Cardio Kickboxing

Yet again another day of full intentions towards going to Matt’s spin class and I overslept. I haven’t been to his class since…ummm…March! Matt I miss your witty humor—just kidding (not really). :P

Instead I decided to head over to the Maple Grove gym mid-morning and attend Cardio Kickboxing followed by a few laps in the pool. I was just as excited and nervous as I was for my first time in spin class. I heard kickboxing was hard and you would burn a lot of calories—two reasons to sucker me into trying the class.

As soon as we started my heart rate was up to 140 and I don’t think it ever went down—our mid-class break was to run around the track—Nice. Boy was I a mess. Ok, I got most of the jabs down but the instructor called my bluff—or me being new to class—when we did the side hooks. She turned around and said “how many are new to this class?” I was so rapped up on getting my form that I cowered in the back row and didn’t raise my hand. Thankfully there were other new people in the class so she broke it down. Hell if I could get that damn move! I was swinging all over the place the entire class.

What I thought was comical was the backwards kick. You were supposed to be slightly bent over at the hips while you lifted one leg backwards (bending at the knee) and kicking with your heel. Like you would be pushing a door closed with your heel. Seems easy right? Oh hell, I looked like I was an untamed horse that had the jimmy leg. Sure the first two kicks went well, but once your tired—don’t even look in the mirror. You would be ashamed at your performance—as I was. Let’s not even go into the arm/leg combinations—there’s a reason why I don’t attend step class.

All in all, it was a good class. I burned a bunch of calories and then headed over the Plymouth gym to do 30 minutes in the pool.

Flounder

I saw a quote today that said “Inspiration is contagious. Once inspired you’re capable of anything.” That explains a lot.

A couple of weeks ago I told myself that I’m going to learn how to swim in a heavily chlorine treated pool—bacteria infested lakes was not an option even if it was warm enough to be in one this time of year. What was I thinking? I have too much time on my hands! I took a few lessons with Paul before he left to Iraq. He gave me the basics and then set me on my way. I didn’t do much with my new found knowledge at the time until now. Quite frankly, splashing around with arm floaties or a noodle wasn’t something I wanted to entertain. Come on. I would laugh too. But, I was highly encouraged by a friend to get back into the pool—damn peer pressure and guilt and my sister threatening to push me into the lake without a life jacket next time we are in the boat. Since I seem to have all this extra time on my hands I decided it would be perfect to pull on the waistband flotation device—since it’s not as noticeable—and try to concur my fear.

Learning how to swim as an adult will be much harder then as a child. Too many thoughts and worries go through your mind as an adult—children don’t think about all the minuet issues that could go wrong.

I left my pride at home and went to the gym (at 2pm when no one is around) and started with just getting into the pool to do a few laps remembering what Paul taught me. Nothing crazy—I had no expectations on how I would do just that I needed to get in. Every time is a lesson learned. What I learned that day was this was going to be a process. I concentrated only on one element (the most important element in my book)—breathing—reminding myself that I didn’t excel on the bike by riding two miles here or there…I would have to put my time into the pool (exerting myself to daily humiliation with the waistband flotation device). Knowing some day “I’ll get it.”

Day three of swimming, I was on my last lap (first day I tried a few laps without the flotation belt) when an older gentleman asked to share my lane since the other lanes were full. Panic took over—why my lane of all lanes? There were 7 other lanes to pick from and hell if I can keep a straight line! I’m new to this whole swimming thing—I don’t know the periodicals to lane sharing. So I told him I’m learning how to swim and that I was almost done. He said he could deal with it if it was only one lap—I’m glad I wasn’t going to inconvenience him even though he was budging into my lane. While I stood there catching my breath and he was putting on his cap he asked me if I was new to swimming what did I normally do. I lifted my leg showing him my crazy tan lines and said I was a cyclist. He responded by saying “That’s what I thought. Once you get this down you’ll be doing an Ironman.” I laughed at his comment. Has he been talking to a few of my friends? Fighting with 2,000 people in open water was not in my future.

Now that I’ve been going often, each time seems to be another small accomplishment achieved. The waistband flotation device is no longer needed and I’m trying to learn how to do a four count stroke while remembering to rotate my shoulders and hips. The turnaround flip is part of the advanced course. I'm still in the beginner/intermediate course I continue to remind myself that I’ll have my good and bad days and that I’ll appreciate each day as it comes no matter the outcome. I’ve even learn to appreciate the serenity that comes from swimming.

On a side note: What I don’t understand is why the hell do they have that line in the middle of the pool that indicates that you are entering the “death zone” i.e. the deep end? It’s bad enough to see the blue water get darker. I don’t need a big fat black line indicating the question “are you sure?”—Hell no, but I guess I’m going anyways.

Attack of the Zucchini!!

I was talked into going to Jody’s 8:30am Saturday spin class in Fridley. My trouble lately is waking up to make these early morning classes since I don’t have a normal schedule at the moment. The Fridley spin studio must have gotten new bikes during their remodel last year because I’ve never been on a spin bike that didn’t have some sort of problem—these were so smooth and I didn’t almost fall out of the clips! That’s what Bill’s bike must feel like at the MG gym—I joke that he comes in early to oil and tighten his bike.

One of the members gave Jody a Zucchini and Eggplant from their garden. All I have to say was that Zucchini was enormous! And I’ll leave it at that…Umm…I wonder if Zucchini bread is in my near future. You know my birthday is coming up.

I guess the University of Wisconsin was playing that day because it was the Baggers vs everyone else (I’m more of a Hockey fan—Go Sioux!). We simulated being in Madison on a bike race—being in Madison recently I can appreciate the simulation. You had to be there, I can not express how funny it was to be out of breath, heart rate in the upper 150’s and out of no where Jody picks up her giant Zucchini and pretended it was a machine gun! There was no reason or no ill harm intended it was just purely for laughs. I told a friend a few weeks a go that is new to the gym that Jody’s class is like a 2-for-1. While spinning you work on your abs by laughing at her stories or actions.

A few minutes later we were doing a climbing sprint for 2 minutes to the same song Jody called me a bitch last year during class (hey I was feeling good). I told her I was giving her the bitch card back…that sucked!

Sunday I was to go down to Lakeville and ride with my team. An hour drive one way for 30-40 miles didn’t seem too appealing so I met up with Joe on our bikes to watch the Twin Cities Marathon. I had to see what I was getting myself into. We met Laurie and Bob at mile marker 15—I was impressed on how good everyone looked. I hope I look that good at mile 15.

Bob had his bikestereo and was pumping out dance music while we followed a friend on the sidewalk. It was fun to ride behind him so many people turned around to see him and his bike. We had one hater, but a runner ran over to Bob and thanked him he said he bonked a while back and the music got him running again—take that music hater! Amber, the girl we were following, had to hold back from dancing and keep running. She got an impressive 3:41 time and qualified for Boston—her goal.

Hum…maybe I should think about doing the Minneapolis marathon instead…

So I have this great idea…

That’s were it all starts. Four-five months later I’m thinking “What the hell have I got myself into?”

Anyways, I have this great idea. To get ready for next years riding season I’m going to train for a marathon! Training for the half marathon did wonders for my hill climbing. There seems to be a few questions you need to ask yourself. Are you sane? Are you sure you are ready for all of the intense training? When should I do one? Which one should I do? Should I travel or stay local? If you’ve ever researched a marathon you know there are so many choices.

I’ve decided to do the Fargo Marathon as my first.

Why that one? Here is the breakdown
1. Have you ever been to Fargo—pancakes have more hills
2. I’m a North Dakotan. I went to college in Fargo/Moorhead so I know the area.
3. Based on previous racers of this event the entire course is packed with spectators.
4. Believe it or not, the Fargo Marathon is becoming one of the top marathons in the US.
5. I believe a shout out to a few friends and family via social media and I’ve got a pretty good support team on the sidelines. But, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come—the more the merrier.

My plan is not to start the serious training until January. In the meantime, I will be putting in some conservative base miles so it’s not a complete shock to my body and mind when I kick it up a notch.

I spoke to a friend of mine who is a marathon runner for advice. He said “Be ready to not have a social life.” I laughed at him and said “That’s funny. You think I have a social life now?”

Let’s take today’s ride easy

There was nothing easy about today’s ride (I started this blog on Thursday). Who does the Stone arch ride in September and then adds an additional 30 miles to that ride?

Joe called and said “Hey, I have an idea. Let’s ride out to St. Paul and do the Ramsey hill.” My response, “Ramsey Hill? Are you crazy? How about we do Grand Ave instead?” (Ramsey hill is a 2 block 15% grade, Grand is a 4 block hill at a steady 4% grade) Few minutes later I said, “How about this, we meet along the Luce Line trail, go downtown, and do the stone arch ride (35 mile route with 4 major hills) and MAYBE we do the Ramsey Hill.” What was I thinking? I just went from his level of difficulty of a 6 to my new suggested route a level 12. We decided to play it by ear.

I left my house and met Joe along the trail we headed to the stone arch. I’ve never done this route but it turned out to be 17 miles to the stone arch from my house. Normally the ride out to St. Paul is crazy fast but we took it easy. We stopped at the usual gas station for a Red Bull after I told Joe I can’t talk while we were climbing the Smith Bridge (2 mile climb). I think I shocked him—I admit, I’m always talking! Hey, I had to conserve energy that’s a long climb.

We continued on the route. I told Joe that I was debating about using my granny gear up Ohio Street. He was on his compact I was on my triple. To be fair I didn’t use my granny gear—but OMG that was much harder to go up that street then it was the first time in the spring. The minutes between the top if the High Bridge and the bottom of Ramsey is the most nerve racking moments. Can I get up that hill? Will this be the time that I have to walk? Should I just chicken out and do the side streets? Panic was clearly written on my face. Up until a block before the base of Ramsey hill I was still debating my route. Take the easy way up or concur the hill and be happy with my achievement? I haven’t climbed something that steep in a long time—I didn’t know how I would far. At the last second I turned to Joe told him to get in front of me and I’ll do the hill. Being happy with my achievement was much more important then taking the easy way out. He was a little taken back by my directness. We got to the top my heart rate maxed out at 180. I stayed out of my granny gear. A few choice comments came bursting out of my mouth once I got to the top. The young pedestrian crossing the street got a good laugh at my outburst. I acknowledged his laughter by saying “that hill sucks!” One of these days I’m going to be laughing at the Ramsey hill!

On the way back we stopped at Freewheel Bike shop to get a smoothie. 70 miles went by quickly although it took much longer to complete then most 70 mile rides. Oh well, it was fun.

On a side note, this past weekend my first cousin got married. Most of my family from my mother’s side was there. I haven’t seen a lot of them in 10 years. Oh how everyone has changed. The biggest change was my mother’s perception that now that I’m the only one not married out of her 7 children that it was time that she found someone for me. Her exact words were “Madonna, It’s time that I find you a husband because obviously what you’ve been doing hasn’t been working.” 30+ years and I have NEVER had the pressures from my mother to settle down. She has always stressed that I need to find the right one and that time was not an issue. She enlisted my aunt’s help in her search. I’m not sure if the Captain Morgan was clogging her judgment but she tried to set me up with Jason—who turned out to be the biggest player in the room. Hey, two can play this game. At the end of the night he was chasing me around. Mom, don’t worry it will happen—I’m just picky.

Candy Shop Ride

Formally known as the Madonnator.


Joe M. and I meet on County Road 6 and did the Candy Shop ride. The difference between last week and this week was stopping at a unique candy shop in Excelsior that sells candy you use do have when you were a kid. Joe insisted on two bags of taffy—which I didn't appose, but offered my extra pocket for transportation of said taffy (note the photo). I question my maturity about this ride. I’m talking about riding my bike and candy shops and loving every second of it—I don’t think I’ve changed much since I was a kid! Although, the sweet 72 year old lady behind the till told us she sees the type of glee we were expressing everyday. She must love her job!

After sitting on the pier taking in the nice weather we were having on the first full day of Fall we headed back just beating rush hour traffic. Joe and I joked about how our day starting off in Jody’s 5:45am class, my ambition to run a few miles after class, followed up with a nap, our 40 mile ride and then making plans for another ride with Jody tomorrow. Seriously, why am I looking for a job? Oh yeah…so I can continue to support my passion.

It’s too nice outside I have to go home.

While the boys were drinking beer and playing in the dirt at the Fat Tire race, in northern Wisconsin, seven of us took it to the road. We did the God’s Country Century. You couldn’t ask for a better day to hit the road for a long ride. Clear skies and slight wind from the south. Only a number of days left before we have to pull out the tights and the under layers. Seriously, if you were indoors for any reason—you need to check your priorities and then go jump on your bike!

Somewhere between Elk River and Zimmerman Dave turned to me and said “So, are we in God’s Country now?” I said I wasn’t sure where the line was but I’m pretty sure we already passed it and were in his country. What a beautiful route! What seemed odd was the unusual number of various road kill animals on the side of the road. A lot of raccoons, birds, turtles, snakes, frogs, deer—I wonder if they all went to heaven since they were in god’s country?

Since the weather was so nice and everyone worked together to make sure we stayed as a cohesive group averaging 20 mph, I guess I didn’t put two-and-two together why my legs were feeling like 2x4. In my mind I blamed everything from the bike to the shoes to my fitness peaking too early in the season while everyone is at their strongest. I didn’t realize until I got home normally we would stop about 3-4 times during a century ride but we only stopped once during the ride at the bakery in Cambridge for lunch and headed back. Although it sounds like I’m complaining—trust me I’m not. I’m actually excited that we only had to stop once and finished so quickly.

After we got back to Anoka, Perry—who tends to be more of the quite one in the group, said he had a great ride. If you ridden with Perry you know he’s a really nice guy and the pace car of the group. Always out front and always challenging us. We thanked him for pulling, but he said he only pulled twice. Yeah for 30 miles each!

My goal for the end of the season is 4,000 miles. I’m 400 miles away from that goal—so what do you say? Are you in for another ride?

By the way, congratulations to everyone that raced the Fat Tire this past weekend! We missed you on our ride.