Monday, September 27, 2010

Obsessed

The causeway on an overcast fall day

I am beginning to realize that I am obsessed with biking.  (I'm sure most of you could have told me this awhile ago.) I tend to get this way with new things.



 I had another fun ride Sunday. It was cool and I was thinking I was going to be cold but I was fine. I was wearing my compression sleeves because my calves hurt and they helped keep my legs warm!  It was overcast and a little windy so I felt like I had a great workout!  I had that wonderful tired feeling I often have after running.  I went on the bike path after leaving my husband off to pick up his car. I parked at the southern end of the bike path, rode the 7 miles on the path and continued over the bike bridge to the causeway.  It wasn't crowded anywhere which surprised me but I guess not everyone thought it was a good day.  I did avoid some showers so was lucky that way.  Even though the bike path is mostly flat I felt like I rode hard and got a great workout.  It was just short of 25 miles.  My weekly total was almost 70. It is a lot easier to rack up the biking mileage.


As I was riding I was thinking about biking and running.  When I am running I often love it when I am done but definitely not always while I am actually running.  A lot of the time I love love love it when I am biking!  I love rolling hills the best, it beats the monotony of too much flatness. Does this mean once I can run I won't?  No way!  I can't wait to run again. But in the meantime I am finding people to ride with, figuring out how to commute to work more often, finding old routes I used to love and discovering some new ones. I wish I had  started riding earlier this summer as I have so many ideas of places to ride but that old cold white stuff will be falling soon and covering the roads and freezing my toes off.  I am not sure what I will do if the non running continues into the winter.  Well, let's not go there.  Erase that thought fast! 

27 comments:

Tina @GottaRunNow said...

I agree - biking is fun!

No, we won't think about that last thing you mentioned! Nope!

Christina said...

I like the path/causeway you were biking on. There's something so serene about that view. After seeing your pictures and envying your scenery, I have been trying to see the beauty around me. And now, everyday is pretty! Thanks for helping me open my eyes to the beauty I have around me.

Generation X (Slomohusky) said...

Biking Vegas is fun too. No worries from Nov. - March. Even better is the running! You - know - just saying?

racing dawn said...

You are inspiring me to want to bike! It looks gorgeous out there! Maybe I'll give it a try next spring... :) In the mean time... happy running thoughts to you!

Anne said...

I'm loving my new bike! You've definitely been my inspiration. Even when I can run again, I know I will want to use the bike for crosstraining.

Maybe we should get a bike trainer so we can keep biking inside in the winter :) ...although we'll also be running by then!

Andrew Opala said...

Great scenes!

How do you take the pictures of you riding?

HappyTrails said...

Ok, I am really starting to like that causeway - I am getting used to seeing the water so close on both sides of the path! :-) I went out on my mt bike today and, like you, it was pure glee! Nope, not going there on the cold and white stuff. BUT - did you know you can buy studded bike tires for snow riding??? Just sayin'........

Patrick Mahoney said...

There is no doubt that biking is very addictive. I predict by next summer you'll be riding a very fast road bike and the concept of a group ride will be being in a pace-line for mile after mile. That never gets old, at least for me.

Liz said...

Sounds as though you're having a great time! I wish I could share your enthusiasm for hills...!

Amy said...

So glad to hear you are enjoying the biking so much - it's so scary to think of not being able to run, but you have managed to find a really good substitute!

Ewa said...

Hope the white stuff will wait till you can run again.
Do you like swimming too? -- me think you might be a triathlete in the making.

Darlene said...

Be optimistic - you will be running soon!

Lindsay said...

I have a newfound joy for biking so I know how you feel! The only downside is the racing scene (or lack thereof) as with biking you just do "rides" but those are ok too.

Guess you'll have to join a pool for the winter and take up tris next year ;)

Teamarcia said...

I have fallen in love with biking this year (finally) as well. But that said, I hope you're up and running again soon!

Jill said...

Thought eased of you not running!! Though, wouldn't a century ride be pretty cool??? :)

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you are enjoying biking so much, it's much better to be sidelined with an enjoyable activity! Keep posting the pics, I'm addicted to Vermont (although we'll see in January!) ;)

Generation X (Slomohusky) said...

Vegas can be depending where you live. when I say vegas as well, i don't mean the strip. no one goes there but tourist. Red Rocks, Lake Mead, Henderson, Boulder City, to name a few good areas for biking. Plus some nice MTB areas as well. I was refering more though to weather - no snow (sometimes), hardly ever gets below 35 degrees - and even then it is only a few days each year. Hope you are able to run soon! :)

Julie said...

I think it is great that you have found something that makes you happy! I know that you love running and biking:) Biking has been great cross training activity for you. Next year you should do a duathon:)

Marlene said...

Ah but what a great obsession!

Alisa said...

Beautiful shots! I like the new large one at the top of the header.

LMC said...

Here's to a healthy biking obsession. It's better than sitting at home and, in your area, it's a perfect way to enjoy the beautiful scenery! Hope your healing is going well.
BTW, I started stretching about 6 months ago to reduce the tightness in my calf and hamstring muscles because my PT thought that was the cause of my shin splints. She also said my hips were weak and that stretching would help that too. I have definitely noticed the effect, no shin splints, smoother stride because I am no longer compensating for the weak left hip and so far, no injuries (although, I hate writing that for fear I may jinx myself). Good luck!

chris mcpeake said...

great landscapes

Molly said...

Great that the biking is keeping you happy! Are you putting those miles toward your 1,000 mile goal?

Katie A. said...

Love that your're enjoying biking!
I'm loving spinning at the gym - I know it will do wonders for you once you get back to running! Love the new pic at the top!

Emz said...

You have been motivating me [without knowing it] ;) to get a bike. When looking last Saturday. Have no clue what I'll end up with but hopefully with cooler temps on the horizon and no more "scheduled" races . . . I'm thinking this biking thing might be just what the doctor ordered.

You rock!!

RobinLK said...

I'm glad to hear someone else say they don't always find running 'fun' while they're in the moment. That's interesting about the biking. I think I would really love it! :)

BTW: I contacted Women's Running Magazine. They say they can't find a record of your subscription, but are ready to make it right. I also went back into my gmail history (the last few days), looking for your address. Couldn't find our email correspondence. Thought I was losing my mind (what's left...LOL) Seems Google dumped lots of history(?). grrrr!!!

When you get a chance, will you send me your snail mail address and the nice ladies at WRM have assured me they will get your full year started pronto!

trtl.rnr@gmail.com

*hugs* from Orlando!

Fruit Fly said...

You certainly do have one of the prettiest places to bike through!
~RR