The friends who make your world

Best of friends
Jennifer, Cate, Amy, Lila, Kristen, Alison, me, Lisa

July was a whirlwind of activity — the beginning of summer often is — so I took my time posting about Alaska. I’m still playing catch-up.

Immediately after returning to Boston, we had family staying with us from Norway, I spent a weekend in Vermont, and then got busy with summer activities. I fell out of a running routine, but more on that later.

First things first — I want to jump back to the day I landed in Boston after 16 hours of traveling from Alaska. (Anchorage to Seattle to Detroit, (on a red eye), and eventually to Boston.

The end of my Alaska trip was emotionally draining relative to Julia and the unsettled feeling she left me with. I was angry, disappointed, and sad, but had no regrets about ending our friendship. Still, I was exhausted from all of it.

I left Anchorage on a Monday morning, with several stops ahead in my itinerary, (aka the cheapest flights). I didn’t get much sleep, but there were no delays and the flights were easy.

When I landed in Boston early on a Tuesday, with plans to take the train and bus from Logan to Swampscott, I was shocked when I found Amy waiting for me in baggage claim, with Jennifer waiting in the car, curbside, with coffee! Oh my god, I cried. I couldn’t help it. I cried. I was just so shocked to see them.

(They had texted Will for my flight info and even asked him how I take my coffee. Ohmigosh, I’m still in disbelief.)

After all of the duplicity that transpired with Julia during race weekend, TRUE FRIENDS came through and picked me up, literally and figuratively. I’m so humbly grateful to both of them. They are the best, and I’m so damn lucky to have genuine friends in my life — Amy, Jennifer,  Lila, Alison, Cate, Kristen, and Lisa. (Ingrid, too.) Damn lucky.

“Wherever you are, it is your friends who make your world.” (William James)

Krempels King of the Road Challenge

We had a spectacular fall day for the Krempels King of the Road Challenge in Exeter, New Hampshire -- probably the most gorgeous route I've actually been on in a while. The foliage was peaking, the air cool but not bitter, and the roads beautifully serene. Quintessential New England.

I joined Alison, Kristen, Amy and Jen for the event -- galvanized by Alison and her love for ride organizer/pro rider Ted King. I'd previously balked at the idea, knowing New Hampshire can often get snow in the middle of October, but I'm glad I went. We had a fantastic day with great people -- a fun ride for a good cause -- raising money for the Krempels Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Definitely looking forward to riding again next year!

SpiderOne Racing Monday NIght Ride

Fun times, quick ride with the S1R tonight

Summer training kicking in

Hot, hot, hot!! We are loving the steamy weather, perfect for beach walks and late afternoon rides. Temps on Monday hit the 90s, but that didn't slow Chip down at all -- he talked me into a hill workout out on the neck after registering to ride the Harpoon Point to Point together!!! Chip does well on the hills, (stronger than me!), but has some trepidation on the downhill. So, we headed over to the neck to do some hills, but caught sight of a few Spiders after our first hill repeat, so hopped in line to join them for a loop of the neck, too. Fun!!!

Love the summer.

Monday NIght Ride

The Monday night group rides out of B&S started tonight. It was a fun ride, though I did have some trouble with left-hand signals, (left turn, slowing, stopping...). I should probably ride at the back next time. We headed out in an easy pace from Salem to Devereaux Beach, and then rode a loop of Marblehead neck together -- with me pulling off a little early to head back to Swampscott in time to grab Chip from lacrosse at 7. Good to see some folks riding!

Great Teams, Great Friends

PT on Friday didn't go as well as I thought it would. I expected to get the ok for cycling, (because 30 Days of Biking starts tomorrow), but I got a big NO. (NO?!) Arrrgggghhhhh!!! I understand the shoulder isn't in great shape, and it can get quite painful at times, but I was under the impression it was a mild injury. Fixable. So I wasn't happy with my PT.

On Saturday, still feeling frustrated, I met the Cyclopaths for breakfast -- and of course it was snowing, for the tenth straight weekend. No one braved the elements and rode their bikes, and most agreed it will be a while before they're back on the road. It was good to see folks and catch up, and I'm hoping we have a good summer together.

Afterwards, I headed into Cambridge with Alison, Cate, Jen and Amy for the TriMania Expo, (at MIT -- taking the photo of the pool, above, for Will.)  It was a fun afternoon looking at different bike-swim-run related info, gear, and events -- with many laughs between us. (Those girls are such fun.) I also heard from a few Kittens on Saturday, checking in to see how PT went. Really sweet.) So, despite the gloomy start to the weekend, and my depressing mood, I had a great Saturday spent with Cyclopaths and Spiders, and chatting with Kittens -- and I felt much better about my PT situtation afterwards. Thanks, sweet friends!

30 Days of Biking starts tomorrow.

Nutty Irish 5K Cocoa Run....err... Snowshoe Walk

My Nutty Irish 5k did not go quite as planned. I knew I wasn't quite ready for the full run on the challenging course, but I planned to run/walk it, which was a suggestion from my friend Julie Haynes. Her idea was for me to go out and get that first 5k done and out of the way, and then have something to improve upon from there -- mentioning I'd set a PR the second time out. For crazy reasons I liked that plan. :)

Well... obviously my plan was derailed.

Since I didn't get the MRI results on Friday, I took a PTs advice and didn't run. She mentioned that the swinging motion of my arms while running, plus the impact from the ground up, could damage the shoulder further -- and until I got clearance from the MD, I should just relax and not make things worse.

But I woke up Saturday bored... and discouraged... and as the clock ticked closer to 10am I was getting antsy. OMG. I couldn't stand it!! I decided that if I couldn't run the 5k, I could at least walk it with minimal arm movement. So I threw on some winter gear, (because of course it was snowing), grabbed my snowshoes, and headed off to the golf course where the run was taking place. (Yes, it's completely covered in snow.)

I was a little late to the start, but got an encouraging send off from Michelle and Julie, who were volunteering. (Yaaaay, friends!!) I only did one loop of the two loop course, because it took me 30 minutes to snowshoe 1.75 miles. But it was at least something. I got to see Chris Crowley wearing a kilt (so awesome) and enjoyed hot chocolate with Bailey's at the end. So, not quite what I had in mind for my first 5k, but all was not lost and it was a pretty great morning. Good to get out there.

Day 30: 30 Days of Biking, P2

We had a long week of cold, wet weather and my final day of 30 Days of Biking fell on the same day the Fall session of P2, (the training program Shayne runs at B&S Fitness), begins. I considered heading out in the rain for a quick ride, but knew I had some testing to do at P2, so decided my 30th ride of September would be that hour+ time spent on the trainer.

OK... so P2 is never fun... (ouch)... but I had a sweet surprise as I was wheeling my bike to the back of the fitness facilities. I noticed my bar tape was new!! The dirty white loose bar tape I've had all summer was brilliant black, tight and so pro. OMG!! And, as I set my bike up on the trainer, I noticed my bike was shiny!! AND MY CHAIN AND CASSETTE were CLEAN!!!

Wow. Thank you, Zane Free!! My bike felt ahhh-maaaa-zing and it was such a lovely, sweet gesture for you to take care of it like that. I was totally surprised.

(I later learned that Zane, (who is the mechanic on the VKCX team staying with us),  also fixed a bent derraileur hanger and replaced my worn brake pads. He's such a sweetheart!!!)

So, despite a week of grayness that put me in a crappy mood, Zane's thoughtfulness just warmed my heart, and I had fun at P2. (If you can ever call it "fun".) There is a terrific new coach running the Thursday night program -- Jen McCarthy -- who I think is fabulous, and I'm kinda-sorta looking forward to a fresh start. P2 is on!

Day 7: 30 Days of Biking, Ride for Angels

A fews Spiders at the start of the Ride for Angels
for Angel Flight NE. Great day for a ride.

SpiderOne Monday Night Ride

Awwww.... yay! The S1 Group Ride moved to Monday nights this week after the Tuesday night ride never really caught on. Last night, with rain holding off to the north of us, I headed to Salem to join Ashley, Caroline, and Brooke, plus two newer riders, Mansoor and Kristin, for a ride over to Devereux Beach. I think it was the first S1 ride I've been able to join since Thirty Days of Biking!

After reaching the causeway, the gang headed out for a quick workout around Marblehead Neck, while I held back and rode with Kristin for a bit, (who was riding a heavy hybrid). I probably should have done intervals or something... but it was nice chatting with Kristin, and later riding with Mansoor, (who is new to the area). Not a hard workout, but I made two new friends and I'm happy to be riding with the Spiders again. A happy Monday!

Just Rolling With It

When I woke up this morning, I had a feeling my Cyclopath ride would be cancelled. I knew the chilly overcast skies, and the possibility of rain, was enough to keep our fair weather gang indoors, but I headed out anyway, just in case someone showed up. (Aaaand... no one did.) I waited a bit and rode to the Beverly-Salem bridge, thinking Ducky might be waiting there... but no Ducky. (Sigh.)

Already heading over the bridge, I considered turning around to head home, maybe looping The Willows and Marblehead on the way, but as I approached the light, I said to myself, "If the light changes, I'll keep going"... and it did. So I kept going -- not really sure where I was headed to.

Twenty minutes later, I heard a few text messages pinging from my back pocket, so I pulled over to see what was up. Jen El-Sharif had included me in a group text message the night before, planning an 80 mile ride today, and a few others were planning to join her. At the time, I was already committed to a breakfast ride, but at 7:30 a.m., I no longer had a plan.

So, I returned the text message and managed to make my way over from North Beverly to Bradley Palmer State Park to meet Jen, Amy, Lisa, and Lila. Since my original plan had been a breakfast ride with the Cyclopaths, I hadn't eaten anything before leaving the house, and was really low on energy. Thankfully, Lila knew it, and arrived at the park with food for me! She's just the best. (Thanks for the rescue, Lila!)

We headed north through Topsfield and Middleton, along quiet back roads towards New Hampshire. It was fun riding with the girls and it was a great route!! After a while, Lila and I split off from the others and headed back together, ending up on a dirt road and not really knowing our way back. Hahaha!!! Somehow, despite feeling a bit lost, we still managed to retrace our route back to Topsfield.

I ended up with 56 miles by the time I got home -- some of it slow and pokey in the morning, when I hadn't yet figured out where I was going. No speed records today. I also managed to get another flat in Marblehead, (third one), just two miles from home. They really need to clean the streets!

Tour de Cure 2014 with SpiderOne Racing

Tour de Cure 2014, A few Spiders at the start.

To add to my Garmin recharging issues... I also have trouble remembering to recharge my phone... so I didn't get many photos on the Tour de Cure. Seriously, I hate gadgets. :)

Thank you, Nancy and Fred Cronin for your donation to the American Diabetes Association on behalf of my ride! Many, many thanks! xo Tam

Tour de Cure 2014 and a Week of Rides

My busy week ended Sunday with the Tour de Cure for the American Diabetes Association. It was a hectic week after shaking off the RAAM Oregon (Crew) Challenge, and the weather was iffy, but I did manage to get a few rides in, including Friday's ride around Marblehead Neck in a light rain. I fell out of my routine of recording and uploading my rides to Strava -- My Garmin was totally dead since the week before, and I just kept forgetting to recharge it. Of course Ethan joked about it this morning and said, "You know that means your rides didn't happen, right?" (Haha.)

Without the Garmin, I couldn't upload to Training Peaks either, so it looks like I didn't do anything for two weeks. Curiously, though, I didn't hear a peep from my coach. I guess out of sight, out of mind? (Tsk, tsk, Coach. Too busy with your new team?)

Today's Tour de Cure was a great ride along mostly back roads through Topsfield and Georgetown, up to Newburyport. The route takes a few of my favorite roads, and it's been a while since I popped through Newburyport. I rode with a group from SpiderOne Racing the entire morning and it was terrific fun. (We also made a new friend, Keith!) Since I was away for RAAM the weekend before, and Mike was running Trav's Trail Run (also in Newburyport), I cut my ride early to scoot back to Swampscott in time for Chip's lacrosse game. I made it just in time. By the time 8 pm rolled around, I was glad the week was done. It's been crazy.

Day 8: 30 Days of Biking, Ocean House Surf and SpiderOne Racing

It was a tough one today. We woke to dark skies and pouring rain and it was really hard to get motivated for a ride. I assumed my evening ride plans with SpiderOne Racing would cancel, so I headed out at noon in a light rain down to Ocean House Surf Shop for a warm cappuccino and called it a ride. Afterall, the mission of 30 Days of Biking isn't to rack up miles but to get out and ride.

The skies cleared a few hours later, and the SpiderOne group ride was "on". I really had no energy, but with a little prodding from friends, I sucked it up and headed over to B&S with Julie H.. We ended up doing some hill work on Marblehead Neck -- not my favorite -- but I got it done. (For the most part, anyway.)

#30daysofbiking

Day 1: 30 Days of Biking, SpiderOne Racing

A slightly chilly ride tonight, but not too bad considering I've headed out in sub-30 temps this winter. My first day of the thirty day biking challenge was an 18 mile training ride with SpiderOne, (of which 15.5 was recorded on my iPhone app, since my Garmin woes continue.) It was fun to get out and ride with the group! (Thanks, Shayne!) 29 days to go...

#30daysofbiking

P2. This Ain't No Spin Class

Justin gets it done.

No goal was ever met without a little sweat. 

Happy Birthday, Coach

Happy twentieth twenty-eighth birthday, Shayne Gaffney. 

Weekend Wrap-Up

The last three days have been in the low to mid 20s, but I managed to get out for a ride each day. At this point, my threshold of not riding in temps under thirty degrees is shot. I just need to get out.

On Saturday, the Pedal to End Cancer, (originally planned as an indoor ride) headed outdoors instead. It was a bitter 27 degrees, but the sun was bright, making it feel a bit warmer. (Or maybe that was all in my head.) We headed up to Manchester for a 20 mile loop, and Shayne humored me by stopping for breakfast/lunch at the Beach Street Cafe. (Haha. So Cyclopath.) It was a cold one, but good to ride, and we raised some money for the American Cancer Society. (Thank you again, Nancy and Fred, for the donation!)

Sunday's ride was a tribute to fellow SpiderOne athlete John N. Matook -- who passed away very suddenly on Wednesday. Led by Brandi and Shayne, several of us made the ride to John's wake in Revere under gray skies and raw temps, but no snow, (originally in the forecast). Julie H. and I rode the round trip from Swampy, coming home in the dark -- which was actually quite a challenge when we couldn't see the potholes. I hope John would have smiled at our adventure.

Having gone out the last two days in the cold, I hadn't planned to ride today, (21 degrees and a repeat of yesterday), but I'd been nursing a caffeine-withdrawal headache since waking at 4 a.m., and thought a ride would help. (It didn't, really, but I'm glad I got out. March is a long month.)

Snow Day

Yesterday we had a classic New England winter storm... no school... nearly a foot of snow... and our lives slowed down a little.

Julie H. and I exchanged a few emails in the morning, asking each other about the status of our P2 cycling class, which went something like this:

"Are you going to P2?",
"I don't know. Are you going?"
"I don't know. I'm still in my pjs, leaning towards No."
"Also in my pjs, leaning the same way."

A posting on Facebook indicated that classes were canceled -- but an email from coach Shayne said otherwise -- so Julie and I connected by phone and talked each other into braving the snow. My driveway still needed to be shoveled, but having an all-wheel drive with snow mode meant I could just blast over the moguls and deal with the shoveling later. (Ha!) I picked Julie up and made the slow trek through Salem, on yet-to-be-plowed streets. We ended up being late for class. (Sorry coach!)

The workout was tough -- and the rest of the Wednesday gang didn't make it -- but fellow spider John M. joined us, and the three of us gutted it out. (By the middle of the workout, I regretted not staying home in my pjs... but when all was said and done, I was glad I did it. Week 5, done.)

Of course I had a second workout in store for me when I got home -- and had to clear those moguls in the driveway. Will eventually woke from his snow-day coma to give me a hand, and went to work on the 2 foot high snowbank that blocked the end of the driveway. He managed to get a good section of it clear, when a snowplow came by and buried the end of the driveway again. I thought Will was going to have a breakdown. He stood there, in total shock, and I watched as a half dozen emotions crossed his face in a ten-second span. Disbelief, hurt, frustration, anger, despair, resignation... I tried to suppress my laugh as he stood there with the shovel in his hand, looking dejected. "Yes", I told him. "Snowplows do that". He's such a rookie.

P2 Week 4 - Getting Stronger

I'm starting to like, (? if that's possible), my P2 trainer workouts on Saturday mornings... although in the moment, I'm actually counting the minutes until it's over. Today, the P2 homework gang included Lila, Lisa and Jen (riding behind me, keeping the momentum going). It was fun, and tough, and my quads were still burning a few hours later... but it was good to feel that burn and know I pushed myself a little. Week 4 homework, done. Yay!