Maiden Voyage

Just took the maiden voyage on my new Trek Madone 5.2! It was also only my second winter road ride. Okay I should tell you I did ride my new bike for about 8 miles they day I got her, this was my first winter ride. Shoe covers, a layers are key.

Today though I headed out with Tom, owner of Wheel Base and Jen another girl who just bought a new bike. Jen does triathlons and treated herself to a new tri bike after grad school. Tom led the way as he often does. He is so good for looking out for others and making sure they are comfortable.

The ride we took went north toward Thurmont. We stayed west of Route 15. Only 20 miles. Still I am tired.

Summer Vacay

Just got back from the Outer Banks. Haven't been since I was in grade school, so I didn't really remember what it was like.

Jay and I decided to drive the Jeep down so we could take it out on the beach. Good thought, until just like the last few weeks the mercury hit 100+ degrees. We decided to brake up the drive into two days, Friday night and Saturday morning. We started off at 7pm Friday to avoid as much heat as possible. We made it the whole way to Chesapeake, VA leaving only a hour and a half ride for the following morning (without traffic). Ideal considering I just had some unexpected surgery.

Chesapeake was a good place to stop due to the 25 plus hotels to choose from, or so we thought. There was a soccer tournament in town leaving us driving from hotel to hotel trying to find a vacancy. We even talked to a local police officer who called a hotel for us, still nothing. We had a few more to check before we had to move along. It was the next place that offered hope. Cedar Suites was what the place was called. I will sum it up like this...cigarette burned comforter, 12 cigarette burns in the tub, cigarette burned drapes, electric box hanging out of the wall, a door that didn't dead bolt, and maybe worst of all was a carpet tack strip that was exposed that Jay stepped on. After 4 hours in the 100 degree Jeep, oh yeah unairconditioned Jeep, and did I say I just had surgery. Yes less than two weeks before I had hernia surgery that turned out to be lymph nodes that were messed up and not a hernia. So I am still in the process of healing and pretty sore...at about 4am I was still unable to fall asleep on our beach towel covered bed, I was not going to let my skin touch that comforter...I had a meltdown. Poor Jay, took my sobbing in stride and tried to comfort me. A few hours later we got ourselves ready to hit the road and keep driving to our destination...Corolla, NC.

The beach traffic didn't let us down and 4 hours later we arrived at the house we would call home with the Cecchia family for the week. We did pick up a hitchhiker on the bridge. He stayed with us for about minute. I knew the trip was taking a turn for the better.
The house was wonderful and just a stones throw was the gorgeous beach OBX is known for. The week was very relaxing. Much needed relaxation time. We rented kayaks, brought our bikes and I brought my running shoes so the sand wasn't our only order of business.

Kayaking the ocean was a lot of fun. I did do a short 10 miles ride and two days later did a 2 miles run. I think that I might have been pushing it a bit. I have some weird ligament issues because of the surgery. So I think I will sit out the exercise a few more weeks. BIG BUMMER! But best to do for the long run.

We had a great night out at a lace called Metropolis. Yummy delicious tapas and great company. the rest of the week was spent resting on the beach and having fun with the kids.
For the trip back home we decided to beat the traffic and leave friday night. This was a smart idea. We made it home in 5.5 hours and ended the day with a drink at Tasting Room with friends.

A very nice trip and a great time with Tony C's family. Oh did I say, we got the Jeep stuck on the beach. No worries, we got it out and did several more rides down the beach.

Back in the Race

About 8 months ago my friend Sarah called to ask if I wanted to run the Durango Half Marathon. With no hesitation I said YES! Once Sarah and I were registered we talked our friends Jon and Jamie into signing up as well. Let the training begin...

I have never run distance at altitude, so my plan was to over train in mileage. 17 to be exact. If I could do 17 I could do 13.1 at 6700 ft. In the last month and a half I would run 3 half marathons for training. Things went very well with the training. It wasn't until the last week or so that I felt nervous about the altitude and how I would adjust.

The week was here. I flew into Albequerque, NM. We did a short hike the first day I was there. Day two we drove to Durango to the cabin. The cabin is at about 8500ft. So I spent a couple of days at an altitude higher than the race. And like I do every time I am there, I hydrated, hydrated, and hydrated some more. This time I even over did the hydration, but it helps a lot!

Sarah and I pre-drove the course which was beautiful. The course started at the bridge where a scene from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was filmed and followed the river. Jon and Jamie arrived later in the afternoon and Sarah's friend Helen would arrive an hour or so after them.

The night before the race we made a homemade meal of guac and chips, baked ziti, and yummy salad. Carb loading!

Morning of the race we all drove to town together. We were bused out to the race start. With playlist ready on the ipod and my gps on the wrist the race started. Things went smoothly and I was happy with I believe a 2:12 time. End of the race had a few uphills that I could really feel the altitude in my legs.


Everyone took a nice nap following the race and we followed that with dinner at Steamworks brewery and a few other stops around Durango. The ride home was a karaoke dream. I won't say more because I might actually incriminate some dear friends. Let's just say their rendition of some Neil Diamond and Frank Sinatra was classic.

The next morning everyone slowly left the cabin, leaving just Sarah and I again. We decided we would stretch our legs with a hike. We did 6.25 miles to an altitude of 11,000 ft. Every step back down I could feel the previous day's 13.1 in my legs. But the view from the top was gorgeous and we found a arrowhead along the way.

Wheel Base Sunday Morning A/B Pace Road Ride

This weekend I decided I was ready to try the A/B Pace ride. Their average pace is 15-17 mph and the ride 40+ miles. The group is mainly composed of men. This weekend there was a total of 38 people of which 6 where women.

Like the women's ride, we headed north toward Thurmont. After about 20 miles the group divides up depending on what people's riding goals are for the day, long ride (80 miles), hill ride (50 miles), or the shorter ride (4o miles). I did the 40 mile ride. It was very challenging for me and as I sit here on the couch just 40 minutes after getting home I think I should ice my knee. Just a little preventive measure so my arthritis doesn't bother me later today or tomorrow. I like to wear heels to work so icing after longer runs and ride is now something I should do more often.

I think I did okay. My gps said I burned over 1700 calories, so the best part is I can eat whatever I want today. That is how I reward myself! I have a long time to go before you catch me saying I'll go with the guys doing 80 miles!!

Thorpewood 5K

Last weekend after being in Maine, Eryn and I decided to do the Thorpewood 5K. It is a trail run in Thurmont Maryland and is to help raise funds for the organization. They provide education and personal development programs for at-risk youth.

The course was a good one. It was a little muddy in the beginning and there was one really steep hill. Eryn and I pushed ourselves and finished in 30 min 48 seconds.

There were about 70 people running. Thorpewood is a great place and they do good things for our community. Come support the annual 5/10K next year!

Maine Trip 2009

Last week I took my annual trip to Maine to visit the parents and get some R&R. This year, friends Eryn and Chris Willard joined me as did their pup and Rischie's best bud Derby.

First things first, the drive up the coast. Generally, the trip is about a 13 hour drive plus stops for gas and bathroom. We made pretty good time and Eryn's Honda Element was packed with us, our bags, our gear, two dogs and their stuff. It didn't take long for the pups to settle in and figure out where they were most comfortable. I must say, these two dogs are incredible! No whining, no issues over who took who's bed. They did awesome!

So we made it to Maine at around 10pm. Stayed up for only a bit before turning in. Day one was filled with lots of activity! First, Eryn and I did a 3.2 mile run. Deer Isle where my parents live is of course at sea level, their house is literally just 6 ft above sea level. But they live on the island in what is known as the Mountain Region. Mountain is an understatement but the real reason is because the hills are fairly steep and plentiful on their part of the island. Following the run, we decided since it was low tide we would hike around to the beach where the mussels are plentiful and grab our dinner before the water came back in with the rising tide. Eryn, Chris, Dad and I all hiked, me in my running gear! Literally, tight knickers, running top and when you go for mussels you have to where rubber rain boots, so if Eryn shares her photo of me, I will show you how beautiful and stylish I looked that day. We gathered about 50 mussels which Eryn and I would remove barnacles and clean later in the day and Mom would steam up for dinner.
During our hike to get the mussels, we took a detour over to my parent's friend's house where an Indian midden was discovered that dates back, I hope I have this right, Dad comment if I am wrong, about 3-5,000 years. A midden is a shell heap of domestic waste. The midden discovered at Matt and Mimi's is over 20 feet deep and contained bone, a very old European coin, among other artifacts.
Later in the day we accompanied Dad while he checked his lobster traps. He had enough for the next nights dinner! Mussels and lobster, in my opinion, Maine's cornucopia! Can't forget the blueberries though!

Following our delicious dinner, we headed over to the Opera House in Stonington where we saw their 10th Birthday Revue. I enjoy all my trips to the opera house and this time I particularly enjoyed the comedy pieces! Congrats on 10 years Opera House.

Now that I am back and settled back into my work week it amazes me how quickly I can't recall the details of last week. But Sunday Eryn and I went for a run and I recall the best part of the day was eating the lobster Dad caught in his trap. It was sweet and the meat was perfect! Oh yeah dad took us over to a local small island and we hiked around for several hours. We collected sea urchins while listening to a group of seal that we playing on several near by rocks. They can get quite boisterous!
Monday the three of us, plus pups headed to Bar Harbor where we had rented a cabin close to Acadia! The cabin was a duplex and was as close as we could get to Acadia cabin-style. We did a short hike when we first arrived followed by lunch at a local place downtown, where dogs were welcome. Again, Derby and Rischie did exceedingly well. Leaving this restaurant Chris and my pint glass collections grew with a nice addition of a Gearey's pint with an image of a lobster printed on it. They are rather nice additions.
I haven't mentioned yet that Maine was experiencing a serious heat wave while we were there. Temps were in the low 90s and we saw in the paper that public schools even closed early a day or two as many public buildings are not air conditioned, including schools. We were lucky, our cabin had A/C which made it comfortable for us and our K9 companions. That evening Eryn selected a wonderful place called Maggie's Farm. I highly recommend it. Everything was fresh, all veg came from the farm Maggie keeps to supply the restaurant. Chris gave 5 stars to Maggie's mojitos!

Tuesday was not only our big hike day, but also the hottest day in Maine this summer. Temps reached 93 in Acadia that day from what we heard. We began the day with breakfast at a local spot called 2 Cats. We all enjoyed the fuel that would power us up the hills in just a little bit. I had the farmers breakfast--it was delish. The hike we did in Acadia was up Cadillac, across to Dorr and then down the Gorge Path. It was a great hike. The gorge was really cool. It was nice to go back to the air conditioned cabin to relax a bit before heading out to dinner. For dinner we headed south on Mount Dessert Island which is the name of the island Acadia is on, to Southwest Harbor. Dinner that evening was at Fiddlers Green. They had a good wine and beer menu and the menu was full of many local selections. After dinner we headed to the local ice cream shop where we learned that you can't get a small two scoop dish from a Russian woman. "It vill be large," quickly became the quote for the rest of the trip.
The following morning we packed up and headed back to Deer Isle. We did a little hiking on Wednesday but otherwise it was a relaxing evening over at the Gagners. We enjoyed some lovely food prepared by Elaine and Sadie, followed by some Wii.

Thursday was our last full day and we took advantage of it. Chris and Eryn did a little kayaking while Dad and I had our own regatta in the two small sail boats Dad has. Hopefully Mom will share the pics she took of Dad and I.
We couldn't pass up one last chance to eat lobster so we checked Dad's traps but there were not enough for everyone so we headed into the Stonington Co-op to buy a few more. Nothing like walking out with 6 lobster for under $35! The Marylander's each had two while the locals stuck with only one lobster. From the sound of it, the locals are O.D.ing on lobster this summer with all the visitors. That evening we watch Helvetica. Yes we are graphic designers!

The following morning we packed up and headed out! The weather took a turn for the worse as we headed out. We crossed Penobscot Narrows Bridge in the fog and hit several storms of rain and lightening as we made out way back down the coast and into Maryland.

Below is the very low tide and it is hard too see but in the distance is actually an island that during this low tide you could actually walk to if you wanted, but when the tide is in the water is about 20 feet deep. Crazy huh?
All-in-all it was another great trip to Maine. The days were hot but happily sunny. I got to do two of my favorite things...sail the little boat and spend time with family and friends and my dog. I couldn't ask for much more!

Dog Days of Summer

The summer heat has finally showed its face.

Life has been busy. Lots going on at work which is good but there isn't enough time in the day!

Been keeping up with the running, hiking, biking and racquetball. Which is why I am writing this post. I kicked Tom's butt tonight at racquetball and just had to brag!

Plan on doing a good bit of hiking in the next week and might do a 5k on the 22nd at Thorpewood and another later on in October to benefit FMH (hospital). My goal is still to get to a sub 8 minute mile for the October 5K.

Going to pitch to a potential new client in two weeks that I am really excited about. I think we have a good chance. Keeping fingers crossed because I really like the client.