Yesterday I planned to ride to work and left my apartment at 8:52. I got to the Cleveland Park station and there were ZERO bikes there. So I started the walk and called my boss to let her know I'd be a little late. It was no big deal but a little disappointing to know the bikes aren't 100% reliable. But I still believe in the bikeshare and I know they have people working constantly to move bikes around an ensure that no stops are left empty. And it was good that I had to walk. I need to not become lazy and stop walking the measly 8/10 of a mile just to save an extra five or ten minutes. I am so very lucky that my options are a fifteen minute walk or a five minute bike ride. Or a three minute bus ride if it's raining. My commute coats nothing or next to nothing and I am not affected by the continually rising gas prices. I read this morning on NBCWashington that those prices are boosting bikeshare popularity. So maybe more and more stations will pop up around town.
In other bicycle news, I read on that Washington, DC has been upgraded to a silver friendly bicycling community according to the League of American Bicyclists "bicycle friendly community program". Until now, DC was ranked as bronze but the introduction of two bikesharing systems, new downtown bike lanes, bike boxes, the bike station, the Wilson bridge path, and more, have bumped us up to silver.
The city continues to be a great place to live, to bike, and to run but, for now, I'm leaving it for New York City where I'll be riding my bike 42 miles through the five Burroughs tomorrow morning. More on that to come.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Bikeshare Day 2
I promise I won't do this every day I ride a bike. But I rode to work today so it's day 2. It was uphill so I sweat a little more which is less favorable to sweating on the way home. But there's not much else to tell of my ride. This post is one for reminiscing.
Yesterday, I mentioned my turquoise helmet that is better suited for a twelve year old girl. My parents have tons of these cheap-o target helmets in their shed in blue, pink, silver, and more. It's a bit frivolous but it is nice to be like a free local bike rental shop when any friends or family come in town. And it's nice when one of us signs up for a helmet-less bike sharing system and wants to store one under their desk.
But I remembered that one of these helmets, this very turquoise one in fact, was once so much more than an extra collecting dust in the shed. It was once my armour on a great bike ride across Iowa, the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, actually. It was only a four day ride, when my parents and I joined the last half of the week in 2007, but it was still significant. I went looking for pictures of this helmet on Ragbrai and this is all I could find, apparently I was aware of how dumb it looked or I just took less pictures of myself then.
I was such a dorky biker back then. I rode the whole way in sambas purchased in or around 1998 and soccer shorts. I also rode this trusty hybrid Bianchi that is now owned by my friend and co-worker Kate. She rode her first triathlon in it in September so it's still livin' the life. Maybe I wasn't a dork but just less of a poser. My dad however, has never been a dorky biker or a poser.
I was also a little chubs back then, despite all the biking. But still not afraid to hunch over handlebars in my sports bra. I have ditched the sambas and soccer shorts on my long bike rides but I'm bringing back a piece of history with the turquoise helmet from Ragbrai 2007.
Yesterday, I mentioned my turquoise helmet that is better suited for a twelve year old girl. My parents have tons of these cheap-o target helmets in their shed in blue, pink, silver, and more. It's a bit frivolous but it is nice to be like a free local bike rental shop when any friends or family come in town. And it's nice when one of us signs up for a helmet-less bike sharing system and wants to store one under their desk.
But I remembered that one of these helmets, this very turquoise one in fact, was once so much more than an extra collecting dust in the shed. It was once my armour on a great bike ride across Iowa, the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa, actually. It was only a four day ride, when my parents and I joined the last half of the week in 2007, but it was still significant. I went looking for pictures of this helmet on Ragbrai and this is all I could find, apparently I was aware of how dumb it looked or I just took less pictures of myself then.
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| Nope, still took pictures of myself. |
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| Avoiding pictures of the helmet? |
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| #1 Dad, #1 Biker |
My Uncle Tony has always been cool as well.
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| Cool and Strong. |
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| And a child at heart. |
As the story goes, we rode a lot, we ate a lot, we slept in tents and we had fun.
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| Me and all the fifty year olds :) |
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| They love their field of dreams references. |
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| Betsy bikes so she can eat. And more.. |
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| Finish. |
I was also a little chubs back then, despite all the biking. But still not afraid to hunch over handlebars in my sports bra. I have ditched the sambas and soccer shorts on my long bike rides but I'm bringing back a piece of history with the turquoise helmet from Ragbrai 2007.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Bikeshare Day 1
I received my key for Capital Bikeshare a few weeks ago but have been holding out on activating it until I had set plans to ride. The one year membership begins the day you activate your key. Well, today I ended up working until 5:50 but wanted to have time to run after work. So before leaving, I signed into Capital Bikeshare's site, activated my key, and grabbed the helmet I have stashed under my desk for just such an occasion. I walked across the street and stuck my key in, watching the light change from orange to green, and struggled a little bit to pull the bike out of it's locked stand.
I rode .7 miles south on the sidewalk and it was efficient but it was quite an adjustment from Lucy. As expected, it was like riding a beach cruiser but a little weirder. The seat is really low to the ground, which is good for riding in skirts, and the handlebars are really high so you are basically sitting upright. The wheels are small and really thick so it feels pretty heavy to ride. There are three gears so you can't get going too fast. All these features make the bike safer and easier for the average person to ride, and they make it possible to do so in a suit or a skirt. But it did feel kind of hard to balance in the front because of the handlebar height and their distance from the front wheel. This might just be me, used to a road bike, but I'll adjust. I don't think I'll adjust, however, to the lack of speed and, therefore, can't imagine being comfortable riding on the street, especially during rush hour. But, come to think of it, I rarely see these bikes ridden on sidewalks. I hope it's not too illegal but, like a true girl scout, I'll put [my] safety first.
I was surprisingly glad to be rained on as I rode home. I wondered how silly I looked riding so upright in my sunflower skirt and flip flops, with a turquoise helmet that's better suited for a twelve year old on my head. I locked the bike by the library and crossed the street to my apartment, amazed to be home within five minutes of leaving work.
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| Bike Station, Van Ness |
I rode .7 miles south on the sidewalk and it was efficient but it was quite an adjustment from Lucy. As expected, it was like riding a beach cruiser but a little weirder. The seat is really low to the ground, which is good for riding in skirts, and the handlebars are really high so you are basically sitting upright. The wheels are small and really thick so it feels pretty heavy to ride. There are three gears so you can't get going too fast. All these features make the bike safer and easier for the average person to ride, and they make it possible to do so in a suit or a skirt. But it did feel kind of hard to balance in the front because of the handlebar height and their distance from the front wheel. This might just be me, used to a road bike, but I'll adjust. I don't think I'll adjust, however, to the lack of speed and, therefore, can't imagine being comfortable riding on the street, especially during rush hour. But, come to think of it, I rarely see these bikes ridden on sidewalks. I hope it's not too illegal but, like a true girl scout, I'll put [my] safety first.
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| Power suit, power bike |
I was surprisingly glad to be rained on as I rode home. I wondered how silly I looked riding so upright in my sunflower skirt and flip flops, with a turquoise helmet that's better suited for a twelve year old on my head. I locked the bike by the library and crossed the street to my apartment, amazed to be home within five minutes of leaving work.
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| Cleveland Park Library |
I could definitely get used to this.
Monday, April 25, 2011
30 Minutes Out and Back
In less than six days, Josh and I, with Betsy and Sandy, will be riding our bikes forty two miles through the five burroughs of NYC. So we thought it might be a good idea to do a little training. We had a hearty breakfast yesterday morning then got on our bikes and rode an embarrassingly short .2 miles to our first pit stop, the zoo. It was nice to walk down and uphill on a sunny Sunday but, otherwise, it only confirmed my dislike of the place. I’m not a big fan of zoos in the first place, though I can be a sucker for the vast savannahs and the snake tanks (snakes are probably the only animal I don’t feel bad seeing in captivity) at Busch Gardens, and couple that with the hoards and hoards of tourists at this one and I go a little crazy. But it was a short visit- we saw some unhappy looking animals L and Josh got some decent pictures. But crazy from the madness, I was ready to move my legs! We rode to our usual Frisbee spot, uninhabited by the Somerset Frisbee crew on this holiday Sunday, and got on the trail there. We had never ridden south through Rock Creek from there so had no idea where it’d take us. We had a little over an hour to ride so I, naively, decided that we’d ride 30 minutes out and then turn around, and that we’d ride hard. About 7 minutes in, we were passing the four seasons and it was becoming apparent there wouldn’t be 30 minutes worth of trails laid out before us to ride, unless we wanted to cross the river and ride in Virginia, but there probably wasn’t time for that. So within ten minutes of leaving Woodley Park, we were in Georgetown and we stopped to chill for a few minutes in the grass by the Watergate. We sat on the wall, Josh took a few pictures. There were people fishing and grilling and sleeping. We headed back and barely broke a sweat… until we reached the Frisbee field, where we rode up the grueling hill to Calvert Street and that was enough training in and of itself. So we’ll go into next weekend not having ridden more than a few miles at once. But we’ll be totally fine, it was more of an excuse to take a long ride yesterday than a real need for training. In the end, it is so great to know how insanely close we are, via bike path, to Georgetown and to the mall. We can ride to our soccer games on the Polo Grounds in ten or fifteen minutes. And I found a place where I can run and breath a little less smog. I can’t think of anything better. And next time we want to try a long bike ride without crossing the river, we’ll know to turn left at the park and head north.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Happy Inna, Happy Running, and Happy Easter
Yesterday I ran 8.42 miles through the district. It was the furthest I have run since the half. And it was further than all but one of my runs leading up to the half, which is a testament to how poorly I trained for the thing. But it felt really good and it made me think more about my ability to run 26.2 with Nikki in October. Nikki's 26.2 deserves it's own blog post and that will be coming soon. But for now, happy easter and, much more importantly, happy golden birthday to my best friend Inna. Josh and I are celebrating with a delicious (kinda Jewish) brunch, a trip to the zoo, a bike ride through rock-creek, and dinner with my parents and Nathan. Have a good day!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Softball
In the four or so years we've been together, Josh has been very loyal to me and seen my play soccer in approximately 230345765 soccer games. And I've seen him play baseball never. Which, as someone who gets bored by baseball, is kind of fortunate but, as a girl who loves her boyfriend and loves action, is very unfortunate.
Last year Josh joined his company softball team. They played on the ellipse, so picturesquely placed between the white house and the Washington monument. It's no baseball but it would have to do. I rode my bike down to one game after work but it wasn't exactly an atmosphere for spectators. It is very very casual, almost pick-up. And it was tough for me to get there in time for games. So I saw just the one but really enjoyed Josh's excitement when he'd come home and tell me about his home runs. The team was always struggling to find enough players but it never occurred to me to become one. I don't work at touchstone but that doesn't stop me from playing on, and helping to lead, their soccer team.
So this year, when Josh told me that softball was starting up again, it dawned on me and I told him to let me know if they ever wanted an extra player. I'm no softball player but I like to keep life interesting and prove my athleticism through my ability to pick up a sport and be decent at it. Because, to me, that's what it means to be a good athlete: to be able to be pick up a sport and be great at it. To Josh, a good athlete is made by a very precise combination of speed, agressiveness, agility, strength, and "ups". This is a very long-standing debate between the two of us which deserves it's own blog post but it's really beside the point. I wanted to play with them if they needed me. They forfeited a game last Thursday so their first was this evening. I had plans to run tonight that I didn't want to fore-go so I sent my cleats and the extra glove to work with Josh, left all of my worldly possessions (besides phone and smarttrip) at work, and ran the 3.65 miles to the ellipse, arriving 5 minutes before the start of the game. We were mercy-ruled, losing 20-6 but it was super fun. We were down three players so there was lots of extra running in the outfield. I played second base and had a few good plays. And was saved by Josh, at shortstop, on a few pop-flies that made me look like Natalie Portman and Zach Braff in Garden State. Most importantly, I got to see Josh in action and, even better, got to play the game with him. He hit a double and a home run leading to three of our six runs. Go Josh.
I was right. Not enough running or exertion in baseball. Or I'm just being a snob and I can't compare 8 v 10 softball on the ellipse to real baseball. But I'm glad to have run down there, setting a personal best as I averaged an 8:32 mile amid all of the hoards of businessmen and women fighting to get home. And then, when it was over, it was wonderful to still feel so close to home. We ate lots at Moby Dick and then rode the scenic L2 back to Macomb Street. So Monday is a success. And I can't wait to see more and more of Josh's stellar athleticism shine through in softball.
Last year Josh joined his company softball team. They played on the ellipse, so picturesquely placed between the white house and the Washington monument. It's no baseball but it would have to do. I rode my bike down to one game after work but it wasn't exactly an atmosphere for spectators. It is very very casual, almost pick-up. And it was tough for me to get there in time for games. So I saw just the one but really enjoyed Josh's excitement when he'd come home and tell me about his home runs. The team was always struggling to find enough players but it never occurred to me to become one. I don't work at touchstone but that doesn't stop me from playing on, and helping to lead, their soccer team.
So this year, when Josh told me that softball was starting up again, it dawned on me and I told him to let me know if they ever wanted an extra player. I'm no softball player but I like to keep life interesting and prove my athleticism through my ability to pick up a sport and be decent at it. Because, to me, that's what it means to be a good athlete: to be able to be pick up a sport and be great at it. To Josh, a good athlete is made by a very precise combination of speed, agressiveness, agility, strength, and "ups". This is a very long-standing debate between the two of us which deserves it's own blog post but it's really beside the point. I wanted to play with them if they needed me. They forfeited a game last Thursday so their first was this evening. I had plans to run tonight that I didn't want to fore-go so I sent my cleats and the extra glove to work with Josh, left all of my worldly possessions (besides phone and smarttrip) at work, and ran the 3.65 miles to the ellipse, arriving 5 minutes before the start of the game. We were mercy-ruled, losing 20-6 but it was super fun. We were down three players so there was lots of extra running in the outfield. I played second base and had a few good plays. And was saved by Josh, at shortstop, on a few pop-flies that made me look like Natalie Portman and Zach Braff in Garden State. Most importantly, I got to see Josh in action and, even better, got to play the game with him. He hit a double and a home run leading to three of our six runs. Go Josh.
I was right. Not enough running or exertion in baseball. Or I'm just being a snob and I can't compare 8 v 10 softball on the ellipse to real baseball. But I'm glad to have run down there, setting a personal best as I averaged an 8:32 mile amid all of the hoards of businessmen and women fighting to get home. And then, when it was over, it was wonderful to still feel so close to home. We ate lots at Moby Dick and then rode the scenic L2 back to Macomb Street. So Monday is a success. And I can't wait to see more and more of Josh's stellar athleticism shine through in softball.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Sunshine Day
Having worked all day Saturday, I was due a day off of work so I stayed home today. Actually, I didn't stay home, I took off work and spent as much time outside as possible. It was a true i love lucy day as I biked, I ran, I played, I loved and I explored. So here's a re-cap:
I woke up at 11 and explored the world of yogurt, peanut butter, honey, berries, and banana for breakfast, all in one bowl. A truly successful experiment, it is my new power breakfast. But, before waking up at 11, I woke up around 8 as Josh got ready for work, read my e-mails, and paid $2 for a $10 giftcard to sweetgreen and a $10 coupon to hello cupcake. Living Social is launching their "instant deals" program so, today only, offered $1 lunches to over 150 locations around the city. Then I rolled back over and fell asleep. After breakfast, I rode Lucy to sweetgreen in Logan Circle and got the avacado greens salad to go. I then rode to hello cupcake in dupont and got a carrot, peanut butter, chocolate, and coconut cupcake. For all of this food, I waited a combined 70 or 80 minutes but it didn't bother me. I was just happy to be standing outside in the wonderful sun. I stuffed the cupcake box in my backpack on top of the salad and biked home, happy to see so many people walking the streets of DC. For future reference, transporting cupcakes on a bike is not the best idea- this is what happened to mine.
I woke up at 11 and explored the world of yogurt, peanut butter, honey, berries, and banana for breakfast, all in one bowl. A truly successful experiment, it is my new power breakfast. But, before waking up at 11, I woke up around 8 as Josh got ready for work, read my e-mails, and paid $2 for a $10 giftcard to sweetgreen and a $10 coupon to hello cupcake. Living Social is launching their "instant deals" program so, today only, offered $1 lunches to over 150 locations around the city. Then I rolled back over and fell asleep. After breakfast, I rode Lucy to sweetgreen in Logan Circle and got the avacado greens salad to go. I then rode to hello cupcake in dupont and got a carrot, peanut butter, chocolate, and coconut cupcake. For all of this food, I waited a combined 70 or 80 minutes but it didn't bother me. I was just happy to be standing outside in the wonderful sun. I stuffed the cupcake box in my backpack on top of the salad and biked home, happy to see so many people walking the streets of DC. For future reference, transporting cupcakes on a bike is not the best idea- this is what happened to mine.
I returned home and didn't waste a minute. I changed from biker's spandex to nike dry-fit shorts, from clip in bike shoes to running shoes, and from a long sleeve t-shirt to a tank top. That's right, my friends, a tank top. I was out the door ready to run in five minutes. I ran five and a half miles, one of which was spent on the mile-long mass ave hill between Dupont and Wisconsin, with which I have developed a true love/hate relationship. With the heat, I was much thirstier than I have been running in a while, but I was also reminded of my running days in Florida (even though this heat was nothing in comparison) and it made me even more excited about summer, if that's possible. My music mysteriously stopped for good about 1.2 miles in so that was challenging at first but I love a challenge so I got over it.
I arrived home and spent thirty minutes on the couch, savoring every bite of my delicious $1 salad. Then I played some music, opened all the curtains and windows, and cleaned the shit out of my apartment. I went to buy Vace's fresh pasta, veggies, and a mediocre baguette from firehook (the only mediocre thing about today). I am now sipping wine, reminiscing about the past 10 hours, and awaiting the arrival of my friends Julie and Kevin with whom Josh and I are going to make dinner, play board games, and eat some messy cupcakes.
On this truly lovable Friday, I couldn't help but think how sweet it would be to just be a housewife. To bike and run and eat and to finish each day with a clean home. I am embarrassed to say that because I want to be productive and I want to do meaningful things with my life but damn it was nice to sweat lots and to spend so many hours in the hot sun, rather than stare at it out a far-off window from my desk. And I'm not a wife, nor do I have a house. And ultimately, I want to work and be successful. But maybe I could just work four days a week. More days like today would be wonderful. Bring on the sunshine!!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Dear Nicole
Dear Nicole,
Here is a list of the many adventures we would have if you lived in DC this summer:
Here is a list of the many adventures we would have if you lived in DC this summer:
- Ride our bikes to Mount Vernon
- Kayak on the potomac
- Have a dance party to the new Madonna Celebration record I just bought
- Hike on the billy goat trail
- Jump in front of lots of cool things. Document the jumping.
- See Great Falls
- Go camping? If you wanna
- Drive out to Shenandoah and go tubing!
- And set foot on the AT
- Ride bikes to this friend of ours. Then climb on him
- Go bowling
- Race up and down the exorcist steps
- Play on the beaches at Annapolis
- Be spontaneous
- Peppy Pesto Pizza with Pinenuts. Make and eat and serve to our friends.
- Count the number of steps to Lincoln. Unless you still remember?
- Dominate at taboo because of all the friends' references only we'll get.
- You dominate at catch phrase. And I'll try to be on your team and dominate also.
- Walk around Dupont and Georgetown and Cleveland Park (yeah, that's my hood) and Bethesda and everywhere in the world that there is to walk and see things.
- Climb to the top of Washington.
- Rum pong? No. Because we're classy now.
- Paddle boat to the Jefferson Memorial
- Play lots and lots of ultimate frisbee
- And make lots and lots of water balloons
- Run as if we're back in the old neighborhood. It will be just as hot
- Dance to other things besides Madonna
- Cook other things besides pizza
- Dress up, sneak out, and be incognito mojito
- Play tennis!!
- Picnic at gravelly point to watch planes take off
- Picnic on the mall to see fireworks. Cuz baby you're a firewoooooork.
- (We would also dance to that)
- Farmer's markets. Eastern Market.
- Buy things
- I know a field. We can frolic there.
- See Monet paintings. And C3PO. And other cool stuff for free.
- Drink sangria and listen to jazz in the National Gallery's sculpture garden
- Sweat while riding the metro with tourists (does this seal the deal?)
- Run, walk, or play at the zoo (.2 miles from my home)
- Meet People
- Eat Sandy Shaw vegan dinners
- Hold hands
- Live life as a smorgasboard
- Be best friends together again for two months
I love you and I can't help but get my hopes up but I'm not trying to give too much of my signature carrie peer pressure. Because it's a stretch and it's complicated and I know that. But you're always more than welcome in these parts and I'll keep dreaming. And here's just some stuff to think about. (And it's almost all free!)
Love,
Carrie
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Cool Charlie
My mom bought new toothpaste handlebar tape to match Charlie's hot bod. As she put it on for me tonight, I stopped her halfway through. Because look! This makes her cool. And unlike all the other bikes. And perfectly ready for the five boroughs!
Groin Pains
I wrote this early last week but didn't post because I felt dumb about it. I ran some but also rested to let the pain subside. But after 70 minutes of soccer and an hour of frisbee (against my better judgement) this morning, my muscles are re-aggravated and I'm back to square one. I guess my groin research wasn't in vain and I should take it more seriously this week...
I have had too many aches and pains to complain about recently. And I feel that I've done my share of complaining. So, now that new muscles are bothering me- my groins, I aim not to complain but to be productive and to learn something.
I have had too many aches and pains to complain about recently. And I feel that I've done my share of complaining. So, now that new muscles are bothering me- my groins, I aim not to complain but to be productive and to learn something.
The problem: Pain in both my groins any time I lift a leg.
The cause: Groin injuries often occur during a sudden change of direction while running and when quickly starting and stopping. They are especially common in field or court sports. So...soccer. According to the Soccer Training Guide, the groin is one of the most common soccer related injuries and really hard to avoid. So it makes sense that joining a more competitive team than I've been used to, and playing an intense game on Sunday morning, would have irritated these muscles.
My Solution (before doing research): Don't run. Instead, spend an hour with Josh walking through residential neighborhoods of Cleveland Park, gawking at the marvelous, historic houses lining it's streets, reading some of their history along the way.
Ingrid's Solution: Lay flat on your back with both legs straight out in front of you. Imagine that you're lifting one leg without actually lifting it. This is intended to strengthen the hip muscles to take pressure off the groin.
Internet Research's Solution:
- Rest. Not doing so will prolong the injury. Rest until you are pain-free.
- Gentle stretching but not so much that it is painful
- Ice the injured area after any activity to calm inflammation and stimulate blood flow
- Apply heat before activity to loosen the muscles
- Avoid aggravating activity for the first one to two weeks and gradually return to sports
Preventing injury going forward:
- Groin stretches
- Strengthen the hips and pelvis like this
- Increase core stability- exercise with a ball like this
I'm not going to lie, I'm a little embarrassed by my bodies incompetence recently. I was always such an athlete and I always prided myself on being injury free. Maybe I'm overcompensating for my recent complaints by bragging about my strong and healthy history. Maybe it's just part of getting older. Or maybe it's just an attitude change. Perhaps I'm overreacting and getting nervous about pain and discomfort that, years ago, I would have just played through because I was tough. Either way, the internet (and my body) tells me to rest. But I don't like to sit still. I have two soccer games to play in each weekend. I have more runs and bike rides to train for. And I have many upcoming springtime evenings during which I'd like nothing more than to take a romantic stroll through my new neighborhood. But I'm optimistic. I know how to get better. And now you do too if you ever find yourself with an irritated groin. How useful.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
The ACL
This is my friend Sarah. She is a champion.
In mid-February, Sarah tore her ACL while skiing at Winter Green. She knows how to ski, and she was wrapping up a long day, heading into the lodge, when a stroke of bad luck got in her way as her ski tips crossed and the accident happened. She has been working hard ever since to get her knee up and running again, and to strengthen her hamstring for the ACL replacement surgery that she'd inevitably have to have to regain full mobility and strength in her knee. This past Wednesday, she had that surgery. She is doing well as she takes pain-killers that make her itch like crazy, watches plenty of instant watch netflix, and uses a machine for eight hours a day to bend her recovering leg.
Today, on the way home from a long work meeting in Lansdowne, VA, Nikki, SRG, (Hadley), and I stopped by to visit Sarah and shower her with goodies. It was awesome to see her and it was great to see the excitement and gratitude on her face as we surprised her on this dreary day. But mostly, it just amazes me what a positive attitude this girl has through anything. I seriously can not think of anyone else who would smile and laugh through as much pain and hassle as Sarah has this past two months. And that is the main purpose of this blog: to triumph Sarah's positive outlook and to learn from it.
Included in the goody bag were lots of things like candy, photographs, and girly magazines. But, of particular note were the Runner's World Beginner's Edition magazine and running water bottle that Nikki included. Because Sarah is excited to run with us in three months or so. She is excited to do so many things that she hasn't been able to do for so long, that she was never as excited to do before the pop. Which is the interesting thing about an injury so crippling as an ACL tear. It sucks and it is expensive and it's not something you'd wish on anyone but there is a silver lining. It elicits an attitude change and a new appreciation of the wonderful things that the human body is capable of. Sarah said to me two weeks ago that she is now aware of all of the things she used her acl for that she never even thought twice about before. On the night before her surgery, her facebook status read, "Last day of walking normal for a while. Dear everyone, don't take your ACLs for granted. Love, SFP". She says that she sees people roller skating or running and she knows that she can't do those things at all right now. And it makes her want to do them. It makes her want to do things she didn't do before because she now knows what it feels like to not be able to do those things. So she will do them as soon as she's recovered. And she'll truly enjoy them with a gratefulness most of us lack.
So let's all be thankful for the day-to-day things that our bodies can do, the things we don't really think about. For me, these are some of the things that make me the happiest. And Sarah's story reminds me that you can be unlucky and accidents can happen but that, since I've been lucky enough not to have a bad one, I should be so grateful for what my body is capable of. And I'm not only thankful, but I will take so much advantage of it. And let's wish Sarah the best in her recovery and in her many upcoming athletic endeavors, in which she'll use her knee and she'll use it to it's fullest!
In mid-February, Sarah tore her ACL while skiing at Winter Green. She knows how to ski, and she was wrapping up a long day, heading into the lodge, when a stroke of bad luck got in her way as her ski tips crossed and the accident happened. She has been working hard ever since to get her knee up and running again, and to strengthen her hamstring for the ACL replacement surgery that she'd inevitably have to have to regain full mobility and strength in her knee. This past Wednesday, she had that surgery. She is doing well as she takes pain-killers that make her itch like crazy, watches plenty of instant watch netflix, and uses a machine for eight hours a day to bend her recovering leg.
Today, on the way home from a long work meeting in Lansdowne, VA, Nikki, SRG, (Hadley), and I stopped by to visit Sarah and shower her with goodies. It was awesome to see her and it was great to see the excitement and gratitude on her face as we surprised her on this dreary day. But mostly, it just amazes me what a positive attitude this girl has through anything. I seriously can not think of anyone else who would smile and laugh through as much pain and hassle as Sarah has this past two months. And that is the main purpose of this blog: to triumph Sarah's positive outlook and to learn from it.
Included in the goody bag were lots of things like candy, photographs, and girly magazines. But, of particular note were the Runner's World Beginner's Edition magazine and running water bottle that Nikki included. Because Sarah is excited to run with us in three months or so. She is excited to do so many things that she hasn't been able to do for so long, that she was never as excited to do before the pop. Which is the interesting thing about an injury so crippling as an ACL tear. It sucks and it is expensive and it's not something you'd wish on anyone but there is a silver lining. It elicits an attitude change and a new appreciation of the wonderful things that the human body is capable of. Sarah said to me two weeks ago that she is now aware of all of the things she used her acl for that she never even thought twice about before. On the night before her surgery, her facebook status read, "Last day of walking normal for a while. Dear everyone, don't take your ACLs for granted. Love, SFP". She says that she sees people roller skating or running and she knows that she can't do those things at all right now. And it makes her want to do them. It makes her want to do things she didn't do before because she now knows what it feels like to not be able to do those things. So she will do them as soon as she's recovered. And she'll truly enjoy them with a gratefulness most of us lack.
So let's all be thankful for the day-to-day things that our bodies can do, the things we don't really think about. For me, these are some of the things that make me the happiest. And Sarah's story reminds me that you can be unlucky and accidents can happen but that, since I've been lucky enough not to have a bad one, I should be so grateful for what my body is capable of. And I'm not only thankful, but I will take so much advantage of it. And let's wish Sarah the best in her recovery and in her many upcoming athletic endeavors, in which she'll use her knee and she'll use it to it's fullest!
Friday, April 8, 2011
Sharing Bikes
Since I moved into the city in January, I have continued to contemplate two things:
I know it may seem a little frivolous to take advantage of this service when I have two perfectly good bikes sitting in my bedroom, ready to be ridden anywhere. And it is frivolous. But this is America, after all, and it also kind of makes sense. I can think of many times at which I've said or thought "this would be a lot easier if I had capital bikeshare." Like that time I was meeting Nikki at her apartment before taking a bus to our SoleMates dinner in Logan Circle. Riding my own bike would have meant leaving it at her apartment and coming back for it later that night. Or that Saturday night when I met Nathan and his friends at the Black Cat for drinks and dancing. Riding Lucy would have meant riding home "under the influence" at 2 am and that obviously wasn't an option. Or yesterday, when I was in a big hurry to get home to my kitchen where I had an hour and a half to bake and decorate Brendon's birthday cake. Biking would have cut 12 minutes off of my commute, which barely counts as a commute as is. I truly do love lucy and I won't stop riding her around this city but the beauty of the bike share is in the one-way trip. It's like a revolutionary cab service that is there when you need it (because the stations really are everywhere), that costs you $75 a year, that (according to Betsy Shaw) makes you feel like you're in Paris, that is good for yourself and good for the earth, and that puts you not in a car but ON A BIKE!
In contemplating my two questions, I've thought of all of this and I've seriously considered taking the plunge. But I have continued to be burdened by the later question: what would this mean for my helmet wearing? I take helmets very seriously. If you are my friend and you don't wear one, you know this, because I nag you a lot. I also nag you if you ride at night without lights. (ehem... Ingrid) I know that my chances of getting in an accident are slim but why even risk it? I believe in good luck and I believe in bad luck and I am superstitious enough to think that the one time I ride without a helmet, my bad luck will get the better of me and I won't be well-equipped. But I also know myself well enough to know that I will be spontaneous and I will probably want to pick up bikes and ride whether I have a helmet on me or not. And, why would i just have a helmet on me? Oh wait, let me pull that out of my back pocket...
So the contemplation had been just that- contemplation. And some discussion. But no action.
No action until this morning when I opened my e-mail to find a particularly exciting message from living social. "Your Daily Deal. Washington, DC. Bikeshare Month ($12) or Year ($37) Membership." Well hello red bikes with funky handlebars and yellow writing! For $37 a year, I think we're going to be good friends. I have taken the plunge and I am more excited than I expected to be. It's like another rite of passage that confirms my existence as a DC resident. If flashing my DC license for the first time, ordering a Stella at L'Enfant Cafe this week, made me a little giddy (Dork? Yes. In Paris? Unfortunately not.), I can only imagine what it'll feel like to pick up and drop off one of those bikes for the first time. Maybe I romanticize it but I don't care. This is a good community to be a part of. And so I've joined it.
- Whether or not Capital Bikeshare makes sense for someone who already owns two bikes.
- Whether or not joining capital bikeshare would result in frequent bike riding sans helmet.
I know it may seem a little frivolous to take advantage of this service when I have two perfectly good bikes sitting in my bedroom, ready to be ridden anywhere. And it is frivolous. But this is America, after all, and it also kind of makes sense. I can think of many times at which I've said or thought "this would be a lot easier if I had capital bikeshare." Like that time I was meeting Nikki at her apartment before taking a bus to our SoleMates dinner in Logan Circle. Riding my own bike would have meant leaving it at her apartment and coming back for it later that night. Or that Saturday night when I met Nathan and his friends at the Black Cat for drinks and dancing. Riding Lucy would have meant riding home "under the influence" at 2 am and that obviously wasn't an option. Or yesterday, when I was in a big hurry to get home to my kitchen where I had an hour and a half to bake and decorate Brendon's birthday cake. Biking would have cut 12 minutes off of my commute, which barely counts as a commute as is. I truly do love lucy and I won't stop riding her around this city but the beauty of the bike share is in the one-way trip. It's like a revolutionary cab service that is there when you need it (because the stations really are everywhere), that costs you $75 a year, that (according to Betsy Shaw) makes you feel like you're in Paris, that is good for yourself and good for the earth, and that puts you not in a car but ON A BIKE!
In contemplating my two questions, I've thought of all of this and I've seriously considered taking the plunge. But I have continued to be burdened by the later question: what would this mean for my helmet wearing? I take helmets very seriously. If you are my friend and you don't wear one, you know this, because I nag you a lot. I also nag you if you ride at night without lights. (ehem... Ingrid) I know that my chances of getting in an accident are slim but why even risk it? I believe in good luck and I believe in bad luck and I am superstitious enough to think that the one time I ride without a helmet, my bad luck will get the better of me and I won't be well-equipped. But I also know myself well enough to know that I will be spontaneous and I will probably want to pick up bikes and ride whether I have a helmet on me or not. And, why would i just have a helmet on me? Oh wait, let me pull that out of my back pocket...
So the contemplation had been just that- contemplation. And some discussion. But no action.
No action until this morning when I opened my e-mail to find a particularly exciting message from living social. "Your Daily Deal. Washington, DC. Bikeshare Month ($12) or Year ($37) Membership." Well hello red bikes with funky handlebars and yellow writing! For $37 a year, I think we're going to be good friends. I have taken the plunge and I am more excited than I expected to be. It's like another rite of passage that confirms my existence as a DC resident. If flashing my DC license for the first time, ordering a Stella at L'Enfant Cafe this week, made me a little giddy (Dork? Yes. In Paris? Unfortunately not.), I can only imagine what it'll feel like to pick up and drop off one of those bikes for the first time. Maybe I romanticize it but I don't care. This is a good community to be a part of. And so I've joined it.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Biking Cures
For those of you who've read this blog from day one, you may remember my teenage enthusiasm for biking as the most fun way to blow dry my hair and the best way to cure a hangover. I have resigned myself to the fact that I will never do the former again, as I am now responsible enough to know the importance of helmets (which have the opposite effect of a blow dryer). I am not, however, so responsible that I am done having hangovers that need curing. And I am still enthusiastic about the power of biking to cure them, especially on a mildly chilly Saturday morning on a downhill ride into downtown DC.
This feeling was confirmed on Saturday morning, as I woke up at 7 am, hungover from too much wine at Nathaniel's birthday party, and rode Lucy to the Georgetown Park Mall where Josh and I paid a total of $236 to become residents of the District of Colombia. We are now registered to vote here, we are licensed here, and we (I) have a car that can park legally on the streets here all day every day. A day at the DMV is never fun, but this all only took us about an hour, leaving us plenty of time to shop and bike to Dupont for Bagels before our afternoon soccer game. A salty everything bagel with cream cheese, lox, capers and onions in my stomach and I was good to go.
People say that duct tape can fix everything but nothing has ever fixed one of my hangovers like salty food and biking will!
This feeling was confirmed on Saturday morning, as I woke up at 7 am, hungover from too much wine at Nathaniel's birthday party, and rode Lucy to the Georgetown Park Mall where Josh and I paid a total of $236 to become residents of the District of Colombia. We are now registered to vote here, we are licensed here, and we (I) have a car that can park legally on the streets here all day every day. A day at the DMV is never fun, but this all only took us about an hour, leaving us plenty of time to shop and bike to Dupont for Bagels before our afternoon soccer game. A salty everything bagel with cream cheese, lox, capers and onions in my stomach and I was good to go.
People say that duct tape can fix everything but nothing has ever fixed one of my hangovers like salty food and biking will!
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