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.
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