Busy month

Well just finished a 2 hr 15 min ride with the crew at Finish In Time.  They were co-hosts of yesterday's PoHo Cocoa Run.  Jackie who is the owner of FIT said the run seemed to be a big success.  Today's movie ride we watched Coach Carter - a very good flick.  I will be missing next week due to my little man's birthday - I can't believe he is turning 5!  I plan on getting some good riding in during the week though.

New Beginnings

So the year didn't quite start off with a bang...Friday morning Dec 30 I would up slamming my head in the car door and giving myself a concussion.  So NYE was very tame - stayed home just the 3 of us.  Sunday morning I did not ride at the studio as I was still disoriented.  By the afternoon I had decided to try a ride at home.  I wound up riding for an hour and a half.  Monday Jim and I did Just Dance and that can be quite a workout.  Tuesday little man got sick and we were home/bed bound for 4 days!  Jim stayed with him on Wednesday while I worked, Thursday I was home and Friday he came with me to the library.  His fever finally broke on Saturday morning.  Anyway I went out to Finish In Time today and rode for 2 hours.  I think I will ride longer next week but I had an engagement this afternoon.  Anyway this will still be my year - be it injury, illness or whatever this year my theme is - I Will Overcome!

A New Year is on the Way

So I didn't make my Century ride this year - but I have since been told by a professional trainer that with the wind as bad as it was that day I can count it as 100 miles.  Anyway 2012 is on it's way and I plan on making it the year of Randi so watch out!  Memorial weekend I will ride in the Tour de Frankenmuth again at either the 90 or 130 mile distance - I will decide later.  I am also already signed up to ride the MS Rona Grand Bend - London ride again in July, and this year I signed my hubby up as well.  We have turned a corner of our basement into a home gym and had our first workout today.  I am gonna try to work on a 'schedule' - so far I know Sundays I will be riding at 'Finish In Time' cycling studio in downtown PH - Sunday's are a 'movie ride' where we all just ride on trainers while watching a movie.  During the week I will be using the RealRides DVDs I have (101, Strength, Climbing and Race Day) as well as working upper body on Jim's new Marcy Platinum Home Gym.  I also have Just Dance 3, Biggest Loser and Wii Fit to incorporate.  I'll post the schedule I come up with  but any input is appreciated.

Wow - what a beautiful day

When I woke up this morning at 7:30 to the sounds of rain I convinced myself today would be a basement riding day.  But the rain stopped and by 10:00 I was heading out to the Macomb Orchard Trail.  My first time on this 23+ mile trail and it was great!  Of course finding parking in Richmond at the trail head was impossible due to the Richmond Good Ole Days parade so I wound up parking a few miles up trail and backtracked on the bike to make sure I got to see the whole thing.   I think I will rate it tops on my rails-trails list so far.  The nature around the trail is beautiful, the length of the trail allows for a non-repetitive ride and it has a hill!  I still like Wadhams for the convenience of it as well as the beautiful scenery, and Fort Gratiot is great for the three of us to ride together since it is such a short trail.

I went for 52 miles in 4 hours today so I think my 8-8.5 hour goal for my 100 is reasonable as long as I don't stop too long for lunch.

It's almost here part 2

Wow I just realized I have 3 more Sunday's until my Century!  I know that I will be able to handle it if I ride smart and use the rest stops for gatorade/fruit refills.  I still am in awe that I am actually going to be doing this.  I feel as though finishing this will prove to me that anything is possible.  Who would have thought that 2 years ago and 70 pounds heavier I would even be thinking of attempting this.  Time wise I am hoping to be 8-8.5 hours, but will be happy just to finish.

 I have also set my 'ride calendar' for next year and it includes the Tour de Frankenmuth (100 miles this time), the PALM (Pedal Across Lower Michigan a week long 300+miles ride), the MS Rona Ride in London Ontario and the Blue Water Ramble again (this time hoping to take 1 hr off my finish time from this year).  Also I have to race Jeremy as he says he can beat me when we take off the training wheels.

On a genealogy note I am very happy to report that the 2012 version of Family Tree Maker will be able to sync with Ancestry.com online tree which I had been really annoyed by in the past.

Now I am a true cyclist...pictures attached...not for the squeamish

So I went for a ride when Jim got home...I rode up to the Fort Gratiot trail and while circuiting came across the Chain Gang.  So I joined up with them for the ride back downtown.  It was nice to be able to ride with them and hold my own!!! I was so proud...too proud...I rode up to the front to talk to the guy in the lead and as I was dropping back my front wheel tapped his rear.  2 seconds later I was on the ground.  Jim thinks I am psycho to be proud, but my pride comes from the fact that I was able to handle it with grace and to know that I was able to ride with the gang with ease!  And for my Thursday night crew - we will still ride!

riding can be so healing

I woke up in the worst mood this morning.  I really didn't want to ride but I knew my friends from Sarnia were coming state-side for a ride...I had to go.  2 seconds into the ride I felt much better.  Jim and I both know that riding works for me that way so he knew that I would "leave it on the road".

I signed up for the Blue Water Ramble today.  It's official - I'm nuts!

Short entry today...but I want to give a shout-out to my friend Jenn who also signed up for the Ramble.  I'm proud of you and I know you can do it!