Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Hi Everyone!

Nanci - way to go on EVERYTHING. My wish would be to ride with you somewhere (not up a canyon.)Ugh. Does anyone use mtn. bikes on these rides or is it strictly road bikes. It sounds fun but PLEASE be careful. I just drove over to Cascade Springs twice last week for our Trek. In the morning when the sun is just coming over the mountain I would come around corners and be blinded for few seconds and just pray a biker wasn't coming. And boy do they go fast! I wish there was a separate trail for bikes because there are SO many bikes and SO many cars now. If I were you I would ride at 5am on a weekday then go back to bed. Do I sound like your mother? GOOD!
Laura - your pictures are unreal. You had us fooled at Dennys - you already are a pro.
Christi - I like your idea of getting together and running a marathon. Here's my idea. We go to the St. George condo this fall. (Unless we are still going to Angie's cabin.) We go for a marathon walk around the block together, swim a few laps (optional), then pig out and watch movies all night. Or go to Tuacahn for a musical. We need to get this on the calendar girls, or 2009 will be over before we know it. Lori - you're a pro at organizing things!!!

Saturday, June 27, 2009

More climbing and an instant dislike for irresponsible dog owners

I rode Emigration Canyon again last Saturday and found out that officially Emigration has two mountains to climb--Little Mtn and Big Mtn. So to be able to check off a ride up Emigration I rode Little Mtn again and added Big Mtn for a total of 15 miles up and then 15 miles down in half the time or less. Down is way more fun! The Big Mtn is of course bigger and I was much slower going up that part but I did make it to the top.
This Tuesday I rode up AF Canyon via the rifle range road starting from my house but I only made it up to Timp Cave parking lot before my time allotment was used up. I've got to get faster. My goal by the middle of August is to ride the entire AF Canyon to Cascade Springs, Timpanookee and Tibble Fork a total of 46 miles--half of it climbing some pretty steep grades. Hopefully I won't have a heart attack or pass out from breathing to hard (can you do that??) it sure feels like I could when I'm climbing steep parts. "When" (not if) I can do this I will be ready for my LOTOJA climbing segments.
Today (Saturday) I spent an hour + riding up Millcreek Canyon in Salt Lake (35 minutes coming down) A very good climb especially the last couple of miles--steep little sections that make me breathe like I'm going through labor again and my legs scream. It felt great to make it to the top I just need to get stronger so I can go faster. I almost ran over a dog on the way down or it almost ran over me. The top half of the canyon is still closed to cars so we were enjoying the ride down but careful to share the road with all the hikers hiking up the road with their dogs which by law they are supposed to have them on leashes. Well--very few dogs were on leashes and one very large poodle mix of some sort (a large dog) was excited to check out other hikers and cyclists and as I was coming down at 20+ mph on my side of the road (on the far right I might add to give plenty of space to the hikers and dogs) this poodle came running towards me excited to say hello. I could see that this dog was running all over the road for about 30-40 feet before I got to it so I had started to pump my brakes to slow down but then it came running right towards me. I hit both brakes and my back tire fish tailed and I let out a yelp. The dog bounded off and the owners stood there with dumb grins on their faces like it was just too cute to see their dog say hello to the cyclists. Scott was right behind me and wasn't too pleased with the owners lack of control of their dog and needless to say neither was I. My heart was pumping!! I have yet to experience any kind of accident on my bike and I work real hard to maintain this clean riding record by obeying the traffice laws and following cycling ettiquete too. It's frustrating when other people don't obey the laws also and put others in harms way. Well, that was my moment on the soap box.
Next week: More hills, a speed interval ride and I'm trying to get running again two days a week. I'll let you know if I work it all in plus of course cleaning and laundry. Scott believes that everyone is happy and everything works out when the house is clean. If only Cole and Jack would cooperate more with Scott's thinking--life would be easier.
I'm optimistic about my goals but as always daily life gets in the way so I'll be happy to just get out on the road when I can.
I hope everyone is having a fun, safe summer.
Keep on moving!!

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Grab something to snack on---it's another novel!!

Yeah Jaime!!! I love to play soccer and now you love to play too???---well had some fun at least. I'm still trying to get the Roberts side of the family to accept it as a sport. They just like to see me puff up and turn red when they say soccer is a pansy game. I so want to come play. It's probably more fun to play co-ed than the all women league I played in in Saratoga. Those women were very competitive and some were down right mean and nasty. It's fun to play hard but not when the players swear at you and just take themselves way to serious. If you still need equipment I have shin guards, soccer socks and cleats you can use too.

I finished my ride on Saturday and I'm happy to report that a feeding frenzy did not follow this ride. My eating is under control and I even went running tonight (Tuesday). It felt great to get out and stretch the legs and run. I have discovered that even though I'm hooked on cycling if I had to choose to do only one it would be running. Running in the evening after the sun has gone down and it's starting to get quiet except for the occasional sound of summer--a sprinkler, a baseball game a couple of blocks away or kids trying to play a few moments longer outside in their pajamas--is just incredible. Your mind can drift in and out and you can just move in rhythm and fly---not that I fly very fast but it still feels like flying. I'd forgotten how good it feels since I've only been riding these last 5 weeks but I'm motivated again to run. I highly recomend running in the evening. It is a huge mental thing for me or I'm just mental myself but running in the morning compared to the evening is so different for me. The morning seems so hurry and get it done to get the day started where in the evening it is a relaxing wind down of the day. I had a great run so I'm running away with my words as well.

My Tour de Cure Report:

To read the readers digest version go to the last paragraph.


If you need a break from laundry and dishes, grab a chair and a drink--the long version might take a couple of minutes.

This ride turned out to be a long ride and not just because it literally was a long ride one. I don't know if I was still a little tired from last Saturday's century or if the culmination of the miles and happenings along the way just added up to make it mentally a long ride, but here's my report.
We got up at 5am to be in Brigham City by 7:00 and on the bike by 7:30. We started at 7:45 and we were feeling good and warm with all of our layers. We stopped at the first rest stop 15 miles in and a little thought popped into my head to say "what on earth were you thinking to do 100 miles after you just finished doing that last Saturday." I pushed that aside with another thought "just keep pedaling and think of all the food I can consume guilt free for a day or two." I kept going.
The weather was good except for a 30 minute shower which soaked us about 45 miles into the ride. That made for a chilly and tough ride for the next twenty miles. The rain hit us as we were coming down the one and only descent. Rain hurts as it hits your face while you're going down hill at 20-30 mph. It soaked us through and then we got cold and our legs started stiffening up because of the cold but also because we had just climbed a pretty good hill for a mile. I was the little engine that could--I so wanted to stop on the way up but I just kept repeating I won't stop and walk, I won't stop and walk and I was ecstatic when I came to the top but not for long. I wanted to cry when at the top I could see another incline that seperated me from a badly needed peanut butter sandwich. Did I get my pb&j you ask--I just laughed maybe a bit hysterical when I got to the rest stop and the pb&j's were the size of a quarter--not kidding ..... they had run out of bread and they broke up their last pieces to feed the masses and they were giving the evil eye if you tried to take more than one!!
Anway we left with our one 1" pb&j, then the rain hit us as we started our descent also to find that we were the only cyclists to be seen. It was like the twilight zone. Honestly a little freaky!! We came over the top of the hill to look down into the valley and not a soul in sight were 10 minutes ago we were surrounded by lots of other cyclists. We don't know if the mother ship had beamed them all up or there was a covered bus stop that we missed but we were alone out in the middle of nowhere. We figured support vehicles picked them up or cyclists turned around and went back to the previous stop up the road aways.
We did make it to the next rest stop shivering and stiff to find only two port a potties and a line (the cyclists had reappeared to use the potties) and I needed to take care of some feminine issues and well you all know how much room is in those things and I was trying not to drop my gloves in the hole because of course they would be gone forever but also trying to pull some needed equipment out of the back pocket of my jersey and it was taking some time and of course someone starts knocking on the door asking if someone is in there and people start making comments in the line--well I kept my composure, finished my business and held me head high as I exited the porta pottie and didn't even give any of them a bad word or a bad finger. I figured they would be paid in kind with their own experience in the porta pottie because someone had had a awful fight with their stomach and of course it is all left exposed for everyone to see. Nasty business those potties are!! I hope that I said all that lady like enough so that it was not distasteful or offensive to anyone but hopefully understandable.
Well the sun did start to shine after that and we did dry out and it was on to the last 40 miles. At this point you just want to be done. We were tired and hungry due to the low supplies at the rest stops and also the lack of a lunch stop. Usually a century ride has a lunch stop around mile 60 but some crazy committee member thought it would be more fun to have lunch at the end of the ride and they forgot to tell everyone so we didn't pack any extra snacks or energy supplies. I did get a little silly at the end--low levels of energy, not very much sleep the night before, rain and way too much time spent on a small hard uncomfortable seat in the last 7 days pushed me a little close to the edge--I had thoughts of getting off my bike and throwing it into a ditch and riding a cow home--did I mention we passed and smelled many many cows (Cache valley). We could still smell them in the car on the ride home.
Anyway we did cross the finish line under an arch of ballons. We had a cheering section just for us (some family members of our group) and we were looking forward to a great cafe rio style lunch after 6 hours and 30 minutes on the bike only to find that the party was over and the lunch was gone and cleaned up. Only some stragglers and the clean up crew were left. Apparently the bad weather had cut the ride short for many riders as well as volunteers and they all went home early----someone just forgot to tell us and the hundred riders, give or take a few, that we did find out on the road the last 40 miles. We packed up the bikes and drove home in a down pour (lucky us that that storm didn't hit us on the bikes) and we did get our cafe rio style lunch only that it was Bajio and we had to pay for it. Oh well. We were in bed at 9pm, Scott fell asleep by 9:05pm and Jack and I (in a comatose state) played til about midnight. A long day to say the least.

Well that is the long version of my ride.

The short version:
we rode 96 miles, laughed, wanted to cry, got a little wet, ate lots of peanut butter on bananas, laughed with a little bit of hysteria some more, spent too much time in a porta pottie, got another t-shirt that's too big and went home to prepare for the next one on August 9th!!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Hi you guys. It's a rainy Saturday but it's supposed to get nice next week. Thank goodness or my kids won't put their big toe in for swim lessons and I'll be out $120. I just had to say that I made it through my first soccer game! Now I'm not saying this to brag because it was pathetic but I'm trying to keep everyone motivated and boy if a forty-year old non-athletic mother of 5 can play with the big boys then ANYONE can! I was regretting signing up all week and wondered how hard it would be to fake an injury. I even had a dream I had signed up for wrestling and they couldn't find a small helmet so the guy gave me a crocheted head-gear thing I put on. Then I started practicing some boxing moves and thought "Wait, I'm not supposed to hit the other guy."
Well Craig & I scrounged up some gear. Luckily Craig fits into Brennan's cleats and I fit into Duncan's cause who wants to spend money! We looked like quite a pair.
Anyway, that was the first time I have ever worn cleats and the first I've played soccer unless you count P.E. which I don't. I actually had a really good time. I wore a band for the newbies which was my secret weapon. They actually let me have the ball a bit. But I got into it more than I thought I would. It's kind of fun to get in there. There were people from 19 to probably 45 or so. I was feeling pretty good -I actually kicked the ball a few times! and some awesome defending. Har but I did totally miss the ball once when I tried to kick it. How embarrassing. I have so much more empathy for my kids now. But it felt so good on a Saturday morning to be running around in the rain. I wish I would have done more sports when I was younger. Not because I'm great but because it is so fun. It's too bad there is this idea that you are either athletic or you're not. I'm trying to get my girls to like sports just so they feel like they can if they want to.
Nanci - you were so brave to play soccer with the boys in HS. Danny Broadbent was on the other team and I was guarding him. It was hilarious! He didn't wear shin guards. Apparently his calves are made of steel.
So are you guys motivated?
I have to say it is so much easier to do things like this now my kids are bigger. It was very hard to find a time to do much of anything when they were all little so I'm very impressed with you guys for getting out there. Keep it up! By the way - where does Amy live?
Jaime

Friday, June 12, 2009

Amy Pasket on the road

Twice this week I have ran by Amy while she was running with a running partner. We gave each other a high five as we ran by each other. It's funny because both times it was almost the exact same place on a remote road in Highland. Funny. I wonder if I'll see her tomorrow.

Feeding Frenzy

I had such a great time last Saturday that I relaxed on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and I just kept relaxing til today. I didn't mean to do that but the rain kept coming down and I just didn't get out the door during the moments of dry weather and the week is over. I did do 10 push ups on Thursday though--I was reliving my workouts of March and April and wanted to see if I could still do a push up. But I did move still--I moved from the refrigerator to the table to the cupboard, back to the fridge and so on. I was so hungry on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and that seemed to be the theme for this week. Eating and more eating. I'm sure my body needed a little replenishing of liquid and food but good gravy I topped off the tank and then some.
I'll just pick myself up and get back on the bike tomorrow. Scott and I are riding in the Tour de Cure in Brigham City. We are scheduled to ride 103 miles starting at 7:30am. That means an early wake up call and out the door at 5:30am to get there on time. Hopefully the rain will be minimal and Cole won't call us with any emergency diaper changing problems and we'll have a good ride. Cole will be babysitting Jack all day. This might make us ride faster or cut the ride short a little. Jack is quite a handful these days. He likes to put things in the oven and leave them there. Two days ago a flickering light caught the corner of my eye and we had a fire in the oven. Jack had left Scott's electric razor and an old glow stick in the oven and I had turned it on to bake and the liquid from the glow stick apparently is flammable when it reaches 350 degrees. Not to worry though the flames burned out when the liquid was gone.
Just lot's of excitment at the Roberts this week---a fire, a fireball child that never burns all of his energy and a raging "hungry" forest fire that luckily has burned out but it took til Thursday to get it under control---massive damage to my weight loss plan but we'll rise from the ashes and start anew.
Kudos to Christi for swimming a mile. Incredible. Congratulations Laura for catching the running bug--when you start missing your run you've got it. Jaime, I wish I was playing soccer with you guys but I'm not organized enough to play and take care of the family and house and ride. Maybe that can be my incentive for next year. I miss playing soccer.
Have a great weekend everyone. Hopefully you won't see me on the news being washed away down the road from the rain.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Runner's High

Okay, I know I haven't been too consistant with excercise until these past couple of weeks. I think three weeks to be exact. Anyway, I'm pleased to report that I really missed my morning run today. Usually I don't run on Sunday. Well, I felt groggy and lazy. That's a good sign. I'm looking forward to running tomorrow. Maybe that runners high is finally kicking in. I'll let you know.

How are the rest of you doing? Lori, Jaimie, Christy? Are you coming along? Lori you mentioned your doing something every day. Is it getting more enjoyable? Or is it just another job? Let me know of your progress. It's kind of motivational for me. Nancy I love the way you have shared your journey. You have totally inspired me to get moving.

Little Red Riding Hood

Saturday I spent 6 hours and 38 minutes on the bike at the Little Red Riding Hood Women Only Ride in Logan, Utah. We rode the entire 103 miles of the ride and counting the stops it was an 8:02 hour event---not counting the ice cream eating laughing relaxing at the finish line part.

It was a great day shivering in the rain, fighting the wind that kept changing directions so we were always fighting a headwind or crosswind never a tailwind and the hills--the hills just kept on coming. It was advertised as a pretty flat with a few rolling hills ride but someone thought they were pretty funny writing that description or they are a pro rider where it must be a mountain climb to be considered a hill. Maybe the hills weren't that big and bad it just seemed like we were always going up and never down. Figure that one out I don't get it either but it's true although we did have one descent for about a half mile and I hit 40 mph. What an incredible rush. It's a drug.

We stuffed ourselves at the food stops with bananas, oranges, pb&j's and lemon lime gatorade among other high sugar and carb snacks and a ham subway sandwich for lunch has never tasted so good. Among many bonuses of riding these long rides is that to keep up your endurance and energy you have to eat and eat a lot. Cheetos and oreo cookies are also on the menu and they're guilt free on these days. Woohooo. My hr monitor recorded I burned 4487 calories. I don't know how accurate that is but give or take a couple of hundred for error I'll take it and enjoy my oreo cookies and the after the ride creamie ice cream treat.

I took some pictures on my phone and I'll post them when I figure out how to send them to the computer.

Just an incredible day. My riding pals (Lynn, Chris and Stacey) work with Scott and we hung together all day riding in a line taking turns pulling (leading the line) and we looked cool factor 50 with matching pink jerseys and socks. Pink is the official color of the Little Red Riding Hood because part of the funds go to cancer research for women.

It was awesome!! Did I say that already. It was. Next weekend Scott and I are off to Brigham City to ride the Tour de Cure Century. I'll finally visit Promontory Point for the first time. Mr Thompson (4th grade) would finally be proud that I'm visiting a Utah historical spot we learned about and even sung about.

Just a fun fun exhausting weekend with the girls. Now back to the day to day laundry, dishes and daily routine. Keep on running, lifting, cycling, walking, dancing, breathing and smiling. Every mile counts and one day we'll all pause to look back and be truly amazed at how far we've come!!!

Rain or shine let's ride!!!!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Ran Again

Trying to stay consistant. I ran three miles this morning. Not much to Nancy but its great for me. I did it early before David went to work. I usually try to go at 6:30 - David doesn't need to be to work until 8:00 PM. So it works. I did sprints with Lori Phillips last night at 9:15 and my kids were already in bed - not asleep but in their beds. David was home. Anyhow, its treaky with kids. I've taken my twins in the stroller and I can't go too far before they want to get out. Early or late works for me.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Sprints

So I was telling Lori Phillips (Stan Phillip's wife --aka Lori Devey in Highschool) that I couldn't keep up with my neighbors when we ran in the morning. Lori took me to the track tonight to do sprints. She claims that if you sprint and then recover you will get fast results. Meaning you should be able to increase your running times. It was hard. Kicked my butt really. But, right now anything is. I'm so surprised that running seems so hard for me. I really have enjoyed exercise so why does it seems so hard right now. Guess thats what happens when you don't do it like you should. Days turn into weeks and then months and your still going to start your consistant exercise training tomorrow. For me today is tomorrow and I'm really hating it. I'll let you know when I start enjoying it. Still no runners high.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Hear us ROAR!!

No I'm not trying to activate all of you for N.O.W. but I had a confidence booster this weekend for women everywhere, well ok for me. A friend, also a female, and I went riding Saturday for a 46 mile ride around West Mountain (south of Utah Lake) and this is the first time I've done this long of a ride more than 20 min from home and more importantly without Scott or any other male. Just two little fragile women out to experience the road on their own. Scott was concerned for us and loaded us for bear with extra tubes, air cartridges, water, red bulls and of course our cell phones and he probably hid a gps tracking device somewhere on me. He was worried that we would get a flat tire and "what would we do???" I have changed a flat tire before in a class but never on the road and my friend Lynn has never changed a flat and she barely pumps up her own tires just because the men always jump to take care of her bike before she rides. After a group ride we have even had Bud, he's 70 and still riding like he's 40, clean off our legs with windex to get all the sprocket kisses off (where your leg rubs against the chain and you get grease marks on you). The men in our group are always making sure we are taken care off. It's pretty funny and also kind of nice because we usually don't have to get are hands dirty and be worried about ruining our nails. Anyway back to the "small step for woman kind." Yes, you knew it was coming---we had two flat tires, not one-- two and the second one was my back tire!! Back tires are just a little more annoying to change than the front. I do have to give props to two men, yes men who happened to pull up as Lynn was getting her bike out her car and realized her tire was flat. They offered to help and did--Lynn and I were laughing at the irony of the situation. For a year and a half I have had only one flat tire and Scott was there to change it for me. Anyway, Lynn and I changed her tire with the men throwing in helpful hints and easy way to do it instructions, but yes Lynn and I did the dirty work. Then halfway through our ride out in the middle of farm country south of Utah Lake with no one around we changed my back tire. We were laughing so much it was a wonder we could do it. I told Lynn Scott must have been praying for us because we had a refresher course with step by step instructions in the parking lot so we would be able to handle the flat while we were out in timbuktoo!!
Well we did it! Our hands, legs, and arms got greasy and dirty but we did it without a man present. We did call Scott to share the moment with him and he did offer to call search and rescue but we declined. Oh ya and we did have to ask him how to open the cartridge holder---you unscrew it!!! It was on so tight it took a few minutes to loosen it--we thought there was some secret catch on it. Oh what a funny funny day. Lynn took a picture of my greasy black hands and sent it to Scott and I don't know who else because I've already had one of the other guys send me a "atta girl." Gloria Stienham is probably disgusted that it has taken us this long to change our own flat tires. Oh well, gotta protect the nail polish and for heavens sake why not, why else do we bring the men along on our rides.
Lynn said it best---WE ROCK!!!