Run Like a Girl

The New York Times had a great article yesterday on the sport of women's running and how it is a more recent phenomenon as in new since the 70s and that although what might be considered "late in life" many women are taking to sports and racing now more than ever. I found it interesting and never put much thought into the matter. I'm lucky to have been raised and surrounded by people that made me feel I can do anything I set my mind and body to achieve and never gave a second thought to the fact that my gender might play a role in things. I just wanted to have fun. Another reason I think popularity has risen is it is such a great way to get away from things and clear your thoughts-alone. I picture myself in a pope mobile of sorts when I'm running sealed off from everything.
I have noticed more women entering races and do know that previous generations of women in my family, while indeed strong women did not participate themselves. The funny thing is I usually think about the females in my family and their strength as individuals to get me through the hard points in a race or training versus the males. I guess there is some kind of "women power" unity. The birth of the running skirt and its popularity is just one sign women are out to set their mark and are here to stay. I know I am here to stay.

aero

I've been wanting to do a group ride for awhile and noticed that Jack and Adams has a new group ride that goes out east. I've mostly been riding on the North side and West side of town so even though temps were in the 30s when I awoke Sunday morning I thought, "why not?" I made it to Jack in Adams before the wheels rolled which is accomplishment number one and stood around waiting to start. My legs were shaking, ridiculously (I can't believe how nervous I get around new people, but you learn to deal with it). Soon we were rolling and that did and usually does take away all nerves for me. The weather was slowly beginning to warm so I was comfortable going out. One of the guys said he wanted to do a sixty mile route as most of the group was only doing around twenty-six and I said I would join. My legs were a little tired from Saturday's 10 miler but just mostly on the hills and I knew I would be fine if I just kept a comfortable cadence and he assured me he would, four other guys decided to join and our little posse took off. I felt pretty good the whole ride, when I was starting to feel grouchy I ate and that helped. At about forty-five miles we pulled into Manor for a pit stop and refueling. One of the guys at the station joked around with us. "You gonna let a girl beat you guys" he said. The guys nodded their heads "yep". I knew they were holding their own and we were going the perfect pace. I was thankful to have someone lead me on a new route which made the whole ride fun and refreshing. As we were approaching the end one of the riders asked me, "I see you are in your aero bars most of the time, is it more comfortable?" I smiled back at him "Yes, I've been working on staying aero 'cause it is much more efficient." Inside I was laughing, if only Dr. Toughlove could hear the question I was asked, he would be so proud. I've been working hard on staying aero and spinning and someone noticed : )

Bikini Girl

I arrived at Big Stacy ready to take on the swim workout for Monday. I went to the locker room looked in my bag and guess what was not in there. "What am I going to do? I HAVE to swim, more for my mental well being than anything else. I dug a bit deeper and found a bikini from the summer. "Okay" I thought. "I have a suit, but a BIKINI! Can I seriously workout in that? I'm not sure that is the intention Banana Republic had when the suit was designed." I stood there not sure what to do. What was my other option, just leave? I had dinner plans in the 'hood for after so I needed to kill time anyway. I decided to put the suit on and see how I felt. Well, I felt basically half-naked, but wrapped my towel around me and charged out there. "Once I'm in the water nobody really cares most people are more concerned about themselves anyway." I convinced myself. I slowly got in the pool and felt I needed to justify my scantily clad self to the girl sharing my lane. "I left my suit at home and this is all I had." I told her blushing. "This is South Austin, you fit right in." She said.

running TO something

My parents love to tell the story of when they would go to the running track when I was little, sit me down, and tell me to wait there and they would be back. Two seconds later I would be running after them not wanting to be left behind tears streaming down my face. My Mom has done a great job of finding places for me to run when I visit San Antonio and I'm really impressed with the changes SA is starting to make. I still can't run or bike from my parents front door but there are some nice greenways within a short drive. This past weekend my Mom told me about one called Salado Creek Greenway going from Huebner Road to Blanco Road. They decided to walk it while I ran it twice, it was perfect. It was a really nice greenway other than the fact that it had a sidewalk which made it less green to me. I was excited to be on a trail and am pretty impressed with this latest effort by SA. While I was running I was thinking about how I am still running with my parents and how it is better to be running TO something versus FROM something. And I am running to something. Then it was my parents now it is a happy self so I have to thank my parents for taking me to the track when I was little and teaching me how to run to something.

The Fairy of the Accordion

Due to night falling earlier this time of year,

the Scott and I have been strapped into the dreaded Cyclops. Most weeks aren't so bad and Dr. Tough Love and I usually go at it at the H house studio with Chris Carmical streaming orders at us with brief interludes of pictures of Lance riding the tour making it all look so effortless. Dr. TL has been sick lately so I've been at my house with my tennis-loving roommate looking at me quizzically head tilted and barking at me to go faster with a smirk across his face. I just keep thinking of the guys racing on trainers in The Triplets of Belleville and close my eyes and think of riding through Zurich and the Texas Hill Country.