Biking in boots - a commuter's tale

NOTE:  As of 9/27/11 I'm trying to combine my running and commuting blogs...


I've been thinking about doing this blog for quite some time and finally decided to just do it.  I have a blog for running, but I didn't want to clutter my thoughts on running with my thoughts on biking and mostly commuting so here we are...


A bit (more) about me (as a biker):

I've been biking for about 5 years.  In that time I won’t say I’ve gotten serious about it, but I am committed.  I love to ride.  I’m not great at any particular style (jack of all trades, master of none), but I do it frequently.  Weeks in the late spring to early fall include Monday night chill rides that I organized and lead with my man friend.  Thursday night group rides – a more serious group that works in pace lines and has goals of racing.  There is generally a long weekend ride on either Saturday, Sunday or both.  In addition (and probably the biggest reason for me feeling a need for a new blog) is commuting daily.
NOTE:  my commute is only 1 mile – with lunch 4 miles/day total to and from work.
Fall and winter change up biking because of the weather and daylight.  We do some mountain biking on Tuesday nights and cyclocross practice on alternating other days though the week as long as we can and still try to get in long rides on the weekend.  Spin class or trainer rides do filter in to maintain fitness levels when it gets super frigid. 
Another NOTE:  Since I am also a runner (See Back to Running blog), major gaps in bike training are usually due to a running race that’s slipped into the schedule.

So, moving on...

Commuting has opened up a whole different world for me in some ways.  Even though it's short it still requires more planning and thought than hoping in a car and hitting the gas.  In addition the only other people I know who commute regularly (on a chatty basis) are men and they are no help when it comes to what to wear.  So, this blog will deal with me finding my way in this arena and all kinds of other thoughts on biking in general from the female perspective.  

Notes about the title:

• I don't always bike in boots, but I have been known to on quite a few occasions and in a small town in SW Missouri this tends to cause some stares.
• I'm particular about my dress, but I don't spend a lot of money on it (hence the 'on a budget').  Also, I'm not a fashionista - I like fun and practical attire (at least I think - you can be the judge as the blog moves along).  :-)

So, stay tuned to hear more about my commuting, clothes that are good for it, and biking in general...

Time off

I guess I hadn't realized how long I had gone without dropping at blog post...

So, I'm not going to recap all that's happened between then and now.  I'm going to fast forward to September 25 and the Berryman Adventure Race.  This is a race I did with Scott, Jamie, and Brandon.  I was ready for this one with the exception of wishing I had a little more mountain biking time on the season.  Of course we know that's normal for me.  We met at headquarters at 6am and were bussed to the start.  Race started a little after 7am.  Trekking/running first.  We hit the first few checkpoints without issue.  We ran into trouble on I think CP 4 and had to do some back tracking to CP 5 then back to 4, then on to 6.  Due to time we decided to skip 7 & 8.  :-(

Next up was a challenge (climbing and rappelling off a wall), then we ran to a couple more check points.  Then a zip line.  After that we hit the bikes for some extraordinarily grueling dirt road hills.  They seemed to go up, up, up - thanks to my one one gear and stubbornness I didn't have to walk.  This was followed by single track.  We made it thought that unscathed (although I was slower than I would have liked).  Canoe was about 13 miles followed by a short jog to the finish.  We crossed the line in 11hours and 19 minutes (still kicking ourselves for the missing checkpoints, but what can you do??).  It was a fun day overall and we finished happy and ready to go again!
NOTE:  I tried to entertain the team by singing random 80's hair metal songs on the canoe - next year I need to expand my repertoire pre-race!

Now, fast forward to 10-10-2010 - the Mother Road Marathon in Joplin, MO.  I trained right.  Going in to race day I felt good.  I did an Adventure Race 2 weeks prior, but I still felt rested.  I had intentions of breaking a PR (4:09).  Race day started out great.  My 13.1 time was 1:55:01.  Up until about that point I had felt good.  I did go out to fast - my first six miles were all 8:30 pace or faster.  I finally got slowed down to race pace.  A little after mile 13 my stomach started cramping up and made it terrible to try to eat anything.  Brady was on his bike with me and he tried forcing me to eat, drink and take walk breaks.  By mile 15 it had gotten hot and I quit sweating.  Bad sign.  I was able to finish - poorly.  Final time was 4:24:08.  Argh.
I'm ready to try that one again already.  Unfortunately my toes haven't been the same since race day.  I guess it's Morton's neuroma, but it boils down to electrical like nerve pain that shoots up through my 3rd and 4th toes mostly when I run or go down stairs bare foot.  I've been diagnosed before and had cortisone shots, but it's been under control for the last couple years.  I took 2 full weeks off of running (still biking) but it was still there when I started running again last week.  I'm looking at new shoes, doing lots of stretching, icing, not wearing high heels and taking ibuprofin as needed for the time being.  A fast 1.5 miles in the 5 fingers yesterday was tolerable.  Planning to try again in the morning - we shall see.  Advice is welcomed.

Till next time run on!

Cycle a Century

Last week did not work out for biking - at least through the week.  Running was OK, but even it was put off because of rain (storm) one morning.  Here's how last week played out:

Monday - off (did a little climbing, but still a little sore from the 23 mile run on Saturday)
Tuesday - 2.5 mile warm-up then hills & speed work
Wednesday - 6.5 miles (mountain biking cancelled due to weather)
Thursday - running & biking cancelled due to weather  :-(
Friday - 6 miles
Saturday - 100 miles biking (plus 3 miles walking)
Sunday - 45 miles biking

So, not a great week overall, but two important things happened.

1.  My first Century Bike Ride.  Brady asked when I finished how it felt to ride 100.  I didn't really feel like it was that big of a deal.  I had gone 82 miles before so 100 didn't seem so insurmountable - a challenge yes, but insurmountable no.  Now, having done it I feel the same - as long as it's at my pace.  This was not the case on Saturday, I was pushed.  The part I'm happy with is not so much that I rode 100 miles in a day, but that I rode at a decent pace for those miles with riders that are stronger than me - 3 dudes even.  ;-)
I'm also happy I was able to recover and ride 45 the next morning without too much grief.


2.  New shoes.  We went to the Run Around in Joplin, MO Thursday after work and spent a good hour trying on and trying out shoes.  I had pretty much decided on the Mizuno Wave Rider 13 when Brady talked me into trying on the Saucony Kinvara.  Normally, I would not have looked into these because I thought it was more of a short distance or minimalist shoe and I'm training for a marathon.  Then I remembered I do love my Vibram Fivefingers Sprint so I humored him.  I tried them on and they felt good.  Ran in them and they still felt good.  Chatted about the wear on my prior shoes and agreed they just might work for me.  Tried one of each on (one Wave Rider and one Kinvara) and ran, then rotated and I still picked the Kinvaras.  I have only done one 6 miler in them since purchase and they did start to hurt my toes a bit.  Time will tell, but for now my opinion is still highly favorable.  So, until I can run more than 3 miles in my Fivefingers without blisters these will be my go to shoe.


Till next time - run on!  :-)

I can run for miles and miles...

While the week before last was all about the speed and PR's, last week was about keeping a slight injury in check and still putting in the miles.

Here's how it broke down:

Monday - 5.5 mile run morning, 16 mile ride after work (easy)

Tuesday - speed work 

Wednesday - planned mountain biking, but rain side-lined us (so, unintentional off day)

Thursday - 23 miles ride after work (hard)

Friday - climbing

Saturday - 23 mile run, climbing, disc golf, swimming, hiking

Sunday - climbing

The guess to the injury name is metatarsalgia.  Basically it feels like I'm running with a small rock under the ball of my foot.  Aggravating mostly.  I've been icing and cross training and that seems to help.  Looking to get new shoes (just in case) pretty soon.  

So, my new plan is still on track.  I ran 23 miles Saturday.  The first 3-1/2 on my own, the next 10 with Brooke, the next 4 on my own, the next 5 with my niece and nephew with me on bikes, and the last 1/2 mile with Brady.  So nice to have distractions - he-he!  The foot held out, the calves on the other hand were toasted when we were done.  I hobbled around until I had my shower, but after getting out and doing some climbing with the kids I was back to semi-normal although fatigued.  So, long run accomplished!!  Whoohoo!  Now, just have to make it through the 150 mile bike ride this weekend, Adventure Race in two weeks, and I'll be ready to marathon it up.