Biking with no hands
I've been practicing biking with no hands. On my long run Saturday morning, I saw a woman biking with no hands. She turned a corner with no hands. I can't even go for more than 10 seconds, and that 10 seconds is pretty shaky. Anyway, I commented on this in a previous post, so I thought I'd keep you updated. I had a some luck with it last weekend at the end of my ride with Sarah. I practiced again today, so maybe soon I'll be able to actually sit fully upright for a few seconds. Simple goals are good.
Saturday I ran around my 'hood alone since David ran with the Gazelles. I waited for him as long as I could, and then decided to just go. This is a huge deal since I have two children that are actually too young to stay home alone (ages 7 and 5). I have many routes near home, and I know the distance of several blocks, including one that is almost a mile. I figured they could stay alone while I ran various loops and blocks, and I'd come home and check on them every loop.
On my second loop, David was home. I debated what route to take and how far to go. I had planned just running for 60 minutes, but with my late start and a party at 11am, I was reconsidering. I ended up just running random streets that were far enough from home that I couldn't wuss out and quit before my 60 minutes were up. I felt my IT band in my right leg the last 20 minutes. It never hurt outright, but it was tight. Guess I need to be icing it. My legs were also pretty tired, and I wasn't sure why. My only guess is standing and walking an entire day at Fiesta Texas on Thursday (see next post for more Fiesta Texas commentary).
David ran 16 miles in about 2 hours. I ran 60 minutes and maybe did 5 or 5.5 miles. Good grief. I'm so slow! He's so fast! Why do I even compare my times with his? Do you know how long it would take me to do 16 miles? You could watch Titanic while I run 16 miles. Not that I plan to run 16 miles anytime soon, if ever.
I had big plans to bike Sunday morning. I chose to sit in my pajamas and skip church instead. Then instead of biking or swimming laps, I chose to eat lunch and go shopping. And even after that, I chose to read and watch television. That's until my sister-in-law, Linda, called and invited me to the Veloway. She just got a used bike, and I'm so happy she called. It got me off my butt.
I took Elijah and Joshua with me, and I was hoping they'd bike together around the small loop. After one small loop in which we all went on, Joshua announced that he was done. Of course, I had a back-up plan. If I didn't have a back-up plan, I would not have brought them. My back-up plan was "Daddy Saves the Day." That is almost always my back-up plan for anything. We live quite close to the Veloway, so depending on which direction one chooses, one can get there within 3-4 miles.
Linda and I talked E and J into biking up to the short-cut and waiting for us on the bench until we came around. I learned from Elijah later that Joshua peed in the trees while we were waiting. Ah, to be a boy. David met up with us as we went on around to finish our loop, and if memory serves, he came cruising up besides with no hands on the bars. Grrrr.
Linda and I went alone for another loop at a decent speed...moderate for me. It was just so nice to be out biking. It was finally cooling off at this point, too. My three boys were on a bench at the start, and Elijah decided to join us for a big loop. Linda didn't think she could do another loop at the same speed. I went ahead and told them I'd go around to the short-cut and then try to catch them.
I loved that loop. I was going as fast as I could, and it felt great. I got around to the short-cut and then tried to catch them as quickly as possible. My legs were feeling that speed work. I caught up to them just before the hill, which turned out to be good timing since Linda's chain fell off on the hill. She didn't know how to fix it, and I used to have a pretty crummy hybrid bike with a finicky chain. I may not be able to change my own flat tire, but I can put a chain back on. :o)
We went slow with Elijah the rest of the way. David and Joshua saw us at the short-cut, and we all rode back together. Linda packed up. David and the boys packed up. I biked the 4 miles home. There's an incline on Escarpment that is so deceiving. It was the hardest hill on my ride last weekend, and it was hard again today. Of course, I hit that incline at the end of the ride, but I look forward to the day when that incline doesn't phase me.
So, for a last-minute bike ride, I did pretty good with 16.7 miles. Of course, a few of those were at a leisurely speed with my kids. However, I would ride with them any day over riding a faster, harder ride. I would choose them every time. I love that I can take my kids with me, even if it means that I don't get to go as fast or as far. It really won't be too long before they'll be able to go my speed and distance, and then they'll be faster and go farther. :o)
Saturday I ran around my 'hood alone since David ran with the Gazelles. I waited for him as long as I could, and then decided to just go. This is a huge deal since I have two children that are actually too young to stay home alone (ages 7 and 5). I have many routes near home, and I know the distance of several blocks, including one that is almost a mile. I figured they could stay alone while I ran various loops and blocks, and I'd come home and check on them every loop.
On my second loop, David was home. I debated what route to take and how far to go. I had planned just running for 60 minutes, but with my late start and a party at 11am, I was reconsidering. I ended up just running random streets that were far enough from home that I couldn't wuss out and quit before my 60 minutes were up. I felt my IT band in my right leg the last 20 minutes. It never hurt outright, but it was tight. Guess I need to be icing it. My legs were also pretty tired, and I wasn't sure why. My only guess is standing and walking an entire day at Fiesta Texas on Thursday (see next post for more Fiesta Texas commentary).
David ran 16 miles in about 2 hours. I ran 60 minutes and maybe did 5 or 5.5 miles. Good grief. I'm so slow! He's so fast! Why do I even compare my times with his? Do you know how long it would take me to do 16 miles? You could watch Titanic while I run 16 miles. Not that I plan to run 16 miles anytime soon, if ever.
I had big plans to bike Sunday morning. I chose to sit in my pajamas and skip church instead. Then instead of biking or swimming laps, I chose to eat lunch and go shopping. And even after that, I chose to read and watch television. That's until my sister-in-law, Linda, called and invited me to the Veloway. She just got a used bike, and I'm so happy she called. It got me off my butt.
I took Elijah and Joshua with me, and I was hoping they'd bike together around the small loop. After one small loop in which we all went on, Joshua announced that he was done. Of course, I had a back-up plan. If I didn't have a back-up plan, I would not have brought them. My back-up plan was "Daddy Saves the Day." That is almost always my back-up plan for anything. We live quite close to the Veloway, so depending on which direction one chooses, one can get there within 3-4 miles.
Linda and I talked E and J into biking up to the short-cut and waiting for us on the bench until we came around. I learned from Elijah later that Joshua peed in the trees while we were waiting. Ah, to be a boy. David met up with us as we went on around to finish our loop, and if memory serves, he came cruising up besides with no hands on the bars. Grrrr.
Linda and I went alone for another loop at a decent speed...moderate for me. It was just so nice to be out biking. It was finally cooling off at this point, too. My three boys were on a bench at the start, and Elijah decided to join us for a big loop. Linda didn't think she could do another loop at the same speed. I went ahead and told them I'd go around to the short-cut and then try to catch them.
I loved that loop. I was going as fast as I could, and it felt great. I got around to the short-cut and then tried to catch them as quickly as possible. My legs were feeling that speed work. I caught up to them just before the hill, which turned out to be good timing since Linda's chain fell off on the hill. She didn't know how to fix it, and I used to have a pretty crummy hybrid bike with a finicky chain. I may not be able to change my own flat tire, but I can put a chain back on. :o)
We went slow with Elijah the rest of the way. David and Joshua saw us at the short-cut, and we all rode back together. Linda packed up. David and the boys packed up. I biked the 4 miles home. There's an incline on Escarpment that is so deceiving. It was the hardest hill on my ride last weekend, and it was hard again today. Of course, I hit that incline at the end of the ride, but I look forward to the day when that incline doesn't phase me.
So, for a last-minute bike ride, I did pretty good with 16.7 miles. Of course, a few of those were at a leisurely speed with my kids. However, I would ride with them any day over riding a faster, harder ride. I would choose them every time. I love that I can take my kids with me, even if it means that I don't get to go as fast or as far. It really won't be too long before they'll be able to go my speed and distance, and then they'll be faster and go farther. :o)
posted by Jessica at
10:04 PM
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