I don’t really have any winners this week I was so busy I never even got out my camera!

Would you believe this is the only photo I took all week??? My sweet husband loves to make faces in photos. I have very few photos of him without silly faces.

Scott and I rode in the Bike MSroad bike ride in Logan, Utah this weekend. We rode 100 miles on Saturday and 75 miles on Sunday. It was the best century I have done so far, It felt surprisingly easy compared to the other century rides have done. It was a lot of fun and it was for a great cause.

This week I would definitely go visit Lotus at Sarcastic Mom to view all the Weekly Winners participants. I’m sure there are many better photos than mine

Mountain biking season is in full swing.

Monday morning Scott and I decided to take Nora to the Ark and go on a bike ride together. I wasn’t sure if my legs could handle it after the century on Saturday, but I managed.

We decided to go up Fink Again and head up to Flying Dog. It was absolutely perfect weather, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. As we got started my legs were really tired. Literally within the first 2 minutes I felt tired like I couldn’t go on. But then I got warmed up and things got easier. It’s funny how that happens. I have been on so many rides like that–at the very beginning I wonder if I am going to be able to make it. Then after a few more minutes I get in the groove and things get easier.

We rode up for about 2 hours. The back of Flying Dog is so beautiful. I love it this time of year. Everything is green and the wildflowers are blooming everywhere. The Aspen trees are leafing out and making it nice and shady. It smelled wonderful.

It was a good ride, and I really enjoyed being out there with Scott. We stopped and took a few photos and then headed down to pick up Nora.

This past weekend I completed my second century, or 100 mile, bike ride.

It was the Cycle Salt Lake Century and I did it with Scott and my friend Lindsey. This was a much easier course than the last century I did. However, the last one I did was in the fall. I was in much better shape for that one because I had an entire summer of biking behind me.

This course was essentially flat. We started out at the State Fairgrounds and went up towards Kaysville and out to Antelope Island. I felt great on this ride–until about mile 65. I literally kept thinking that the ride was going great and I wasn’t even tired at all. I felt like I could keep riding all day. Then we started heading out on the causeway towards Antelope Island. The wind picked up a bit and I noticed I was a bit tired. I dropped back behind Scott and Lindsey a little bit, and then I was in trouble. They didn’t notice that I had dropped back so I ended up riding alone in the wind. It really took a lot out of me. Add to that the horrible bugs and I was really struggling. The bugs were swarming. They were hitting me in the face, going up my nose, and crawling around in my hair. I definitely ate a few. Yuck!

From there until lunch at about mile 80 was really hard for me. My quads were really cramping up and my legs just felt so tired. Scott and Lindsey were great. They slowed down to ride at my pace and let me draft for a bit. I had a good rest at lunch. We made one more stop after that, and I seemed to get my second wind. The last 20 or so miles ended up being easier and as I got closer and closer to the finish I got more and more energy.

I had the best popsicle and Diet Pepsi at the finish! We all just sat in the tent for a few minutes and relaxed and then headed to Settebello for the best pizza in Utah.

It was a lot of fun and I was really proud of myself!

Our weather has been great and I have been fully taking advantage of it. I went out for a rode bike ride the last two days. Then today I actually went for a mountain bike ride.

I saw Vicky at school at morning drop off. She was all dressed in her bike clothes and was going to go for a ride. Nora and I had music class, so I couldn’t go with Vicky. But all morning I kept looking at how beautiful it was outside and wishing I could go for a quick ride in the mountains too.

I had coffee with Yori and I convinced her to go on a ride with me. We dropped Nora off at the Ark and off we went.

It was great!

I am so glad that we went out. We just did a short little ride on the Stealth trail at Glenwild. It was still muddy and there were a few puddles in some spots, but the trail was surprisingly dry. It just felt so good to be out on my bike. My legs were a little tired and I felt winded a few times, but for my first ride I was pretty happy with my conditioning. But I was really proud of how brave I was

I have always been a timid mountain biker. I just hate falling. I wimp out and don’t try to ride things that I could because I don’t want to fall. I have had a mental block on switch backs ever since I started. My very first mountain bike ride I fell on a switch back. I don’t think I ever forgot about it. But this year I have been giving myself some pep talks and thinking positively. I keep telling myself that I am great at switch backs

Today I stopped to wait for Yori just before a mildly steep rocky and muddy section. I wasn’t going to even attempt to ride it. Yori encouraged me and we both tried it. She went first, but didn’t quite make it. I tried and I totally could have made it, but I just got scared and stopped pedaling at the top. I decided to get off my bike and walk down and try it again. That was a huge step for me! The second time I rode up it perfectly.

Later in the trail there is a really steep section with a bunch of big rocks. We practiced on that section last year when I did the Dirt Series mountain bike camp. I remember standing in line last year and I was TERRIFIED. I nearly cried before it was my turn. I didn’t even want to attempt it. I was so scared and I did make an effort to try to ride it, but I gave up pretty quickly and walked up. This year I had a whole new attitude. I tried and almost made it up. I got hung up on the last big rock. I attempted it again, and got hung up in the same spot. I didn’t try again, but next time I definitely will. Last summer I didn’t think I would ever see the day when I would ride that section, but now I know that sometime soon I will do it!

And then there were two……bike riders, that is!

Emma decided that today was the day she was going to learn to ride her bike. That was pretty much all it took. She just had to decide she was ready, and I knew that she would be able to do it.

I showed her how to get one pedal at the top of the crank. Then to put her foot on the upper pedal and push off while she got her other foot on the pedal. She started working on that. She did it over and over until she started getting a pedal stroke or two. She worked really hard on it. Her shins were getting a bit beat up from the pedals. The bike she is riding is too small for her, and not meant to be ridden without training wheels. It doesn’t have brakes, and the pedals turn when the wheels are turning. When she gets going the pedals keep turning an hit her in the shins. She stopped and took a break and rode her scooter for a bit.

A few minutes later I looked out the window and she was riding her bike again. Before long she was putting four and five pedal strokes together. She was so proud of herself. All she had to do was get a little taste of it, and then she worked really hard, over and over until she got it.

By the end of the day she was flying up and down the driveway. She was beaming because she was so proud of herself. I was proud of her for working so hard and accomplishing the goal she set for herself. Way to go Emma!

Earlier this week Scott and I signed up for another century bike ride–that’s 100 miles!

Yesterday I finally decided to get back on my bike. I rode the trainer in my basement while I watched one of our Spinervals DVDs. Once I got going I started to wonder if signing up for the century was such a good idea. The DVD totally kicked my butt! I couldn’t believe how out of shape I felt. The last time I did that workout, it was so much easier.

I guess the good news is that I still have almost 2 months until the bike ride. Now I should have some motivation to start exercising on a regular basis!

Another nice day in Maui!

I got to go on another bike ride today. It was kind of spur of the moment. The guys went and picked up their rental bikes. When they got back they wanted to to go for a quick ride. I was going to rest today–my legs were exhausted from spinning and riding yesterday. But, I figured I could handle a quick ride.

We ended up going just as far yesterday, but I didn’t attempt to ride the big hill that they call “the wall”. I didn’t make it up yesterday and I knew I couldn’t make it today. Maybe after I rest my legs I’ll try it the next time. Bryan, Scott, and Dad went and did it, while Mary and I stood there and enjoyed the view while we waited for them. Bryan brought his camera today so we were able to get a few pictures.

This is just one of the many fantastic views we got to see on the ride. There are so many hills, which make the ride harder, but they also make for some amazing views. One of these days I am going to have to go ride it in the car so I can get some photos with my camera.

I am happy to report that my spinning classes have paid off.

My dad and I picked up our bikes today. The bike I got is a nice Cannondale rode bike. We planned to just ride them home from the bike shop, but our little bike ride turned into a 3 hour ride. I wish I had my camera because the views were amazing. But, I guess I’ll just have to wait until we do it again to take some photos.

It has probably been at least 5 years since I have ridden the ride we did today. Back then I wasn’t a biker at all. Still, there are so many elevation changes. The last time I did it, I remember the hills being killer. Today, however, they were so much easier than I remembered them. I am sure it was because I am in so much better shape now than I was back then. Plus I have a lot more experience on my bike.

It was really a lot of fun and I felt lucky to be out there with my Dad!

I went to another spinning class this morning.

I haven’t been feeling well the last few days. I think the cold I have been fighting finally caught up with me. Yesterday I was thinking I wasn’t going to make it to spinning. But, Vicky called me in the afternoon and told me that she had signed up both up. So I was stuck

I got up this morning and dragged myself there. The Saturday class is an hour and a half. I haven’t done the Saturday class so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It ended up being 75 minutes of spinning and 15 minutes of ab work.

I was really glad that I went. I felt pretty good in the class. Today I felt like I was able to push the tension a little bit higher and still kept my cadence up. My heart rate didn’t get quite as high today, either. I felt like I pushed myself hard. At one point we were supposed to simulate climbing a hill. I always have a hard time with that. Today I imagined myself climbing up Brown’s Canyon like I did in the Summit Challenge. I figure the harder I can push in class the easier it will be when I get out there and ride it again.

I think I’ll be glad I pushed myself when I am out riding the hills of Maui in a few weeks. Thanks, Vicky, for helping me get to class today

Saturday Scott and I did the Heber Valley Century. It was my first 100 mile bike ride and it was HARD.

Earlier in the summer, when I got my road bike, I saw this century ride and I wanted to do it. I didn’t think we would be able to do it because some of our friends were getting married that day. Last week I looked at the schedule again, and figured out that we just might be able to fit it in. The ride started at 8:00am and the wedding was at 5:30pm in Milcreek Canyon. I figured we could go planning on doing the century, and if there wasn’t enough time we could just do the 65 mile ride. We ended up doing the 100 mile ride and we just barely made it!

The weather was beautiful. It was a gorgeous fall day. The leaves and the scenery were amazing. The course was nice, but it was hard. Scott has done 4 other centuries this summer, and he said this was the hardest course of all of them. There were a few big climbs and a lot of little rolling hills. I felt great until we got to mile 59. From mile 59 to 70 I really struggled. I felt exhausted and the course was very hilly through Wanship. Those 11 miles seemed to take forever. I kept telling myself that once I saw the mileage turn to 75 I would be home free.

And it really was true. The last 25 miles went by pretty quickly, even though there was one of the biggest climbs at about mile 85. I just put it in my granny gear and kept pedaling. It was a long steep hill, but I felt great. I knew once I got to the top it was all downhill back to the finish.

I was really proud of myself for doing it and completing the ride. Scott was an awesome partner. He waited for me and let me draft when I was tired. I had such a great time just being out there with him. It was really neat that we were able to do it together. I am looking forward to doing some more centuries next summer!