Back in the Swing of Things

Aloha,

No, I am not blogging from the friendly island of Hawaii even though the above picture shows me (I mean some unknown very tan photo model) swinging gracefully on a pacific island beach. I could only wish this is what I meant by my title. Unfortunately, I only mean that I am "back in the swing" of biking on a regular basis after my prior war with the stomach flu. In fact, I was able to bike for the last 3 days straight - a new record for me!

These past 3 days have brought me to some well known and some new places. The first day, I biked to my daughter's middle school and back by a different route (I avoid retracing steps). She coughed a bit when I told her where I had gone - I thought she might be impressed by the distance, but I fear she was really try to hide her joy that there was no school that day and I had not embarrassed her by waving as she was talking outside to her friends. She is at that age where one day she begs me to come see her science project and the next tells me to slouch down in my car because I forgot to put makeup on.

The second day marked another first. Sandy (my fellow Sea to Sea biker mom) and I were able to coordinate our schedules to ride together for the first time. We went about 15 miles on a great route past alpaca farms (yes, I mean the llama-like creatures) and historical farms with babbling brooks. We even passed a field where 2 miniature donkeys were frollicking with each other. This must be what heaven is about. But wait, heaven would include me owning one of these farms and being a gentleman(woman) farmer rather than me pumping pedals up and down with burning muscles and a sore rear as I passed these heavenly farms. God, in case this is not what heaven looks like, don't tell me.

The third day, Easter, I took off in Oakland with no plan - very unlike me to do anything without a plan. I just turned on a whim right and left. God must of been in charge of the whims because I found a wonderful paved one-lane fire road that follows a stream. With babbling water at my side, I glided up short inclines that would level out before the next short incline as the road meandered up one of the Ramapo mountains. I do admit the inclines did not stay as meandering or short as I hoped. The road started to try my endurance with steeper and longer inclines, but coming down was heavenly (there's that word again). I will definitely need to share this road with my husband and Sandy.

Well, I hope this "swing" keeps up, 3 good rides in 3 days. I only have to work up to 12 days of riding - No Problem! Do I sound sure? I'm not sure in my own power - in fact, I was given advice today by a biking tour pro to make sure and buy Butt Balm for the chaffing -yes, on the rear end. That advice does not instill confidence in my decision to bike for 2 weeks. Praying God will help me build up a callused rear - I'm sure that is not on the top 10 list of prayer requests.
Aloha

Riding in My Dreams

Well, my dreams were the only place I was bike riding for the last week. My 2 year old came down with a wicked stomach flu and needed "Mommy" every second of every day. Just as he started feeling better, myself and 1 daughter succumbed to the bug too. I now know that I missed 2 or 3 of the better riding days so far in March (over 50 degrees). I obviously didn't know the weather at the time because I only made it out of bed for about 2 hours total each day of the weekend.

Today was my first day back riding (at the gym, the weather not so good). I would love to say I was back to my former gusto, but it was not so. I chose not to take my normal "killer" spinning class and chose instead to hide in the women's training room on the stationary bike in a corner. This way, my ego was spared as I clicked the resistance down on each hill. I only pray no sickness finds me on the actual Bike Tour. I did wonder how I would handle having the flu on the Tour. Would I bravely bike on for the 60 some miles scheduled that day, with no one but my closest riding partners knowing of my agony, all of them in awe of my determination to personally ride each and every mile?? ......

For those of you who answered this dramatic question with a loud "Yes", let me tell you a little secret about me. I might try to bike for a while in this situation, but everyone would probably know just how bad I was feeling and would be wishing I would just give it up and get into the van so they could ride in peace. Ask my husband, I am determined, but I do not suffer in silence very well.

Here's praying that the future holds better biking days and no more sickness!

My Juggling Act

Okay, Okay,
I know that I have been delinquent in keeping this blog up to date. I'm out of practice seeing as I haven't kept a diary since I was in like 6th grade. Actually, the juggling act between finding time to train at the gym and keeping up with real life has begun and as the foot-high stacks on my desk can attest, I may be dropping a ball or two. I really believe time is going to be my biggest challenge in fund raising and preparing for this Bike Tour. Every personality test I have taken clearly tells me that I value time and getting things done; yes, I am a list person. Those of you who know me did not need a personality test to tell you that about me. I hate to be late, I get annoyed when others are late (what a waste of time waiting), I rarely relax in a line, and my idea of a good day is having a list where all of the items are crossed off.
I realize that success in the next 6 months to my August biking start date is a juggling act of priorities. I need to decide ahead what things are most important and be okay with not getting everything done. I know God is pushing me to make the Bike Tour a priority as a way to make others, especially those who have little and will be helped by the money raised, a priority. More importantly, He is reminding me to keep Him a priority as I need His strength to train, raise $4000, keep my sanity, and actually ride 800 miles in two weeks.
What is exciting is the warm reception my friend Sandy (the other New Jersey mom crazy enough to join the bike tour) and I are receiving as we begin to promote the Sea to Sea Bike Tour and its cause. People's questions are genuinly curios about why we decided to ride and that leaves us an opening to tell how God worked on us and is still working. We are both humbled that others are so positive with their encouraging words and donations to help those stuck in poverty.
Well, I have 30 minutes till bed time. I guess I need to stop blogging and start "hanging out" with my husband to chit chat about the day. It's been fun. I promise to check in more often. Adios from the juggling chick.

Suzie