Monday, May 31, 2010

High Altitude Training

Ok, so maybe not mile-high training.  Today we biked Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park, from Loft Mt Wayside to Big Meadows and back.  The park is high enough elevation to feel considerable cooler than Charlottesville, and the tree cover is beautiful and shady. 

From MS 150 Rides
The plan was for 60 miles (30 out, 30 back), but at Swift Run Gap I stopped and asked and Amy pick me up on her way out of the park. I felt like a quitter, but considering everything I did this weekend it did not seem too bad.  I still did 43 miles, and it was the largest climb in one ride for me - 1300'.
From MS 150 Rides

Me and Amy at Big Meadows Visitor Center on Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park. She beat me up the mountain by 45 minutes! I was glad to finish, and beat the thunderstorm looming in the background.
From MS 150 Rides
Saturday I rode 53 miles and the climb was 700'.  96 miles in one weekend.  Not bad.  And I feel pretty good.  A little sore and tired, but no major muscle or joint issues.

From MS 150 Rides

Friday, May 28, 2010

From Blogger Pictures

A big thanks to our wonderful friends Amy and Mattie for kitten-sitting over the weekend! The cats adjusted fine to their new environment, and Amy and Mattie did a great job. Billy and Miley say, "Thank you for hosting us, so we did not have to stay at home, bored and alone!"

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Happy Aniversary, Billy Ray and Miley

A year ago today I brought home two sick foster kittens from the SPCA.  They had eye infections and upper-respitory illness.  Someone at the SPCA named them Billy Ray and Miley.  I had to force-feed them with a syringe because they were underweight and uninterested in eating (especially Billy). 

From Our Kittens

Before long they were feeling better and I realized how special they were.  We had 10 foster kittens before them, and although it was hard giving them back, I was able to do it.  With these guys I became very attached very quickly.  And maybe it was because they were so sick and we nursed them back to health.  But they were very well behaved (as well as kittens can be) and loving. 

From Our Kittens

We travel a lot, and it took me a lot to convince Tom to keep them.  My parents have been wonderful in cat-sitting for our long trips (especially to New Zealand), and the kittens don't seem to mind too much (but Smokey does).  We got them used to traveling at an early age.


From Our Kittens

 Tom is a very good Kitty Daddy and performs all feeding duties, including the 6am meal every morning when Billy scratches our bedroom door. They are very spoiled and get fed every 3-5 hours because we can't leave the food out our else Billy gorges himself on his and Miley's food after she walks away when full.  I perform all litter-scooping duties, a less glamorous job, but rewarded when Miley insists on leaving me a present every time I am in the middle of scooping.  I have coined the terms "Food Czar" for Tom, and "Poo Czar" for me. 


From Kittens: Growing Up Schultz


These two guys have a special place in our hearts, and look forward to many more years with them.



Our Kittens



Kittens: Growing Up Schultz

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Today's Ride - 35 miles

Except for the shady sections, it was a hot ride today, and a little windy towards the end, but it felt great to get back out there.  I took a long warm-up and stopped to stretch several times, plus before and after the ride.  I am sill feeling a little scared to push my speed for fear of hurting my leg again, which is still a little stiff.  Thank you Amy and Mattie for organizing the ride and staying with me. 

34.4 miles went by pretty quickly.  And even though I stopped a lot, my average speed was a good 12 mph.


From MS 150 Rides

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Back in the saddle.

The bike saddle, that is.  After two weeks of moderate rest after I hurt my leg, I ramped up my riding.  I have been riding my bike to work almost every day, which is a great way to wake up in the morning and wind down in the afternoon. 

I was traveling for the last five days to Ohio for my brother-in-law's graduation from U. of Toledo Law School.  We also stopped at the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland and the Heinz Museum in Pittsburg.  I tried to exercise as much as I could at the hotel gyms.

This weekend it's back to training with the MS150 Team.