Cycling | Fit and Fortysomething

First official brick workout

May 27, 2012 7 Comments

In a recent post of mine, I mentioned that I was thinking of competing in a Duathlon on June 10. Well I am still thinking about it fairly seriously.

A duathlon is like a triathlon except you just bike and run instead of bike, run, swim.

Since I have been biking and running I figured why not give it a try?

Now I am not a complete newby when it comes to multi sport events. WAY BACK in college I completed a triathlon and a couple of years back I participated in a practice duathlon.

Well I am in much better shape then I was a few years back and feel I could try a real duathlon. Not sure if I will do the sprint distance (1.5 mile run, 11.6 mile bike, 1.5 mile run) or the olympic distance 3 mile run, 19.5 mile bike, 3 mile run) yet though.

Yesterday I decided to complete a brick workout.

What is a brick workout you ask?

According to this website, “Bricks refer to training on two disciplines during the same workout, one after the other with minimal or no interruption in between, just as you would do in a race (I am sure you knew this). Usually when people talk about bricks they refer to a bike/run workout.”

So for my brick, I road my bike 30 miles.

And then ran 4 1/2. I wanted to go longer but boy that was tough!

I also had a gu in-between my bike and run.

It was fun though and I have to admit I felt like a stud while I was running

I also hope to go out for the practice duathlon this Tuesday night to help prepare me even more for June 10th.

Have you ever done two different workouts in a row?

Filed Under: Cycling, Running 7 Comments

Worth the price

May 26, 2012 4 Comments

This morning Bill and I are both up bright and early to enjoy the day. He just left on the group ride and I am getting ready to meet Marianna for a ride up the coast and then a run.

We have already had some coffee with some Giro watching and some pumpkin oats in a jar. Yes I know it is not pumpkin season but I still love my pumpkin oats

Last night we broke in our new find.

I have been coveting a Yonanas machine on Open Sky for far too long. But I kept weighing the price (40 dollars) with the necessity for it. Bill and I have made banana soft serve in our magic bullet (major pain!) and food processor ( a bit less painful). So I kept wondering if the Yonanas machine was necessary.

I think it is! It works so much better than anything else we have tried (now granted we don’t have a vita mix). Bill whipped up banana soft serve with some almond butter and vegan chips last night.

MMMMMMMM.

Best part? It is easy to clean

Hope you have a great day planned and hope you have great weather like we do!

Enjoy

Filed Under: Cycling, Running, Shopping, Vegan 4 Comments

Passion vs reality vs happiness

May 21, 2012 16 Comments

Hey guys it is Bill here. I’m sharing a post with you all on something I have spent a lot of time thinking about. Hope you enjoy it and please comment if you have anything to add.

I’ve never understood why some people (including myself at times) can’t come to a realization that we are who we are. I say this with a great deal of hesitation, because I’m a firm believer we all are hypocrites, and not necessarily in a bad way.

For example, I feel in love with cycling at the young age of 20. After a few months of spinning around the local hills, I signed up for the Davis Phinney cycling camp in Colorado. A coach by the name of Skip Hamilton was there. After a week with Skip, I asked him if he thought I had what it took to become a professional and earn enough money to put a roof over my head and food on the table. He said no! ”You have enough talent to become a good category 2 racer and Bill, never mind what other say, it’s all about your genetics.” What did I do, I went and got some testing done to see what my genetics said. Skip was right. Damn! Right there and then, I came to the realization I am who I am, and I will be happy with that reality and continue to enjoy my passion for cycling but just not take it that seriously.

Over the years, I’ve seen men and women who continue to not come to that realization, and pass up countless opportunities, because they think they still can become the next World Champ. I do however admire the ones that get their education, decide on a career all while training for Olympic Gold.

I know this is a tough subject because we are brought up in a society that says you can do anything you set your mind to. Well, this may be true for somethings, but not athletics. Just like Skip said, first comes genetics, and then comes all the other stuff.

I guess at the end of the day, we all have to balance our Passions, Reality, and Happiness.

Right now I am enjoying taking a bit of a break from cycling and competing locally in running events. It is a lot of fun and with no pressure from myself I am ending up doing pretty well and enjoying it.

Plus I get to spend more time with Kalli which is always a win-win!

Thanks for reading!

Filed Under: Cycling, Fun, Health 16 Comments

Everything kind of day

May 19, 2012 11 Comments

Thank you all for your kind words on my last post. It has been challenging for sure with many moments of ups and downs interspersed with feelings of thankfulness and peace.

Yesterday I finally went back to work but only managed a half day. I was exhausted and honestly felt like a zombie. So I went home and got into bed . It was just what the doctor ordered and by the time Bill came home from work, I felt almost normal.

Today (Saturday) I knew I wanted a day to include all things wonderful and so far I have not been disappointed.

Coffee brought to me in bed and overnight oats.

A run…..though not as far as I hoped. My body just isn’t ready. But it was wonderful none the less.