american fork canyon

Well I had every intention of doing the Alpine loop today and bike around 40 miles. But wasn't thinking of the pass being closed due to snow on the road. But I did climb to the top of the mountain (2290 ft of climbing). I did good. Felt better than the last time I climbed up the mountain. I think if I keep doing this once a week then maybe I will get better at it by the time the pass opens. How fun that will be.

I actually took more pictures this time.

Work...Coyotes...and Cougars...

I woke up and peaked up out of my basement window and saw that there were no clouds in the sky. (that's all I can see out of my window) So I quickly got ready for work and got dressed in my gear. I was so excited to get on my bike that I happened to forget my sunglasses and my lunch. My first downhill is when I remembered that I forgot my glasses. Oh well.

It's only 10 miles to work so it took me about 30 minutes. I left around 9am so there wasn't a whole lot of work traffic. When I left to come home at 5p that was a different story. I think that I should get up and leave around 7ish and then come home around 3-4ish. I wonder if it would be better that way.

So my brother was telling me that this morning (he leaves around 4am for work) that he caught a glimpse of this big coyote on the side of the road about 2 miles from the house. He said he backed up and shined the lights on it. It stared at him for a minute and then ran off. His point was that if I was on the road and this coyote was there I would be meat on wheels. That doesn't scare me so much so I didn't really think about it too much.

My sis-in-law and I went to a church dinner tonight and while we were there someone else pops up with a large coyote story. She was saying that she was looking out her back window which is facing the foot of the mountain and saw this coyote take down one of the grazing deer there. Then if that wasn't enough another lady was commenting how 3 cougars were spotted in the parking garage at BYU. I was thinking well that's a different mountain than ours. Then she goes on to say how her husband spotted a cougar at the lake down the road. I'm thinking great maybe I am meals on wheels.

Oh well what can you do? It won't deter me from riding. Heck if I do get mauled then it will either be the end of me or I will survive and have one hell of a story to tell!

Dead Newtons

I woke up this morning a little early and decided to take my new Newton shoes out for a spin. I got to the end of the block and a stray dog decided that it was coming with me. At first I figured that hey...a few more strides and it will return home. Such was not the case. I ran through the tunnel to cross to the other side of the busy street and it came with me.

So now the dog was weaving in and out of the road. I tried to get it to come out of the road but this dog wasn't having it. It was completely oblivious to the potential death trap it was taking with every jaunt.

Finally it happened about a half mile out on my run the dog took a leap in front of a car and it there was fur flying everywhere. I give the man credit for actually stopping and getting out of the car. Do I blame him?...no. He didn't even see the dog coming. I stopped of course. The car behind us stopped. We assessed the dog and she was still breathing. I found her dog tags with two numbers on it. We called both and received an answer on the second.

While we were waiting I decided to say a bit about my new shoes. I was very excited about them being that they are going to make me fly some day...right? When you buy a new pair of shoes you can run faster and jump higher. Well to say the least it was an awkward pause in the conversation then. I'm sure they were thinking I was crazy. Okay I didn't say that stuff (what?) I just said that I was taking my new shoes for a spin and how excited I was because they were going to change the way I run since they are mid-strikers and not made for heel striking. Thus improving my speed.

The owners of the dog came with a full realization that this stuff happens. Well especially when you choose to not tie up your dog when it's outside. What can you expect? That's dogs for ya. The dog was panting pretty hard all this time and now it's eyes were closing and it's breathing intermittent. The men hoisted the dog into the back of their vehicle and by the way the neck was dangling I'm pretty sure that there were some back injuries. The dogs eyes were white by this time and the breathing was gone except for the normal gasping every once in a while which the doctor who had stopped said that would happen for a while. It was a dead dog.

So after they left I headed back onto my run. Probably if I had not gone on my run this morning...or if I hadn't of bought new shoes yesterday...or if I hadn't moved back in with my brother's family...there'd still be a dog around. But then somebody else would've come along and filled in that role I had to go through this morning. Interesting. Life goes on with or without you.

My first 54 miler....

This past Saturday after not hearing from the bike shop whether my bike was done or not I got my butt in the car with all my gear in tow with every intention of riding from the bike store when I picked up my bike. Once I got my bike I headed out to the car and started dressing myself in my winter gear. So pumped up and ready for a nice ride. I really didn't care what the weather wanted to throw at me.

The leader of the group rides came out and said "hey, you want to come on our group ride?"
Me..."how far you going?" knowing in my mind that it's been a while since my last long ride (like 3 months).
He replied, "54 miles..." noticing my concern he added "...but it's mostly flat with about 750 feet of climbing."
Relief and as fast as my brain cells could decide I blurted out "yeah, I think I will come, added with a but I'm not that great of a rider is that okay?"
Of course he was like "no prob." and I was like in my mind saying are you really sure you want me slowing you down? But hey I figured this would be fun. I've been wanting to go on a group ride for a long time.

So I followed him to the local sizzler where we met up with four other riders. Immediately intimidated but not an ounce of "back down" in me I geared up and made introductions. Also noted that there were no other girls other than the one I know we were picking up en route about 5 miles away.

When we were all ready we headed out. Luckily they were all staying at the "slow" speed of 20 mph. (that was sarcasm by the way) Remember that it's been a few months since I rode seriously. So 2o mph is pushing me a bit. But we got to the pick up point for the other girl and then we were off.

This is my first group ride...ever. So drafting and all that stuff was foreign to me being a triathlete (drafting is illegal not quite sure why??? I wonder if it's the same in the ironman being that it's a longer ride?). But I got clued in real fast. I got a chance to ride side by side with all the riders and got to know them. At one point we spotted a lone rider up ahead so it was decided that we needed to race ahead and catch him. I couldn't keep the pace up. I mean once they made the decision to do it it was like they hit the accelerator on a motorcycle. Just amazing how they could accelerate like that. The other girl, and I got left behind. I was more in the middle, but she was lagging badly. A couple of the other riders slowed down to make sure she was ok. We stopped at the stop sign and waited for everyone to regroup. She was about to turn back thinking that she was going to hold the group up, but this goes to show you how awesome these riders were, they said no and so we were off once more. We were about 15 miles out already.

Up ahead was West mountain. Not much of a mountain, but some climbing was definitely up ahead. The first part wasn't too bad. We separated out a little. I was determined to catch up to the first three riders. Once I caught up we decided to stop to wait for the others. Apparently one got a flat. At this point we were about 20 miles into it. The landscape was beautiful. The lake was partially frozen with snow drifts all around. In hindsight I should've broken out my lone granola bar, but I just didn't think of it. Also I took a few pictures, but again next time I'm going to take video with my phone and more pictures.

So once we all regrouped we were off yet again. We had some more serious climbing ahead. I lagged behind this time. On the straight away one of the bikers hung back with me to make sure I was alright and all that my brain was computing was "Chuck-a-rama". I told him that my body was shutting down. (this is around mile 35ish) So he asked if I had eaten anything and if I had food with me. So I said that I was ill-prepared but I did have a granola bar. So three of them stopped with me as I scarfed down a granola bar.

I was informed that the steepest hill was ahead. That really didn't do my heart any good. Once we got there I just about hopped off my bike, but my inner self said that I would rather die than get off that bike. I kept telling myself that I was almost to the top just a few more cranks out and we'd be at the top. Such tremendous focus for me. But once I was over then it was minor hills and flats. The food was starting to hit my blood stream and I was starting to feel much better and able to crank out some better speeds.

By this time of day the wind had picked up in front of us. Drafting became very important. I couldn't believe the difference. I got a gust with my open jacket (after my low blood sugar bout my body was heating up so I had to unzip) and I sailed back about 40 yards from the last biker. This was disheartening. Finally one the riders came back for me and let me draft off them. We stopped at a park for a bathroom break, but the bathrooms were locked. We were at mile 45ish at this point. I took a gel pack from one of the riders. (it was the chocolate gu and this was soooooo good...reminder to self that I need to stock up on this in particular).

We decided to get our bathroom break at the leader's parents house. It was a great relief. We were off yet again battling the wind from the front and then to the side. We stayed mostly in two groups drafting each other. By this time most of us were dead legged and numb butts and with the wind our speed was around 15-17 mph sometimes slower.

We got to the drop off point for the girl then continued on our way just a few miles out to our end point. The first three bikers had a spur of energy and decided to do race speed til the end. Me and one other were left to tough it out to the end. We did fine, but it had been a while since either of us made a long trek.

I just remember the feeling of making such an accomplishment. There were points there in the middle where I was seriously wondering if I was going to make it another mile. I was so amazed at how everyone looked out for each other. The comradery...just amazing. Most came prepared some did not. Everybody shared what they had. I definitely have my list of things I want to invest in for my next 54 miles. (gu, energy bars, shoe socks...maybe winter is almost over and I've faired well without them...cell phone holder in the front for easy access, ear muffs...can't seem to find mine, and maybe some more tools...gotta have more tools:)

The other things I noticed is that no matter how tired I was my legs were pumping til the end and I was able to keep going. I was very impressed with my body's stamina. Not in particular my body, but just the make-up of the body in general. I wonder how far I could've gone before I would've broken down for good.

I did hit the chuck-a-rama afterwards. I actaully only ate one plate and then a little dessert. I went home to think that I would just hit the hay and be so sore the next day and be in pain for a while. But to my surprise I felt like a million bucks the next day. I felt like I could pump out another 54. Well my crotch may not heh heh heh... I figure that in a couple of days when that area heals a little better I will crank it out to work and school and back. Which is no easy fete in itself considering that I will be cranking out the last 4 miles uphill.

I'm just so pumped up that I made it! So I'm going to sign up for my first century, Ulcer, in August.

Also I realized as I was on the ride that I was riding with the UVU Cycling team.



In this last picture those mountains in the background was where we started.

"...and me"

Then there's "...and me". She's the philosophical part of Julie, which is me and I, am I sounding like a multi-personality? Well I'm not. I'm just trying to separate the different parts of my story.

Me...I came to fork in the road about 18 months ago. After a decade of living in a very emotionally distressed marriage I had two roads to go down. The one to the right ended a short ways off with a cliff of which if I jumped off would never come back, the left road was daunting to look at. It meant separation from my children, supporting myself, moving all the way across the country to my family so I could heal and move on with my life. There were distant mountains to cross that I could see but didn't look so daunting from this far back.

I obviously chose the left road. It took me a year of traveling down the right road. I stood at the precipice and tried to scale down the cliff, but in the end I couldn't go through with it. I made a u-turn and went down the left road.

This road has been difficult. I came out west to be where I grew up and gave me the hope of recovery. I've found out that most people judge. It doesn't matter how much I try to explain all the things I went through and was going to kill myself if I didn't get out. All people see is that I left and I chose to leave my children with their father. I did run into a man on the plane who I had a conversation with about why I was on the plane. He told me that I was brave to see that my children were better off without me at this time in life.

Here's my reason why...For one I don't think I'm crazy, but I am unstable in the realm of finance and places to live and figuring out a way to get stability. When I was eight my parents divorced and I didn't have a choice. I was the only girl and by golly (love that term) my mother was going to raise her only girl. Granted I was prayed for and my father had a vasectomy reversal so she could try to have her girl. During those next 10 years I had moved every other year and not because she married a person who was in the military but because she was still finding mr. right except that she married and divorced instead of just dated.

I had grown up with a knowledge that I was just baggage weighing her down. My brothers were older and getting married. My father married the wicked witch of the west who hated me. I didn't have a place where I fit in and felt loved. All I looked forward to was the fact that I would some day graduate and leave. And when that day came I was out of there in a blink of an eye. So having this knowledge I decided that it was better for me to leave the kids with the more stable parent who had family that actually helps out.

I know that anyone who is reading this is wondering what went on in my marriage that had me wanting to commit suicide yet leave the children with this kind of a man. Well maybe at some point I will tell all, but not now.

I left. I came out west. My family hasn't really been there for me. My parents understand more than my brothers do. I've been so lucky to find a roommate who is a social worker and helped me to see principle and values and how they work together. I've realized that most people have a skewed version of what principle is. A lot of people manipulate principle to entrap those who have good principles. You are all going "huh?" right now so forget it. I received therapy.

I ended getting a job at wal-mart and then found a job as a graphic designer for a print shop. I loved the design job so much that I quit wal-mart and am going to start up my photography business again with the help of the owner.

School found it's way to me. I started a bachelor's program in the graphic arts. So i figure that in a couple of years I can actually get a job and move out to be closer to my children. Or actually make enough money so that I can fly back there more often than I can right now making barely over minimum wage.

So this is my life in a very small nutshell. "...and me" is here along for the ride. I find so many times things that I'm searching for fall into my lap. So occasionally I will look at a particular ride with a different viewpoint.

Riding is passion of mine that keeps growing and morphing into something that keeps pushing me to the edge of endurance and focus. I will probably keep doing triathlons as well, but I want to push the distance on it all.

Enjoy...or be disgusted and closed minded...the choice is yours.

I and My Bike...

SPECS:
"I" - 31 year old female, fourth year riding
"My Bike" - Specialized Dolce series, blue and white, shimano clips with sidi shoes, aero bars (don't use them much though), shimano tiagra/sora parts, I did just upgrade the tires to bontragers. Ok so it's not much for specs....but anyhow....

We've been together since 2006. She's blue and white not really my first pick but that's what they had on hand at the time. Plus she was CHEAP! ($850) Anyhow...how did I come to meet her? (Makes me sound gay doesn't it? not that I care, but she is a girl bike so I refer to it as a her which is funny because she's really just an it.

Well I found myself getting on the heavy side after having my fourth child. I normally weigh around 140, but I was at the 200 mark and the weight this time around was not coming off. That was freakin' me out. I have four brothers, two of which lived close to me. They were experiencing the weight problems of a sedentary life for too many years. All of us have been quite athletic in our youth so we started exercising.

Okay first off exercising is one of those things where you really want to, but the first week is the worst. You're sore and out of breath and feel like it's just an impossible fete to get anywhere close to being in shape. If you make it to week two you're still feeling like crap and the "impossible" just became twice as impossible. And then if you make it to week three which most don't then you're still breathing hard and it all becomes crap. So if you haven't quit by now and actually make it to week four then this is the week for you. Your body is starting to realize "hey...maybe we should start changing so we can take this crap." Then if you get to week five things are really starting to motor along and you realize that you're not going to die and might actually start to relish the pain and gain because you know that you will see results.

Sorry for that tangent...I just about unleashed "and me" into some more philosophical conversation.

Ok. So where were we....yes that's right I was explaining that we decided to actually start exercising. So the thing about our family is that we are all very competitive. So why start out with one when you can do three? That's right Triathlons! Here I am starting out on week one and hey lets skip right to competition. Of course what am I gonna say...HELL YEAH!

So it was on. We signed up for our first triathlon and well the rest is history. I'd like to say that I bought my bike from race one, but such is not the case. I did the tri with a rental bike and then took it back and that week bought myself a bike.

So for 2 years we raced triathlons. The third year was hectic and I didn't get out as much. But the start of this fourth year is promising. I've had to replace many parts which cost half of what I paid for her. Well all in all I've paid for her twice all in all these past four years. I have cheated on her by lusting at other bikes in the shops. Some day I will trade her in and that will be a sad day.

So have you noticed yet that I start my paragraphs out with "so"? I'll try to fix that.

Tthis year promises to be a fun one for long and longer rides. I got myself up to 35 mile rides before winter set in. January came along and I decided to brave the cold. So I took her out to work with me. She sounded like a very unhappy camper...so on my way home I stopped at the bike shop. We found out that I put the spring in the quick release on backwards (just one of the many knowledge voids that I have about repairing my bike). We came up with a list of things that needed to be done anyways. So $400 and two days later she was humming as we rounded the corner out of my apartment complex. I came up to the diagonal railroad tracks and my new tire got crooked in the groove and we had ourselves a nice flip and tumble. I decided to just brush it off and take my injuries and continue on. Nothing was broken. 7 miles later I realized that my back tire was flat. So I've not had a lot of flat tires, but I do know how to change it. I happen to actually get to work and flipped it over and proceeded to change it. Now I've never used the compressed air bottles, but I've been instructed on how to use them. (not the same as seeing it done.) The first attempt I think I burnt my hand. Note to self: the compressed air gets super cold fast. Somehow my tube busted and didn't hold any air. Luckily I had another tube. Stuck it in and decided to try again. This time the bottle didn't get cold but the tube's stem froze and broke off. I caught a ride home obviously.

So my bike sat there for a few weeks until I went in and got some tubes. I asked about this problem and had received some info that led me to buy a new release mechanism that's a little more controlled. Hopefully it will work (crossing fingers) the next time I encounter a flat repair and I'm out in the middle of nowhere.

I got home and proceeded to change my flat and then also replaced the now 2-3 year old tube in the other tire as well. I was about to jump on and take it for a spin when I realized that when I spun the bike tire a small point of it was rubbing against the brakes. Well that can only mean that I bumped something in my crash and the tire needs to be trued. Another trip to the bike shop. (yeah...more money!)

That saturday I woke up and having not received word whether it was done or not I proceeded to be optimistic and gathered all my biking gear and drove down to the shop with every intention of riding it from the shop.

This is where I'm going to stop...it brings us to the present and my next post is all about the inspiring ride I went on.

Who I am...

I had the most amazing ride this past weekend which has inspired me to journal about my bike rides. BUT FIRST a little about "I, my bike and me". I chose this title because "I and my bike" are tight buddies and have been through quite a bit in the past four years together. Then there's "and me"...whose been through quite an ordeal these past 6 months well technically my whole life has been an ordeal but whose isn't right? heh heh heh but I came to a fork in the road 6 months ago so "and me" is the philosophical part of this blog.