Trestle Trail! I'm a little obsessed...

 My bike rides last year were carefully planned out between runs and swims.  I had mileage spelled out in my date book week by week and rides felt like work.  It was all in my head, and when I got to RAGBRAI, I was completely brainwashed.  The heat and the hills were hard, I was sick, I was recovering from mono... I talked myself into hating my bike and my tent, two of the things I love more than anything!

This winter I got hooked on spin classes.  It was a different ride.  I "spun" twice a week at least.  I loved that I didn't know how far I rode and I didn't have to go if I didn't want to.

When the weather started to turn unseasonably warm a few weeks ago, I took my bike out to check out the High Trestle Trail.
I was expecting a struggle, but I got from Madrid to the bridge in no time flat, and I was loving it! I rode the rest of the way to Woodward and sat down to catch my breath.

I was loving the wind in my face so much that I didn't notice how tired my legs were.
I took a little break to have a snack... When did I become a rabbit? Eh...
And rode back.
12 miles in all, and I considered another 5-6... I went out once more last week when I was having a rough day.  Just rode to the bridge and back.  I found myself smiling on the drive back into town.  All of a sudden when I'm not "training", riding has become a love of mine again.  So I'm not going to train for a triathlon this year, I'm just going to work on my relationship with cycling and enjoy a leisurely ride for what it is. 

On another note, I always try to fill my gas tank and grab a Gatorade at the local gas station in Madrid when I ride the trail.  Just doing my part to boost the economy and give a little "thank you" to the community for building the trail through their back yard. 

I'm no longer the "mayor" of the YMCA on foursquare, but I'm a day away from being the "mayor" of the High Trestle Trail.  And I'm okay with that.

Fall Into Fitness

This isn’t really a Friday Favs.  I kinda did a Friday favs thing yesterday… plus, this is my blog! So shut up! 

Anyway.  What I’m SO excited about today is completely endorphin fueled.  I was fully planning on going to a 10:00 am workout class at the Walnut Creek YMCA, but I couldn’t fall asleep last night after I got off work…  So I just ended up going to a spin class at noon.  

I admit, I pledged to walk 1K for the “Start Somewhere” walk… And I didn’t.  Instead, I took an intense spin class with 3 guys discussing Ironman Madison…  I will also admit that I keep calling it the “Start Something” walk and I envision people on the streets of downtown DSM getting into it over parking spaces and spilled mochas.  

So the Des Moines Y is having a fall challenge where you get a signature for every class you take in October and November, and if you take 30 classes in 60 days you get a T-shirt.  Well… I am SO freaking motivated by free stuff it’s not even funny.  

So I found out about this challenge on Tuesday during my Yoga class, so I immediately got a card and got my first signature.  Since then, I took a spin class on Wednesday, went to an intense Y-Pump class on Thursday that I usually go to, and then took a spin class today when I would have usually just gone for a walk or done my own ‘stationary bike with a mag’ thing.  

As I’m walking out I’m counting my 4 signatures over and over again and I keep getting 5…  Tuesday… Wednesday… Thursday… Friday… AND ONE MORE?! What the heck? So as I get to my car in the parking lot I finally look at the signatures.  The spin dude today signed it twice!  Just because it was my lucky day!  I know he did it on purpose because… well, I just know!  I was totally geeking out in my car.  Clearly, I’m still geeking out.  

Thanks for making my day spin dude.