Red Flannel metric century bike ride

Last Sunday, Nov 7th, we bundled up in our warm riding clothes and ventured out for the Red Flannel bike ride.  The temperature at the start was about 31 degrees - a bit brisk and windy as well.  I think it was about 15 mph winds for the first half (at least) of the ride.  For me, it felt like it was windy there AND back.  But it was a beautiful, sunny, fall day.  We rode close to 65 miles, all in, with a chili lunch stop half way thru in Milan (see picture).  My husband, Mark and our friend Chris Park and I rode together and I'm sure I was holding the two of them back, but it was just a fun, fall ride (not a race), so I didn't feel TOO badly about it.  Sadly, this will probably be the last time the bike is outdoors until the spring.  But today (Friday, Nov 12th) is another beautiful day with the sun shining and we're off to Pittsburgh tomorrow to visit our friends from ironman and TTT, Kim & her brother Rocky.  And I may have a surprise when I get back.  We'll see..... 

October 28th - my 2 year survival date - celebrated by running 2 5K's!!

October 28th was my 2 year cancer survival date & I celebrated by running two 5K's!  I didn't start the month with that in mind, but I ended up running 2 back to back (2 Sunday's in a row) and they were a lot of fun.  The 1st was the Amherst Skeleton Run.  I've done this one before and the weather was a beautiful, fall day - perfect weather for runners.  I ran up to the race as a warmup - about 1.5 miles.  My son, Kyle, did the race as well, as did my brother in law Mike and my nephew Jack.  Mark came up to cheer us on.   
I felt really good during the race and hit the 1st mile in about 7:30.  I finished the race in 23:55 - an ok time but I thought I could have done better.  So I went home and found a race online for the following weekend - the Great Pumpkin run in Lakewood park.  I've never run that one before, but I've run races on most of the course, so I knew the area.  My goal was to go under 23 minutes.  With all of the endurance training I've done over the past year for the ironman, I've kind of lost the focus on the speed and doing 5K's are great for getting some speedwork in. 
On Sunday, Oct 31st, I picked my friend Judy up and we drove to Lakewood for the Great Pumpkin Run.  There were more people there than I thought - about 370 runners for the 5K.  Not as big as the Amherst run, but a pretty good turnout.  The weather was a bit colder than the prior weekend, but that's ok when you're running.  Once I got going, I was fine in my shorts and t shirt.  I hit the 1st mile in 7:17, 2nd mile in 7:27 and the 3rd mile in 7:24.  I finished the race with a time of 22:56, making my goal with 3 seconds to spare.  That is cutting it close!  But I hit my goal!  Yeah!!!  Judy did well too and we celebrated by stopping at a bakery for coffee/tea and croissants (blackbird bakery in Lakewood - very good!). 
This upcoming weekend, Mark and I may do a 100km bike called the Red Flannel.  It's weather dependent though.  If we wake up and it's so cold it's snowing (or could possibly snow), I don't know if we'll go.  But if it's looking like a nice fall day, we may head out for the last outdoor ride of the year.  Then it's time to hole up for the winter ... time just seems to go faster and faster as I get older ...  :)   But I'm a 2 year survivor!  And that's something to celebrate!!