Life, and everything else

I haven’t kept the blog up to date — or posted on social media/Instagram — in quite a while. Life has been… challenging, joyous, sometimes overwhelming. For many years I juggled riding, and training, with raising the boys, volunteering in the schools and community, caring for extended family, gardening, baking, and living a creative life … but my bandwidth has been stretched a bit the last two years. In November 2024, I stepped away from social media. And last October, I took a long, very long break from the bike. 

Dr William Cronin, PT, DPT

Life keeps moving forward, always. Mike retired early; Chip returned to the University of Michigan and received his Masters in Engineering. He recently moved down to Long Island; and Will completed his final clinical rotation in Michigan this month and earned his doctorate from Tufts University School of Medicine. (Congrats, Dr. Cronin!)

Of course all of that's fantastic, (I'm proud of each of them), but there have been many ups and downs along the way, too. I'm tired. I'm much slower on the bike and my run isn't much faster than a walk, neither of which makes me happy. Turning 60 didn't really add to my joy, either. I hit the "pause" button on biking and running for a while.

Last month I volunteered at the Wellesley start of the PMC, serving up breakfast at 5 am. This was my 20th year participating in the PMC. (I did not ride or volunteer in 2016 or the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021.) I had planned to ride the PMC Winter Cycle in February 2027, but after watching riders cross the finish line in Wellesley a few weeks ago, I felt the pull to ride a summer route one more time as well. The fundraising minimum is heavy -- 1 day riders must raise between $2-4k, depending on the route -- but PMC founder Billy Starr's challenge, "Commit. You'll figure it out.", comes to mind, and maybe that's what I need to do -- make the commitment and then figure it out. 

It's time to clear the dust off the bike.

Zinnias and monarchs, so pretty

The garden is spectacular this summer, despite the drought we’ve had in New England. Having fresh produce — lettuce, squash, eggplant, beets, beans and more — while food prices soared and cyclospora created chaos, has been great. The hydrangeas didn't do well in the scorching summer heat, but the zinnias and dahlias have been prolific. And the monarchs! I keep saying I'm going to pull out the milkweed in the garden because it's popping up everywhere... but then I see a monarch flutter by and change my mind.

And while I haven’t been on the bike much, (or at all), I have been spending a great deal of time at the clay studio. (The Clay School in the Lydia Pinkham building in Lynn.) A year and a half in, I can add "potter" to my art resume. 

Cooler weather is around the corner, and the bikes are headed to the shop for some work — a good tune-up and brake bleed for the Kona, and brakes and general tune-up for the Domane. (The GT needs work as well, but I may wait on that one.) I dropped the Kona off today!

I have Coffeeneuring to look forward to this fall! It’s a good place to start.

Bike #1 dropped off at North Shore Cycle in Lynn

That Feaster Five Thing

Pre-race packet pick-up for the win

Ayyyy all our good plans for the Feaster Five Thanksgiving 5k went out the window when a cold steady rain decided to hit our drought riddled state on Thanksgiving morning. Chip had been beating back a cold earlier in the week, and driving an hour north to Andover to run in the rain was not appealing to him. So instead, we decided to pivot and run a Virtual Feaster the following day, Friday November 29th, instead.

Except that didn't go as planned, either. Chip, (who is training for a triathlon with his friends sometime in the undetermined future), chose to sleep in the next day... promising to run with me when he returns home in December for his Christmas break. Lol.

(Note: I haven't gone on a run since November 29th, so that's not happening either.)

My renamed Virtual Feaster Five was done alone -- a rail trail out and back, a bit short of the full 5k, but it felt good. Unfortunately, life has gotten hectic since the holiday and all good intentions have gone off the rails. Maybe 2025 will bring another running re-set.

Virtual Feaster 5K, rail trail edition

Coffeeneuring 2024 Control Card

Finisher's patch for 2024

Ride Number: 1

Date: 10/13/2024
Mileage (total): 12
Location Name: Java Sun
Address: Atlantic Ave, Marblehead
Drink: Regular coffee (and cider donut)

Bike: Kona Kahuna
Ride note: A loop through the Forest River Conservstion area and back to Marblehead for coffee-to-go by the beach.

Ride Number: 2

Date: 10/20/24
Mileage (total): 6
Location Name: Winston's Kitchen
Address: Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
Drink: Regular coffeev(and blueberry muffin)

Bike: Marin Kentfield rental
Ride note: Had difficulty finding an open coffee shop, (off-season on the island). Fun ride through the neighborhoods of Oak Bluffs.

Ride Number: 3

Date: 10/29/2024
Mileage (total): 12
Location Name: On the Grind
Address: Jefferson Ave, Salem
Drink: Large latte (and raisin bagel)

Bike: Kona Kahuna
Ride note: In hindsight, with the poor air quality due to two wildfires nearby, I probably should have postponed this ride. Hindsight 20/20.

Ride Number: 4

Date: 11/2/24
Mileage (total): 10
Location Name: Subie's Marketplace
Address: Atlantic Ave, Marblehead
Drink: Iced Tea (and cup of soup)

Bike: Trek Domane
Ride note: Met Donna and hopped over to the Marblehead farmer's market, followed by coffee (iced tea for me) and a light lunch. Picked up apples, leeks and cranberries at the market! Had a heavy backpack heading home.

Ride Number: 5

Date: 11/10/23

Mileage (total): 4
Location Name: Preston Beach
Address: Swampscott/Marblehead town line
Drink: Aeropress coffee and an English muffin

Bike: Kona Kahuna
Ride note: Lost my bike lock, so a coffee-shop-without-walls ride was perfect. Beautiful day!

Ride Number: 6

Date: 11/14/24
Mileage (total): 17
Location Name: Lulu's Bakery and Pantry
Address: Derby Street, Salem
Drink: Iced cold brew (and hummingbird muffin)

Bike: Trek Domane
Ride note: Rode out to Salem Willows and got to walk on the newly rebuilt fishing pier that opened a few weeks ago. It's fantastic!

Ride Number: 7

Date: 11/25/24
Mileage (total): 5
Location Name: Plus Café
Address: Atlantic Ave, Marblehead
Drink: Cafe latte (and an almond croissant)

Bike: Kona Kahuna
Ride note: Last day of the challenge with an extended deadline! An early morning loop of Marblehead Neck on the Kona (a heavy bike for those hills, but short mileage). Caught the sunrise with Amy before my ride. Beautiful part of the day!

----

I took Coffeeneuring 2024 to the last day this year.  We had unseasonable weather -- warm and dry -- which has the region under red flag warnings for fire risk. Several wildfires have been burning in our local woods, and  places I typically ride in the fall, like Lynn Woods, are closed due to underground fires that keep flaring up. It's just so damn dry. 

The fall has been a busy one as I've juggled a running plan (training for a Thanksgiving 5k with Chip) with volunteer commitments and elder family care, but my coffee rides have been a nice break. It's alway good to get out on the bike.

Happy riding, happy fall!

Coffeeneuring 2024: Pushing the deadline

Sunrise ride

Well, despite getting an extra week after Coffeeneuring 2024 was extended, I still managed to finish this year's challenge on the last day. (I'm happy to note my fellow 30 Days of Biking friend Pam did the same. Lol.) Gosh, life got crazy this month. One obstacle this fall was trying to get out on the bike during my running "off" days.

Yesterday, (Monday, Nov 25th), kicked off a busy holiday week. I'd awoken at 4:30 a.m., my brain unable to shut down from over-thinking the challenging days ahead of me -- so I decided to get the day started with a final Coffeeneuring ride to clear my head. I tossed my mountain bike in the back of the car and headed to Devereaux Beach for the sunrise, and then rode out around the lighthouse and back into town for coffee at Plus Cafe. It was exactly what I needed to start the day.

Bonus: I found one of my besties, Amy, waiting at Devereaux Beach for the sunrise. (✿ •‿•)

Coffeeneuring Ride 7: Cafe Latte at Plus Café

Thanksgiving week... a good excuse to splurge

It's been a stressful month, and I've overcommitted myself a hundred times over, but I'm still managing to get things done. At the bottom of the list is my upcoming 5k with Chip! I've not yet "graduated" from my C25K running program, but I'm close. (I've repeated a few weeks.) 

The Feaster Five (race) is just a few days away. A storm is expected on race day, and honestly I'd rather not run in a cold rain, so Chip (home from grad school) and I may pivot and run our own Feaster Five on Friday instead. We pick up our race packets tomorrow and will decide on race day whether to run the Andover course on Thanksgiving or punt it to Friday. 

Coffeeneuring 2024 is officially over, but our mild weather (for November) continues. Hopefully I'll be able to get in a few more coffee rides before the winter settle in.

Always be Coffeeneuring.

Seeking a little peace and serenity this week

Coffeeneuring Ride 6: New Pier at Salem Willows

It was a brisk, chilly day for Coffeeneuring ride 5 out to Salem Willows. I hadn't planned to ride that far on the mountain bike, but after taking the trail to Salem and popping down to Congress Street to find coffee, I was curious to venture down Derby St to check out Maitland Mountain Farm's new restaurant. It looked great and I'll definitely have to pop back there for lunch sometime soon. From there, I continued on to the Willows, which made it a long haul home on the Kona. (Normally I'd prefer the road bike for that loop.)

The new fishing pier at the Willows opened last week and was already active with fisherman catching mackerel at the end of the pier. The previous pier was destroyed a few years ago in a storm -- the new one looks fantastic! 

Coffeeneuring Ride 5: Salem Willows
and Lulu's Bakery

My coffee stop was to Lulu's Bakery and Pantry, which had a place to leave my bike (unlocked) in front of huge glass windows. I popped in for a few minutes to warm up, grab a hummingbird muffin and an iced coffee, but didn't linger too long. There are benches at the small park adjacent to the bakery where I finished my coffee.

Just one ride to go! I'll be finishing this year's challenge on time, but probably take it down to the last day. It's crazy how quickly the time goes when you have a packed schedule.

Coffeeneuring 2024, Ride 5: Coffee Shop Without Walls

I lost my bike lock somewhere between Oct 27th and Nov 2, and the replacement lock I've ordered has not yet arrived. On Sunday, I decided to head to the beach for coffee instead of a coffee shop where I'd be unable to secure my bike. I packed up a small backpack with a S'well thermos of hot water, an AeroPress coffee maker, measured out some coffee grinds, filled a small container with almond-milk creamer and wrapped up a toasted English muffin with jam and headed to the beach!

A perfect plan for a Sunday morning!

Coffeeneuring Ride 5:
Aeropress coffee by the beach

Coffeeneuring Ride 4: Farmer's Market,

We had a cool (seasonal?) but sunny day for Coffeeneuring ride number 4. I met my sister for a stop at the Marblehead farmer's market where I picked up leeks, apples, cranberries and dried green peas for a split pea soup -- cozy Fall favorites. Next, we headed to Shubie's Marketplace which recently added a renovated café area for coffee and a bite to eat. I can't say the employees who served us were on the ball, but we rolled with it. (One example, I ordered a hot black tea and was served an iced tea. I'm not sure how that got mixed up.)

Coffeeneuring Ride 4: Iced Tea?

We caught up on events and news that was happening in both of our lives over coffee/tea and then I headed home with a full backpack. It was a chilly ride heading home --- I'm looking forward to some more Fall soups!

Coffeenuering Ride 3: Trail to Salem

Coffeeneuring Ride 3: On the Grind Cafe

Drought conditions continue here in Eastern Massachusetts and several wildfires have flared up over the last few days. I rode the rail trail into Salem despite the less-than-ideal air quality, telling myself it wasn't that bad -- but ending up with a sore and scratchy throat by the end of the day. I headed to On the Grind Cafe on Jefferson Ave for Coffeeneuring ride #3, just enough beyond the tourist area that it wasn't crawling with people. 

The weather has been spectacular, although again, very dry. I stopped by Hawthorn Pond where ducks are still often around this time of year. The pond was gone. Completely dry and dead, no water, no fish, no ducks. Crazy. I imagine if we don't get significant snow this winter, that pond might not recover in the Spring.  

Hawthorn Pond, drought damage

Coffeeneauring, Island Time

Oak Bluffs

Our summer was so busy, Mike and I couldn't squeeze in a vacation getaway until the weekend of Columbus Day -- also known as Indigenous Peoples Day in Massachusetts. My first plan was to head to Maine, which we've always enjoyed and where Mike is considering retiring, but I was thrown a wrench in my plans when he informed me he had a Patriots home game that weekend. Lol. Shoot. Making a pivot, I rented a place in Bourne for a few days so we could attend the game together on Sunday, and then took a ferry to Martha's Vineyard for the rest of the week.

Yo, Martha's Vineyard is deadddd in mid-October. We had a lovely time and it was a nice escape, but most of the shops and restaurants were closed for the season -- and do you know how hard it was to find an open coffee shop?! Well, I can tell you there were none in Oak Bluffs.

Closed

On our last morning on the island, I borrowed a bike from Sun n' Fun on Lake Ave -- a step-through Marin Kentfield with a sturdy basket -- and rode several miles down the windy coastline towards Edgartown; then weaving back to Oak Bluffs through sweet neighborhoods, googling "coffee near me" on the way, I soon discovered I was in the wrong village for coffee. Every stop I made was met with a sign reading, "Closed for the Season". Every. Stop. Mocha Motts. Toccopuro. Bass Best. Back Door Donuts. Undaunted by the challenge, but knowing I had little time to ride out to Vineyard Haven, I swung over to Winston's Kitchen for a coffee and a blueberry muffin to go and sat in the sun at Oak Bluffs Harbor for Coffeeneuring Ride 2.

 

Coffeeneuring Ride 2: Winston's Kitchen for a
coffee and blueberry muffin on Oak Bluffs Harbor

Note: Winston's Kitchen is a gem. We visited several eateries on Martha's Vineyard during our stay, and the takeout from Winston's Kitchen, (fried chicken for Mike; loaded baked potato soup and a sandwich for me), bested them all. 

We had a great time on the vineyard... it really is beautiful at this time of year and the gingerbread cottages were especially pretty amongst the fall foliage... but alas our vacation was too short. We are now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Coffeenuring Time!

Coffeeneuring Ride 1: A beachy brew and
apple cider donut. A perfect fall day!

My blog gets updated so infrequently these days and if it were not for Coffeeneuring, it would remain dusty through the fall. I love, love this time of year -- crispy autumn days, casual rides for coffee, the changing colors of the leaves... so fabulous.

I kicked off Coffeeneuring 2024, now my 7th or 8th year (I've lost track), with a trail ride to Salem and a loop through the Forest River Conservation area. I ran a few miles earlier in the day in Andover and felt energized to hop on my bike when I returned home -- it was such a gorgeous day (!) -- but by the time I hit Salem I felt my energy drain. I needed coffee!! Since Salem is a madhouse in October, I returned down the trail to Marblehead to grab a coffee at Java Sun and breakfast by the beach. 

Trails today!

The foliage is still very green along the coast, but not for much longer. I started training with a running group that meets early on Sunday mornings in Andover, gearing up for the Feaster Five on Thanksgiving day, and noticed the colors up north are really popping. Riding our trail at home I noted the coastal towns are a week or two behind. It won't be much longer before the leaves change, though -- it's getting chilly at night!

Fall colors, cooler temps, and more coffee rides ahead! Coffeeneuring 2024 is underway.

Let's Go! The September Reset

September riding

September sunshine!

Well, that summer just flew. It was a mixed bag of pretty much everything... good days, bad days, wet weather, blown chances, and good friends. Both boys living under the same roof wasn't always cozy as they're beginning to navigate their own paths. Chip is no longer content to follow Will's lead, and that lead to a few blow ups. Will buckled down with his studies as his first semester in medical school got under way, and Chip spent the summer shucking oysters to replenish his bank account. With him back in Michigan, it's been quiet, and I miss him.

My cut flower garden was a great success, and I've been gifting zinnia and sunflower bouquets to friends and family. My pumpkin beds took an unfortunate turn, however, and were attacked with powdery mildew in August. I managed to harvest a dozen small white and orange pumpkins before pulling out and discarding the vines. I'm not sure which weather I prefer -- the wet, muggy summer we had this summer or the drought from 2022. I'd make a terrible farmer.

It wasn't a great summer for my cycling and fitness goals either. I came up short in both regards. I don't know why I slipped so far down the ladder, why I couldn't get myself on the bike, or lace up for a run, but I didn't... and now here it is September and I'm working out of the hole.

The IM Lake Placid gang

I miss the days of big athletic goals and long training rides and workouts with friends. In July, a few of us headed to Lake Placid for Jennifer and Amy's Ironman triathlon. (A fellow former SpiderOne Racing athlete Serie K. was also competing). It was a great weekend and I felt myself mentally pulling myself together. I'm so proud of both Amy and Jennifer for putting themselves through the grind. I'm old, secretly gray, have bad knees, and several extra pounds, but I'm the same age Amy is so I have no excuse.

So with the arrival of September and the distractions of summer behind me, I'm back at it. I'm already on Day 1, Week 2 of a 5k running program, and dusted off my bike for my first ride in a while. Hopefully I can keep this momentum going!

Summer, Summer, Summer!

Back on the bike!

With no events on my calendar to train for this year, most of my activity has been in the garden, not the bike. May was a busy one, bookended with the boy's celebrations of the ending (temporarily) and beginning of school. We all travelled to Ann Arbor for Chip's graduation from the University of Michigan at the beginning of the month. (Yayyyy, Chippy!!!) He returns to UMich Engineering for his master's degree in biomedical engineering in the fall. 

Then, at the end of the May, Will started his doctorate program at Tufts School of Medicine. He'll be living at home for a semester or two until he begins clinical rotations, hoping to temper the costs of medical school, so I'm crossing my fingers it all works out. 

Wolverines Forever
Chip UM Class of '24, Will '21

The stress I was semi managing throughout the winter -- with elderly family members navigating health issues, our house projects consuming much of January and February, and general daily stressors -- wasn't very successful. I dived off the rails with binge eating -- obviously not the best way to handle stress. Fortunately, I know how to fix that!

Summer is here, it's time to get active again! Donna and I are back at the track and I'm BACK ON THE BIKE. My gardens are well underway, and if the damn rabbits don't eat it all, I just need to weed and water and enjoy what comes. (Gosh, I love my gardens.) It also means I have more time to get out on a ride. I don't have any set goals worked out yet, but I'm working on it. 

I love this time of year.

Summer fun ahead!