Unaweep Canyon (shady side) on Easter Morning. 10 drugs you can use regularly
You may think you know me because you read my blog. Its fun to play armchair psychologist through the online musings of a willing blogger who continuously puts it all out there.
Well, tonight I’m here to admit a few things that will help you know me even more. Its about being an addict. Some folks are addicted to chocolate or crossword puzzles. Some souls struggle with sever substance abuse. Luckily I’m not in any of those boats. My condition is something a little less tangible. It has something to do with an addiction to the outdoors, mamma nature, sports involving risk and the overall theme of the book Into The Wild. You might even relate to a few of the symptoms… things like experiencing withdraw when cooped up indoors or in urban areas for too long, cravings for longer trip that are further away, looking forward to activities that you know will induce physical and emotional pain in the name of “fun,” and doing questionable things to obtain relief from this condition like anticipating when you might be sick next on a Monday.
These symptoms have driven me towards a few trusty sources that at least offer temporary relief. You can use these 10 drugs regularly and should experience some benefit almost immediately.
1. Wide open spaces. Sitting in the middle of a huge canyon with granite walls taller than your average skyscraper will make you feel small and in awe. You will forget about your addiction and lots of other non-important things.
Unaweep Canyon (shady side) on Easter Morning. 
2. Nature’s Beautywild… The tiny stuff like heart shaped cactuses, springtime blossoms in the desert and high alpine flowers- it all makes you pay closer attention to the details.
3. Doing sports that scare the shit out of you! I love and hate rock climbing. This sport is secondary (or thirdary) to my first love (bikes) but every time I go back I get a good dose of scared to the bone. Bikes can’t do that for me so I keep revisiting the rock for those moments that make everything else melt away to make room for a healthy encounter with our mortality.
4. Getting your Runners high on (no actual running necessary.) Almost any endurance activity can induce the quintessential runners high for me. One time I actually got it from running, which was reason in itself to celebrate (see here) but you can be creative with this one. Part of the joy in getting into that flow state is that its not a guaranteed thing every time you get out there- so when your lucky enough to get the endorphins flowing just right, take advantage.
5. Owning lots of maps. You can get them out any time you want and daydream about your next adventure. You can draw new routes on them and play connect the dots. Somehow holding the map of one of your beloved places in your hand makes you feel just that much closer to it.
3. Doing sports that scare the shit out of you! I love and hate rock climbing. This sport is secondary (or thirdary) to my first love (bikes) but every time I go back I get a good dose of scared to the bone. Bikes can’t do that for me so I keep revisiting the rock for those moments that make everything else melt away to make room for a healthy encounter with our mortality.
4. Getting your Runners high on (no actual running necessary.) Almost any endurance activity can induce the quintessential runners high for me. One time I actually got it from running, which was reason in itself to celebrate (see here) but you can be creative with this one. Part of the joy in getting into that flow state is that its not a guaranteed thing every time you get out there- so when your lucky enough to get the endorphins flowing just right, take advantage.
5. Owning lots of maps. You can get them out any time you want and daydream about your next adventure. You can draw new routes on them and play connect the dots. Somehow holding the map of one of your beloved places in your hand makes you feel just that much closer to it.
never go swimming less than 30 minuets after eating6. Burritos. Especially really big ones. They are easy to find on the road, easy to pack yourself and always satisfying.
7. Making lists. If you make a list of your adventure objectives or places needing to be explored by you, keep it somewhere extremely inconvenient for your addiction. Promise yourself, no matter the pain, you will not move it/stuff it into a non-visible place/destroy it. If you have to face your list every day you will have no choice but to make action towards erasing the already accomplished items.
8. Getting lost. This one kind of goes along with doing sports that scare the shit out of you. Sometimes when you get lost in the wilderness you get the unique opportunity to live in the present moment. Living presently doesn’t always have to be a life or death situation but sometimes we forget how to do this one for some reason and so getting lost could be a great reminder of why living anywhere but in the NOW makes the most sense.
9. Taking lots of pictures. No, this isn’t just because I’m a blogger. For some reason taking lots of pictures helps validate the fact that your taking your drugs and living to tell about it. Go ahead and indulge…
10. COFFEE! You know it. Coffee goes anywhere and makes everything better. It helps you with your addiction when used alone or in conjunction of any of the other 9 drugs listed above.
sometimes your just that desperate!
Thanks for reading! Sarah Uhl, SmartWool Athlete Ambassador
The Transition: Spring in the Northwest
With the seasons, change our tracks: from big S-lines in light pow, to knobby-tired ruts in warm, clear-cut soil. We said goodbye to the snow as the resorts one by one brought their bullwheels to a halt for the season; and welcomed the sunshine and bugs as we picked up the pickax and rake and took to clearing trail for the first downhill race of the season out in Port Angeles, Wash.
Spring has been dry in Washington this year and no one is complaining. It means the biking is good—already. To get ready for the race out on the peninsula, our dig-day party worked the morning clearing the way for the excavator, then took several hours to ride while the machine did its duty carving a jump line into the hillside.
In the evening light, we came back with the rakes and the McClouds and manicured what is now the new intermediate trail in at Dry Hill.
Looks like it’s shaping up to be a good one this year. Hope your spring-early-summer is on track too. Here in Washington we have to make the most out of every sunny day. We have to enjoy the music while the music lasts.
SmartWool Ambassador - Adrienne Schofhauser
California Dreamin’
Coleman Valley Road, right before dropping down to Bodega Bay. Photo: Carissa Klarich
Where are the ruby slippers when you need them?! I so wish I was in California right now, cheering on the cyclists during the Amgen Tour of California stage race. It’s extra bittersweet since we’ll be heading to San Francisco next week, just missing the riders as they head south to the finish in LA. And once we’re in LA at the end of next month, they will be long gone, starting the Tour de France, in fact, on June 30.
But, I can’t complain too much because as much fun as it is to watch a stage race in person (watching the racers come into Steamboat and race over Rabbit Ears pass and then arrive at the finish a few days later in Denver during the inaugural Pro Cycling Challenge in Colorado last year was a once in a lifetime experience) we all know you can see a whole heck of a lot more on TV. Plus, I’m still stoked to head to California. And in the meantime, I have been racking up the miles and feeling pretty dang good on my bike: no neck pain and strong from start to finish. I’ve been able to ride almost daily, and last weekend, I racked up 85 miles.
As for our upcoming California trip, in addition to doing all the things I love to do and going to all the places I love to go (Philz Coffee, I’m talking to you), I will get to see some friends while I’m there, including Meredith, my dear friend and former fellow hiking and mountain bike guide at Vista Verde Ranch. While I went to Colorado after leading cycling trips in Northern California wine country, including the same coastal hills the Amgen riders are racing, Meredith traced my steps back to the bay area and has been exploring the mountains and coast as much as possible. So, no doubt, some adventures are in store for us. And if our last trip back is any indication, we will be trekking all over town and the neighboring hills.
I’ll have plenty of stories to share once I get back. But, for now, to leave you with a tip that is both California, cycling and stage race related that is also pretty simple: wear sunscreen. My worst burn last year was after cheering on racers at the top of Rabbit Ears pass. High elevation, you win.
(This isn’t a tip as much as a tribute to the things I love: cycling, Philz Coffee, California, stage races, trips with the best traveling buddy ever (my boyfriend), good memories and good friends.)
Smartwool Athlete Ambassador - Carissa
Originally posted 5/18/12 on livingtheactivelife.com
training plans and goals, by eric nguyen
Perhaps it’s because I’ve been trying to instill in my ninth grade Geometry students and advisees a sense of purpose and intention in all that they do. Perhaps it’s because of the many different activities I want to do, and my intense desire to get better at them. Perhaps it’s because of the limited time I have to participate in said activities. Or perhaps it’s because of all of the above…
Whereas I used to go for a run or ride with of a mindset of “Oh, I’ll just see what happens,” these days I usually head out the door with a rough plan in mind. The plan may include distance, time, pace, intensity, or a specific workout. And while at first I felt as if I was cheating myself by being so stringent, I’ve come to appreciate the newfound sense of discipline and the gains I’ve made with this new approach.
If the goal is to get in a long, slow run, I no longer go sprinting up that hill that catches my eye; save it for hill day. Even if I’m feeling good, I resist the urge to tack on a few extra miles to the end of my ride. If I’m at the climbing gym to work on my endurance, I focus on long sustained climbing with short rests, staying away from routes that require big burly moves or tiny crimps that destroy my joints. Is it a recovery day? Then I don’t go crazy out there! With every stride or pedal stroke or climb, I remind myself of the day’s goals.
Going into workouts with intention and pre-determined goals allows me to tackle my weaknesses head-on. It’s too easy to say “I want to get stronger” or “I want to get faster” without making any changes that will lead to better results. Athletes of all levels should regularly assess their current performance levels, compare them to desired outcomes, and create training regimens that directly address those goals.
Right now, I’m really focusing on improve my speed when running downhill, sustaining my power when cycling on flats, and strengthening my core. With the wealth of training information available on the Internet, it is easy to create interesting workouts (though sifting through all of the information can be time-consuming and scary!). Vary your training and try out new programs; you will definitely surprise your body, and you may even surprise yourself! I’ll share in future posts different workouts that I’ve found to be particularly effective for me.
With all of this said, I certainly haven’t stifled the fun that I’ve always had with my running, cycling, or climbing. And there are still days when I go out just to get my body moving and my blood flowing, with no set destination or plan in mind. I’ll still go for that town-line sprint or “king of the mountains” title. But at the end of the day, I think most people would agree: getting better usually leads to greater enjoyment.
So what are you trying to get better at? And how are you doing it?
Eric Nguyen, SmartWool Athlete Ambassador
May 16, 2012
Alaska
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW89Z0Nnqh4&feature=channel&list=UL
-SmartWool Athlete Ambassador Joe Ballent
From Bikes to Beer to Sleeping Bags, a picture story by Sarah Uhl
Life is pretty much like a big fat feast. I don’t know how I’ve stayed so slim through all the delicious courses. It probably has something to do with all the churning that goes one between meals. I’ve sat at a few fine tables now and gosh do I feel lucky.
Here is my original posse. I’m the one smack dab in the middle. These girls made up the Trek Women’s Jr. Development Cycling team. We conquered New England in the 90’s, kicking ass and and taking names even when the competition was twice our age. If it wasn’t for these fine ladies, I might not have spend the next ten years on two wheels, learning a thing or two about life.
From bikes to beer. A natural progression, especially when your beer company is kind of a bike company too. And a silly fun company. This has been my tribe since 2008. Again, I’m the one in the middle (with the mustache.) New Belgium’s asks it’s employees to be two things in their work each day: loving + excellent. This I promise to carry forward everywhere I go.
Here is my new homeland. Carbondale, Colorado. I love you so. I’ve taken a job with Big Agnes, makers of sleeping bags and tents, so that I may transition my love of bikes and beer into the art of sleeping in the dirt. Thanks for having me Big Agnes! I can’t wait to see what kind of picture we might make together!
SmartWool Ambassador, Sarah Uhl
The Times They Are A Changin’
It’s a pretty exciting time for me here at the foothills of the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains in sunny Salt Lake City.
Almost exactly two years after I began working for a major outdoor gear e-tailer, I’m leaving my job and beginning a new one in a field I’m truly passionate about: wilderness therapy. Starting at the end of the month I’ll begin work as an Outdoor Rec Specialist at a private high school for troubled youth. I’ve been fortunate enough over the last 8 or so years to work with a wide range of youth in outdoor programs, ranging from autistic ski students to burn survivors on chartered river trips. Connecting with people in the vast outdoors is my calling, or at least up there with playing music and watching sci-fi movies repeatedly. In the meantime, I’ve got a few weeks to decompress and the adventures have already begun.
This last weekend I was in Flaming Gorge, Utah. My good friend Hauss and I spent four days hiking, biking, fishing, cooking, visiting dinosaur museums, and generally relaxing.
Tomorrow I leave for Alaska on a whirlwind adventure that will have me in Juneau, Anchorage, Seward, and a few other spots. After that it’s back to central Illinois to catch up with good friends before beginning the new job.
I leave tomorrow morning, and yet I still have to start packing. I’m usually much more on top of preparing for these trips, but much of my afternoon was filled with a bike ride up Emigration Canyon. All my SW gear is currently in a pile on my floor next to my backpack, because I’m not heading up north without it.
If I strike gold up there, you may never hear from me again. Just kidding. But seriously.
I can’t wait for a new set of adventures and stories!
Joe Ballent, SmartWool Ambassador
Moab & great friends
Last night I drove home from a three day adventure with two of my best girlfriends in Moab. I had been there before, but this was a special trip. We road biked through arches, hiked in Canyonlands, took the short trek to Delicate Arch, and went swimming in Millcreek Canyon. The weather was perfect, I got a little sun, and it was SO nice to be outside all day! Nothing beats a beautiful place with wonderful company!
Heather McPhie, SmartWool Ambassador
back outside on the rock - by eric nguyen
bonnie and i during one of our impromptu bouldering sessions
It’s been a busy spring, full of trail running, some cycling, and lots of indoor (and very little outdoor) climbing. Most of my outdoor climbing this spring has taken place on random boulders that Bonnie and I encounter on our various hikes through the woods.
So, as I checked the weekend forecast last week, imagine my excitement as I saw the convergence of two crucial ingredients for a day at the crag: dry weather on a day when my schedule was wide open! I quickly made my intentions known to my wife and best friend, Paul, both of whom I wanted to come climb with me, but often have trouble getting ready and out the door on time.
laser-like focus as i cross through on mack’s traverse (V2)
Our “early start” meant leaving at 9am, arriving at Lincoln Woods around 10, and bouldering for a few hours before the day got too warm (projected temps in the 80s!) and the park got too crowded. My persistent nagging resulted in our leaving by 9:15am, and after a stop at Starbucks for my two companions, we were finally on our way!
Neither Paul nor Bonnie had done much bouldering outside, and it turned out that the boulders we selected for their abundance of easier lines were also two of the taller rocks in the park. So while the juggy holds made for easy climbing, the height did not provide an easy introduction to the mental aspect of the sport. Even with crash pads below, the fear of falling can seriously debilitate a climber (though it can sometimes also be a great motivator when one finds oneself up high with little chance of down-climbing!).
bonnie ascends beginner’s delight, a tall & not-so-easy V0
After four hours of bouldering, we didn’t quite have our fill of bouldering, but we also didn’t have our fill of lunch! With temperatures warming up rapidly and more climbers approaching the boulders, we called it a day. Paul reluctantly walked away from a new traverse he had found, one that pushed him to really focus on his footwork and body positioning. It’s never easy to leave a climb unfinished.
planning out my route and climbing iron cross crack (V0)
But that climb will still stand there, awaiting our next visit, as will harder challenges. Time to look at the calendar to plan our next trip!
paul working on mack’s traverse (V2)
Eric Nguyen, SmartWool Athlete Ambassador
May 14, 2012
http://psychlist.tumblr.com
Learning to Suffer: A Love/Hate Relationship With Running in Houston
Get excited, boys and girls…next week’s adventure is going to be good!
Admittedly, I am NOT a triathlete. I stick to two (dry land) sports instead of three. You will probably never see me in a wetsuit, and you will DEFINITELY never see me in an aero helmet. Still, when my boss told me a few weeks ago that I was going to get to be a Volunteer Coordinator for Ironman Texas, I was pretty dang excited about it.
I’m in charge of registration volunteers for this year’s race, which means my crew and I will be stuffing registration packets and swag bags on Monday, then checking in athletes and distributing timing chips at the IronMan expo for the rest of the week. Already, I am impressed by the logistical prowess of the IronMan staff…they have this down to a (chaotic) science, and I can’t wait to be out at the registration tent with those amazing athletes.
Having an IronMan race in May, in Houston, does beg the question: WHY?? Last year, they brought in a semi-truck trailer full of ice and it was GONE in a matter of hours. ”Broiling hot” doesn’t even begin to describe the race conditions, and I have a sneaking suspicion that this year probably won’t be any better. Yet, there are over 2,000 registrants, and I am highly impressed (albeit highly confused).
WHY? As athletes, as fragile humans with very particular internal thermostats, why do we subject ourselves to extreme conditions? Honestly, there are some days when I can’t quite figure it out. There is NOTHING about running in hot weather that I enjoy. Nothing. Not the cold drinks I treat myself to afterward. Not the sprinklers I run through in people’s yards when I come across them mid-run. Not the stellar tan lines I get every summer. Not even the feeling of “accomplishment” that I’m told is supposed to hit me when I look back and think about how well I ran (in “less than ideal” conditions). I’ve never experienced warm weather running like I have here in Houston, and no amount of “adjustment” makes me any less bitter every I open my front door and feel the blowtorch blast of heat that’s waiting for me. I’m just a hot, sweaty, grouchy runner who’s lingering inner question of “WHY?” can never seem to be answered. Not by sprinklers, not by accomplishments, nothing. It’s just stupidly hot, and I don’t like it.
Just don’t run, you say? Try the treadmill, perhaps? See, therein lies the rub. I can’t NOT run outdoors, even in the heat. Something keeps pulling me back out there, heat or no heat. So, in reality, I have nothing to complain about because I’m doing it to myself. I just wish I understood why. Yes, I’m getting faster, and that’s exciting. Yes, I want to stay healthy. But that’s not the reason I stick with it. Honestly, I think it has something to do with actually *wanting* to learn how to suffer better.
I’ve never suffered “well”. I can be tough, when I choose to be, but approx. 6 times out of 10 in any given workout, I will ease up instead of pushing harder. The 4 times I really push, I’ll do it until I’m ready to burst, and the results are often impressive…but the majority of the time, I sit back and choose recreation over strenuousness. I’m just not hardcore enough to choose suffering 100% of the time.
According to this article, suffering doesn’t always come naturally or occur as maximally as most runners tend to think. It has to be practiced and intentionally incorporated into workouts. I’ve been thinking about this for a while now, and I think that it’s finally starting to sink in that I might need more practice than most distance runners when it comes to suffering. There’s something inherent in runners/cyclists/athletes in general that makes them a little more willing than non-athletes to inflict physical pain on themselves. I don’t know what that is (a gene? a quirk? maybe I need to Google some research…I’m sure it’s out there…) but I know I’m not as good at suffering as I should be. It just figures that, the one time in my life when I start to feel ready to work on suffering, I just so happen to live in one of the hottest/most humid/most miserable parts of the country. It would have been so much nicer if this revelation and willingness had hit me up in Vancouver, or Colorado, or Bozeman, or Scotland…
Ah, well, c’est la vie. And being around IronMen and IronWomen next week is bound to be good for me, so I can’t complain about that, either.
Suffer on, friends!
Aimee Slepicka, SmartWool Athlete Ambassador
National Bike Month and A Tip a Day for May
May is apparently National Bike Month. So, if you’re kicking yourself for missing those early season rides and races, no need. Locally and nationally, there are quite a few different things going on - rides, races, events - so you basically have to try to not be involved.
Personally, I kicked off May with a sweet ride last night. We rode a nice little 30 miler loop. Two-thirds of the ride was into the wind, and I got dropped 1/3 of the way into the ride, so my pace dropped from 18+ mph to single digits. But, it gave me some nice time with my thoughts. And the tailwind on the way home was one of the best I can remember; smooth riding during the magic hour all the way back to Phipps Park.
I also came up with the idea to blog ‘A Tip a Day for May.’ Not only does it conveniently rhyme, but it will be a great way for me to offer up some fun, daily tips and tidbits about cycling as well as quotes, videos, bits of humour, photos, including A Year in Socks pics, and whatever other miscellaneous cycling related whatnot.
Speaking of cycling things going on during May, check these out:
- May 13-19 is National Bike to Work week
- Clif Bar is advocating their 2 Mile Challenge
- Drive Less, Save More has some interesting resources on how to drive less and save more
So, stay tuned to my tumblr, twitter and instagram for all things cycling in May. And feel free to comment and share tips and stories about your rides!
Carissa K. - SmartWool Athlete Ambassador
Originally posted May 1, 2012 in livingtheactivelife.com
race report! by eric nguyen
I ran the Blue Hills Trail Race 10-mile “Fox Trot”, sponsored by the Colonial Road Runners on Sunday. Things I loved about this race before I even started: $8 race registration fee — no t-shirts, no timing chips, no frills; lots of hills; banana bread and chocolate chip cookies for place-winners. Things I wasn’t so excited about: lots of loose rock and exposed roots; not having raced in six years.
john and i after registering and pinning on our race numbers
After registering, my friend John and I warmed up in the parking lot, loosing up our legs and preparing for the start. We did what most people do: we started making excuses for why we wouldn’t succeed at reaching our goals. My objectives on the day: run sub-8-minute miles, place in the top 15, bring home some chocolate chip cookies. Here’s how the race played out:
Mile 1 - 7:28. Way too fast! On the two training runs that John and I did on the course, we probably came in between 8:45 and 9:00 for the first mile. Why so slow? The race kicks off with a steep quarter-mile uphill on a paved auto road before veering off into the woods. This section features a wide trail with minimal rocks and exposed roots, though a long false flat makes it difficult to recover from the initial uphill. I watch as a few guys pull away early and within a few minutes, I lose sight of them completely. I’m already sucking wind; they just seem to float away. See you guys at the finish line, if you decide you’re going to wait around after you’re done…
turning onto the trail after the uphill start
Mile 2 - 7:02. Mile 2 is a bit of a roller, with a long downhill to start before turning upward again. My legs feel good, and i don’t feel particularly strained, but I also don’t know how much of this is adrenaline, how much of this is simply due to running alongside faster runners, and how much of this is a demonstration that I’m in some sort of decent running shape. Still way too fast! I’m now about 2 minutes ahead of training pace and not sure whether or not I can keep this up.
Mile 3 - 9:06. The trail up Jeffries Trail to Hemenway Hill invites the burn. Super steep. Super slow. Probably the hardest mile of the day, and it’s now behind me. I’m still ahead of my goal pace, and feeling strong.
Mile 4 - 7:34. Mostly downhill and flat, though there are some treacherous descents with lots of loose rocks and exposed roots. A short out-and-back section allows me to see some of the lead runners — who look like total beasts — as well as some of the folks behind me.
Mile 5 - 7:46. The guy in the orange shirt who has been running close behind finally passes me near the start of this mile. Finally, someone to follow… except for the fact that he slowly but sure pulls away from me. Note to self: I need to learn to run faster on the downhills because I can’t keep up. Before long, he’s 30-40 seconds ahead of me and I’m all alone again.
Mile 6 - 8:48. A water stop at the five-mile marker signals the start of another grueling uphill. I take a few walking breaks here. I move almost as fast as I would if I were running, but I expend a lot less energy. I can still see Orange-shirt ahead of me, and it looks as if he’s walking a bit, too. No one seems to be close behind, so I can afford to take it easy here.
Mile 7 - 8:51. A fast downhill doesn’t seem as long as it did during the training runs and before I know it, I’m slogging my way uphill again. A few people tell me I’m in 9th place. Right now, I’m on pace to break my goal of sub-8-minute miles and to finish in the top 15.
Mile 8 - 6:52. Downhill or flat for the most part. A much needed break and I’m gaining a bit of confidence. Two relatively easy miles to go…
Mile 9 - 8:01. So much for that confidence. The long downhill from mile 2 is now a long uphill. Ahead of schedule, and maybe there’s a runner about 30 seconds behind me?
Mile 10 - 5:44! After a short, steep uphill, the remainder of the final mile flies downhill. I cruise along at a good clip. Orange-shirt has pulled away for good and i’ve given up on trying to catch him. All of a sudden, I hear pounding feet rapidly approaching behind me and a quick glimpse over my shoulder reveals a dark-haired runner barreling downhill toward me. We finish the final quarter-mile in an all-out sprint. I know I have it in the bag when I hear him spit out an expletive, a concession that he won’t catch me, but I don’t stop running until I cross the line. I stop my watch at 1:17:16.
I get that gosh-i-haven’t-worked-that-hard-in-a-while-i-feel-like-i’m-going-to-puke feeling, but that subsides. I’m done. I find the guy who chased me through the final leg of the race. His last-minute surge forced me to find one extra gear and to push myself that much harder. I shake his hand, I hug him, I thank him. We have competed in the truest sense of the word’s etymology: to strive together. At the end of the day, we’re all here to make each other better, and there’s no question we succeeded.
post-race, with the chocolate chip cookies that i won
So, tenth place overall, third in my age group, and feeling good. When’s the next one? =)
Eric Nguyen, SmartWool Athlete Ambassador
May 2, 2012
http://psychlist.tumblr.com
back on the horse, 78 days in
It’s been 78 days since my adductor/glute injury, and things are progressing well, albeit slowly.
Four weeks ago, I was cleared to ride a bike indoors, and I’ve done a few indoor trainer sessions – not thrilling, but useful, as I’ve been able to work on weak points in my pedaling mechanics.
Three weeks ago, I was cleared to ride my bike outdoors for commuting, slow and steady, spinning the entire time. That was a very uplifting thing, and I’ve enjoyed every pedal stroke along the way.
Not long after, my doctor gave me the OK to ride longer distances outdoors, limited by time and intensity (i.e. no big “dancing on the pedals” climbs, no sprints, mostly a smooth spin).
And I hadn’t really put that last step to the test until last Wednesday, when the Potomac Pedalers’ “Downtown Breakaway” (DTB) ride embarked on its third installment for the season. I had my doctor’s marching orders:
- Nothing intense.
- Ride no more than 1:15.
- Spin a lot – a lot!
So I rode up to Mitchell Park, where the ride starts, for the first time this season, having walked up the first two times simply to sign people in. I said hello to all my friends, introduced myself to the new DTB riders, and shoved off with the group at 6:00pm.
And it was great!
Yes, I was slower than usual, and on the one major climb I did, I was dropped almost immediately by most of the riders. But I was all smiles.
I ended up riding “sweep,” which was good, as I was able to direct some riders who hadn’t grabbed a cue sheet with ride directions (the DTB route is, to say the least, chock full of twists and turns in its first half).
So I ended up covering 15.1 miles in 1:04, climbing a little under 1,000 feet along the way.
I followed up with some stretching, the new routine.
Since then, my doctor has approved longer rides, and I’ve been out with Chris and Ed on a loop out of Glen Echo (31.1 miles), and on this week’s DTB, where I went for 25 miles and wasn’t the last one up the Chain Bridge Road climb (though I was still far from the front).
So I’m back on the horse. By no measure am I ready to tackle big rides (especially ones with big, long climbs), but those will come around in due time. And physical therapy continues off the bike: deep tissue massage, a lot of stretching, resistance work, more stretching – this will remain the case for at least another 4 to 6 weeks.
For now, though, I’m happy to be riding again.
(Note: this post was originally published on my blog, randomduck.com.)
Adventures In Barefoot Running Part II
I wrote in a previous post that I went for a 3 mile run in my Vibram Five Fingers on a beach in SC. I also mentioned I had a stiff Achilles the following day. That day turned into a week, and the week turned into a couple months.
After turning up the intensity on my training, my achilles became more and more sore. While a good warm up took away most of the pain during my runs, the morning after was a-whole-nother story. After spending the day after my CrazyLegs Run in pain I reached out to a friend of mine that is a Physical Therapist.
She suggested a strict regiment of rest and ice. What!? Rest!? That’s outrageous! It’s a diagnosis most runners fear, taking time off. I’ve now gone over a week without running and I am going a bit stir crazy. Today we had a wonderful rain storm that made me want to throw on an old pair of shoes and go sloshing around in the rain.
Instead I am spending some quality time with a bag of frozen peas and a bag of frozen corn. I want rest and get over this injury but with my Ragnar Relay just a few weeks away I feel like I’m fighting the battle of rest vs. training. Hopefully any one considering a minimalist style of running will learn that taking it slow is obviously the most important thing.
Brent Hyden
SmartWool Athlete Ambassador
Part 3: Kayaking, hiking, biking, oh my! By Carissa K.
Continued from Part 2 and Part 1, this is the last set of pictures from the last few weeks…
(Another highlight was relaxing on the riverbank, watching kayakers and body surfers ride Brennan’s Wave on the Clark Fork.)
(And lastly, another highlight was hiking up to the M. Nothing beats a hike straight uphill! The sunset and view were completely worth it.)
(In fact, we enjoyed the hike so much that we were able to take our favorite little buddy to hike the M the next morning before heading home. He loved it so much, he wanted to hike back up after we returned to the trailhead!)
(Back home, excitedly opening up a package of new socks. SmartWool PhD Outdoor Run Ultra Light Micro and PhD Graduated Compression Ultra Light. Ready to try them out on a ride.)
(Nice little 25 miler after work.)
(No filter sunset on the rims, looking out at Sacrifice Cliff and the Yellowstone River.)
(Montana sunset.)
It’s hard to believe, but May is upon us. I’ve been seeing the phrase ‘Make May Count’ floating around the web mostly from the people working for their bikini bodies. That’s all good and well, but I would add one little caveat: Make May Count. Get outside!
Carissa K. - SmartWool Athlete Ambassador
Originally posted April 30, 2012 in livingtheactivelife.com
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