chickenhawk

In my eagerness to let off steam from my Sunday biking debacle I neglected to convey the beautiful run I had on Saturday. One of the great joys I had when I would run in New York was seeing the hawks in Prospect Park and Central Park while I was running. Wildlife in Texas is a bit more prevalent and I frequently see hawks up on the lampposts overseeing the goings on of Mopac. This Saturday as I was running down Shoal Creek a hawk flew right in front of me swooped down to the grass and then quickly flew back up and into the trees again. I've NEVER had a hawk get so close to me, he was gorgeous and amazing. I've always admired there strong grace, . Here's a picture of the Scott as I drag myself to work, wishing I was able to get on and pedal away instead. I consoled myself in the fact that we had a date to ride later in the day.

Let me out!

This was the Scott as we waited for the guys of Austin Bikes to show up for the 9 AM group ride. This was also the Scott as we drove home from the group ride because nobody came and I figured if I was going to ride by myself I'd rather go later when it was warmer. Neither one of these freebirds likes to be locked up in a car staring at a barbed wire fence when it is early in the morning and COLD. It took me awhile to get over, but I made it out for a late afternoon ride on my own when the weather was much more pleasant and my mood had improved, the ride itself helped improve my mood as did going by the kite festival. I rode the 360 loop and felt really good on the hills. I latched onto a rider starting out and he said I could ride with him as he was going around 45 miles and that is about what I wanted to do. At the beginning I thought I would have trouble keeping up with him especially since he said he wanted to do the Tour de Hugel and hills are my weakness. When I passed him going up our first hill I knew I was a bit stronger. I waited after each climb because I felt like I said we could ride together, but ended up losing him around Mopac (I waited for a good while at the top of a hill), hmm I hope he is okay, well I guess it just wasn't a good day for group riding, but I felt good out there on the Scott and had fun taking a lap around Great Northern oh and had fun catching and passing the guy on the bike who jetted out in front of me at the light - the Scott is amazing. Do you think that maybe I'm a wee bit competitive? I know if I rode with the shop guys I would have been spanked so ...

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.