Some days I go to the beach and cruise close enough to the ocean to taste the salt on my tongue.

Other days I head to the country. I love taking the back roads. There is something about being away from people and in the middle of the country that makes me fall in love with cycling over and over again.

I never dread exercise, but I think that’s because my mindset isn’t that I have to go the fastest or the farthest; it’s that I can get out there and be a part of something bigger than me. To me, that is living life. To me, that is when you really experience all there is out there.

Of course, that could also be my excuse for never pushing myself to the extreme. Could I get down to an 8 minute mile while running? Possibly. A 20 mph speed on my bike? I guess it’s probable. Are those my goals? Not really. I find when I push myself too hard, I forget to stop and enjoy the ride (or run!) and find myself dreading the journey.

Someone once said Life isn’t about the destination, it’s about the journey, and for me that goes for exercise, too. Crossing a finish line is extraordinary, don’t get me wrong; but if I don’t enjoy the miles that comes before that yellow tape, I’m not likely to do it again.

So while I can’t package the scents of jasmine and fresh air and the sea, I can take along my camera and snap photographs along the way. (And yes, this does slow me down, I know! But, it’s so much fun.)

Here, a pictorial of my last long cycle through the south in the springtime. (Click on the photos for a larger, clearer view!)

This bridge begins my ride. Some days, blue herons sit on the bank.

I always stop here for a minute and watch the horses. Yes, not good when watching my pace, but who the heck cares?! They are beautiful!

LOVE this two lane back country southern road! Especially the little auto shop, which is really a shack, with a junk yard in the back, and the trailer, which seems to be plopped down in the middle of a field where someone has decided to live. I always wonder about those people.

Only in the south can you get guns AND shrimp at the same time!

View coming in. Some days the water is high, and some days it’s not there at all. When it’s gone, the racoons play in the mud.

Final ride, about 12 1/2 miles of quiet country streets.

What motivates YOU?

A second grader told me it was real easy, and he gave me step by step instructions that included things like

• get a screwdriver
• take off the tire
• put on the new tube
• pump it up

Super easy, he said with a shrug. He does it all the time.

I considered hiring him for the job, but I thought:

1. That would be strange, and
2. I really need to learn to do this on my own

So I gathered together my requisite ‘tire changing items’

And my laptop, tuned to this video from Schwinn

I got everything set out in my driveway and turned on the video.

I watched it about fifteen times, attempting but failing to find the rear wheel release lever to get the back tire off.

I asked my Twitter friends for help, of course

Then I You Tubed another video, and, again, spent a few minutes attempting to figure out where the rear wheel release lever might be.

I was confused

Then my husband came home, and he looked.

He told me the bad news: My bike doesn’t have a rear wheel release lever. Then he got out this

And showed me how to get off the wheel.

Yay for hubby!

We deflated the tube, put on the new inner tube and got the tire back on the bike before realizing I’d purchased a tire with a presta valve. And, of course, we didn’t have an adapter.

Luckily, my neighbor did.

Today I took the bike for a spin and the tire held up, so apparently I did it right.

My suggestion to those of you learning to change a bike tire? First . . .

1. Check first to see if your bike has a rear wheel release lever, which makes the process much easier. Plus, you don’t have to carry tools on your long rides, which is what I’m going to need to do now in case of a flat while I’m twelve miles out. And
2. If you get a tube with a presta valve, purchase the $1 adapter so you can use your regular bike pump

Then, check out this video from Schwinn that shows how to change bike tires.

Between work, which has moved from part to almost full time now that the girls are in school, and the girls, who have after school activities nearly everyday, I’m finding it tough to schedule workouts.

When I was running only, I could move my runs around in the week to accommodate everything. Now, though, I find it tough to do this. For instance, I can only swim in the afternoons due to swim classes at the gym, but our afternoons are crazy. If I move a run to another day, that’s going to mess up a cycle. If I skip a cycle, that means I have to pick it up on another day.

I don’t want to work out seven days a week. I know I can’t; I’ll burn out, and quickly. Instead, I need to figure a way to get all workouts in during a five to six day workout week.

I guess one of my problems is I hate to lose a running day. I love running four days; that’s when I feel best. I could move down to three days, but I hate to do this.

Which brings me to doubling up on workouts. I could do a run in the AM and a swim in the PM some days, but then I think I’m becoming a crazy obsessed workout person. Plus, I don’t always have the time to workout two times a day; in fact, I don’t always have the time to do one workout!

How do you set up a workout schedule? Do you allot certain days for certain activities? Do you workout more than one  time each day? Do you workout five, six, seven days a week? I’d love to hear feedback about triathlon training, now that we are moving into training season.

On another note, I had a fabulous cycle today. I rode the Schwinn about 45 minutes (Garmin died) through back country roads, and I enjoyed every second of it! I know I could go to the gym and get in some workouts, but there really is no substitute to fresh air, horses and, for the most part, silence!

Here’s a video from my ride:

The girl wants to cycle from the moment she wakes up each morning until the moment she hits the bed. If we are home, she’s asking for a bike ride (and who am I to say no?!)

Each morning, after Big One heads to school, Little One and I hop on our bikes and go. We have a favorite place to ride, next to the marsh as the sun comes up. Some mornings we see turtles. Other mornings, not another soul.

These photos really tell it all about a fall morning bike ride. What’s not to love?

Fall leaves and Spanish moss

Little One in the Lead

Making Trails in the Dew!

And Enjoying the Beautiful Views . . .

Breathtaking!

Get out and Pedal!

The downs? My running continues to be an uphill battle. I lace up and get out, but I’m walking a lot and huffing and puffing when I do jog. My pace, which was down around 9:15 for a while, is now hovering in the mid-10s and sometimes the low 11s. A 5 mile run that used to take 45 minutes now takes 54. Ouch.

It’s disheartening, to say the least. Since getting sick the last time, and then experiencing flu-like symptoms for four hours after the two runs that followed the last sickness, I have not been able to get my breathing coordinated or my pace up.

I am simply slogging through the mire, putting in the motions, and, above all of the drudgery when out there, I get home and wind up having a lot of aches and pains that I normally wouldn’t experience doing such short, easy runs. My hip hurts. My ankles hurt.  I feel I’ve aged about ten years in the past two months! Which makes me mad, because I was in such a good place with my running before all of this started.

But on a good note: I got my new Schwinn!

As I posted before, I was chosen as a Joy Agent for Schwinn bikes, and my new Prelude arrived at my local bike store (LBS in biker’s terms – I know, as I’m learning them!), monkeywrench, last Friday.

I picked her up on Wednesday, so excited to see how sweet she looked and to feel she was lighter compared to my old – but still lovely – Schwinn.

The bike did not come with a water bottle, and in my excitement I failed to notice. So, I haven’t been able to do a longer ride,  but I did take her out for 7 miles last week and it was wonderful! I was able to easily hit 17mph, which for me is near racing speed (I did about 18 during my sprint tri). It was an easy pedal, so I’m hoping that’s a result of the new bike and not the fact that I haven’t cycled in a while and was overly eager to do so!

Plus, cycling didn’t make me sick!

But the best thing? Well, it has to be the experience itself. There’s nothing like getting out and experiencing life. Cycling is such a great way to do this.

Today I did a 5 miler and followed it up with a cycle around the neighborhood with the kids! So far, feeling well. Who knows? Maybe I will one day be mamacycler rather than mamamarathoner . . .

(how my rides begin)

My Mighty Schwinn . . .

This morning, after running intervals and taking my daughters to school, My Mighty Schwinn beckoned me.

It was as though the wheels were talking. “Ride me,” they whispered, and how can you NOT oblige?

I obeyed.

Although I was tired, and had worked hard at the four mile interval training – getting into the 7s on my fast speeds – I felt the need to ride. I headed out past the marsh, crossed a very busy road, and took off on a two laner that, when followed, leads more into the country.

(aren’t they pretty?!)

It was a gorgeous ride. Each time I get on My Mighty Schwinn I realize how much I love cycling. I wound up pedaling ten miles, so twice the amount I should have done, but it felt fantastic. I really needed to clear my head, and that cycle did the trick.

. . . A Kangaroo
I recently had a chance to review an AUTOSEAL® Kangaroo Water Bottle from Contigo. I love, love, love the idea of this bottle so much, which includes a compartment in which you can keep money, a key, and your ID. Perfect for taking on a walk or to the gym, so you don’t have to carry your purse. And look how cute she is!

Another great feature is measure markings on the side so you know how much you’re consuming – perfect for when you’re running and need to make sure you’re replenishing fluids. A clip on the side lets you attach the bottle to a gym bag, and the bottle comes apart easily for cleaning. To keep spills down, you press a button to allow the water to flow when you drink. No spills and no caps to remove before sipping.

While the bottle was designed for taking to the gym, I can see using this all around town: when I take the girls to soccer practice, or sit for a while at gymnastics. I’m one who isn’t a huge fan of toting a purse all over, so the fact that I can keep a few dollars and my key and license in the side compartment is great.

The only downside for me was that I’d hoped the bottle would fit on my bike so I could take it cycling. However, the base was too large. How convenient if I could just take out the water bottle to get my money when I made a stop. I would absolutely use this instead of my regular water bottle!

The bottle comes in a variety of colors, and it’s a great deal at MSRP $12.99. If you want your own, these retailers sell the bottle or you can go straight to the Go Contigo website to purchase.

OR! I know! Stay tuned because we’re going to do a GIVEAWAY!

. . . And Train

So, just throwing this out there. I love the band Train. They keep coming up with the best songs. Yesterday after my cycle I heard Save Me, San Francisco and couldn’t stop singing it. Here’s the video. Let’s see if you can!

When I got outside this morning, I almost peed my padded cycling shorts with excitement. The heat had broken like a shattered plate, and a cool breeze filled the air. Now, by cool I mean low 80s; but after blazing hot days in triple digits, I’ll take what I can get.

I loaded my bike with a few necessities: water bottle, spare tube, and cell phone. Then I headed out of my neighborhood, across and down a crazy busy road for a mile or so, and then onto unexplored territory in the form of a country lane.

Close your eyes for a minute (well, after you read this part) and picture narrow pavement, few cars, no pedestrians, a forest of trees overhanging the lane, fields lined with wildflowers, several horses, and the only sound the turning of my wheels and a few birds chirping in their own happiness.

Oh. My. Pedals. I was in heaven.

I went places I’d never been, and though at times the theme music for Deliverance filled my head, I enjoyed every single turn of My Mighty Schwinn’s pedals.

I can’t tell you how incredibly freeing it is to be out there, in the middle of life, with nothing but your body (and today My Mighty Schwinn) making you go.

Or perhaps you know this euphoria already.

I have a new found love for cycling. After 15 years of running, I’ve discovered something that brings me joy on a different plane. Same kind of joy, only different, and I can hardly believe how lucky I am to be able to get on my bike and go.

My only issue during today’s ride: two crazed looking large dogs coming straight for me. One, a pit bull, and both ignoring the boundaries of their yards; which, of course, were not fenced in. (Hey, I should have known this: the name of the road contains the word ‘Swamp’ and I saw several homes that contained, I’m fairly certain, people who did not want to be found by other people, ever.)

Luckily I was far enough ahead to avoid the dogs. But it made me wonder: What do you do when a dog gives chase if you can’t outrun him?

I realized through all of this, again, why I love running and, now, cycling so much. It is being able to get outside and experience life. It’s about my body taking me to places some people will never, ever, ever see. It’s about living.

There are only a few things that make me feel as alive as I feel when I’m running or cycling outdoors: my family, my close friends, and writing.

My question to you: What keeps you running and cycling? What is it that makes you want to get out there and go every chance you get?

In other news . . . I love My Mighty Schwinn. Come on, look at this glorious girl. (And yes, I still have my sprint tri tag on there from a month ago and I am NOT taking it off!)

However, it was not meant for 25 mile bike rides. The handlebars leave me hunched over in an odd manner, as though I am a drunk Lance Armstrong hobbling home after last call, and there is only one water bottle holder. I really need two for these distances I’m doing. And she’s heavy. I love her, but the girl needs to shed a few pounds.

So, this is my next task: Finding a new bike.

I will look at Schwinns. There is a dealer an hour away. I’ve even requested to become a Schwinn Joy Agent, because I don’t know anyone who could represent that company with more passion – I do it now, and I don’t even work for them! I hope to find something before my next race, which doesn’t give me much time.

Don’t fret, though. My Mighty Schwinn is staying put. She’ll be parked among our other bikes and taken out whenever I need to feel the wind in my hair in under ten miles. Or outride a few stray dogs who want to chew off my legs.

Happy Cycling!

I have to say, it went better than expected.

What is it about taking some down time in working out that freaks our little brains right the heck out of our skulls?

I ran only 8 miles last week. 8! Total! I’ve been in the 25-30 range for so long, it felt weird to run only 8.

I cycled 11 only. On one day! I had done 21 the week before in one day! Now, that’s a difference.

How do I feel?

Unbelievably great.

I kicked up swimming and core, two non-leg exercises. I could tell by the end of the week, after three half hour core sessions and several days of yoga, that my body felt better. Relaxed. And my core felt tighter. Stronger. Which I think will help my running.

And my running? Phenomenal. I did one day of interval training, three miles. My fastest time was 6:15! I’ve never gotten that low. My average in the fast part of the intervals was about 7:15.

My second run was a 5 mile tempo. I averaged 9:16, spending two miles in about the 9:30 range and the rest trying to keep an 8-8:30 pace.

What’s up on this week’s agenda?

Higher mileage, for one thing. I’ll do a 5 mile tempo run tomorrow; a long cycle (18-20) on Tuesday; an interval run; a short cycle; and a long run of 12 next Saturday. I’ll also continue the swimming at least two to three days, and I’d like to keep up the core work, though I know when I spend more time on cardio I have less time for strength.

Two weeks on, one week off, diddly diddly dumpling, my new training plan.

Let’s see how it goes!

In other news, don’t forget to enter for your chance to win a week’s worth, or six pairs, of New Balance socks! Perfect for running, cycling, hiking, or just skipping down the street because you’re so happy you finally got into the 6s during interval training.

Or something like that.

Happy Training!

Then I got injured. A knee here, an ankle there, a hamstring and a calf and a heel, oh my!

My body parts rebelled, and soon, each time I stepped out in my running shoes, something hurt.

So I let up, but didn’t add any type of cross training. I ran four days a week instead of seven. I thought, “I’ll do this slowly, increase slowly, not run so much.”

And then, after a few days, I got back to where I was: running, running, running.

The problem, of course, is that each time you run the muscle breaks down a little. What makes you stronger? Rest, to allow those muscles to heal. When they heal, they become stronger. When they continually break down, they don’t have time to improve.

But runners tend to skip that rest. They get addicted on the endorphins and they run, run, run.

Then, again, they get injured.

A hamstring in the Disney marathon made me stop to consider what I was doing to my body through all of thatrelentless  pounding. And about that time, I began to cross train.

Now I use cycling and swimming to give my hammies a chance to recover, and to use other parts of my body. When I interviewed Spencer Larson of 20 Second Fitness about cross training, what he said really made sense to me.

In a nutshell, he asked this question: Isn’t the goal to be stronger and more well rounded?

My answer? Yes! I want to be strong, not injured.

Running works your aerobic system, and it works your hamstrings. But what about your quads, which are on the opposite side of your hammies? And what about your shoulders and arms? Your core, which helps support your back, needs to be strong as well. Not only will it improve your posture and make you healthier, but it will support you in the running as well. 

One thing that really stuck out at me during my first triathlon was the condition of the triathletes. These people were built! They had arms, and legs, and core. They were strong.

Cross training is imperative to good, injury free running. You have to give your body a chance to recover from a hard run, and what is a good way to do this? Get in the pool and swim! Work your upper body for a while. Lift some weights. Or hop on the bike and give your legs a chance to do something different that doesn’t involve a pounding.

These days, my thoughts on running have changed. I am enjoying what comes with cycling and swimming, and I will never give those up. I’m also enjoying yoga, pilates, weights, and a variety of other exercises I couldn’t squeeze in time-wise when I was running five to six days each week.

And I’m injury free, which means I can workout almost daily and not have any pain!

Do you cross train? If so, what do you do; and if you don’t, why not?

Vote in our survey on the home page about cross training, and tell us what you enjoy doing other than running.

Also, check out the video of the week that includes Yoga for Runners. I use this a few times each week to stretch my muscles.

Also, I applied to become a Joy Agent for Schwinn! I’m excited and would love to be chosen, though I’m certain a thousand other people feel the same way. So fingers crossed! Perhaps you’ll see me at my next tri pushing the pedals of a Schwinn!

After waiting out the lightning in the distance, I got upon my Mighty Schwinn and started pedaling. My intent: to ride around my mom’s neighborhood.

So much for best intentions.

After a mile of looping, I hit the open road. I’d come prepared: under the seat bag filled with ID, money, tire levers. Bike pump strapped to the bar of my Mighty Schwinn. Spare intertube in my bag.

I hit US 1 with some fear in my heart. There’s nothing like speeding down the highway at 17mph when a semi goes by and rattles the bike chain.

After a few miles I turned down a side street and rode to Indian River Drive, a scenic two laner that overlooks the river. The sun had come up about a half hour earlier. Fish were jumping, clouds were moving, and the air smelled like salt and jasmine.

What can be better than that, I ask?

As I rode, I considered my love for these endurance sports: running, swimming, cycling.

For me, it’s not so much about how fast I can go, but about how much I enjoy it along the way.

Plenty of times on today’s ride I looked out over the water. Maybe not the best idea when cycling, but I couldn’t help it. And when I got halfway through I bought a cheese stick, pulled up next to the ocean, and watched the water rippling while I ate.

During my tri, I did much of the same. I sped along the side roads of Port Saint Lucie on the Mighty Schwinn, glancing here and there as I rode. I looked up from my run to see the trees, the clouds, the birds. I smelled the flowers in the air.

I don’t think I’ll ever be a speedy racer because of this, but I’ll always enjoy the ride.

In other news . . .

Got fitted for a new bike. 52cm. Now I’m on the lookout to replace, sadly, the Mighty Schwinn. I love the bike, but I don’t think it’s conducive to long rides. I want something lighter, something with aero bars.