Well, it's Mother's Day. After seeing my mom for her day, it occurred to me that it really is time to finally get those donation request letters out. I can't wait any longer, as the year just keeps marching on.
This year, we are trying to go the electronic route for fundraising. Here's the link to our PMC online donation page. If you would prefer to send us a check, then that is fine to- send me an email and I'll drop the info & a SASE in the mail to you. The important thing is that we get your donation - we have a $3,000 goal this year. Remember - last year, 100% of all rider-raised funds went directly to cancer care and research. It's impossible to be any more efficient than that. As always, your donation is tax-deductible.
Our training is somewhat on hold for the moment, as Ken is at the apex of his allergy season. He can breathe better closer in toward the city, so it's probably only a few more days of misery for him out here. We learned earlier in the season that it is counter-productive to force him to ride when he can't breathe - he just gets sick and doesn't even get to have any fun. So it's best for us to wait for the serious riding - it'll be here soon enough. I've been getting in a ride or two during the week, though, when the weather cooperates, and as soon as Ken can breathe, we'll be riding at least Tuesday nights whenever possible. I'm up to about 210 miles so far this year, but I cannot WAIT for Ken to feel better.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
April Wrap Up
Well, now that Blogger has decided our blog ISN'T a spam blog (thanks, guys) - we are back on track.
We had a wonderful stretch of summer-like weather for most of the middle of April. It was beautiful - riding without the neoprene booties and those ridiculous tights was a welcome relief (it was also nice not to freeze). Of course, it was allergy season, and Ken was sidelined by a nasty cold/upper respiratory infection for most of it, the poor guy.
On Saturday, April 12 (click on the "show elevation" button in the left hand column) we went on a long-ish ride for this time of year (for us). It was a beautiful day - the forecast had been for 50s and showers, and we ended up with 75 and sunny. No complaints there. So we changed plans, rushed home, and got out the bikes. As we stepped out the door, it was sprinkling. By the stop sign 2 houses away, it was drizzling. As we started the first big-ish climb, it was pouring. And by the time we got to the orchard hilltops in Harvard, there was lightening and thunder. But at least it was a warm rain. We were about 1/3 of the way into our ride at that point. The rest of the ride was uneventful and beautiful (and steamy). We were a bit wet & soggy, but we did see a herd of deer grazing in a field in Harvard (once again by the Old Frog Pond Farm - apparently those organic growers ARE helping wildlife). Ken started cramping up about 8 miles from home, and simply wasn't speaking to me (or anyone else, I would assume) by the time we got home. Then, of course, he caught a cold, which was awful. Missed a day of work, even. Felt terrible for about a week and a half.
Since then, we've been taking it a bit easy. Ken has been riding the trainer a few mornings a week. I've been doing a weekly ride with some friends in town on Thursday mornings. In fact, last week, I conquered a nemesis hill of mine (but just barely). It didn't help that I was leapfrogging with a garbage truck up the hill starting at mile 10. With the allergies, my lungs were raw & burning at the top of the hill, and I coughed a lot for the following 24 hours while the burning continued. I can't wait to try that one AFTER allergy season but before its 90 degrees and humid.
So not including the roughly two hours of mountain biking that we did last weekend (it was yucky and cold, and seemed like a fun thing to do) I rode 115 miles in April, and burned 5630 kcals doing it over a combined 8 hours and 40 minutes. It wont be too long before a single ride is that long...
Total for the year for Karen: 191 miles or so. Not great, but better than last year.
With the days getting longer, I'm hoping we might start riding an evening a week, and one longer ride on the weekend, and then increase from there... We'll see. There is that whole work/reality thing.
We had a wonderful stretch of summer-like weather for most of the middle of April. It was beautiful - riding without the neoprene booties and those ridiculous tights was a welcome relief (it was also nice not to freeze). Of course, it was allergy season, and Ken was sidelined by a nasty cold/upper respiratory infection for most of it, the poor guy.
On Saturday, April 12 (click on the "show elevation" button in the left hand column) we went on a long-ish ride for this time of year (for us). It was a beautiful day - the forecast had been for 50s and showers, and we ended up with 75 and sunny. No complaints there. So we changed plans, rushed home, and got out the bikes. As we stepped out the door, it was sprinkling. By the stop sign 2 houses away, it was drizzling. As we started the first big-ish climb, it was pouring. And by the time we got to the orchard hilltops in Harvard, there was lightening and thunder. But at least it was a warm rain. We were about 1/3 of the way into our ride at that point. The rest of the ride was uneventful and beautiful (and steamy). We were a bit wet & soggy, but we did see a herd of deer grazing in a field in Harvard (once again by the Old Frog Pond Farm - apparently those organic growers ARE helping wildlife). Ken started cramping up about 8 miles from home, and simply wasn't speaking to me (or anyone else, I would assume) by the time we got home. Then, of course, he caught a cold, which was awful. Missed a day of work, even. Felt terrible for about a week and a half.
Since then, we've been taking it a bit easy. Ken has been riding the trainer a few mornings a week. I've been doing a weekly ride with some friends in town on Thursday mornings. In fact, last week, I conquered a nemesis hill of mine (but just barely). It didn't help that I was leapfrogging with a garbage truck up the hill starting at mile 10. With the allergies, my lungs were raw & burning at the top of the hill, and I coughed a lot for the following 24 hours while the burning continued. I can't wait to try that one AFTER allergy season but before its 90 degrees and humid.
So not including the roughly two hours of mountain biking that we did last weekend (it was yucky and cold, and seemed like a fun thing to do) I rode 115 miles in April, and burned 5630 kcals doing it over a combined 8 hours and 40 minutes. It wont be too long before a single ride is that long...
Total for the year for Karen: 191 miles or so. Not great, but better than last year.
With the days getting longer, I'm hoping we might start riding an evening a week, and one longer ride on the weekend, and then increase from there... We'll see. There is that whole work/reality thing.
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