The "Bike Path" in Hawaii

To answer the question of the last blog, yes, I did go get my French Onion Soup that night. I was a very happy woman!

There is a bike path here in Hawaii that is about 8 miles long and only allows bikes, walkers and runners. No motorized vehicles! Yes, we have bike lanes but this is a "special" bike path. Brian and i use this bike path when heading to Pearl Harbor. Along these 8 miles are some very interesting views and smells.

When entering the bike path you suddenly feel as though you have just arrived to the Philippines. On the left side of this path is a muddy creek in which houses live on and some are not quite houses, more like shanies. I am very thankful not to be living in them and fishing from this so called creek. Moving along on the right is a beautiful view of the decommissioned Naval ships in the harbor. These ships are also referred to as the "moth ball fleet". They are rather close and seeing the actual size up close is rather intriguing. After the ships there really isn't much to see except the path, shrubs and trees.

There are a few parts that smell of human waste and urine, yes, I'm still talking about Hawaii. Hawaii is considered paradise but there are some hidden places that I would call something else. Every city has its beauty and it's homeless! Hawaii has a huge homeless problem but hey, where else would someone want to be homeless? It's never cold, running water and bathrooms at the beach! To top it off you have ocean front property for FREE! So along the bike path there are homeless especially along Blaisdell Park. It's a nice park but along the side of it are many tents lined up or should I say a community of tents. Along the other side of the path is still the harbor. What else could you ask for? Yes, I know....electricity! No they have no power!

Other portions of the path are through subdivisions, along schools, businesses etc. This eight miles is not the most beautiful bike ride but it is eight miles off the main road. I believe Hawaii has a vehicle sport to see how many bikers they can hit. Many bikers have been hit so each day I ride I say a prayer. Why do I ride then? Well I believe you have to live and live your passion. If you don't; then one day when you are old, you may wonder what it would be like to live your passion. Life is very short so we must take this time to live it to the fullest and never hold back!If you live in Hawaii and haven't been on the bike path, well you are not missing much but it has been quite the experience.

In training and can't sleep?

I'm currently finishing the first week of my second month of training. This week has been so much better than the last week. I feel stronger and full of energy. Well the energy is usually a given for me. So yesterday, I ran 5 miles and taught my 1 hour spinning class (burning a total of 1300 calories). I got home around 8:00pm and ate a small dinner (chicken pecan spinach quiche), had a glass of wine and read a magazine (Runners World)for a few moments and began to feel very sleepy. Well here comes 2am and I wake up craving French Onion Soup. What in the heck?

I get on-line and search any restaurant on the island that serves it. I find these two fancy ones which are in hotels in Waikiki and they just don't appeal to me ($$$ cha-ching). I was considering going just to satisfy the craving when I thought of Yard House. Yard House is Brian's favorite restaurant and I enjoy it as well. After searching for about an hour I realize one of our favorite restaurants serve it. I know where we will be dining this evening.

I'm not sure about this 4.5 hour sleep deal but I'm sure it will catch up to me sometime today. Isn't it when you get older the less sleep you get? Come on, I'm only 35!! I'm an early riser but this is ridiculous. Oh well, thank goodness for the blog!

Today is Friday and I will be meeting some friends to zumba (a work-out at the gym done in a class setting where you salsa, shake your butt and have a great time), eat breakfast (maybe they will serve my soup!), swim and maybe sneak in a nap before dinner.

Sharron's Ride - Hawaii

Today could have not been any better. Brian and I woke up this morning at 5:00 am and headed to Honolulu for the Sharron's Ride which is an organized ride supporting epilepsy. We met our two friends joining us and set off at 7:00 am. It was cloudy and very overcast which made the majority of the ride very pleasant. We had a nice pace and stopped several times along the way for pictures, drinks and of course view our beautiful scenery of Hawaii. The ride took place on the East side of the island wrapping around to the Winward side. During the first 25 miles Brian and I almost had a bad fall due to a rider or two. Our group was traveling in a nice single file when a couple (man and woman) approached us and wanted to move in. Instead of waiting until we pass by they tried to nudge their way in between us (this is not proper bicycle etiquette) and clipped my back tire and pushed Brian dam near into the curb. We all recovered and no one went down, thank God!

It rained on us pretty good a few times and one of our friends had a flat which one flat out of four people the whole ride is not bad at all! She changed it quickly and we then turned around at the turn around point. The same girl who had the flat was having cramping issues and was worried about the hills (near Makapu') but she put a salt tab in her water and was good to go. I had a huge piece of styrofoam fly in front of me but no major catastrophe! Our last stop was at a 7-11 where we fueled up on water, gatorade and bananas. By the end Brian was feeling tightness in his thighs which probably would have cramped up if he hadn't bought the gatorade.

We finally finished at roughly 60 miles. All and all it was a great ride and no one got hurt. As we were loading our gear into our vehicles, food was now on the mind. After being on the bike for over 4 hours and burning over 2500 calories, it was time to eat! We all agreed on Yard House and indulged ourselves in cold beer, salad, hot pizza, and a small dessert.

It is now time to REST!!!!

Third Week of Training

Well it's a new week and has just begun the third week of the 18 week program. I was very busy last week and on Sunday, I could really feel it. Today is Monday and I was suppose to bike and swim but could only find the energy to bike 20 miles and do a yoga class. I will make up the swim sometime this week. The hardest part of training on your own is exactly that, training on your own! I really must stay focused and keep the motivation up. I do enjoy the training as a whole but sometimes I've gotta kick myself in the butt to get moving. I'm looking forward to this weekend. Sunday I will be doing an organized ride with some friends and we should be doing about 75 miles.

This should be good training for the island ride. The island ride is March 6th and 7th. Me, Brian and about 6 of my other friends will be riding the entire island of Oahu in two days with a over night camping trip. We will start at my house Saturday, March 6th around 7am and head North and then East for about 70-75 miles where we will camp at Bellows Airforce Station, on the beach! Sunday we will get up and finish our ride of about 50-60 miles. I am looking forward to this ride and hope it will be safe and lots of fun!

Day 2 of Second Week of Training

This week has sure started off better than last week. For one, I'm not sick and I feel great. Yesterday I trained a client, taught yoga, completed my 1000 yard swim and then came home to rest. I was feeling a bit tired so I watched an episode of the Biggest Loser. After watching them work so hard and lose so much weight in one week it soon gave me the motivation to get on my bike and do my 20 mile ride. I was happy that I had done all my workouts that day and was ready for day 2!

Today comes and I go to my eye appointment asking the doctor to please not dilate my eyes for I had to swim and run. I didn't think that would go over to well while trying to exercise, especially in the bright sunlight. She said no problem and sent me on my way. I hit the treadmill for 4 miles and then headed to the pool for 1250 yards. I then met a friend for coffee which I hadn't seen much since before Christmas and it was nice to sit, relax and enjoy our coffee. Before I knew it, it was time to head to work. I trained three clients and came home to my honey. It is now 11:00 and I am feeling a bit tired. I should hit the sack because tomorrow is yoga and 25 miles on the bike...........

Still In the First Week of Training

Okay so Monday and Tuesday didn't go so well. I didn't train at all but recovered from this crappy cold. By Tuesday I was back "on the horse" and ran four miles and taught a 1 hour spinning class (usually is 15-18 miles and burn 700-750 calories, not bad!). Wednesday I taught another 1 hour spinning class and Thursday I ran 2 miles. Yeah, sounds like I have been slacking but I was sick and didn't want to over do it. Friday comes along and I play 18 holes of golf for the first time and didn't do too bad, according to me. Yes, I know golf is no where in my training schedule but I must cross-train and I'm guessing golf will have to do. Today is Saturday and I must swim today and tomorrow along with a 25 mile bike ride.

I celebrated my birthday yesterday (it's really Jan. 7th but had to work all day, I know, so sad!) enjoyed the round of golf, picked up my bike from the shop and went bowling with my honey and my closest friends. I had aero bars put on my bike, hopefully will help me ride a bit faster in the more aero dynamic position!

Okay to sum it up, out of all this weeks training I will have probably only missed one swim. I'm thinking not too bad due to the fact I was sick. I'm hoping for a better week next week. I must get off the blog and go train!

Training Day #2

It's a new year and already not starting so great. I have a terrible cold and borderline strep throat. I'm rarely sick and now I have seen my doctor twice in the past 30 or so days. I have medicine and I'm getting rest so hopefully I will be back to "normal" soon!

Yesterday, Monday, Jan. 4th was my first day of training. I was suppose to bike 20 miles and swim 1000 yards. That did not happen but on Sunday I did ride almost 24 miles so I feel I can at least count that. Today I'm suppose to swim 1000 yards and run 4 miles. My husband and i are both off work today and have some running around to do which consist of meeting some friends for a movie and lunch. Then we are heading to The Bike Factory so they can put my aerobars on my bike. I hope to at least get the run in today.

I woke up this morning at 5:00 am and I should be able to run this morning or later this afternoon. I don't want to get too far behind on my training because a half iron man is no joke!