"When I do the best I can with what I have, then I have won my race." Jay Foonberg



Saturday, May 7, 2016

Good Life Ride

What a beautiful day for a ride.  Yep, I said "ride".  This is my first Good Life Ride today.  Bad part first...I signed up for the 22 miler but dropped to the 10 miler.  I was afraid I could not maintain the 10 mph requirement for the 22 mile distance.  I rode my bike on Monday for 15 miles and it was tough!  Don't know if it was where I rode or the grades or just the plain fact that I didn't use my gears as I should.  I am so new at biking and have SO much to learn!  I knew I could ride the 10 miles and probably could have done close to 20 with no problem but the speed made it a question.  After all, I can't stand when people bypass the rules just because they want to do something.  It is so selfish and annoying to others.  Hence...10 miles for me today. 

I wanted to do the very best that I could even if it was a fun ride.  It's just the competitor in me, I guess.  I started out in the front so I wouldn't have to get around those that planned on a leisurely ride or those with children.  For a short while, there were four people ahead of me.  It wasn't too long though before two couples passed me.  As we got through the roads and headed out on to the trail system the trees kept it nice and cool even though the temps were not bad to begin with.  The trail was so nice to ride on.  The eight folks that got ahead of me were barely seen after a couple of miles on this turn.  I enjoyed this so much!  It was so peaceful.  Before I realized it I was nearing the turn around point and they were all there .  I know this was a ride and not a race but when I reached this point, I didn't expect to just sit around and laugh at the teenagers that couldn't get the water container open for me!  A little irritating as it should have already been done.  After a quick swig, I got back on the trail and headed back to the finish. 

The feeling was so different from a race as there weren't any Start or Finish Lines.  You started together and finished on your own.  Something I've got to get accustomed to if I want to do more.  One thing I wasn't excited about was the many, many times you had to slow to almost a stop or stop completely for the road intersections on the trail.  I would guess that there were at least a dozen of those ONE WAY!  This slows you down a lot and really cuts into your speed.  Okay...it's coming out...the racer that I am. 

There were 4 rides today.  They were 10 miles, 22 miles, 40 miles and 64 miles with varying start times and locations.  The further you rode the earlier you started.  All ended at Tacky Jack's in Gulf Shores.  TJ served nachos and drinks and they were so good.  I can't wait to do this one next year...and, as of now, it will definitely be the 22 miler.  I found a couple of friends afterward and talked with them some.  Marsha and Pete were so encouraging even if they had just finished their 40 miles.  It's friends like these, whether they be bikers or runners, that reaches down inside you and gives you that extra "atta boy" that everyone wants and needs.  Thanks, guys!!  I appreciate you! 

Here are my stats when it was all said and done.  10.47 miles at a 10.6 mph for 59:03 minutes.  I am well pleased since I know this could have been faster.  I really, really enjoyed this and YES, there will be more.  I learned more about my gears and how to utilize them...again, this is a learning curve for sure, but my hope is getting stronger.  Unfortunately, there are no pics today.  :(  But I learned that I could get into this new sport easier than I thought I could.  Yay! 

I hope you are outside doing something because it's got to be beautiful where you are today.  I want to encourage you to at least, get out and walk a little.  Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all of my lady-friends. 

Robbie

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2019 Races

  • 05/11/19...9.38 mile Good Life Ride
  • 04/13/19...Raven 5k
  • Dec. 15 - Mar. 8 2019...175 Mile Challenge
  • 02/16/19...Sweetheart 5k
  • 01/19/19...Casio Bridge 5k...DND

2018 Races

12/09/18...MS Gulf Coast Half Marathon
12/01/18...Honeybee 5k (cancelled-weather)
11/17/18...Seville Quarter Turkey Trot 5k
11/11/18...Battleship 12k
10/20/18...Hope Haven Run for Hope 5k
10/13/18...Shrimp Festival 5k
09/29/18...Don McCloskey 5k
09/01/18...Bloody Mary 5k
01/27/18...Casino Bridge 5k

Through December...200 Mile Fall Challenge
Through August...175 Mile Spring Challenge
Through June...150 Mile Spring Challenge

2018 Goals

Bike 500 miles.
Improve gear shifting.
Strength training 2 hours/week.
Run 600 miles.
Improve running without walking.
No processed sugar 75% of time.
Improve positive thinking.
NEVER give up!

2017 Races

  • 12/10/17...MS Coast Half
  • 12/09/17...MS Coast 5k
  • 11/25/17...Kaiser Half
  • 11/18/17...Wild Turkey Trot 5k
  • 11/11/17...Rotary Oyster 5k
  • 10/14/17...Shrimp Festival 10k
  • 02/18/17...Sea Turtle Half
  • 02/04/17...Double Bridge 15k
  • 01/29/17...Big Beach Half

2017 Bike Rides

  • 10/01/17...Southern Magnolia Ride [25.85]
  • 05/13/17...Good Life Ride [26]

Series

  • MS Coast Double Down...5k & Half
  • Run The Beach...3 Half's

2017 Goals

  • Back-to-Back Races [Done]
  • 3 Half Marathons [Done +1]
  • 1,000 Miles-No
  • First Half Marathon Series [3 Done]
  • Work on core/strength 2-3 times a week-No
  • Lose 25 pounds-No
  • NEVER give up! YES!!
  • Control/Eliminate refined sugars-Good

2016 Races

  • 10/15/16...Shrimp Festival 5k
  • 05/30/16...Fiesta Five Flags 5k
  • 03/19/16...Azalea Trail 10k
  • 03/13/16...St. Pat's Leprechaun 5k
  • 03/05/16...Bay to Breakfast 12k...1st trail race
  • 02/20/16...Sea Turtle Half
  • 02/13/16...Double Bridge 15k

2016 Goals

  • Run 1,000 miles-Done
  • Bike 300 miles
  • Half Marathon-Done
  • Eat fruit daily
  • Push through the hard times-Done
  • Cut back on refined sugar

2015 Races

  • 12/19/15...Make It To The Line 4 Miler
  • 11/21/15...Wild Turkey Trot 5k
  • 11/14/15...Oyster 5k
  • 10/10/15...Shrimp Festival 5k
  • 05/30/15...PHind a Cure-W/D
  • 05/02/15...Fiesta Five Flags 5k
  • 04/18/15...Zydeco 5k - W/D
  • 04/??/15...Virtual Remember the Fallen 5k
  • 04/??/15...Virtual Boston Strong 5k
  • 04/11/15...Magnolia 5k
  • 03/28/15...Azalea Trail 10k
  • 03/07/15...Circle K 5k
  • 03/01/15...Gulf Coast Lulu's 10k
  • 02/28/15...Sweetheart 5k
  • 02/07/15...Double Bridge 15k

2015 Goals

  • 1 Half Marathon
  • Eat fruit daily
  • Overlook past failures
  • Push through the hard times/things

2014 Races

  • 12/06/14...St. Jude's Half Marathon
  • 08/16/14...Pinky 5k Virtual
  • 08/15/14...Howl @ the Moon 10k Virtual
  • 02/15/14...Sweetheart 5k
  • 02/01/14...Double Bridge 15k

2014 Goals

  • 1 Half Marathon
  • 700 Running Miles
  • Strengthen my Upper Body
  • Recuperate, Recover, Renew
  • Get active in WW
  • Eat Fruit Daily
  • Start Clean Eating
  • Begin Eliminating Sugar from Diet

2013 Races

11-30-13...Stennis 5k
11-23-13...Turkey Trot 5k
11-08-13...Run For The Kids Virtual Half [St. Jude's]
10-12-13...Shrimp Festival 5k
09-22-13...Talladega Half
07-04-13...Wesson 2 Miles
06-29-13...Emz Liverpalooza 5k
05-18-13...Pursuit of Fun 5k
04-20-13..Warrior Dash
04-07-13...Gulf Coast Half-Pensacola
03-23-13...Azalea Trail 10k
03-10-13...Leprechaun 5k
02-24-13...NOLA Marathon
02-02-13...Double Bridge 15k-Pensacola
01-13-13....Gulf Coast Half-Lulu's

2013 Goals

  • 3 Half Marathons-Done-Plus 1
  • 1 Marathon-Done
  • 1000 Running Miles-No, due to RC Tendonitis & Broken Shoulder
  • Eat fruit daily-A little aggressive but better
  • Maintain weight in 130's-Did NOT happen!

2012 Races

12-08-12...FloraBama Jingle Bell 5k
11-24-12...Jingle Bell 10k
11-17-12...Turkey Trot 5k
10-27-12...Jazz Half
10-20-12...OS Rotary 5k
10-13-12...Race for Grace 5k
09-29-12...5k For Katlyn
07-04-12...Wesson 2 Mile
04-15-12...Gulf Coast Half...[Withdrew-bronchitis]
04-14-12...Diversity Dash 5k
03-24-12...Azalea Trail 10k
03-03-12...MS50 20k...[Withdrew-bronchitis]
02-25-12...Kids Need Heroes 5k
02-11-12...Sweetheart 5k
02-04-12..Double Bridge 15k
01-14-12...Pensacola Half



2012 Goals

  • 1 Full Marathon-Marine Corp filled up
  • 3 Half Marathons-2 Down-Sick had to drop 2
  • 20 Miles-Wkly Mileage-Bronchitis kept me from this
  • Cross Training 2x Week-Poor Commitment
  • Weekly Weights W/O-Again Poor Commitment

2011 Races

  • 11-26-11...Kaiser Half
  • 11-19-11...Turkey Trot 5k
  • 11-11-11...Thumbs Up for Bill 5k
  • 11-05-11...Senior Bowl 10k
  • 10-22-11...Running the Streets 5k
  • 10-15-11...Shrimp Festival 10k
  • 10-08-11...Mullet Run 5k
  • 09-24-11...Waiting for a Cure 8k
  • 09-05-11...Labor Your Legs 5k
  • 07-04-11...Wesson 2 Miles
  • 06-04-11...Bay Fest 5k
  • 05-14-11...Stargazer 5k
  • 04-30-11...Fiesta 5 Flags 5k
  • 04-16-11...St. Benedict's 5k
  • 04-10-11...Gulf Coast Half
  • 03-26-11...Azalea Trail 10k
  • 03-19-11...St. Patrick's 5k
  • 03-05-11...Eco 5k
  • 02-13-11...Mardi Gras Marathon

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