New York City

Times Square

Cheap tickets

The line for our show.

Sunday we took the train into New York City.   Once there we went and got in line for tickets to a show.  We were in line about an hour but it was pretty painless. There were plenty of people to talk to and lots to look at.  The tickets were 50% off so it was worth it. We ended up with tickets to Catch Me If You Can.  It was excellent.  Very entertaining and great singing and dancing which floats my boat.

I had never seen a Lego store.  This sign is made with Lego men.

You are seeing their heads and hats.  Look below.

It was one of many cool things.

Lots of ways to buy Legos. Pick your color

and fill a tub with bricks.

We wandered around while waiting, did a little looking in stores and ate lunch which was great.  I truthfully feel like time spent indoors while in NYC is a bit wasted. I prefer to be in Central Park, at Battery Park, on the water on a ferry, biking on Governor's Island or walking across Brooklyn Bridge.  You get it. Having said that I am the one who suggested seeing a show.  And it was good but I did have a touch of disappointment over the day.  It wasn't a bad day by any means but other years I have enjoyed much more. Given a perfect NYC day I would be walking miles seeing lots of things. Some of it would be in Central Park and some of it would be out on the water looking back at the city.  Now I know for next time.  Plus I had such a GREAT FANTASTIC DAY in Rhode Island that I didn't want to insist it all be my way!  I know my friend enjoyed the day immensely.

A REMINDER PLEASE
Can you vote for Emily (my daughter)  from Sweat Once A Day so she can win some financing for her trip home for the National Tris? Here is the link.  I am shamelessly sending this by email to many of my friends.  You can vote once a day for a month. Feel free to do that!  If you go to the link her picture is on different pages at various times.  Click on her picture and under her bio is the place to click to vote.  Thanks! 
http://www.refuelwithchocolatemilk.com/grants/vote/

Rhode Island

Whew! It has been a busy weekend and I'm exhausted!  I have a lot of blogs to catch up but I want to get a post out.

I had a great weekend.  The weather cooperated and wasn't the scorcher it often is when I visit my friend, K.  We are college friends who have kept in touch many years now.  Since 2004 I have been going down each summer for a long weekend.  A good time is always had by all.

This year we spend Saturday in Rhode Island on the East Bay bike path which goes from Bristol, Rhode Island to East Providence.  I rode 30 miles total.  It was mostly flat and very pleasant.  I was in heaven.  I'll tell most of the story in pictures.

First, K discovers that she drove about 80 miles

with the bike lock sitting on the bumper.

We head north and encounter many many geese.  

There are some babies here but they all 

seem pretty oblivious to us. Thank goodness.

Lots of water to look at. It was just beautiful!

The whole ride was spectacular. I loved the whole day.

We continue north......

.....you can see East Providence in the distance. I liked the

mix of water, neighborhoods and city.

Many birds to look at

Time to stop for lunch.

The two green bridges are the interstate.

After lunch K waits while I continue. I quickly end up in

East Providence. It feels rather sketchy.

This is part of a ramp that goes down to ground level.

This is a bridge that I crossed first, next to the highway.

Looking off the bridge. 

 I head back to the path

where it feels a little friendlier.

 Heading south back to Bristol.

 This is one of the bike bridges.

 Loving the day!

 Almost at the Bristol end of the path.

 I chat for awhile with a very nice older

couple who tell me this spot

is a well kept secret as not many people

come here. They make a daily trip.

 They nicely snap a couple pictures of me.

  We head back to Conn.....

 .....and stop for lobster rolls and clam chowder.  A great 

first Saturday of my summer vacation.

Three Things Thursday

1. Nothing can top the fact that SCHOOL IS OUT FOR SUMMER!  At last.  This one was a long time coming. I have a lot of plans and don't know how I will fit in the school work I need to do and the cleaning I typically do here in the summer.  And I want to enjoy a slower pace.  That might be hard to find.

2. Tomorrow I leave for Connecticut to visit my friend from college I visit every summer.  It is a long weekend but we pack a lot in.  Sat. we hope to go to Rhode Island and bring out bikes to do some bike paths near the ocean.  I will be in heaven.  Please please please let the weather cooperate.  Sunday will be New York City day.  Our hope is to take in a show.  Haven't seen one in awhile, it's time. I love NYC no matter what I do.  I get really energized there and love being the tourist that I am.  I could walk all day and gawk and be happy.

Enjoying biking on Governor's Island

The High Line Park in the Sky 2009

The High Line Park in the Sky 2009

One of my favorites - walking across the Brooklyn Bridge 2008

3.  Can you vote for Emily (my daughter)  from Sweat Once A Day so she can win some financing for her trip home for the National Tris? Here is the link.  I am shamelessly sending this by email to many of my friends.  You can vote once a day for a month. Feel free to do that!  If you go to the link her picture is on different pages at various times.  Click on her picture and under her bio is the place to click to vote.  Thanks!
http://www.refuelwithchocolatemilk.com/grants/vote/

Last summer at one of Emily's Tris

Running

Before the swim

With the bike on the way to it.

After with the Lincoln Memorial Medal in front

of the Lincoln Memorial.  I love this picture.

Maybe I'll have to do this tri so I can get one!

Ha!  Ha!

Still High From My Duathlon........

I had a couple of real positives out of my bike commute today.  


First thing this morning when I arrived at work on my bike (rain clothes on because it was rather wet out) a rough and tumble 6th grade boy who has given many teachers more than a fair share of grief asked me if I rode to school every day.  I told him no just some days.  He commented on what a great bike I had  and asked me where I was riding from.  When I told him where I lived his eyes got huge and he said, "Wow."  Slight pause  "Wow!"  Nice that I could impress him so.  Good way to start the day.  


After work I had to go to the vets to get some medicine for our cats.  I almost bailed and drove today because it would be much easier to have my car.  But I didn't. I brought a check so I could pay. I brought my lock so I could lock up my bike.  Then I had that great feeling of accomplishing something while I was exercising because I ran an errand. Good way to end the work day.

I've also gotten up early the past two mornings and plan to continue. I've been running by 5:15.  Although this is  a bit early for me I have been loving it. It is really a peaceful time of day and I seem to be beating the bad weather while I run.  

I have only 1 1/2 days of school left! Woot Woot for sure.

I was down to only one race left that I had registered for so I went ahead and signed up for our local 5K.  I am about to register for a few more that I have been procrastinating over.

I am still feeling rather high from my duathlon.  It reminds me of how I felt after my first marathon.  I had so much fun and rode the high well into the next week and beyond.  I know that duathlons aren't going to be a big part of my racing time but when I can I certainly want to do more.  Someone may be trying to convince me to try a triathlon even though they know how I swim when I do which hasn't been for about 5 years.  When I do swim I have never used goggles, I don't do rhythmic breathing and I am no good at the free style. I prefer a very elementary breast stroke.  Sounds just like someone ready for a tri right?  Maybe it will be a goal for another year.  

We have 3 cats who need pills.  So far we have been successful with one cat.  My husband is so impressed that last time I did this alone.  But they must remember and tonight they are having no part of it.  Suggestions?  

Dynamic Duathlon - LOVED IT!

This woman is a duathlete!

Here are my goals for this race:

I want to have fun. (ABSOLUTELY)

I want to finish. (DEFINITELY)

I want to finish with the feeling that I want to do it again. (FOR SURE)

Here is one of my goals for 2011: CHECK!

15. Secret goal- find a duathlon and race in it! Tell no one as when they see you show up on a mountain bike looking not one bit like a bike racer they may not let you enter! Be prepared to come in last.

I had forgotten I made it a secret goal! 

Here is one other relevant goal:

2. Cross train especially in warmer weather. Don't forget what a friend the bike was to you when your feet failed you! This would be a big fat CHECK too!

I loved this duathlon.  I wish there were more of them.  I DID NOT come in last.  I am very proud of how I did.  It is all relative and I am thrilled. 

THE BIKE

 The bike course has been described as challenging and yeah it was but doable.  It was actually 15.6 not 15.  When I went this distance before hand the fastest I was doing it was 1:13 or so.  Today I finished the bike in 1:05 flat. I was thrilled! (yeah be prepared for me to overuse that word)  I felt like I put a lot into it during the bike.  When we were going up a hill around Mile 2 or 3 I was dead last.  I thought okay but just keep those bikers ahead in your sight.  Well, I did and within the next mile I passed one. I had no idea if I would stay in the "lead" but I did. There was one biker who was friends with a woman I have raced the 100 on 100 with twice.  They were doing this as a team.  She and I passed each other several times.  She would zoom by me on the downhills but I would pass her on the uphills.  I felt like I did okay on those uphills.  Generally when I passed someone that is where it was.  I think there were 3 hybrid bikes total in this race. I was glad I didn't have my mountain bike as I would have been on my own I am sure.  Maybe around Mile 7 I passed a man.  Okay this is good, AJH.  You might not be the last biker.  My "friend" and I switched positions often.  On the last third of the bike course I caught up to and passed a woman.  It wasn't long before she was passing me.  We did this a few times.  The last time I passed her I told her I was sure she would be going by me soon but I stayed ahead of her.  There were many hills, two were particularly steep.  I did a little drinking and eating on the bike but I felt like it really slowed me down when I did.  Soon enough I reached the 15 mile mark and knew I was almost back at the start.  I slowed down to go into the school.  I was so worried about the dismount that I never looked at the clock.  I "racked" my bike (new word for me), ate a little, drank some and headed off to realize I had forgotten my hat (took off my helmet though) and came back to get it.  Then I started again.  As I came around the corner I checked the clock and it was 1:07:12 so I figured I was around 1:05 in the bike. I found out later that is exactly what I was. When results are published the transition is included in the run so pace is a little deceiving.  I did find myself absolutely widely grinning during portions of the bike race! And when I was done I was NOT the last one in on the bike.  

THE RUN

 The run course was also more than 5 miles, I am estimating 5.2.  It was hilly, hilly, hilly. If it was a stand alone race I don't see myself signing up for it.  When I started out I was pleased that I could see some runners. I didn't know how far ahead people were.  The first mile and a half is all up hill.  During the next mile and a half there are some flats but still lots of uphills.  The fourth mile is a little of everything. The fifth mile is a blessedly long downhill and the last section is a path across a field to the school parking lot.  None of the bikers who were behind me passed me (all 3 of them) but I passed 4 runners during the run. I passed them in the first two miles and then I could see one runner quite a ways ahead of me.  Once I got a little farther I was running alone.  It was a strange feeling as I definitely use other runners to give me energy and help me go faster. I felt I did okay staying in the race groove though and not settling into a slower every day run.  This run was slow don't get me wrong, but not as slow as a workout would be for me.  As I ran by one home, a man was out mowing his lawn.  He gave me a big grin and tipped an imaginary hat to me.  I loved it.  I thanked all the volunteers as I so appreciated knowing just where to turn and having traffic stopped way in advance for me so I didn't have to worry about it.  My final time was 1:56:43.  I had thought I would surely be 2 hours plus so I was once again thrilled.  My run time without the transition was somewhere around 49 minutes so somewhere high in the 9s. I'll take it. It was one tough course on tired legs.  

Disappointment

 My Garmin was dead again. One more chance and it is history.  In case that third failure appears does anyone have a Garmin they love?  What model? What features do you love?

I didn't take any pictures until I got home.  I was too nervous and caught up in making sure I was doing what I needed to, I decided not to worry about pics.  

Thrills

 The whole thing!  I am so glad there were some newbies there. I am glad I could see bikers while I was biking. That helped a ton!  I would not have wanted to have been alone. It was very motivating to try to keep up, catch up, pass.  I actually knew a few people.  And the weather  - the rain held off.  The temps were quite perfect.  Once again, the whole thing.

The swag - pretty basic.  

Not Many Hours Left Before My First Duathlon

Cloudy. Showers likely...mainly in the morning. Highs in the upper 50s. South winds around 10 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

That is the weather report for tomorrow.  It also says around 11 (I will not be done by then) there is a chance of thunderstorms.  This is getting worse instead of better. I am not sure what to wear. Obviously bike shorts but long sleeve, short sleeve?  Water repellant or don't bother?  If I am super soaked getting off the bike do I change my shirt before running just for comfort or is it not worth the time and bother?  


I picked up my bike today (new bike tune up) and told the guys helping me I was doing the Duathlon tomorrow.  They  said the bike course was fine (I think it looks hilly as hell) but man the run had an unbelievable hill. Remember I said I had paid no attention to the run aspect of this race?  There was a girl there who was doing it too worrying about being slow on the bike. I will be doing a public service by participating and helping others feel good about their bike times!

I managed to commute to work twice this week.  Thursday was very iffy due to weather. After listening to thunder storms rolling through all night long I got to work with no problem.  All day people were asking me if I would be able to bike home and I thought this was the day I would have to call for a ride as storm after storm rolled through the day also.  But after work it appeared to clear and I rode home plus some extra.  Just as I was getting off the bike in my yard I told my husband I lucked out and he told me I just made it. As soon as he finished saying that the skies opened and it dumped big time!  I got  soaked just putting my bike away.  Love that I got my commute in in between all that weather!

That morning I had also run but I stayed close to home in case it started to thunder. I did some back and forth but couldn't go as far as I wanted because there was a large tree down across the road.  Yikes!  The next morning just past this point my husband saw a bear there on his way to work. I do not want to see  a bear when I am running or biking.

Last week Jamoosh had a good post about Stories Make the Race.  I would change that slightly to Stories Make the Runner and encourage you to go read a recent post by my friend CQL.  She is a very inspiring lady who always has nothing but a positive attitude. She is amazing.

Three Things Thursday - The Duathlon Addition

1. Okay, I am getting nervous.

I know NOTHING about doing a duathlon.  I don't know how to attach the number to the bike.  I do know you need to dismount and walk in but I am afraid I will forget. I am afraid I will break some rule I don't even know exists.  I am afraid I will be so far behind I won't even see other bikers.  I am afraid some people will finish their run while I am still biking.  I am afraid I will feel like a fish out of water. I don't know anyone going at this point and I am not good at small talk.

2.  But.......having said all that I am also very excited.  This was a goal I thought of last fall when I started biking due to my injury and I am pleased that I have followed through. Or I will have mid day on Sunday.  I am excited to be doing something outside of my comfort zone that may open other opportunities for me.  I am thrilled at how much I love biking and can't wait to do LOTS of biking this summer although very little of it will involve racing. I really have paid no attention to the running part of this race and perhaps I should be more nervous about it particularly that first uphill mile.  I think I will be so glad to be running and doing something totally in my comfort zone that I won't care.

3. Here are my goals.

I want to have fun.

I want to finish.

I want to finish with the feeling that I want to do it again.