I think I'm still recovering from Saturday. Sore wrists and a strained tendon possibly below my right knee cap. I hope to solve some of this wear and tear with my free bike fit session from Cycle Therapy this week, you guys rock! http://www.cycletherapy.ca/
I hit the gym yesterday for the first time in about a week. Consistency has not been my friend. Once the weather becomes beautiful outside, I begin to lose my desire for running a track or lifting weights in an enclosed uninspired grey space. I want to be free and run with the hair in my wind... or something like that.
I managed to spin my legs out on a bike a bit and do some shoulders and back (trying to strengthen the stuff that's holding me over the handlebars).
Went with a friend for a very chilled pace out to Mimico and back (35km). Beautiful day, sun shining, the lake looked gorgeous. Getting back to enjoying being on a bike. I'm hoping that this weekend's training ride is much more flat so I can get some good cadence practice up on my bike.
I can't believe that it's the last day of April and that I've been 30 for a whole month! Time flies when you're training for a Bike Rally ;-)
Monday, April 30, 2007
Saturday, April 28, 2007
3rd Training Ride: Kennedy - Rouge Valley (42km+30km)
Let's call today the ride of Kvetch. I barely slept last night, the weather was dismal, the wind was chilly and there were hills. Lots of long extended amounts of pain kinds of hills. To be positive, there were also some really beautiful farms and country roads which helped distract me from focusing on the hills.
Today's ride also brought home the reality that holy crap: 610kms is a really long way! The ride was really challenging, lots of long hills that never seemed to end. When you hit the crest, often there was another one not too far in the distance. It was a good challenge though. I feel really good about having completed it. I also felt great about not giving in and taking the subway home later.
This ride knocked me on my butt a bit. After a 5 hour nap yesterday afternoon and consuming a whole large pizza to myself, I have regrouped and realize 3 very important things:
1. I need to get into that whole carb loading thing the night before a training ride because now things are getting serious
2. I really need to maintain a consistent schedule at the gym with lots of cross training and resistenace training.
3. I'm not in as good of shape at this point as I thought I'd be, but I'm well on my way and in far better shape than I was 10 years ago.
This post may seem very negative and ranty, that's probably the sore groginess talking. Honestly, I'm glad for yesterday's ride because I think that I desperately needed that dose of reality!
Today's ride also brought home the reality that holy crap: 610kms is a really long way! The ride was really challenging, lots of long hills that never seemed to end. When you hit the crest, often there was another one not too far in the distance. It was a good challenge though. I feel really good about having completed it. I also felt great about not giving in and taking the subway home later.
This ride knocked me on my butt a bit. After a 5 hour nap yesterday afternoon and consuming a whole large pizza to myself, I have regrouped and realize 3 very important things:
1. I need to get into that whole carb loading thing the night before a training ride because now things are getting serious
2. I really need to maintain a consistent schedule at the gym with lots of cross training and resistenace training.
3. I'm not in as good of shape at this point as I thought I'd be, but I'm well on my way and in far better shape than I was 10 years ago.
This post may seem very negative and ranty, that's probably the sore groginess talking. Honestly, I'm glad for yesterday's ride because I think that I desperately needed that dose of reality!
MAP: http://www.bikerally.org/trainingmaps2007/42k_KennedyZooLoop.pdf
There will be some training before next weekend, oh yes there will be :-)
There will be some training before next weekend, oh yes there will be :-)
Friday, April 27, 2007
Cinderella at the Dance Studio
I've been studying belly dancing at a studio and being that I am broke right now, I proposed a baretr style, I clean the sudio for them, they give me a free class. Pretty sweet deal when you consider it's $100 every 6 weeks.
There I was last night after class sweeping up our studio and in the next studio were the advanced performers training for their big show next weekend. I've been in beginner's level for about 3 months now and we've learned very basic moves: shimmies, hip drops, figure 8s. Eventually as you level up, these basic moves become layered with the more complicated moves you generally see dancers performing.
These dancers were performing the basic moves as if they were second nature to them and adding lots of more complicated moves I couldn't quite place overtop. Watching them is always inspiring and motivating to see that eventually it is possible to move through an entire dance routine. Having spent this much time with beginner's classes, I can appreciate that these dancers have been at it for years.
I did feel a bit like Cinderella watching her sisters go out to the ball as I slowly swept past them.
But well, one day my dance will come :-)
There I was last night after class sweeping up our studio and in the next studio were the advanced performers training for their big show next weekend. I've been in beginner's level for about 3 months now and we've learned very basic moves: shimmies, hip drops, figure 8s. Eventually as you level up, these basic moves become layered with the more complicated moves you generally see dancers performing.
These dancers were performing the basic moves as if they were second nature to them and adding lots of more complicated moves I couldn't quite place overtop. Watching them is always inspiring and motivating to see that eventually it is possible to move through an entire dance routine. Having spent this much time with beginner's classes, I can appreciate that these dancers have been at it for years.
I did feel a bit like Cinderella watching her sisters go out to the ball as I slowly swept past them.
But well, one day my dance will come :-)
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Why Should You Pledge Me? Oh Let Me Count Thee Ways :-)
2 years ago at the age of 28, I learned how to ride a bike for the first time.
Now it is my main mode of transportation.
Number of Days: 6
Number of KMs: 610kms
Mode of Transport: Betty (my sporty bike)
Route: Toronto to Montreal
Charity Org: Toronto PWA Foundation
Where your $ go:
All donations raised will help the Toronto PWA Foundation provide accessible, direct and practical services to men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS.
How can I help?:
1. Visit the Friends For Life Bike Rally secure online site at: http://www.bikerally.org/pledge.html
2. Select: To pledge a specific Participant, please click here to search for his/her name (Rhonda Major).
3. Once completed, an electronic tax receipt will be sent to you by email within a few minutes.
For more information about the Friends For Life Bike Rally 2007,
or to join me in our big send-off on July 29th,
please visit: http://www.bikerally.org/
Together, we can make a positive difference.
Much love and appreciation for your generous support
(and because I know that you all want to support my crazy antics in life :-)
**Stay tuned for bike training adventures & I promise to get some pics up here soon as well**
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Climbing the Escarpment: 46km Oakville to Milton
Yesterday I took the Go Train out to Oakville for a countryside bike tour. Once you get past suburban Oakville, there is some beautiful farmland to be seen heading north on 6th Line. There's a great picnic spot at the bottom of this windy hill on Lower Base Line Road heading west towards 5th Line. Although Bass Rd is really scenic and follows a great ravine, the road isn't paved very well and there is no shoulder to speak of. I definitely do not recommend it in wet weather.
I took my return trip via 6th Line (from Derry Road) the whole way into Oakville, heading East on Leighland to get back to the train station. 6th Line has little ponies, heaps of blackbirds with red tipped wings and other assorted wildlife to keep you in visual enjoyment.
The climb to Milton is there, very gradual with only 1 or 2 hills. On the way home you're cruising except for one longish hill on 6th... I think before Britannia Road. All in all, I highly recommend this trip. 6th Line is really quiet with very few cars during the day. In fact, I passed more bikers than cars!
Total Trip: 46km (including ride to/from station)
Total Time: 2hrs
I took my return trip via 6th Line (from Derry Road) the whole way into Oakville, heading East on Leighland to get back to the train station. 6th Line has little ponies, heaps of blackbirds with red tipped wings and other assorted wildlife to keep you in visual enjoyment.
The climb to Milton is there, very gradual with only 1 or 2 hills. On the way home you're cruising except for one longish hill on 6th... I think before Britannia Road. All in all, I highly recommend this trip. 6th Line is really quiet with very few cars during the day. In fact, I passed more bikers than cars!
Total Trip: 46km (including ride to/from station)
Total Time: 2hrs
Sunday, April 22, 2007
2nd Training Ride: Kipling - Port Credit (39km + 28km more)
Yesterday was the 2nd training ride and so I got to try out my new road tires (sweet!) and my new computer odomoter gadget thingy (because I am so very technical :-)
It was an unbelieveably beautiful day, about 23 degrees. Even at 9am, I only had arm warmers on as a layer, another fun bike accessory that I am in love with! I really recommend them. For $20 you have super warmth when you need it without crowding a lot of clothing in your pit area. When you are done, they roll up really small into your tiny bike bag. No bulky jackets to schlep around.
I felt somewhat less intimidated at the training ride yesterday. I figured that if I could make it up that McNicol hill last week coupled with the fact that my new tires had me flying through downtown Toronto streets all last week, I would easily complete this ride. I was not too far off.
STATS: AVG Speed: 23 km hour MAX Speed: 53.8 km hour
The ride was relatively flat. There were a couple of long hills including that twisty mountain road type climb through the end of Mississauga Road. The road tires really allowed me to push myself that much more. I was riding on my own a lot of the way and really enjoyed being able to work at my own pace. I snapped some pics of this beautiful ravine we passed over, somewhere near Port Credit I believe. I will post those pics + more very soon.
After the ride, we hit this great diner for some massive nourishment. There was a nutrition seminar and then myself and a fellow biker headed off for the Lakeshore Trail. We headed out from Spadina & Queens Quay all the way to Etobicoke and back. Needless to say, I passed out last night. I may have also been suffering from heat stroke (believe it or not) but my very slight tan today makes it worth it, right....
It was an unbelieveably beautiful day, about 23 degrees. Even at 9am, I only had arm warmers on as a layer, another fun bike accessory that I am in love with! I really recommend them. For $20 you have super warmth when you need it without crowding a lot of clothing in your pit area. When you are done, they roll up really small into your tiny bike bag. No bulky jackets to schlep around.
I felt somewhat less intimidated at the training ride yesterday. I figured that if I could make it up that McNicol hill last week coupled with the fact that my new tires had me flying through downtown Toronto streets all last week, I would easily complete this ride. I was not too far off.
STATS: AVG Speed: 23 km hour MAX Speed: 53.8 km hour
The ride was relatively flat. There were a couple of long hills including that twisty mountain road type climb through the end of Mississauga Road. The road tires really allowed me to push myself that much more. I was riding on my own a lot of the way and really enjoyed being able to work at my own pace. I snapped some pics of this beautiful ravine we passed over, somewhere near Port Credit I believe. I will post those pics + more very soon.
After the ride, we hit this great diner for some massive nourishment. There was a nutrition seminar and then myself and a fellow biker headed off for the Lakeshore Trail. We headed out from Spadina & Queens Quay all the way to Etobicoke and back. Needless to say, I passed out last night. I may have also been suffering from heat stroke (believe it or not) but my very slight tan today makes it worth it, right....
TOTAL KMS biked: 67kms (includes inner city biking + lakeshore trail)
I am seriously getting my training on!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Boot Camp: For Real
Besides these long weekend rides, of course there's a lot of day to day training. Especially targetting my abs which are particularly weak from years of laziness. Yesterday was 1 hour spinning class + 1 hour of Amanda's particularly grueling Boot Camp. Since only 3 of us showed up, it was a much more individual boot camp. My abs are still burning today. I tried doing sit-ups and I got to 5 before I had to stop. She is brutal and that is excellent for getting me in shape.
I'm not a fan of the monotony of the gym so having classes with people to threaten to kick my butt really helps motivate me. I can't believe I actually managed to get in 3 sets of decent push-ups yesterday (the real ones) which have always been my weak point. That class has really improved my overall fitness over the past 4 months. For any of you out there training to do the Rally, or just yourself, I really recommend you get hooked up with a great boot camp class. Also spinning has really improved my overall cadence and particularly my ability to stand on a bike and get up hills.
I'm excited for the Saturday training ride and to try out my new gadget (speedometer thingy) to test how fast I really go. Also might have a few guests with me which should be fun :-) brew-haha! I promise to get some pics on Saturday's ride and post them here soon. This page has way too many words and not enough visuals. It's on it's way though....
I'm not a fan of the monotony of the gym so having classes with people to threaten to kick my butt really helps motivate me. I can't believe I actually managed to get in 3 sets of decent push-ups yesterday (the real ones) which have always been my weak point. That class has really improved my overall fitness over the past 4 months. For any of you out there training to do the Rally, or just yourself, I really recommend you get hooked up with a great boot camp class. Also spinning has really improved my overall cadence and particularly my ability to stand on a bike and get up hills.
I'm excited for the Saturday training ride and to try out my new gadget (speedometer thingy) to test how fast I really go. Also might have a few guests with me which should be fun :-) brew-haha! I promise to get some pics on Saturday's ride and post them here soon. This page has way too many words and not enough visuals. It's on it's way though....
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