Comments (10)

By kilax, July 1, 2016 4:13 am

I was really REALLY hoping I’d have a chance to cycle while we were in Alaska. I thought about researching it before hand, but decided to wait and see if anyone was interested while we were there.

On our first day, walking around downtown Anchorage, I saw a bike shop (Downtown Bicycle Rental) and pulled my snister’s husband, Will, aside with me to check it out. We got the spiel about their tours and rental prices and took a brochure. I was excited and told my dad and Will (and a few others) I’d really like to rent a bike and check out some of the trails in Anchorage.

Then we got to the rental house and it had TWO bikes! The owner said we could use them and my dad bought a pump to put air in the tires. No dice – the bikes were NOT in riding shape. (Which is probably a good thing – riding up the mountain we stayed on would be impossible, and riding down would be too dangerous.)

On our last day (Tuesday), my snister asked if I was going to do the bike tour. I felt bad breaking away from the group for several hours, but everyone was totally cool with it, so Dad and Will and I drove to downtown Anchorage, back to that shop.

The shop was hoppin’ when we got there! But they took care of us quickly. It was funny when one of the workers gave his overview of the route and alternative routes. You could tell he’d given it MANY times before and had it memorized. And I don’t mean he was saying it like he was bored – he was just talking fast and enthusiastically!

Their prices are reasonable – $16 for three hours (plus a price per the hour if you go over), and $32 for the day – and it includes a helmet, pannier, repair kit and map. They had a big selection of bikes. You can pay extra for bikes with more features (shocks, etc.) which we did (we got two bikes at $25 and one for $20). We weren’t sure if we were going to go off road on to trails, so we all got mountain bikes. Which was weird for me – I am SO used to my road bike, riding a mountain bike feels so squishy.

We didn’t sign up for a tour, and got to go wherever we wanted with the bikes for three hours. The shop is very close to the north trail head of the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, so we rode to that. It’s a paved trail, about eleven miles long, that goes from the northeast to southwest corner of Anchorage, around the airport.

The ride varied from open routes along the water (stay off the mud!) to shaded areas in the woods. We saw the mountains (apparently you can see Mt. Denali but I didn’t), various birds, a guy giving a group a presentation while an eagle rested on a perch next to him, and lots of interesting airplanes. The ride was somewhat flat with a HUGE hill at the end when you get to Kincaid Park.

I has a grin on my face the whole time because I was enjoying it so much!

Click to see larger

From Kincaid Park (after having a nice conversation with some other Iowans – I asked where they were from because one of them had a Quad Cities shirt on) we took a few of the bike paths next to roads. I noticed that about a lot of places we went in Alaska – there was almost always a path along the road. There was even one that went from Anchorage all the way to where the rental house was in Eagle River. I am not sure if the intent is for it to be used for exercise, or if it’s for transportation for people on ATVs and dirt bikes, but it really gave me the impression that Anchorage (look at all those trails!!!) is a place you can travel far on, safely(!!!), on bike or foot.

We however, did not go too far – just over twenty miles in just over two hours (stops not included). We went through town a bit then got back on the coastal trail and went back to the rental place.

It was such a treat for me to enjoy Anchorage on a bicycle, with two of my favorite riding companions! I can’t wait to ride with them again at RAGBRAI in four weeks!

Comments (11)

By kilax, June 28, 2016 11:55 am

I decided to run up the mountain (Mt. Baldy) we’re staying on to get to the trailhead and check out the views yesterday.

Oh my gosh, the incline. I was happy there were lots of reasons to stop and take photos so I could catch my breath!

I was telling myself the whole time “I am not doing THIS again,” ha! But the views going up and when I got up there were really cool.

When I got to the trailhead the pitch of the incline decreased and I could breathe again! Yay!

Almost immediately, I saw someone on a horse on the trail ahead.

Wait a minute. That’s not a horse! My brain just told me it was because that’s what I’m used to seeing in Illinois. It was a moose!

He was trying to go the opposite direction down the trail from me so I backed in the brush to give him some space. I couldn’t remember what I was supposed to do around a moose (just bears, ha!) other than give him space, so that is what I did.

Unfortunately, I still freaked him out, so he ran up the direction he came from, and went up a hill. Then I continued on up the trail, but only for a bit – I figured the fact that I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do around a moose meant I shouldn’t be out there much longer on my own!

When I came back down, the moose was making his second attempt to exit the trail. A slow second attempt. Ha. I waited for him to exit. I was actually kind of scared to get too close to him!

Then he left the trail, made a left turn, and immediately went up the steeper trail option.

Bye, moose!

I was super jacked up after seeing him. I was really hoping I’d encounter some wildlife in the wild! Yay!

The run down the hill was a lot of fun – and a bit scary! My uphill miles were 12:43 and 11:51, then 10:08 and 7:08 on the way down! I think I should have someone drive me to the top of the mountain so I can run down really fast. Then obviously, pick me up at the bottom and drive me back up.

Comments (2)

By kilax, June 26, 2016 11:29 pm

Highlight of the Week: Running in Alaska!

Monday | June 20, 2016: 5 m run (incl. 12×1:00) + 12 m ride + teaching strength class
Loc: hood, Temp: 84°, Time: 47:03, Pace: 9:25 avg, Difficulty: hard, Felt: like I was melting
Indoor Ride Time: 45:54, Pace: 15.7 mph avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: so hot
Strength: body bars, Difficulty: medium, Felt: good
Tuesday | June 21, 2016: 3 m run
Loc: hood, Temp: 82°/80°, Time: 28:08, Pace: 9:22 avg, Difficulty: hard, Felt: alarmingly thirsty
Wednesday | June 22, 2016: 16 m run
Loc: DPRT, Temp: 66°/72°, Time: 2:47:20, Pace: 10:27 avg, Difficulty: x, Felt: tiiiired – legs feeling it!
Thursday | June 23, 2016: 15 mins strength + 20 min ride
Indoor Ride Time: 19:23, Pace: 15.5 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Friday | June 24, 2016: 6 m run
Loc: Sterling, AK, Temp: 54°/56°, Time: 57:28, Pace: 9:34, Difficulty: easy, Felt: great
Saturday | June 25, 2016: 6 m run
Loc: Sterling, Temp: 55°/58°, Time: 58:23, Pace: 9:44 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Sunday | June 26, 2016: 3 m run + 10 mins core (both w/Anna)
Loc: Sterling, Temp: 55°/55°, Time: 34:42, Pace: 11:33 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, warmer than last two runs!

Notes:

• I spent an hour doing yard work before my Tuesday afternoon run. Note to self – not such a good idea – I was too worn out on my run and had to call it quits earlier than planned.
• I wanted to get a long run in before I went to Alaska so I took Wednesday off to get it in (and prepare for out trip, etc.). I was happy to get it in, but it was the last run of a seven day run cycle and I was TIRED! Which is to be expected.
• Running in Alaska has been great. I am LOVING the cooler weather! And I loved that one of my cousins ran with me on Sunday! Now I’m in a different part of Alaska and have two more opportunities to run. And lucky me – the house we’re staying at is 400 feet above the main road in town!

Link to Training Week 348

Comments (6)

By kilax, June 25, 2016 1:51 pm

I was really excited to see another runner during my run this am! And even more excited when he stopped after we greeted each other to chat with me!

“There’s been a brown bear spotted down this road three days ago, so I haven’t been running on it. I’m running on the ATV trail, and have bear spray with me.” Then he showed me the bear spray tucked in his shorts.

Okay, then. Time to reroute! If a local is running the opposite direction down the road I was going to take, I will follow him! Especially since he has bear spray!

I wasn’t sure how the running would be in Sterling since a four lane highway separates the few roads in town. But luckily, the ATV trail runs next to the highway and that’s safe to use! Safe from cars, AND bears, that is!

Comments (5)

By kilax, June 24, 2016 2:32 pm

I’m happy I brought my trail shoes and gaiters to Alaska – I had a wonderfully rainy, muddy, cool run this morning.

I could’ve run much longer! It was such a treat to run in comfortable weather, and in beautiful scenery.

And now I can add another state “run in” to my map!

We flew in to Anchorage yesterday. And by “we,” I mean myself and a ton of family/friends – twenty-one of us! We came in to the airport in waves and hung out with Alyssa’s family until everyone was in. Then we all caravanned to Sterling, where the wedding will be.

Oh my gosh. The drive around the Turnagain Arm from Anchorage was stunningly beautiful.

And I’ll note – I took these photos around 10:00 pm! Nuts! It never really got dark!

I really hope we have a chance to stop and take more photos with Steven’s DSLR on the way back later this week! I can’t get over how beautiful it is here.

We’re all staying in cabins on the wedding site in Sterling. After being up for twenty-four hours it felt SO amazing to get in bed!

The wedding site is right by a river (the “Funny River,” ha) and of course… it is beautiful! Ha ha. You’ll be seeing me use that word a lot to describe Alaska!

Click to see larger 

Comments (6)

By kilax, June 19, 2016 4:51 pm

Highlight of the Week: Feeling good running in the sun and heat.

Monday | June 13, 2016: 5 m run + teaching strength class
Loc: hood, Temp: 69°/66°, Time: 47:27, Pace: 9:29 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: heavy
Strength: medicine balls and airex pads, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Tuesday | June 14, 2016: 8 m run + 10 m ride + 10 mins strength
Loc: DPRT, Temp: 65°/70°, Time: 9:53, Pace: 1:19:07 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, legs still heavy for first 5
Indoor Ride Time: 36:15, Pace: 16.6 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good for the legs!
Wednesday | June 15, 2016: rest
Thursday | June 16, 2016: 5 m run (incl. 1/2/3/4/5 ladder)
Loc: hood, Temp: 68°/66°, Time: 44:44, Pace: 8:57 avg, Difficulty: medium/hard, Felt: great to start, tired at the end
Friday | June 17, 2016: teaching strength class + 7 m run
Strength: single dumbbell and boxing, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Loc: Chicago Lakefront Trail, Temp: 74°/73°, Time: 1:05:09, Pace: 9:18, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Saturday | June 18, 2016: 12 m run
Loc: DPRT, Temp: 56°/71°, Time: 1:58:27, Pace: 9:52 avg, Difficulty: hard then easy, Felt: so tired (sleepy) then better!
Sunday | June 19, 2016: teaching fitness boxing + 3 m run
Strength: Boxing pads and gloves, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good – already sore at the end of class!
Loc: Grayslake, Temp: 83°/83°, Time: 28:28, Pace: 9:28 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good

Notes:

• I’ve been taking my old running shoes to the Nike outlet – they have a program where they tun old shoes in to running track. Well, used to have a program that did that – I took my shoes there Tuesday night and they informed me they no longer do that! Bummer! I hate to just throw the shoes out (and not recycle them) but they don’t qualify for a reuse program – they’re too far gone. Maybe I’ll find something else.
• The seed corn on my foot started hurting again this week. Ugh. I’ve used the pumice stone a few times since I first blogged about it, but I think I need to make sure I do it a few days a week! It helped when I used it after my Saturday long run. I also got some corn healer/remover bandages to try!
• I’ve been stupid tired this week. I felt so sleepy and slow when I started my long run on Saturday I told myself I’d turn around at 3 miles if it didn’t get better. Luckily, I started to feel better and kept going, but decided to cut back my total weekly mileage and go home early and take a short nap. Ha. Sooooooo sleeeeeeeeeeepy.

Link to Training Week 347

Comments (16)

By kilax, June 16, 2016 6:08 am

• My day job is in the design (interior architecture) industry. That means going to NeoCon, a several day design exposition and conference for commercial interiors at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago (I only went one day this year). All that intro is to tell you I saw this office jungle gym yesterday at NeoCon and ME LIKEY!!!! It’s called the BuzziJungle, by BuzziSpace. You basically climb in, and sit wherever! Don’t you think your office needs this?! Mine sure does!

• I ended up completely starting over with the dishcloth I started Tuesday (I was only 14 rows in, so, no biggie d) so it would be more tightly knit. I thought I was going to finish it last night but I had to do work when I got home. Maybe I’ll finish it on this morning’s train ride! Or maybe I’ll nap. Ha.

• Work has been frying my brain something serious lately. Pair that with days in training where I am trying to get my regular work done and pay attention to class, and I am SO brain dead. Blah. I can’t wait for vacation! I really need a reset.
• It’s too hot out (for me) to wear pants or jeans to work (and not suffer from my sweatiness). Time to bust out some of the last few boxes I haven’t unpacked since February – summer skirts and dresses! Woo hoo! Let the legs breeeeeeeeeeeathe!

• Ugh. The bugs out here. Those are NOT moles on my neck in my post run picture below. It’s not so much that the bugs gross me out, just that I wish they’d stay off my body/stop flying around my head. And summer hasn’t even started yet… muah ha ha.

Link to Random Thoughts Thursday 102

Comments (20)

By kilax, June 14, 2016 1:56 pm

I hit 1000 (well, 1003) miles run for the year, today!

Um, apparently, on the EXACT same day as last year. That was NOT planned. Ha.

I don’t have a goal for total miles run for the year, so consistency is fine with me!

What else happens on June 14th? My snister’s wedding anniversary! Happy Anniversary, snis! Pretty soon we’ll have another June anniversary in the family… my older brother’s wedding is coming up!

Comments (8)

By kilax, June 12, 2016 10:30 pm

Highlight of the Week: An even effort on my long run!

Monday | June 6, 2016: 5 m run + 7 m ride + teaching strength class
Loc: hood, Temp: 77°/78°, Time: 48:08, Pace: 9:37 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, ready for rest day!
Indoor Ride Time: 28:19 Pace: 14.9 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good (also frustrated with speed sensor, but fixed it after the ride)
Strength: medicine balls and airex pad, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Tuesday | June 7, 2016: rest
Wednesday | June 8, 2016: 6 m run (incl. 10×400) + 20 mins strength + 5 m ride
Loc: hood, Temp: 59°/60°, Time: 53:36, Pace: 8:56 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: decent (eventually tired quads)
Indoor Ride Time: 19:23, Pace: 15.5 mph avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: PISSED I couldn’t get the TV or my computer to work
Thursday | June 9, 2016:: 4 m run + 7 m run
Loc: hood, Temp: 61°/65°, Time: 36:31, Pace: 9:07 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, enjoyed the clouds
Loc: to VP Woods, Temp: 63°/71°, Time: 1:06:03, Pace: 9:26 avg, Difficulty: medium, Felt: good, getting tired toward end
Friday | June 10, 2016: teaching strength class + 4 m run + 1.75 m walk (w/Steven, Anne & Terry)
Strength: medicine balls and airex pad, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Loc: hood, Temp: 89°/89°, Time: 37:48, Pace: 9:26, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good in heat, biggest problem was stomach
Saturday | June 11, 2016: 17 m run
Loc: DPRT, Temp: 70°/74°, Time: 2:54:22, Pace: 10:15 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good
Sunday | June 12, 2016: 3 m run
Loc: hood, Temp: 64°/64°, Time: 27:54, Pace: 9:17 avg, Difficulty: easy, Felt: good, but sore toes!

Notes:

• Blah, it’s that buggy time of year. For a few weeks, I’ve had bugs flying around my head during parts of my run. ANNOYING! Leave me alone!
• I had my hottest run of the year (and hotter than any run last year) on Friday- 89°F! I actually didn’t feel horrible, which is great. (My stomach was another story – oops, too many Doritos.)
• I had one of those awesome long runs this week where you want to keep going! I planned an out and back and was supposed to turn at 8 but felt so good I went to 8.5. Ha, I know, an extra mile isn’t that much, but it was encouraging to feel so good when it was really humid and gross out. I am not training for anything right now that requires that kind of mileage – I enjoy running it, so I do. And it helps with the Doritos mentioned above. And my sanity.
• I was disappointed in the lack of (some) biker’s courtesy on the trails on Saturday. It’s so easy to warn someone you are coming up on their left. Do it. And don’t ride down the middle of the path and brush by them. Sigh.

Link to Training Week 346

Comments (15)

By kilax, June 11, 2016 9:55 am

A couple of years ago Runner’s World had a hot off the press tip for one of their “use running to lose weight” articles – during your runs, swish your sports drink in your mouth then spit it out to save calories! Recent studies show the sugars trick your brain in to giving you a boost without ingesting it!

Sigh.

Yes, let’s encourage disordered eating (drinking?). It’s not enough that you’re running – don’t you dare think of swallowing (ew)!

They’ve included this tip in their magazine every few months since then. Each time it makes me ragey. I can see encouraging skipping caloric beverages when not running, when not running for a long time, and spitting out during a run if your stomach is upset, but come on. I’m a runner who almost always needs to lose weight and I’m excited I finally found a caloric beverage that my stomach can handle on long runs – because it REALLY helps me get through my run. I’m swallowing it.

I drank and swallowed ALL of this Vitamin Water!

Ugh.

The funny thing is, the article in the July issue that made me think of this is actually an article I like, because it’s about a topic I wrote a draft post about a few months ago and never posted – decision overload (I’ll have to post that once this article is up on their website). And this time, they are giving the tip to do it for a boost of energy when you are NOT running, and to actually ingest the drink if you do need to replenish your glucose stores during a run. So… maybe progress?! I don’t know. I bet we’ll see it show up as a running “weight loss” tip again in a future issue – it seems to be a favorite of theirs.