Warning: biking is dangerous

But so is jumping off a cliff, driving everyday to work and playing with fire. But, I still don't understand why cars have such issues with bikes on the roads. If bike riders and cars just both paid attention and shared the road like they should, this would be a much better, enjoyable world.

And not even the most experienced riders are immune.

Case in point: Dave Scott is reported to have broken bones, including collar bone, because he was struck by a car this week, riding in his hometown of Boulder, CO.

Another unfortunate case: Dallas-based coach and top amateur triathlete Ahmed Zaher was struck by a car in Kona during his Playtri Kona camp on a road that didn't have a shoulder and was one way each direction. The story goes the lady in her truck was angry that he was going so slow (he was going uphill) that she angrily swerved to pass him and struck him with her passenger side mirror, throwing him off his bike and breaking ribs and his collar bone.

In early 2007, I was also involved in a bike crash three months before IM AZ, though it wasn't a car - it was a guy riding with us in the back of our group. I have to say that coming back from a crash on the bike is scary, just like you were involved in a horrible car accident (which I also was in 2005). You get nervous with every movement, it took me a while to get back in a peloton group - it's just really hard. But, you have to get back on sooner rather than later or else it will play with your mind. I've also had some close calls with assholes who get impatient. Sometimes I wish I had a bullhorn to give them a piece of my mind - my road rage rears it's ugly head a lot when riding.

So, we can't trust the cars out there, just like you can't trust them when you're in your own car. And unfortunately we can't do much when they come barrelling at you. Here's to safe riding. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, there's two type of riders: those who have been in a bike crash and those who will be.

UPDATE: It was reported today (5/21) that a 61-year-old driver was ticketed with careless driving causing bodily harm. She was apparently doing a "slow" U-turn looking for an open house and caused Dave to run into the side of her car because he couldn't brake fast enough. I still don't know what to think/say, but just wish we could all just get along!

Giving back...and taking my stand

Jon "Blazeman" Blais' Ironman 2005 video

No one close to me has ever been affected by ALS, aka Lou Gherig's disease. But, I'm a sucker for helping good causes and giving my part, so yesterday I participated - and provided PR support - for Dallas' Cycle for ALS, put together for the second time by local athlete Stacy Mullikin.

The group at REI Dallas

What an amazing couple hours I spent, sweating my heart out and watching the chilling, inspirational video of Blais' iconic Ironman Hawaii finish. He completed the race 3 months after being diagnosed. In 2006, he returned, but in a wheelchair. In May 2007, he passed away.

Being lazy DOES suck.

And boy, it was really steamy in that room, because my towel was SOAKED by the end of spin (my husband came to 'rescue' me). And I was just hoping that the guys next to me didn't think they were in a natatorium, because I know I was sweating out chlorine from that morning's swim (2700 yards!). Yuck.

A good team

No one survives from ALS. Four hundred and eleven people are diagnosed every day. Shocking numbers for a disease that doesn't get enough limelight.

Next year, make sure you take a few hours in a city near you (22 cities across the U.S. and Canada took part on Saturday) and support what Blazeman believed in.

I want to tour the Tour

Is anyone out there planning to go to Tour of California next week? I want to go so bad but we just haven't gotten around to make any plans for travel.

Bryon and I have also been throwing around the idea of planning our MUCH delayed trip to Europe with a stop in some stages of the Tour. That would be really cool. We think it would be awesome to see Lance's return to the race while seeing some good spots of France. Never have been to France, or Europe for that matter, I am definitely up for this. But isn't July really, really hot there? (Not that they have much to compare to our Texas weather/summers, but do I want to be walking miles and spectating with heat?)

Let there be light

It's been unseasonally cool in Dallas nearly the past week now, but you won't find me complaining, although that cool weather has been brought in by storms - lots of them. But it's been a nice change... and made some of my recent workouts quite, um, interesting.

Now, the last two days haven't looked quite like that, but swim Tuesday and track today was a little too close to nature for my comfort.

Tuesday swim had me running into the wall. It was a tough set and during one of my kick sets, I was on my back and staring up into the gray clouds, wondering when the sky was going to break open and pour down on us in the pool, and BAM - my hands are in the wall. How I missed the flags I have no idea, but it made for a good laugh. I can't believe I was daydreaming during my swim workout, but I guess I was nice and relaxed!

The workout was:

300m warm up

400m kick

10x100m on 2:05

300 swim

300 kick

100 cool down

Today was track, and again, dealing with bad weather, lightning all around. But I survived. Whew. :) I have to give myself a pat on the back for that one - I did contemplate going back to bed as I was standing in my driveway, car door open, looking to the sky and trying to determine how far away the storms were. However, I didn't have time to get a full visit to the loo, and so I did one of the weirdest things - no, take that back, THE weirdest thing - I've ever done on a run: I stopped in an alley between houses during my 1 mile warm up to the track and went. Yep, I visited nature in the most natural of ways. It was quite liberating, really. You should try it... :)

Track was:

1 mile warm up

10x30 sec pick ups with 30 sec recovery

5 min recovery

4x1 min pick ups with 2 min recovery

1 mile cool down

This afternoon was supposed to be a 2 hour bike ride, but rain has been off and on so I'm pushing it to tomorrow afternoon. Swim masters tomorrow morning and group run Friday morning. Saturday is 20 min open water swim, 3.5 hour bike and 15 min. run; Sunday is 30 min. bike followed by 90 min run. All this in my designated HR zones, of course.

Oh, and my workouts this past weekend?

Saturday was 3.5 hour bike and 10 min run; Sunday 30 min bike followed by 90 min run (which actually turned into 105 min!). Whew! And I have to say, my training appetite is back in full force - Sunday Bryon and I had two meals within 2 hours of each other, one of which included having chips and salsa, share of chicken fajitas and a side of fries at Chili's! Hey, we get to because we train, right?? :)

Got the swim, got the bike...where's my run?

I've had some great workouts this week. And yes, I've done a full week!

After Tuesday and Wednesday's workouts, Thursday was a good workout - morning swim, covering 2000y.

Friday was a 4.5 mile group morning run. Luckily, I felt strong enough to make it through without walking.

Saturday was an early (6:45 a.m.!) 60 mile bike ride. I rocked it and felt great, up until my quads starting screaming at me. Big group today too and it was fun, which always help get through the workouts a little easier. I've kicked up my Accelerade use, after being off of it for two years. I haven't quite been able to tell if there's a difference yet for me, but I've got something working for me. I think my timing in taking nutrition has gotten better. It probably helps that I just like the bike much, much more than running!

A full week of workouts - and just in time! I've got confidence in my swim and bike distances for the upcoming 70.3... I really need to get the running miles in now (as always!!).

We did miss our morning long run today (didn't get out of bed until 8!!) but we did A LOT! Put in new wood floors, laundry, dishes, cook breakfast and dinner, groceries.... it was a busy day. But, I do plan on getting up early and getting a good distance run in to make up for today.

Nothing like remodeling your house while training for a big distance race... Anyone else tried that? It's quite exhausting... Next is our kitchen!! :)

My workout days come in threes...

It's Monday morning and I'm pretty proud of my last three days of training. Yeah, I haven't done a lot (consistently) lately but I pushed myself the last three days and got it all done.

Friday morning came and Bryon and I peeled ourselves away from the bed to do the morning run with the group. I did the full 4.5 without stopping, which is great since my last run was the Monday before.

Saturday morning we met up with the group and did a 60 mile ride out to Flower Mound and back. This ride is always a challenge because it goes straight past my parents' house. I always daydream about stopping by for waffles and eggs! Yum! However, the ride was great and I felt great! I guess the new position is really helping. The group was good company and we were handling a good pace - not too hard all the time but not too easy all the time. There was even a time during the ride that myself and another girl "chicked" the guys and lost them in our dust! I did a 15-minute run brick afterward as well, but that was a beating with how hot it was getting.

Sunday morning was rough, however. I knew it within the first 2 miles that this wasn't going to be an easy 9 mile run for me. My legs were no where to be found. I thought that I'd feel better after getting them warmed up and moving, but nope - they never came. It was painful through the first 5.5 miles as I was motivating myself to stay with a couple of others. But after that, I couldn't move anymore. I HAD to stop. I shuffled/walked the rest of the 4 miles. That was the closest my legs had ever gotten to bonking while running. It was HARD. But I did finish - although I may have shed a tear or two...

Luckily, a few of those running yesterday saw my awesome (or stupid, since I may have gone too too hard!) bike performance the day before and said I had a hard ride.

That has to change! No more being tired! No more being lazy! I've got a race in two months, dangit! And still a 99.5% chance of an Ironman on the near horizon!

Speed!

It's back! My ride last night put me in better spirits (although that was soon killed off after not waking this morning from my alarm for swim). BUT, I had a great ride last night, thanks to my new bike fit. My seat was too low by about a half an inch!!

We took my bike in on Saturday for a tune-up, new handlebar tape, new tires, a new tube and then I booked a fit because it had been a while and also because something wasn't feeling right. And was I ever right!

So I took it out for a spin last night and I was back up to 24+mph. My legs felt better while pushing and I wasn't feeling as tired afterward. On my last few rides I was getting close to bonking, my legs about to fall out from under me, but I didn't get that feeling last night. I didn't do a run afterward, but this morning they're feeling pretty good.

So here's to hoping my legs are back and my bike and run get speedier and speedier!