Cycling: the new running?

The name of this blog is "Morgancia Runs," but the blog is truly more about me than just running. Once in a while you are treated to a small glimpse of my life, especially when I feature a funny or heartwarming story about my kids and husband.

Lately I haven't had as much time to write because my life is so busy. Wonderfully busy, and family, work and other pursuits take priority over blogging. I'm nearing 40 years old and sometimes I wonder how I got here - a wonderful and understanding husband, two delightful, energetic kids, a job that I love (most days) and a newfound interest in fitness.

Running is the best new hobby I have discovered - it takes the least amount of coordination, can get you incredibly fit in a short time, and is less expensive because the only equipment you need is your outfit - good running shoes and clothes that wick away sweat. But you can also easily injure yourself, as I found out when I got a stress fracture 6 weeks ago. After seeing the doctor and trying to get back on a walking/running program, I have had to wait another week because I have had pain in my leg.

My stress fracture has led me on another adventure - cycling to work. I keep blogging about wanting to do it, and now there is nothing to stop me but the weather...and myself. Last night I packed my backpack and took a shower and prepared some snacks. I scanned the maps of the trails I was going to take, and then...I panicked.

I biked 11.80 miles on Saturday partway down the trail and back. I got a little lost at one point but figured out where to go in very little time. That's basically how I get places. I either follow a map or get lost and find my way (this doesn't work in a city in which I'm totally unfamiliar like Cincinnati - I'm always getting lost in Cincinnati).

But getting lost in a car and getting lost on a bike seem to me to be two very different things. I feel much more vulnerable on a bike, especially on a bike path. I've only been cycling for a little while so I don't have as much confidence as I do driving, or even running.

The trail ends in a few spots and you have to ride some roads to pick it up again. Most of the streets are not heavily traveled but you still have to pay attention and this is where I fear getting lost the most.

So instead of biking to work, I chickened out. As soon as I got to work this morning, I sent an email to all of the people using our bike room. There are 80 people from 3 different state agencies using the bike room. Let me say this up front, as I did in a tweet: Ohio EPA cyclists rock. I sent out the email around 8:00 am. By 9:00 I had at least 20 email messages back, and most of them were from EPA staff who also bike to work. I received nothing but encouragment and lots of great suggestions, directions and details, including watching out for hissing geese near OSU. I had no idea! One person offered to meet me on the trail on Friday and I am taking her up on her offer.

As a runner I had not really had much exposure to cyclists except to have them say "on your left" constantly on Saturday mornings (or not and almost getting run over!), and hearing about bike/runner crashes on the trail. The emails I got back proved that there are as many cyclists who love to ride their bikes and support other cyclists as there are runners who encourage each other on every mile. Both love to welcome new people to the sport. Very cool.

So I might "suck it up" as I told one person and just ride into work tomorrow. Otherwise I'll wait til Friday since it looks like rain the rest of the week. I'm not ready to brave the rain. Yet.

But it sure is nice to ride 11 miles and not have your shins hurt. I could get used to this.

On the road to recovery

I saw the doctor today and he said I was ready to start my recovery. I haven't had any pain except a few twinges here and there, which he said was normal. Apparently once you've had an injury you are hypersensitive to any type of feelings - twinges, etc. - but they are not indicative of continuing issues.

I received a schedule to get me back to training. I am to start by walking 10 minutes 2 days in a row and then 20 minutes and then progress to very slow running. Cross training is highly recommended and he said I can ride as many miles as I want on my bike.

I started out with the 10 minutes walking on the treadmill today, and then I did my physical therapy which the doctor told me to do. Then I did 15 minutes on the stationary bike. No pain!

My knee seems a little sore now but it appears to be above where the stress fracture is. Nevertheless I'll make sure not to overdo it.

In other exciting news I got my sticker for my bike for the new bike room at work. It's a pretty large room and you use your ID card to get in. There are 80 people signed up to use the room but the room isn't big enough for all those bikes. It is not anticipated that everyone will be riding every day so we should still have plenty of room. There's even an air pump and a set of tools available in the room and an avid bicyclist with one of the state agencies will be leading brown bag lunches. Very cool.

Needless to say I'm psyched to start riding. Ironically, the day after I get my sticker and tell everyone I'm riding to work, an article appears about the bike trail I want to use. It's less than encouraging but I will still give the trail a try. I'll do 11 miles this weekend to see if I can do it, and then give the ride to work a try next week.

Meanwhile my two year old is sitting on the potty way past his bedtime but he IS using it. I gotta go see how it's going!

Out for a Spin

I managed to ride my bike about 5 miles today. I was able to escape while one son was sleeping and the other was at a birthday party, and my husband stayed home and took a nap after running a 17 miler. It was 90 degrees outside and there was really nothing else I could do. (Well, I could have taken a nap, too, but I didn't run 17 miles).

Riding my bike was just like when I was a kid. It was exhilarating. I rode to the bike trail and took it north to Route 161 and then rode back home through neighborhoods. It wasn't exactly like when I was kid; I was much more cautious riding on the roads.

I told my husband that in a week I might be ready to ride to work. My department is setting up a bike room where we can stash our bikes safely. I've already signed up so that I will feel compelled at least to try it. I have to remind myself that I have to ride back home, too, though. Or resort to taking the bus, which isn't so bad, after all.

Melt the Butter

Melt the butter cause I'm done - I'm as red as a lobster (in case you didn't get the joke). We went to Zoombezi Bay and had a great time.

There IS something wrong with my bike. It's not supposed to click when I pedal. My husband took it out again and confirmed that I really wasn't crazy (after I yelled at him that I really wasn't crazy - it was clicking and I didn't even change gears). Apparently there is something wrong with the gears.

So now I have to go back to the bike store to have them check it out. Lovely.

Two more days of vacation and back to work. I'm ready. I'm so worn out from this vacation I need the rest that only a state government job can give. No, really, any job is more restful than hanging out with my two boys. They are a blast but they wear me out!

Ready to Roll

My leg survived King's Island yesterday. Even though I chased a two year old around, I tried not to run and we mostly ended up standing around in line, and then at the last minute having to leave just as we were about to get on the ride. My son missed his older brother, who was riding all the big kid rides. So we had ice cream instead, and rode the Go Diego Go ride 4 times (it was the only ride he'd do all by himself).

Today we recovered, took our dog back to the vet again (she is now wearing the largest lampshade the vet has), and caught up on some things. I have a new wedding ring. And I have a bike!

I felt dorky walking into the bike store. After about 10 minutes of meandering around and waiting at the counter, the salesperson finished up with his customer and asked if he could help me. "Yep," I said. "I want to buy a bike." Well, duh. I was in a bike store. Anyway, I explained what I wanted and he was very helpful. I even got to try out the bike inside the store. To make myself seem less dorky, I explained that I was a runner, but I was recovering from an injury so I was trying bike riding. My husband laughed at me and reminded me of the disdain bike riders seem to have for runners on the bike trail. It's like me reminding my doctors that I'm an attorney.

I had some great advice from friends but ended up getting a low cost commuter bike (it was even on sale!). I figured I'll try it out and if I really get into it I can trade up. I have a new helmet and bike lock too.

When I got home I tried it out. And immediately proceeded to do something very wrong with the gears. I think I had a 3 speed bike when I was a kid. I had no idea what I was doing. There were some teeth-clenching sounds and some crazy pedaling and I hurried home and whined to my husband that I already broke my bike. I felt even MORE like a dork.

My husband took the bike out for a spin and checked it out. If I did do something to it, it's all better now. Now if I can just get out on the road without doing something else stupid, I'll be ready to roll!

We are now trying to decide whether to go to Zoombezi Bay, the new water park, tomorrow. My husband is undecided. I think he's still recovering from the rollercoasters and water slides at Kings Island. If Diego will let me, I'll take Boots' place and hang with Dora on the slides....

Yoga for Runners

I think I'll check this out: Yoga for Runners! I have my follow up doctor's visit on the 22nd. 10 days and counting! I dreamed about running last night.

zzzzz

I fully intend to write something. Every night. But then I'm too damn tired. Deal with it.
I'm off next week so maybe I'll write something interesting. Until then....YAWN....zzzz....