Back! And not that sore!

So this year I joined Andy and friends on their yearly snowboarding trip. It was awesome. It definitely solidified my interest in the snow sport, and I'm glad I have something other than cycling and running.

We flew ourselves to Denver and spent 4 nights and 3 days on Copper Mountain. There was snow the first day and then it snowed again that night, so the next day was still good. The third day started to show some ice, but by then I was much better, so it was less of an issue. I have to say Copper Mountain was really great. There were 3 little villages full of shops and food, we started on Thurs and it progressively got crowded on the lift lines, but the mountain rides themselves weren't crowded at all. We had ample room to practice, even on Saturday.

When we first got there, I was taking a look at jackets and such, cause I'm not too crazy about the Obermeyer I bought last week, and I found this. And I loved it, and so it was mine.


I'll take the Obermeyer back this week since the tags are still on. So glad I found that one. It has everything I wanted - vents, lots of pockets, no lining, and looks cool.

I hadn't snowboarded since...winter of 2008? And that was only one day. I successfully leafed down the short short mtn only once. This time I picked up the leafing again, Andy helped me with my leafing - look where you go, put your weight into it, etc. And Kasia taught me how to carve! Which is great. If you are a beginner like me, and you don't know how to get done a mtn without stopping, well carving is your trick. You probably know how to "heel", which is just taking the mountain down in a zig zag fashion while facing forward and digging your heel into the mountain. Well when you combine that with "toe" which is the opposite - you zig zag facing the mountain - you get "carving". Toeing uses the opposite muscles on your legs so that you can give your quads a rest and alternating between those gives you a carving motion. Kasia and I worked on this for 3 days and by the last day we could get down the mountain in 1/3 the time it would take use on day one. Pretty awesome. I was proud of us. =D

BTW. The mountains were so pretty. I'm so jealous of Denver.


Now don't get me wrong, after the first day I was in major pain from snowboarding for about 5+ straight hours. But as the days went on I got a little less and less sore. Today I feel pretty ok and in the next few days I should be fully recovered and back to running. I do have to say, being sore was awesome. I never push myself that hard, so it was refreshing.

Yay! I can't wait to go again and carve down the mtn faster than ever.

Memorial Park Runs

Last week Sajida, Asha and I started doing the 3 mile loop at Memorial park, which has been great because you feel so accomplished after running a real 3 miles and not on some random treadmill. Anyway, last week my running mates were still getting started so we'd do 3 miles in about 50 mins and then some random abs stuff and I would go for another round. I seem to average 35 mins one round.

Today I did about 4 miles. 1 mile while waiting for Asha and then we did 3 miles in about 40 mins. Pretty good, she bumped up her pace by 10 mins in one week.

Will try to go out tomorrow, but I don't think I can manage running, LIFE and a trip to REI all in one night so I will have to decide which things to do.

Snowboarding soon! I need to pack.

Getting Ready to Board!

Yesterday I took a trip to Sun & Ski and then REI to look for a ski/snowboarding jacket. I haven't done a good job. Partly because I didn't want to spend the money...but of course that bites me in the ass because I had to buy the jacket full price. Luckily, Sajida has a pair of goggles that I can borrow, so I can still keep my eye out for my own pair and save my money for one next time.

Here's there new addition to my closet:

It's the Obermeyer Paris Jacket. I would have liked it with more white, but they didn't have it at the store. Also, I bet more white would just mean more dirty. So I try to avoid white technical clothes.

I also bought the Salomon Helix Midlayer cause it was sooo light and warm, but the color is "wine", which I'm not too crazy about. I'll prob return that and spend my money on something I really love.

Brazos Bend "Hike"

Today I went with Caitlin and Adam to visit Brazos Bend State Park. It was pretty nice. Great weather except for the 10 mph gusts. Saw plenty of gator and birds. Adam and Caitlin were pretty impressed by the gators we saw.


It was a 5 mile hike around two lakes, and admittedly, it was really flat and not challenging. Caitlin said it well, this is not a "hike" even though its a hiking trail; it's more of a walk. We walked around Brazos Bend. heh. It was a good change of pace from just running. I brought my awesome orange North Face hiking pack and stuck 6 lbs of Epsom salt in it for a little more of a work out, but since we weren't really going up an down, I don't think it made a big difference. Next time I'll do 15 lbs. haha.




The flat terrain of Houston has been worrying me since half the MS 150 is hills. I need more hill training, and it'll be hard finding it. I can get up to 16 mph on flats but getting through those hills in Bastrop are another beast altogether. I don't want to be falling on my new bike. Agh why are bikes so expensive?


And yes I know about spin class, but those are only good for flats too. Getting up out of your seat is nothing like actually going up a hill. It's like getting up on flats. grr. Stupid Houston...

Bike in the Heights

Today I was supposed to join the ACN team for a ride in the Heights, but I missed them. I was kind of discouraged cause I don't know the area all that well, but decided to explore by myself anyway. I was pleasantly surprised. The area is pretty biker friendly. They have lots of bike paths, some sidewalks designated for bikers, and lots of signs to direct you where to go. Although there were a lot of points where I had to stop and watch for cars, Heights Blvd was a great straight away with few lights where I could sprint my heart out.

Not sure if I would go back because stopping and starting really annoys me, but maybe when I get used to riding with cars I'll feel different.

Time: ~1hr
Distance: probably 10-12 miles

2010 Calendar

Jan 27th - 31st: SNOWBOARDINGGGGGG WOOO
Feb 6th: Puddle for the Ducks - Metric Century
Mar 21st: Tour de Houston - 70 Miles
Apr 11th: Angie's Half Crazy - Half Marathon
Apr 17th - 18th: BP MS 150 - 180 Miles

First Post!

Hello!
Welcome to my blog. Since I started working, I've awaken a part of me that loves being healthy and strong. Actually when I think about it, I've always cared about health and known that I was not in shape, but couldn't find the motivation to work out...until I discovered cycling.

I LOVE cycling. It's become kind of an obsession, and I'm grateful and happy for it. With anything you care about and love, I have a lot to say about my new found athletic ability so I am starting this blog. I hope here I can express myself fully and also keep track of my progression, digression, and aggression. haha.

Enjoy. Or don't.

Mink