Biking

This is my new thing this year. I signed up for the 47 mile Tour de Tonka Ride so I’ve been working on making sure I’m ready for that. And I joined the Minnetonka Bike Club, a riding club for older riders in the Western suburbs of Minneapolis. They have 3 different levels of rides and 3 rides a week. I started out riding with the middle group, the Explorers. They ride on Tuesdays, usually 12-20 miles, at a 10-12 mph pace. I like riding with them but they are a little slow for me. So I started riding with the more advanced group too. The Ramblers ride on Thursdays, usually 20-30 miles, at a 12-14 mph pace. Sometimes they are a little fast for me so I have to work to keep up. But there’s always a sweeper; nobody gets left behind.

I love riding around my area of the Western suburbs and discovering all the trails. But I REALLY love riding with the groups and trying out trails and roads all over Minneapolis! I’m getting to know areas that I didn’t even know existed!

Biking is different than running in one major respect. Running races are for all levels of runners. It doesn’t matter if you are an elite or a back of the packer, at almost all races everyone is welcome. Bike races are different. If you don’t like to go really fast, don’t have the appropriate bike for the race, then bike racing is not for you. But organized rides are for everyone! There aren’t as many of them as there are races, but there are some, and that seems to be enough. 

I’ve done the Tour de Tonka before, and the Fall de Tonka too. This year I did the Tour of Saints, up in St. Joseph, Minnesota, about an hour and 15 minutes from my house. It was 35 miles of rolling hills, out in the country. It was a beautiful ride, challenging but not TOO challenging. I even found myself thinking at the cut off for the 50 mile route that I could do 50 miles if I wanted to.

I’m still running some, but not very much right now. I’ll step up my running after the TdT is over, so that I’m ready for the TCM Looney Challenge and the other races I’ve signed up for this fall. There’s the complication of cataract surgery to consider too. After the surgery consult (that keeps getting rescheduled) I’ll have a better idea of what kind of surgery I’m getting, and when. I depends on $$’s and what the recovery is like. I’m guessing I won’t schedule the surgery until January so I can use HSA $$ but we’ll see.

I’m also planning on adding swimming to my exercise mix. Not a lot at first, just occasionally to see if I actually remember how to swim freestyle! But later this winter I’ll get more serious about it and maybe next year I’ll sign up for a triathlon!

Its fun doing a variety of workouts. My body has fewer aches and pains, but I’ve been gaining a little weight, cause nothing burns calories like marathon training! But so far at least I don’t miss it. I’m not sure if I’m finished with marathons or not. I’m certainly keeping that door open!