So here it is.... 2 months later...

I've been a total blog slacker. Here it is in late December, over two months since my last post.

What's my excuse for not writing? I guess the only honest answer is that I just didn't feel like it. For some reason, I couldn't get myself to write. I didn't think I had anything worthy to write about. And I'm questioning the whole blog thing - is it too self indulgent? Is it something I can seriously maintain with some regularity?

Such questions. But alas. One truth remains: I like to write.

Who says I always have to write on a regular schedule? Who says I always have to make it interesting? Who says I always have to be articulate? Who says - on some subconscious level - that I need to prove my Ivy League education by creating frequent, creative and insightful missives?

Who says? Well, I guess that would be me. I really need to stop this over-thinking about my under-writing. It's just total brain clutter. And it's not good for my writing.

Enough rambling. Here's some news:

I met my 2000 mile biking goal this season! I barely squeaked in the last 28 miles on Thanksgiving Day and my bike is now safely tucked away for the season.

In the interim, my 13 year old daughter and I joined a gym for the next few months to build our strength before my next biking and her soccer and lacrosse seasons start. So far, it's been really fun mother/daughter time. I've been feeling that good sore when you've really pushed the weight machines.

And surprisingly - and I can't believe I'm saying this out loud - I don't miss my bike at all. Sometimes, you just need a break. Just as I did, apparently, with my writing.

Fall Splendor

This is what it's all about. The leaves have been spectacular this year, most likely due in part to such a rainy June.

I love biking through a canopy of fall leaves when I'm out there on the road. The color, the feel, the smell - I love everything about it. Being out on the road helps ensure I enjoy this fleeting season before the leaves fall away.

What I've Been Doing on My Blog Vacation

Well I guess I dropped off the blog scene for 2 months. No updates, no pictures, no nothing. How did that happen?

All I can say is that sometimes life gets so busy that you neglect to do the things that keep you healthy and sane, like sleeping enough, eating right, exercising, connecting with friends and for me, blogging. Actually, other than biking 430 miles since my last blog post, I've done very little of the above in the last several weeks.

So what have I done since August 17?

• I actually did get up at 6 a.m. the day after my last blog post and rode my old morning route. I had forgotten what a great way to start the day that is.
• I rode the Seacoast Century again this year. The day was as fun and beautiful as last year.
• I've been doing the family thing - spent a week in Chatham, celebrated my 15th wedding anniversary, and helped get the kids settled in school and sports schedules.
• And finally, I've been grinding it out at work, putting in more hours than I should as I try to transition into yet another new role with my company.

My big push for biking right now is to log in 2000 miles this season. I have 240 more miles to go to get there. And although the finish line to this goal isn't too far away, my ability to fit in rides longer than 20 miles at a time is dwindling as we make our way through fall.

I'm going to get there, though. Because this goal - in addition to riding my very first Pan Mass Challenge - has been the main motivator to my riding this season.

Morning Inspiration

When in a lull - and, sadly, I AM in a lull - I've found it's always helpful to post a picture to inspire me.

This is at the midway point of an 18 mile morning ride I used to do regularly last summer before work. Maybe this view will motivate me to get up at the crack of dawn tomorrow, get out on my bike and start the day off right.

Post PMC Blues...

A funny thing has happened to me since the PMC.

I've been in a bit of a slump with my riding. My energy is low, my speed is not what it should be and my focus is a bit off.

I guess that's only natural in the days following what I would categorize as one of the top 10 most rewarding events of my life to date.

The transition back to the real world after the PMC was interesting. I was on a total high coming off the boat from Provincetown - full of memories, excitement, emotion, pride and physical exhaustion from the event.

That translated the next day to total bike brain fog. I was a complete space shot, unable to concentrate or multitask. That happens when you are in the zone with your riding, though. All that is important is the next 10 feet in front of you.

It took a full 24 hours for the fog to clear and I started feeling back to normal. I had no real physical issues to recover from, only the initial pain of getting the lactic acid out of my legs on my first ride back on my bike.

It was really just the mental recovery that I had to deal with. And that's what's slumping my riding, I'm quite sure.

I'll get my groove back soon, I'm certain. In fact, my husband just told me he was so inspired by my PMC experience that he wants to buy a bike, train with me and do the PMC next year. Now there's motivation!

Living the PMC

What can I say about my very first Pan-Mass Challenge? How can I actually describe one of the most inspirational, emotional and physically challenging experiences I've ever had?

The only thing that comes to mind is to list the thoughts and images that will stick in my mind for years to come.

• 163 miles from Wellesley to Provincetown. Two days. 10.5 hours of ride time.
• Riding with PMC veteran and friend, Sue, who helped make this experience so special.
• Sharing the road with 5000+ fellow riders and new friends, like second day riding buddy, Laurie, in the biggest athletic fundraiser in the country.
• Feeling like a hero for the weekend, with thousands and thousands of cancer survivors, family members and supporters cheering us on alongside the road.
• Seeing signs saying, "Thank you for saving my life!"
• Riding alongside pictures of the PMC Pedal Partners, children who are receiving advanced treatment at the Jimmy Fund Clinic.
• Seeing the best in humanity - people so polite and thankful, riders and bystanders looking out for each other.
• Passing a group of supporters at the wee hour of 5:30 a.m., cheering us on as we came off the Bourne bridge.
• Hearing my name yelled out while going by (forgetting that my bike was tagged with my name)
• Young and old saying, "Thank you so much for riding. Thank you so much for doing what you are doing."
• Riding with tears in my eyes and so full of emotion
• Having my daughter, her friend and her friend's mom come cheer me on.
• Hearing the cheers and shouts from what seemed like a few hundred teens from the camp in Brewster.
• Seeing the pictures on the back of riding shirts of children, husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, and other loved ones who are battling cancer or who have battled and lost.
• Getting goosebumps from the multiple bag pipe players serenading us on both days
• Feeling like Lance Armstrong in the pelaton, zooming down a hill pushing 30 mph with dozens of other riders.
• Struggling up the sweltering big hills in the dunes of Provincetown, knowing the finish line was only a few miles away.
• Hanging with my friend Drew, who inspired me to ride this event, and my former college classmate, John, who helped motivate me to actually do it.
• Running into other friends and those I didn't know I'd see.
• The fun and celebration of the party boat home - a frat party like no other with 900 new found friends
• And most importantly, the $30M (hopefully - the final numbers still aren't in yet) for cancer research and treatment.

Taking pictures of the actual ride itself was next to impossible given the dynamics of group riding. But here are some highlights at various stops along the way.

The 7:00 a.m. Wellesley start.

Me and riding buddy and 10 year PMC veteran, Sue.

With good friend Drew, a 17 year PMC veteran.

Sue checking out the ice bag chairs on day two.

Me and my daughter Erin, who actually got up early on a summer day to cheer on her mom!Friend and former classmate, John, who unknowingly sat down next to me at lunch the first day amidst 2000 riders.
Billy Starr, PMC founder and master of ceremonies, welcoming us aboard the party boat home from Ptown to Boston.The band totally rocked the boat for the three hour trip.

Getting a hero's welcome entering Boston Harbor.

Thank you so much for all who sponsored me. I couldn't have done it without you and your support!

It was such an honor and a privilege to ride and be part of something so important. It was a profound experience and the memories will live on in my mind for years to come.

In Memory and In Honor

Why am I riding in the Pan-Mass Challenge for the first time this year? What's my motivation?

I ride in memory and in honor of the following family and friends:

This is my Aunt Doris, whose life was cut short by ovarian cancer in 2005. Although we lived many miles apart, she was always my favorite aunt - so warm, loving and generous. She lives on in our hearts and memories.

I also ride in memory of friend and fellow mom Carol, who was taken too young from her family in 2007. She was a loving wife and mother and a gentle soul. Through her death, Carol taught us all about life.

Finally, I ride in honor of my friend Tim. His is a survival story. Diagnosed last year with stage III colon cancer, he is now cancer-free due to early detection and targeted treatment. His battle taught me all about resilience in the face of life's unexpected and unfair turns.

Riding the PMC is my way of supporting the fight against cancer. The challenge of riding 165 miles pales in comparison to the battle these three and so many others have faced.

But hopefully, every mile will take us closer to a cure for cancer.

Pre-PMC Stats

I like numbers. Almost too much, some would say. Here are my stats so far this season:

Total number of miles ridden: 1110

Longest ride: 70

Hours of ride time : 72+

Typical average speed: 15-16 mph

Fastest speed: 32 mph (I'm a wimp!)

Number of rides: 55

Number of dropped water bottles: 1

Number of close calls with clueless drivers: 2

Number of times I've inadvertently given myself a flat tire: 3

I hope to ride at least 900 more miles before the season ends this year, so I'm more than halfway there. Either way though, I feel physically strong and mentally ready for the PMC this weekend.

Final Push

Yesterday I did my last big training ride before the PMC. I rode in the Cycle for Shelter which supports Emmaus, Inc, a non-profit organization providing housing and services to the homeless in Haverhill. I rode in this event last year and really enjoyed it.

My initial plan was to ride the 100 mile course with a friend. But ultimately, given a variety of circumstances, I wound up solo riding "just" 62 miles, or a 100 km.

It was a beautiful course up into NH and along the coast of Hampton, Rye and inland towards Exeter. Here's one shot I took along Rt. 1A in North Hampton, which I was rode on just a few short weeks ago.

Initially, I thought I'd be dealing with thunderstorms given the forecast. Thankfully, the course successfully dodged them but it turned out to be an absolutely sweltering day as you can see from the haze.

I had a great ride but came to the realization that any solo ride over 60-70 miles is too long. I like company for these big efforts! Thankfully, I'll have plenty of company to look forward to this coming weekend at the PMC.

Hitting 1000

This past weekend I passed the 1000 mile mark. That was my mileage goal to get to the PMC and I'm happy to report I met it 2 weeks early.

My plan is to reach 2000 by the end of the season. Hopefully continued motivation, strong legs and good weather will help pull me through.

Swamped

What can I say? I just like swamps.

Solo 70 Miler along the Coast

In keeping with the ocean theme I have going, yesterday I did something totally fun. I took the day off from work and instead of sleeping late, relaxing and puttering around the house, I went for a 70 mile bike ride up and down the New Hampshire and Maine coastline under glorious blue skies all by myself.

I thought I might have had a riding buddy or two but when that didn't pan out, I started teetering about if I should go or not. I mean really, what was I thinking? But thankfully, I got myself up and out the door by 7:00 a.m. before I could fully talk myself out of it.

Basically my ride was this: I parked at Hampton Beach, hopped on my bike and rode up the coast 35 miles and back to the beautiful Nubble Lighthouse in York Beach, Maine. This particular route was a leg of the Seacoast Century I did last September and I was looking forward to trying it again.

The route took me through Hampton, North Hampton, Rye, Portsmouth, Kittery, ME, and York. And although it was generally a flat route, it still had its share of challenges: dodging open car doors and pedestrians near the beaches, crossing metal grated bridges, navigating (and getting slightly lost on) the streets of downtown Portsmouth, and some strong cross and head winds to contend with on the way back. There was even a roundabout thrown in for good measure and multiple open ice cream stands, which I successfully managed to bypass (though I would have been SO there if the lines weren't so long).

Overall, it was a beautiful ride on a beautiful day and I'm so glad I pushed myself out the door to do it. Here are a few more pictures from the route. The above shot is from York Beach looking out at Nubble Lighthouse in the distance.

Total ride time: just over 4.5 hours. I'll be doing this route again during the century in September and I'm looking forward to having some company - and maybe some ice cream - next time.

Oceanside Eye Candy

This image I spotted in Newburyport while biking made me stop and turn around. Ahh...the sites and smells of the ocean.

PMC - 3 Weeks and Counting....

I can't believe it. Just three weeks from today I will be in Bourne celebrating after riding the first day of the PMC.

Time has really flown by this biking season though I'm not sure why. The weather has been the pits - long stretches of rain and the coldest temperatures recorded in 103 years. But that hasn't stopped me from getting out there on my bike to train! Well, actually it has at times, but I am making good progress. And just in the past two weeks alone I've managed to get in over 230 miles.

Just back from a 57 mile solo ride up to Newburyport today. Had a quick visit with a friend and made a pit stop at Plum Island to check out the beach. What a gorgeous day.

Somehow on my way home I missed the turn I wanted to take so this added a few extra miles. Getting lost seems to be a theme for me this year. More on that later.

For now, I'm going to put up my weary feet and settle in for a nice glass of wine.

PMC - 58 Days and Counting...

I've been really lax about updating my blog lately.  I just can't seem to fit in in. 

Thankfully, though, I've been out on my bike training for the PMC, which is the most important thing.  Especially given that it's just 58 short days away.

To date this season, I've ridden 515 miles over 29 rides.  My average ride is under 20 miles - shorter than last season but at least I'm getting out on my bike more frequently.  

Some short term goals: 

• Pick up the pace in terms of mileage and do at least 60-80 miles per week going forward
  
• Do a few significant back to back rides so that getting up and out on my bike at 5:30 a.m. for a second 80 mile day won't be a total shock to my body
• Learn some basic bike maintenance so I won't feel so inept if my tire goes flat or my chain continues to squeak
• And one last one just for grins.... my perpetual goal to lose just 5 more pounds.....

Capture the Moment

So you might be asking... why do you have a picture of dead daffodils on your blog page?

It's actually quite clear.  Sometimes the simplest of images convey the most powerful of truths.

These are the same flowers as those pictured in my preceding post, but just one week later.  Beautiful flowers one day, dead flowers just 7 days later.  I was so glad I had actually paid attention enough to stop and enjoy them in all their beauty the first time I went by, since only a week later they were gone.

This happens a lot in life.  Every day we are presented with opportunities to enjoy the beauty of nature, a connection with someone, a chance to learn something new or to see things differently.  Sometimes these opportunities are obvious, sometimes they are subtle.

But if you pay attention, if you stop and pause, if you take that chance and say what's in your heart, if you turn back to take the picture, you'll capture that moment.  And a day, a week, a month, a year later, you might just be glad you did.

Spring into Summer

Well, for all the complaining I did about how long the winter was, last weekend we seemed to bypass spring altogether and jump right into summer.  Temps were in the 80s - perfect training weather for the PMC, which is smack dab in the middle of the high heat of summer. I love it.

Here's evidence that the winter has finally left us.  Now the roadside view gets more interesting and colorful.

100 Days and Counting....

The Pan Mass Challenge is exactly 100 days away!!   

And speaking of 100, I finished the second 100 miles in my training.  Thankfully, it was easier than the first.

Kickin' Butt

My butt, that is...  This past weekend I got out for two back to back power rides - 40 miles on Saturday and just under 30 on Sunday.  

I had my first of the season wind-free day on Saturday, taking a nice rural route through North Andover, Boxford, Topsfield, Hamilton, Ipswich and back. What a pleasure.  Here's a picture of the church in Topsfield Center.

On Sunday I went out and back to Byfield to watch my son's lacrosse game.  The route back takes me up one of the biggest monster hills in the area. It almost sucked the life out of me as I tried to maintain a speed of at least 5 mph so I wouldn't fall off my bike.  Thankfully, I made it and was rewarded with a 31 mph sprint down the backside. But clearly I need more uphill work.

I hope to eventually work up to 7 - 9 hours per week as the spring progresses and we move into summer.  This weekend I was on the bike almost 5 hours, so I'll be in good shape if I can repeat this formula in addition to some lighter weekday rides.

PMC Freshman Orientation

Last week I attended the Pan Mass Challenge "Freshman Orientation".  This event was planned for newbies like me to learn all about the PMC.  

Founder Billy Starr kicked off the presentation and was followed by enthusiastic speakers on things like fundraising, training, safety, nutrition, logistics, and anything else you'd want to know if you were doing this event for the first time.  It was very informative and I'm so glad I went.

The highlight of the night for me was seeing the videos about why the PMC was started, why people do it, and the impact it has made in people's lives. I'm not embarrassed to say that I was openly weeping during certain clips.

I knew I was in for a big physical challenge when I signed up for this. I also knew I was supporting a great cause. 

But I had no idea of how being a part of something this big - this huge - might affect me.  I think I got a glimpse of it as I was watching the videos, wiping my eyes.  Now I can't wait to live it.

A Swamp Thing

Ah, another swamp picture.  

I never really had a thing for swamps before I started riding.  But I sure seem to take a lot of pictures of them.  

I don't know why that is. Maybe I just happen to pass a lot of swamps on my rides.  Or maybe there are just a lot of swamps out there.

Whatever the reason, they always catch my eye and give me a few moments of quiet tranquility.

The First 100

I've got the first 100 miles of training under my belt and all I have to say is this: Boy, was I out of shape!

These initial miles have felt so hard. I'd like to say it is because I've chosen hilly routes on excessively raw and windy days (which I think I have). But unfortunately, I think it's simply because I'm out of biking shape.

Why is it that it takes so long to build, but then falls off so fast? That's just not right. Plus, it seems that being in shape in other ways, like through running or walking regularly, doesn't really do much in the bike shape department.

All I know is this can't have anything to do with getting older, right?

The only choice here, though, is to get my butt back out there regulary and keep pushing forward. And just maybe, the second 100 won't be as hard as the first.

The Memory of Winter

I complained a lot about the cold this winter.  But occassionally I did stop to appreciate its quiet serenity, like this roadside scene from my first ride of the season last month.  

My blog as a "word cloud"

I saw this on my friend John's blog and thought it was so cool.  Wordle is a free service that automatically creates "word clouds" from words in a list, a web page or a blog.  The words that are bigger are those that occur more frequently in the list or blog.

Here is a Wordle of my blog. 

 Check it out larger by clicking here.

The 2009 Training Season has Begun!

Okay, enough dilly dallying and lollygagging. It's finally bike season!

It can't come soon enough for me. This winter was long, cold, icy and pretty depressing at times.  But all that is behind us now and we finally have clear roads and the promise of sunny skies, warmer temps and flowering trees to look forward to.

I've been out four times this season so far - 10, 11, 20 and 32.5 miles respectively. The latter I did yesterday and I actually woke up at 4:30 a.m. with very sore leg muscles, from my ankles to my butt.  I think I may have been a little overly ambitious but that kind of sore is a good thing and I actually welcome the pain. It's time to shed that winter layer!

The plan for me this year is to ride at least 2000 miles (which is roughly 60 miles per week). I'm also committed to three organized rides this summer:

1. Pan Mass Challenge (163 miles)
   
2. Cycle for Shelter (100 miles)
3. Seacoast Century (100 miles - a repeat of my first century from last year)

I've also decided I'm just going to focus on getting the miles in, whether that be in several little bursts (like lunchtime) or longer stretches on weekends.  I'm also not going to harp on my speed (or lack thereof).  I'm just going to get out there and ride.

So stay tuned!  More biking adventures to follow... 

PMC - I'm In!

Okay, here's some news. Today I signed up to ride the Pan Mass Challenge in August!

I'll be riding the two day course from Wellesley to Provincetown with my friend Sue. I wasn't sure about doing this ride last month, as I mentioned in a previous post. But the pull to do it was too strong to resist.

So now I'm committed. I can't wait to be part of this special event to support such a great cause.

Dry Spell

Okay, I think it's obvious I'm going through a little dry spell here.  

Not much blog material of late since there's been no biking, no running, no concerts and no exciting adventures to write about.  I think I've also got an unintentional winter hibernation thing going during these icy, cold, dark January days.

When I've got something fun or interesting to share, I'll be sure to write about it. Until then, bring on spring!!

Winter Undying

Here it is the day after yet another big snowstorm in New England.  

This peaceful view is from our back porch overlooking our small pet cemetery where Reggie the cat, Rosie the hamster and Bubbles the cockatiel have all been laid to rest.  Quite a serene spot, especially in the winter.

New Year Vision

Because I read too many Oprah magazines during my vacation .... and because I had too much time on my hands.... and because I recently stumbled upon the quote, "If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there," I decided to take my goal setting very seriously for the new year. 

So seriously, in fact, that over vacation I actually created a poster size visual depiction of my goals with themes and pictures and it's now framed and located above the computer I'm typing from right now.

I know. At some level this is laughable.  But I love this kind of stuff. It appeals to my undeniable need for order and organization in my life.  And it also gives me the illusion of control.  

So here I have my 2009 "vision board", a work of art (to use the phrase loosely) depicting my hopes and dreams for 2009.  

The themes of my goals are relatively generic and simple and shared by most.  The thing that is so powerful, though, is seeing a visual depiction  - rather than a written list - of those goals. It's really quite empowering, actually.

Fitness is one of my main themes, not suprisingly, and I'm planning some big things in 2009 to take my biking to the next level.  

One of which is a 2000 mile goal for the year.  I rode 1430 in 2008, but I started a bit late in mid May and it took a while to build up my weekly mileage.  Maybe since I stated this goal out loud, it will now be as achievable as my first century. 

It remains to be seen whether my vision board will be effective or not. But I'm hoping that by seeing a graphical depiction of my goals on a regular basis, it will help make my vision for my life a reality in 2009.

Speaking of vacations...

I mentioned in my last post that one of the things I did during my "staycation" was to book the next real family vacation for April.  We were excited to head back to the Florida Keys to the beautiful Cheeca Lodge, where we enjoyed several days last April.  I posted a few pictures from the area here last month.

Well how freaky is this? The day after I booked our vacation I found out the Cheeca had a major fire on New Year's Eve - the worst on the Keys in 20 years. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but the hotel is closed indefinitely for repairs, which are estimated to be in the millions.  How scary.  And what a huge bummer.  

So on to plan B, which we are still formulating.  One radical idea floating in our family is to forgo the family vacation altogether this year and buy a used bass boat so our son can continue his obsession and passion for fishing.  

This would be a funny turn of events given that for years, my husband and I always said we'd never buy a boat.  Never say never, as I said before. Or at least, not yet.

My Wonderful "Staycation"

I've made several references to the word "vacation" during my recent blog posts.  December has been a stressful month.  Well, more like Q4 has been a stressful quarter.  Thankfully, though, a relaxing vacation is what I finally got.  

For the price of just 4 vacation days, I hit the jackpot with almost two full weeks off from work.  From the time I walked out of the office on December 23 until the time I walk in on January 5, my work life has gone on temporary shutdown. How great is that?

So where did I go on my vacation?  Here's the best part - nowhere. I had a "staycation", which Urban Dictonary defines as "A vacation that is spent at one's home enjoying all that home and one's home environs have to offer."  And enjoy I did.

After a hectic but fun Christmas holiday, I segued into one of the most productive, relaxing and enjoyable periods of time this year. 

I know this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but here is some of the fun I had during my staycation:

• Slept almost every day until 10:00
• Had the best dreams just about every night
• Hung with my family and hung with some friends
  
• Ran and walked our dog several times
  
• Cleaned the entire house top to bottom
• Created a full year budget for 2009
• Booked our family's next real vacation in April
• Put away all the Christmas decorations and updated my Christmas binder for next year
• Drank some great vodka - Zyr and Imperia (both Vegas finds)
  
• Watched football, hockey and my new personal finance fave, Dave Ramsey
  
• Watched 5 episodes of Lost (in an effort to catch up before Season 5 starts)
• Finally finished 13 back issues of the Oprah magazine. (I think the weight of these equals the 40 pounds Oprah confessed to gaining in her latest issue)
• Made a personal "vision board" for 2009.  (I know this sounds hokey, but I love this stuff. More on this in a future blog post.)
• Organized all my digital photos for 2008
• Got a new home computer, loaded all my programs and reorganized all my data files
• Sold some furniture on Craigslist we've been meaning to sell all year
• Signed up on Facebook (not really sure why...)
• Made a home cooked meal for my immediate family (I don't like to admit this, but I typically only cook for company).
• Smiled every day

I know this all doesn't sound like it was a fun time but this was one of the best vacations I've had in a while.  And it's not over yet - I still have 3 days left! 

Clearing all the crap off my to do list and decluttering my mind and home goes a very long way in reducing my stress level.  

Just what the doctor ordered. And just how I want to start 2009.

Another pet picture

Here's our cat Joey getting in the holiday spirit.

Okay, clearly I'm running out of material... I'm crossing my fingers for an epiphany before year end.

Let It Snow...

Cassi is wondering ...what happened to my doghouse?  And when is it going to stop snowing?

Though I guess it is appropriate weather for the first official day of winter...

Mid Week Eye Candy

This has been one of those weeks where every waking hour has been spent on work. Big time bummer. So, as far as material for my blog goes, I got nothin'.

I'm learning, though, that when you've got nothin', it's time for a picture. And here's a good one. This is a shot of the beautiful hand blown glass flowers hanging in the ceiling of the Bellagio Hotel lobby in Las Vegas. I took it during a recent mini vacation as we strolled down the strip.

See, there's that word, "vacation", again...

And Another

Here's another "wish I were there" shot from the same area.
~ sigh~
Is it time for vacation yet?

Random Picture Day

Just digging through my digital photo album from 2008 in search of the perfect Christmas card picture and stumbled upon this. I took this while sipping cocktails in Islamorada, FL, during April vacation - just a few short weeks before I began my biking endeavor.

I don't know about you but I want to be here right now - especially as we approach the first snow/icy mix event of the season.

Calling it a Season

Since I like beginnings, middles and ends, I've decided I need to call an official end to my biking season for 2008.

I haven't been on my bike in 5 weeks (since November 2) for a variety of reasons - some legitimate, some not. So this weekend, my husband packed my bike safely away for the winter and I'm calling it a season.

Total miles for 2008: 1,430

It would have been nice to make it to 1,500 miles or more but I was a newbie and I didn't start until mid May. Maybe that can be one of my goals for next year.

Here's my end of season picture in the cool racing jacket that I got as a gift from our friend, Doug. I wanted to get a pic of me wearing it while I was actually biking, but it just didn't happen. Maybe next year....Until then, I'm officially switching to running for the winter. Depending on the weather and my motivation level, we'll see how it goes...

To PMC or Not To PMC

I'm referring, of course, to the Pan Mass Challenge, the massive bike riding fundraiser for the Jimmy Fund. Should I go for it next August or not?

I said in a previous post that I am a PMC rider wannabe. Sign ups are in mid January for the limited openings for first time riders. If I'm lucky and on the ball, I'll get a spot for the very popular two day ride from Wellesley to Provincetown with my friend Sue, who has ridden it several times in the past.

Biking two long rides back to back will be a challenge. But the bigger challenge, unfortunately, is the $4,200 minimum fundraising requirement. That's pretty steep, especially in this economy. And if I can't raise that amount, the balance goes on my credit card. Ouch.

Something to think about during the next month. But if I don't go for it, at least I know there are plenty of other great riding opportunities awaiting me in 2009.

Never Say Never Wish List

As a follow up to my Never Say Never post, I thought I would make another list. These are the nevers I have been known to say but are not yet proven evidence of the "never say never" principle. That is, they unfortunately still ring true.

I find this annoying. Sometimes I'd prefer if the "never say never" principle was applied uniformly and did not discriminate against certain nevers.

Perhaps the mere act of putting them in writing will stir the powers that be to invoke the "never say never" principle to my list below:

• I will never accomplish all the things on my to do list
• I will never look totally hot in a bikini
  
• I will never make too much money
  
• I will never do absolutely nothing for one whole day
  
• I will never watch all the shows I've recorded on my DVR
• I will never have to dye my hair again
• I will never write a book
  
• I will never finish reading all the books on my nightstand
• I will never be up to date with all of my photo albums

And here are a few thrown in for the benefit of my husband:

• I will never stop back seat driving
• I will never learn how to operate the power tractor
• I will never stop being right
  

There. I've said them out loud. Keep your fingers crossed. With any luck, I'll be able to report back soon with further proof that you should "never say never."

Never Say Never

File this under things I think about when I'm biking (or running or listening to music or doing nothing in particular):

The expression - "Never say Never" - has tripped me up a few times in my life. Sometimes for the good, sometimes for the not so good. But I think I'm getting wiser as the years go by. That is, I'm learning to never say never. Or at least when I do, I catch myself and try to rephrase.

Because often, you see, "never" isn't really never. As proof of my theory, here is a smattering of things I've said "never" to that really weren't never:

• I'll never drive a minivan - I've been driving one for 8 years now. Despite adding a few personal touches (as those who have seen it know), the fact remains that I still drive a minivan.
  
• I'll never get a dog - We've had a great golden retriever named Cassi in our family for the past 6+ years. Despite a very scary close call at age 9 with an unleashed, poorly trained attack dog, I actually agreed to get a dog and now go so far as to describe myself as a "dog person".
  
• I'll never go back to work full time until my kids go to college - My three year anniversary of full time employment was two days ago.
  
• I'll never be a morning person - Here's evidence to the contrary.
• I'll never be able to bike 100 miles in one day - More evidence to the contrary.
  
• I'll never eat sushi - One of my favorite restaurants is Sushi Inaka.
  
• I'll never be friends with my ex-boyfriend - I now consider him one of my oldest friends.
  
• I'll never understand statistics - I can now explain the difference between R squared and R squared adjusted in the unlikely event that anyone is interested.
• I'll never listen to KISS 108 - Not by choice, but this is one unfortunate reality of having 12 year old daughter.
  

These are the some of the nevers I'll admit to publicly that have taught me to never say never. Of course, there is a whole host of nevers that I'll never admit to here. Wait, let me rephase that...

Feaster Five Miler

On Thanksgiving Day, I decided to brave a crowd of over 8000 people and run the Feaster Five in Andover. I'm not really sure why I decided to do this. The idea just sort of popped into my head. Shortly thereafter, I found myself driving over to register, signing up and getting a number. Then on Thanksgiving morning, I found myself at the starting line in my running shoes in the cold with 8000 other people.

Wondering ... why did I decide to do this again?

But, you know, sometimes you have to just do these things without giving them too much thought.

No surprise, but it was a really fun time and I am so glad I did it. The people cheering on the sidelines were great and I really appreciated the few small brass bands strategically placed along the course. The event was also well organized and everyone was in a friendly and happy mood. Plus, it was an excellent workout before a big Thanksgiving meal.

I've actually done the Feaster Five before back in 1999 and 2001 - both times running the 5K. After 2001, though, I decided I wouldn't do it again (I think because of the crowds, cold and huge traffic jams).
But I'm glad I gave it another try this year. And I'm glad I went for the 5 mile route instead of the 5K. It gave me the opportunity to accomplish another "first" this year, since I've never run further than 3.2 miles in any type of organized race. It probably would have helped my time significantly had I actually trained for this event, but my pace wasn't bad for me and given the crowds.

The Feaster Five was a great way to start my Thanksgiving Day this year. Plus, the 5 mile run turned out to be a cake walk compared to the 10 hour cooking and cleaning marathon that soon followed...

Endurance Carryover

Here's a nice thing I just discovered. I think the endurance I gained from biking long distances has now carried over to running.

I tested this theory on Sunday by going out and trying to run the same route I did in my Forrest Gump Moment post. I had thought that run was a total fluke because at about 6 miles, it is 3 times longer than I typically run at any given time. (In fact, for the last few years, my "runs" could more accurately be described as a "run/walks.")

But today I ran the same exact route again without stopping. I even shaved a few minutes off my last time. And I didn't even have anything to run from like I did last weekend (a boatload of work). Granted, I only have two data points to prove this theory but it's looking pretty promising.

Biking and running use such different muscles but it's nice to know that the endurance may have carried over. One more thing for me to add to the growing list of the side benefits of biking.

Walk in The Woods

Today I went out in the woods with Cassi, our six year old golden and one of my favorite exercise companions. Let me just start out by saying it was totally freezing out (20 degrees with strong winds) and as usual I was under dressed (no hat, no gloves, not enough layers). But I needed to get Cassi out for some exercise off lead today, regardless of the weather. And the conservation land in my town is the perfect spot.

Cassi, who has always been a total ball of energy, full of life dog, is going through the hard work of recovering from an unexplained spinal infection that began in September. It started with excessive paw licking, progressed to total lameness of one paw, and ultimately resulted in an inability to walk more than a few steps without staggering. Rock bottom was when she fell down the stairs one morning after waking up.

After an MRI, spinal tap and numerous tests with specialists - I can't even say out loud how much we spent on her - the conclusion is that she has/had some type of spinal cord disease. Why she got it has never been determined, but I have a sinking feeling that she may have contracted it from something in the woods during our annual summer camping trip this past August. That would be very sad indeed since it's her absolute favorite place on earth.

Fortunately, she has made major improvements in the last three months and is steadily improving. She's now back to some of her usual antics - barking at people, sniffing out squirrels, trotting through the woods. But she doesn't have the get up and go she used to. And she's not quite the "sassy Cassi" that we've known and loved for the past six years.

The doctor is not sure if she will ever fully recover but we're hoping and praying that with a steady diet of love, exercise and medicine, we'll get our crazy dog back in all her glory at some point very soon.

Still Philosophizing...

Okay, I went deep with my last post so I'm going deeper.

Claudia mentioned in her comment that how you define "good music" might help bridge the gap between the two outlooks on life that I debated on Tuesday.

Let's start with "great music". To me, that's all about passion, energy, connection, endorphins, and being in sync with your heart's desire. "Good music" is a step down - all the same things but not as intense. "Bad music" sounds bad, feels bad and is bad. By it's very nature, it often demands to be turned off. So to me, no music is better than bad music.

Hopefully, "doing your duty" goes hand in hand with listening to great music (thereby squashing the whole "never mind your happiness" part of Drucker's quote).

My friend AJ, who is a life coach, philosopher and writer, replied to my post via email. I think he sums it up well in the below quote:

"In my view, the "art" of balance is to recognize that doing your "duty" is not in competition with your passion/love for music. Doing you "duty" does not need to be hard, or work, or a struggle. If doing your "duty" is rooted in joy and passion for others (rather than obligation to others) then it is a source of energy and vitality. By making good music a means for establishing and strengthening your connection with your children, friends and community - you can be doing your duty while embracing music. If your love for music weakens your ties with the same people, then the balance is lost." (Thanks for the insight, AJ.)

Bottom line for me: a responsible life filled with great - or at least good - music is a very happy life indeed. And if your playlist just isn't doing it for you anymore, it may be time to discover new music, rediscover old faves, shuffle the songs and get the good tunes rolling again.

Philosophizing

I think a lot when I bike. Biking long distances is very meditative and, depending on the route, offers some good quality think time. Even though I haven't been logging many miles on my bike lately, I have been thinking a lot (since I am, after all, a classic overthinker, as I've confessed before).

Well then. Here is what I've been pondering lately - and I warn you, this may sound "out there".

This past week, I've been trying to rectify these two perspectives on life:

1) "Life is too short to waste time listening to bad music," said by yours truly; and
2) "Never mind your happiness; do your duty," said by Peter Drucker, renowned management guru.

I know it may be a stretch to call Number 1 a perspective on life. But think about it conceptually. Why waste time listening to bad music when there is so much good music out there? Substitute the analogy to music with any number of things and you get the picture.

This really has to do with the whole 'life is short' mentality. You never know how much time you have so you better have fun, take chances, do the things you love and really live your life. I've been learning to embrace this philosophy more and more the older I get and the more good music I listen to.

On to Number 2, which I first read last weekend when I was searching for quotes by Peter Drucker (long story). Anyway, when I stumbled on this one - "Never mind your happiness; do your duty," - it literally felt like someone threw cold water on my face. How stark. And where's the fun in that?

But you know the really annoying thing? After I thought about it I realized he is right to a large extent. Sometimes you just have to turn off the music and do what's required. And when you have that mentality, some decisions are really easy to make.

Both philosophies can have their downfalls if taken to the extreme. So the question I've been trying to answer now is how you do both. Hopefully, if you can strike a good balance between the two, you'll be able to do your duty while wasting as little time as possible listening to bad music. Or ideally, you'll be listening to good music while doing your duty.

So that's what I've been thinking about during my small windows of free time lately. Told you it was out there.

A Forrest Gump Moment

This morning it was pouring rain outside and I needed some exercise. Having always been a fan of running in the rain - and deciding it was safer than biking - I laced up my running shoes and headed out the door. Once I made it out the driveway, I started my usual 2 mile loop.

And then I had what I'm calling my "Forrest Gump moment. " Instead of continuing my loop at the halfway point, I turned left. Then I kept running and running and running. Straight towards the edge of town. It was so weird. I couldn't seem to stop myself.

Thankfully, aided by the increasing weight of my wet running clothes, I snapped to my senses and eventually turned back.

I didn't quite make it past the town line, into the next county and beyond like Forrest. But out of the blue I did one of my longest runs in a decade or two - 65 minutes of straight running covering just under 6 miles in the pouring rain. Not long or fast by runners' standards but I got in some serious cross training. I just hope I'll be able to walk tomorrow.

And that's all I have to say about that.

What I've been doing instead of biking - Part II

On Halloween night, we had the pleasure of seeing guitar god Warren Haynes play with his band, Gov't Mule in Boston. What does this have to do with biking, you might ask? Well, this would fall into the category of what I've been doing instead of biking. And although I wouldn't normally be out biking in the dark on Halloween night, seeing this unbelievable, almost 4 hour show into the wee hours of the morning did prevent me from getting out on my bike the next day...

As my friends know, I'm a HUGE Warren Haynes fan and think he is one of the best living guitarists out there. I've also had the pleasure and privilege of seeing him 6 times in the past 18 months. Every show is different and Warren and the band never disappoint.

The Boston Orpheum appearance was their second show on their Kinder Revolution fall tour and featured new bassist, Jorgen Carlsson. This particular show was a special treat. The Mule played 26 songs in total and the entire second set was all Pink Floyd covers, complete with light show and sound effects. This was a first ever for the band. They also performed an unbelievable jam of St. Stephen that even the most non-Grateful Dead fan would love.

It takes stamina to watch a show like this - let alone perform it. That's why the next day was spent sleeping late and reveling in the memory of the night before.

Another autumn view

Here's another roadside view of the fall colors from my ride last weekend. The colors are at the tail end, but at least there is still some color.

Well, I hate to admit it, but this week I didn't get out on my bike as I had hoped. Rain, work, lots of slippery leaves on the road, tickets to the Patriots game today. All good excuses.....

I did get out for a nice hike through the woods and one run, though. Not terribly strenuous. But my legs are sore so I think I can get away with calling it cross training. More on that later.

Two weeks later...

Would you look at this. This is the same shot from my Stop and Pause post below but it's two weeks later and all the leaves are gone. How fast they come and go. Glad I took a moment to enjoy while the color was in full glory.

Today I got out for a 19 mile loop through North Andover, Boxford, Groveland and Haverhill. It felt great to be back out there, though I did feel a bit of pain after having been off my bike for a full two weeks. I was slower and couldn't really find my rhythm. The temp was in the 40s and chillier than I'm used to but I don't think I can really use that as an excuse. This week looks warmer so hopefully I'll be able to fit in a few lunchtime rides, get my fitness level back up, and get back in the groove.

What I've been doing instead of biking

I've been a slacker these past two weeks. My biking has fallen victim to a busy work schedule and a 4 day mini vacation. I'm also using the excuse that I haven't had the time to buy appropriate fall biking garb and I'm going to freeze my butt off if I go out in shorts.

Biking takes a lot of time. So if I haven't been doing that, what have I been doing?

Well, to return to my earlier music reference and love of great guitar, I actually had the pleasure of meeting one of the greats this past Saturday. Sonny Landreth is one of the best slide guitarists in the world, according to one of my favorite guitarists, Warren Haynes. And here I am with him backstage before the final Jimmy Buffett show of the year at MGM Studios in Vegas. The cool thing was that we actually talked briefly of his performances with Warren, who I will be seeing this weekend as he plays with his band, Gov't Mule.

Also, my husband and I managed this photo opp right in front of Jimmy Buffett's guitars. Can't get much closer than this! I hesitate to say this out loud for fear of offending the parrotheads of the world, but Jimmy Buffett's music isn't something I'm passionate about. His shows are a total blast, though, and you can't beat them for prime people watching. Plus, it's great to see someone doing what they love, having loads of fun and making a gazillion dollars. Everyone should go to at least one Jimmy Buffett show in their lives. There's so much to learn.

So that's a bit of what I've been doing instead of biking lately. In the next few days, I hope to get myself to the bike shop and pick up some colder weather gear and quit being a slacker. Unless, of course, I find another excuse.

Stop and Pause

It doesn't get much better than this. Leaves are peaking in our neck of the woods. And if you don't pay attention, you just might miss it.

Have you done that before? I have. I've love fall and look forward every year to seeing the leaves in all their glory - yellow, orange and red. But then often it seems that the leaves have come, peaked and gone before I've taken the opportunity to really appreciate their beauty.

That could easily be happening to me again this fall, but you see, I have my blog to maintain. I can't just be mindlessly biking along, staring at the road, briefly regarding my surroundings as I ride by. I need to be paying attention and on the lookout for the next photo opportunity for a future blog post. So I look up, pull over and get off my bike when there is something worth appreciating for a few moments.

This has been another unexpected side benefit of my blog and thankfully it is starting to carry over into other aspects of my life. So I try to stop and pause and take a breath. And I'm learning that if I don't pay attention I just might miss my opportunity.

Brain Tunes

Those who know me well know how important music is to me. I have it playing all the time and go to as many live shows as I can. But there are those times - like biking - when you just can't safely listen to music. So when I can't have have iTunes, I rely on brain tunes.

What are brain tunes? These are tunes that I love and that I've listened to so many times that they are literally seared into my brain, note for note. I can then dial them in and play them in my head whenever the mood strikes.

Some would say I have multiple personalities when it comes to my music taste. Led Zeppelin was how it all started for me and my brother back in high school. Then in college and years beyond, I was a die hard fan of alternative rock. R.E.M. topped the list because they are, after all, the godfathers of alternative rock.

This carried on for a while without much new blood (other than Coldplay) and I eventually got bored with my own taste in music, a victim of overplaying and too narrow a focus.

Thankfully, this all changed one day in August of 2006 when our friend Mark flew out from California and insisted we go to see the Allman Brothers Band with him while he was in town. 7th row seats directly in front of guitar god Warren Haynes had my head spinning faster than Linda Blair's on The Exorcist. That dude can play!! His playing was so unbelievable, in fact, that I thought at times that he (or I) just might spontaneously combust like the drummers on Spinal Tap. Warren plays even better when dueling with slide guitarist Derek Trucks, the second highlight of the show for me. In fact, the Allman Brothers Band could be renamed the Haynes/Trucks band since they are such a powerful presence.

From that day forward, I became a blues/southern rock fan and started listening to everything Allman Brothers and Gov't Mule (Warren Haynes' band). I also expanded into other guitar gods like Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn and have hung there for the last few years searching for the next great guitar solo.

Then totally out of left field just a few short weeks ago, more new blood arrived on the scene. I was introduced to Metallica by my friend Jason, a purist when it comes to their music. The band has been around 20+ years without a second glance from me. But they just released a new album in September and I have an open mind so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I love great guitar and Kirk Hammet can do great - in fact, unbelievable - guitar (especially when the lead singer and drummer get out of the way). I'm by no means a thrash and speed metal fan, but I have become an avid fan of their "kinder and gentler" songs.

Here's the short list (with a hyperlink) to the brain tunes I'm playing these days:

Gov't Mule - Beautifully Broken - Great for long rides with a slow steady incline. The guitar work at the end helps get me up and over the top.

Allman Brothers Band - Soulshine - If you're a Brothers fan, you'll know this one is overplayed and I'm really not a huge fan of this song. But nothing can match the dueling guitars of Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks during the last third of the song. Seeing it live has been one of my great life experiences and definitely helps motivate me out on the road.

Metallica - Fade to Black - One of their "kinder, gentler" songs with unbelievable guitar work. The whole song makes me strive to fly on the flats and the ending solo gives me the kick in the butt I need if I'm starting to drag.

R.E.M. - Hollow Man - This is good when I'm, as Michael Stipe would say, "lost inside my head," being introspective or overthinking during longer stretches on less traveled roads. The fast chorus is great for downhills.

Music is such a big part of my riding, I'm surprised I haven't mentioned it until now. I rely heavily on brain tunes during all of my rides. Better than iTunes or the radio, brain tunes are always available, I can dial them up or down anytime, and I don't need to take my hands off the handlebars to change the station.

Still Out There

Even though not much action was happening on my blog this past week, I still managed to get out on my bike and log 68 miles. I'm down to shorter rides on the weekends, mostly due to kids' soccer games, shorter days and other commitments. My other main opportunity to ride is during lunch two days per week, but I have to limit my miles to 12-14 so I'm back and showered within the hour.

This past week my longest ride was only 23 miles. I ventured out to the Topsfield Fair and back during a glorious fall day. But what a total mob scene! I was glad to be on my bike and so I could navigate the traffic jam with relative ease. The ride from my house to Topsfield is beautiful and rural with many photo opps. Here is one from a field that I've taken many wildflower pictures of before.The leaves are awesome right now and this is why I live in New England. I hope to get out for many more rides before the spectacular color of fall has passed.

Ridin' Like the Wind....

Okay, I know I'm getting redundant here, but this picture was too cool not to post. My dad, Ron, photographer and Photoshop extraordinaire, worked his magic on the shot I shared on Tuesday of me, Drew and Dave biking the Cycle for Shelter. Now we're really flying and ridin' like the wind......

(click for bigger)

Autumn Reds

Somehow when I wasn't paying attention, the leaves started changing. I swear I was just taking pictures of roadside flowers not long ago. But here's what I stumbled upon during my lunchtime ride today.

I just love fall...the colors, the smells, the crisp air... it's all good. Riding this fall will be a real treat.

Cycle for Shelter Revisted

Check this out. Today I received a disk of pictures taken by Geoff Hull from the Cycle for Shelter Planning Group. The ride, which was held on Sunday, July 26, 2008, has raised more than $75,000 to date for Emmaus, Inc.

I tagged along in between fellow riders, Drew (on the left) and Dave for my first 62 mile metric century. This was my first experience on an organized ride and it was a fun but tiring day on a beautiful course. Here's photographic proof of me keeping up with them (or perhaps... them slowing down for me...). Looking forward to doing the 100 mile course next year.

(Click to enlarge)

8 Days Later...

Okay, I'm still here. I just haven't been blogging - or biking, for that matter. In fact, today was the first time I got out on my bike since I completed my first century 8 days ago.

I didn't mean to miss a whole week of riding but I was trapped in a conference room at work for 35 hours last week and then we had a few days of heavy rain. Today, though, I got back out there and did the 18 mile loop I used to do in the morning - but this time it was in the afternoon in light rain. It felt great to be back on my bike and I clocked one of my fastest times, surprisingly.

So...... what to do now.....

I know I'll keep riding as long as I can through the fall. I need it. I really need it. In fact, I felt a bit off my game all last week without riding. Morning rides are out - and have been for some time - since sunrise has gotten later and later. My only option now is to ride during lunchtime and hopefully get a longer ride in on Sundays, since Saturdays are soccer game days.

Later in the year I may even try out my friend Claudia's trainer to set up my bike at home for indoor training. Spin class is an option, too. I guess I'll just have to see how this one plays itself out.

As for my blog.... I've been debating what to do. The whole purpose of it initially was as a training tool to help me complete my first century. Since I've done that - and it was a great tool - do I now retire my blog? But I like to write. And I like to take pictures. And I like to have goals and keep track of my progress. And I like to think I have a fan base of greater than 2.

So I think I'll keep blogging. At least for now. And maybe I'll expand my topics beyond biking. I guess I'll just have to see how this one plays itself out.

In the meantime, though, I'm going to get my butt back out there on the road and mull over ideas for my next major challenge.

Century Accomplished!

I did it!! 103 miles in 6.5 hours on one of the most gorgeous days of the year. The course was beautiful and featured many spectacular views of the New Hampshire and Maine coastlines. Who could ask for anything better?

The day started off very early at the Hampton State Park. I was there by 6:30 so I'd be ready for the 7:00 registration along with 1600 other riders. It was very cold (mid 40s) and the sun was just coming up.

The course began with a 17 mile southern loop to Newburyport and back. I started my ride solo and pretty much froze my butt (or rather, my finger tips and legs) off the first 3 miles. (Incidentally, it's never helpful to look at the bike odometer after 3 miles when you have 97 more miles to go.....). But the sun was rising, I warmed up fast and the day was looking good.

As I passed the Hampton park entrance again on my way north, I met up with Drew and Dave, who I rode the Cycle for Shelter with, and Dave's wife Mary, who were all just starting for the day. Seeing friendly faces injected new energy into me and the miles started flying by.

The ride up Ocean Boulevard (Rt. 1A) through Hampton, North Hampton, Rye and Wentworth-by-the-Sea offered some of the best coastal views, but picture taking opportunities were limited since I was now part of a well synchronized paceline of riders. Before I knew it, I had ridden 33 miles - the ride was already 1/3 over!

Here are a few shots I was able to catch near Portsmouth:
After a break at a very crowded official water stop, we continued to ride north up into Maine. Dave and Mary were riding the metric century (63 mile) loop so they turned around and headed back. Drew and I continued up Rt. 1 towards York and we stopped briefly to enjoy this view. Although there was a coastal wind going, thankfully, it was manageable and was nothing compared to prior years, as I was told.

The next highlight was the Cape Neddick Lighthouse, also known as the Nubble Lighthouse. Built in 1879 and located in York Beach, this is a classic Maine icon. I was at mile 51 when we stopped for this spectacular view.

Here's a shot of Drew in his Hawaiian biking shirt, which added some comic relief to the ride. As he pedaled, the girl on his shirt actually looked like she was doing the hula!

We continued on a few more miles through and around York center, passing many little shops and candy stores, including The Goldenrod, renowned for their salt water taffy. We also biked by the famous York's Wild Kingdom before the course headed south. No rest for the weary, though, since we still faced a good 45 miles ahead of us.

The next photo opp was back approaching Portsmouth again as we walked our bikes across a grated bridge. The tide was out when we were headed north but in as we headed south.

The route back was similar to the way up but a 10 mile loop was added near Rye to make the course a full 100 miles. This loop took us through many tree lined streets and past the beautiful Abenaqui Country Club.

This loop was actually the hardest part of the ride for me. It felt like we were doing our longest stretch of our fastest riding of the day at this point and we had a new rider latched on drafting me. It was around mile 90 I was starting to fade. Plus, I was in unchartered territory since I'd never ridden more than 83 miles in one stretch.

Thankfully, we soon turned south onto Rt. 1A. I never thought the strip at Hampton Beach would be such a welcome sight!

And then it happened - I passed the 100 mile mark!! The official mileage on the course was actually 100.8, but we took a slight detour down a beautiful coastal road, which brought my total mileage up to 103.23, to be exact. Average speed for the day was exactly 16 mph - fast for me!

Crossing the finish line back at Hampton State Park, with ride volunteers banging bells and cheering, was one of the best feelings I've experienced in a very long time. Quite emotional in fact. I still can't believe it.

When I look back at the ride, I have to say that it was much easier than I thought it would be. Despite the fade at mile 90, I finished strong. In fact, I felt strong throughout most of the ride and enjoyed every minute of it. On such a beautiful day with such spectacular views, it's hard not to ride with a smile on your face much of the time. And today - the day after - I feel great and am looking forward to getting back out on my bike again.

So there I have it. Century accomplished.

Completing a century started as a crazy idea, then became a goal, then became an all-out mission. For me, I proved to myself that I could reach for something I've never imagined before, take it step by step, hold myself accountable, include others so they could hold me accountable and complete the task. My blog has been a key element in realizing this goal.

Thank you to everyone who has supported and cheered me on along the way! And thank you Drew, for sharing 85 miles of the ride with me.

Stay tuned for more biking commentary as I figure out the next chapter in my riding and in my blog.

~ Lisa~

POSTSCRIPT
I rode this century in dedication to Bryce Morrill, my sister-in-law Rosanne's companion and an extended family member of ours for the last 5 years. Last weekend, he passed away unexpectedly as he was biking in preparation for the Hub on Wheels charity bike ride to be held in Boston today. Ride on, Bryce. May you rest in peace.