Queen of the Mountain!

Do you see the path coming up the right side of this picture? That would be my summer nemesis. I have been riding my bike to work this summer, and this has been the hardest part! The last mile and a half of my ride are uphill, but this last little bit is killer! (this picture just shows part of the last hill, it kind of goes on forever!) Plus, by the time I get to the bottom of this hill I am worn out due to the hill I just climbed! The first day I rode my bike I pushed my bike up this entire hill - and make a goal to be able to ride to the top of the hill by the summer's end.

I had been making progress. Little by little, usually only a few feet a day, but last week I had got to half way up the hill before I had to get off and push my bike. I thought that there was no way I would ever make it up the entire thing! Last week my Dad decided to ride up the hill to see what I was talking about. He said that it was a killer, but that he had made it. Suddenly, I was more determined than ever to get up the hill!

So this morning when I got to the bottom of the hill I put my gears as low as they would go and began climbing, VERY slowly! I passed the halfway mark and was so excited! By this point I was so out of breath, anyone near me would have thought that I was about to fall off my bike. When I got to 3/4 of the way up the hill my leg muscles started to freak out on me. But I was too close to stop. And then, all at once, I was at the top! I DID IT! HOORAY! It felt so good! When I got to work and got off of my bike I had a hard time walking, but I did it!

Moral of the story: Slow & Steady winds the race! (YOU CAN DO IT!)

Saturday Morning = Bike Ride with Dad

This is what gets me out of bed early on Saturdays. It is so worth it!

Early to Bed . . .

I have successfully completed week # 1 of my early bird experiment (waking up at 5:50 every morning for a month to reset my internal clock). It actually wasn’t as bad as I was expecting. I worked mornings last week, so that helped since I would have to get up anyways, even if not so early. I love that I am able to get a lot more done! I studied and ran each day before going to work. I was surprised because running actually energizes me for the day. And my mile time has improved! I still run a really slow mile, but I am running it faster than I was a week ago! I no longer dread my morning run.

Weekends are definitely the hardest, but I managed it (sort of). Saturday I had a huge list of things to clean and to do, and I finished it all by 12:30, which was awesome! I am much more productive when I wake up early. Sunday was difficult because I couldn’t figure out what to do for 5 hours before church. So I made waffles. YUM! (see recipe below)

I still wake up tired, but not any more tired than before, so I think that is good! And I don’t think I am any more tired during the day than I was before. I am going to bed earlier. I was never a night owl, but now I go to bed by 10:30 most nights.

So overall, I think the experiment is going well. I feel good. One week down, three weeks to go.

Today instead of running I rode my bike in to work. I have not ridden a bike in over 2 years. I don’t work that far away, I would guess it’s about five miles, but the last mile is completely uphill. I did really well until I got to that last mile, and then I was huffing and puffing just trying to get to the top. I’m sure I looked pretty ridiculous. However I am looking forward to the ride home since it will be downhill now :)