He’s training for the the Wasatch 100 Mile Endurance Race (Hardcore Alert!). We chat for much of the first loop of the lake. We admire the scenery, which is breathtaking. We talk about endurance running. We laugh about the lack of crowds. Somehow the minutes click by and I don’t even notice. I feel spectacular. My pace is still perky, perky perky. Somewhere near the end of the first loop of the lake I pass a girl runner. Soon after I pass one of the few marathon spectators who announces “Heyyyy! Looking good. Second Place Woman” and then laughed and said to Mr. Utah Runner “I mean… you’re doing good too.”

Second Loop, Mile 13 -16: I pass the sign that notifies us that we’ve made one full loop of the lake. I let out of a whoop and yell to Mr. Utah ” Woo hoo. Only one more lap to go!” We run together and begin to pass half marathoners. Seeing a bunch of new runners give me a burst of energy. I pass handfuls of runners and in the back of my mind I think that I’m still going way too fast.

Mile 16: Let me specify that there were no mile markers on the course. I relied on my finicky, temperamental Garmin 405 named Phil. His calculations aren’t always that precise.

O.K. quick aside: Some people talk about marathons and they’ll say something like “I felt great until Mile 22, and that’s when everything fell apart” Really? Really, you felt great until mile 22?  That is NOT my marathon experience at all. I do not suddenly hit a wall, nor do I suddenly run out of leg-moving juice. Instead I feel a  ragged, energy-sucking pain. That pain begins at mile 3 and that pain ebbs and flows throughout the entire race. I spend the majority of my time trying to figure out different ways to minimize, manage and conceal the pain from the rest of my body.

Mile 18: The second loop is feeling significantly slower and significantly longer than the last but my watch tells me I’m still maintaining a perky-ish pace. I pass half-marathoners here and there but mostly I run by myself. It seems like the miles are trickling by. About this time I also start to burp, my mouth is filled with an acidic vomity taste. My arms ache from carrying the water bottle. My fingers are sticky from GU. I pass an aid station and one of the volunteers asked, “You doing O.K.?” and I  give a feeble thumbs up in response.  I spend the next mile thinking of all the witty things I could say to him about being tired but not dead. About mile 18 I also start my Marathon Mental Odometer. After mile 18 I split the remaining distance into four units of 2 miles. At mile 18 I convince myself I only have 2 miles to go. At mile 20 I re-set my mental odometer to zero and tell myself I only have 2 miles to go and so on until I reach the finish line.

Mile 19.3: I feel hollow, achy and queasy.

Mile 20: More queasiness. I really shouldn’t have skipped breakfast. I’ve been hungry since I started and now I just feel pathetic. Six miles is an awful long way to go.

Mile 21: A fisherman whom I’d passed in the first loop is still there. On the first loop he had cast me  one of those looks that said “You crazy, girl!” and I said to him. “We could switch places if you want.” He scoffed and went back to fishing. When I passed him during the second loop he cast a second glance and I said, “You know, it’s more fun the second time around.” Somehow, I don’t think he believed me.

Mile 22: Barf in my mouth. It tastes like Espresso GU

Mile 23: I am still not at the finish line, much to the disappointment of my legs

Mile 24: I want to quit but that would be ridiculous I’m the second place woman and if I have to crawl my way to the finish line I will.

Mile 25: All uphill.

Finish: I sprint awkwardly and painfully to the finish. I dry heave, spit and start to bawl. I am exhausted but oh so happy. I’ve finished second in the marathon.

Finish Line

Time : 3:48

2nd place woman

Posted in portland, race report, running, trail running | 14 Comments »

This weekend in running and other updates

May 9, 2010 by heatherdaniel

Every runner needs a source of motivation. It’s what makes us put on our shoes when it’s cold out and it’s what makes you run the last mile instead of shuffling it in. Recently my motivation has been a tiny purple Post-It Note. Every Monday I write a little post-it note and affix it to my computer monitor. The Post-It note has the week’s date, the week’s goal mileage and the days written out. Then every day I write down my run and if I’m really feeling cool, maybe a few notes: “Monday: 7 miles AM, trail, tired legs” It’s a  simple system and yet oh-so-effective! If I’m tempted to skip a run the thought of not filling out the post-it note pushes me out the door. Do not let the post-it note go empty, Heather!

According to the post-it notes I’ve racked up 4 weeks in a row of 50+ miles. I’m not yet flirting with 65 miles a week, yet, but that’s my aim. I have faith that my Post-It notes will help me get to that magic number soon.

Ok, so now to talk about my recent running adventures. The weather has been getting nice here in Portland and this weekend was the first that I remember in months that I didn’t have to go out to the grocery store with a jacket (hooray spring!).

Saturday: I woke up extra early, made coffee, gathered my stuff and drove to Multnomah Falls. To those who are unfamiliar with  running at Multnomah Falls and in the gorge in general, let me say this. You are missing out. It is trail running at its finest  – hardcore, steep, rugged, beautiful.

My plan was simple – run from the base of Multnomah Falls to Larch Mountain and back. My trail running book described it as a be a 13.2 mile run out and back with nearly…. oh, dear….  4,000 feet of elevation gain. At which point I asked myself if hill work wasn’t an appropriate name for my workout and that “mountain climbing” might be the better description. A swallowed my nervousness about the run, strapped on my water bottle and started slowly, slowly up the switchbacks.

Trail to Larch Mountain

The run was one continuous up-hill slog for 4.8 miles and then a sloggier slog for another 2 miles through snow. I passed a few hikers.  One said hello and I replied that this was the longest 6 miles of my entire life. He laughed. I did not.

You're almost there, except not at all...

Eventually I actually made it to the top! Woohooo! I ate a GU admired the scenery, looked sadly at my snow-soaked socks and  and took the trail back down. Going down was not all that easy either. It was a steep decent and technical too. Larch Mountain, you were not easy! Let’s hang out again real soon.

Post Run: While I was busy running up the side of the mountain, my (boy)friend, Sir Cycles-A-Lot opted to ride the 43 miles from town to meet me at the romantic Multnomah Falls parking lot . I arrived at the car following my run looking and smelling something special. Sir Cycles-A-Lot, on the other hand, appeared looking dapper in carefully coordinated spandex like he had just stepped out of a catalog. I had been outdone. Sir Cycles-A-Lot and I drove back together to town, freshened up (not that he needed to) and stumbled in a haze of low-blood sugar to a breakfast restaurant where we wolfed down a truly amazing amount of food.

Posted in running, trail running | 7 Comments »

Mini Race Report: 2010 Race for the Roses 1/2 Marathon

April 11, 2010 by heatherdaniel

The Great Comeback of 2010 is on! Or as my mom told me today on the phone. “My fiesty footed fearless Heatherbeth is back!” Aw, Mom you’re so cute.

Today’s race was my sixth half marathon. Unlike  other races in the past, I had no lofty goals for this race. I figured maybe I’d shoot for 8 min/mile pace and see how that felt. Nothing fancy to it. I ended up beating the pants off my original goal.

Finishing Time: 1:36:06

Place: 29th female out of 1472. 8th in my age division

Pace: 7:20 min/mile

Woo, hoo!

Posted in Uncategorized | 16 Comments »

Running a half marathon tomorrow

April 10, 2010 by heatherdaniel

Dear Legs,

I’m writing to tell you how much I love you. Really,  I do. It may seem  like I don’t. I’m always yelling at you move faster, be stronger, and  lose some weight. I’m sorry if I’ve been negative these past few weeks. Just because I know that you can take the abuse doesn’t mean I need to be abusive. You do a great job Legs  and I’m happy to have you.

I’m also writing you because I need a favor. Tomorrow is a big day for us, Legs. We’ll be running our first 1/2 marathon in over a year! Keep your socks on, Feet, I know you’re excited. I’m excited too, but I’m also awfully nervous.  Stomach has been giving me the what-what all day and frankly I wish she would take a hint from you two and calm down. Why does she have to be so crampy ? Why is GI Track so temperamental? Why does Gut have to be so high maintenance?  That’s why I love you, Legs. You don’t get nervous. You don’t get moody or emotional. You are as calm and cool as a cucumber tonight.

So, Legs, tomorrow I want us to ignore Gut, and GI and Stomach. I want us to pretend like their complaints don’t exist. I want us to run cool, calm, happy and also ridiculously fast. I want for us to have an amazing race. Think positive thoughts, Legs.  Get lots of rest this evening and remember to put on BodyGlide tomorrow morning. We have 13.1 miles to race and I want you to cross the finish line having spent every last ounce of energy stored in your cells.  The race is all about you. Make me proud!

Lots of Leggy Love,

Heather

Posted in The Great Comeback of 2010, portland, running | Tagged , , | 6 Comments »

GU Review: Jet Blackberry

March 29, 2010 by heatherdaniel

I know this guy who works at a bike shop and every once in awhile a rep comes in with free goodies. Sometimes it’s cycling socks, or t-shirts or stickers. And sometimes, if I’m lucky, I am on the receiving end of these goodies. This happened just a few weeks ago when the bike guy brought over a gigantic bag full energy snacks and sample packs. OH MY SNACKS! It was like Christmas. Bike Store Guy, you certainly know how to please this runner!

There was a strange assortment of acai-berry GU chomps and a few dozen GU packets. The GU immediately caught my attention. Those packs aren’t cheap, you know  and there was enough to fuel me for months of long training runs. I had hit the quick carb jackpot! There were two flavors. Mint Chocolate and a new flavor called Jet Blackberry. I was quick to note that Jet Blackberry had 2x the caffeine. I’m already a fan of Espresso GU that also has 2x the caffeine. I thought this could potentially be the beginning of a wonderful GU relationship. I couldn’t wait to take Jet Blackberry out for a run.

GU-licioius? Maybe...

Impressions: I’m suspicious of a products who use unnatural modifiers in the title. Jet Blackberry sounds like a kid’s yogurt flavor.  What is Jet blackberry? What is Jet supposed to taste like? I took my first hit of Jet Blackberry GU about an hour into a 3-hour trail run. First, it didn’t taste like blackberry, but neither could I say what it did taste like. Maybe it tasted like blackberry in the same way that banana Runts taste like actual bananas. Maybe I was asking for too much true blackberry taste from this little foil package.  Not-blackberry taste  aside, there was a plasticky chemical essence too that stayed with me longer I sucked down the packet’s contents. Now maybe all GU flavors have this and I’m just being picky?

Conclusions: Espresso Love still owns the podium as my #1 favorite energy gel. I also think that Jet Blackberry was the wrong name.  It should have been something like “Vaguely Fruit Flavored GU” But I’m guessing that wouldn’t have fit on the package.

Posted in The Great Comeback of 2010, running, trail running | Tagged , , | 8 Comments »

Monday Morning Fail

March 29, 2010 by heatherdaniel

This morning I learned an important lesson.  Rather I relearned an important lesson. It appears when it comes to getting in a run in before work I can only deal with 2 obstacles and never more than three at a time. It can be rainy. It can be cold. I might even be out of coffee beans. I might not be sure that I have a clean shirt. Or I could be tired and it is most likely dark. I can deal with two of those.

Dark, no coffee beans… OK. Rainy and dark but with coffee… I can make that happen. But this morning I woke up and I heard the rain and wind and I remembered I was out of coffee beans and I was exhausted from Sunday’s run. It was the perfect combination. Instead of popping up for a pre-work run, I rolled over and snuggled down in to the covers. I couldn’t be saved. On the bright side, I did get up pretty early and I got to work early and so I left at reasonable time this evening which allowed me to get in a nice recovery run when I got home. I may have been slow but I got in 6 respectable miles before dinner and brownies.

The brownies (TJ gluten-free) were to celebrate yesterday’s 3-hour trail run. It wasn’t a pretty run but I did and I’m quite proud of my progress.

Posted in The Great Comeback of 2010, running | Tagged , , | 1 Comment »

Race Report: Portland Shamrock Run 8K

March 14, 2010 by heatherdaniel

It’s time for the race recap. It’s been ages since I wrote one of these.  I have fortified myself with a glass of wine in hopes that I can type a race report that’s as engaging as the race itself. Here goes.

Pre-race: I get pre-race jitters pretty bad and the Shamrock Run was no exception.  My mom sent me plenty of encouraging emails throughout the week in an effort to raise my confidence. On Friday I received the following email:

Heather - Less than 48hours to 2010 return of the  competitive fiesty footed heather beast!!! [sic]

Love,The MOM

How cute is that? I’m not sure that I’m a  Feisty Footed Heather Beast just yet but I want to be one! My mom’s grammatically incorrect and enthusiastic fandom is something I’ve sorely missed these past months. (Thanks, Mom!)

Sunday Morning: I have an eclectic pre-race routine. The alarm goes off at 6:17 AM and I announce to the room, “It’s Race Day!”.  I press snooze, roll over and fall back asleep. The alarm clock buzzes again and I announce again, with enthusiasm. “It’s Race Day!” This time I get myself out of bed. I haul myself to the shower. I make some coffee, lay out my race necessities, blow dry my hair and get myself all prepped. I go through my mental checklist: lucky earrings? favorite socks? hat? timing chip? yep, I’m good to go.

7:45 AM: I leave my apartment and walk down to the Portland waterfront. I stop for a double Americano at one of my favorite coffee haunts, take advantage of their bathrooms and give myself a little pep talk. There is NO reason to be nervous, Heather. This is just for fun.

8:25 AM: It looks like the entire Portland population has come out to run, jog, walk or cheer. Everyone seems happy, excited or hungover.  Unlike last year when it poured, the weather this morning is calm, bright and cold. It’s great racing conditions and my legs are feeling pumped to be back in action.

8:40 AM: I leave my backpack with my one-man support crew, begin my warm up and make the obligatory trip to the porta-potties. While my legs may be pumped for the race, my stomach is awash in nervous, convulsing cramps. Oh god, why hasn’t this gotten better during my sabbatical? I had forgotten just how queasy I can feel in the moments before the race start.  My warm up doesn’t get me very warm, but it does get me excited. I circle back, drop off my extra layers and line up along with thousands of other  8k runners. I decide to line up behind the 7-8 min/mile sign and hope that I don’t make a fool of myself. I’m not really sure what I’m capable of right now. An 8:00 min/mile pace certainly seems doable. I think that maybe I might be in the 7:30 min/mile range which wouldn’t be bad either!

9:00 AM: The race gun goes off, I cross the timing mat and start my wristwatch. My heart thuds with adrenaline. I have forgotten what the beginning of a race feels like. My heart is pounding but my legs feel comparatively lethargic. My mind is yelling, “Go!!!” but my body refuses to cooperate. Part of me is trying to hold back while the other part of me wants to sprint away. It’s a strange feeling and it takes just about a mile for my body and heart to adjust.

Mile 1: Mile one twists and turns through downtown Portland. The pack of runners thins out  quickly and within just a few minutes I find that I  don’t have to struggle to move ahead of other runners. I feel simultaneously fast and slow. As I near the  mile marker I remember that I need to keep the pace for another 4 miles. It feels like a daunting task.  Mile split: 7:04.

Mile 2: The second mile is a continuous up-hill grade. It isn’t all that steep, but it’s definitely noticeable. I’m working harder and going slower. I realize that  It’s clear I’ve lost the ability to accurately gauge my pace.  I feel slower in the second mile  but I can’t  tell just how much slower. Am I too slow? Am I too fast? Am I going to bonk gloriously in the next mile? Who knows!? Mile split approx. 7:20

Mile 3: It’s still slightly uphill, but I’ve found a good pace and I’m focusing on passing runners in front of me. I remember that this is my first race back and I smile. My only complaint is that I should have run the 15km race instead. Mile split approx. 7:24

Mile 4: It’s downhill and I’m working hard. Mile split 6:45

To the finish: The finish line is there. I can see it, but it is awfully far away. I try to put in some extra juice but it doesn’t seem like it’s going to last. I hear the announcer yell, “ALLRIGHTT  8k finishers, pump those arms.” or at least he said something like that. And so I pump my arms and try to pick up the pace, and try as I might other runners pass me in the last quarter mile. I try to keep up but my kick just isn’t very strong. Go go go. A feeling of nausea rises as I close in on the finish line. I hear Brian call, “Go, Heather, Go!” I pump my arms and push to the finish.  Blarrrgh! I stop my watch and smile. I gag and upchuck a bit into my mouth. Yeah, it’s gross, but it’s also a sign that I’ve pushed myself to my limits for this race. As I recollect my wits I realize I’ve done much better than I expected. I ran strong. I ran happy and I ended the race with a mouth full of vomit. It’s a good first race for the Great Comeback of 2010.


Final Results:

8 km: 35:11

Average Mile Pace: 7:01

Results: 29th female overall. 11th in age group

After the race

Posted in TMI, The Great Comeback of 2010, running | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments »

Shamrock 8K is tomorrow

March 13, 2010 by heatherdaniel

It’s been over six months since I participated in my last race. The no-racing streak will end tomorrow when I take part in the Portland Shamrock 8k. Eight kilometers is no marathon, neither is it a trail race nor is the distance in the neighborhood of a 50k ultra-marathon. But it is a race and I’m a-gonna do it!

I’m more nervous about this 8K  than I need to be. I’ve said over and over to myself that the race is nothing more than a new starting point. It’ll be a baseline with which I inform my training and racing plans. It is hard though. I feel very stressed tonight. The race is hours away and I don’t feel fast enough. I don’t feel lean enough. I just don’t feel ready.

Posted in The Great Comeback of 2010, running | Tagged , | 7 Comments »

Finding the groove. Again.

February 22, 2010 by heatherdaniel

The Great Comeback of 2010 continues. This week has been a seven-day reminder of why running rocks.

Monday: Recovery 5 mile run. After last Sunday’s long run I was happy to feel fit and good on Monday’s run. I had expected to be sore, but instead my legs told me they were feeling quite dandy, thank you.

Tuesday: Woke up late (again!) I jogged down the street for a bag of  coffee beans and back to the apartment.. Hey, yo, 1.5 miles is better than nothing, right?  The soreness from Sunday’s run appeared and my legs were happy that I didn’t try more than the coffee bean shuffle. Fast forward to the end of the work day. I scrambled downstairs  and into the yoga studio. That’s right, I work upstairs from a bakery and a yoga studio. It’s the perfect ying and yang. You can work your buns off in a Bikram yoga class and then walk 20 feet to Grand Central Bakery and indulge in a Monkey Bun or Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie (so addictive). It’s a dangerous universe! Cookies in the same building as where I work? It’s a constant struggle!  Anyway, I walked past the bakery and into the yoga studio for my first Bikram class since the accident. Have you tried Bikram yet? It’s a 90 minute yoga class in a superheated room – it is guaranteed to make you sweat out of your kneecaps! I love it. The class was intense and the instructor had to keep reminding me, “Heather, don’t push yourself this first class….” OK, OK OK!

Wednesday: 5.5 miles on the dreadmill.

Thursday: Three mile run at lunch. It was beautiful outside and I couldn’t resist. It turned out to be a great run because I was at work until 10:30 that night. Getting a run in at lunch, even a small one, helped maintain my sanity.

Friday: REST DAY

Saturday: 5 mile run around downtown. It made me even more excited about Sunday’s long run. Which leads me to today…

Sunday Long Run: This morning I woke up early, made  some coffee and gave myself a much-needed pep talk. A year ago I was running 60 miles a week. A year ago I ran my first ultra marathon. I’m not supposed to compare my current mileage to what I used to do… but it is SO difficult. I just want to get back there! I know that I need to take it slowly. I know I can’t go too far too fast.  I feel like I needed the Yoga instructor to show up and give me the same advice. “Heather don’t push yourself too much!” Sigh! But at least I’m making progress?  After my coffee fix, I made the quick trip to Forest Park – Portland’s Disney Land for trail runners. It’s filled with a mix of single-tracks and wide smooth trails. More importantly, there’s something for everyone and every speed and at every stage of recovery. I strapped on the hand held water bottle, prepped Phil and took off. It was bright and blue and very chilly. I decided to run up Leif Erickson, the main trail through the park and a good choice for a first trail run.

My goal was to run out 8 miles and turn around. Simple enough, right? It was. Except for Leif has 1/4 mile makers that remind you just how far you’ve gone and just how far you’ve got left.  I said to myself, “It’s not so bad, I just have to run past 32 posts and then I get to turn around and run past another 32 posts.” That’s a lot of posts, people.

About 10 posts into the run (2.5 miles), my mind started to wonder as it often does on long runs, when all of a sudden the Count from Sesame Street popped into my head. This happened, I suspect because I’m almost done with The Historian which, if you haven’t read it, is a Dracula-Vampire-Historical-Thriller-Novel. I read a few chapters last night and must have drenched my brain with Vampire-themed thoughts.  At 10 1/4 mile markers into the run this Vampire popped  into my head:

Count Dracula says: 1,2,3 Miles Ahhh, Ahh, Ahhh.

And he started counting, and just like a song you can’t get out of your head, his voice would not leave. At mile 3 I imagined Count Dracula’s famous voice. “Heather, you have run one, twooooo, threeeee miles…AH AHH AHHH!“

At 4 miles: “One, Two, Three, Fourrrr Miles Ah, Ah, Ah!!”

And at mile 8? There he was,  “Eigggghhht MILES! EIGGGGHHHT, is a good number, AHH AHHH AHH”

Soon, though, I was able to shake the Count’s voice, thank goodness! I tried hard not too look down at my watch when it beeped or to pay attention to the mile markers. Instead I tried to remember the good advice I’ve received; enjoy the comeback. Take it slow. But damnit, I’d rather be rocking hard at mile 14, not trudging along. It was a tough mental challenge to push through those last few miles. My legs were spent! I tried to distract them by pointing out the nice scenery and reminding them that it was nice not to be on a treadmill or running in the rain. They didn’t want to hear it. They just wanted to be done. Can you blame them?

I treated my legs to a post-run Americano and Vegan, Gluten-Free Mayan Wonder Bar (they are awesome!).  I can only hope that this week goes equally well in the running department.

Long Run: 16 miles

Pace: 8:40 min/mile

Total mileage for the week: 35 miles

Posted in The Great Comeback of 2010, running, trail running | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments »

Dreadmills

February 18, 2010 by heatherdaniel

Dear Treadmills,

I REALLY dislike you.  All of you.

Disgruntledly Yours,

Heather

————————————————————————————————

If treadmills weren’t so useful I’d write a letter to the treadmill inventor and ask that he or she  re-consider. Do treadmills really make the world a better place? Can’t we do without them?

The problem comes back to me though. If only I were better at personal time management and early morning perkiness I would never ever have to go near a treadmill. As a result I wouldn’t cultivate such an unhappy relationship with an inanimate object that is, at its base, not designed to be a torture device and is supposed to make me a more healthful being. But it just doesn’t feel like that does it?

This entire week I’ve dutifully set three alarm clocks to get up and run before work.  And each time I’ve failed. Each morning I’ve snoozed so many times that the alarm clock gives up and suddenly I realize that not only have I missed my run but now I have to make the decision between taking a shower and brushing my hair. (Hair, I’m sorry but stinky armpits take priority.)

With the multiple alarm clocks ignored, I’ve been forced to push my work out to the evening when my motivation takes a nosedive. I just KNOW that if I set foot inside my apartment, marathon dreams be damned,  I’m going  for rice crackers, hummus and comfy pants. The trick is to circumnavigate my inherent laziness bring my running clothes to work and hit the gym on the way home. It’s a good plan, but it means that I’ve choosen the treadmill over the open roads. It’s a difficult choice and one I rue immediately.

Last night I fought through 5 1/2 miles of treadmill – doing battle with  tight hamstrings, sore legs and near toxic levels of boredom . The headphone jack on the mill wasn’t working and so I couldn’t listen to the Olympic coverage. Even worse, the machine had a new fangled monitor to hook up an i-Phone and watch movies. But since the monitor wasn’t on, it acted like a mirror. I was forced to stare at the dim reflection of my sweaty face, mile after mile. It was pure dreadmill dreadfullness. I completed the 5 1/2 miles in before calling it quits. It was a good, productive run and if the dreadmill hadn’t been there maybe I wouldn’t have run at all. I admit that dreadmills are dreadful but they do have a place in this world. And they do serve as a great motivator for waking up early.

Posted in The Great Comeback of 2010, running | 6 Comments »

Running and my other love(r)s

February 14, 2010 by heatherdaniel

Before we talk about running, we need to talk about you.  I would like to take a moment to say thank YOU. Thank you Ana-Maria, thank you MCM Mama,  thank you Laminator, Mark, Dadcat, Susan, PDXGuy, Levi and everyone else for your kind words and moral support. Not even a wheelbarrow of conversation hearts could adequately express how much your comments mean to me. It’s been a difficult series of setbacks but I hope that I’m stronger for them. Thank you for being here and for reading along. Thank you, Thank you. Will you all be my Valentines?

On the subject of Valentine’s Day, did you see that New Balance running commercial that came out last year? It was part of a genius campaign about the Love/Hate relationship we all have with running. One commercial is a story of a guy who breaks up with running and then sees running everwhere. Well, here.

Watch it for yourself.

Fantastic, yes?

That is EXACTLY how I felt these past months. It seemed like everywhere I went, there they were – Runners.  All sorts of runners. Fast runners, pudgy runners, old runners, runners with limps. Runners I’d never notice before, runners staring hard at the ground,  runners who were visibly angry at the galaxy because the galaxy was  clearly responsible for making them run.  They were everywhere, those runners! And often, when I’d pass one in the car or on my bike, I’d whip my head around to watch them, or stare at them really. And whatever their pace, whatever their fitness level, I’d be overcome with a very brilliant green shade of envy. It was unpleasant.  I was my own New Balance Commercial.

I’m pleased to report that Running and I, after much flirtation and foreplay, are back together again. My foot felt fine this entire week and it even said this morning how great it is have running back in its life. Thank you, Foot. I really appreciate your efforts to make my relationship with Running a healthy one.  And yes, Foot, I will treat you to a new pair of running socks.

My re-kindled relationship with running makes this Valentines Day very special.  I’m not into Valentines Day in general, you know. I don’t like the fuss; I don’t like the generalized, Hallmarked expressions of affections; and while I love flowers and chocolate, it all rings fake to me. So I decided to make the VDay fabulous with a fabulous long run.  Here is how it went down:

The morning started out ominously.  I was totally out of coffee beans. Actually I’ve been totally out of coffee for a couple of weeks now (note to self: buy coffee). Even though I think of myself as a low maintenance girl, I can’t run with out at least a cup of coffee, if not two. I stumbled/scrambled to the French bakery down the street, resisted the delicate croissants, macaroons, and frothy lattes and ordered  a double Americano instead. Back at the apartment I breakfasted on half a pear and some toasted pumpkin seeds. Coffee consumed, I tied my running shoes, hugged my mom who is visiting me for the week, and took off

The first few miles felt “meh”.  The Laminator wrote last week: “Don’t evaluate your progress as what you could have done a year or two years ago, just be happy with how far you’ve come along now.”  It’s good advice but oh-so difficult to follow. The first miles felt slow and  they were slow! I tried to corral the self-criticism. “Don’t worry, Heather. Just build your base. Speed and strength take time.” Despite the private pep talk, I was concerned how I could make this 15 miles seems do-able when my run already felt mediocre.

At mile two I decided to turn my 15 mile V-Day run in a romantic house call. What if, I thought, I ran across the river to knock on the door of The Special Someone I’ve Been Seeing. (SSIBS). The SSIBS is not a runner, but he is is a cyclist (hey, no one is perfect) Most importantly though he gets it and he gets me (woot!). I could use the moral support and he’d get a kiss from a stinky runner with bad hat hair. What a great deal for him! I was about a half mile from his place, lost in running thoughts, when a car pulled up beside me and rolled down the window. “Hey!” said the SSIBS “I saw you running down the street. Happy Sunday!”

Awww! Already my run was feeling a bit perkier. I ran to  Laurelhurst Park – an old city park with big trees and great people/runner watching. I completed a few laps on the exterior path and was happy to have something pretty to look at.  I passed by The SSIBS’ apartment for a pitstop and a glass of water afterward. “Are you OK?” he asked, “You’re sweating! A lot!” I took that as a good sign and continued my run.

I was half way through my run and still felt good. Better actually than at the start. I ran back toward the river and dodged about a zillion cyclists who were out on The Worst Day of Year Ride (a traditional Portland-y bike ride event). Around Mile 11 I spotted a runner guy ahead of me moving at a strong clip. Could I catch him? (Apparently it only takes a week of solid running before my competitive side re-surfaces.) I picked up the pace and it didn’t take long before I breezed by Mr. Runner. Phil, my Garmin 405, beeped and alerted me that I had the last mile in 7:45. WHOAH! 7:45min/mile pace. I’ll take it!  I had half a mind to run back to Mr. Runner and give him a high-five or something. But that would be weird, right? Instead I finished up my run, sweaty, smelly and totally in love with running.

Run: 15 miles

Average Pace: 8:30 min/mile

Highlights:

-Passing Mr. Runner

- Feeling stronger at the end of the run than I was at the beginning

- Sweaty kisses for The SSIBS

Lowlights:

- Stomach cramps following the run

- Bad hat hair

Posted in The Great Comeback of 2010, running | Tagged , | 9 Comments »

Broken bones

February 8, 2010 by heatherdaniel

“Heather,” my mom told me sternly this afternoon. “You owe me an update. Think of all those people who read your blog. They want to know how you’re doing.”

I sighed in response and said something to the effect that no one was reading my blog these days. She looked even more sternly at me and said emphatically,

“I read your blog.”

I cast my eyes downward. Point taken.

Where do I begin? If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to start with what happened today.

Today I reached an important milestone in what I have lovingly begun to call The Great Comeback of 2010. You see, today I ran 13.5 miles. Thirteen point five miles! All at once.  Tears burned in my eyes at mile 12 and my throat ached with emotion. When I turned the corner on  to the final stretch a grin spread over my face. Wow. I had forgotten how great it is to finish a long run on a Sunday morning.

Now normally I wouldn’t consider 13.5 miles a very long run. However, my running life has been so transformed in these past months I hardly  recognize it. The 13. miles I completed this morning is the longest distance I’ve run since September. The fact that I ran it a perky 8:20 min/mile is tasty frosting on this runner’s cake.

There have been no marathons, no races and no fun runs in my life since September.  Not even a track practice.  That strained tendon in my foot that I blogged about all those months ago? It sidelined me bigtime. I suspect the strain was really a stress fracture and that whatever the problem was, it was more serious than I let on. While I could walk without difficulty, running was a painful and arduous experience.  I was forced to throw out all my running goals for the fall/winter. My shoes stayed in my closet, the blog went stale and my weekly mileage plummeted. It was a dark and dreary time.

In November things got a bit better. I put in a  few miles. Without my former speed, strength and endurance I felt pathetic. It was like I was convinced that if I couldn’t pick up from where I left off then I didn’t want to run at all. What a terrible attitude.  I  wanted desperately to be the runner I used to be, not a runner with a weak foot and low mileage. In December I had some harsh talks with myself, adjusted my attitude and ran slowly. Oh, so very slowly. But you know, at least i was running and at least it seemed like my foot might finally be better.

Then on January 6th I was hit by a car.

I was riding my bike to work  when a truck failed to signal or look to see if anyone was in the bike lane. He turned right. We collided instantly. It is an awful feeling to know that you’re going to be hit and that there is nothing you can do to avoid it. My bike was either run over or dragged into the wheel well, I’m not sure. I ricocheted off the truck and fell to the ground. The driver got out of the truck, saw me crying, saw me clutching my left arm and then promptly got back into his truck and fled the scene of the accident.

I was taken to the ER. I broke my left hand. Here is a picture

Broken hand, my right hand next to it for comparison, days after the crash

Here is a picture of some of the bruising.

Bruising on the palm

Besides the broken hand and some severe abrasions I was extremely lucky. Let’s not even think about how much worse it could have been, OK?

Since the crash I’ve had to deal with a temporary cast, a not-at-all sexy arm brace and very limited mobility. I could hardly type, sign my name (I’m left-handed) tie my shoes, wash my hair, shave my right armpit or button my pants. Every morning before work I played a game I invented called “Will it Fit?” It involved pulling out a long sleeve shirt and seeing if it would fit over the cast/brace. Sadly, much of my warddrobe did not win “Will it Fit.”

Despite the injuries I decided to continue running. I ran on a treadmill -  for weeks. It was mind-numbingly boring. My arm ached with the blood that rushed into my fingers. The brace took on a “unique” odor and my hand would hit the console every so often and send shockwaves of discomfort into my broken wrist. But you know what? Not once did my foot hurt!

So this weekend, with the OK from the doctor, I ran outside for the first time in over a month. It was an amazing feeling. Somewhere deep inside me I feel like I might finally be coming back.

Posted in running | Tagged , , , | 27 Comments »

Bikenfest 200k (124 miles)

October 5, 2009 by heatherdaniel

124 miles is a lot of ground to cover. To do it on a bike, in the rain and against the wind takes even longer. On Saturday I conquered that distance and the weather at the Bikenfest 200k Brevet.

Several weeks ago I Googled “bikerides” and “Oregon” and found a blogger’s website promoting  a  200k brevet . Great, I thought, only two questions:  “how many miles is 200k?” and “what is a brevet?”

I Googled a bit more to answer my questions:

1. 200k = 124 miles

2. brevet: In the sport of randonneuring a brevet or randonnée is an organised long-distance bike ride. Cyclists- who, in this discipline, may be referred to as randonneurs  follow a designated but unmarked route (usually 200km to 1400km), passing through check-point controls, and must complete the course within specified time limits. These limits, while challenging, still allow the ride to be completed at a comfortable pace – there is no requirement to cycle at racing speeds or employ strategies. (thanks, Wikepedia!)

Check points? Unmarked routes? 124 miles!?? That definitely sounds like an adventure. So I made it my goal to make the Bikenfest 200k my first organized ride. As the race drew closer I was even able to convince my friend Marvin* to join me.

*If anyone would be up for an unsupported 200k bikeride I figured it would be Marvin – Marvin  is clearly a step above the rest – he’s completed two (!) Ironmans and runs a wicked fast marathon and does it all with a huge grin. The last time Marvin was up in Portland I convinced him to go on two crazy, snake-ridden, super steep trail runs.

Pre-Ride:

Friday night – the day  before the ride – I left the office at 8:30 feeling frazzled and overwhelmed.  Luckily, a  very friendly local bike shop representative is very inclined to help out in such matters. He picked me up and provided  a pre-Bikenfest status update: While I was at work, he had installed fenders, performed a tune up, mounted a handlebar bag and double checked the weather report. “All we need to do is drive to the shop and get the bike and the rack.” To which I replied “What rack?” He explained that with fenders my bike will no longer fits in the back seat or trunk of my car. Seriously, getting into this whole cycling thing is complicated. He showed me the car rack and how to attach it to the trunk. It seemseddo-able – more complicated than running for sure – but manageable all the same.

The next morning, after a night of fitful tossing and turning, I picked up Marvin and his bike and drove east to Hood River. We arrived at the scene, registered and prepared our bikes.

Bikenfest!

The ride began promptly at 7:30. There were about 15 riders. We all had small maps and the small blue brevet control cards. I glanced quickly at the sky and made the decision to not bring my rain jacket. It was a huge mistake and one that I would regret over and over again.

Chilly Start (photo courtesy of Cecil)

Chilly Start (photo courtesy of Cecil- Anne)

The beginning of the ride was cold. So cold! I glanced over at Marvin and saw him shivering. Accustomed to L.A. riding and temperate SoCalweather, Marvin had only a lightweight kit, light arm warmers and a thin jacket. No gloves. No leg warmers. No warmth. I handed him my extra pair of gloves and tried to stay positive, “Marvin, I’m sure it’ll get warmer once the sun is up,” I said.

The first part of the ride took us up and over Seven Mile Summit. It was a challenging 1800 ft. climb in the first 12 miles.  I loved it. It warmed me up and got me excited for the rest of the day. At the top Marvin and I stopped to answer the first control point question. I ate some Chomps and admired the view.

SevenMile Summit

SevenMile Summit

The decent after reaching the summit was cold, windy and steep. My ears burned. My legs wobbled and my eyes watered. It was not a pleasant feeling. Marvin and I rolled happily into Poppi’s Snacks and Deli in The Dalles  where I ate “breakfast” (protein bar and Nuun) and hoped that feeling would return to my toes.

Sadly, things went downhill after Poppi’s.  We headed east out of The Dalles. The wind picked up and soon it started to rain. And rain and rain. I couldn’t help but giggle. My toes went completely numb. Marvin looked miserable. And we were only 40 miles into the ride! We still had a stinking long way to go. Even in perfect weather riding 124 miles isn’t exactly easy. At a few points it seemed like the rain had stopped, but then it just picked up again. At Mile 49 we stopped for another control point before we circled back around and through The Dalles. There we stopped at McDonald’s where I spent 5 minutes drying my gloves at the bathroom air dryer. I sucked down some coffee, ate another protein bar and looked lovingly at the blue patch of sky to the east.

Marvin and I rode across the red bridge and into Washington. We rode east along The Columbia river for almost 20 miles. The air was drier. My legs and toes dethawed and I felt, (dare I say it?) almost warm! Marvin and I were the second and third riders to arrive at the Maryhill Museum and the time control check point. John Kramer the ride director was there to greet us, sign our brevet cards and offer us some hot tea and zucchinni bread.

Mile 78. Maryhill Museum

Mile 78. Maryhill Museum

Marvin led the way back West. We passed many of the other riders heading back and waved. The sun was bright, but the air was cool and neither of us wanted to shed our layers. We stopped at a gas station before riding back though The Dalles. At an intersection I glanced down just at my trip odometer registered 100 miles. It was officially the longest ride I’d ever done. And we still had 24 miles to go!

Randonnee Still Life

Randonnee Still Life

The last bit of the ride was not flat. At all. A head wind greeted us as we wound around Rowena Point. It felt VERY steep and very long. It was also 110 miles into the ride.

Steep. Very steep.

Pedal, pedal, pedal. All the way to the top.

It seemed like the ride between Rowena Point and Hood River lasted an eternity. We were both exhausted. With only two miles to the finish Marvin looked at my very seriously and said “Heather, I want some M&Ms.”I pulled out the bright yellow bag and we tore into them. Marvin grabbed a handful and stuffed them in his mouth.  It was impressived. We made quick work of the M&Ms and felt so much better.

We arrived back at the start just before the rain started. Hooray! And so ended my first randonnée.

Lessons Learned:

Peanut M&Ms should be staple in your nutrition plan.

Eat, eat, drink, drink and you’ll be a happy randonneur.

Wear. more. layers.

Posted in cycling | Tagged , , | 11 Comments »

Long Ride Report: 97 miles,

September 19, 2009 by heatherdaniel

Cycling and running both require an ability to wear funny looking, tight-fitting clothes out in public.  So naturally, I have found that taking a jump from running to cycling wasn’t all that difficult. Just pull on a pair of ridiculous looking spandex shorts, strap on a bulbous helmet and I’d be on my way. Simple, right?

It turns out that if you want to devote the time and energy, cycling can be as nuanced and varied as running (hooray for me!) Both sports are two sides of the same endurance-oriented coin. Each requires a minimal amount of coordination but encourages a maximum amount of discipline and determination. Both foster OCD-like behavior. And by that I mean both cycling and running attract those of us who find satisfaction in spending hours and hours doing the same thing, over and over again. Is it any wonder then that I’ve begun to pour myself into cycling? To date I’ve logged over 1700 miles on my road bike. Here is recap of my most recent long ride.

Ride Title: Little Switzerland

I decided to tackle this ride partly because of the name and partly because the website described it as “enthralling” “challenging” and “a favorite.” What I underestimated was just how steep and just how brutal this ride would be. Little Switzerland, your hills were neither petite nor neutral.

Alternative Ride Titles: The Tour d’Never Ending Hills, The Perpetual Head Wind Slog, or The Thank God for Peanut M&Ms Ride

Distance: 97.1 Miles

Pre-Ride: My running shoes sit and stare at me longingly as I prepare for Sunday’s ride. Just be patient, I tell them, you’ll be back on the road soon. Before setting out, my directeur sportif writes down turn-by-turn directions. There is a lot of zigging and zagging  and the directions take up full sheet of papert. I carefully fold it in a square and stuff it into my jersey pocket. This paper will be my analog GPS device. I find room in my other pockets for the following:

  • 1 Extra Big Packet of Peanut M&Ms (essential)
  • 1  Bag of Pomegranate Chomps (tasty grown-up fruit snacks)
  • 1 Lemon Lime Sublime GU (in case of emergency)
  • 3 Nuun Tablets (tasty)
  • 1 Set of Wool Arm Warmers (scratchy but nice)
  • 1 Cell Phone
  • AAA Card, Credit Card, Drivers License, and a few dollar bills.**

** Did you know that AAA Oregon offer road assistance for bicyclists?

In my small saddle bag I pack an extra tube (I’ve had 6 flats in the past two months, no joke!), tire levers and lipbalm (handy for slipping on stubborn tires). Additionally, I put two large bottles of water in my cages. Before I roll out, I put my hair in pigtails and sigh as I look in the mirror. Could these shorts be any less attractive? I leave the apartment feeling supremely unfeminine.

The Ride: The first 20 miles are ugly. Very ugly. I cross the entire city, bisect several unsavory suburbs and head for the hills. At mile 25 I consult the directions, eat some Chomps and prepare  for my first descent of the day. I fly down the swerving hill at 42 mph. My tires grip the pavement, I swoop around the bends, but too quickly the adrenaline rush is over and I’m back to  pedaling on flat land. My Cannondale and I are moving smoothly over the road and I’m starting to settle into the ride.

I pass a lone Chevron Station and measure my distance by asphalt covered between splotches of roadkill (squirrel, raccoon, squirrel…) . I almost miss the small sign for Wildcat Mountain Drive. The directeur’s directions indicate that I should turn left. However, his directions fail to indicate the steep, rolling terrain I’m about to encounter. I would have appreciated if the directions has said: Left on Wildcat Mountain Drive. Suck it up. This is going to hurt.  Wildcat Mountain feels like a mountain. My progress is silly slow and choppy.  The road goes up, dips down and then up again repeatedly.  I am fooled multiple times by false summits. Little Switzerland, I’m not going to let you conquer me!

Eventually I make it through the Mini Alps and reach the intersection with Hwy 26.  I get a glimpse of Mt. Hood. It is beautiful to be sure. However,  I’ve been pedaling for 3 hours nonstop and clearly time I break into the Peanut M&Ms. I pull over, peel myself off the saddle and rip into the bright yellow bag. I pop a handful and delight in the mix of sugar, fat and candy shell. So tasty!!

The Slog: I merge with Hwy 26 which is busy with traffic and definitely not the best part of the ride. The only upside is that it’s steadily downhill and that I avoid getting hit by 4 gigantic RVs. I cross the highway and head up through a series of rolling hills. It takes forever. The hills get steeper. A headwind picks up. It is slow going and I’m only 60 miles into the ride. My body is starting to voice concerns whether we’ll be able to make it the entire way. The headwind is exhausting. The rolling hills are exhausting.

Soon, I get to Dodge Park and feel like I’ve made it through the worst of it. There are two more major hills I need to get over, but I know I can do it. I down the rest of my Peanut M&Ms. Again, they are like multi-colored bits of heaven. The ride back into town seems to take much longer, but I don’t even care. I ride past the local bike shop to say hi to my directeur sportif and let him know I’ve survived. I pedal back to my apartment and see 97.1 on my odometer for the trip. I briefly contemplate riding around my neighborhood for 3 miles just so I can get to the magic number. My legs sternly tell me absolutely not. No way. Not even a possibility. I agree that all I really want to do is not be on the bike another second.

I roll the Cannondale into my apartment and I am finished! Hooray! I want to eat a dozen cookies. I want to mel under the hot spray of a showerhead. I want pizza and a coke and a foot rub. Instead I settle for a glass of water and a spoonful of almond butter. Little Switzerland, you were tough and I can’t wait to show you that I can be tougher.

Lessons Learned:

Rolling hills can be much worse than one or two big climbs.

Cycling shorts are amazing

You can spend a whole lot of money on powerbars and whatnot, but if you’re going for value and bright orbs or happiness, stick with the Peanut M&Ms.

Posted in cycling, health, portland | 3 Comments »

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