Plant Based Living (dessert)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Mug Cake

I’m a chocoholic! I can’t live without chocolate and I don’t have to. These little single serving cakes are big enough to satisfy my craving but small enough that I don’t have to loosen my belt.

What you will need:

• Whole wheat all purpose or pastry flour (2 tbsp)
• Organic unrefined sugar (2tbsp)
• Peanut butter powder (2 tbsp) 
• Baking powder (1/4 tsp)
• Apple sauce (1 tbsp)
• Finely chopped banana (1 tbsp)
• Vanilla extract (1/2 tsp)
• Non dairy semi sweet chocolate chips (2 tbsp)
• Non dairy milk (3 tbsp)

How to make it:

Combine all of the dry ingredients in a mug and whisk them together.  Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the chocolate chips, and stir them together with a spoon.  Add the chocolate chips on top of the mixture.  Microwave for 1 minute and 15 seconds. Eat it as is or top it off with non dairy ice cream and/or non dairy whipped topping.  Enjoy!

Prep time: 10 minutes, cook time: 1 minute and 15 seconds

 

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Independence

 

I’ve got a lot of baggage, who doesn’t? I’ve amassed emotional damage from my childhood through my thirties.  What I didn’t realize is that I was still, at the onset of my forties, collecting emotions that were detrimental to my psychological well being.

Since I started reading “Finding Ultra” I began seeing into my soul.  I started evaluating my emotions.  I didn’t realize it when I started reading but it’s a great self help book.

In 2017 I was riding strong with some really strong cyclists.  I was on top of the world.  A couple of people suggested that I race.  I really wanted to but I was nervous, and uninsured.  In 2018 I got onto an insurance plan and so there was nothing holding me back.  Despite my weight gain and lack of fitness, I decided to try racing anyway.  You all read how that went but I’ll summarize it briefly by saying that I embarrassed myself.  Yes, I did try, but I came up short repeatedly.  I’m a has been that never really was.

In the winter of 2019 I bought a bike more suitable for racing as well as the new team race kit.  I spent good money on a matching racing helmet.  The helmet even has my name on it.  I had every intention of racing in 2019 but something happened over the course of that winter.  I fell in love with running and decided to pursue a longtime dream of running a marathon.  I had abandoned my cycling goals to focus on my running goals.  

Before I started running I had always admired runners.  In cycling speed is not only dependent upon fitness but many other factors such as the bike, it’s wheels, aerodynamics, etc.  Running is pure in that nothing, except for training, will make a person run any faster.  Many sneaker companies will claim that their sneakers will help you run faster but they really won’t. In running you are the bike, the machine that you must will forward faster.  

Now that I’ve run two marathons my goal is to bring it all together.  The more I read and fuel myself with clean energy, the more interested I become in cleaning out my emotional closet.  I didn’t realize it at the time, I didn’t realize it until I sat down with my girl that the cycling races were about chasing a moment.  I didn’t experience that moment but I acknowledge it now.  Why does anyone want to race? For some it’s a moment, for some it’s a form of validation, for some it’s a rush.  For me it was all of those things.  I wanted to feel like I was on top of the world again.  Although I entered many running races, it was never a moment that I was chasing.  The running races were always about finishing and having a blast along the course.  

I’m only now regaining some of my bike fitness along with overall fitness.  My appearance is becoming more lean and muscular.  I’m gaining confidence.  This past weekend I was confronted by my racing kit in the closet except this time it wasn’t laughing at me. It’s fabric is lightweight and breathable, the chamois was made to last even the longest road races.  I never wore it because of the shame I experienced in cycling races.  I simply stopped competing after only one season of racing.  I was not good enough to wear the team kit.  This past Saturday, Independence Day, I put it on and saw myself in it.  I really saw myself and I liked what I saw.  I saw a woman not only facing her insecurities, but wearing them proudly for all to see.  I did a long, hilly ride in that kit and it felt like heaven.

I’m done with chasing a moment.  I want to enjoy the journey.  I love training even though the world is currently on pause and racing seems uncertain.  The more uncertain it seems, the harder I train.  Eventually normal life will resume and I will rise like a phoenix from the ashes armed with fire ready take the world by storm.  I now realize that the race is not just the event, but the entire journey leading up to that moment.  I’m now ready to fully experience every moment from every run, every ride, and soon every swim. 

We all have something going on.  Now may be a good time to confront it and stop the demons from haunting you.  Release yourself from the hold that they have on you.  Fight back and come out victorious.  We only get this one life.  If it all ended tomorrow would you be happy with the way that it all went? I’ll leave you with that thought…..

I hope you are all healthy and safe.  Thank you for your continued support and encouragement.  As always, I thank you all very much for reading. 

My Experiment

Over the course of the past few weeks I have been experimenting with nutrition to see how it affects my personal sports performance.  The result of this experiment amazes me.  I’m simply reporting on my findings.  This experiment has nothing to do with environmental, political, religious, or personal views.  What you choose to eat is your business. 

I have compiled my runs and documented what I ate in the twelve hour period prior to each run.  I chose my runs instead of my rides since its a consistent and steady effort.  My rides have too many inconsistent variables such as stopping at traffic lights and things of that nature.  Here are my findings:

This is a 7×800 interval effort after eating meat and dairy for dinner followed by a vegan breakfast.  No running power data is available.

This is a 7×800 interval effort after eating fish with avocado, sweet potato, and cauliflower for dinner followed by a vegan breakfast.  The image shown on the right is the data from the running power meter. It shows that I had to stop during the recovery intervals due to muscle fatigue.  I actually felt victimized by my own planned workout.

This is a 7×800 interval effort after eating a plant based regimen for two days straight.  Not only did I surpass my targets but I still had more energy after my workout and did not feel at all depleted.  This surprised me because it was warm and very humid (98% humidity).

I have plenty of data from plenty of other runs but it all results in the same conclusion.  I chose these examples because they are the same exact intervals on the same exact course.  I have data that shows a faster run a week before a slower run and many inconsistencies due to nutrition.  It’s fascinating.  Eating a plant based regimen enhances my sports performance.  Not only do I perform better at cycling and running but I have more energy.  Over the course of my seven week stay at home order I reduced my caffeine intake.  I have more energy drinking less coffee.  I’m more alert, I solve puzzles seconds faster, and I rarely nod off at my desk (that was a somewhat regular occurrence prior to quarantine).  I feel less sore and my legs rarely feel heavy.  

When I first started this experiment I was eating animal products a few times per week.  Over the course of this experiment I reduced my intake of animal products.  I now eat no animal products.  My decision is based solely on how I feel.  I feel much better than I ever have before.  I’m not at all interested in consuming animal products.  I’m not saying that I’ll never tear into a juicy skirt steak ever again but I have no interest in feeling sore and sluggish on a regular basis.

I encourage you all to explore your own curiosities, whatever they may be.  This life is too short not to seek the answers to the questions in your minds.  If you do conduct your own experiment please share your results with me, I’d love to hear all about it.  I’m always ready and willing to learn something new.  I hope you are all staying healthy and safe.  Thank you all so much for reading!

 

 

Quarantine

 

I’ve always worked. I’ve been working since I was a teenager. I had three months off back in the summer of 2010 but I’ve come to regret how I spent my time. Back then I was a smoker and I had no interest in exercising. I spent my days in front of my big screen. I did other things that summer but nothing compared to how I would spend my time nowadays. I often dreamed of what I would do with that amount of time if I had to do it over again.

I’m not saying that I’m happy that a pandemic broke out but I was happy to be able to have time to myself. I did everything that I should have done back in 2010. I spent my mornings either cycling or running and my afternoons either reading or watching movies. I read “Let Your Mind Run”, “Shut Up Legs”, “The Incomplete Book of Running”, “Eat & Run”, and “A Life Without Limits”. I watched a lot of Running and Cycling Documentaries as well as the inspirational movie “St. Ralph”.

I had fun adventures while cycling and running. I enjoyed the minimal car traffic and took advantage of roads that I would normally avoid because of heavy traffic. Every day was not a beautiful and cloudless day with perfect weather but I enjoyed them all the same, despite all the damn wind we were having. On one of my rides I was just a couple of miles from home when I came to a roadblock due to a car fire! Once it was established that the driver was perfectly safe and that it was his company’s car, I took pictures. The car was ablaze and there were mini explosions within the fire. It was crazy!

I normally run a half marathon distance on Sunday at tempo heart rate with ten second hill sprints at the campus nearby but it was converted into a Covid-19 testing center. I started running on a quiet, hilly road nearby instead. I normally start my runs with my legs feeling like lead logs before they finally warm up after three miles. One day I felt amazing from the very start of the run until the end and it was my second fastest half marathon distance. My fastest half marathon was at the Celebrate Life Half Marathon, a hilly race upstate. I pushed my heart rate to the max at that race and had a PR by about four minutes. This run was at my tempo heart rate and was about two minutes slower that the race.

The runs after that started the same as they usually did with my first thoughts being “I feel like crap and I’m dying”. I decided that that one day was just me having a good day. It wasn’t until three weeks later that I put it together. I was reading Eat & Run by Scott Jurek. I normally don’t judge people but I saw him as a scrawny vegan… until I read his book. I always thought of vegans as tree hugging wild environmentalists. Scott Jurek is none of those things. In the beginning of his book he wrote about eating barbecued meat! He is not opposed to eating animal products, he simply chooses not to. He wrote about how much better he felt on a plant based regimen. I loved how open he was about his life and searched for movies with him in them. That’s how I stumbled upon “The Game Changers”. This movie showed me how the body metabolizes different foods and contradicted everything that I thought I knew.

That was when I had my great epiphany. OMG! The night before that awesome run I had eaten Tofu Pad Thai, the date was on my billing statement. I always eat overnight oats made with almond milk before my activities. That was it! I ate plant based foods and benefitted from it. I started experimenting with different foods, including seafood. My best efforts were after eating a high protein plant based pasta with either tofu or seafood. My favorite thing to make is butternut squash sauce with dill, it’s delicious. I make a lot of Thai inspired food loaded with vegetables. I’ve always eaten a wide variety of food so I was prepared to switch it up. If you season food properly anything will taste great.

In the middle of all this I had been researching the Stryd footpod for running power metrics. I read an in depth review that focused on the training aspect of it instead of the technology itself. That sealed the deal for me. In TrainingPeaks the only unit of measurement or progress is pace. Pace is dependent on so many factors. The Stryd footpod also has wind detection as well as efficiency metrics. There are times that I’m running slow but working harder and vise versa. It’s important to me that I know what my actual efforts are. I have learned so many fascinating things about myself while analyzing the data it provides after my runs. For instance, I use less power to keep my heart rate from shooting up when I climb up hills and more power going downhill to keep my heart rate from dropping too low. So, basically, in order to keep my heart rate even I have to climb slowly and power down a descent. The data is very interesting.

Between eating a regimen conducive to making gains and analyzing my running power and efficiency metrics, it’s almost as if I became faster overnight. My Critical Power (running ftp) has shot up since I started using the footpod. All of my running training is coming together. I was experiencing many inconsistencies that I’m no longer having.

Of course I’m also having cycling gains. I have a lot of work to do on the bike to get to where I want to be but it’s coming along and I feel much better riding. Just like my runs, I feel good from beginning to end. There were times on my rides when I couldn’t figure out why my hard work wasn’t adding up to me putting out power. The answer was simple, it was my shoes. My winter cycling boots don’t have a stiff sole like my spring/summer shoes do. For a couple of years I couldn’t figure out why I slowed down, again it was the shoes. I was wearing cheap shoes with more padding in the sole. When I bought new shoes with a stiffer sole last summer my riding dramatically improved. My confidence is going up and I feel better about myself.

What does a lady do to boost her confidence even more? A makeover of course! A friend of mine posted herself on Facebook doing her hair. I hadn’t trimmed my hair since 2012 and my ends were straight out nasty. My grays were running rampant and I’d done nothing to stop them. I felt ashamed of myself. She was using a hot air brush. I looked into it and that brush blows hair out straight in twenty minutes! I bought one. I also bought a set of scissors and hair dye. I trimmed and dyed my own hair. Not only do I feel much better about my appearance but I feel empowered from being able to do it by myself.

I’m not happy about the pandemic but I am happy about being able to hit the pause button and reset my life. I learned and grew tremendously in the seven weeks that I was off. I have absolutely no regrets about how I spent my time. I was extremely productive and forever changed. I hope that all of you are heathy and safe. No matter what you have going on, every day is an opportunity to grow and make positive changes. Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement. As always, I thank you all very much for reading!

San Diego, California

 

As a broke girl from Queens I’ve always dreamed of traveling all over the world.  As the years passed and my bank account failed to grow I then started to dream of traveling all over the country.  After more years had passed I then started to dream of simply seeing the west coast.  In the past 10 years I only took a week off from work to get married and go on honeymoon.  I took weekend getaways but I didn’t take time off for vacations.  

Over the winter my friends Mr. & Mrs. Scuba Cyclist came to visit.  We met for dinner and they told us all about their life on the west coast and how nice it was.  It all sounded wonderful.  They invited me to come visit. They’ve had a few friends come to visit them and they love entertaining.  They had no plans for February so I searched their area for half marathons going on around that time and found The Mermaid Half Marathon, an event for the ladies.  I’ve never done a ladies race and decided to visit them surrounding the event.  

The race was on the morning of Saturday, February 8th.  I flew in on Thursday morning and spent the day with Scuba cyclist preparing for our super fun extended weekend.  We stopped by the military base so I could get a cyclist’s visitors pass to be able to ride through the base.  There was a wait so we went to lunch at a nearby restaurant on the water.  The food was delicious and everyone on the west coast are really nice and laid back, so much different from the uptight people of New York!  When we returned to the base there was a short wait and we were able to get my pass fairly quickly.  We went for delicious ice cream afterwards before going to pick up my race packet.  

We sat in rush hour traffic on the way back to her place and I was freezing.  She had the air conditioner on in the car but it wasn’t all that cold.  Luckily I had bought a Navajo blanket when we were by the water so I used it in the car.  I felt like crap.  Shortly after we got back to the house we sat down to a very nice dinner.  I started to warm up a bit.  Since we’re the same height I borrowed Scuba Cyclist’s bike, she had it adjusted for me with the email I sent her from my last bike fitting.  After dinner we prepared by bike for our ride the next day.  That night I slept like crap, I was fighting something.  I was worried that I’d flown across the country just to be laid up sick but, thankfully, that was not the case. 

I woke up feeling refreshed.  Since I was doing a half marathon the next day this ride was gonna be more chill, at a tempo pace.  I had no intention of actually racing the half marathon but I didn’t want to run on depleted legs either. Riding tempo suited Scuba Cyclist just fine, she enjoys just riding.  She took my on a very nice route along the coast through the seaside towns.  It was all very breathtaking.  It was mostly flat except for a coupe of hills in the military base.  There was a spectacular view of the mountains.  We visited the sea lions that sunbathe on the pier.  I took pictures of amazing water views at a few places along our ride.  I didn’t want the ride to end but I was getting tired as the first half of the ride was into a headwind.  

That afternoon we all visited the farmers market.  I love shopping on the street, I always have.  I also love eating on the street but that’s a whole other thing.  My friends did their regular shopping and I bought essential oils.  I started aromatherapy in my essential oil diffuser while I sleep and I’ve been sleeping deeper and waking up feeling more rested.  We went back and had a sensible meal and I went to sleep at a decent hour.  

In the morning I got ready and Scuba Cyclist dropped me off at the race before heading to the gym.  She didn’t ride that day because my race was along her riding route and the roads were blocked off.  On the way to the race I felt the familiar pang of my stomach.  I used the bathroom before leaving the house but, yea, I was about to have one of my pre race porto potty episodes.  At least it was before and not during the race…. After that I lined up and chatted with the other mermaids, they were all very nice.  None of them sized me up, acted catty, or acted like competition.  These ladies were all very positive and friendly.  

The race itself was very nice and scenic.  It was a bit windy and the course was in the sun but it was a lovely day for a race.  I spent some time running behind and with a very nice lady.  We chatted a bit and, it turns out, she’s also from NY.  She currently lives in San Diego and, I later learned, spends a good amount of time encouraging female athletes.  Although I wasn’t racing I wasn’t exactly taking my time either.  I actually came close to having a PR but that would come at a later race.  I was on vacation and I was there to have a good time.  I did push the final 5k as I always do but this time it was tough and I had to back it down a bit.  The nice lady and I met again at the results kiosk and chatted a bit.  She told me about Stryd, the running power meter footpod.  I was intrigued and that started my research into running with power.  Gathering more information about my runs could only help me as pace is dependent upon many factors but I’ll get into all that on my next post.  Yes, I plan on writing some more 😉

After taking part in some of the finish line festivities I made my way back to the lot at the  starting line to meet up with Scuba Cyclist.  It was a mile walk back to the lot and I was dance walking because a good song came on.  She was happy to see that I was having fun and I told her all about the race.  We went back to the house and got ready.  We went to the brewery for lunch and then went hiking up a mountain.  The only other time I went hiking it was freezing out and there was a lot of ice.  It was nice to only worry about navigating the steep uphills and descents while maneuvering around the rocks and stones.  The view from the top was spectacular.

That night it was ladies night at a friend’s house.  It was nice to meet her friends and learn more about life in California.  It was a late night but, since it was raining the next day, I was sleeping in.  I woke up feeling like crap.  As the day went on it was clear that I had a cold.  It was just as well that it was raining because my legs were toast.  We took an hour drive to the vineyard for lunch and wine tasting once Scuba Cyclist returned from the gym.  The Vineyard was so beautiful and all the wines we tasted were amazing.  It was a very fun way to spend a rainy day.  We were planning on having more wine with dinner but none of us were into it and we drank water instead.  We went to bed at a decent hour but I still woke up feeling like crap.  

It was raining again and Mr. Scuba Cyclist offered to take me to a nice running spot while the Mrs. was at the gym. It was beautiful.  There was a light rain but running in the rain never bothered me.  I did a nice zone 2 run or at least I tried to run zone 2 up a mountain.  The downhill was certainly at zone 2 though. I stopped a couple of times along the run to take pictures as it was one of the nicest places I had ever run.  That was the last thing I did in San Diego.  Just like that my visit had come to an end.  Once back at the house I bathed and got the rest of my things together.  Scuba Cyclist dropped me off at the airport and she even packed a meal for me to take on the plane.

I’m ever so grateful to my friends for giving me the opportunity to visit the west coast.  I’m also grateful to have visited before the world shut down.  Not long after my visit all hell broke loose with the pandemic and nobody went anywhere.  I thank my friends for being excellent hosts and making me feel welcome in their home.  I’m deeply grateful to have been trusted with her top of the line bicycle, I treated it like royalty.  

Through cycling I’ve made friendships with truly wonderful people, people that I may not have met otherwise.  I’ve made friendships with people that don’t care that I’m a BrokeLadyCyclist and that means the world to me.  In a time of materialism these wonderful people see me for who I really am.  Thank you to everyone who has been kind to me. Thank you to Mr. & Mrs. Scuba Cyclist for everything, including repeatedly picking me up when I was down.  I hope you all stay healthy and safe, thank you all so much for reading!

 

 

 

The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend 2020

 

My husband loves going to Disney.  Every year he goes to Disney with his boys.  He asked me to go this past summer but I chose not to go.  Being that we’re on a budget I chose to save my money to go on a cycling trip or to Scuba Cyclist’s house in San Diego.  A while back I read about a man who lost weight by taking up running after having weight loss surgery.  His goal was to run his first marathon, he chose the 2020 Disney marathon to be his first.  I wasn’t into running at that time but the event was somewhere in the back of my mind.

One day I was on Facebook and an ad for the Disney marathon popped up and I remembered the article I read and thought it may be fun to do it.  Although I hadn’t run my first marathon yet I decided to sign up for a second marathon, the Disney marathon.  I asked my coach if it would be advisable to do two marathons within a couple months of each other and she said it would be a good event for me to participate in.  She told me I would have a lot of fun and she knows people that love it so much that they do it every year.  I talked it over with my husband and he was just as excited to accompany me to Disney as I was about running the marathon.  He made all the travel arrangements for an extended Disney weekend, including the itinerary, and I registered for the marathon. 

In the months leading up to our trip I was getting excited.  I bought some Disney apparel for both the marathon and for the parks.  I was excited about running the marathon and wasn’t at all nervous.  I was actually very relaxed.  That is until my training runs got longer and I started experiencing discomfort.  I couldn’t go crying to my doctor because I had met the calendar year allowance for his services and I couldn’t afford to pay completely out of pocket.  I wasn’t in horrible pain so I continued my training as planned.   The marathon was in the beginning of the next calendar year so I was able to resume treatment prior to the event.  I went to him a few days before I left for the trip hoping that that one visit would help me.  In the back of my mind I questioned whether I’d be able to complete the marathon but I kept it in the back of my mind where it belonged.  Even if I didn’t complete it I’d be happy to run as far as I could in the happiest place I know. 

Early in the morning on Friday, January 10th we headed out to the airport by way of ride share car service.  We took off and landed on schedule.  Arrangements were made for our bags to be sent to our hotel and we were to arrive there by way of the Magical Express bus service.  We were to be the last stop on the bus.  We noticed that we were passing the ESPN center where the race expo was being held so we decided to get off at the very first stop and take a bus from there.  The expo was a lot of fun.  I picked up my race bib, shirt, and gear bag as well as a couple of other small things.  We took pictures and demoed a couple of new items.  While we were at the expo we received a text that our room was ready, we checked in online so we could go straight to the room.  Our luggage hadn’t arrived yet.  My shoes were cute but not comfy enough to walk around in for long periods of time.  As luck would have it our luggage arrived before we left for lunch and Animal Kingdom.  

Being that our trip was short my husband had made arrangements that were efficient with time.  He scheduled a VIP group tour of Animal Kingdom that would afford us the time to take in all of the main attractions in a short amount of time.  I had a blast!  A meal, a drink, and a dessert were also included as well as plenty of bottled water.  At the end of the tour we were escorted to prime reserved seating at the River of Lights show.  We went to dinner in the park at a nice restaurant after the show and took the bus to the hotel closest to ours that served delicious beignets for dessert.  It was a magical day that filled me with a deeper appreciation of my husband and all the lengths he goes to ensure my happiness.  

I woke up early the next morning to run before having breakfast and going to the Magic Kingdom.  It wasn’t hot but it was very humid.  The marathon would have similar weather so that helped me decide on my race strategy.  My husband got us fastpasses that would begin in the afternoon.  The lines for certain rides were short in the morning so he planned accordingly.  We had lunch before using our fastpasses. We went on all of the rides that we wanted to go on and had so much fun.  We took the monorail to the Skyliner because we thought it would be cool and it was.  We had dinner in Disney Springs but we didn’t walk around because I had to wake up very early for the race.  The race started at 5:00am but participants were encouraged to leave their hotel at 3:00am.  

Our hotel didn’t offer an early breakfast for race participants but I had packed most of what I would need to make overnight oats.  The shop didn’t have almond milk so I bought soy milk.  I didn’t bring my pure maple syrup so I used the syrup packets from the hotel and took a banana.  Ordinarily I’d have blended the banana into the milk and pour it into the oats but I ate it separately instead. There was a coffee maker in the room.  I brought my hydration pack as well as all of my normal race nutrition.

I woke up very early and was on the bus by 3:20.  I arrived at the start at Epcot Center with plenty of time to spare.  I used the porto potty before heading to my corral.  I didn’t anticipate the event starting twenty minutes late.  The event wouldn’t start until after they received confirmation that the roads were all blocked off and ready to go.  Before we even started I had to pee very badly.  My strategy was to run as far as I could before sunrise while keeping my heart rate even.  I had absolutely no intention of racing it even if it were cooler out.  I was there to have fun! The weather would be getting hot around noon so I planned on being long done by then.  We were released from our corrals in one minute increments.  I was in corral D, the fifth corral to be released including the wheelchair racers.  

The first set of porto potties was a half mile in and there were no lines so I went.  I felt instantly better.  I was very conservative with my pace.  At the very first water stop, before any sign of feeling warm, I started dumping water on myself to remain cool and drank a tiny bit of it to alternate with my energy drink.  I doused myself at nearly every stop.  At the second stop I doused myself with about half of a cup of gatorade before realizing it.  At every stop after that I drank before dumping it on myself.  I didn’t stop to take pictures with any characters in the first few miles as there weren’t any that I was dying to see.  

I had conversations with random people all along the course.  The first was a nice young lady that had studied the map prior to the event.  I already had to pee again.  She informed me that we would be passing actual bathrooms when we got to the Magic Kingdom.  I would hold it until then.  Around mile six my stomach started to kill me.  Around mile seven my body informed me that it desperately needed the bathroom.  At mile eight I had to give in and use the roadside porto potty.  I prayed that this was a one time occurrence that wouldn’t haunt me throughout the course and, thankfully, it was.  That was my last bathroom stop.  I attribute this sickness to not having my regular food for breakfast.  My strategy of getting as far as I could before sunrise went to hell with that not too lengthy stop.

Once my stomach was completely settled was when all the characters I was interested in seeing were along the course.  I felt really good because, although my stomach was killing me, I still ate my gels and nutrition bars on schedule.  No matter how bad it felt to eat, I knew I needed the extra support in the harsh conditions.  I was only mildly interest in the first characters I passed so I didn’t wait in line, I took their pictures between participants.  Around mile 10 was when I started waiting in short lines for pictures.  The lines moved very swiftly.  There were professional photographers as well as people ready to take my own phone for pictures.  The only unknown characters I posed with were these pretty colored bugs that didn’t have a line. Right after that I remained at that stop to retrieve my sunglasses from inside my hydration pack. They were wet with the water I kept dumping on myself and I had nothing dry to wipe them with.  I was starting to get tired so any excuse to stop was a good one.  Although my glasses were dry they were streaky so I stopped when I saw the towel that people used to wipe their hands after using Biofreeze, I used a corner to be safe.

I stopped briefly to take pictures of and with anything and anyone that I thought was cool.  Every time I stopped I felt better.  I rarely stopped for any reason in the sun.  I was tempted by the sign that said “Open Bar” that a man was holding up in Animal Kingdom.  Other participants had stopped for a drink in the shade but I knew it was a bad idea so I kept on moving.  Shortly after that there were volunteers handing out small bags of ice.  I took one and held it in my hands.  I opened the bag and offered some ice to people that looked very hot and instructed them to hold it in their hands to stay cool.  I dropped a few pieces of ice down my bra and took some ice out to hold before ditching the bag at a water stop.

There was a loop through a sunny parking lot at Blizzard Beach.  We were already in the sun for a while at that point.  It pretty much sucked but it wasn’t unbearable.  I stopped there at the mile twenty-one marker to take a picture because the marker had Lilo and Stitch on it, whom I love.  At mile twenty-two there was a DJ playing a popular song.  There was an older gentleman dancing so I stopped to dance with him for about a minute.  I thanked the DJ in my own little way (by smacking my booty and then pointing at him:-).   Both the older gentleman and I started running again but he gave me a pound before we separated.  

I had my last gel at half past mile twenty-two.  It was pretty sunny the rest of the way.  I dug deep to keep on moving.  We got to Hollywood Studios sometime around mile twenty-three.  The crowd at Main Street was very hype and encouraging.  The volunteers handed out Hershey’s Kisses.  I took some and ate one.  It was gooey from the sun but it was just the sweet that I needed at that point.  I put the rest in the front pocket of my hydration pack.  

Shortly after that, around mile twenty-four, we were back in Epcot Center and it was there that the crowd was carrying some of the best signs I’d seen all race.  One said “Soon you can drink on Friday Nights Again”.  More ice was distributed and, again, I took some.  At mile twenty-five I knew I was almost done but it was tough.  In a shady spot I saw a lady carrying a sign that said “Free Hugs and High Fives”.  I saw another runner had just finished hugging her and her t-shirt was wet from that runner’s sweat.  I stopped for a hug too and she was a very good hugger.  I thanked her for the hug and she asked if I was ok.  I told her I was and she told me I was almost there.  I thanked her again and left.  My legs smelled the finish and they started moving faster.  I no longer had to watch my heart rate.  I let my legs run free.  About half a mile from the finish line my legs took over and I ran fast.  When I turned the corner and saw the finish line, I sprinted for it! I ran past two ladies that were excited to finish together.  I didn’t care, I just wanted to be done.  I crossed the finish line at about 10:38am after being on the course for a little more than five hours.

Shortly after the finish line, a respectable distance away to let other runners have their finish, I pulled off to the right and bent over to regain my composure a bit.  I just needed a minute to catch my breath.  Shortly after a young man approached me and, respectfully, got me upright gain.  He asked me to walk with him.  I explained that my husband was around there somewhere.  I put my hand on his shoulder to help me walk on my sore knees and he continued leading me down the finish line area.  I stopped to collect my medal and we continued walking.  He brought me to the self treatment area.  He asked me if I wanted my knees iced or to sit at the fans and he suggested the fans, which I was already starting to point to.  A young lady came to ice my knees and asked if I was still lightheaded.  I never communicated that I was lightheaded or that my knees were sore but I’m guessing that they’ve seen this behavior in previous finishers and knew what to do.  

As soon as I felt right again, I reunited with my husband who greeted me with a single pink rose with a Mickey ornament inside of it in my signature color.  I cried.  He’s such a good man and he’s so good to me.  On the way to see him I was given a water, my finishers Mickey ears, and someone opened the water for me.  I collected my finishers snack box on the way out and we headed over to the bus depot.  The bus came shortly after we got there but the participant that was there had waited long.  My first stop at the hotel was the bar.  I drank an IPA leisurely.  It was just after noon when my husband got the notification that, due to the weather, the course was being revised.  Although it was being revised all the remaining participants that crossed the finish line would be considered completed and they would receive finishers medals. I would later learn that the participants were passing out from the heat, most of them at Blizzard Beach.  That’s the loop of the course that was removed.  

I noticed that, over the course of our stay, that the participants that finished the various races that were held over the marathon weekend were wearing their medals out and about.  I thought that was great and I did it too.  I wore it on the Surrey that my husband and I rode around the hotel grounds and I wore it while lounging by the pool.  After I got dressed for dinner I put it back on.  My husband asked, because it was heavy, if I really wanted to walk around in it.  I assured him that I did, that it would be the only race that would be stylish to wear the medal afterwards.  It was Disney after all!

We took the riverboat to Disney Springs and walked around.  I was congratulated by many people and congratulated many participants myself.  We went to the Coca Cola store and we, unexpectedly, got to meet and pose for pictures with the Coke polar bear.  My husband then took me to a very fun Irish restaurant with live entertainment.  We loved it!  As luck would have it they had a 20% discount for marathon participants.  My husband immediately apologized for questioning my decision to wear my medal out and about.  We went to Ghiradelli for dessert and then, also unexpectedly, waited on a long riverboat line to return to the hotel.  

Our vacation was amazing and we both wish we could have stayed longer.  Disney is a magical place and the marathon event was run very well.  My only criticism is that they didn’t feed the runners well.  Only a packet of sport beans and Hershey’s Kisses were handed out.  There was plenty of water, gatorade, and powerade but the food was lacking.  There were many volunteers and medical tents.  The race entertainment was awesome and all of the volunteers, including the characters, were very cheerful and encouraging.  I would definitely attend the Disney Marathon Weekend in the future.  

On Monday morning the Magical Express brought us back to the airport.  I wore the shirt that I received at the expo.  It was at the airport that I spoke with other finishers wearing their shirts that told me about all of the participants that suffered heat exhaustion and the part of the course that was omitted.  Being that I had finished early, I was spared the sight of many people passing out.  The organizers sent out many warnings and advisories prior to the event as well as tips to avoid exhaustion but not everyone can handle those conditions.   

Although I had an amazing time at the marathon and I’m recovering well, I think I’m going to take it down a notch.  I think I’ll limit myself to running a marathon annually.  I love running marathons but the training is tough.  I’ve trained in the sweltering heat as well as the freezing temps and, in both extremes, training for a marathon is hard work bot physically and mentally. I hope to be able to run the NYC marathon at the end of the season but we’ll see how it goes.  Thank you all for the love and support I’ve received from you all as I conquer all of my goals and, as always, I thank you all very much for reading!

The Suffolk County Marathon

 

After the Hamptons half marathon I had one more long run before cutting the miles back and going into my taper.  Over the course of my training I had entertained ideas of running on the “real” roads, the same roads that I ride on.  I was always too afraid.  I was afraid of being completely vulnerable to passing cars.  I thought about it and it was no different than riding on those roads.  On a bicycle I’m also vulnerable to passing cars.  

I was supposed to meet up with my coach that morning for a run on a hilly loop.  I woke up late and had stomach issues.  That’s when I decided to run free.  I mapped a route of roads that I knew well to make sure the mileage was correct and committed my route to memory.  I drove to the lot that I would normally ride from.  A few of my friends were there and it was nice to see them.  

I ran and I felt so free. I was seeing all of these roads that I had rode on many times before with new eyes.  I saw things that I had never noticed before.  I took it all in.  I took in all of the different scents and all of the different colors of the trees.  I took notice of the leaves that were on the ground.  I looked in awe at all of the beautiful houses.  I enjoyed going up and down the rolling hills.  I loved the feeling of being small in a big world. Towards the end of that run I picked up the pace and finished strong.  That’s when I knew I was ready.  I was ready to take on the world as big as it was.

I followed my pre race routine to a tee.  I did my pre race leg opener run and then went to the race expo to pick up my bib.  I had paid the fee to pick my bib up on race day but I decided to pick my bib up at the expo instead.  I had emailed the event organizers in advance of my change in plans.  I rested the remainder of the day in preparation of my longest run ever.  I ate my usual pasta dinner and went to bed at a decent hour.  

I woke up early and left the house with plenty of  time to spare.  I sipped my coffee on the drive in and arrived before the line to get into the parking lot began.  I ate my overnight oats and then started getting ready.  I decided to wear my fleece active jacket because it was chilly even though I knew I would soon abandon it on the side of the road.  It was very inexpensive so I didn’t care.  I clipped my bib on, locked my car, and carried my hydration pack filled with all my race nutrition to board the shuttle bus.  

Once I was off the bus I stopped to put my hydration pack on under my jacket.  I got on the porto potty line while it was short and took care of business.  I socialized with an acquaintance for a few minutes and then made my was closer to the starting line to find the 4:30 pacer.  Being that it was raining with heavy wind gusts, my coach and I thought it was best to take shelter within a group.  I saw the 4:00, 4:15, 4:45, and 5:00 hour pacers but the 4:30 was nowhere to be found.  In fact, there were two 4:15 pacers! I started slow hoping that they were behind me so I could jump on as they passed but they never appeared.  There was no 4:30 pacer and I was on my own.  It was just as well.  I trained on my own and I enjoyed my own company.  I focused on maintaining a steady pace that I could sustain for miles.

I wasn’t completely alone as there were many people around.  I was also getting plenty of encouragement on the RaceJoy app. I spoke with two ladies for about a mile until they stopped to use the porto potty.  Shortly after, around mile 3, I got warm and abandoned my fleece on the side of the road at a water stop.  I was hoping it would be picked up, laundered, and donated.  At mile 5 I ate half of a nutrition bar and I ate a gel at mile 6.  At the half marathon turn around things thinned out quite a bit.  Suddenly there was nobody around me anymore.  There were people ahead of me and people behind but it was quiet all around me.   

I caught up to a guy and we chatted for a bit before another guy passing by joined us.  They had both completed marathons the previous week.  One guy ran in Scotland and the other in Georgia.  The guy who ran in Georgia was celebrating a marathon anniversary by running his 75th marathon, he is only 38!  He said that he only ran in Georgia to get another race in so he could hit 75 for his special anniversary as well as the 75th anniversary of D-day.  We parted ways at the next water stop when they slowed to take a drink and I just kept on moving.  It was at that water stop and all of the rest to follow that I asked if every cup with gold colored liquid was beer.  At every stop they laughed and said something witty or funny to make me laugh in return.  

The course turned left a couple of miles later into the wind.  I ate the other half of my nutrition bar at mile 10.  Shortly after I caught up to another guy and ran behind him to take shelter from the wind. We took turns running behind each other for a couple of miles until he picked up the pace and I didn’t follow.  We made another turn and we were running through a park I had once ran a long training run in.  At mile 12 I ate a gel and handed the wrapper to a cyclist standing on the side of the path.  People were all really nice about taking my trash.  The only litter I discarded were the tiny tabs from the tops of my gel packs.  Around mile 13 I was about to catch back up to that guy but then he went into a porto potty and I kept on moving.  What’s up with these people? 

At mile 14 I was dead to the world.  My tracker was no longer functioning and my hands were too stiff to play with the app on my phone.  I caught up to a nice lady and we chatted for a bit.  I told her to pick up the pace with me at mile 15 and we did but, after some time, she was no longer beside me.  I ate half of a nutrition bar at mile 15.  The course turned into what I think was a country club with fun fall decorations that had clear bags over them to protect them from the rain.  It was fun to run past them although the path was made up of small pebbles that were hard to run on.  I ran on the grass beside the path whenever available.  I ate a powerhouse gel at mile 18 that had twice the amount of caffeine as the rest of my gels. It was around then that I felt as if tiny gremlins were tearing up my quads with large garden shears.  I think it was around then that I caught up to two guys running side by side.  I took shelter from the wind behind them until they chose to walk over an underpass hill and I just kept on running. 

We made another turn into what I think was a campus that may have led into a golf course that brought us back to the road that we were previously on.  That was around mile 20 when I ate the other half of my nutrition bar.  My hands were so stiff that I dropped it and had to turn around to retrieve it.  That was the only time I stopped.  Once we were back on the main road there was a constant battering of wind.  I was growing weary and even whimpered to myself a bit.  Close to mile 21 I was passing two guys.  One of them said something encouraging.  I turned around and saw a familiar face.  I didn’t know how I knew him and I asked him. He actually holds public office. I recognized him from the local news channel. I slowed to chat for a bit.  At mile 21 I said goodbye and picked my pace back up.  

At mile 22 I was growing more weary and my legs were on fire.  I ate my last gel.  I was running through the quiet town.  Most of the spectators had left, except for one really nice and supportive guys who shouted words of encouragement to me.  I thanked him. Around mile 23 I entertained ideas of stopping for a second.  During my training runs I would stop and it gave me the temporary energy to go faster but the risk of cramping up was too great.  I told myself that I didn’t have to run fast, I just had to run.  I reminded myself that pain is weakness leaving the body.  That’s when Georgia came by and passed me telling me that we were almost there.  He remained ahead of me for a while.  

Around mile 25 I could smell the finish line.  I couldn’t see it but I knew it was there.  I found the energy to pick up the pace.  I passed Georgia and that was the last I saw of him.  My eyes were blurry but I could see the lights of a police cruiser.  A banner came into focus.  It was the start line and the finish line wasn’t far behind it.  The nice guy from town was there telling me I looked strong and that I was almost there.  I blew him a kiss.  His support really helped me, it helped me more than he could ever imagine.  I had a sudden burst of energy as I made my way to the finish line.  I was so happy to see it.  The announcer called out the town I live in, then my name.  They cheered me on to the finish line where I was overcome with emotion.  I bent over and cried after I crossed the timing mat.  I hugged the nice lady who remembered me from my email and someone put a space blanket around me and handed my medal to me.  The nice lady and I took a picture together.    

My husband was there outside of the barriers.  I was so happy to see him.  I made my way down the desolate row of what had been the finish line festival.  I retrieved my results printout to discover that I had come in fourth in my division! I then stopped at the beer tent and chugged two IPAs within 5 minutes  and then rode the shuttle bus back to the car with my husband who was awesome enough to ride the train to meet me so he could drive me home.  We didn’t go home right away, we stopped to eat at Aunt Mia’s pizza so I could stuff my face first.

With the exception of not having a 4:30 pacer, the event was perfectly run. The volunteers were cheerful and encouraging.  All of the water stops had plenty of water and gatorade as well as more than enough people to hand them out.  The stops later on in the race had food with people almost begging the runners to take it.  The police were respectful of the runners as well as the drivers that wanted to pass.  If I don’t run in this event next year then I will volunteer to help out.  I’m all about supporting our veterans and benefitting a worthy cause.  

I want to thank everyone who believes in me and for cheering me on.   Thank you for supporting me and encouraging me to meet my goals.  That you for making a broke girl from Queens feel rich. Thank you for standing beside me as I do all of the things I never thought I could or would do. Thank you all for everything and thank you so much for reading!

 

The Hamptons Half Marathon

 

Although this wasn’t my first half marathon and I’ve been training for a full marathon, I was nervous.  If I did well on this race then I could use it as proof of time for the Disney marathon to get into a better starting corral.  I’ve been putting in the work but I was counting on cooler weather.  It’s been unseasonably warm which is excellent for riding but not that great for running.  

I’ve been following my form on TrainingPeaks and mostly following my training plan to make sure I’d be prime for race day.  I did my pre race run as instructed by my coach.  Directly after my run I visited the chiropractor.  He asked how I was doing and I informed him that I was freaking out.  It was the eve of the race and I had a lot of discomfort in my right calf and hamstring.  After doing a routine exam he escorted me into the only room I’ve never been in.  He did RPT therapy in the areas that I had discomfort.  He explained that it would help break up the adhesions in those areas and improve circulation to my muscles.  It helped me tremendously.  I felt a world better almost immediately.  

After my visit I had my pre race pasta dinner and then started getting ready for the morning.  The drive to the race was an hour and ten minutes and I had to be there before 7:00am to pick up my race bib. Parking wouldn’t be an issue because I paid a little extra for on site parking rather than having to find a parking spot in the village.  I would have to wake up at 4:40 and leave home by 5:30.  I spoke with my coach about strategy and wardrobe before going to bed early.  I didn’t sleep soundly due to my nerves but I did get enough sleep.

My morning went as planned.  When I left home it was pitch dark out and I watched the sunrise as I drove out east.  The sky slowly lit up with vibrant hues of pink and orange.  It was a beautiful sunrise.  If I wasn’t driving I would have taken a picture of it.  I sipped my coffee during the drive.

I arrived at the race, picked up my race bib, and then went back to the car to have my breakfast.  I put on my hydration pack which was filled with Cytomax, my sunglasses, and my bluetooth headphones.  I had bought plastic bib fasteners so I wouldn’t ruin my clothes with safety pins. The clips came in a pack of four with “Finish Strong” written on them for inspiration.  I pinned my bib on with them and then made my way towards the starting line.  I had planned on using the porto potty closer to the start of the race but the line was getting long so I went sooner rather than later.  After that I had about fifteen minutes before the start of the race which pretty much flew by.

I started out a little bit faster than I had planned but still very reasonable.  I was hanging with a few guys that were running the full marathon but, when I saw how high my heart rate was, I wished them luck and backed it down.  Many people passed me but I knew that, further along, I’d be passing some of them.  Although I was being conservative with my pace, my heart rate remained high.  

I passed the first drink station around mile 3 without taking anything because the water was self service and I refused to come to a full stop.   A few people did stop for water and that marked the start of me moving up in the race.  The next drink station was around mile five and was being handed out.  I took a cup and poured it on my head wishing I’d have poured some down my shirt.  I had half of my nutrition bar.  Shortly after that a lady that had been going strong started to walk.  The heat was starting to break people down.  At mile 6 I had an energy gel.  The next drink station wasn’t far from the previous one and had water on the table so I snatched it up while barely slowing down and poured it down my shirt and over my head.  I continued dumping water on myself throughout the race.  

About halfway through the race I saw people lined up at the porto potties on the side of the road.  These people couldn’t go without peeing for a couple of hours?!  Around mile 8 I started picking up the pace and was passing a good amount of people.  Shortly before mile 10 I consumed the other half of my nutrition bar.  At mile 10 I went into my race pace.  I passed even more people.  I kept going strong.  I told myself that it was ok if I slowed down a bit at that point, but I managed to go faster.  At mile 13.1 there was no sign of the finish line but I knew it would be there eventually.  At mile 13.2 I rounded a corner and there it was! I thought of the “Finish Strong” clips I was wearing and I went into a full on sprint passing about 3 more people.  Before I knew it I was over the timing mat and being handed a finisher’s medal.  I did it!  I completed my first warm weather race with a personal record!  I grabbed a bottle of water and sat down for a few minutes before stretching and making my way back to the car.  

I had a great time at this race.  The course was very scenic and the event was well run.  The volunteers worked very hard to keep the water flowing.  Police officers and volunteers worked hard in the sun to block the roads and call out the various turns.  The spectators were jubilant and encouraging.  The swag bag was high quality and the medals were very decorative.  It is more than likely that I will be returning to this race next year.  I highly recommend doing this event.

Running is sometimes more of a mental challenge than a physical one.  I entertained thoughts of slowing down, walking, or stopping but I willed myself to run on.  There was nothing wrong with my legs but the challenge of racing in the heat was uncomfortable at times.  The people cheering me on along the way helped me so much.  They yelled out “you can do it!”.  I truly could and I did!  I thank them and all of you for all of the support.  Thank you so much for reading!

What I’ve Learned So far……

 

 

I used to think that running was as simple as throwing on a pair of sneakers and moving swiftly through the streets.  There is so much more to running than that.  My lack of knowledge is how I got injured time and time again. I have learned so much in the past few months, some of these things I should have already known.

After the Long Island Half Marathon I continued with my routine care with the Sports Chiropractor, whom I still continue to see.  In addition to the ITB Syndrome, I was experiencing a secondary pain.  This pain would start sporadically on my runs and never at the same time or distance.  I would feel discomfort in the same exact place below my knee and to the left.  I had several treatments for this pain, all with no relief.  On a warmer day I decided to wear knickers for my run.  Of course I would look stupid if I wore compression socks with short pants, so I didn’t.  I ran for miles without pain.  It was wonderful.  I then tried to figure out what was different about this run from all the other runs.  The socks! The damn socks! The socks were the source of this secondary pain!  I brought them to the next visit I had with the Chiropractor and we had a good laugh about it.  The socks never bothered me in the cold weather but the warmer weather made my muscles expand and contract in a different way.  I have other compression socks that are more suitable for running but, at this point, I’m deathly afraid of them. 

My original discomfort from the ITB Syndrome continued.  It was advised that I use a foam roller, which is something I should have been doing regularly as it’s great for all types of athletes.  The first time I used it I thought I would vomit from the release of the tension in my muscles, I had only felt that way once before.  I am now a changed woman and an advocate for the beloved foam roller.  It didn’t cure my discomfort but it was a positive step towards wellness.  

During one of my regular visits to the Chiropractor, I wasn’t my jubilant self.  I expressed my exasperation towards my situation and questioned running in general.  At the time I had the firm belief that running sucks.  Why do I run? Why do I want to run? Running is hard and it hurts.  I’ll get into the remedy of how to make running easier in a minute but for now I’ll focus on this particular visit.  He said that I needed to strengthen my supporting muscles.  My hips, my glutes, and my IT Band all needed strengthening.  He advised that I do a couple of different exercises but, me being me, I researched it more and found this glorious resistance band routine.  Not only are my supporting muscles stronger but my booty never looked this great in my life.  Needless to say I will continue with this routine.  I gradually increased the resistance to the hardest band in my set. I feel the burn and bask in the joy that it brings me every time.

Running sucked because of my attitude towards it, and also my lack of a good support bra.  Every run I did had to be hard or fast.  Every run that I did started getting tough during the warmup.  Even the recovery in between the intervals were tough.  There was nothing easy about running. I had a couple of runs with my coach and she taught me a few things.  She taught me the concept of easy and recovery.  I found a great high impact sport bra and, with a new attitude, I started enjoying running.

On most days I love to run.  I look forward to my runs.  I have a new sense of adventure.  I run in places that I’m curious to see or places that I’ve been on my bike that I want to have a closer look at. I look on maps to find new places to explore.  Last week I ran for relaxation.  I gently placed each foot on the ground and moved with no great purpose or urgency.  I ran to experience the joy of running.  I made my way up and down the rolling hills and took in the beautiful sights and aromas.  At the end of my run I was almost dry, I had barely broke a sweat.  I can enjoy my runs as I enjoy my rides.  I no longer question why I run.  It’s no longer only about the things I would like to accomplish but a deeper feeling of serenity, at times.  Of course I’m still going to work on getting faster.  I still have goals and wish to accomplish them but I also know that going easy is part of attaining these goals.

This coming Saturday I will do a scenic half marathon in the Hamptons which I will tell you all about afterwards.  If all goes well I will run my very first full marathon in four weeks! Thank you for your continued support and your patience during my time of transition into a new sport.  Thank you all for reading!

Hot Hot Hot

 

On these hot summer days I think of all the times I rode in the heat but one day really stands out. It was the day of the bike club picnic. It was close to 90 degrees Fahrenheit at the start of the ride and very humid. We had about a dozen riders including the new guy that had just started riding with our group.

I believe the ride was to Belmont Lake and it was the day after the hot century ride which most of us participated in. The ride was going well. We went to the lake and we took our pictures. On the way back we hit the hottest part of our ride. We were rolling through an industrial area. It was very sunny with no shade in sight. Most of us were in need of water so we planned a water stop at the closest 7/11.

A few minutes from the water stop a member of our group got a flat. I wasn’t leading the ride but I was commander in chief and couldn’t leave my men behind. Half of the group went on to the water stop while the rest of us remained behind in the blistering sun with our friend who had flatted. They were getting the tools out for the flat change.

I was too hot to just stand around in the sun. I scanned my surroundings. That’s when I noticed it. There was a large office building with a few small trees in front of it. Each small tree cast enough shade for three to four people to take cover under. I went right for it. The guys looked up and saw where I was headed and they all spread out under the trees. They calmly changed the flat and I’ll never forget the funniest little detail. It was a senior member of the club. He was using a small hand pump and when it got tough he turned to the new guy and asked the new guy, who was young and strong, to pump. The new guy was more than happy to rise to the occasion. He finished the job and got our friend rolling again.

When we arrived at the water stop the rest of the group gave their sympathies that we had stood around in the hot sun while they were very comfortable in the shade. We looked at each other and laughed. We then informed them that we also remained very comfortable in the shade. One of the guys mentioned that one of us had a great idea by heading for the trees.  We rolled on to finish the ride with no other setbacks and enjoyed ice cold drinks and food at the picnic. 

On hot days please have compassion and support your friends. It’s not their fault when they have mechanicals in the heat. Just remember to take in your surroundings and be creative about staying cool. Check on your elderly neighbors to make sure they’re alright. Stay cool and don’t go too hard in the heat. Be safe everyone!