| |
|
| Training |
When I
first got into cycling it was 2003-2004. I was being plagued
by injuries from running and training for marathons. So I decided
to start cross-training in another sport. My husband had gotten
into Ironman training, so I thought cycling would be a great
thing that we could do together.
My first year of riding involved
getting a road bike, which was quite an experience in and of itself,
having not really ridden a bike since college – the ol’ Schwinn
10-speed to get around campus! Most of my riding was done on
a trainer in my basement because I was too unsure of myself
on the road. I couldn’t understand how people could ride
in groups on the streets of Chicago without feeling petrified!
My
friend Peter Blakemore , an avid cyclist, having cycled across
country, taught me how to “clip in” and
how to function on the bike. He did this one day prior to my
first race, which was held in Sanibel Island , FL. I was participating
in a duathlon, and he and Ross were doing the triathlon. I
hadn’t ridden
on the road, let alone rode for 30 miles at one time! But amazingly
enough, 5 minutes training with Peter produced miraculous results.
It was one of those times where “I got it” – everything
clicked. Ross was trying to show my how to clip-in and clip-out
and I fell off the bike five times in a row with my feet still
clipped in! Yes, that was really graceful!
Well, now it’s
been a few years and I have a new road bike that really fits
me (I highly recommend getting fitted for your bike). I also
found a great group of people to ride with right here in Oak
Park , IL called the OPC15. That stands for Oak Park Cycling
15 mph average. Well, my first time out with them, I soon realized
that they don’t average 15
mph. It’s
more like 17-18, and lately, even faster. But what I love about
this group is that it is made up of a mix of people from all
walks of life who just love to cycle. They help you and wait
for you if you drop back. They’re awesome.
Here is a picture
of Ross and I getting ready for the Arlington 500 Ride we did
with the group this spring, as well as a picture of some of the
group. |
 |
 |
We ride together
every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings. We start at 5:30AM
on Tues/Thursday and ride for about 90 minutes. On Saturday we
will start a little later (6:30AM) and go for a little longer – maybe 50 miles
or so. We do long rides like the Arlington 500 and the Psycho
Century together.
I’ve learned a lot from this great group of people, not
only related to cycling, but about life. They are definitely
one of the highlights of my week! I can’t encourage you
enough to find something like this in your area. It will not
only make you a better cyclist, but will allow you to get out
and meet new people! Give it a try!
|
Marion Trains
for Disney Marathon – January 2008
I have been doing one marathon per year since 2002, having
completed
three marathons – the Humpy's Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska;
Grandma's
Marathon in Duluth, MN, and the Lakefront Marathon in Milwaukee,
WI.
The
last two years my marathon plans were drastically halted
as my mom was
diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. For a year and a half,
Ross and I
helped care for her and get her through treatments as best
we could.
She
passed away in January of 2007.
My mom was my best friend and confidante. So as most of
you who have
lost a loved one know, it's been really tough. I didn't know
if I would
ever get back to running like I once had. Then I met these
two great
women in Sanibel Island, FL, where Ross and I go for R&R,
as well as to
get away to write and work on big projects for Caring
Medical.
|
Chris, Evette, and Marion – The Sanibel
Somethings! |
Chris and Evette
(as pictured) are just great. Chris just completed her first
Ironman Triathlon in April 2007, and has done a number of marathons
as well. Evette has done a half marathon and looks forward to
completing her first marathon. When we are in FL, we get together
with these two and their spouses who are also Ironmen and marathoners,
and train together. One day they were telling me that they were
thinking of running the Disney Marathon in January 2008 and asked
me to join them. Our goal is to do the marathon in under 5 hours.
I don't know if we will be able to do it, but we are going to
try!
So after having completed a number of cycling events this year,
I am
going to focus on training for the marathon with Coach Pete from
www.milehighmultisport.com.
I have been plagued with various running injuries over
the years (shin splints and IT band primarily, but a
stress fracture as well). I have always gotten back on
the road using
Prolotherapy. But this time, Coach Pete would like to see me
get
through the training without an injury! I am certainly all for
that as well!
My strategy will be to run a little less and cross train a little
more
with weight-lifting and cycling, in addition to the running.
I also take
planned walk breaks during my runs which also helps me avoid
injury.
When we three women decided we were all going to run the Disney
marathon together, we said "we should call ourselves the Sanibel
something's, (meaning Sanibel Sweethearts or Sanibel Sisters
etc.), but "Sanibel Something's" is what stuck! So
the Sanibel Something's are in the midst of training. Most of
my training is done here in the Chicago area. When I do get to
visit them in FL, we train together. I was there in July where
we did two 10-milers and some hill repeats over the Fort Myers
bridge together in the 100 degree heat/humidity.
|
The Sanibel Somethings with Dr. Ross
after running hill repeats up and over the
Fort Myers bridge in the 100 degree 98% humidity weather! |
Those were killers,
but we did it together – which
made it a lot more fun! And the iced coffee afterwards tasted
really great! Ross came
along for the ride for the hill repeats, as he wouldn't want
to miss such a
great workout!
So I'll let you know how the training is going - see you on the
road...
Marion
|
|
|
| Single
Focus Daily Weblog |
 |
|
|
