Riding My Bike

It was finally warm enough to go out riding my bike this past long weekend, before plunging back down to single digits again this week.  I was so happy to get out and ride around.  I was able to cover so many kilometers, but more than that I was able to go further and see some new things this spring compared to the same ol’ stretch of road.  The township has yet to sweep the sidewalk here in Bridgenorth and running on it would be like running on the beach at the moment.

I have learned that I was a bit spoiled last year riding my dad’s touring bike.  Switching back to a mountain bike is a bit hard since there is more drag and the gears aren’t as high.  But I figure that once the weather is nice for good this year dad will lend it to me again and the time spent on the mountain bike will have me flying right from the start if/when I get to ride that bike again.

I have only been out on two rides and so far have only covered about 29 kms on my bike but I’m hoping that I can catch up a bit more on that over the next few weeks.

Things You Should Be Listening To

I’ve recently got into listening to podcasts in a big way and two shows that I think a lot of people would enjoy – if you can stomach excessive amounts of cursing are Hollywood Babble-on and Edumacation.  Both can be found on the iTunes store or on smodcast.com

Hollywood Babble-on is sort of the Hollywood news as read by Kevin Smith and Ralph Garman, it’s very funny and they make lots of jokes.

Edumacation is hosted by Kevin Smith and Andy McCalfrish (spelling?) and it’s kind of a science news and whatnot type of show, really fun.  I’d suggest them for riding and not running as you’d be laughing too hard to run most of the time.

13km/h

Yesterday I ran a 5.5k route out and away from my house.  I guess that last bit goes without saying, I can run toward my house when I start running.  The truth of the matter is that I have been feeling a bit slow this spring.  I think a lot of it has to do with the weather and just how much it has interfered with my running.

At this time last year I had already completed on race and won my age category!  This year I really have no drive to do that simply because the weather is so terrible and unpredictable.  For instance Sunday it was about 20°C outside, I ran, it was amazing.  Tuesday we had snow on the ground again and the high for the day was below 0°C!  Insanity!  So this week I have only run 5.5 k because I refuse to run on the treadmill again, but at the same time I don’t want to run when it’s miserable outside.

All that aside I had my fastest pace so far this year yesterday.  It was a sunny 8°C and I felt like I could really move for a change. Shorts and a long sleeve cold gear shirt and I was off.  One thing I have really noticed this year since I haven’t been able to run through the main part of town is that I have to have music with a high beats per second in order to keep my feet going quickly.

II think it has to do with a few different things.  Through town if seems like I am going quick, there are buildings and posts and signs all close to the road that if you are running quickly you pass by them fast, I get a real sense of movement.  Out on the back road I pass fields and forests. They are pretty to look at, but I don’t get a sense of movement from them so it’s easier to have a slower pace.  However music with a high beats per second helps to keep the feet moving!  I want to go in time with the beat subconsciously and so the faster the music the easier it is to make my feet go that fast.

I was aware of that yesterday and skipped over songs that I knew were a bit slower.  I finally broke 13 km/h as a result of the nice weather and good music and not feeling drained after work.  It feels good to be faster again!

Shorts and a T-shirt

Finally yesterday I ran in my usual running clothes.  Actually I ran twice!  I set out first in the early morning – well early for most folks on a Sunday – at about 8. I decided I was going to go a bit further and so when I ran down to Holden Rd. instead of turning back around I just turned up Holden and then continued to make my loop around.  6.85k on the early run in sweats and a hoodie.

After going to see Captain America with Pete and his lads it was still amazingly beautiful outside and so I decided that I should run again.  it was about 15°C in the sun and so I just got on my shorts and a underarmour shirt.  It was a little chilly on the hands as the start but it was awesome overall.

So great to run in just like my summer get up you know?  It felt great too, I actually felt fast.  I haven’t felt like I was going too fast the last while running outside.  I think part of that is the routes I have taken and the other part is that I am wearing big baggier clothes and yet another part is that I am just running on the back road, not really passing things that are close to the road.  If I run on the main street i pass houses and driveways and have to go by cars waiting to turn and all, but just trees back from the road a bit on this route.

I’m quite pleased that I’ve been outside running five days in the past two weeks (and once on the treadmill) let’s hope this actual spring weather continues!

Friend Making Monday–Random Questions

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

This week’s random questions come to you from Tyra who blogs over at Random Acts of Snark. Thanks Tyra for the awesome questions.

1. Have you ever had a reoccurring dream? What was it?

No, I might dream something a couple times over a week or something but nothing I would refer to as recurring.

2. What was the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?

Some people think sushi is weird…  I has some weird food creations on an anniversary dinner a couple years ago because they were all super high end hoity toity food things.

3. Can you comfortably eat in a restaurant by yourself? Go to movie?

Yes to both, what is so weird about going to a movie or eating by yourself?

4. What would you leave in your will for the person you care about the most?

If I died right now? Amber would get it all I guess.  Pete could have my comic books though.

5. Would you rather…Go without television or fast food for the rest of your life?

Fast food easily.  I haven’t eaten McDonalds or the like in years already anyways.

6. What was the best thing that happened to you this past week?

I got to see the Canadiens thump the Senators for only about 8 rows back from the benches at centre ice! 

7. List the food items you take at a salad bar.

Um, I don’t normally go to restaurants that have salad bars.  I’d take like, salad though.

8. If you were in the “Miss America” talent competition, what would your talent be? (Note: both guys & gals have to answer this question)

Karate, impress the judges and take out a few of the competition!

9. What do you keep in the trunk of your car?

I have like a roadside emergency kit, jumper cables, a blanket and all that, and a tire pump that plugs into the cigarette lighter.

10. How many rings before you answer the phone?

At least two at work or at home.  At home it’s usually because I can’t find the phone.