Today in Training: Portland to Cape E

After a few days inside on the bike, it was time to get back out in the sunshine and hit the pavement. A spur of the moment pop-in to see my bestie Annemarie down in Cape Elizabeth (plus lunch and a beer) was just what I needed to distract myself from a paltry 17 mile day before heading back to work.

T-Minus: 84 days

Fundraising to go: $1265 (I love my friends! You keep me rollin'!)
Total training miles ridden: 602.85
Total books read since started: 18

View from the Casco Bay Bridge today. Not a bad day to be in Maine at all.

Today in Training: ACADIA!!

I actually tried to enhance the colors on this and it looked worse. #nofilterf'reals Sand Beach, Acadia, NP

 

 

I have never been to Acadia National Park and figured I’d probably run out of time (and weather) if I actually sat down and planned a real trip, so I just set the alarm for 6a, threw the old Terra Linda on the back of the car and headed north. It was a GAH-HOAR-JESS day—sunny, light breeze, about 68º—and perfect for riding the 20 mile Park Loop. The park is amazing and I’m definitely coming back when I have more time to take a few days.

T-Minus: 88 days

Fundraising to go: $1365 (over the halfway mark! big props from the Climate Ride rider support crew!)
Total training miles ridden: 621.51
Total books read since started: 16

From the top of Cadillac Mtn—I didn't ride up the road, but some other suckers did!

Another view from Cadillac Mtn, looking out at the Porcupine Islands and Bar Harbor (aka BAH HAHBA)

Today in Training: Gray->Raymond->Frye Island and back

Cheap thrills of Raymond, ME. Nathaniel Hawthorne's boyhood home.

Back in the (sore, sore) saddle for another 33.6 after a day off celebrating the longest day yesterday. Hopped on the bike for a trip to the ferry to visit some old friends on Frye Island.

Nice and sunny on the way there, but it became overcast on the way back. These Maine hills are good for training but killing my butt!

I may need to keep the speed boat on retainer for more quick getaways.

T-Minus: 89 days
Fundraising to go: $1365 (over the halfway mark!!! thanks everyone!)
Total training miles ridden: 602.01
Total books read since started: 15

And I mean if you haven't donated yet, what are ya waiting for, ya mug!

Today in Training: Inaugural blog post!

I figured I'd dust off the old (very old, very dusty) blog to document my journey in training for my 300 mile Climate Ride in September (for those of you unaware here's my story! and you can donate here too!) I'm getting some fairly high mileage this week but it's only because I'm back in the gym. 

Indoor training has definitely got its perks:
• I can only wear so much sunscreen—I'm turning darker than my old Finnish grandmother, I'm starting to loop around to purple.
• 2 1/2 hours on the bike is spent always in motion, as opposed to outside where you're stopping for traffic lights and fighting the wind and hills
• distraction... indoors, I can check emails, surf the web and I've also set a goal for myself to read 100 books while I'm training which makes the time go by that much faster. Today on the bike, I finished "The Cheapskate Next Door: The Surprising Secrets ofAmericans Living Happily Below Their Means" by Jeff Yeager—a fitting inspiration, because Yeager did his entire book tour by bike! This one's classified as "humor" but he really has truly practical advice for anyone who wants to easily save money. Gotta love a guy who tells everyone to go check his book out at the library. 

Miles to go before I sleep, but check back for daily updates here! 

T-Minus: 91 days
Fundraising to go: $1515
Total training miles ridden: 568.41
Total books read since started: 15