What happened to the year 2016?

Can it really be the end of November 2016? How did the year go by so quickly?

I have spent most of the year trying to get back into a fitness groove and I just have not found it. Lately, I have come to realize running may not be the route for me.

The constant pounding on my legs, hips, knees and feet have just not worked for me. The pain has become beyond bothersome. After taking a full 2 weeks off from running, I finally noticed the pain in my hips fade away.

Now I realize I miss the fun of bicycle commuting.
Time to rediscover the bike.

So... I am rebuilding my commuting 'kit' and am planning a return to the bike full-time next week. My trusty Trek SU100 is ready to go. And so am I. Ride on.,,🚲

2014 follow-up

I 2014 - lots of firsts :
I completed not one but two sprint triathlons!
Beach Blast II - Sept 14 swim .30mi / bike 15 mi / run 3.1 mi
This was the hardest thing I have ever done... I was the last person to cross the finish line
-- but I DID finish!  My total time: 3:17:01 the swim part was harder than I expected, I thought I had enough practice - I was wrong. I couldn't get any type of rhythm going, my stroke was sloppy and my breathing was completely off... Only 1/3 mile and I was drained by the time I got out of the water. The bike ride was tough - I even had to walk one section of the bridge. By the time I got to running leg I really had to dig deep to keep going. I am very glad I finished and I really got the bug. I signed up for the 30A triathlon ar Gulfplace one month later.

30A triathlon at Gulfplace -- Oct 11 swim 300  /. bike 8 mi run / 3.1 mi
Again the swim was the hardest leg, I had a flat tire during the bike section and I ended up walking more of run section than I wanted -- but I DID it! Total race time. 2:03:09

After all this, I finished the year with a 1/2 marathon -- that's13.1 miles! I completed the Biggest Loser 1/2 marathon at PCB December 28th -- I wasn't the last person to cross the finish l e -- I hurt my right foot somewhere at the 10 mile mark and I ended up limping in the last 3 miles.  My total time 4:11:13

Although I am certainly slow and not as fit as I want to be I have learned I do have "it" inside that finds the deeper push and drive to keep going in the face of adversity.

Finally... Gonna Tri

I have officially registered for the Beach Blast sprint triathlon September 13th in Mexico Beach.
The race is .40 mile swim, 15 mile bike - followed by 3.1 mile run.
I have wanted to complete a sprint triathlon for quite awhile now,
 and finally I have gotten a good start on my training.

I found a way to get in my swim training - Gulf Swim & Wellness has saline-chlorination system for their pool, and they give lessons. I signed up for a private lesson and then monthly pass for open swim sessions. After my lesson, I have been practicing --- I am starting to feel more confident about the swim leg of the race.

Online I found a 12week plan to treating for a sprint distance triathlon. This Sunday is the 1st of June, I am using this as my training start date. Only 107 days to go...

Healthy again...

I am amazed how time flies by - the summer of 2012 I spent recovering from broken foot and wrist.  The doctor finally approved me for running in December of 2012. A year later and I am ready to take on the "Biggest Loser" 5k on the 29th at PCB Pier Park. My trusty bike is ready to go again.  My Christmas wishlist includes a new hi-vis convertible vest/jacket -- my current one has a sleeve zipper that is broken. The winters here are not bad - but I like the option of changing to a jacket for the after work ride since it gets so dark so early, having a little more reflective material helps my confidence.

Still healing...

Today's doctor visit was very positive. In 4 days (Friday) the external fixator will be removed from my wrist. Hallelujah! I will need to wear a Velcro brace for couple weeks as reinforcement but the bone itself appears to have healed sufficiently. The foot is not completely set so the airboot will stay on couple more weeks as well. The process has turned a corner at last. Only 6 weeks have passed since my injury but it seems much longer. I realize now just how active a person I was becoming - not being able to walk, run, ride or even workout really affected my 'psyche".

I have been very lax on my diet --pretty much junking out and bummed, the pity party is over. Very soon I will be able to start back on the bike and low-impact stuff -- i may have lost the summer season but that's ok - cuz Fall/Winter is the best time in Florida.

Everything changes...

Saturday morning was to be my first trail run -- however I have been totally sidelined. I currently have a "jones" fracture in my left foot and a split in the radius of my right wrist. The previous Saturday as I was untying canoe from our vehicle, I managed to slip and break my foot and my wrist. I had never broken a bone before, this was a new level of pain for me. Thus, my vacation ended with a thud. I have had my first ambulance ride now. The foot fracture will heal with the use of an "airboot", a bracing boot with inflatable sections to provide stable and support for the foot. The expected healing time is 4-6 weeks. The wrist required surgery as the break of the radius bone was causing the bone to pull away from the wrist. The orthopedic surgeon attached an 'external fixator' to the wrist. This device is intended to draw the bones together. The expected timeline is also 4-6 weeks for the wrist. Being down this long means my fitness training will have to start all over. If all goes well with the healing of my bones I can start fitness training again beginning in August. Running will be out of the question for a good while. Pounding of the pavement could easily lead to a re-injury. I am thinking cycling and swimming combined with resistance training will the best for getting me into shape again. The hardest part of healing so far has been psychological. I find myself teetering on depression... this could be the pain talking or not - either way I have got to find a way to keep it together.

Paws in the Park --- Revisited

The first race with my dog partner was the Paws in the Park 5k in Port St Joe in August 2011. This was a tough event for us, the temperature and humidity was brutal! I am all for supporting Gulf County Humane society but... why is the race in August? There is a Bow Wow Bash in October that sounds like fun -- the race should be in October too ... I bet the event gets more participants. I cannot remember our race time but I do remember I walked a LOT! The heat was too much for me and I was really worried about Cherokee. We usually run much earlier in the day and I wasn't sure how he would handle running so much later. Overall, I think he did well -- the next race we did was the St Patrick's day Run with the Dogs in Destin, FL,  what a difference here... the Destin race was huge with bunches of dogs! March is much better than August in Florida for running anyway :-)  The sheer number of dogs was almost overwhelming for Cherokee but he got it together as the race got under way. Our time was pitiful, but that's OK, too. It was a fun day and Cherokee was very happy to play.

Thoughts on training and more

Having decided to participate in a 6k trail run at the end of the month, I realized the need to ramp up the training for me & my dog partner. I am planning to use the Galloway method of run/walk especially since this will be the end of June in Florida (uh, it's HOT! here) I like to run with music but several times now during the actual races I have had 'technical' issues with either earbuds, mp3 player or dead batteries (which really sucks after creating a brand new playlist). I think I run better (perhaps this is a delusion) when listening to music. Eventually, I hope my running technique develops to the point that I could maintain a good steady pace on my own... so where is the rambling leading? I don't know, yet...

Few days ago I saw this picture of the "modern marathoner" -- sure hope this not me. :-)

Last month I bought a belt to hold a couple small water bottles and this works pretty well in helping to stay hydrated while running in the brutal Florida humidity. I also enjoy my Garmin forerunner and mp3 player --- uh oh maybe I am getting too many gadgets...ok I am drawing the line now --- no more gadgets! (except my dog bowl, dog baggies, leash and phone -- all fits in the belt with water bottles)

Next race...?

Trying to decide what will be my next race, only a few dog-friendly races in our area --- I think my next race may have to be solo. Cherokee is a decent running partner, he is patiently waiting for me to get faster. :-)

Looking...looking....
Eureka!

I have found it! Our next race is...
the Anchors Away 6k trail run at Conservation park in Panama City Beach on June 23rd. I called the event organizer and asked if the dog could run with me and they said OK!
So... now we have a goal -- only 3 weeks away. A 6k is 3.728 miles and we average the 3 mile distance pretty consistently (just not quickly yet) -- we will pick it up a little on our morning runs until race day. I know Cherokee will love the trail as the asphalt of the city streets can be hard on his paws. The last race had a couple

segments with some really rough street surfaces, I worried about this and tried to keep him on the grass as much as possible. He 'heels' on the right always so I will run closer to the edge when the asphalt gets 'ugly' if there is not too much debris on the edges of the road. I have discovered the streets can be dangerous places on foot and on the bike. The sheer volume of glass and trash can cause havoc on bike tires, running shoes and pup paws. Amazing what people throw out onto the road... but that's a topic for another day.

Furry Friends 5k

Cherokee and I participated in the Furry Friends 5k April 28th, this was a fundraiser for local humane society.

As a team, we did much better in our time -- 41.10 not bad! Still did not place in our age group, but that's ok too. The reasons we run include health % fitness (for human and dog!) Also, giving Cherokee a job helps him to stay happier. The races are for my competitive spirit. :-) I am not really competing against the other runners...
I just want to improve my 5k time.
I am still waffling on the idea of going after longer distances like 10k, 1/2 marathons, and full marathons.
I believe I can train up to longer races, I just need to find the kick to my butt to DO IT.

Signed up for another 5k with the dog

Run with the dogs 5k in Destin, FL 3/17 (St Patrick's day - must wear green!) I got a kick out of the registration - dog with runner or dog with walker... Dog gets top billing :-)

Any time I have an actual defined goal or destination I seem to do better staying focused on my overall exercise program. This race is close enough to see the end of the tunnel - yet far enough in the distance so I can pick up more weeks of training.

The last race the dog & I ran was in August and that was brutal - hot & humid! I believe in supporting a local humane society but this race is very difficult - maybe if we can stay focused in our training we might do it again... Time will tell. Cherokee in his fur coat found the heat really tough to handle.

*Update clock time was 45:09 for our run (did not place in our age group) - we were slow but the race was huge! Lots of distractions, but Cherokee did great!

2012 a new year and new goals...

This year has begun and my goals are more solid than ever. The first day of 2012 was a run day, the dog & I did our bit and even with the humidity I felt good in 2.5 miles. My goals in 2012 include pushing myself to a solid sustained run through the 5k distance and then increasing the distance to the 10k run. I signed up for 500 miles in 2012 - this averages out to 9.6 miles per week. To reach this goal I need to push harder where 3 miles becomes my average run adding more more miles to the point of 4-5 miles becoming the challenge run on the weekends. I CAN do this. Happy 2012!

Running with dog...

The newest member of the family & I are getting acquainted with early morning runs. Cherokee is approximately 3 years old and appears to be pure Golden Retriever. He loves people, so perhaps not my defender but is becoming a fine companion in the wee early minutes of the day. Running is hard work for me and I find at first light is the best time for me. Running is not difficult for Cherokee but he seems content to go at my pace. I am actually hoping to improve my speed with a 4-legged partner. We are registered to run in a Paws in the Park 5k at the end of August - should be fun.

Thank you Mother Nature...

The weather has been near-perfect for Bike-to-Work wee. A bit windy Monday & Wednesday on the ride home, otherwise fabulous! Temps have been amazing - staying with highs in the low 70's in May! This is practically unheard of in Florida... the forecast says all returns to normal next week with highs approaching 90. This short reprieve was indeed welcomed.

The quest to find the best commuting route continues... So far it looks as if I will need to different routes between the arrival and departures. The morning ride is very quiet but the afternoon is a very different experience. The return ride tends to be packed with aggresive adn impatient drivers. (Note: the distractions of phone calls, texting, etc I see everyday and yes-- these drivers are dangerous!) I prefer to share the road but 5 o'clock is not bike-friendly here. I have discovered a MUP I can use for the most stressful part of my ride home. Taking the MUP is 'safer' except for the vehicles using the side streets. The path is usually fairly often by pedestrians and joggers so drivers are getting used to the idea there may be traffic on the path.

Bike to work week

Monday's ride to work was fabulous! Unbelievable cold front mid-May in Florida gave us temps in low 50s -wow! The morning commute was quiet and brisk, little traffic throughout the route. Pleasant in every way... Felt glorious when I arrived. The ride home was a bit challenging with a headwind most of the way. The temp was a lovely 72 and the ride was ok except I noticed my rear needed some air and then I discovered my pump was missing a vital component - the fitting to go on tire valve. Fortunately, I wasn't REALLY low on air and could get home. Can't understand what happened to my pump, I have another small pump to use until I replace or find missing part.

I keep looking at potential routes, the morning ride is always pleasant but the afternoons can be stressful with all the traffic. My route yesterday is primarily residential but there is a 1/4 mile section that gets tense for me. Too many people are too distracted while driving... Phones, testing, radios, etc... And this section is a connector for two larger highways. So I keep trying... I know one thing is certain - I am visible, I always wear either super bright yellow, safety orange or Hi-viz green. If folks wouldn't pass me so close I would be thrilled!

National Bike Month

Reminder: May is national bike month.
Let's celebrate bikes as valid transportation.
Use your voice in your community, let your local government know
that bicycles have the right to Share The Road.

Getting warm

Mid 80s already but only bothers me on the ride home.
Mornings are fabulous just pushing 70 degrees.
I do love Florida weather.

kept the 2mile challenge intact today

I needed to go to the store today, grabbed my pack and off I went. As I got close to the shopping center, I noticed a shortcut path the kids use and I tried it... great little footpath :-) The shortcut leads to the fast food alley and wally world. I was able to avoid one of the intersections that is so tricky going to the store. The trip took no more time than it would have with a car. My only complaint is I grabbed the wrong backpack... the pack was a softshell pack and when I put boxes in it I got poked in the back all the way home (10-15 minutes not long) -- I need to go through my packs and figure out which ones are best for the bike. I have a rear rack, maybe I could add wire baskets -- it is a thought. I figure since I am willing to ride nearly 7 miles to work there is no reason not to do most of my errands by bike either.

13.54 miles

Yep, that's what my Garmin Forerunner says today. My round trip was not any sort of speed demon time but I loved it! I found a route that's not too bad -- there's only one intersection that I find intimidating to navigate. There is one turn that is very close to a large grocery store, near the post office and the new, big Walmart -- traffic here is a bit dicey at 5pm. I will continue to look at my options --- perhaps I can find a route even better. Distance isn't the main priority -- finding the 'safest' path between the two points is the most important issue to me. I like riding the back roads -- the residential areas, less traffic and more to see. I don't care for the roads jammed with traffic and unpleasantness. The roads I prefer have the lower speed limits, less traffic, and even trees!!!

6.8 miles one way

That's what the map said - my first bike commute of 2011. The morning temperature of 38 almost kept me off the bike. I am glad I didn't chicken out. It was a great ride. The morning segment was much better than the return ride. Has been awhile seen my last commute by bike and my confidence level in traffic needs to rebuild. All in all a great start to finding my "zenonabike" again.

I am a bit sore this morning - this week I am riding every other day to reacclimatize my muscles to this activity. After a couple weeks, I will add the other days of the workweek to my bike commuting. I think this is a doable plan. I do need to review my gear tonight - possibly need to order a different pennies for carrying my stuff. Seemed awkward yesterday the way I had everything packed...