Why I love running far more than biking

In the name of cross-training, over-50 legs, and registering for a triathlon in July, I've been riding my bike 2-3 times per week. OK - I've basically been planning to ride my bike, because I don't ride if it's raining or dark. In my mind, it's far safer to run vs bike in these conditions because I can see the cars coming toward me when I'm running, and cars sneak up behind me when I'm biking.

The last time I actually got on the bike, I had a flat tire. I was really proud of myself for biking to a client's house (saving gas, helping keep the environment clean and getting exercise all at once!), until I showed up 10 minutes late because I had to walk my bike the final mile. It was one of those days when I had back-to-back appointments, so I called my husband for an emergency ride home.

My son Nate and his friend Morgan changed the tire for me, giving me some tips and hints along the way but doing the work themselves. I've watched other people change a bike tire, and even participated in a tire changing clinic a few years ago, but I've never actually changed a tire myself.

Until today.

After a 30 minute swim at the Rec, I changed into my bike gear and rode approximately 1 mile before I heard a loud POP followed by a short whoosh of air. Flat back tire, again. I had a spare tube in my pack, but decided to walk the bike back to my car and drive home so I could use my tire pump instead of the compressed air capsule I also carry with me but of course had never used before. One new experience would be enough for the day.

Changing the tire myself did not go well. I kept reminding myself that Nate told me anyone can change a tire. He assured me I wouldn't break anything, and if I did it wrong the worst thing that would happen is I'd need to do it over. Thus fortified by my son's encouragement, I attempted to take the back wheel off the bike. Nate is a lot bigger and stronger than I am, and he tightened the wheel so much that I had to use both hands and my body weight to force the lever-thingy (you can tell I really don't know much about bikes) down so I could take the wheel off the bike. I almost gave up once or twice, and even headed into the house in defeat before I told myself in no uncertain terms that I WOULD change the #!*# tire. Finally, it popped off.

I knew to use the bright yellow, hard plastic levers to pry the tire off the wheel. Easier said than done, but I managed to loosen one side fairly easily. No amount of prying could get the entire tire off the wheel, so I resorted to the most respected authority I know:  Google. I googled "change a flat bike tire" and found lots of helpful videos and suggestions. Fortified by knowledge and a turkey sandwich (I function better when I'm not hungry) I went back to work on the bike.

I finally managed to pry the tube out of the wheel and somewhat miraculously the tire also came off the wheel - after about 30 minutes. I blew a bit of air into the new tube and inserted the valve through the wheel. Now the real fun started, because it took me another 30 minutes, a second trip to Google, a glass of milk and a fresh pear, and serious self-talk that I was fully capable of doing this by myself before I managed to finally get both tube and tire back onto the wheel.

Something, however, wasn't quite right. I had heard a lot about the dreaded 'pinch flat', where a tube put incorrectly into the tire would get pinched between the tire and the rim and cause another flat. It looked to me like the tube was already pinched, and I was afraid to blow up the tube completely. I reviewed my options:  give up and sell the bike, give up and wait for my husband to come home and rescue me (and the bike), ask for help. Ask for help finally won, after even more self-talk and reminders of Nate's confidence in my abilities.

I decided to put the wheel back on the bike and drive the $#!* thing to Battenkill Sports Bike Shop just down the road and ask for help. Theoretically I knew how to put the wheel on the bike, but getting it in the right place, with the chain where it belonged, took more than a few tries.

Robin at the bike shop was encouraging and gracious, and confirmed that a pinch flat was imminent. In about 2 seconds he rectified the potential fatal pinch flat by poking the valve stem up into the tire. That's all it took to get the tube and tire to cooperate, and I had just spent over 15 minutes trying to figure this out on my own. He then pumped air into the tube and put the wheel on the bike in less than 1 minute, showing me a nifty way to lift the derailleur (the metal thing that holds the chain on the bike's back wheel and has something to do with shifting gears - I think) with one finger and elegantly slide the wheel into place. It took me two hands and propping with my thigh (there are black chain marks on my body to prove it) at home.

I told Robin this is why I run instead of bike. I don't have expensive running equipment that malfunctions and forces me to stop running. I might get a stone in my shoe, but I can rectify that in less than 1 minute. There's no grease on my hands and I don't have to Google mechanical information and videos to complete a run. I told Robin that if I get a flat tire during the triathlon I might as well give up right there since it took me longer to change the flat tire than it does to complete an entire sprint tri. Somewhat to my surprise, he agreed with me!

Two hours after I initially started off on a bike ride, I started once again on a bike ride. I almost forgot about the anger, dismay, and frustration as I pedaled down the hills, cooled by a stiff breeze and enjoying the smooth pavement. I'm glad I didn't give up, and I feel slightly more confident about changing a future flat tire. Except that next time I'll probably have to attempt using compressed air to inflate the tube.

Long run = hills = fun (OK, fun AND sore legs)

I decided that this summer I would challenge myself with long runs packed with hills, weekly speed workouts, and cross-training on my bike and in the pool. From June 1st through at least September 30th I want to push myself a bit harder just to see what happens. Maybe I'll get faster in the next marathon, the Top of Utah in September. Perhaps I'll finish higher up in a sprint triathlon this summer. I'd love to nail the hills in the 100 on 100 relay.

Ghandi's thoughts are driving me this summer:

“Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

 

I want my destiny this summer to be strength, confidence, and courage. To start that process, I'm focusing on positive thoughts when I'm running. Instead of telling myself the hill is too steep, the weather too hot, my legs too tired - I'm barking out motivation that my drill sergeant at Ft. Bragg would have loved (but without as many expletives).

Long runs this summer include hills, lots of hills. Today's run starts downhill on East Manchester Road, which of course means I have to run UP this hill on the way back home. That's the plan, right? Center Hill waits just after mile 2. Piece of cake.

A gradual uphill on 7A, until a steeper section before the left turn onto North Road. Lots of positive thoughts and old Army chants gear me up for the assault on Overlook, a 1.3 mile steady climb to Morse Hill. My quads get an even better workout running downhill on Wind Hill, then another right turn back onto North Road for two more hills before Route 30.

Manchester West Road is a series of three fairly steep hills followed by a long, more gentle decline into the Village. I navigate the steep downhill section on Union Street by running on the golf cart path instead of the road. There aren't many golfers out this morning, and no one seems to notice as I lean into the downhill and promise my quads I'll reward them with a cold shower.

2.5 miles to go as I turn onto Richville Road. There are two more hills before I reach home, and I fortify myself with the last of my Gatorade and start chanting as I head up the first, steeper hill. Ghandi echoes in my mind:  beliefs - thoughts - words - actions - habits - values - destiny. I believe I will run without walking up this hill. I AM running up this hill. Running up hills with a light, springy step is my destiny - fueled by a whole bunch of hilly, determined miles.

I sprint down the last 1/3 mile of our dirt road toward home, willing my legs to turnover faster. The cold shower I promised my quads feels great. Another hard run completed. More hills conquered.

Tomorrow I plan to ride my bike UP Union Street, something I usually dread. The first trail run of the Pine Hill Park Summer Sunset Series is tomorrow night, and of course that means lots of hills. No dread allowed this summer; Ghandi's thoughts are going to push me up Union Street in the morning and the mountain bike trails at sunset. Bring it!

A day of racing

The women in the spring training group had their pick of a 5K or 10K race today, and were joined by several women from the marathon and half-marathon groups who competed in a half-marathon. It's not often I can stand in one spot and cheer for the racers in a bunch of different distances.

The Crowley Road Races in nearby Rutland, VT roll four different race distances into one morning. Everything starts off at 8am:  the kids 1 mile run, 5K, 10K, and half-marathon. The kids start and finish in the middle of downtown Rutland to the cheers of hundreds of parents and friends. The other three races start at different points, with the courses converging on the finish in downtown Rutland.

Large races are exciting with lots of people and volunteers lining the race course, but they also make seeing your friends finish, and then finding them to celebrate after the race really difficult to the crowds of people. The Crowley Races are small and friendly, with a local band providing upbeat music, friendly volunteers handing out Gatorade and bagels, and the announcer calling out the names of people as they finish.

One of the highlights is meeting legendary Bill Rodgers who runs the 10K and then hangs around to sign autographs, pose for pictures, and talk running until the last person finishes and has a chance to talk with him. In large races the elite athletes have their own porta-potties and stay out of sight of the rest of the pack. Bill Rodgers hangs out with the pack, grabs his own water at the finish, and seems to really enjoy both running and talking with fellow runners.

This is the fifth year of our women's running group and today we had women from the latest spring training group running or walking in the 5K and 10K, BJ from the half-marathon group who became a half-fanatic today after finishing her third half-marathon in 90 days, women who ran in the winter half-marathon group and worked on speed in the 10K, women who finished a marathon in the past 3 weeks and dropped down to the half-marathon, one woman who was injured in marathon training and completed her first half-marathon today, and two women from past running groups who ran the 10K. All we were missing was a few children in the kids' race.

BJ the latest half-fanatic

The marathon group started training together 8 months ago in October 2011. Our race season started in April with the Westfield half-marathon and moved on to the Flying Pig marathon, Shires marathon, and Vermont City marathon. The Crowley Races mark the end of our group training season, but it's definitely not the end of racing for the women in our group. They're entering all sorts of races, from the fun and muddy Renegade Playground Challenge to local triathlons, bike events, trail runs, and road races of varying distances.

Vermont is plagued by tics who carry lyme disease, but the women in our group have been bitten by a friendly and healthy bug:  the running bug. There's no stopping a woman who pinned on a race number, competed, and crossed the finish line feeling fantastic!

A tale of three marathons

October 2011 was the start of our journey toward completing a Spring marathon. 29 women ran long miles together every other weekend, got up at 4am to fit in miles before work, pounded out miles on the treadmill when necessary, battled illness and injury, and developed lasting friendships.

Troy, Alisa and Kim after 18 miles in March

We learned to run with frozen eyelashes, to tuck water bottles inside our jackets to prevent them from freezing, the warmest way to layer clothing, and that chocolate milk is a perfect recovery beverage no matter what the weather throws at us.

Patty, Mandy, Linda and Jen finish 20 miles

Four of us started the three marathon journey at the Flying Pig marathon in Cincinnati. This race has long been on my to-do list, because who can resist a medal with the front - and back - of a pig on it? My sister from Houston decided to join me, along with Fern, Troy and Jill who thought a marathon in Ohio sounded like fun. It WAS fun - lots of pig-related waterstops like the Hawg Wash where they gave us wet, cold towels to drape around our necks, or the Big Bad Wolf costumed teens who chased the little piggies all the way home.



Diane and I with volunteers at the pasta dinner



Our local marathon, the Shires point-to-point race from Bennington to Mancheste,r was next up for 10 women from our group. Last year they ran in a downpour in 50 degree temperatures. This year we had a heat wave, with relentless sun and temperatures in the 90's. The theme for the day was 'ice, ice baby' as ice rubbed on the neck and wrists, dumped into cups of water and Gatorade, and stuffed into running bras and calf sleeves saved the day. It was brutal yet empowering:  if I can run 26.2 miles in this type of heat, I can do anything.

before the Shires marathon

The final marathon for our group this Spring was the Vermont City marathon in Burlington, VT over Memorial Day weekend. 11 women from our group ran with the thousands of other relay team members and marathoners, steadily climbing up the steep hill on Battery Street and winding along the bike path next to Lake Champlain.

showing off Vermont City marathon medals

7 months. 29 women. 3 races. Hundreds of miles on the roads between Bennington and Manchester. Rain, snow, mud, sun and every so often a perfect running day that made us want to keep running longer. Blisters, lost toenails, sore knees and quads, IT band issues. Thank goodness for compression tights, ice, fuel belts, and Honey Stingers. Hours of conversations about children, work, spouses, running, and does celery really increase sex drive?

The driving force behind the miles was friendship. We trained together, we took a Pilates class together, we made pizzas together at Mandy's house with the help of master baker Jed (who also finsihed the Vermont City Marathon with us), we enjoyed post-run meals at Chauney's together. We often ran on our own during the week, but there was always the encouragement of the rest of the group to keep us going, especially when we posted about the run on Facebook, or watched Mandy's videos of our long runs or along the course in Burlington.

Thanks for a fantastic, amazing, wonderful marathon training and racing season my friends. We trained and ran the marathon - Because we can.