I Can Do Hard Things

Awhile back I took my kids to an art class in Pleasant Grove.  We drove up the GIGANTIC hill (450 ft ascent) by Pleasant Grove High School (200 South) and I thought to myself, "I would love to see if I could ride this hill someday".

I DID IT TODAY and lived to tell about it. 

From the bottom to the top is 2 miles (straight up hill).  So I rode to the top, then rode down .5 mile onto a side street and rode back up that side hill then back up to the top, then down/up the side street.  It took me about 2 minutes to ride down the entire thing.

 I had to stop a few times to get water, but next time I do it my goal is to ride it straight up - no stops (and start at my house and ride to the base).

Hooray for a little self confidence on a bike!

 47:52 minutes - 6.04 miles (slow, but big BIG hills) 

I rode over to my new favorite Pleasant Grove High School Hill (about 3.5 miles from my house).  I had a hard time getting motivated - I was tired and was starting to feel the aches of a cold coming on.

 I rode the hill twice.  After the first up/down, I parked my bike and ran for 2 minutes.  Then back up the hill and down it.  I almost hit a stupid truck who made a quick turn with no blinker on the way down. 

On the way back home, I rode another semi-big hill and it seemed effortless compared to the GIANT!

When I got home, I ran another 2 minutes.  I took my son on a bike ride for his Super Saturday.  We did alittle off-road and that freaked him out a little!  We also saw a really big snake - YUCK!

1:23 - 12.75 miles

I rode my GIANT today  - all the way up = NO STOPS!!!  CONQUER! 

After my first trip up, I rode down 2/3 of the way, parked my bike and ran for 3 minutes.  Hopped back on to ride the hill again.

When I was turning out of the parking lot, I noticed 2 bikers heading up.  I peddled my heart out, but they caught me at the end (granted it was my 2nd time up the hill). One of the guys shouted, "You're almost there" and my internal was "SHUT IT" - I don't like to be beaten :)

My legs were super sore all day (especially when I was bending over to pick strawberries).

Legs still sore from yesterday, so took a nice and easy walk.  

2 miles (and change) - 33 minutes - (1x1min run and 1x2min run)

40:03 minutes - 3.18 miles (2x1 min run and 1x2:30 min run)

I started out on my  bike and .6 miles into my ride, I got a flat tire.  SO I walked it back home and went for a walk/run.  My ankle has felt really good the past few days, so I added an extra running minute to my workout today.

Since my bike had a flat tire, I went to spin this morning.  AWESOME!  No running today.

47 minutes - 3.5 miles walking at fitness center at hotel

1 min run at 15 minutes 

1 min run at 25 minutes

1 min run at 35 minutes 

2.5 min run at 45 minutes

 Long car ride ahead - FUN!

3 miles walking (no running) - BIG BIG BIG hills at my brother in law's house in CA.  Eating way too much junk :)

30 minutes walk (3x1minute run). 

Finally got home from CA trip.  After putting the kids to bed, I took a walk to get my wiggles out.  It was almost dark, but it sure felt good.  

Always fun to go away - even better to come home.

Spin class

1x1min run

1x1:30 min run

Glad to be home from vacation!  Lots of  laundry and restocking my fridge...oh and the buckets of veggies that I picked from my garden need to be prepared for freezing.  Fun - fun - fun!

Spin class

1x1min run

1x1:30 run

Spin class (legs were definitely sore from all the spin)

20 minutes on the elliptical (little nervous on how my ankle would feel - we will see)

5.5 mile bike ride ON MY NEW BIKE!!!!  Hip hip hooray!

I've been having a mental breakdown.  Yep, I'm crazy.  I'm not sure if it is a "mid-summer-too many kids home-really hot" syndrome or what. 

This past week, I noticed myself becoming irritable quickly, grumpy, and unhappy.  I guess I didn't realize how badly I need my physical outlet (I do workout all the time, but I think I need to workout harder or longer or differently or maybe just go to Hawaii).  I have to have a really hard workout to get it all out.  I have to leave my stress on the road, bike or somewhere, because if I don't I AM GONNA LOSE IT!

I was planning on getting a new bike for my birthday (in September) and realized that if I got it then, I would only be able to ride for 2 months.  So I got it early (Thanks Tim!)  I thought I was going to have to order it, but they have my size in stock.  Hooray for the really nice people who answer all my dumb questions and didn't look at me weird. 

It is a really low-level/entry level bike.  But $13,000 wasn't in my budget to get a Lance Armstrong Trek bike (that is what the sales guy Lance's bike costs - HE HAS 4 OF THEM!!!)  I was nervous about the clip-in peddles, but they worked out great.  What a difference it makes!  Here's to speedy miles!

10 mile ride on my new bike.  I need to think of a name to call it! 

The ride was just ok - I went around 4:45pm, so it was really hot.  My legs were also really sore and felt like lead.

3 minute run around the church

4:55am -- uhhhhh...I'm tired

3.25 mile walk

3x1:min run

1x3:min run

I'm babysitting too many extra kids today and it is going to be hot - I'm going to be cranky :)

58:44 - 14.36 miles

4 minute run around the church

I survived yesterday and the million kids we had over made it home alive.  I was blessed with an extra tank of patience - hooray!

 I went for a ride tonight and loved the overcast weather (there was even a few rain drops).  It was the farthest ride I've been on and by far the fastest.  I can't believe how sore my legs have been lately- hooray for muscles getting stronger due to all the biking (hopefully that is it). 

I hope to go for a really long ride on Saturday.

32 minutes walking - no running.  Ankle was really sore yesterday and alittle today.  Ughhhh.....it has been since January that this injury has been hanging on.

12.95 miles - 1:06

Today was a big day - I rode Suncrest.  You know when you have a big speed workout or a long run coming up and you can't sleep because of the anticipation.  That was me last night.

I drove the course yesterday to see if I was crazy for doing it. 

Today, I started at the Smiths off Highland Highway and biked up to the little grocery store on top of Suncrest.  I think the elevation change is 1500 feet (correct me if I am wrong). 5 miles up and 5 miles down.  I think I was more scared to come down. 

I wish I could record my thoughts during that ride.  Doubt to pain to exhilaration to pain to excitement. I didn't go fast, but I rode the entire way and didn't stop.

I texted my hubby at the top - "I did it. No stops.  All the way".  I wish I had a camera.

I felt really good when I was done, so I rode around the neighborhoods my the Smiths.  There was this HUGE downhill gully to an uphill.  I felt so great going up and down - so I turned around to do it again.  After going down and heading back up, my gears got stuck.  I couldn't peddle and crashed.  My first crash.  I'm grateful there wasn't any cars coming.  I had a car stop (they were going the other direction) and ask if I was ok (hooray for nice people in the world).  I had to walk up the hill because it was so steep I couldn't get going again.

I learned a lot from this ride.  I CAN DO HARD THINGS.  Next time I do Suncrest, there will be more speed.

54:27 - 12.95 miles

I was really excited about tonight's ride - overcast and cooler.  I rode up a semi-large hill tonight and it seemed like a piece of cake compared to what I have been riding.  I feel so much more comfortable riding, shifting gears, and getting up those hills.

Unfortunately, halfway into the ride, it started to rain.  I was nervous about the slick roads and sliding out when I brake.  It took it really slow home.  Glad I didn't die :)

14.92 miles   1:02

Another great ride on my new bike "Boston". I finished the ride I wanted to do yesterday.  I need to get some padded bike shorts, my hiney is starting to hurt beyond the regular bike butt.  

Cooler weather and a bit overcast.

I need to learn how to ride faster on a flat road.  I can powerhouse-it up the hills and down hills, but just seem to stroll on the flats.  Lots to practice.

4:55am - I am SO dragging today...

2 miles on the elliptical 

2 miles on the treadmill (2x1min runs)

Ready for school to start!

RUNNING 1.71 miles - 21:32 minutes (3x2min runs)

RIDING 16.96 miles- 1:27

I rode the Alpine Loop tonight.  This was a big ride for me tonight - biggest climb and farthest distance.  I was nervous because the canyon road is so narrow and there can be a lot of traffic.  My hubby made me put a note in the pocket of my shorts, so if I got hit, someone would know who I was :)

I parked just before the entrance to the canyon (I was debating whether I should ride over to the canyon and am really glad I drove).

The ride is very long, slow, and gradual uphill.  They had repaved part of the road and had the speed bumps on the side.  So I was trying to stay off that, but not be too far into the road.  I'm not that coordinated.

The views were unbelievable - so much better than in a car.  I smelled a lot of campfires too - yummy! 

I got to the Timpanooke turnoff and thought that I had reached the top (or was close to it).  I never pay that much attention when I am driving it.  Come to find out the summit is 11 miles up and I only went 8.6 miles up - SO CLOSE BUT SO FAR AWAY.  If I had known, I'm still not sure if I could have made it.  My legs were spent.

On the way down, my hand were cramping from holding the brakes so tight.  It was such a fast downhill - sharp turns.  A car followed me down for awhile and I was really grateful!

When I was done, I walked/ran on the Cedar Hill Golf Course trail.  There were way too many snakes, gophers and creepy crawlies for my taste.

I hope I can walk tomorrow!

20 minutes on the elliptical

2 miles walking - 31 minutes - (3x1min run)

ankle feeling ok

21.30 miles

1:35

This has been my longest ride yet.  I received an email from the store I bought my bike at about a group ride.  I was really nervous about going.  I don't know any biking lingo and am still very much a beginner.  But I wanted to learn, so I went.

What FANTASTIC, nice, non-judgemental people!  They had employees ride up front, in the middle, and someone bringing up the end.  We rode from the store up Suncrest and back. What a great ride.

I ended up being near the middle-end of the group (but not last - yessssss!).  I learned a lot about bike etiquette, bike safety, how to get out of the saddle properly, shifting gears, etc.  The cute gal I rode with was so nice and helpful!

But man, my hiney is sore!