The advent of a new year is cleansing, in that it's the perfect opportunity for us to make new goals, set new challenges, and live life to its fullest. It's a time to discard practices that don't enhance our lives, in favor of those that do. Call them what you will; goals, resolutions, changes; the purpose behind the name remains the same: to improve our life.
I used to be one of the naysayers, not believing in resolutions. Until 5 years ago, when I decided to quit smoking on Jan 1st, 2008, after almost 20 years as a smoker. I've never slipped, never had a puff, never even been tempted in fact. Yes, the first few weeks were hell, but it was one of the most beneficial decisions I've ever made. In retrospect, I find it hard to comprehend the fact that I used to smoke; the idea of slowly and intentionally poisoning myself seems so absurd and foreign now. Ever since, I've been a full-on believer in resolutions. Why not? They work for me.
My 2013 resolutions are all health-related, pertain to nutrition and exercise, and will require a great deal of commitment, motivation, and dedication. Why the extreme, you may be asking? It's quite simple. I've been feeling like crap for too long. I've seen my doctor, has a gazillion different tests, and there is absolutely nothing physically wrong with me, which means the feeling of crappiness is self-induced and within my ability to change!
Nutrition-wise, I am giving up gluten and restricting other grains to a rare intake of corn and rice. I am limiting dairy to organic Greek yogurt and occasional cheese, completely eliminating all processed foods and sugar, and cutting out alcohol. And I'm upping my protein shakes back to two a day. Basically, I'll be eating whole, natural foods, in their original state.
In terms of exercise, I need to step it up. Waaaay up. The sporadic running I've been doing for the past 2 years is getting old; it's time to really commit. So Dec 28th, I kicked off a new 90 day challenge, in which my goal is to take 5 minutes off my 10km PR, set 6 or 7 years ago, and reduce my body fat by 5%. To train, I have committed to a 4-run per week schedule. Cross training will be once a week, with either snowshoeing or cycling, and I'll be doing 1 Bikram yoga class a week. I'm not doing any specific strength training program, but am doing daily Crossfit workouts which run about 15 minutes each. And to keep myself motivated, I'll be racing a lot this year, in road runs, obstacle course races, road cycling, and may even tackle a triathlon.
Showing posts with label cycling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cycling. Show all posts
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
Thursday, 14 June 2012
Run, Bike, Crawl ~ Summer 2012 Events
With summer right around the corner and my 2nd 90 Day Challenge just underway, I have completely revamped my summer event schedule and added some new events to give my body an extra challenge!
Training started this week for a 122km cycling race Sept 8th, and my first full marathon Sept 30th. I'll also be competing in an obstacle race in early August and a half marathon in mid-August. Training updates will be posted from time to time, highlighting unique experiences and reflections on progress. Full race details below.
Training started this week for a 122km cycling race Sept 8th, and my first full marathon Sept 30th. I'll also be competing in an obstacle race in early August and a half marathon in mid-August. Training updates will be posted from time to time, highlighting unique experiences and reflections on progress. Full race details below.
August
Warrior Dash, August 4th, North Van. My first obstacle race and I am so psyched!! This one is an entry level 5km trail run with a dozen obstacleS, ranging from climbing walls to fire jumping to crawling through barbed wire.
Warrior Dash, August 4th, North Van. My first obstacle race and I am so psyched!! This one is an entry level 5km trail run with a dozen obstacleS, ranging from climbing walls to fire jumping to crawling through barbed wire.
Sea Wheeze, August 11, Vancouver. This is Lululemon's first half-marathon event and it's taking place along the beaches of downtown Vancouver!
September
RBC GrandFondo Whistler, Sept 8th. An epic 122km road race along the Sea to Sky highway from downtown Vancouver to Whistler Village. 7000 cyclists of all abilities compete in this event!
September
RBC GrandFondo Whistler, Sept 8th. An epic 122km road race along the Sea to Sky highway from downtown Vancouver to Whistler Village. 7000 cyclists of all abilities compete in this event!
Surrey International World Music Marathon, Sept 30th. My very first full marathon!
Monday, 6 February 2012
Sweatbetes ~ The Year at Glance
I have big plans this year when it comes to exercise. BIG PLANS. Racing is calling my name, and it's long overdue that I started listening.
Winter has been far too idle for me. I have spent countless hours sitting, and sitting, and sitting, and now I need to just get out there and start moving. This week marks the beginning of my half marathon training for the BMO Vancouver Marathon in May, which will kick off the series of road events I have planned for the summer. Here they are in a nutshell...
May
BMO Vancouver Marathon (half-marathon), Sunday May 6th. It's will be my 3rd time doing this race, though the course is totally new this year. Yay, no more super-long hill out of Stanley Park!
North Shore Spring Triathlon (sprint tri), Monday, May 21st. First time for this one. It's a 740m pool swim (20 lengths), 17.6km bike time trial, 5km trail & road run.
June
Tough Mudder, Saturday & Sunday, June 23rd & 24th, Whistler. Next to the Cyclebetes National Relay, this will be the highlight of my summer. I am SO excited about this one! A 10-12 mile course designed by British Special Forces, that combines running with military-style obstacles in icy cold water, mud, and hilly terrain. The same race runs both days, I haven't decided yet which day I'll do.
July
Valley First Granfondo Axel Merckx, July 8th, Penticton. 160km road race through the stunning Okanagan Valley.
RBC Kelowna Granfondo, July 14th, Kelowna. 115km road race from Kelowna to Vernon and back. This one is a maybe.
August
nothing planned at this time, perhaps another triathlon.
September
Cyclebetes National Relay, Sept 6th-9th (possibly 6th-13th), Vancouver to Calgary. My 3rd year in row riding with the BC Provincial Team. This year we ride 1005km over 4 days. I may ride the 2nd leg too, from Calgary to Winnipeg, a distance of 1345km. This event is the highlight of my year; the one I look forward to all summer, because it combines two things I am ultimately passionate about: diabetes awareness and cycling.
Surrey International World Music Marathon, Sept 30th. My very first full marathon!
Winter has been far too idle for me. I have spent countless hours sitting, and sitting, and sitting, and now I need to just get out there and start moving. This week marks the beginning of my half marathon training for the BMO Vancouver Marathon in May, which will kick off the series of road events I have planned for the summer. Here they are in a nutshell...
May
BMO Vancouver Marathon (half-marathon), Sunday May 6th. It's will be my 3rd time doing this race, though the course is totally new this year. Yay, no more super-long hill out of Stanley Park!
North Shore Spring Triathlon (sprint tri), Monday, May 21st. First time for this one. It's a 740m pool swim (20 lengths), 17.6km bike time trial, 5km trail & road run.
June
Tough Mudder, Saturday & Sunday, June 23rd & 24th, Whistler. Next to the Cyclebetes National Relay, this will be the highlight of my summer. I am SO excited about this one! A 10-12 mile course designed by British Special Forces, that combines running with military-style obstacles in icy cold water, mud, and hilly terrain. The same race runs both days, I haven't decided yet which day I'll do.
July
Valley First Granfondo Axel Merckx, July 8th, Penticton. 160km road race through the stunning Okanagan Valley.
RBC Kelowna Granfondo, July 14th, Kelowna. 115km road race from Kelowna to Vernon and back. This one is a maybe.
August
nothing planned at this time, perhaps another triathlon.
September
Cyclebetes National Relay, Sept 6th-9th (possibly 6th-13th), Vancouver to Calgary. My 3rd year in row riding with the BC Provincial Team. This year we ride 1005km over 4 days. I may ride the 2nd leg too, from Calgary to Winnipeg, a distance of 1345km. This event is the highlight of my year; the one I look forward to all summer, because it combines two things I am ultimately passionate about: diabetes awareness and cycling.
Surrey International World Music Marathon, Sept 30th. My very first full marathon!
Monday, 16 January 2012
Not Dead Yet ~ Phil Southerland Turns 30!
Synopsis: Part memoir, part sports adventure, Not Dead Yet tells the inspirational story of Phil Southerland’s battle with Type 1 diabetes and how from diagnosis to sheer determination, Phil Southerland beat all odds and turned his diagnosis and his passion for cycling into a platform. From leading a Race Across America to now managing a world-class cycling program, his journey on and off the bike is changing the way the world views diabetes.
When Phil Southerland was seven-months-old, he lost ten pounds in a week, his body was limp and his breathing slowed to what his mother called a “death rattle.” Rushing him to the ER, she was informed that tiny Phil displayed the youngest case of diabetes on record in the world at that time.
Blindness, kidney failure and death were all predicted for him by age twenty-five. Twenty-nine years later, not only is Phil alive and well but as the founder of Team Type 1, he and his team of championship cyclists — many of them diabetics—have become health and fitness role models for people the world over.
When Phil Southerland was seven-months-old, he lost ten pounds in a week, his body was limp and his breathing slowed to what his mother called a “death rattle.” Rushing him to the ER, she was informed that tiny Phil displayed the youngest case of diabetes on record in the world at that time.
Blindness, kidney failure and death were all predicted for him by age twenty-five. Twenty-nine years later, not only is Phil alive and well but as the founder of Team Type 1, he and his team of championship cyclists — many of them diabetics—have become health and fitness role models for people the world over.
Together, they have taken on some of the most challenging endurance events in the world, including winning the Race Across America—a grueling 3,000-mile endurance competition—twice. Today, Phil continues to lead Team Type 1 as its professional cycling team, among one of the top 30 teams in the world, races toward an invite to the world’s top cycling event, the Tour de France in 2012. Leading the pack is a serious challenge for any athlete, but for Phil and his teammates, it presents two daily battles: one to stay in razor-sharp race-fit condition, the other, to stay alive.
Not Dead Yet is Phil’s powerful story: his account of his relationship with his mother, and how she struggled to keep him alive; growing up quickly in the New-Old South of the 1990s, learning at the tender age of 6 years old how to check his glucose and give himself injections; of how he fulfilled his dream of becoming a professional athlete using his team and the bike as a platform, inspiring thousands of individuals and families around the world who are battling diabetes to not just chase, but catch, their dreams.
As an avid road cyclist and the mom of a type 1 child, I absolutely adored reading this book. I found that once I started reading, I had a hard time putting it down. It was fascinating to learn about Phil's rise to professional road racing, and to discover how he has owned his diabetes care since the age of 6 years old. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at only 7 months old, Phil's mother Joanna was told that Phil would not likely survive past the age of 25, and that if did somehow survive, it would with complications, such as blindness or kidney failure. This past Sunday, January 15th, Phil turned 30 years old.
Phil's insights into living with diabetes are remarkable. His discipline and determination to maintain control of his disease, and be the "CEO" of his body, as he puts it, are outstanding. From the tender age of 6, Phil has been giving himself insulin shots multiple times per day. He has learned how to maintain the delicate balance between insulin, carbohydrate intake, and exercise, in order to maximize his health and athletic success.
As a cyclist, Phil started where many start: at the bottom. As a teenager he hung out in bike shops, tagging along for mountain bike group rides whenever possible. As his strength and endurance improved, so did his success. He switched from mountain biking to road racing and slowly climbed up the categories, winning many races, until finally reaching the professional level.
Team Type 1 is Phil Southerland's baby. He not only created it, but races as part of the team, while also being the CEO and handling much of the management duties. Team Type 1 has grown exponentially and is made up of both men's and women's teams, as well a running team and a triathlon team! Their current goal is to get the men's elite team into the Tour de France for 2012! I certainly hope they are successful!
Similar to Lance Armstrong's "It's Not About the Bike," "Not Dead Yet" documents Phil's life from childhood to adulthood, and from amateur to professional cyclist, through all of which he has type 1 diabetes. An inspiring and admirable story, I would highly recommend "Not Dead Yet"to cyclists, to anyone who is affected by type 1 diabetes, and to those who simply love a good hero story.
Happy birthday Phil. And thanks for teaching me that when I put my mind to something, truly anything is possible.
As an avid road cyclist and the mom of a type 1 child, I absolutely adored reading this book. I found that once I started reading, I had a hard time putting it down. It was fascinating to learn about Phil's rise to professional road racing, and to discover how he has owned his diabetes care since the age of 6 years old. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at only 7 months old, Phil's mother Joanna was told that Phil would not likely survive past the age of 25, and that if did somehow survive, it would with complications, such as blindness or kidney failure. This past Sunday, January 15th, Phil turned 30 years old.
Phil's insights into living with diabetes are remarkable. His discipline and determination to maintain control of his disease, and be the "CEO" of his body, as he puts it, are outstanding. From the tender age of 6, Phil has been giving himself insulin shots multiple times per day. He has learned how to maintain the delicate balance between insulin, carbohydrate intake, and exercise, in order to maximize his health and athletic success.
As a cyclist, Phil started where many start: at the bottom. As a teenager he hung out in bike shops, tagging along for mountain bike group rides whenever possible. As his strength and endurance improved, so did his success. He switched from mountain biking to road racing and slowly climbed up the categories, winning many races, until finally reaching the professional level.
Team Type 1 is Phil Southerland's baby. He not only created it, but races as part of the team, while also being the CEO and handling much of the management duties. Team Type 1 has grown exponentially and is made up of both men's and women's teams, as well a running team and a triathlon team! Their current goal is to get the men's elite team into the Tour de France for 2012! I certainly hope they are successful!
Similar to Lance Armstrong's "It's Not About the Bike," "Not Dead Yet" documents Phil's life from childhood to adulthood, and from amateur to professional cyclist, through all of which he has type 1 diabetes. An inspiring and admirable story, I would highly recommend "Not Dead Yet"to cyclists, to anyone who is affected by type 1 diabetes, and to those who simply love a good hero story.
Happy birthday Phil. And thanks for teaching me that when I put my mind to something, truly anything is possible.
Monday, 22 August 2011
Conquering Fear
A couple of days ago, while I was writing my summary of day 3 of the Cyclebetes National Relay, I realized that part of my post was worthy of its own entry. I have reposted a portion of the day 3 post below, to provide context...
"Next area we rode through was the lead up to Rogers pass. Now anyone who knows me or has ridden with me knows I hate riding up hills. In fact, that's not even entirely accurate; I am terrified of riding up hills. When I see a large hill coming up in the distance, I can feel my body physiology start to change - my heart rate accelerates, my palms sweat, and my stomach starts to spin. It's gotten quite ridiculous actually, but I know it's all in my head. I decided then and there that the only way I could ever overcome my fear is to face it head on. So at the next shift change (not my regular shift) I jumped out to ride. I thought I was getting out about 1/4 of the way up Rogers pass, where the grade isn't too steep, but it turned out we were actually about 1/3 up the mountain already and the worst section was about to come.
I cranked up the volume on my iPod and just started pedaling. I forced myself to look at the pavement immediately in front of me, instead of at the massive hill ahead and I simply just kept going...and going, and going, and going. For some bizarre reason, I felt terrific; I had a ton of energy, and my legs felt fresh and strong, even with the 68km they had already pedaled that morning. My original plan was to go as long as I could, whether that be 10 minutes, 30 minutes, or an hour, but I was going to cap it at an hour at the most and save some energy for one more shift later. At about the 45 minute mark I realized I was easily going to finish the hour."
Maybe it was karma, but at the same time a song came through my headphones that is very dear to my heart because it reminds me so much of my son, and that giving up on the fight to find a cure for diabetes will never be an option for me. My reaction was profound, and I'm glad no one was in front of me to see it. Overcome with emotion, tears of joy, or relief, and of hope, streamed down my face and I felt something shift in my core. It's hard to describe, but something changed in me in that moment, and I was reminded that anything is possible if I simply put my mind and heart to it. I felt as if a massive weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I felt invincible, and free.
The ride came full circle for me in this moment, its purpose at the forefront of my mind, the cycling taking a close second place. Everything around me seemed to stop; all of my fears, my worries, my trivial concerns, disappeared, and I suddenly became the force I need to keep working for a cure. All I could hear was the sound of my own breath, all I could feel was the beating of my own heart. Nothing else mattered. There was nothing but me in the present. I had conquered by biggest fear, while being reminded of why I was riding and what really matters to me. It was a truly magical moment for me and one I will never ever forget.
What now, you may ask? Now I continue to hope and continue to fight, until a cure is found.
Saturday, 20 August 2011
Cyclebetes Day 4 ~ Golden to Calgary
The fourth and final day of the relay and I have to admit the feelings were bittersweet. I was happy to be headed to Calgary; I have been missing my family and it was thrilling that the relay had been so successful so far, and that we all rode so well, but I'm already missing all the great new people I met, and I'm really missing the awesome group riding.
Shift 1 was not the opening shift, but the second shift of the day. We got on about 30km east of Golden, about 2/3 of the way up the hill to Kicking Horse Pass. It was a cold morning, only 4 degrees when we started, but we quickly warmed up with the hills! A stunning leg, as we rode over rolling hills atop the Rocky Mountains, headed to the BC/Alberta border. We passes pristine lakes, full of sky blue water, and didn't have to look far up to find snow. Our shift ended just shy of the border, after 31km of riding.
We were in Canmore, AB, before we had a chance to ride again, and this one would be our final shift before arriving in Calgary. Canmore is such a cute little town, and the landscape just east of it, with the jutting rock-face mountains perched atop the dry grasses of the prairies, was absolutely breathtaking. A bonus presented itself to us early on this leg: tailwind!! We hadn't had any tailwind in BC, but man did we ever have some in Alberta! Our average pace for this leg was over 30km/hour and 50km/hr was not hard to come by on the flats. We got a whopping 1:42:00 for this leg and sped over 51km before packing it in approximately 60km west of Calgary. Total for day 4 was 82km.
My personal riding total for the 4 days: 351km! My original plan was to aim for 100km per day on days 2-4, and 50-60km on day 1, so this is pretty much exactly what I had hoped to ride!
Shift 1 was not the opening shift, but the second shift of the day. We got on about 30km east of Golden, about 2/3 of the way up the hill to Kicking Horse Pass. It was a cold morning, only 4 degrees when we started, but we quickly warmed up with the hills! A stunning leg, as we rode over rolling hills atop the Rocky Mountains, headed to the BC/Alberta border. We passes pristine lakes, full of sky blue water, and didn't have to look far up to find snow. Our shift ended just shy of the border, after 31km of riding.
We were in Canmore, AB, before we had a chance to ride again, and this one would be our final shift before arriving in Calgary. Canmore is such a cute little town, and the landscape just east of it, with the jutting rock-face mountains perched atop the dry grasses of the prairies, was absolutely breathtaking. A bonus presented itself to us early on this leg: tailwind!! We hadn't had any tailwind in BC, but man did we ever have some in Alberta! Our average pace for this leg was over 30km/hour and 50km/hr was not hard to come by on the flats. We got a whopping 1:42:00 for this leg and sped over 51km before packing it in approximately 60km west of Calgary. Total for day 4 was 82km.
My personal riding total for the 4 days: 351km! My original plan was to aim for 100km per day on days 2-4, and 50-60km on day 1, so this is pretty much exactly what I had hoped to ride!
Friday, 19 August 2011
Cyclebetes Day 3 ~ Kamloops to Golden
Another early start on day 3, and our group was to ride first again. This is the day I had most looked forward to leading up the relay because of it's unique conditions. The longest day of the western portion of the ride, today we would cover 380km as a team, including Rogers Pass, the 1350m mountain pass through the Rockies.
A much more peaceful and serene leg would kickoff the day, however, with a long flat stretch between Kamloops and Salmon Arm. Our group, narrowed to 4 for today, started promptly at 6:00am, following the highway out of Kamloops, heading east. With a fast pace right from the get-go, we covered a whopping 52km in our 1 hour and 45 minute shift. By the end of this shift, we had our drafting down to an art form, each taking 10 minute intervals at the lead before dropping back to the rear to draft. The system was working for us and we looked darn good too.
Shift 2 was not so great. We started right at the base of Mount Revelstoke Park, just ahead of a large black thunder cloud. The thunder was audible, but the rain was light enough that I contemplated not wearing a rain jacket. Man am I glad I did! Within 2 minutes of riding, the rain was torrential, with thunder and lightning, and heavy, heavy rains. Just when we thought it couldn't get any worse, it started hailing. And not just regular little hail stones, but big marble size hail. Within 5 minutes of riding I was soaked through to my skin and freezing. After 30 minutes I was so cold, I couldn't feel my hands and feet and started to worry that I wouldn't be able to pull my brake levers because my fingers were so cold. I was literally chilled to the bone and could not shake it. So, as much as I hated my decision, I had to cut my shift short and warm up in the RV. My group went on to have a stunning ride through the park while I watched. Bummer, but what can you do, right?
Next area we rode through was the lead up to Rogers pass. Now anyone who knows me or has ridden with me knows I hate riding up hills. In fact, that's not even entirely accurate; I am terrified of riding up hills. When I see a large hill coming up in the distance, I can feel my body physiology start to change - my heart rate accelerates, my palms sweat, and my stomach starts to spin. It's gotten quite ridiculous actually, but I know it's all in my head. I decided then and there that the only way I could ever overcome my fear is to face it head on. So at the next shift change (not my regular shift) I jumped out to ride. I thought I was getting out about 1/4 of the way up Rogers pass, where the grade isn't too steep, but it turned out we were actually about 1/3 up the mountain already and the worst section was about to come.
I cranked up the volume on my iPod and just started pedaling. I forced myself to look at the pavement immediately in front of me, instead of at the massive hill ahead and I simply just kept going...and going, and going, and going. For some bizarre reason, I felt terrific; I had a ton of energy, and my legs felt fresh and strong, even with the 68km they had already pedaled that morning. My original plan was to go as long as I could, whether that be 10 minutes, 30 minutes, or an hour, but I was going to cap it at an hour at the most and save some energy for one more shift later. At about the 45 minute mark I realized I was easily going to finish the hour. I rode the last 15 minutes and hopped into the RV, so proud of my accomplishment. Total distance in that hour: 18km, all uphill.
My final shift of the day started 32km outside of Golden, at the base of the Rogers Pass descent. It wasn't my turn to ride, but I still had tons of energy and I wanted to get back out there. I wound up riding most of the way alone, but that's ok. It had been a long, emotional day and I was just happy to ride. Total distance for day 3 was 116km - a good hard day and one to remember for a long time.
A much more peaceful and serene leg would kickoff the day, however, with a long flat stretch between Kamloops and Salmon Arm. Our group, narrowed to 4 for today, started promptly at 6:00am, following the highway out of Kamloops, heading east. With a fast pace right from the get-go, we covered a whopping 52km in our 1 hour and 45 minute shift. By the end of this shift, we had our drafting down to an art form, each taking 10 minute intervals at the lead before dropping back to the rear to draft. The system was working for us and we looked darn good too.
Shift 2 was not so great. We started right at the base of Mount Revelstoke Park, just ahead of a large black thunder cloud. The thunder was audible, but the rain was light enough that I contemplated not wearing a rain jacket. Man am I glad I did! Within 2 minutes of riding, the rain was torrential, with thunder and lightning, and heavy, heavy rains. Just when we thought it couldn't get any worse, it started hailing. And not just regular little hail stones, but big marble size hail. Within 5 minutes of riding I was soaked through to my skin and freezing. After 30 minutes I was so cold, I couldn't feel my hands and feet and started to worry that I wouldn't be able to pull my brake levers because my fingers were so cold. I was literally chilled to the bone and could not shake it. So, as much as I hated my decision, I had to cut my shift short and warm up in the RV. My group went on to have a stunning ride through the park while I watched. Bummer, but what can you do, right?
Next area we rode through was the lead up to Rogers pass. Now anyone who knows me or has ridden with me knows I hate riding up hills. In fact, that's not even entirely accurate; I am terrified of riding up hills. When I see a large hill coming up in the distance, I can feel my body physiology start to change - my heart rate accelerates, my palms sweat, and my stomach starts to spin. It's gotten quite ridiculous actually, but I know it's all in my head. I decided then and there that the only way I could ever overcome my fear is to face it head on. So at the next shift change (not my regular shift) I jumped out to ride. I thought I was getting out about 1/4 of the way up Rogers pass, where the grade isn't too steep, but it turned out we were actually about 1/3 up the mountain already and the worst section was about to come.
I cranked up the volume on my iPod and just started pedaling. I forced myself to look at the pavement immediately in front of me, instead of at the massive hill ahead and I simply just kept going...and going, and going, and going. For some bizarre reason, I felt terrific; I had a ton of energy, and my legs felt fresh and strong, even with the 68km they had already pedaled that morning. My original plan was to go as long as I could, whether that be 10 minutes, 30 minutes, or an hour, but I was going to cap it at an hour at the most and save some energy for one more shift later. At about the 45 minute mark I realized I was easily going to finish the hour. I rode the last 15 minutes and hopped into the RV, so proud of my accomplishment. Total distance in that hour: 18km, all uphill.
My final shift of the day started 32km outside of Golden, at the base of the Rogers Pass descent. It wasn't my turn to ride, but I still had tons of energy and I wanted to get back out there. I wound up riding most of the way alone, but that's ok. It had been a long, emotional day and I was just happy to ride. Total distance for day 3 was 116km - a good hard day and one to remember for a long time.
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Cyclebetes Day 2 ~ Whistler to Kamloops
Yes, the original plan was to recap the day's events each night, but seriously, what was I thinking? Between the riding itself and the amount of time involved in dinner, team meetings, etc, sleep was my one and only priority at the end of the day.
I did, however, keep lots of notes throughout the journey, so that I could blog about it once I was finished riding and well rested, which is now!!
Day 2 started with a jolt, as my roommate and I missed our 5:00am wake up alarm and slept in 35 minutes longer than we had planned. A quick breakfast later and we were on our bikes, ready to ride at just after 6:00am for the 35km ride north to Pemberton.
5 of us set out for the first riding shift, under cloudy skies and a chilly 12 degrees celcius. The roads were wet, but the rain had stopped, so we quickly warmed up as we pedaled over rolling hills and along short flats. In less than 90 minutes we arrived in Pemberton for a shift change, as group 2 got ready to take on the challenging grade up to Joffre Lakes.
A few hours later our group was up again, for a much different kind of ride. 25km outside of the town on Lillooet we began, ready for some serious ups and downs! Almost right away we had a 2km descent down a 13% grade, followed by an equally steep ascent. Sadly, about halfway up the hill I tried to pull off into a gravel area to catch my breath and my cleat (which I later discovered was shredded) got stuck in my pedal. Not good! I fell to the left, yes into the traffic, thankful to see the Sanofi RV behind me, but not before absorbing all of the impact on my left elbow. I jumped into the RV with my bike, quickly cleaned up my bleeding elbow and jumped back out at the next pullout, missing a 4km section of riding. I got out just in time for what is likely the best road descent in BC: a 14% grade of switchbacks down into Lillooet. An amazing stretch of road, it was a struggle to keep my speed under 50km/hr, but necessary with the hairpin turns. As the descent continued, the temperature rose and by the time we left the quaint town of Lillooet, it was a lovely 21 degrees. Another shift change and we were waiting for the next round.
3rd and final shift of the day and again new scenery and road conditions. We started off about 75km west of Kamloops in warm, sunny weather with a light breeze. A nice tail wind to start helped us up hills at 30km/hr, and then about 30 minutes in we got hit with some pretty substantial cross winds. Towards the end of the leg it changed to a headwind and we found ourselves coming down a steep hill but barely moving! Strongest headwind I've ever felt on the bike!
All in all a great day, aside from a sore elbow. 92km of riding for me and we got into Kamloops an hour ahead of schedule - can't beat that!
I did, however, keep lots of notes throughout the journey, so that I could blog about it once I was finished riding and well rested, which is now!!
Day 2 started with a jolt, as my roommate and I missed our 5:00am wake up alarm and slept in 35 minutes longer than we had planned. A quick breakfast later and we were on our bikes, ready to ride at just after 6:00am for the 35km ride north to Pemberton.
5 of us set out for the first riding shift, under cloudy skies and a chilly 12 degrees celcius. The roads were wet, but the rain had stopped, so we quickly warmed up as we pedaled over rolling hills and along short flats. In less than 90 minutes we arrived in Pemberton for a shift change, as group 2 got ready to take on the challenging grade up to Joffre Lakes.
A few hours later our group was up again, for a much different kind of ride. 25km outside of the town on Lillooet we began, ready for some serious ups and downs! Almost right away we had a 2km descent down a 13% grade, followed by an equally steep ascent. Sadly, about halfway up the hill I tried to pull off into a gravel area to catch my breath and my cleat (which I later discovered was shredded) got stuck in my pedal. Not good! I fell to the left, yes into the traffic, thankful to see the Sanofi RV behind me, but not before absorbing all of the impact on my left elbow. I jumped into the RV with my bike, quickly cleaned up my bleeding elbow and jumped back out at the next pullout, missing a 4km section of riding. I got out just in time for what is likely the best road descent in BC: a 14% grade of switchbacks down into Lillooet. An amazing stretch of road, it was a struggle to keep my speed under 50km/hr, but necessary with the hairpin turns. As the descent continued, the temperature rose and by the time we left the quaint town of Lillooet, it was a lovely 21 degrees. Another shift change and we were waiting for the next round.
3rd and final shift of the day and again new scenery and road conditions. We started off about 75km west of Kamloops in warm, sunny weather with a light breeze. A nice tail wind to start helped us up hills at 30km/hr, and then about 30 minutes in we got hit with some pretty substantial cross winds. Towards the end of the leg it changed to a headwind and we found ourselves coming down a steep hill but barely moving! Strongest headwind I've ever felt on the bike!
All in all a great day, aside from a sore elbow. 92km of riding for me and we got into Kamloops an hour ahead of schedule - can't beat that!
Saturday, 13 August 2011
Cyclebetes Day 1 ~ Vancouver to Whistler
Wow, what a day! Today's section was was substantially less mileage than the next few days, but it was still pretty darn awesome!
So here's the lowdown for the day. We left John Henry Bikes in North Vancouver at 10:00am ready to pedal. All of the team cyclebetes and team sanofi aventis riders started together, along with a number of other cyclists planning to ride with us to Squamish. The first 30km were awesome - great pace, wicked conversation, fun times. Then we got to horseshoe bay and I felt my blood sugar plummet, thanks to poor breakfast choices on my part. A whole lot of carbs later, and I was back on the bike, ready to ride! At least that's what I thought. By the time we hit Lions Bay I was in full hyperglycemic hangover mode, a typical reaction when I get really low blood sugar and then over compensate with carbohydrates. So off the bike I went, into the RV, to battle my bg back to a tolerable level. At Brandywine Falls I finally felt human again and jumped back out onto the bike to ride the last hour into Whistler.
Quite the day! Not at all what I expected from myself, but hey, I can only control my blood sugar levels so much...all in all I rode about 60km today, which is not far off what I had planned.
Tomorrow I am up first shift, at 6:00am, to start the 100km+ day for each of us! Lookin' forward to it!
So here's the lowdown for the day. We left John Henry Bikes in North Vancouver at 10:00am ready to pedal. All of the team cyclebetes and team sanofi aventis riders started together, along with a number of other cyclists planning to ride with us to Squamish. The first 30km were awesome - great pace, wicked conversation, fun times. Then we got to horseshoe bay and I felt my blood sugar plummet, thanks to poor breakfast choices on my part. A whole lot of carbs later, and I was back on the bike, ready to ride! At least that's what I thought. By the time we hit Lions Bay I was in full hyperglycemic hangover mode, a typical reaction when I get really low blood sugar and then over compensate with carbohydrates. So off the bike I went, into the RV, to battle my bg back to a tolerable level. At Brandywine Falls I finally felt human again and jumped back out onto the bike to ride the last hour into Whistler.
Quite the day! Not at all what I expected from myself, but hey, I can only control my blood sugar levels so much...all in all I rode about 60km today, which is not far off what I had planned.
Tomorrow I am up first shift, at 6:00am, to start the 100km+ day for each of us! Lookin' forward to it!
Friday, 12 August 2011
Cyclebetes Live Updates During the National Relay
Tomorrow we officially kickoff the Cyclebetes 2011 National Relay, as 6 riders for team Cyclebetes and 6 riders for team Sanofi-Aventis leave from North Van, BC, and ride to Calgary, a distance of 1045km over 4 days. City schedule is as follows:
The awesome Cyclebetes / 4 What Matters Crew will be working tirelessly throughout the ride to ensure that everyone at home can stay up to date with the riders and see where they've been, where they're going, and how they're doing, so you won't miss a thing! There will be regular Facebook updates, tweets, blogs, YouTube videos, and live GPS tracking.
Day 1: Vancouver to Whistler (130km)
Day 2: Whistler to Kamloops (300km)
Day 3: Kamloops to Golden (360km)
Day 4: Golden to Calgary (280km)
The awesome Cyclebetes / 4 What Matters Crew will be working tirelessly throughout the ride to ensure that everyone at home can stay up to date with the riders and see where they've been, where they're going, and how they're doing, so you won't miss a thing! There will be regular Facebook updates, tweets, blogs, YouTube videos, and live GPS tracking.
GPS (follow live): http://www.facebook.com/cycle4?sk=app_137331002992480
*Updated every 15 minutes or so, depending on satellite positioning
In addition to all of the above, I will be blogging daily with my own ride feedback, here at Blood, Sweat, & Carbs as well as posting facebook updates and tweets. Follow me on facebook at www.facebook.com/jenlesliearagon and on twitter at www.twitter.com/bloodsweatcarbs.
Monday, 8 August 2011
Training Schedule Week of August 8th to 14th
Unbelievable that all of my training and hard work over the past few months is finally going to be put to the test. Beginning this Saturday, August 13th, I will be taking part in the Cyclebetes National Relay, in which I will hop on my bike and cycle from Vancouver to Calgary, a distance of 1045km, over 4 days.
This week's training schedule currently looks like this, but as usual it could change as the week progresses, especially considering I still need to prepare for a week away from home and work.
This week's training schedule currently looks like this, but as usual it could change as the week progresses, especially considering I still need to prepare for a week away from home and work.
Monday ~ Cycle 1 hour, moderate
Tuesday ~ Run 60 minutes, pace
Wednesday ~ Cycle 3-4 hours, easy
Thursday ~ Cycle 2 hours, hills
Friday ~ Run 75 minutes, easy
Saturday ~ Cyclebetes begins!
Sunday ~ Cyclebetes, day 2!
For more information on this incredible ride, visit: http://www.cyclebetes.com/national-relay-info.htm
Thursday, 4 August 2011
Nanaimo Triangle ~ A Cycling Paradise
Cycling is such a terrific way to see the world, so every weekend I make sure to do one long ride. I try to do something new each time and aim to keep it around 100km. Two weekends ago I tackled the "Nanaimo Triangle," as we called it, a 112km ride from Nanaimo to Victoria, on Vancouver Island. A super ride and a perfect distance to add to my training repertoire for the upcoming Cyclebetes National Relay August 13th.
Up at 5:30, I drove out to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal, met up with a group of 16 other cyclists, and we caught the first ferry over to Duke Point, in Nanaimo. Upon arrival we headed south, following the highway for the first part of the trip. Our first scheduled stop was in Ladysmith, where we converged on the Tim Horton's for a cold drink and brief rest.
Moving south, we left the highway in Ladysmith and turned down to the waterfront route to enjoy rolling hills and peek-a-boo views of the ocean.
From Chemainus we continued along the waterfront route, crossing an old wooden bridge just before entering the small town of Crofton.
In Crofton, we broke for lunch, but not before encountering two young boys and their lemonade stand. The boys didn't know what hit them; their quiet lemonade stand was quickly transformed into a high pressure booth, as seventeen hot and sweaty cyclists lined up for a glass of ice-cold lemonade!
After a longer than planned lunch, we upped our speed a bit and pedaled towards Cowichan Bay, the next planned rest stop. By the time we reached Cowichan Bay, we were about 70km into the ride and it was very hot.
A very brief rest for a cold drink, and we were off again, allowing us one hour to travel the 21km to the Brentwood Bay ferry in Mill Bay. Seemed like more than enough time, but no one expected the elevation increase that was coming next. Immediately south of Cowichan Bay is very long and steep (15% grade) hill. Between the scorching temperature and the miles we had already logged, the majority of the riders decided to walk their bikes up the hill and save their legs for the remaining 40km+ of the ride. It turns out that this hill was only the beginning of a very hilly section, that would cause us to split into two groups for the Brentwood Bay ferry. Five of us made it to the ferry in time, and the other twelve riders missed the ferry and had to wait for the next one. Brentwood Bay ferry itself is a tiny little twenty minute ferry that travels back and forth over Mill Bay, allowing drivers to bypass downtown Victoria.
Once on the Saanich side of the ferry, our group had over ran hour to wait for the other riders, so we stopped at the Mill Bay Resort & Spa's pub to enjoy a bite and the breathtaking scenery.
The last leg of the ride consisted of a fast 20km sprint to Swartz Bay and the ferry back to the mainland. All in all, it was 112km of gorgeous riding. What an incredible day, I will definitely be doing this ride again!
Up at 5:30, I drove out to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal, met up with a group of 16 other cyclists, and we caught the first ferry over to Duke Point, in Nanaimo. Upon arrival we headed south, following the highway for the first part of the trip. Our first scheduled stop was in Ladysmith, where we converged on the Tim Horton's for a cold drink and brief rest.
Moving south, we left the highway in Ladysmith and turned down to the waterfront route to enjoy rolling hills and peek-a-boo views of the ocean.
An unscheduled stop in Chemainus to take some pictures of its famous murals, and we were back on the road in no time!
In Crofton, we broke for lunch, but not before encountering two young boys and their lemonade stand. The boys didn't know what hit them; their quiet lemonade stand was quickly transformed into a high pressure booth, as seventeen hot and sweaty cyclists lined up for a glass of ice-cold lemonade!
After a longer than planned lunch, we upped our speed a bit and pedaled towards Cowichan Bay, the next planned rest stop. By the time we reached Cowichan Bay, we were about 70km into the ride and it was very hot.
A very brief rest for a cold drink, and we were off again, allowing us one hour to travel the 21km to the Brentwood Bay ferry in Mill Bay. Seemed like more than enough time, but no one expected the elevation increase that was coming next. Immediately south of Cowichan Bay is very long and steep (15% grade) hill. Between the scorching temperature and the miles we had already logged, the majority of the riders decided to walk their bikes up the hill and save their legs for the remaining 40km+ of the ride. It turns out that this hill was only the beginning of a very hilly section, that would cause us to split into two groups for the Brentwood Bay ferry. Five of us made it to the ferry in time, and the other twelve riders missed the ferry and had to wait for the next one. Brentwood Bay ferry itself is a tiny little twenty minute ferry that travels back and forth over Mill Bay, allowing drivers to bypass downtown Victoria.
Once on the Saanich side of the ferry, our group had over ran hour to wait for the other riders, so we stopped at the Mill Bay Resort & Spa's pub to enjoy a bite and the breathtaking scenery.
The last leg of the ride consisted of a fast 20km sprint to Swartz Bay and the ferry back to the mainland. All in all, it was 112km of gorgeous riding. What an incredible day, I will definitely be doing this ride again!
Tuesday, 2 August 2011
The Countdown is On ~ 11 Days until the Cyclebetes National Relay begins.
11 days until the start of the 2011 Cyclebetes National Relay! 11 days until we ride 1045km from Vancouver, BC to Calgary, AB, to raise money and awareness for type 1 diabetes. 11 days. Wow.
Am I ready? I think so. I still have a little fundraising to do, and a few more hill training sessions, but I should be ready for the kickoff on August 13th. I've done loads of training over the past few months and logged hundreds of miles on my bike.
Am I excited? Extremely. Last year's ride was incredible. The scenery, the people, the support we received, all of it was magical. This year I'm thrilled that Vancouver is the launching pad of the ride, rather than the finale, and I'm super-psyched that the route has changed and that we're riding through towns I've never cycled in before. I know it will be an amazing experience again, and I look forward to blogging about it each day!
Am I nervous? Yeah, probably more than I should be. I know I've put in the work, but the hills involved this year do scare me. There are some serious elevation gains, as we have to go up and over two mountain ranges - the Coast Mountains and the Rocky Mountains. I'm not a fan of hills. I love riding on the flats, and I'm a bit of speed demon, so downhills excite me. I am much more comfortable doing 60km/hr on a twisty downhill than riding up a 10% grade. But I'll do it. For Dylan and the thousands of other people living with type 1 diabetes. And when the hills are really steep, and the pedaling really hard; when my thighs are burning and I'm gritting my teeth trying not to cry from the searing pain, I will think only of why I am doing this. To cure diabetes. Period. After all, a few hours of discomfort for me pales in comparison to what Dylan, and other type 1s live with each and every day.
Interested in riding with us for the kickoff community ride? Join us Saturday, August 13th, as we leave from John Henry Bikes in North Van at 10:00am, and ride with us to Squamish! Check out the following video for highlights of last year's 150km community ride from Hope to Vancouver to get an idea of what it entails! And visit Cyclebetes for full info on this year's ride.
Should you wish to donate to my 2011 Cyclebetes fundraising campaign, visit Cyclebetes - Jen Aragon. 100% of funds raised will be donated to JDRF.
And be sure to stay tuned to my blog as I countdown to this extraordinary journey!
Am I ready? I think so. I still have a little fundraising to do, and a few more hill training sessions, but I should be ready for the kickoff on August 13th. I've done loads of training over the past few months and logged hundreds of miles on my bike.
Am I excited? Extremely. Last year's ride was incredible. The scenery, the people, the support we received, all of it was magical. This year I'm thrilled that Vancouver is the launching pad of the ride, rather than the finale, and I'm super-psyched that the route has changed and that we're riding through towns I've never cycled in before. I know it will be an amazing experience again, and I look forward to blogging about it each day!
Am I nervous? Yeah, probably more than I should be. I know I've put in the work, but the hills involved this year do scare me. There are some serious elevation gains, as we have to go up and over two mountain ranges - the Coast Mountains and the Rocky Mountains. I'm not a fan of hills. I love riding on the flats, and I'm a bit of speed demon, so downhills excite me. I am much more comfortable doing 60km/hr on a twisty downhill than riding up a 10% grade. But I'll do it. For Dylan and the thousands of other people living with type 1 diabetes. And when the hills are really steep, and the pedaling really hard; when my thighs are burning and I'm gritting my teeth trying not to cry from the searing pain, I will think only of why I am doing this. To cure diabetes. Period. After all, a few hours of discomfort for me pales in comparison to what Dylan, and other type 1s live with each and every day.
Interested in riding with us for the kickoff community ride? Join us Saturday, August 13th, as we leave from John Henry Bikes in North Van at 10:00am, and ride with us to Squamish! Check out the following video for highlights of last year's 150km community ride from Hope to Vancouver to get an idea of what it entails! And visit Cyclebetes for full info on this year's ride.
Should you wish to donate to my 2011 Cyclebetes fundraising campaign, visit Cyclebetes - Jen Aragon. 100% of funds raised will be donated to JDRF.
And be sure to stay tuned to my blog as I countdown to this extraordinary journey!
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Training Schedule Week of July 31st to August 6th
My incredible journey with Cyclebetes begins two weeks today. We will cycle from North Vancouver to Calgary, a distance of 1045km, over a period of 4 days, from August 13th to 16th. I am excited, anxious, and nervous all at once!!
As of now, this week's training will look something like this, but very well could change as the week progresses.
As of now, this week's training will look something like this, but very well could change as the week progresses.
Sunday ~ Cycle 6 hours, moderate
Monday ~ Cycle 5-6 hours, easy
Tuesday ~ Run 40 minutes, pace
Wednesday ~ Cycle 2 hours, hills
Monday ~ Cycle 5-6 hours, easy
Tuesday ~ Run 40 minutes, pace
Wednesday ~ Cycle 2 hours, hills
Thursday ~ Grouse Grind (hiking)
Friday ~ Run 75 minutes, easy
Friday ~ Run 75 minutes, easy
Saturday ~ Cycling 1 hour, intense
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Training Schedule Week of July 11th to 17th
With just over 4 weeks until the Cyclebetes National Relay kicks off, I have upped my cycling time to ensure that I am ready for this amazing journey. This week's training will look something like this:
Monday ~ REST DAY
Tuesday ~ Run 35 minutes, pace / Cycling 30 minutes intense
Wednesday ~ Run 45 minutes, pace / Cycling 90 minutes, moderate
Thursday ~ Grouse Grind (hiking) / Cycling 60 minutes, moderate
Friday ~ Run 30 minutes, pace / Cycling 2 hours, easy
Saturday ~ Cycling 4 hours, easy
Sunday ~ Cycling 2.5 hours, vigorous
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Training Schedule Week of June 27th to July 3rd
Post half-marathon this week, so I'm forcing myself to take a bit of a much needed break. Hoping to squeeze in a hike somewhere over the long weekend too!
Monday ~ REST DAY
Tuesday ~ Trail walk 60 minutes, moderate
Wednesday ~ Yoga 60 minutes, easy
Thursday ~ Run 30 minutes, easy
Friday ~ Cycle 60 minutes, hills
Saturday ~ Run 60 minutes, pace
Sunday ~ Cycle 4-5 hours, easy
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Saturday Snapshots ~ Summer Solstice Squamish Ride
Weekend exercise is something I look forward to all week and last week was no exception. With a long ride Saturday and a half-marathon Sunday, last weekend was an exhilerating, exercise-stuffed two days that left me feeling gratified and sore.
Just north of Vancouver, on the Sea-to-Sky highway, is the town of Squamish. Touted as the "Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada," Squamish is home to some of the best hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, and snow sports BC offers. It was also the cycling destination for this ride, approximately 70km north of my house, along a very hilly section of highway. A beautiful journey, and a great training ride for the Cyclebetes National Relay beginning August 13th, along this same stretch of road.
I started out at 10:45am, joining a group of riders that had set off from downtown Vancouver. The first section of ride was uphill, followed by long, windy, rolling section through West Vancouver, passed the Horseshow Bay ferry terminal to Lions Bay. The weather was ideal for this kind of ride; overcast and cool, with a chance of showers. And shower it did. Our first rainstorm hit just past the village of Lions Bay. Heavy rains fell for about 2-3 kilometers, before the sky opened up again and sunshine streamed down on us as we rode through Porteau Cove to Furry Creek. A quick stop to regroup and wait for other riders to catch up turned into a full shower as severely heavy rains poured down. By the top of the Furry Creek hill I was completely drenched. With water pouring down my face and sloshing around in my cycling shoes I finally reached the summit of the last big hill, just north of Brittania Beach, and began my much-earned descent into Squamish.
A nice relaxing lunch at the Howe Sound Brewing Company ensued before I rushed home to begin prepping for Sunday's half-marathon and dinner party. What an awesome day and a ride I will definitely be doing a few more times this season. Below are a few pics of the views along the route, plus an elevation map of the ride (I started about 18km in, at the base of the first big hill.
Just north of Vancouver, on the Sea-to-Sky highway, is the town of Squamish. Touted as the "Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada," Squamish is home to some of the best hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, and snow sports BC offers. It was also the cycling destination for this ride, approximately 70km north of my house, along a very hilly section of highway. A beautiful journey, and a great training ride for the Cyclebetes National Relay beginning August 13th, along this same stretch of road.
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| A cultural journey it is indeed. |
I started out at 10:45am, joining a group of riders that had set off from downtown Vancouver. The first section of ride was uphill, followed by long, windy, rolling section through West Vancouver, passed the Horseshow Bay ferry terminal to Lions Bay. The weather was ideal for this kind of ride; overcast and cool, with a chance of showers. And shower it did. Our first rainstorm hit just past the village of Lions Bay. Heavy rains fell for about 2-3 kilometers, before the sky opened up again and sunshine streamed down on us as we rode through Porteau Cove to Furry Creek. A quick stop to regroup and wait for other riders to catch up turned into a full shower as severely heavy rains poured down. By the top of the Furry Creek hill I was completely drenched. With water pouring down my face and sloshing around in my cycling shoes I finally reached the summit of the last big hill, just north of Brittania Beach, and began my much-earned descent into Squamish.
A nice relaxing lunch at the Howe Sound Brewing Company ensued before I rushed home to begin prepping for Sunday's half-marathon and dinner party. What an awesome day and a ride I will definitely be doing a few more times this season. Below are a few pics of the views along the route, plus an elevation map of the ride (I started about 18km in, at the base of the first big hill.
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| Looking southwest from Lions Bay |
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| Looking west, from just south of Porteau Cove |
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| A stunning early sunset |
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| Elevation map of the full ride |
Monday, 20 June 2011
Training Schedule Week of June 20th to 26th
This week my training changes up a bit, as I am doing my long ride on Saturday so that I can run the Scotiabank 1/2 marathon Sunday morning. Friday I am accompanying my daughter's class on a field trip, and then working until 9:00pm, so it will be much needed rest day!
Monday ~ Run 45 minutes, pace
Tuesday ~ Cycle 60 minutes, moderate
Wednesday ~ Run 90 minutes, easy
Thursday ~ Hiking 5 hours, moderate, Cycle 60 minutes, easy
Friday ~ REST
Saturday ~ Cycle 8 hours, moderate
Sunday ~ Half-marathon road race
Monday, 13 June 2011
Training Schedule Week of June 13th to 19th
This week is shaping up to be very busy, but I am hoping I can fit in all of my workouts this week! The weather is supposed to be pretty good too!
Monday ~ Cycle 60 minutes, moderate
Tuesday ~ Run 45 minutes, pace
Wednesday ~ Cycle 3 hours, moderate
Thursday ~ Hiking 5 hours, moderate
Friday ~ Run 45 minutes, pace
Saturday ~ Run 90 minutes, easy
Sunday ~ Cycle 4 hours, easy
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Sunday Snapshots ~ Ride and Roam Fundraiser for the Ride to Conquer Cancer
This past Sunday, I had the pleasure of attending a Ride to Conquer Cancer fundraiser and a wonderful group ride that was planned around the fundraiser. Starting at the TELUS World of Science, we rode through Vancouver, Burnaby, Port Moody, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, and into Maple Ridge, where the fundraiser took place. Following the event we rode back via Langley, Surrey, and New Westminster. All in all the ride was 92 kilometers, or 57.5 miles. I've posted a few pictures below.
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| Brief rest along the Trans Canada Trail & a peekaboo view of the North Shore. |
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| Crossing the Pitt River bridge, view to the north |
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| Crossing the Pitt River bridge, view to the south. |
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| Crossing the Golden Ears bridge, view of Mt Baker to the southeast |
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| Crossing the Pattulo bridge, view to the south |
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| Crossing the Pattulo bridge, view to the north |
Vancouver has a lot of bridges, and they provide great spots for a quick photo stop! For a detailed view and description of Sunday's ride route, click here. That is the basic route we took, plus a few miles exploring the new bike trails in Tynehead Park. Gorgeous route!
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