Last Sunday I had the amazing experience of crossing the Verrazano by bike. It was the only day of the entire year that such a thing could be done and I am so glad I managed to do it! Thing is, I didn’t really belong on the ride so it was something of a mission to make it across. Thankfully the security for the ride wasn’t too intense and I was able to enjoy the amazing views from the top of this incredible bridge. I was really impressed with the ride and have every intention of joining it next year in full legit regalia. For this year though, it was a bit of a rebel ride.
It’s been a crazy week and I have been training for the Century with every spare moment I’ve had. Tomorrow I’m riding 80 miles up to Nyack as my final long ride day before I travel out west and do the real thing. On Monday I’m shipping out my bike so for the last week before I leave it’ll be my old GT beater, my fixie and maybe a couple of runs in the park.
Today its a little icky out but I’ve already taken it as a rest/shopping day. Lots to get situated before this trip, and so much to think about.
My mind is a flurry of thought right now. Maybe some yoga today for a little calm.
I had such an amazing ride yesterday. I really felt strong throughout the many hours I was on the bike.
Riding distance in NYC is tough because so much of the ride involves tricky navigation. Lots of traffic, people, other bikes and various obstacles like delivery trucks parked backwards in bike lanes or huge potholes that encompass much of the street make for a sometimes funny sometimes scary experience.
I say this because, according to my cycling computer it took me over four hours to travel 60 miles yesterday. This is travel time mind you, which only amasses while the wheels are moving. Sooo, this means I spent a lot of time stuck behind cars, or navigating around them. I worry a little about my time for the Century, but I think with wide open roads it won’t be an issue.
I started my ride with my friends Wendy and Millar along the Shore Parkway Greenway which runs down the lower western side of Brooklyn. Getting there was tricky and involved a lot of traffic management but once we arrived we enjoyed some great open riding for quite a while. It didn’t hurt that it was sunny and warm – near 80 at 9am.
The Verrazano made for some awesome scenery while we rode.
We biked through Coney Island and Brighton Beach and across the Marine Parkway (Guy Gil Hodges <—METS) Bridge. Then all the way out to far Rockaway. At this point I split off from Wendy and Millar and headed back the long way, which was the way we had come.
The ride took a total of 6 hours with lots of breaks. I’m glad I took it easy, but next weekend the plan is to take it a little faster and maybe eat more on the bike. I noticed yesterday that it takes a good amount of food to keep me going for that long. After a breakfast of oatmeal with almond butter and flax I found myself ready to eat another breakfast around 15 miles in. I devoured my pretty big bag of cashews and raisins within the 1st 2 hours of the ride! Luckily we stopped for a sandwich around mile 30 so I was able to keep up my energy for the ride home. I refilled my water bottle 3 times and tried to drink constantly, even when I wasn’t thirsty. Today I’m completely parched and starving though which is a common side effect of ramping up exercise like this. I’ll probably drink gallons today.
All in all it was a great day, though I did get a bit of a sunburn. Today I’m headed out to buy the really diesel SPF and hopefully get back on the bike this afternoon. The 5 Borough bike tour is going on and a certain friend of mine is riding it a little untraditionally. I think I’ll go see how he fared.
I’d like to write a long and glorious post about my long and incredibly glorious ride today but you see, I just can’t. Why? Because all I can even think about is FOOD. I’ve already eaten everything I have here so I’m headed out to grab a big delicious pressed sandwich and go chill in the park with some friends. With any luck that might sate me, at least for a few hours.
I’ll have more pictures, tales and war stories soon!
It’s 85 degrees outside, and I am headed back out on my track bike! Crazy? More than likely. Happy? As can be.
Yesterday I took the day completely off and had an absolute ball rockin a Mets game. Not only did we get VIP seats – which gave us access to all kinds of cool areas but the Mets won too, sweeping the series!! Awesome day!
This afternoon I rode my fixie for about 12 miles, just some easy loops in the park and then a quick visit to the south slope. I’m trying to take it somewhat easy and wait until this weekend to push myself on some longer rides. The plan is 40 miles on Sat and around 60 on Sunday. The forecast is beautiful, my legs feel strong and I can’t wait to ride!
Checkout the engraved bricks the line the entrance to Citi field, I love the one that says “you gotta believe” so true!
Just a reminder that I’m still raising money for my Century (which is in a little over 3 weeks !!!!) if you are able to help out the link is here and just so ya know – it’s for a really good cause. I’m off to roast some sweet potato and brussel sprouts. YUM.
Had another amazing ride today with Wendy. The weather was beautiful, the sun was shining and down in Far Rockaway the boys were surfing! I gotta say that even though I am a little freaked out by the ocean, (near death experienece in Guatemala a few years back) surfing really does look like an incredible sport. I may just have to try my hand at it this summer.
The ride, which was around 45 miles total took about 3 hours. I was in enough pain by the end of it that I am a little bit concerned about the Century. Just sitting in the saddle that long seems a little daunting. Wendy assured me though that there is nothing to worry about and that my sheer force of will should get me though. I have a feeling she’s right, but it is still a super long ride and I need to be training with every spare minute to prepare.
I took some pictures of our route through Rockaway as it really was an incredibly beautiful day. I have big plans tonight for Shoshana’s birthday, but before then I think a much needed nap is in order. Siesta time for Jill.
In the far distance you can see the Marine Park bridge – part of the ride!
Can I tell you how excited I am to have this as my Saturday forecast? The sun will shine the temps will warm me and I’ll be peddling my beautiful Trek as far as these little legs will take me. Wendy’s already said she’s in, and I may even have another friend on board for the adventure. The more the merrier right?
Tonight I rode about 10 miles but I’m still pretty wiped out from my run yesterday and a really long day at work. Tomorrow night I take it easy and with any luck at all Saturday will be my longest ride yet.
In the meantime I also get to look forward to next Wednesday. A friend of mine got tickets to the Mets/Dodgers game and I just found out that they’re VIP! What this actually means I have yet to discover but I’ll be sure to take lots of pics. I hope they win!
Another amazing benefit of moving to NYC was being back in the company of my lifelong favorite team, the Mets and now my newly adopted football team the Jets. I might not be the most avid fan, but there is really nothing like going to a live ball game. I remember to this day how great it was in ’86 when the Mets won the World Series. My whole family danced around our family room in celebration. When I think of the Mets I’ll always think of the ’86 team most fondly.
Tonight I’ll probably watch some of the game but I just startedFood Inc on the train today and I think I’m hooked. I may have to grab the laptop and camp out on the couch while watching it. I’m afraid I’ll wind up a vegetarian again by the end though. It’s pretty riveting and heavy material and it features one of my favorite authors (and nutrition gurus) Michael Pollan. I’ll definitely post about it once I’m done.
It was such a beautiful sunny spring day today. All day long the air was warm and the sun was shining. Yup, all the way up until I stepped out of the office to head home.
It was right then that the sky darkened and the wind began to whip. As I walked to the train I knew what was coming. All day my knee had been twinging from the impending storm so it wasn’t exactly a surprise or anything. Good ol’ internal weather forecasting, right?
Admittedly, It was kind of a bummer to run inside on a treadmill. Occasionally I’ll run outside in the rain but I just wasn’t feeling it tonight. I got in a little over 3 miles when my gym experience was all said and done and I feel pretty good about my pace (avg ~9 min a mile). It was nice to change up from cycling for a day but as long as the weather is good tomorrow I’m back on the bike for sure. Gotta keep up with the training.
I love reading about ultra marathoners and cyclists (people that run 100 miles or bike for 24 hours+). It’s always inspiring to hear about their internal struggle and how they just don’t quit. No matter what.
I don’t really ever see myself doing such a thing, but I have to say that when I’m at mile 2.5 on a treadmill, and I’m all kinds of thinking about walking and my internal dialogue is drifting to thoughts of dinner and writing and relaxing somewhere, it really helps to keep me going when I think of what mile93 must feel like.
There’s an amazing podcast on NPR called Radiolab that I listen to on the train all the time. They covered ultra sports enthusiasts in an episode called limits a couple of weeks ago and it has got to be one of the more inspiring things I’ve ever heard. If you have a moment, check it out. It’s linked at the top right of the home page take a listen, you’ll be glad you did.
On that note, I am off to scarf down some much needed dinner, what keeps you inspired to keep on going when you could just as easily quit?
I’m starting to realize that the amount of fun I’m having can be measured in reverse proportion to the number of blog posts I’m making. I know it shouldn’t be this way, and that I should be sharing all the cool bike rides and adventures, it’s just well, I’m exhausted. And delighted. And loving this spring!
This past weekend was lovely and I got in a few great rides. My neck seems back to it’s pretty ok old self and I can’t seem to stay off a bike for long at all – a good thing! Also – and this is great news – I found a bike shop in Napa valley that will receive my bike and help me tune it up properly before the Century. Good stuff and necessary since I really don’t have the tools on hand out there to do it myself. With only a little more than a month to go until the ride most of my spare time has been focused on preparing for the trip and for what will certainly be a long and beautiful ride.
I also was able to book my hotel in Napa and it is super nice. Since my dear friends Brenda and Chip will me staying with me the cost isn’t too outrageous either! How awesome is it that I get two of my very favorite people to cheer me on, all the way out in Cali? I haven’t seen either of them since their wedding in Richmond (on my bday last year!!) and I’m really looking forward to some quality r&r with them after this Century is in the bag.
Century. in. the. bag?
Wow, I can’t wait until I can say I’ve done it and not just that I’m “doing it”. It feels great to be working toward such a goal, but to have that goal completed? Not so bad either!
Well time to make some tasty dinner before I get too crazy hungry. It’s amazing how much more I eat in the warmer months, all the time outside makes me hungry! I’m thinking a whole wheat wrap with hummus, zucchini, yellow squash, roasted red peppers and spinach. And some hot sauce I think. Yum.
So it’s official, I’m back on the bike and ready to make up for lost time!
This evening I met Greg and one of his friends for a few quick loops (about 16 miles total) in the park after work and it was wonderful.
It’s so easy to take the ability to hop on the bike and head out for a ride for granted – no longer. I was thankful for every pedal stoke I took this evening and even took a moment to photograph my favorite tree again, a little further along in its progress through spring. Just like me.
This weekend has a LOT more riding on the agenda as well as brunches with friends and I heard tell of another possible rooftop party in the East Village? I certainly wont rule that one out!
In the meantime I have to give a shout out to my cousin Ruth whose donation got me to my goal of $300! Since there’s still over a month left before the ride I’ve decided to raise the goal to $500 and see what happens… You never know. Also – much thanks to each and every person that’s donated so far. My training and ride become so much more amazing knowing that I have support coming from all over.
Off to eat some delicious salmon and do some yoga, though probably not in that order. Have a great evening!
Yesterday I had an incredibly relaxed day and just tried to let my shoulder/neck heal.
I walked from Ft. Greene where I live, to Brooklyn Heights and then back through Cobble Hill and Park Slope. I didn’t have a whole lot of destination in my walking, I just wanted to enjoy the beautiful day without any further injury.
The neighborhoods of Brooklyn never cease to amaze me with their diversity, design and beauty. Ever want to take a trip around the world without the passport and airfare complications? Come to Brooklyn and take a daylong stroll. Seriously, the weave of cultures, foods and languages will make you feel transported. And if you wander too far the train is never far away.
I’m happy to report that my neck feels a LOT better than it did yesterday at this time. My goal is to make it through today without any ibuprofen and to hopefully be ready to ride tomorrow. I don’t think a bike ride in this stage of healing is a good idea so for today I’ll be taking it easy once again.
I’ve been so focused on training that I’ve been forgoing the more gentle aspects of my routine like yoga and breathing. Its so easy for me to get crazy focused on a goal and leave important details out of my picture. As always, a work in progress!
Here’s some more pictures from yesterday’s journey. Fort Greene park hosts a green market each Saturday and although it’s not a huge as the Prospect Park green market it has all the essentials and it’s a perfect excuse to take a stroll through this beautiful historic park.
