Temperatures.....

Well, I am back to letting the weather dictate my training. I am just going to have to lower the minimum temperature that I will ride in (was 57, now 47). Going out looking for winter duds! Twenty year old wool leggings - wonder if they fit? Technology has changed so much that I “should” buy new. And, buying new will help the economy, right?

I have a few days off from work this week, so maybe…although my track record is not so good over holidays-only physical activity over Thanksgiving was touch football! I used enough muscles that day to count for several rides! So, what to do this week…..

Happy Holidays to all!

This was going to be titled "Why I love Houston in the fall"...

...but then I went out riding and guess what? I swallowed more bugs - ok - I swallowed only one but - golly gee whiz! The weather was great! I felt great! I even felt strong, like I could wind sprint the whole way! And, maybe that was the problem. So, there I am sprinting as fast and far as I can, enjoying the view of the bay, the mild temps, the mild wind...What could be better? Oh yes, the need to breath through my mouth because of my Houston allergies - ooops - bug! Goes right in and down, all in one breath-did not even have time to spit it out. I managed to dodge the rest. I just smashed them with my windsheild (that would be my face!).

I slowed down, tried to breath through my nose and set a new pace. You know what? That was still fun because not even one little bug can ruin a great bike ride along the water. At least it wasn't a dragonfly!!!!!

No longer eating dragon flys; i.e. avoiding animal life is life saving

Well, the summer has been a long one; good and bad! The heat was tuff! Too many squirrels and dragon flies. Hit some, ate others; you guess which is which!

I was very careful to NOT hit the deer - They win every time. I slow down to an incredibly slow pace when I see deer in the median or ditch ahead. One never knows if one, two, three, or a mom and triplets is going to come out of the woods and cross - right in front of me! Loved watching - thankful to not hit - for them and ME!

I am looking forward to a cool and productive fall on my bike as I continue to train for the BPMS 150!

Keep watching here for updates and progress reports! I need your moral support now! Send me encouraging messages. Lambast me when I forget to post! Encourage me when my riding slows down in the cold weather - I am a fair weather rider.

More reasons to train and ride!

Why do I ride?



Baby cows!



Beautiful flowers!



Galveston Bay!



... as the white caps move across and the wind whips my face. Umm... the wind....my legs tell me it is not a nice thing, but I just tell them that it's practice for those hills on the way to Austin!



For those out-of-towners. The BPMS 150 is a ride from Houston to Austin via some of the most beautiful scenery in Texas (and sometimes during "wildflower season"). Team Hess leaves Tully Stadium in Houston and rides ~98 miles the first day and ~75 miles the second. The second day is a piece-of-cake! It's all uphill that day (not really - just seems that way), but your adreniline is pumping full speed ahead - something like my legs are doing as I take in those "oh so fun downhills".