Thursday, January 12, 2012

Trying to look cool

What can I say?
We had yet another day/ weekend of absolutely perfect weather!
The hub and I decided to get outside with some exercise as much as we can. We don't get too many days in the 70's here in Coastal Ga.
After our long run Saturday, we set out for a long bike ride to the north end of the Island, typically a ‘less traveled’ area of the island where you can actually ride your bike on the road (still praying you don’t get hit from behind). There are also awesome bike paths, trails, and rest stops on the way (with a wonderful playground, if you have kids).
And did I mention the view?

Sorry for the blur-it copied into this crappy blogger this way

The only problem with perfect weather is that the bugs (a.k.a. sand gnats) love this weather, too! (For those fortunate enough to not be familiar with the gnats, they are micro-scopic little insects that you can only feel nibbling at your inner core-you can't see them)
They were definitely out in full force on Sunday and nibbled on the hub while we stopped and snapped a couple of pics (definitely, not coordinated to ride and take pics at the same time).
For some reason, they don’t mess with me like they do him…I guess I am just too sweet!
J
So, this was actually my 3rd time riding the bike with my clip pedal shoes. I am NOT in love. In fact, I believe I have become a bit uncoordinated as I have aged (I danced ballet for 20+ years-where did that coordination go?), as I fell again (note I said again…2 times now…the 1st hardly counts though, for reasons I shall not mention).

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Do these shorts make anyone look good? I feel like a stuffed sausage.
Fortunately, I only had a scrape, as my “extra cushion” on my butt and hips saved me, and I bounced right back up (probably from shear embarrassment as 1 car traveling by ALMOST stopped to see if I was okay-they slowed-that’s good enough for me-they probably saw me come up like a tiger, cursing the entire time, and figured I was just fine). Funny though I NEVER fall on the grass…it’s always on the hard-ass pavement! My luck.

I’m not making excuses (never), but I seriously think it’s my clips. I have the old school, medal kind. They are small, round and you have to be exact, something rather hard to do while steering a bike, looking down and back up so no one rams in to you. I am sure a lot of people still use them...maybe just not me.
The hub’s are the new LOOKS hard plastic kind, which appear to be more ‘user friendly.’ I have talked to several people and they agreed that the new ones are easier to use.
 Just to prove a point, when we got back from our 1.5 hr ride (geez), I had the hub put on my shoes and attempt to ride my bike with the medal clips. He agreed they are MUCH harder and he could see how I would have a problem and bust my a**(they are a bear to get out)!
Honestly, they freak me out and make me feel like I am trapped on the bike. I need to get over this (maybe a 1/4 of a zanex would help), as this is probably all in my head and suppose to be fun. However, I cannot imagine the fall I would take if I had to get out of them quickly, perhaps dodging a car.
I am not giving up on the shoes (as they are way cool Pearl Izumi’s and fully functionable) or the bike, for now. But, if I continue to ‘not grasp the concept’ of the clips, I shall switch back to regular bike pedals. Going old school…and loving it!
I know what you are thinking… "LL-you won’t look cool" or (attempt to) look like a professional. But, I’ve never seen Lance sporting one of these on race day, either…..


NOTE TO SELF: Pack a granola bar for the next ride, as I missed my mid-morning snack and lunch on this ride! Hunger pains didn't help.
On a different note, another blogger’s post this week has been on my mind, a LOT.
It seems a cousin/ family friend/ runner of SUAR (insert link) blogger out of Colorado disappeared while running on her normal 6:30 am Saturday morning run in Montana. She is a 40+ year old female, mother, wife, teacher, coach, etc…
From what I have read, it sounds like the town is very small, around 5,000 people, slightly smaller than where I live.
I initially thought  assumed she might have been attacked by wildlife of sorts (maybe this being the best case scenario now), due to her living in Montana (somewhere I would imagine has a lot of bears, mountain lions, etc). However, the more I read, it sounds like law enforcement believes it to rather be an abduction (probably because they have discovered her shoe-in fact, the Sherriff now the FBI is involved).
Another theory is that someone hit her and decided to move her or hide her body, instead of doing the 'right thing' and calling the police.
Not only is this very, very sad but all theories scare the SHIT out of me. I mean, seriously, you do NOT know who is watching you and your every move and maybe knows that you run every Saturday morning through the same area at/ around the same time.
It’s a sad day when you can no longer take a run or walk outside by yourself for fear of someone abducting you.
What's even sadder is that they may NEVER find anything of her. So sad for the family, as I would imagine closure is the next best thing to having her home. The 'unknown' will give you nightmares.
It has made me seriously think about my runs and my daily routine and to try and make it not so ‘routine’, even so much that I hopped on the dreaded 'mill on Tuesday evening, rather than running alone, at night, in my neighborhood. Too, I plan on picking up some pepper to run with me (like I need something else to carry). Ijust hope I would have the thought and quickness to use it if I needed to.
Please think about what you do and always be aware of your surroundings (something kind of hard to do when you are running and focused and have your headphones on-definitely not a good idea but I am not sure I can break this habit? Maybe I will start with one ear bud, turned down low).
Be safe out there, fellow friends and runners!

2 comments:

  1. Clips - schmips! I have the old school pedals...I'm thinking about adding a "basket" to them, but would never even think about clips! I have a hard enough time as it is...so I commend you that you're giving it a try!

    And I totally know how you feel about schedule. That's part of the reason I started going to the gym instead of running outside. Since I run so early there isn't much traffic...which is good for me, but also scares the crap out of me. No one will be around when that scary looking van with black windows pulls up and grabs me! And there are NO street lights in my neighborhood which makes it even scarier in the dark!

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    1. I thought about the baskets and may end up going to that. I seem to be the only person having a tought time with them.
      As for running outside, I consider myself to be sort of safe, as I do not run in the dark and I run on well traveled, crowded roads. That doesn't mean that I don't stand the chance of getting hit. It's definitely a double edge sword and like I said, a sad day when you have to 'arm' yourself just to go outside for a run or walk. And we/ I didn't even mention the scare of dog attacks...geez!

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