Sunday AM Bike Ride

59 degrees and foggy this AM!  Met up at 6:30 at Eastminster and rode 53 miles round trip to Wabasso.  Fog never burned off, but at least it kept the weather cool for us.  Took us less than 3 hours to get back.  Rode 20mph average on the way down and 18mph back.

Beach Run

After our swim on Friday, we drove over to Millenium Park for our run.  What a great day for a run on the beach!    I took Suzanne's lead and took my shoes off for the run, but I hadn't been running at all on the beach.  So needless to say, I ended up with a blood blister on the bottom of my big toe, but luckily I was able to finish my 4-mile run.    The weather has been perfect here in Melbourne, FL! 

Nutrition Tip

Had to post this awesome lunch I made myself!  I know....  should have taken the picture before I started eating it, but I didn't think of it...  Anyway, Patti was telling me about the PBnS Sandwiches she used to eat (peanut butter and spinach, yes, spinach)!  I'll have to try that someday... but I did take her lead and toasted a couple of pieces of ezekiel bread, spread on some nut cheese I got from the Happy Healthy Human, and packed on some spinach and alfalfa sprouts...  yummmmmmmy!  I was really surprised at how good it was!  Filling and guilt free!

Happy Birthday, Patti!

Happy Birthday, Patti!!  Hope you had a good birthday swim and run!!  I did!

Gear Review: Louis Garneau Bike Shorts

Went to Petty's Saturday night to pick up dinner and spontaneously decided to walk over to Infinity Bike Shop to check out their bike shorts because I knew we had the 50-miler the next day.  Tried on a few pair and decided on the Louis Garneau Women's Alveo Zone 8+ shorts because the padding felt really good!  After getting home, I was having buyer's remorse because they were $120!!  Almost didn't wear them and thought about taking them back, but I was tired of being in pain after every long ride, so I decided to give them a try.  After Sunday's 54 mile ride, they were worth every penny!  LOVE THEM!   I wasn't in any pain at all!  After checking the internet though to get some pics to post here, I found a couple of sites that have them for a lot cheaper since they are last year's model:  Triathlete Sports, TriVillage.com, and MyCyclingGear.  You can also get the specs at one of those links if you're interested.  Looks like the updated model might be the Alveo 3K in case you're interested.

Sunday's Ride 2/13/2011

What a difference 4 hours makes!! I got up to a cold 41 degrees and the wind blowing 5-10 miles per hour. Praying for that text from Suzanne that tells me it is too cold...not going today! Never materialized....left my house at 6:20 (don't want to get there one minute too soon) for the church parking lot..for a 6:30 ride....My birthday ride....(54 miles)....you can figure it out....I can't lie...I was thinking I was going to ride by myself on the way back...I was with some super good bikers....but it was so great....we all stayed together and had a lot of laughs. A little scary over the Eau Gallie bridge riding East....so windy! So I pulled into my driveway about 10:30 and it had turned into a beautiful day (still windy though)....that is what the 4 hours means...I need to start posting more.....I want to be able to look back and laugh at the posts of us only running 30 minutes and riding 54 miles, and swimming for an hour....I could not do this without all the help (mentally) I am getting....thank you all for that ride Sunday!

Patti's Birthday Ride

Jackie, Belinda, Ana, Patti, Rachelle, Katrin, Tim, Suzanne

Today's Sunday ride was in honor of Patti celebrating her, ummm, birthday!!   Again we proved the concept of "the Power of Partners."  After speaking to some of the others today on our bike ride, I found out we were all eagerly waiting beside our iphones to get the text from Suzanne that our Sunday AM ride was cancelled due to weather.  I woke up this morning at 5:45AM and immediately checked my phone for a text.  Still no text...  Next, check the weather.  41 degrees with 10-12mph winds.  Check for text again...  STILL NO TEXT!  So I get out of bed and get ready to meet everyone.  Everyone was there ready and waiting...   So again, off we went in the freezing cold.  It turned out to be an AWESOME ride.  Rode North from the Melbourne Causeway to Cocoa Village a little over 25 miles one way.  Ended up with a total of 52.64 miles.  We all managed to stay together too.  Great job everyone!! 

Happy 40th, Ana!

The birthday dinner was fun...  Glad we were able to celebrate with you!

40 for 40!!!

We rode as usual this Thursday morning, but since it was Ana's 40th birthday, we rode 40 miles in honor of her!  What a great ride!!  Happy Birthday, Ana!!

Luckily someone was awake that morning(ME) otherwise Rachelle would have been following the guy that was riding with hundreds of light but he was going north. It was a nice ride, mama bear ( Suzanne) came to the rescue on the way back home to help with the pull. This time the trees really were moving (it was windy)
Well my workout yesterday was: I run 46:16 minutes, 4.21 miles, very slow pace of 10.35 but I love my run. It's my favorite thing to do of all three. This was my first long run since my knee dilemma so I'm back and I feel good today, second workout yesterday was Yoga with Kathy at the gym. It was very nice but hard for me to do yoga. The whole time I was thinking I'm so stiff I need a massage ! and my third workout was 1 hour of lifting weights upper body. See Alisha I guess I have a lot to say :)

The Power of Partners

Sunday's schedule:  Meet at EastMinster at 6:30AM for 40 mile bike ride.

Text Messaging Conversation at 6:15AM: 

  *Suzanne:  Running Late

  *Me: No prob..  we'll wait

  *Suzanne: Go ahead - I will head out later

  *Me:  Really? How late will you be ? (But what I was thinking was: "Really?  You want us to go out by ourselves?  It's too cold, windy, dark, and rainy to go out by ourselves..  Maybe she meant to send that message to someone else..."

Turns out the message really was for us...  So, if it wasn't for having my workout partner there yesterday morning, I'm sure I would have bagged the ride and went back home to my warm bed...  But instead, as Ana put it, "we were already dressed, so we're going to the party!"  So we headed out in the dark by ourselves and our crappy bike lights and got in a 40 mile bike ride before 9AM!  Thanks, Ana!

By the way, Suzanne did make it out and we met up with her on our way back and rode back with Suzanne!  Great ride, girls!!

On A1A south of the Sebastian Inlet Bridge.  Just turning around to head back, but stopping for a potty break first.

Suzanne's 50th Bday Festivities Continued...

 The birthday "festivities" continued throughout the day...  There was a 50-minute run and 50-minute core & more class that I missed unfortunately due to work, but the next thing was the 50-minute swim which I did make it to...

 The the 50-minute P90X yoga on Suzanne's back porch...

Even Jensen joined in the yoga! 

And of course, lastly, the finale at Sands in Melbourne Beach to put back on all the calories we just burned off!  Happy 50th Birthday, Suzanne!  Hope you enjoyed your day!  It was so much fun spending it with you!

For more pictures, click here:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/danrachbutler/sets/72157625974860510/

Happy 50th Birthday, Suzanne!

This pic was taken yesterday at our Noon Swim @ Gleason...

 The pictures below were taken this morning on our Thursday AM Bike, but in honor of Suzanne, it was a 50 mile bike ride!  They started out at Paradise Beach Park at 6:15AM (I met them on A1A so I only got in 42) and went down to somewhere around Pelican Island in Indian River County.  Heading South was awesome because we had a tail wind and we were able to keep a 22-23mph pace!  My fastest speed clocked in at 25!  woohoo!  Coming back though was a different story...  Major headwind so our speed was anywhere between 15-18mph.  Great ride nonetheless...

 Lisa, Suzanne, Jackie

 Rachelle, Lisa, Suzanne, Jackie

Stay tuned for more on Suzanne's 50th birthday celebration.  Next on the schedule is a 50 minute beach run, 50 minute core and more class, lunch, 50 minute swim, 50 minute yoga class  and then 50 shots at Sands tonight!

Feb. 3, 2011

Feeing good today...not sore at all. I think we are training the right way...missing the 50 mile everything today! Stop feeing guilty...instead think about going to Austin! and seeing real athletes in their element! These girls are soooo good at what they do! (Swim)

Wednesday, Feb. 2

Happy Groundhogs's Day!

A great swim today...and 30 minute run on Tropical Trail I like this run the best...missing the big birthday celebration tomorrow...leaving for Austin in the morning (Senior night for Katie). Taking my running shoes...running twice in Austin. If I write it down I will do it. :) Patti